“Summon Prince Chu to speak with me.”

This was probably the most audacious statement ever made by a subordinate to a superior since the founding of the Tiansheng Dynasty.

“Won’t go?” Feng Zhiwei smiled at the bailiff frozen in place. “If you wait until I ask a second time before urging Prince Chu to come, I’m afraid by then you won’t even have pants left to wear.”

The bailiff immediately ran off at full speed, slipping through a crack in the gate and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The remaining people exchanged glances. The Ministry of Justice official and the Deputy Commander of the Nine Cities Bureau crouched behind the crowd, angrily shouting: “Wei Zhi, you insult court officials and trample upon official dignity! Rather than binding yourself and begging forgiveness before His Highness, you dare to presumptuously demand His Highness come see you? When His Highness arrives, just wait to be impeached, stripped of office, and thrown in prison!”

“Oh? Is that so?” Feng Zhiwei replied nonchalantly. “Then we’ll discuss it when His Highness arrives.”

“His Highness will personally come see you?” The Deputy Commander of the Nine Cities Bureau sneered. “After doing such reckless things, you still think His Highness will come see you? Are you perhaps expecting a reward?”

“Hard to say.” Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly and stretched her back. “Ah, my back aches.”

Someone immediately rushed to bring over a rattan chair.

“All this talking has made me thirsty.”

Several people fought over who would fetch tea for the Director.

The great camphor tree’s canopy spread like an umbrella, casting dappled shade. Beneath the tree sat the leisurely Feng Zhiwei in a purple rattan chair, steam rising from the celadon covered bowl, taking a sip and smiling at those white pigs with narrowed eyes.

Young Master Gu sat beside her eating walnuts, while Helian Zheng sat cross-legged under the tree playing finger-guessing games with a group of students.

Behind the tree, a group of dignified court officials and constables, stripped half-naked, huddled together shivering in the early autumn breeze.

When Ning Yi stepped out of his grand palanquin, this was the starkly contrasting and utterly depressing scene that greeted him.

“Your Highness—” The moment the Ministry of Justice official and the Commander saw that green silk palanquin with its golden top, their faces changed. When they saw Ning Yi emerge in his golden crown and royal robes, full formal court attire, they realized he’d come directly from court, and their expressions grew even more shocked. They rushed forward to pay respects, then suddenly realized how improper this was and dropped down with a swoosh.

The group of disheveled men hid in the shadows, covering their faces and buttocks while paying respects to Ning Yi, simultaneously glaring hatefully at Feng Zhiwei—reckless fool who doesn’t know when to quit! The Prince has really come, now you’re in for it!

Feng Zhiwei waved her hand, and the students tactfully withdrew, casting worried glances at Feng Zhiwei, who reassured them with her composed smile.

“Your Highness graces us with your presence, bringing glory to Qingming Academy,” Feng Zhiwei said with a smiling gesture. “Here we have fragrant tea and cool breezes, cultured scholars, and verdant shade—perfect for refined conversation.”

Helian Zheng, who stubbornly refused to leave, couldn’t help but smile—cultured scholars indeed, especially that Ministry of Justice official with his magnificent body odor.

Ning Yi, in his formal purple and gold five-clawed dragon court robes and gilded purple crystal crown, looked different from his usual elegant and refined self, instead radiating an air of noble dignity. Standing three steps from Feng Zhiwei, his gaze swept over the rattan chair, small table, tea and refreshments, and the naked men, his expression caught between amusement and mockery.

This was indeed Feng Zhiwei’s style.

Humble when necessary, then audacious beyond measure.

In all the world, only this woman could hide iron fists in cotton, conceal sharp thorns behind clever words—seeming to retreat and compromise step by step, yet maintaining firm resolve that could shake heaven and earth.

“Since we’re sitting together drinking fragrant tea and conversing amidst the golden autumn breeze, having so many cultured scholars around would spoil the mood.” Ning Yi’s smile looked decidedly ill-intentioned no matter how you looked at it. “That’s not proper hospitality on your part.”

The two unfortunate officials and group of unlucky bailiffs showed expressions of thunderstruck shock—shouldn’t the Prince immediately rebuke her sternly, demand their rescue, and dismiss Wei Zhi on the spot?

Shouldn’t Wei Zhi immediately release them, kneel down, apologize repeatedly, and beg the Prince’s forgiveness?

The Prince was actually ignoring all this and chatting pleasantly with this fellow?

This fellow was actually calmly accepting it and daring to invite the Prince for tea?

Their facial expressions were so twisted that Feng Zhiwei found them unpleasant to look at. She glanced at Ning Yi and slowly turned her head. “Would the Young Prince and Brother Gu be so kind as to escort these cultured scholars to the side courtyard?”

“I refuse.” Helian Zheng rejected immediately. “I can’t let you dance alone with a wolf.”

“I rather think I’m the one dancing with wolves.” Ning Yi sat down leisurely, casually taking Feng Zhiwei’s tea for himself.

Helian Zheng’s eyes showed the fiercest horses of the grasslands, hooves kicking toward Ning Yi. “Your Highness, care to spar with me?”

“Young Prince, allow me to remind you.” Ning Yi didn’t even look at him. “You’re currently not a prince but an ordinary student at Qingming Academy. If the Director cannot dismiss her students during important discussions with a current Prince, how will she maintain authority in the future?”

Helian Zheng sneered coldly. “Then I’ll stop being a student!”

“Fine.” Ning Yi waved his hand. “Please go to the academy administration to cancel your enrollment, then return to the palace with me to pay respects to His Majesty. Oh, and by the way, any student who voluntarily cancels their enrollment will never be permitted to enter the academy again.”

“Is that a rule?” Helian Zheng wasn’t intimidated, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

“It will be.” Ning Yi smiled at him. “Dean Xin will add this clause to the academy regulations immediately.”

Helian Zheng glared at him fiercely. If looks could become physical objects, his would certainly be the hard, long beak of those red-eyed eagles he loved from the northern border forests, capable of shattering bones with one strike.

Ning Yi maintained his tempered-steel smile—you may be hard as iron, but I remain indifferent. Fists striking air, beaks pecking cotton.

After a long moment, Helian Zheng turned sharply and strode over to grab the two unfortunate officials. Gu Nanyi drifted over, herding the bailiffs like sheep. Before leaving, he placed a walnut on the small table, cracking it with a “snap,” then floated away.

Naturally, Ning Yi didn’t understand the meaning and thought Young Master Gu was giving him a walnut to eat. Quite pleased, he picked it up and ate it, smiling: “This walnut is quite fragrant.”

Feng Zhiwei tilted her head, watching him eat the walnut with interest. As Ning Yi ate, he felt the woman’s gaze was decidedly off, giving him goosebumps. He couldn’t help setting down the walnut. “Just eating one of your walnuts—what’s with that look?”

Feng Zhiwei slowly prepared tea, saying leisurely: “Watching that walnut shatter in your mouth is truly satisfying…”

Before the confused Ning Yi could ask, she straightened her expression. “Your Highness truly opened my eyes just now—actually starting to care about whether this humble official can maintain authority at the academy.”

“Is this an accusation?” Ning Yi glanced at her.

“I wouldn’t dare.” Feng Zhiwei smiled falsely.

“Are you angry with me?” Ning Yi asked calmly, though Feng Zhiwei detected a hint of eager interest in his tone.

“Do you hope I’m angry with you?” She met constancy with constancy, eternal false smile against the first cunning prince.

“Your being angry with me is better than complete indifference.” Ning Yi stretched under the green shade, his oblique glance creating a stunningly beautiful arc.

Feng Zhiwei didn’t respond—she developed selective deafness to anything resembling flirtation.

“You don’t care whether I’m angry,” Ning Yi continued regardless of her reaction. “So I really don’t need to care what you think, right?”

“Is Your Highness dredging up old accounts?” Feng Zhiwei smiled with narrowed eyes, looking especially sincere. “I invited you here today partly to explain—I didn’t intentionally save Princess Shaoning back then.”

“But you never intended to help me kill her either.” Ning Yi cut straight to the point. “You had deceptive intentions from the start.”

Feng Zhiwei fell silent, then said after a moment: “I couldn’t let someone with that face die before my eyes.”

They both understood what she meant. Ning Yi was quiet for a moment. Feng Zhiwei looked up at him. “This is the question I’ve always wanted to ask—do you have an answer?”

Ning Yi paused again. Feng Zhiwei actually saw a flash of confusion in his eyes before he shook his head. “When I first saw you, I was also quite surprised.”

This meant he didn’t know the reason. Feng Zhiwei studied his expression carefully, feeling that while he seemed to be holding something back, this statement itself didn’t appear to be a lie.

“I’m very sorry Shaoning didn’t die and caused you so much trouble.” After a long while, she said quietly. “But this was all I could do.”

“So this is how it is between us.” Ning Yi smiled with some bitterness. “We don’t want to oppose each other, yet various reasons keep pushing us into opposition.”

“But I don’t understand why we must oppose each other?” Feng Zhiwei stood up, leaning down to stare at Ning Yi. “Tell me, why restrict my development at Qingming? Why place me under Yao Ying where I’m constantly constrained? Why assume I’ll oppose you? And why do you pay such close attention to Feng Hao?”

Her leaning face was close at hand. Though masked, her eyes held autumn waters and shimmering light, her long lashes neat as brushes. Ning Yi couldn’t help reaching out to touch them, but Feng Zhiwei immediately pulled back as if electrocuted.

“We’re discussing official business.” She said with a straight face. “Focus.”

Ning Yi found her rare embarrassed expression quite adorable and gazed reluctantly for a moment before saying: “You’ve saved Shaoning twice. You have unclear connections with her. Your appearance is even startlingly similar to hers. You know too many of my secrets yet may not be on my side. Tell me, from a ruler’s perspective, shouldn’t I restrict you, even silence you?”

“Has Your Highness never considered recruiting me, this ‘national scholar’?” Feng Zhiwei frowned, feeling something was off about Ning Yi’s explanation.

Ning Yi remained silent, his tea cup held to his lips for a long time without drinking. Light steam rose, his features behind the vapor blurred and unclear.

Feng Zhiwei also didn’t speak, her fingers touching the rim of the tea cup—the sensation warm, but her heart felt coldly adrift.

After a long while, Ning Yi said softly: “Zhiwei, listen to my advice. Leave official life, return to Qiu Mansion. I have ways to make Helian Zheng withdraw. In the future, you’ll be my…”

He reached into his robes, a motion as if to retrieve something.

But his hand was pressed down.

He looked down at the snow-white fingers pressing on his hand. “Are you indicating your refusal?”

Feng Zhiwei withdrew her hand, saying lightly: “Let’s first clarify today’s matter before discussing that.”

Slowly withdrawing his hand, Ning Yi smiled somewhat bewilderedly, then said after a moment: “Fine, then first tell me—you, a woman, why won’t you marry and have children like other women, but instead risk mingling in official circles, cautious yet bold, climbing upward step by step?”

Feng Zhiwei fell silent, her hands clasped behind her back as she gazed distantly at the clouds in the sky, her long hair scattered in the wind, further veiling her already obscure expression.

“Probably no one in the Imperial Capital has seen my father.” After a long while, Feng Zhiwei slowly began, seemingly starting a different topic. “In my memories, before age four, he existed.”

“He was a busy, indifferent, dragon-like existence—head visible but tail hidden.”

Ning Yi stared at her, vaguely sensing that this man who’d once caused a sensation in the Imperial Capital, making a remarkable woman elope with him only to return desolately to the capital, was key to the problem.

“Before I was four, our family life was quite prosperous. We lived in deep mountains far from the Imperial Capital. Though the location was remote, provisions were always good. But Father was often absent, only occasionally returning home. When he did return, he paid little attention to me and my brother, and Mother showed no joy at seeing him—sometimes her expression even seemed sorrowful.”

Ning Yi frowned, somewhat puzzled. Having eloped regardless of everything, married, and having a son and daughter, this couple should have been deeply in love and inseparable. Why was it like this?

“So from the time I became aware, I gradually stopped looking forward to Father’s return. When he was there, the atmosphere was oppressive and moods low—nothing like the harmonious warmth of mother and children alone. To me, such a man who made Mother guard an empty room alone and raise children single-handedly, making his children feel fatherless even with a father, unable to bring joy when he returned—his presence was worse than his absence.”

“In all my memories, Mother always told me that while most women in the world are like dodder vines, some people don’t have the fortune to depend on men. Rather than wait to be abandoned by fate later, better to first learn how to depend on and love yourself.”

“Mother therefore taught me many things, and taught my brother too, but he lacked talent. Mother said as the elder sister, since my brother was incompetent, in the future both he and Mother would depend on my support—this was my responsibility, and I always remembered.”

“Nonsense!” Ning Yi couldn’t help refuting. “How could a weak woman be expected to support the entire family?”

“The Feng family doesn’t produce weak women.” Feng Zhiwei’s clear eyes gazed calmly at him. “If Feng family women were weak, they would have long been trampled into dust.”

Ning Yi looked at her, suddenly reaching out to grasp her hand. The hand in his palm was slightly cool and smooth, soft as boneless, yet the palm had fine calluses. That thin hardness touching his palm caused a faint, inexplicable ache somewhere.

Feng Zhiwei glanced down at their clasped hands, smiled, and withdrew her hand.

“When I was four, he truly never returned.” She continued. “Without his support, the household gradually couldn’t make ends meet. Mother had no choice but to bring us back to the capital.”

“This was my beginning with the Imperial Capital.” Feng Zhiwei smiled at Ning Yi. “Starting from kneeling in the bitter cold outside Qiu Mansion, unable to get the door opened and being doused with a basin of cold foot-washing water—my war with the Imperial Capital, with Qiu Mansion, with the world’s rejection and humiliation, became irreversible.”

“When most needed, no one stood beside you to shield you from wind and rain. All the hostility, humiliation, difficulty, and entrapment—you had to block it yourself, and also find ways to block it for your family. You lived on constant guard, exhausted, but couldn’t retreat. Once you retreat, your entire life’s fate is casually determined by others.”

“We were Qiu Mansion’s disgrace. Everyone hoped we’d disappear. If we didn’t want to disappear, we had to pay the price.” Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes. “I lived like this for ten years. Every New Year, eating the most meager New Year’s Eve dinner in our small courtyard while listening to the laughter from the main house, I swore to myself—never depend on anyone, never expect anything from anyone. One day, relying entirely on myself, I would rise above others, making those who once looked down on me look up at me from the dust.”

She asked directly and sharply. Ning Yi never expected she would ask so bluntly, momentarily stunned.

“Do you think you’re someone to depend on?” Feng Zhiwei’s voice was low but her tone cutting. “You study the art of ascending to power, practice strategies to trap dragons, engage in dragon-slaying affairs, wield a dragon-butchering blade. Victory means ascending to rule all under heaven and look down upon the masses; defeat means the whole family in mourning clothes staining the execution platform with blood. Your entire life’s actions walk a tightrope—defeat means losing my life with you, victory means being just one of your three thousand concubines. What can you promise of a complete and fulfilling life?”

“Do you think you would compromise or sacrifice for anyone?” Her smile was gentle but her words like knives. “Your heart is like iron and stone, your methods ruthless. You’ve never retreated for anyone’s sake. Even at minor Qingming, you won’t allow me to display my talents. Even for someone as insignificant as me, you feel wary and uneasy, constantly testing and guarding. In the future, even if I became one of your three thousand, what freedom would you permit me?”

“In summary, judging by the standards of Qingming Academy student exam scores,” she smiled and poured tea for Ning Yi with flowing sleeves, “Prince Chu Ning Yi—fails!”

Ning Yi pressed his hand on the tea cup, paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed heartily.

“I was wrong,” he set down the tea cup, his gaze burning. “Though I want to embrace you, the beauty won’t accept my feelings. I finally understand—a woman like you truly cannot be confined by anyone. To confine you, one must first subdue you!”

Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly without speaking.

“It must be your willing consent.” Ning Yi sighed softly. “Just…”

He suddenly stopped, his expression showing a trace of unease and helplessness. Feng Zhiwei rarely saw such an expression on him, but he’d already changed the subject.

“I’m rated as failing, so what about them?” He glanced toward the rear courtyard, only now showing some resentment at being rejected. “Superior, excellent?”

Feng Zhiwei blinked: “Who?”—her feigned ignorance quite convincing.

Ning Yi’s face darkened further as he lowered his head to drink tea without speaking.

Feng Zhiwei, watching his expression, was in a rare good mood. She smiled and said: “Young Prince Huzhuo dominates the grasslands but doesn’t rest easy. The twelve Huzhuo tribes aren’t united. Resource distribution among tribes is inevitably uneven, causing constant annual disputes. Though the Young Prince is the Great Consort’s son, the grassland king has many wives and concubines and marriages are casual. Relationships among tribes are intricate and complex. Just those with royal blood relations and inheritance rights number in the dozens—too many sleeping beside his throne! Even with truly stable status, you’re just one of ten women in the royal tent. After decades when he kicks the bucket, grassland customs have sons marrying stepmothers and younger brothers taking sisters-in-law… Fails!”

Ning Yi looked up at a tree top in the distance where branches and leaves moved without wind, swaying quite erratically.

He too was in good spirits, smiling as he asked: “Gu Nanyi?”

This time Feng Zhiwei fell silent. At her silence, Ning Yi’s expression changed, and the leaves on the opposite tree stopped swaying.

After a long while, Feng Zhiwei slowly said: “You asked the wrong question.”

Ning Yi tapped the table, smiling: “I’d rather I asked wrong. Best if everything’s wrong.”

He poured tea for Feng Zhiwei, his expression already restored to its previous calm. “Zhiwei, you’ve always been clever, but emotions can’t be analyzed like politics. If feelings become such arithmetic of one-two-three-four and addition-subtraction-multiplication-division, what pleasure remains?”

“Does Your Highness have teachings for me?” Feng Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, thinking: you, the world’s most unfeeling person, talking to me about emotions?

“Don’t discuss advantages and disadvantages, don’t discuss the future—only ask your heart at this moment.” Ning Yi grasped her hand holding the cup. “Your heart.”

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes, looking at his fingers densely surrounding hers. His fingertips pressed slightly, not allowing her to retreat. This man—even a single gesture didn’t like leaving people room to withdraw.

He valued and indulged her, she knew. But how much could that indulgence and value amount to? Once truly fundamental interests conflicted, would he still retreat a bit?

Entrusting her heart—for ordinary people, it meant happiness; for him and her, it meant risk.

Moreover…

There was still that face of hers, startlingly similar to another’s. Until she had answers, she dared not be careless for a single day.

“My heart is in its proper place.” Feng Zhiwei withdrew her hand, her smile light. “Perhaps one day something earth-shaking could overturn it.”

“I don’t want to overturn it, I only want to possess it.” Ning Yi smiled proudly. “Just watch—not all men in the world are cold like your father.”

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes and smiled, thinking: you’re not cold? If you dare say you’re not cold, your elder brother would cry from the afterlife.

“Jiang Xiao’s matter must still be dealt with.” Ning Yi had already returned to business. “Fifth Brother is making unreasonable trouble. The Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Revenue can’t be kneaded by him. By making such a scene today, you’ve backed yourself into a corner. When Fifth Brother comes to curry favor tomorrow, what will you do?”

“Since I dared offend you, I naturally have ways to compensate and make amends.” Feng Zhiwei smiled. “You spent so much effort on that writing monkey—now it just needs a spark. I’ll be the one to light that fire.”

Ning Yi looked at her with a half-smile.

“I’m a ‘national scholar’—all under heaven knows it. The Great Cheng prophecy says whoever wins the national scholar wins the world. In the current situation, for Fifth Prince to build momentum for his succession, he must win me over. Before that, I need to first display an attitude…” Feng Zhiwei’s eyes turned, leaning close to Ning Yi’s ear with a mischievous smile. “Now let’s put on a show first!”

She suddenly bit down on Ning Yi’s earlobe!

Ning Yi was thunderstruck. A man whose expression wouldn’t change even if Mount Tai collapsed before him was instantly frozen in place.

But Feng Zhiwei had already overturned the table!

“Your Highness dares insult a scholar!” Amidst toppling furniture and spilling tea, she “ripped” her sleeve open, raised her hand to tear open her collar buttons, jumped into the tea puddle and stomped around, splashing tea all over herself and Ning Yi’s robes. Then she picked up a broken porcelain shard, waving it as she rushed outward while holding it to her neck. “How tragic! A scholar may be killed but not humiliated!”

The series of actions were executed swiftly and precisely, quick as lightning. Ning Yi was still dizzy and disoriented in the earth-shaking chaos, savoring that bite’s pain and pleasure, thinking of her soft lips and fragrant scent sweeping past his earlobe with that deeply moving shock—in the blink of an eye, the woman had already overturned the table, torn her clothes, smashed dishes, and completed the full repertoire of crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide, never giving him time to react from start to finish.

Anyone slower-witted couldn’t possibly keep up with her pace!

This commotion wasn’t small. People rushed out from all directions, seeing the Director disheveled and wailing, about to commit suicide. Stunned and staring at each other, they thought—just moments ago they seemed to be conversing pleasantly, how did everything change so drastically in the blink of an eye?

Then they noticed Prince Chu with his dark expression, tea juice all over his body and flushed face—something clearly wasn’t right. Those with sharp eyes discovered that faint bite mark on His Highness’s earlobe.

The reason they could see the bite mark was because a small tea leaf was still stuck to it.

Having made this new discovery, everyone exchanged glances, each seeing in the others’ eyes a wildly leaping, surging gossiping heart.

A bite mark! Torn collar! Scandal! Secret affair!

Scholars’ brains, both large and small, were extremely developed, their ability to mentally reconstruct events truly shocking. Almost instantly, everyone completed the first-time restoration of events: So Prince Chu was especially courteous to Director Wei because his fondness for male companions had flared up again, so today he took advantage of Director Wei offending him to threaten and coerce him. Director Wei naturally refused firmly, but with rare private meeting opportunities, Prince Chu’s wolf heart grew fierce, so he grabbed sleeves and pulled collars, intending to force himself on him, bringing his mouth close to forcibly kiss. Director Wei, enraged, defended his chastity by biting His Highness’s earlobe before escaping. The ice-pure, jade-clean, outstanding Director Wei couldn’t bear the humiliation and wanted to commit suicide. Yes, that’s exactly what happened, absolutely no mistake.

Some busybodies were already worrying—they’d heard Princess Shaoning also had some interest in Director Wei. Were these siblings planning to share one husband, or were they planning fraternal conflict over Director Wei?

“Such a beautiful calamity…” sighed a white-haired old scholar, gazing heavenward worriedly.

There were relatively few perverts idle enough to only gossip. More people rushed forward to restrain the “grief-stricken” Director Wei, grabbing porcelain shards and offering consolation.

“Sir, better a bad life than a good death…” This was an optimistic one.

“Sir, this really isn’t anything…” This was an honest one.

“Sir, you’re really not at a loss…” This was an uninhibited one.

“Sir, in my heart you’ll always be ice-pure and jade-clean…” This was one taking the opportunity to confess.

Feng Zhiwei pretended to release the shard while using her grief-stricken tears to silently accuse someone of beastly behavior with more power than words, all while frantically signaling with twitching eyes to drive away the somewhat distracted male lead, His Highness.

Leave already! Hurry up and leave in a huff! Why are you standing there in a daze? And touching your earlobe with such a nostalgic expression—what’s that about? I know you’re touching your earlobe to hint that others should notice the bite mark, but there’s no need to touch it so long and act so convincingly invested, right? Look at that blissful expression on your face—no one would doubt you’re a giant teapot.

Feng Zhiwei shed tears—meeting Prince Chu was truly too tragic. If not pretending madness then throwing tantrums—her lifetime reputation…

“Outrageous!” Ning Yi finally deigned to return from that state, somewhat reluctantly glancing at Feng Zhiwei’s red lips and white teeth, thinking next time who knows when they’d perform this again, also quite nice, while angrily sweeping his sleeves. “Audacious and presumptuous! Spouting nonsense! Wait for me to return and summon the censors to impeach you!”

“This subordinate will await it! Just one worthless life!” Feng Zhiwei jumped up from the crowd, stretching her neck to retort, displaying the scholarly integrity of “killable but not touchable.”

“Wait to be stripped of office and thrown in prison!” His Highness roared as he departed.

“Ready anytime!” Feng Zhiwei rolled up her sleeves, charging about wildly, barely restrained by the crowd.

The students, thinking the Director had sacrificed for the academy at the risk of offending the overwhelmingly powerful Prince and nearly losing his chastity—such sacrifice was deeply moving—looked at Feng Zhiwei with increasingly devoted eyes.

Ning Yi “furiously” left with his Ministry of Justice officials and commanders. Though the group of unfortunate officials was rescued, they didn’t feel relieved—so His Highness really did have feelings for that pretty boy. Even after being bitten, it was all thunder and no rain. We can forget about revenge in this lifetime.

Feng Hao was also taken away. Feng Zhiwei had been very clear with Ning Yi—no suspicion? Then make him suspicious. Lock this troublemaker in the Ministry of Justice prison for a year or so before discussing further.

The academy returned to quiet. Feng Zhiwei had Young Master Gu return those banned books in Xin Ziyan’s room to their original places—these were books confiscated for compiling the “Tiansheng Chronicles,” piled in the underground library awaiting unified destruction. As for those secret letters, they were just things Feng Zhiwei had Young Master Gu casually write. With Xin Ziyan and Ning Yi’s caution, any private dealings wouldn’t leave written evidence. Unfortunately, that Ministry of Justice official was just an outer circle member, not qualified to know internal operations, which is why he panicked at the sight of those secret letters.

Young Master Gu remained the same, just somewhat unhappy he couldn’t find his walnut when he went back to look for it. Helian Zheng wore a coffin-like expression and didn’t speak to Feng Zhiwei for an entire day.

The next day he spoke. The dialogue went as follows:

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing, just an itchy ear.”

“…”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Considering when my father kicks the bucket, whether to marry my stepmother or my sister-in-law.”

“…”

Gossip always spread faster than imperial edicts. In just one short day, the news that Prince Chu and Qingming Academy’s Director Wei had a conflict, came to blows, and declared themselves irreconcilable spread throughout the court. With male gossips’ oral transmission, it gradually spawned various versions including the affair-jealousy version, secret-meeting-ear-biting version, and group-brawl version.

Reportedly, Prince Chu declared that with His Majesty’s dragon body in good health lately, he was too busy to bother with that arrogant upstart, but when His Majesty awakened, there’d be hell to pay!

Reportedly, Director Wei declared that he couldn’t be corrupted by wealth, subdued by force, or moved by poverty—anyone who tried to pressure him with lewd force would see him stain the court with blood to prove his innocence!

When the two met at court, they used “Hmph!” and “Tch!” as both opening and closing remarks.

That evening, Feng Zhiwei received a gold-embossed invitation from Fifth Prince—a banquet at “Seizing the Moon Tower,” inviting Inner Cabinet Walker, Right Rectifier, Qingming Academy Director Wei.

Two hours later, the Director emerged, sent out personally by Fifth Prince, face flushed from drinking.

“Little Wei,” Director Wei had become the affectionate Little Wei. Fifth Prince held Feng Zhiwei’s hand, his expression earnest and sincere. “Rest assured, with me here, Sixth Brother can’t touch a hair on your head.”

“Your Highness.” Feng Zhiwei’s eyes brimmed with tears, grasping Fifth Prince’s hand in return, looking aggrieved. “Thank you for your justice…”

“Sixth Brother is becoming increasingly outrageous!” Fifth Prince’s face showed indignation. “Truly perverse! How can he treat a national treasure, a dignified national scholar like this!”

Feng Zhiwei replied sorrowfully and gratefully: “Your Highness is truly virtuous!”

Fifth Prince looked sympathetic, patting her shoulder and saying in a low voice: “So my matter, I’ll trouble you…”

“A small thing.” Feng Zhiwei’s tone was decisive. “If Your Highness wishes to see books from His Majesty’s imperial study, this is very convenient for me. As long as Your Highness returns them promptly.”

“Rest assured about that.” Fifth Prince smiled, his expression sincere. “Though the Golden Coffer Essentials is an imperial-only collection, His Majesty had actually promised to lend it to me to read, but forgot due to numerous affairs. Now that the Princess Consort is gravely ill, and His Majesty is also unwell, I urgently need this book. I can only trouble you to get it so I can copy the needed prescriptions and return it immediately.”

“Since Your Highness speaks, what wouldn’t I feel assured about?” Feng Zhiwei smiled.

“Be careful…” Fifth Prince said earnestly. “Though it’s not a serious matter, it still puts you at some risk. The fewer who know, the better—you understand.”

“This subordinate understands. Your Highness, rest assured.” Feng Zhiwei’s expression was solemn.

The two exchanged more warm words before parting reluctantly.

The carriage wheels rumbled across the silent long street, moonlight clear and cold as snow.

Inside the carriage’s dark shadows, Feng Zhiwei slowly used a snow-white handkerchief to wipe her hands over and over again.

Half her face was hidden in the interior darkness, her expression unclear, only her misty eyes slowly turning in the shattered feather-like flowing moonlight.

She smiled—forest-cold.

Clang, clang, clang—the palace city bells and drums sounded several times. The star-like lights in all directions gradually extinguished. Second watch—the palace gates locked, the inner city closed.

Today was Feng Zhiwei’s day on duty at the Inner Cabinet.

The silent corridor was like a jade-green canal, floating in the sky-blue moonlight. The eaves of distant palace halls cast black shadows, like giant stones silently lying across the canal bottom.

Two teams of night patrol guards passed. At the corridor’s corner, a long human shadow emerged.

Soft-soled shoes touched the ground silently, nimbly crossing the corridor to reach behind mountain rocks concealed by flowers and trees.

Someone was quietly waiting there.

“Did you get it?” The lamplight from the distance revealed Fifth Prince’s features. His gaze fell directly on a box in the newcomer’s arms, eyes eager.

“Why did Your Highness come personally?” The newcomer was Feng Zhiwei, somewhat surprised as she looked around.

Fifth Prince didn’t answer but glanced around. “That Young Master Gu—he didn’t come?”

“How could he come?” Feng Zhiwei laughed. “The night duty roster cannot be changed or added to. He’s not an Inner Cabinet duty person and can’t stay overnight in the palace.”

Fifth Prince nodded, his gaze flickering.

Feng Zhiwei smiled again. “Wouldn’t it be better to deliver it directly to your residence tomorrow? Why have you waiting here, sending things back and forth overnight in such haste?”

“Because…” Fifth Prince took the box, reaching to touch and confirm it was what he wanted, then smiled slowly, strange light flashing in his eyes. “…it’s more convenient for you to die here.”

Feng Zhiwei’s head shot up.

“Sshh—”

An extremely faint sound, like flame scorching through hair. Feng Zhiwei cried “Ah!” and slowly fell backward, softly collapsing against the railing.

She looked at Fifth Prince with shock, pain and despair rapidly spreading through her eyes.

“You—”

“I’m very grateful to you.” Fifth Prince smiled gently. His usually cold, stern features, illuminated by moonlight and shadow, twisted into a sinister and eerie expression. “Grateful for your sacrifice for my imperial great enterprise.”

“You—” Feng Zhiwei tremblingly pointed at Fifth Prince, her extended fingers stained bright red.

“When I leave shortly, I’ll make some commotion, and you will die at the guards’ hands for ‘stealing important secrets from the imperial study.'” Usually taciturn, Fifth Prince today couldn’t suppress his overwhelming joy and pride, unable to resist explaining clearly. “Let you die understanding—what’s in this box isn’t the Golden Coffer Essentials at all.”

“How could…” Feng Zhiwei breathed weakly, struggling to ask, determined not to die at an inopportune moment.

“I knew you were very clever and would definitely open the box to check. In fact, the surface of this box truly contains a book. Opening it shows medical book content. But the middle is hollowed out, hiding the imperial family’s greatest secret.”

Fifth Prince opened the box, took out the book, and after flipping several pages, slid his finger along the spine. A page slowly opened, revealing a groove. Looking carefully, that page wasn’t paper but jade.

Fifth Prince extracted a section of yellow silk from the groove, unfolded and examined it, a cold smile appearing.

“As expected, it still has the Crown Prince’s name.” He sneered. “As expected, he hasn’t had time to modify it.”

“This is His Majesty’s succession edict after his eternal departure.” He waved the yellow silk. “It seems simple but is actually made of special material, woven from a unique stone found only once in the world. All text is embroidered using a special method, visible only at specific angles, so no one under heaven can forge it. Years ago when the Crown Prince was first established, His Majesty sealed this in the imperial study. Mother Consort once inadvertently learned of it and told me. I spent several years investigating and learning that embroidery method, then several more years finding an embroiderer who knew it. Everything prepared, I just waited for a chance to obtain this thing, remove threads and re-embroider. From now on…”

He smiled and raised the yellow silk. “The name on this should have been changed long ago—since it wasn’t, I need not be polite!”

“So that’s how it is…” Feng Zhiwei obligingly expressed amazement. “…You’re truly not polite at all, so everyone else need not be polite either.”

Fifth Prince was about to leave but hearing her speech growing increasingly fluent, turned back in shock.

“Snap.”

Lights blazed on all sides, illuminating everyone’s ashen faces.

“Clack.”

From the false mountain rocks, countless powerful crossbows suddenly appeared, arrow tips gleaming with cold blue light in the moonlight, covering Fifth Prince from every direction.

Someone walked from the corridor’s far end, in light robes and leisurely belt, smile refined and elegant. The pale gold mandala flowers bloomed with enchanting colors under the starlight.

“Fifth Brother truly has excellent schemes.” He clapped lightly, sleeves and smile both drifting leisurely in this early autumn night breeze.

Someone stood at the corridor’s railing in simple clothes, supported by the guard commander, trembling all over.

“Unfilial son!” He roared angrily. “Poisoning me before, plotting to seize the edict after, and murdering to silence witnesses, attempting to usurp the throne—deranged, conscienceless, reaching such extremes!”

Someone lazily sat up from the railing, pulling out a rose-paste steamed bun from her robes, eating with relish. The bright red sauce dripped from her mouth corners as she licked the sauce from her fingers too.

Fifth Prince retreated a step, looking at these three with varied expressions, his face ashen.

“Good! Good!” After a long while, he laughed desperately. “What an excellent scheme of deception and undermining!”

He turned sharply, viper-like eyes fixing on Feng Zhiwei. “Wei Zhi, excellent schemes!”

Feng Zhiwei met his eyes, alarm suddenly rising in her heart—in this desperate situation, he should either flee or kneel begging the Emperor of Tiansheng to spare him for their father-son bond. Why could he still be so fierce?

A phrase suddenly flashed through her mind like lightning.

“You’ll die at the guards’ hands for stealing important imperial study secrets.”

If I was assassinated by him and only a corpse was discovered, how could he be so certain the guards would help cover it up and kill me again?

And what kind of guards could discover my corpse immediately?

Unless…

Feng Zhiwei leaped up abruptly, fleeing toward Ning Yi.

But it was already too late.

A great force surged from behind, pushing her toward Fifth Prince. Fifth Prince sneered and rushed forward, grabbing her hair in one motion, yanking until her scalp burned with pain, then pressed his sword against her lower back.

Simultaneously, she heard the sharp sound of sword-drawing behind her and the Emperor of Tiansheng’s shocked, furious cry.

And Fifth Prince’s cold, loud laughter.

“Ning Yi!” He laughed. “Father Emperor and this brat—you can only save one!”

“Who will you save?”