Everyone was startled by her.

Especially Young Imperial Physician Pei, who was completely dumbfounded.

This woman not only ate a lot but was also wildly arrogant beyond all reason. He had no idea where his elder brother had found her!

This woman smiled at Zhao Yishi.

“The fish isn’t fresh, so it’s suitable for braising. Let me make Your Highness a braised yellow croaker as… repayment for that box of mooncakes.”

After speaking, she shamelessly threw him a flirtatious glance, nearly causing Wang Yin, who was watching from the side, to faint.

Who said only men could act like scoundrels? Women could too, and she dared to do it brazenly toward his master, the Grand Prince!

So, so, so shameless!

What Wang Yin didn’t know was that after that flirtatious glance, his master’s heart skipped a beat.

Soon, two more dishes appeared on the table.

One was yellow croaker braised with rice cakes, the other a clear and plain tofu soup. Both dishes looked unremarkable, and their presentation was quite ordinary.

Zhao Yishi had grown up at the Emperor’s side. Flying creatures from the sky, crawling creatures from the earth—what delicacies hadn’t he tasted? He didn’t take it too seriously.

He picked up his chopsticks and casually tasted a bite of fish. His expression slowly froze.

Then he picked up a chopstick of rice cake…

Seeing His Highness remain silent for so long, Wang Yin assumed he was giving Miss Li face and was too embarrassed to say it wasn’t good. He quickly said:

“Your Highness, this servant will remove the dishes…”

“Bring a bowl of hot rice.”

“Eh?”

Wang Yin was first stunned, then delighted, and hurried to serve the rice himself.

Since the assassination attempt, His Highness had had a poor appetite, only tasting a couple bites of everything. He had been worried sick.

Li Buyan sat to the side, propping her cheek with her hand, tilting her head, “Try the soup?”

Zhao Yishi picked up the spoon and took a sip of soup, his eyes showing astonishment.

She smiled triumphantly.

“I was pressed for time, so this soup uses plain water. If I’d used seafood stock, it would be so fresh your eyebrows would fall off.”

Zhao Yishi looked at her, “Who taught you?”

“My mother.”

“Your mother…”

“An extraordinary woman.”

Li Buyan habitually tapped Zhao Yishi’s foot with her toe, just like she did with Yan Sanhe at the dinner table.

“Your Highness, eat while it’s hot. I’ll go outside for a walk.”

This tap made Zhao Yishi jump again. Without thinking, he also tapped her foot.

“Sit down. Keep me company.”

Li Buyan blinked, then blinked again.

“Your Highness, there’s something I must tell you. I came on this trip only to escort Young Imperial Physician Pei… Oh well, seeing you eat alone looks rather pitiful. I’ll keep you company if you want.”

Zhao Yishi’s face had already darkened, but the latter half of her sentence took a sudden turn. That darkened face couldn’t very well brighten again. Seeing her triumphant expression, he realized he’d fallen for her trick.

He slowly curved his lips, slowly picked up his bowl, and slowly ate that fish, drinking that half bowl of soup…

He could tell she did it on purpose. While feeling pleased, he also didn’t want to let her succeed so easily.

So, gauging the pressure, he stepped on her embroidered shoe.

“Sss—”

Li Buyan gasped in pain, her eyes looking at him resentfully.

“Your Highness, that’s repaying kindness with enmity!”

Zhao Yishi had food in his mouth and didn’t answer, but the corners of his mouth curved up a bit more.

This person was also doing it on purpose.

Li Buyan rolled her eyes at him, thinking to herself that these princes and grandsons, though they looked dignified and proper, were actually quite petty.

Even pettier than Third Master Xie and Young Master Pei.

“Fine!”

She muttered to herself, “I’ll take the loss. Mother said that good-looking men can be indulged in their favoritism.”

“Cough…”

Zhao Yishi choked on a mouthful of hot soup, coughing until his face turned red.

The immortal-like person descended to the mortal realm and picked up a bit of earthly fireworks. Li Buyan couldn’t be more pleased, laughing so hard she doubled over.

Candlelight shone from behind her, illuminating her face in a rosy glow.

The laughter and coughing blended together. Young Imperial Physician Pei and Wang Yin, watching from the side, felt it was surreal, like a dream.

…

One dish, one soup—Zhao Yishi ate everything clean. After rinsing his mouth with tea, “Let’s go. I’ll accompany you for that walk outside.”

At that moment, Shen Chong entered, “Your Highness, Wang Xian has arrived.”

Zhao Yishi’s expression clearly showed displeasure.

“Your Highness, please attend to your business.”

Li Buyan said while yawning, “I’m tired anyway.”

“Wang Yin.”

“Your Highness.”

“Settle Miss Li in my courtyard.”

“That’s improper.”

Li Buyan’s eyes were watery from yawning, “Suspicions arise from circumstances. Your Highness shouldn’t let me tarnish your reputation.”

“Li Buyan.”

Zhao Yishi suddenly called her full name.

His voice was slightly hoarse, his eyes appeared somewhat weary due to being downcast. For a moment, Li Buyan’s heart beat faster twice.

“My courtyard is the safest place.”

Li Buyan obediently nodded, thinking to herself that with her there, it would be even safer.

“Miss Li, please follow me.”

Wang Yin now looked at Li Buyan as if seeing his own mother—so warmly. He had figured it out: His Highness treated this woman quite differently.

Li Buyan: “Lead the way.”

The room was in a side room next to the eastern wing—a canopy bed with clean, fresh bedding.

Li Buyan waited for Wang Yin to leave, then flopped onto it.

From childhood to now, so many people had called her name “Li Buyan,” but no one had said it as nicely as Zhao Yishi.

How could he say it so beautifully?

It was killing her!

She pulled the quilt over herself and rolled around several times. Strange—she wasn’t sleepy anymore!

…

In the flower hall.

Wang Xian glanced at the Grand Prince’s expression, “Your Highness, Duan Yucheng has confessed. It was indeed he who hired the assassin, spending one thousand gold.”

Duan Yucheng was the Prefect of Lishui Prefecture.

The assassin hadn’t had time to bite down on poison to commit suicide and was captured alive by Shen Chong. After round after round of severe torture, he finally couldn’t withstand it and revealed the mastermind behind it all.

Zhao Yishi: “Why did he do this?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, Duan Yucheng had marriage alliances with Li Xing’s two sons, Li Shen and Li Huai. When the two Li brothers were investigated, he knew he couldn’t escape, so he…”

“So he thought to kill me?”

Zhao Yishi laughed coldly, “If he killed me, could he escape disaster?”

“This…”

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Wang Xian’s forehead.

“If he confessed and accepted punishment, Duan Yucheng could still preserve his children and grandchildren. But assassinating me—forget three generations, nine generations of heads wouldn’t be enough for His Majesty to cut off.”

Zhao Yishi glanced sideways at Wang Xian, “Could he not calculate even this simple account?”

Wang Xian: “This official will investigate thoroughly again immediately.”

Just as he finished speaking, a guard rushed in.

“Your Highness, Duan Yucheng just committed suicide by poison.”

Wang Xian’s head buzzed, and he fell to his knees with a thud in fright.

“Your Highness, when Duan Yucheng was taken to prison, we searched him inside and out—we didn’t even miss the gaps between his teeth!”

Zhao Yishi looked down at him, his expression unfathomable.

“Lord Wang, stand up. First investigate the situation clearly, then we’ll discuss other matters.”

“Yes!”

Wang Xian scrambled up using both hands and feet, bowing as he retreated while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Shen Chong waited until he was far away, then stepped forward and asked in a low voice: “Your Highness, should we have our people secretly investigate as well?”

“Investigate what?”

Zhao Yishi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“They even searched between his teeth, so there’s only one possibility.”