This day Shaoshang didn’t return home either. She sent Sangguo back to the Cheng residence to report that she would spend the night at Changqiu Palace, telling the family not to worry. After all, bedding and quilts were fully provided, and there was the nagging Nanny Zhai to keep her company. That night by candlelight at her writing desk, she wrote down point after point of doubts on a smooth wooden tablet. The next morning, just after Shaoshang finished breakfast, the Crown Prince’s personal eunuch came to find her, asking her to make a trip to the Eastern Palace.

Arriving at the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was speaking in low voices with Ling Buyi in the courtyard. Liang Qiu Qi had a palace maid lead Shaoshang to a side hall while saying softly: “The Young Master said the steward of Purple Osmanthus Villa has arrived—presumably the young mistress should meet him. Feel free to ask whatever questions you have. Later the Young Master will take you out of the palace to investigate the case.”

Shaoshang nodded and followed the palace maid into the side hall, only to see the Crown Princess tearfully complaining to a brocade-robed official in his thirties.

“…That damned little slut Qu Lingjun seeks death herself yet still drags down His Highness the Crown Prince. Now it’s spreading everywhere outside—I have no face to go out and see people! Even being cut into a thousand pieces wouldn’t be enough to vent the hatred in my heart!”

Unable to listen anymore, Shaoshang strode in and said loudly: “Not seeing you for two days—Crown Princess, have you been well?”

The Crown Princess was now somewhat afraid of Shaoshang. Hearing her voice, she couldn’t help shrinking back. But the brocade-robed man brazenly shouted: “Where did this rude person come from, seeing the Crown Princess without kowtowing in salute?!”

Shaoshang gave a loose, casual bow to the Crown Princess, then looked this man up and down: “You must be Sun Sheng, the Crown Princess’s cousin and steward of Purple Osmanthus Villa?”

Sun Sheng looked at Shaoshang with murky eyes, saying smugly: “Exactly! Young miss, you’re quite attractive…”

“Cousin!” The Crown Princess said nervously. “Don’t be rude!” Her own cousin hadn’t yet suffered at the hands of this Cheng Shaoshang.

“Rude about what? The Crown Princess is usually too kind and easy to bully, causing our Sun family such grievances! The dignified maternal family of the Crown Princess—to this day apart from two empty titles we’ve gotten nothing. It’s truly too shameful!” Sun Sheng said indignantly.

Shaoshang gave a light sneer: “Fortunately your Sun family wasn’t given any official posts. You can’t even manage a single villa properly—if you were truly given office, wouldn’t that cause great disaster, harm the local people, and implicate the Crown Prince’s reputation!”

“What are you saying, you little slut!” Sun Sheng’s expression changed drastically.

“I’m saying disaster is upon you yet you still don’t know life from death!”

The Crown Princess quickly said: “Though Cousin manages Purple Osmanthus Villa, with so many servants inside and out, it’s natural Cousin might overlook things. Those several purple osmanthus trees drop many osmanthus flowers on the ground daily—perhaps some lowly servant secretly picked up a handful. This is impossible to prevent.”

Shaoshang sneered: “The villa doesn’t have purple osmanthus trees everywhere! Nanny Zhai said it was originally called Zigui Villa, only changing its name after seven or eight extremely rare purple osmanthus trees grew on the eastern lakeside. In the end, actually only one place in the entire villa has purple osmanthus, with dedicated people tending to it daily. Fine, even if Lord Sun overlooked things, now that the matter has come to light, dare I ask Lord Sun—have you found out who stole the purple osmanthus?”

Sun Sheng’s face tensed as he gritted his teeth: “In the rush, not yet.”

“Then are there any servants in the villa who’ve suddenly become financially flush recently?”

“…There are many villa servants—haven’t had time to question them all individually.”

“Purple Osmanthus Villa belongs to the imperial estates. The servants inside are managed the same as palace maids and eunuchs—they can’t easily leave. In recent days, which people have left the villa?” After secretly collecting purple osmanthus, they’d need to deliver the goods, right?

“…Not yet known.”

“This doesn’t require questioning everyone individually—just flip through the villa’s entry and exit registry, wouldn’t that do it? Why don’t you know?!”

Sun Sheng was questioned to the point of shame turning to anger, howling: “Stop being so aggressive! I’m in charge of Purple Osmanthus Villa—I have my own methods. What does a wet-behind-the-ears little girl know! This matter needs to be investigated slowly…”

“I’m afraid there’s no time.” Ling Buyi’s voice came, then he and the Crown Prince stepped into the side hall one after the other.

Everyone quickly saluted the Crown Prince. Sun Sheng’s face showed guilt as he said with an ingratiating smile: “This… Your Highness the Crown Prince, about this matter…”

The Crown Prince kept a stern face, unwilling to acknowledge him. Sun Sheng looked to his cousin for help. The Crown Princess’s expression was awkward.

Ling Buyi turned to ask Shaoshang: “Have you finished questioning him?”

Shaoshang looked disgusted: “This Lord Sun knows nothing when asked three questions, but his official airs aren’t small.”

Ling Buyi nodded and ordered outside: “Someone come—take Sun Sheng into custody. Liang Qiu Qi, you personally escort him.”

The Sun cousins were shocked together. Sun Sheng was scared witless. The Crown Princess said tremulously: “You… what are you doing? Even if my cousin was lax in managing the villa servants, the crime doesn’t warrant this…”

Ling Buyi was too lazy to waste words. Stepping forward to grab Sun Sheng by the back of his collar, he said calmly: “Let the Crown Princess know—the purple osmanthus is still a small matter, but what about the Crown Prince’s jade cicada? The Crown Prince hadn’t seen Qu Lingjun in a long time. Before meeting her, he adjusted his appearance. At that time, His Highness clearly remembers that jade cicada was properly hanging at his waist.”

“Maybe it was lost on the return journey—accessories easily fall off when riding horses!” The Crown Princess still struggled.

Ling Buyi glanced at the guilty Sun Sheng and sneered: “After seeing Qu Lingjun, the Crown Prince’s emotions were unstable. He sat in the villa for a long time, then abandoned his horse and returned to the Eastern Palace by carriage. The villa, the carriage, the palace road, the Eastern Palace—the jade cicada could only have been lost in these four places… Crown Princess, where do you think the jade cicada was lost?”

“If someone deliberately framed the Crown Prince, naturally they’d plan in advance. The carriage and palace road are accidents that can’t be predicted. As for the Eastern Palace, after that seal incident last time, presumably it’s not so easy to make a move there… So it must be the villa!” Shaoshang tilted her head.

Sun Sheng’s face turned deathly pale as he pleaded loudly: “Your Highness, it wasn’t me, it really wasn’t me… Someone must have secretly infiltrated the villa! Crown Princess, please plead with His Highness for me…”

“What exactly happened can be known by asking.” Ling Buyi wasted no more words, grabbing Sun Sheng and throwing him out into the corridor.

Liang Qiu Qi had already led guards waiting outside. Very skillfully seizing and binding him firmly, he conveniently stuffed a ball of torn cloth into Sun Sheng’s mouth.

The Crown Princess watched this scene from inside the hall, her whole body trembling with fear. She knelt before the Crown Prince, kowtowing repeatedly until her forehead was blood-red, weeping: “This concubine begs Your Highness for clear judgment. This concubine is ignorant and foolish, shallow and jealous, but my heart toward Your Highness can only be proven by heaven. How could my cousin have ulterior motives to frame you?! There must be hidden circumstances—this concubine implores Your Highness to investigate clearly!”

The Crown Prince seemed unable to bear it, but still said firmly: “If it truly has nothing to do with Sun Sheng, he can certainly return unharmed. Zicheng won’t deliberately make things difficult for him.”

Shaoshang discovered that in Ling Buyi’s gaze toward the Crown Prince was a kind of well-meaning light mockery, as if helpless that the Crown Prince was so easily soft-hearted—it was just a few kowtows and a few tears.

The Crown Prince gently pushed away the Crown Princess and turned his head: “Due to my negligence, great disaster was sown. I must trouble you both.”

Shaoshang suddenly felt a heavy responsibility on her shoulders and solemnly promised: “Your Highness, rest assured—this concubine will certainly do her utmost to clear your name!”

The Crown Prince was startled, then laughed: “Good, good, I trust you…”

Shaoshang noticed the Crown Prince’s expression was odd. Looking back at Ling Buyi behind her, she suddenly understood: “Your Highness, those words you just said were directed at Great Master Ling!” She’d been presumptuous—how embarrassing.

The Crown Prince couldn’t bear to speak directly and turned away, his shoulders shaking slightly.

Ling Buyi had originally been looking down suppressing laughter. When he raised his head, it was as if mountain flowers bloomed brilliantly and rivers shone clearly. He pulled over the girl with pouting lips, and together they took leave of the Crown Prince. Walking on the palace road, he asked the girl: “Where should we investigate first?”

Shaoshang pursed her lips and muttered: “Why ask me? You’re the one His Highness trusts—I’m just an afterthought.”

Ling Buyi’s eyes filled with smiling intent, though his face wore a serious expression: “Regardless of whether others trust you or anyone sees, you should earnestly do everything—this is the proper way of the world.”

Shaoshang slowly nodded, revealing a slight smile: “Alright, though I know you’re coaxing me, what you say is very right. Being a person and doing things should indeed be like this.”

“Not angry anymore? Then where shall we go first?”

“There’s no first or second. I only want to go to the Liang residence. Everything changes but the core remains—the key is there!”

“Excellent—I was thinking the same.”

…

The atmosphere at the Liang residence today was different from yesterday.

If yesterday the Liang residence up and down had a kind of eager gossip mixed with bewilderment, today it was much gloomier, even faintly carrying a desolate aura. After entering the residence they split into two paths. Ling Buyi gracefully went to find Governor Liang while Shaoshang as usual first went to see Qu Lingjun—who knew she’d first witness a good show.

Qu Lingjun’s courtyard had originally been planted with various rare plants and flowers, but now they’d all been pulled up clean, clearing a broad paved stone ground. A group of sturdy house servants holding either clubs or ropes stood solemnly. In the middle, seven or eight people were pressed to the ground being beaten with planks. Shaoshang noticed none of them had their mouths gagged—it seemed deliberate to let them cry out for someone to hear.

Yuan Shen stood in the corridor, his sapphire brocade fur cloak billowing in the wind, his tall figure standing elegantly with refined bearing.

Shaoshang was startled: “Why are you here?” This was the inner residence, wasn’t it?

Yuan Shen gave Shaoshang a slight smile: “My mother came today.”

Liang Qiu Fei, dispatched by Ling Buyi to follow behind Shaoshang, kept a cold face and bowed: “This humble officer has seen Young Master Yuan.” Then without waiting for Shaoshang and Yuan Shen to exchange pleasantries, he urged: “Mistress, time waits for no one. Please hurry inside to question Madam Qu.”

Shaoshang thought this made sense, so she nodded at Yuan Shen and quickly removed her shoes, ascended the steps, and entered the inner chamber.

At this time the scene inside was quite interesting, just like a living drama.

Sitting high in the place of honor was a plainly dressed lady who appeared to be in her forties. Her features were quite beautiful, but her expression was desolate, carrying an air of weary suffering, as if she didn’t particularly care about anything in this world. Her hair was bound with a translucent white jade hairpin, white jade earrings at her ears, a white jade bracelet with回-pattern on her left wrist, but at her waist hung an incongruous bright red glazed bead pendant—this person must be Yuan’s mother, Madam Liang. Hearing the servant announce Shaoshang’s name, she looked the girl over a few times.

Qu Lingjun knelt beside Madam Liang, seeming even thinner than yesterday, her appearance haggard and wretched, her slender body as if only a skeleton remained. Her trusted maid Youtong accompanied her at her side.

Below was a fierce-looking middle-aged or elderly woman glaring at Liang and Qu through gritted teeth. If not for being firmly held down by two stout women, she’d probably have already jumped up to beat Qu Lingjun.

Old Madam Liang was pressed immobile, forcing words through her teeth: “I’m your stepmother! How dare you be disrespectful to me!”

Madam Liang said: “…I opposed Father marrying you from the start. Humble family background is still a small matter—you as a person are narrow and shallow, selfishly calculating. You’ve never understood what it means to consider the big picture, only knowing your own immediate interests. Now it’s good—you’ve dragged His Highness the Crown Prince down into this. You don’t care about the lives and futures of the whole clan. Which family elder will still stand up for you? Stop dreaming.”

Old Madam Liang said hatefully: “Should I just watch my son die miserably while this slut can get away scot-free?!” Her gaze toward Qu Lingjun seemed to want to devour her alive.

“The case isn’t yet clear—one cannot act rashly.”

“Bullshit! All of you fancy yourselves of noble birth and have always looked down on us mother and son, but Ah Shang is still the future master of the Liang family, and I’m still your father’s widow…”

“So I said Father shouldn’t have married you. In this world, the Liang family existed first, then came Liang Shang. Just based on Liang Shang’s abilities, without the Liang family, what would he be worth? Also, I’ll be straight with you. Regardless of how this ends, your days as a widow are over. You’ll be supervised and ‘rest well to recover.'”

Madam Liang’s expression was cold, dismissing Old Madam Liang as if merely placing a cricket into a jar. Having said this, she had servants gag Old Madam Liang’s mouth, not wanting to see her terrified and fearful expression, and turned toward Qu Lingjun.

“I originally thought you were a smart person—how did you make such a mess of a perfectly good marriage? Liang Shang beat you—could you not speak or move? Your father and brothers aren’t people who’d ignore your life and death. Making a fuss earlier wouldn’t have come to this.”

Qu Lingjun’s face was pale, her expression dejected: “At first I wanted to divorce. Liang Shang threatened to say outside that the Crown Prince and I were secretly exchanging feelings and having improper contact. At that time I was young and momentarily frightened. After having children, I saw Liang Shang was just making empty threats, so I wanted to divorce again. But he viciously said that even if I could leave, the children would have to stay, and who knew how many days such small children could live… So I hesitated again.”

“Besides, the Liang and Qu families were once at odds like fire and water. It took great effort to reconcile—how could I ruin the big picture for my sake alone? But what could be done? Life must go on. So I secretly selected several martial maids with good skills to always accompany me. Then Liang Shang didn’t dare attack me much anymore. Actually, I only truly suffered without being able to speak of it in the first few years. Later, if Liang Shang hit me a few times, I definitely had the martial maids hit him back. If you don’t believe me, have the coroner look—Liang Shang also has injuries on his body.”

“These past years Liang Shang had calmed down considerably, but who knew after coming to the capital he’d revert to his old ways? But today I would no longer endure him. A few days ago, I revealed this matter completely to Governor Liang. Though my cousin was very troubled, he still promised me that if I divorced Liang Shang, he’d take the two children and have kind and virtuous clan aunts raise them. So why would I kill Liang Shang? I already had a plan to escape!”

By the last sentence, Qu Lingjun was somewhat agitated.

Shaoshang sighed inwardly. No wonder they say even a clear official finds household matters hard to judge. Yesterday when learning Qu Lingjun suffered years of domestic abuse, she’d actually felt somewhat contemptuous, thinking only weak and incompetent women would endure such matters—this Qu Lingjun was nothing special. Now thinking about it, indeed every family has its difficult scriptures to recite.

Madam Liang was also silent for a long time. She turned to Shaoshang: “Since you’re carrying out Changqiu Palace’s orders, ask whatever you wish.”

Shaoshang nodded, sat upright to gather herself, and began questioning.

“Who actually delivered lunch to the study pavilion at noon?”

“It was Youtong. She wore my fur cloak. I didn’t want people in the residence to know I’d gone out.”

“But when Lord Liang saw Youtong, could he not recognize her?”

“If he knew, he knew. Anyway, I’d already torn off all pretenses with him. Some things are just tacitly understood.”

“So that bookcase was indeed knocked over by Lord Liang?”

“Sigh, when he saw Youtong come, he immediately knew I’d gone out and threw a tantrum knocking over the bookcase. But at that time he was immersed in carving and didn’t want to interrupt, only declaring that when I returned he’d settle accounts properly.”

Shaoshang shook her head and sighed silently—this case was truly strange and convoluted to the extreme. The suspicious points reasoned out yesterday were actually all true instead.

“And that book chest—can Madam confirm what was actually inside?”

“I know what Miss Cheng means. Liang Shang had no talent or virtue—his only obsession was metal and stone carving. Those books I’d prepared beforehand, keeping them back, wanting to use them at critical moments to deflect Liang Shang’s anger. But the book chest carried into the study pavilion that day—I confirm what was inside was truly all books, definitely not a corpse switched in by someone.”

“Why is Madam so certain?” Shaoshang found this strange.

Qu Lingjun’s face showed shame. Steadying herself, she said firmly: “That day returning to the city from Purple Osmanthus Villa, along the way I encountered an old man selling ancient books and casually bought a scroll. After returning home, I had people carry the book chest from my courtyard. Right there on the lakeside path to the study pavilion, I personally opened the chest and placed the last scroll inside. After that, the house servants were always beside me carrying the chest, never leaving my side. Why there are bloodstains under the oilcloth—I truly don’t know…”

Shaoshang frowned in thought. Since that book chest had been placed in Qu Lingjun’s courtyard for a long time, presumably someone took the opportunity to tamper with things under the oilcloth. That Qu Lingjun and her maid didn’t notice was natural.

She suddenly thought of something and asked strangely: “But that day in the study pavilion, I saw only a few scrolls in that chest.”

Qu Lingjun’s face showed hidden pain as she said hoarsely: “…Liang Shang and I were husband and wife in name but not even casual acquaintances in reality. That day after entering the study pavilion I didn’t want to deal with Liang Shang. After saying a few words with no response from Liang Shang, I thought he was sulking and was too lazy to bother with him, so I opened the chest myself and placed the bamboo scrolls one by one into the outermost bookcase. Halfway through, I found still no response and grew suspicious. I went around the bookcase and screen and saw Liang Shang leaning against the west wall with a knife stuck in his body. I was so frightened I fell to the ground and called everyone over.”

Shaoshang was speechless—what kind of coincidence was this?

“Madam’s explanation is certainly plausible, but Lord Ji’s statement—oh, not just Lord Ji… Others all say you dragged Lord Liang’s corpse out of the chest, placed it against the wall, then moved several books from the study pavilion into the chest for show.” Though Liang Shang’s study pavilion didn’t have many books, there were still enough bamboo scrolls to fill a chest.

The maid Youtong suddenly said: “When Mistress opened the chest by the lakeside, several house servants all saw—there truly was no one inside.”

Shaoshang sighed: “Those house servants were brought by Madam from her natal family, right? They already helped Madam transport a corpse—what’s mere concealment? If you say it out loud, people won’t believe it.”

Youtong froze for a moment, then threw herself to the ground weeping: “That day this slave said it—let this slave take the blame for this killing, but Mistress absolutely refused!”

Qu Lingjun stroked her trusted maid’s hair, sighing: “Foolish Youtong, you grew up with me from childhood. You killing someone versus me killing someone—what’s the difference? I’d still get the crime of ordering a servant to kill my husband and would lose you too.”

Youtong wept bitterly without ceasing.

Shaoshang said: “May this concubine see the fur cloak Youtong wore that day? Best to also let me see the clothes she wore that day.”

Qu Lingjun agreed and had the sobbing Youtong take Shaoshang to the back.

Youtong’s room wasn’t together with the other maids but directly in a partition behind the mistress’s bedchamber for convenient attendance.

While waiting in Qu Lingjun’s inner chamber, Shaoshang looked here and there, actually seeing something quite familiar. She couldn’t help feeling moved in her heart.

Soon Youtong came out holding the clothes worn that day and Qu Lingjun’s fur cloak. Shaoshang examined them very carefully over and over, finding indeed not a trace of bloodstains or suspicious points, so she gave up.

Next, Shaoshang planned to go look at the study pavilion crime scene. Who knew that hearing this, Yuan Shen standing in the corridor actually followed along with a smile.

“Your mother is so unsmiling—how can you love smiling so much?” Shaoshang said.

Yuan Shen still smiled: “We’re family—complementing each other. Mother doesn’t like to smile or talk, so I smile more and talk more.”

“What are you following me for?”

“You and I still have some connection. I’ll accompany you so you won’t be afraid.”

“Ha, afraid?! Back then outside Hua County I saw over a hundred corpses! Ha, afraid—I don’t even know how to write those two characters!”

Yuan Shen stopped, casually broke off a tree branch and held it before Shaoshang: “Write those two characters for me to see? Use the script from ritual texts, not the script commonly used by minor officials and clerks.”

Shaoshang glared at him for a long time, finally laughing herself first: “…I really can’t write them!”

The Empress never had hard requirements for her studies, taking understanding principles as the first essential.

The girl’s smile was bright as flowers, free and lively. Though it was the middle of winter, Yuan Shen’s chest seemed to hold a small warm brazier.

—Liang Qiu Fei following behind the two listened while rolling his eyes, even more furious than if he’d been cuckolded himself. But Yuan Shen had high status and a sharp tongue, and he couldn’t think what to say to drive him away.

“You’re still as annoying as ever, always poking at people’s shortcomings!” Shaoshang planted her hands on her hips and glared, but couldn’t help wanting to laugh.

Yuan Shen seemed thoroughly comfortable being scolded and laughed heartily.

“Don’t laugh, don’t laugh—the Liang residence just had a death! Laughing like this invites a beating! Stop laughing—even if you’re Madam Liang’s son, watch out for being clubbed from behind! Don’t laugh!” Shaoshang nervously looked around in all directions.

Yuan Shen slowly restrained his laughter, then made a long, deep bow: “Lady Shaoshang, this one apologizes here.” Rising, he looked at the girl with a slight smile. “I know Lady Shaoshang is extraordinarily brave and resolute. Just now this one spoke presumptuously.”

Shaoshang saw he spoke sincerely and smiled: “Such a small matter—forget it. I won’t take it to heart. Actually, I know your thoughts. You also want to share your maternal uncle and mother’s worries, so let’s go together.”

Liang Qiu Fei witnessed everything, only feeling his blood surge. Unable to bear it any longer, he gave quiet instructions to a guard behind him. That guard glanced at the pair of well-matched jade-like people walking ahead and understood almost instantly, quickly taking the order and leaving.

At this time, Ling Buyi was having intimate discussions with Liang Wuji in a quiet inner chamber.

“…Governor Liang, think it over carefully. I’m not in a hurry.”

“If not in a hurry, why have you come to pressure me?” Liang Wuji said coldly.

“Lord Liang, do you think it’s the Crown Prince who’s anxious now? No. Right now the one who should be most anxious is Governor Liang—it’s the Liang family’s entire position in His Majesty’s heart.”

Liang Wuji sat with head bowed, supporting himself on his palm, silent.

Ling Buyi sat upright before the desk, his voice clear: “This murder case seems confusing and perplexing—what study pavilion locked room, what fur cloak and book chest, and jade cicada and purple osmanthus… All these things combined can only lead to one conclusion: that Madam Qu was having an affair with the Crown Prince, killed Liang Shang, then tried to escape guilt—and this is also the result the person in the shadows wants.”

Liang Wuji’s head ached: “How is this possible? Since marrying, Madam Qu has been in Hedong and never set foot in the capital, and moreover…”

“Correct. You know Madam Qu couldn’t possibly have killed Liang Shang because she already had a way to escape. I also know the Crown Prince couldn’t possibly have killed Liang Shang because he hadn’t seen Madam Qu in ten years—but outsiders don’t know.” Ling Buyi said.

Liang Wuji slumped down dejectedly.

Ling Buyi said: “The terror of public opinion—once rumors spread wider and wider and the Crown Prince’s reputation is ruined, the shadowy person’s goal is achieved.”

Liang Wuji said with some mockery: “I originally thought this matter was Madam Qu implicating the Crown Prince. Only now do I know it’s the Crown Prince implicating the Liang family. The shadowy person went to such great lengths—how could it only target a weak woman? It turns out the sword points at the Eastern Palace! The Liang family suffered this human tragedy in vain, yet now, Zicheng, you still come to pressure me?”

“The Liang family isn’t entirely innocent either.” Ling Buyi said blandly. “Doesn’t Liang Shang bear the Liang surname?”

Liang Wuji didn’t understand his meaning.

Ling Buyi said: “If Liang Shang had upright character and properly made a good husband with Madam Qu—loving and respecting each other, intimate and close—this scheme might not have succeeded. But he just had to act like a beast! Previously many people already knew their marriage was discordant. Now that matters are exposed, even more know Madam Qu suffered while Liang Shang was base and vile. Thus this frame-up became even more ironclad.”

Liang Wuji was angry, saying heavily: “So it’s all the Liang family’s fault! Great Master Ling has excellent debating skills.”

“The Liang family’s new bride, the Liang family’s son, the Liang family’s residence, the Liang family’s study pavilion and family school students… If not the Liang family’s matter, is it mine?”

Liang Wuji was so angry he nearly fell over backward.

Ling Buyi continued: “Governor Liang needn’t be angry with me. Just now I left out a line—not only do I know the Crown Prince couldn’t possibly have killed Liang Shang, His Majesty also deeply knows the Crown Prince wouldn’t. Though the Crown Prince’s actions were unthoughtful, if because of the Liang family, the Crown Prince falls into this sky-high sewage—what does the Governor think His Majesty will think?”

Liang Wuji shuddered, his anger dissipating as dread surged up. He said sincerely: “Dare I ask Zicheng—how should the Liang family resolve this matter?”

Ling Buyi was about to answer when his guard suddenly called from outside requesting an audience. After permission was granted, the guard leaned by Ling Buyi’s ear and spoke a few words. Ling Buyi’s expression changed slightly.

Liang Wuji was somewhat curious. Earlier this handsome noble young man before him had been completely composed, responding to him with seasoned skill, showing no timidity. Now something had happened to make him look like this.

Ling Buyi frowned, then suddenly smiled at Liang Wuji: “Governor Liang, you and I can talk freely here, but Liang family relatives are outside arguing and making noise. In this one’s view, it’s better to exert some control. Otherwise if it spreads outside, wouldn’t that add fuel to the fire?”

Liang Wuji was startled, not quite understanding how his relatives arguing in his own residence could have any connection to the Crown Prince. However, not wanting more trouble, he said amenably: “Zicheng is right. I’ll have someone go tell them to be calm and not anxious…”

“Governor Liang need not trouble yourself.” Ling Buyi said. “The Liang family members are now both worried the family reputation will be ruined and worried about implicating the Crown Prince—how can they be easily persuaded? Ordinary people going there is useless. Governor Liang might as well send Young Master Yuan Shen. I think he’d be very good. Young Master Yuan is half a Liang family member, learned and knowledgeable with a pure reputation, eloquent—he can certainly soothe the Liang family relatives.”

Liang Wuji: …

“Many thanks for Zicheng’s concern for the Liang family.” Though Governor Liang was experienced in worldly affairs, at this moment he was somewhat bewildered.

Ling Buyi was very polite: “No need for courtesy.”