Leaving the Imperial Secretariat, the Third Prince strode ahead with large steps. Ling Buyi and Shaoshang followed behind, separated by a full dozen paces. Seeing the Third Prince turn the corner ahead at the palace alley, Shaoshang quickly tugged Ling Buyi’s sleeve and whispered: “Does His Majesty value the Third Prince highly? Intending to entrust him with important responsibilities?”

Ling Buyi frowned: “Where did you hear that?”

Shaoshang said: “First, just now I heard the Third Prince say His Majesty wants to select an Erudite Lecturer for him—doesn’t that show great regard? Second, why would His Majesty have the Third Prince involved in the Wang Chun case? Isn’t this showing intent to use him heavily… Aiyo…” The more she thought, the more frightened she became, then received a knock on her forehead.

Ling Buyi bent two fingers, half-squinting his elegant eyes: “First, do you know you love wild speculation? Don’t know? No matter—now you know.”

“Second, since you know you love wild speculation, from now on ask me first before going out and making a fool of yourself.”

Shaoshang covered her forehead, muttering: “Can’t you just talk nicely without using your hands… fingers.”

Ling Buyi said irritably: “His Majesty is finding an Erudite Lecturer for the Third Prince to cultivate and temper his disposition!”

“Ah!” Shaoshang’s eyes lit up. “What did the Third Prince do?”

Ling Buyi said: “First put away that smile—the Third Prince originally had a favored concubine. Her father and brothers, relying on her pregnancy, oppressed the people and seized property by force. Over ten days ago when the Third Prince found out, in his fury he not only had the favored concubine’s father and brothers arrested and sent to the Court of Judicial Review, he also had Ji Zun interrogate them severely. In the end, two were executed, three exiled, and all property confiscated. When the favored concubine learned of this, she committed suicide that very night.”

Shaoshang exclaimed: “What about the child in her belly?”

“What do you think?”

Shaoshang trembled with shock, unable to speak.

Ling Buyi said: “His Majesty feels the Third Prince’s temperament is somewhat violent and harsh, so he wants to find him an Erudite Lecturer.”

Shaoshang was silent for a long while before saying: “This matter depends on which side you stand on. If you’re one of the Third Prince’s favorites, naturally you’d live in constant fear because your lord’s temperament is so severe. But if I were an ordinary person fishing, farming, weaving, or chopping wood, I would pray daily to heaven, begging the gods to give me such a magistrate.”

Ling Buyi was also silent for a moment: “You’re overthinking. The Third Prince only meant to intimidate those around him to prevent them from causing trouble for him.”

“However, those who benefit are still the common people. Hey, do you have some prejudice against the Third Prince…”

Before Shaoshang could finish speaking, rapid footsteps sounded—thump thump thump—and the Third Prince actually turned back. His expression unfriendly, he stood at the corner and said coldly: “Are you two done yet? Can’t you say whatever it is in private!”

Shaoshang: Indeed very hot-tempered. Emperor Uncle, I think one Erudite Lecturer might not be enough—better add half a dozen more.

Ling Buyi raised his brows: “Your Highness may not believe this, but Shaoshang and I were just speaking well of you.”

…

Because this was official business, Emperor Uncle specially granted them a spacious, grand imperial carriage. Of course, his original intention was for Shaoshang to ride in the carriage while his son and adopted son rode horses. But unexpectedly, the Third Prince wore full formal attire today—three layers of deep robes with curved hems, decorated belt with jade and brocade slippers—completely unsuitable for horseback riding, yet he had no intention of returning to change.

Thus, neither careful nor possessing any gentlemanly spirit, the Third Prince took the lead and climbed into the carriage first, leaving the Ling and Cheng pair looking at each other helplessly—no matter how open the customs, it wouldn’t do to have a betrothed young lady alone in a carriage with an unmarried prince.

In such cold weather, Ling Buyi naturally wouldn’t have Shaoshang ride a horse. So he sighed, removed his sword and shoulder armor and handed them to the guards, then pulled Shaoshang onto the carriage together.

After boarding, Shaoshang again confirmed that Ling Buyi and the Third Prince definitely had issues—the imperial carriage was much more spacious than ordinary ones. Even three people sitting side by side would have room to spare. Just now, upon meeting, these two very consciously sat on the left and right against the walls, leaving a space in the middle sufficient for three more people.

Then Shaoshang discovered Ling Buyi’s jealousy worked on automatic detection.

Toward Lou Yao, his sourness was like endless rolling river waters. Toward Yuan Shen it was seasonal rainfall in a stream. Beside the Third Prince, it was depleted underground water resources. So Shaoshang touched her nose and sat in the middle position.

The three sat in silence like this—not exchanging glances, not speaking aloud. The carriage swayed slightly, but the three inside remained perfectly still. A strange atmosphere permeated the air.

Having endured in this stifling manner for half an hour, just as they were about to reach the Northern Army Prison, the carriage suddenly stopped abruptly. Outside came a burst of noisy shouting. Shaoshang listened carefully and discovered the one shouting loudest and most imposingly was actually the Second Prince?!

The Second Prince bellowed: “…Let Third Brother come out! Ling Buyi is one thing—Father Emperor always dispatches him on business. But what about Third Brother? Why can my younger imperial brother participate in interrogating rebels while I cannot?! What kind of logic is this?! Third Brother, come out and explain—why does Father Emperor favor you but not me?!”

Then came the low voices of accompanying guards trying to dissuade him.

Shaoshang cursed silently, ‘Idiot!’ She also determined the Second Imperial Concubine definitely didn’t know about this. With her personality of even dragging the First Princess along when giving the Crown Prince trouble, how could she let her husband do something so brain-dead!

The Third Prince in the carriage laughed. Though he was reasonably handsome, when he smiled he really looked like a villain.

He glanced at Ling Buyi: “Seems Second Imperial Brother has been doing very well lately. When life goes too smoothly, the brain doesn’t stay very clear. More than half the Jing’an ministers have grudges with the Qian’an faction and wish they could hammer Wang Chun and the remaining Qian’an party members to death in one breath. My reputation for harsh scrutiny is well known, and I’m not born of the Empress. Father Emperor specifically has me go along precisely to prevent people from suspecting Zicheng would show favoritism for Changqiu Palace’s sake—only a fool would think Father Emperor is favoring me.”

Shaoshang silently: She had thought exactly that just now, so… was her IQ actually about the same as the Second Prince’s? She began to understand Ling Buyi—the Third Prince was indeed very annoying.

Outside, the Second Prince continued cursing. No matter how the guards and eunuchs tried, they couldn’t dissuade him. Ling Buyi frowned: “We can’t let Second Highness continue making a scene like this, lest we attract the censors.”

The Third Prince said: “Does Zicheng wish to go dissuade him? I wonder what Zicheng plans to say?”

Ling Buyi said sternly: “Persuade with reason. If Second Highness doesn’t listen, have the Feathered Guard disperse him. We are following His Majesty’s order to go to the Northern Army Prison, not acting on our own initiative. We have nothing to fear no matter where this is discussed.”

The Third Prince sneered: “You’re still the same—whatever you do must be high-sounding and proper. That year when the Eastern Palace Chief Clerk accepted bribes, you insisted on secret detention and gradual interrogation, nearly letting the criminals escape unpunished!”

Ling Buyi said: “If following Your Highness’s thinking—making a great public fuss with massive deployment—the criminals might all be captured, but what about His Highness the Crown Prince? That was his first time independently managing government. If someone with ulterior motives seized the opportunity to provoke trouble, wouldn’t that be losing the greater for the lesser!”

The Third Prince said: “Those who govern should have clear laws and regulations, ensure hidden wrongs are revealed, maintain no private favoritism inside or out, and show no arrogance above. Using benevolence to implement law, using law to assist benevolence—this is the proper way!”

“These are all correct principles, which I don’t dispute. However, government affairs cannot be divided into black and white. As they say, when matters proceed slowly they round out, curved paths lead through. That matter seemed ordinary, but was clearly targeting the Eastern Palace. If we had truly conducted a sweeping investigation, wouldn’t that be exactly what those behind it wanted!”

“Laughable! You’re just being sophistic. Under heaven’s bright light, without proper law, how can there be enlightened prosperity!”

“Matters have varying urgency and importance. If the Crown Prince is unstable, how can the court be well?”

…

The Third Prince and Ling Buyi were both tall men. Even sitting, they were a head taller than Shaoshang. So the two debated intensely across the top of Shaoshang’s head while she could only prop her chin and silently listen.

“Um… that… Second Highness is still cursing outside.” She weakly raised her small hand, softly reminding the two bosses.

Both men stopped speaking simultaneously.

Ling Buyi caught his breath before saying: “Since Your Highness is dissatisfied with my method of dissuading Second Highness, I wonder if you have any brilliant solution for the current predicament?”

The Third Prince snorted coldly. The next moment, thinking of something, he smiled coldly: “I’m going to tell Second Imperial Brother that among all my brothers, I love him most.”

Shaoshang was caught off guard and let out an “Ah,” looking at the Third Prince—was this true? Why did she find it so strange?

Ling Buyi looked at him with restrained anger.

The Third Prince said: “Every time something happens to the Eastern Palace, people inevitably suspect me. But because Second Imperial Brother exists, I have half less trouble. Whether by legitimate succession or age, if something truly befalls the Eastern Palace, the benefits won’t reach me. I’m going to thank Second Imperial Brother for shielding me from so much gossip over the years. Much gratitude, much gratitude!”

“Then anger Second Highness so the two princes have a loud quarrel in public, making His Majesty lose face?!” Ling Buyi said gravely.

Seeing the Third Prince’s brows rise, another wave about to begin, Shaoshang could bear it no longer and said emphatically: “Your Highness, Lord Ling, both of you please calm down. Why not let this subject go out to dissuade Second Highness?”

Without waiting for the Third Prince and Ling Buyi to nod, she quickly slipped out of the carriage.

Shaoshang didn’t get off the carriage, only half-sitting in the position beside the driver, pulling out a handkerchief and waving it toward the distant Second Prince.

A beauty leaning on red sleeves, smiling face frequently beckoning—the Second Prince already liked beautiful women and was somewhat more tolerant toward them. Seeing this, he slowly rode his horse to the carriage.

When the Second Prince reached the carriage side, Shaoshang immediately put away her smile.

She had the driver and guards move farther away, then said coolly: “His Highness and we are following the imperial decree to go to the Northern Army Prison to assist in interrogation. I advise Second Highness to leave quickly and avoid inviting His Majesty’s punishment.”

The Second Prince was furious: “You also use Father Emperor to pressure me!”

“Second Highness jests. His Majesty is master of all under heaven. Who can he not pressure?”

The Second Prince choked.

Shaoshang continued: “Actually, this subject has barely spoken a few words with Second Highness. The matters between you and His Majesty as father and son are not for this small subject woman to manage—I only feel sorry for the Second Imperial Concubine.”

The Second Prince looked suspicious: “What about the Imperial Concubine?”

“A while ago in the stone grove by Little Mirror Lake, I saw Your Highness pulling and tugging with a palace maid, all lovey-dovey, having quite a good time.” Shaoshang said.

The Second Prince’s face flushed: “You, you’re lying!”

“Unluckily, I happen to know that palace maid. She seemed to be called Bi… Chi?” Shaoshang held her chin, pondering.

“It’s Bi Liu!” the Second Prince blurted out.

“Right, it was Bi Liu!” Shaoshang clapped her hands. “Second Highness has such good memory!”

The Second Prince’s face began turning from red to green.

“Huh, why would I say ‘Your Highness has good memory’?” Shaoshang feigned contemplation, then said with sudden realization: “Because this wasn’t the first one, was it?”

The Second Prince opened his gaping mouth and roared: “Don’t slander me!”

Shaoshang said mildly: “Before summer, the palace released a batch of palace maids. Among them was one called Shui Man, who Second Highness immediately took into your residence, right? I might as well tell Your Highness—that Shui Man wasn’t originally on the list of those being released. I added her.”

The Second Prince stammered: “You you you…”

“At that time Shui Man showed signs of pregnancy. Just as Your Highness planned to confess the error to the Empress and request this palace maid, she was released from the palace. Your Highness secretly felt quite fortunate at the time, didn’t you?”

This ‘Second’ Prince’s heart wasn’t too bad—he hadn’t thought to silence her through murder, but brought her into the prince’s residence as a concubine. Who knew if the Second Imperial Concubine knew of Shui Man’s origins.

The Second Prince now dared not lose his temper. He mumbled: “Then… I should thank you…”

Shaoshang’s eyes held thin frost: “This matter could be major or minor. If it truly became a scandal, being charged with defiling the palace wouldn’t be nothing. At the time, Her Majesty was ill, yet Your Highness dared to trouble her with such rubbish—were you trying to anger her to death!”

The Second Prince stammered: “No no no, I had no such intention. I respect Mother Empress—it’s not even enough…”

“However, it’s fine if Her Majesty doesn’t know, but the Second Imperial Concubine must know. The Imperial Concubine isn’t ill, after all. Aiyo, now I suddenly remember—though the Second Imperial Concubine isn’t ill, she’s pregnant again recently, isn’t she?” Shaoshang looked cheerfully at the Second Prince’s face going through another round of color changes.

She said in a delicate voice: “How pitiful. The Imperial Concubine is wholehearted toward Your Highness, not only damaging her body with frequent childbearing but also working tirelessly day and night scheming for Your Highness. This pregnancy hasn’t even reached three months yet, the very time she should be resting well, yet yesterday she dragged the First Princess to see Her Majesty. For whom does the Second Imperial Concubine work so hard, for whom does she worry? Even I, an outsider, feel unable to bear it…”

“You you you don’t tell her! At least don’t speak of this now—her pregnancy symptoms aren’t good this time!” The Second Prince held it in until his face was bright red. “I’ll leave right now! You’re not allowed to say anything!”

…

Shaoshang sat back between the two bosses. The convoy set off again.

The carriage was briefly quiet before the Third Prince suddenly asked: “I’ve heard all of Second Imperial Brother’s secrets. Is this proper?”

Shaoshang said: “No matter.”

The Third Prince sneered: “Don’t say anything about trusting this prince’s character, or that this prince is upright and won’t act in secret…”

Shaoshang said curiously: “Oh, so Your Highness is upright and won’t act in secret? That’s wonderful. This subject also isn’t very good at reading people, so I haven’t noticed at all.”

The Third Prince: …

Shaoshang explained: “This subject said ‘no matter’ because afterward I’ll report the entire matter exactly as it happened to His Majesty.”

The Third Prince froze.

“Her Majesty is frail, but His Majesty is strong and vigorous—he can hunt tigers on mountains and catch turtles underwater.”—Implying the Emperor wouldn’t be angered to death by his sons.

The Third Prince moved his lips: “Afterward, what did Father Emperor say?” Didn’t he beat this heaven-ignorant, earth-ignorant little girl to death?

“His Majesty said nothing at the time. However…” Shaoshang tilted her head thinking. “The next day when I carelessly let Her Majesty’s red-tailed goldfish escape, His Majesty didn’t scold me.”

“The third day when I mistakenly attributed Xunzi’s words to Zhuangzi, His Majesty also didn’t rebuke me.”

“The fourth day…”

“All right, you don’t need to continue.” The Third Prince rubbed his temples.

The carriage was quiet again.

After a moment, Ling Buyi finally couldn’t hold back. He turned his face and let out a series of pleased, muffled laughs—right in front of the Third Prince, he reached for the girl’s small hand and interlaced their fingers tightly.