The Fifth Prince looked at the large group of people beside him, then at the solitary girl across from him. His confidence invisibly multiplied several times, and he said in an oily, slick tone: “If it isn’t the future bride of our world-conquering, brave, and extraordinarily talented Lord Ling! Oh, Miss Cheng, why are you wandering about alone today?”

Facts proved that Granny Zhai was right—the Fifth Prince’s brain really didn’t work very well. It would have been better if he hadn’t mentioned Shaoshang’s identity. The group of young masters behind him had been eyeing her with frivolous, slippery gazes, thinking Shaoshang was like that plump girl who had intimate relations with the Fifth Prince—though her family held official status, their power was negligible. But once the Fifth Prince said Shaoshang was Ling Buyi’s fiancée, the faces and gazes of those young masters changed in unison.

Some gossips whispered among themselves—”So this is the young lady Ling Buyi is going to marry, her appearance is quite good,” “I don’t think much of it, her figure isn’t even fully developed,” “You’re so vulgar, figures can grow slowly, what matters is whether the face is pretty or not,” “You’re not vulgar? You’ve been staring at her body for ages…”

Some troublemakers stirred restlessly—”Excellent, there’s a good show to watch today,” “That fellow Ling is usually so arrogant, hmph, now he’ll have his turn eating humble pie,” “Exactly, exactly, it’ll all be blamed on the Fifth Prince anyway, we just watch the show…”

Some vigilant ones immediately sensed trouble—”If the Fifth Prince gives her trouble later, let’s lend a hand,” “Right, we shouldn’t let things get out of hand, or we won’t come out well either,” “When Ling Zicheng loses his temper, he might implicate us…”

Some timid ones had already begun shifting their feet—”We’d better not get involved, Ling Buyi isn’t easy to provoke,” “But the Fifth Prince…” “Ling Buyi and the Fifth Prince—which one are you willing to offend?” “Let’s avoid this while no one’s paying attention…”

Shaoshang had already noticed the varied behavior of this group of young masters. Unfortunately, the Fifth Prince with his back turned was completely oblivious, still spouting oily words: “There is a beauty, unforgettable at first sight; not seeing her for a day, thinking of her drives me to madness; alas, the fair lady is not at the eastern wall; what day shall I see her consent, to comfort my wandering heart…”

Shaoshang frowned: “Isn’t this Master Sima’s rhapsody? Hasn’t Your Highness omitted two lines? Doesn’t ‘thinking drives me to madness’ come before ‘phoenix flying soaring’?”

Several light laughs came from behind—even those wanting to slip away paused their steps.

The Fifth Prince’s face flushed red: “What do you know? This is borrowing verses, borrowing verses!”—This time it wasn’t that the Fifth Prince had forgotten his lessons; this was indeed a currently popular rhetorical method, but unfortunately he encountered a semi-illiterate who didn’t read books.

“I see.” Shaoshang lowered her voice, “It is this concubine who lacks knowledge. Please continue your recitation, Your Highness.”

Having been interrupted, the Fifth Prince could hardly continue his recitation. He could only build up his emotions and smile frivolously: “Miss Cheng, I trust you’ve been well. We haven’t seen each other for months, and your appearance has become even more beautiful…”

“Haven’t seen each other for months? Didn’t we just see each other yesterday?” Shaoshang “helpfully” interrupted again, “Has Your Highness forgotten? It was in Changqiu Palace, when you were being…” dragged in like a dead dog to be questioned.

“Don’t continue!” the Fifth Prince shouted sternly to stop her, both ashamed and annoyed, startling the group of young masters behind him who had no idea what was going on.

Shaoshang bowed her head gracefully, looking completely docile and innocent: “This concubine spoke too much. This concubine’s appearance is humble and plain, unworthy of Your Highness’s erroneous praise just now. Please continue praising… oh no, please continue speaking, Your Highness.”

The Fifth Prince took several deep breaths, feeling his liver trembling with anger, but he had no way to vent. After smoothing out his breathing, he smiled coldly, “You come from a humble family background, merely the daughter of a minor official. But ever since you latched onto Ling Buyi, you’ve been arrogant and haughty all day, not regarding me at all. Who would have thought you’d run into me today!” As he spoke, he gave several sinister cold laughs to enhance his intimidating aura.

The group of young masters behind all thought: Even if she did run into you, so what? At most you can verbally tease her a few times—do you really dare plant a green shade on Ling Buyi’s head?! But if Your Highness really does it, brothers will respect you as a true man, and then burn a few incense sticks on holidays—that would fulfill the friendship of eating and drinking together.

Shaoshang didn’t retort, only her expression became increasingly downcast and unhappy: “…What comes must go, causes have their effects. Today’s bitterness is yesterday’s joy. Heaven never lets you gain benefits for nothing.”

Seeing her like this, the Fifth Prince couldn’t help softening his tone: “With Ling Buyi backing you up, who could possibly bully you? Who are you putting on this act for!”

Shaoshang said nothing, just looked at him pitifully once, then lowered her long lashes without a word.

The Fifth Prince was taken aback, and inexplicably his tone softened: “Uh, well, is someone really bullying you? Why don’t you tell Ling Buyi? He’ll stand up for you. If not, tell this Prince…”

Shaoshang still didn’t speak, only looked at him with even more melancholy and sadness.

The Fifth Prince had a flash of inspiration: “Ah, could it be, could it be that the one bullying you is Ling Buyi himself…” Saying this, he suddenly felt that Cheng Shaoshang looked much thinner than a few months ago, and her expression was more haggard than yesterday.

Before weak and helpless pretty girls, most men have overactive imaginations, and the Fifth Prince was a member of this majority. Therefore, even though the girl’s unruly reputation was well-known, even though he had witnessed the girl’s sharp tongue, at this moment he very smoothly guided his thoughts in the direction he hoped—

Condition one: Ling Buyi had a cold face and cold heart, treating people coldly and cruelly.

Condition two: The girl only seemed fierce at home but actually had no power to fight back against Ling Buyi’s bullying.

Conclusion: Ling Buyi was bullying Cheng Shaoshang.

Shaoshang slowly raised her head, seeming to have a flash of moisture in her eyes—appearing heartless but actually emotional (though it was actually someone being sentimental on his own).

The Fifth Prince swallowed: “If there’s anything… troubling you, you might as well tell this Prince…”

Shaoshang slightly tilted her head and glanced almost imperceptibly at the group of young masters behind. Others didn’t see this look, but the Fifth Prince facing her saw it clearly. At this moment, not only had his bones gone soft, they’d practically gone crispy—the kind fried in boiling oil until they crunched. He already had bad relations with Ling Buyi, and besides, Cheng Shaoshang’s appearance was his preferred type.

So he immediately turned back and told his companions to leave first, righteously expressing that he and Miss Cheng had matters to discuss.

The group of young masters looked at each other, their faces showing various expressions. Some couldn’t wait to leave, some were eager to stay and watch the gossip, and some were worried, fearing that something unseemly might result.

However, Ling Buyi’s fierce reputation was well-known, and since the Fifth Prince proactively asked them to leave, taking all responsibility upon himself, everyone hesitated briefly before quickly dispersing completely—essentially, those who would hang around with the Fifth Prince, who had neither favor nor power, weren’t exactly responsible, upright people. Most were idle sons or pampered youngest children from various noble families.

Seeing no one around, the Fifth Prince immediately stepped forward several paces to grab the girl. Shaoshang took advantage of the momentum to turn lightly, taking delicate lotus steps toward the lakeside ahead. The Fifth Prince followed like a foolish donkey with a carrot dangling before its forehead.

As he walked, he kept chattering: “Ling Buyi bullied you, didn’t he? I knew his usual appearance of being gentle and magnanimous was all an act! Hmph, but he’s fooled Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and all the officials! Though he can fool others, he can’t fool me! I’ve been bullied by him before, so I know his character best… Sinister and cunning, vindictive, malicious at heart, unscrupulous in his methods! How did he bully you? Tell me everything! Did he curse at you? Does he have romantic affairs in private? Did he… did he hit you…”

Thinking that Ling Buyi was actually a beast in human clothing who bullied weak women, the Fifth Prince became completely excited, his forehead shining with oil, his heart burning hot, wishing he could immediately become a great hero who eliminated the strong and helped the weak. Who knew the girl would remain silent throughout, only walking dejectedly with her head lowered into the deeper shade of the forest.

The lakeside was planted with an unknown species of slender bamboo, with leaves like willow catkins swaying in the wind. At this time, the golden crow had sunk into the horizon, dusk was deepening, bamboo shadows swayed by the lake, the water sound was soft, and with a beauty like jade—even a youth like the Fifth Prince without half a bone of elegance couldn’t help but become reserved and refined.

“How exactly has Ling Buyi been treating you?” the Fifth Prince asked gently.

Shaoshang’s gaze was vacant as she looked into the distance, seeing a pale golden pavilion built in the middle of the shimmering lake.

The girl’s voice carried a ethereal quality: “Your Highness, look at that pavilion. When I first saw it, I thought it truly magnificent and beautiful beyond compare. Who knew, later the Empress said that pavilion was riddled with rot from roof to pillars. From afar it still looked decent, but in reality it was already tottering. Her Majesty told me never to go inside, who knows when it might collapse and crush me. His Majesty is frugal and has been hesitating whether to tear it down or find skilled craftsmen to repair it…”

The Fifth Prince perked up his ears to listen carefully, rapidly mobilizing all his mental faculties to think, his mind flashing through various metaphors, similes, personifications and other rhetorical devices, then he suddenly understood, saying warmly and understandingly: “Miss Cheng, you, you’ve suffered…”

The girl seemed moved and slowly walked to the lakeside. Lapping waves covered several smooth large stones at the edge, and she stood right on them. The Fifth Prince involuntarily followed and also stood on the stones.

Shaoshang kept her head lowered: “Your Highness, that you’ve set aside past grievances today to comfort this humble woman shows your benevolent heart. I was young before, immature, unable to distinguish good people from bad. Please don’t take my past disrespect to heart…”

The Fifth Prince’s blood boiled, feeling his very form had become more imposing, declaring loudly: “A great man standing in this world must have a heart that can hold mountains and seas. A few verbal disputes with you—what do they amount to!”

“Your Highness is a great man with a broad heart, and this concubine admires you immensely. However, this concubine sometimes thinks wildly—if this concubine and Your Highness were to have something today, would this concubine’s marriage with Lord Ling be called off?”

The smile on the Fifth Prince’s face froze. He suddenly felt the girl’s returning gaze had completely changed—not a trace of weakness remained, only sharpness and calculation, like looking at prey fallen into a trap.

An unease arose in him, and quite unimpressively he pulled his collar together, laughing dryly twice: “You, don’t think wildly! Calm yourself, calm yourself. Your marriage was ultimately decided by Father Emperor…” While inwardly cursing himself—she was just a little woman, not as tall as him, not as strong as him. What was he afraid of?

The girl’s gaze seemed to soften a bit: “Then this concubine will go tell His Majesty herself, all right? As long as Your Highness bears witness for this concubine and repeats what you just said—about Lord Ling being sinister and cunning and whatnot…”

“No, no, no!” The Fifth Prince gasped in fright, waving both hands wildly while retreating two steps, just happening to step onto a protruding large stone—he only wanted to trip up Ling Buyi a bit, give him some trouble. If he really ruined Ling Buyi’s marriage, Father Emperor would definitely skin him alive!

“If you think carefully, Ling Buyi is actually quite good! Handsome, high position and great power, much better than this powerless and positionless prince! Young lady, don’t act on impulse and regret it bitterly later!”

Shaoshang stepped forward two paces, covering her face with both hands, sobbing: “I knew no one could help me. Your Highness is also afraid of being implicated!”

The Fifth Prince was greatly embarrassed. At this moment he could neither advance nor retreat. Just as he was about to reach out to pull the girl and sweet-talk her a bit, he suddenly felt a numbness at the bend of his knees—he was kicked hard. His outstretched hands were pulled forward by the girl’s momentum, then the girl nimbly crouched down, turned her arms and forcefully pushed his lower back. With only a splash, the Fifth Prince fell into the lake water with cries of distress.

Quick as lightning, Shaoshang immediately picked up a bamboo pole about two or three zhang long from the ground and forcefully pushed it against the shoulder of the Fifth Prince who had just surfaced, forcibly pushing away the Fifth Prince whose arms were about to touch the shore stones.

The Fifth Prince’s entire brocade robe was soaked, and he was scared half to death. Unable to reach the shore in front and unable to swim behind, he could only tightly grip the bamboo pole, then curse loudly, “You little wretch, you treacherous woman, are you crazy? I can’t swim—are you trying to murder a prince?” and so on.

Shaoshang paid him no mind. On the shore stood a beast-shaped stone lantern stand. She very efficiently wedged the bamboo pole into the carved gaps in the middle, gripping one end with both hands while the other end pressed against the Fifth Prince in the lake. Watching the person in the lake struggle with difficulty, she immediately felt spirited and vigorous, her former glory restored.

The Fifth Prince hugged one end of the bamboo pole floating in the water, looked around in a circle, and couldn’t stop cursing himself for being as stupid as a pig.

Hadn’t Cheng Shaoshang just walked out from here? She must have already scoped out the terrain here and remembered there was a long bamboo pole on the ground—only then did she lure him here to fall into the trap. He wanted to shout loudly, but this place was densely shaded by trees with no one passing by, and his companions from earlier had all walked far away. Now truly calling to heaven brought no response, calling to earth brought no answer!

Still holding a thread of hope, he smiled forcefully and coaxed: “Miss, Miss Cheng, if Ling Buyi is bullying you and you really don’t want to marry Ling Buyi, then just say so. I’ll take care of this matter, I’ll definitely…”

“Ha ha ha ha, how strange Your Highness’s words are. When did I say Lord Ling bullied me, and when did I say I was unwilling to marry Lord Ling?” At this moment Shaoshang felt immensely pleased, laughing until her heart and lungs were comfortable.

“You, you you… didn’t you just say…” The Fifth Prince couldn’t continue. Hey, this little wretch seemed to have said nothing at all.

“What did I say? I only said causes have their effects, and that the pavilion was hollowed out by rot.” Shaoshang curved her bright large eyes, “But Your Highness said quite a lot of bad things about Lord Ling—sinister, cunning, and so on. Anyway, I see His Majesty every few days, so next time I’ll have a good study session with the old man.”

The Fifth Prince’s mind rang with a roar as he hoarsely cursed: “You you you, you little wretch, you actually dared play tricks on me! I’ll kill you! Someone, someone come, I’ll feed you to the dogs, to the wolves… glug, glug…”

Shaoshang lifted the bamboo pole in her hands upward. According to the lever principle, the other end of the pole pressed downward, and the Fifth Prince was immediately pressed underwater to drink several gulps, then she slowly relaxed the bamboo pole, letting the Fifth Prince float up like a ball.

The Fifth Prince hugged the bamboo pole, choking on water with difficulty: “You you little…” He bit back the word “wretch,” “You have some guts, aren’t you afraid that afterward I’ll report to Father Emperor and Mother Empress and have you punished?!”

Shaoshang nodded slightly: “Your Highness is right. In that case, I might as well go all the way and make it so Your Highness can never report.” Saying this, she made as if to lift the bamboo pole again.

The Fifth Prince was terrified: “Don’t, don’t, don’t, let’s talk this out! I won’t tell, all right? Really, I really won’t tell. How could a manly man stoop to a little woman’s level!”

Shaoshang raised her eyebrows and smiled: “Your Highness needn’t try to trick me. First, with Your Highness’s abilities, you can’t trick me. Second, I’m not afraid of Your Highness reporting. When the time comes, I’ll just say Your Highness intended to take liberties with me. Today we met by chance, Your Highness pestered me endlessly, and during our chase and tussle Your Highness accidentally fell into the water. Then Your Highness kept thrashing and drifted farther and farther away, and it was I who painstakingly used a bamboo pole to pull Your Highness to shore. Your Highness, who do you think people will believe?”

“Nonsense!” The Fifth Prince’s eyes were bloodshot. “I’m a prince, entitled to a first-rank peerage in the future. What are you? A little wretch putting on airs relying on Ling Buyi. Would others believe you instead of me?!”

Without another word, Shaoshang lifted the bamboo pole again, once more inviting the Fifth Prince to drink several gulps of water. Only after he finally surfaced did she say calmly: “Truly speaking, Lord Ling only stayed in the palace a bit over five years, yet you rushed headlong to frame him six times. The first two years it was just breaking precious vessels, pushing over scholars who came to teach in the palace during fights. The last two years there was molesting palace maids, beating young princes and so on… About once a year, Your Highness’s sincerity is truly admirable.”

She laughed heartily and mocked: “What a pity—every time His Majesty saw through it, all caught red-handed. Lord Ling came out unscathed while you were either punished to kneel at the imperial shrine or beaten and recuperating for half a year. Fifth Prince, tell me, who will His Majesty believe more this time?”

The Fifth Prince’s face, originally pale from the lake’s cold, now flushed red: “Ling Buyi’s mouth is fast enough! I was just joking with him. Besides, did he ever let me off? Those years, after Father Emperor finished punishing me, he’d still come settle accounts with me again…”

Shaoshang smiled, silently thanking Granny Zhai for providing these old anecdotes.

The Fifth Prince seemed to harbor deep resentment toward Ling Buyi. Despite being in the water with labored breathing, he struggled to thoroughly curse Ling Buyi, from being pressed into mud pits during fights to being contrasted like an idiot while studying—simply too numerous to record. After finishing his tirade, he said breathlessly: “Why don’t you ask why I found Ling Buyi disagreeable from the very beginning!”

Shaoshang laughed lightly: “What’s there to ask about that? Your Highness is neither the eldest nor the youngest, neither born of the Empress nor of Consort Yue, neither accomplished in civil nor military matters, and even your troublemaking lacks distinctive flair. If you didn’t constantly make some commotion, His Majesty would probably forget Your Highness even exists.”

These words were extremely cutting. The Fifth Prince’s face turned purple with anger, raging: “You you you, you and Ling Buyi truly are a heaven-made pair—cold-hearted, sharp-tongued, words that can kill! I don’t dare compare myself to my several imperial brothers, but who is Ling Buyi? Father Emperor personally taught him literature and martial arts but won’t even glance at me…”

“If Your Highness’s parents died and relatives perished, exchanging this for His Majesty’s regard, surely Your Highness would be willing?” Shaoshang said unexpectedly.

The Fifth Prince choked. After a while, he muttered resentfully: “His parents didn’t both die.” Though having parents was like not having them, at least they weren’t dead.

Shaoshang continued: “Actually, Your Highness knows very well in your heart that with or without Lord Ling, His Majesty’s treatment of Your Highness wouldn’t differ much. But this… isn’t something children can comment on.” This traced back to Beauty Xu’s method of becoming pregnant.

The Fifth Prince fell silent.

“…Why did you trick me here? What exactly do you want?” The Fifth Prince felt his hands and feet growing colder and decided to set aside his old nemesis for now—escaping with his life was more urgent.

Shaoshang smiled faintly: “Your Highness grew up together with Lord Ling, but from today’s events, Your Highness’s knowledge of Lord Ling is far inferior to Lord Ling’s knowledge of Your Highness. Beauty Xu dotes on Your Highness and won’t let Your Highness touch many things. Therefore, to this day Your Highness cannot swim, to this day Your Highness has never hunted in the forest, to this day Your Highness only knows a few third-rate kung fu moves—even with my meager self-defense skills, I can match Your Highness in a fight. See, Lord Ling knows Your Highness completely.”

His weaknesses exposed, the Fifth Prince was nearly brought to tears with anger, bellowing: “Ling Buyi goes too far! Just because he himself is omnipotent, he goes around publicizing my shortcomings. I I…”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. Lord Ling didn’t only say these things.” Shaoshang smiled. “Lord Ling also said that though Your Highness isn’t diligent in physical activities, you’ve read books quite well and often have unique insights. You don’t care for those Confucian classics and canonical texts but prefer accounts of foreign lands and customs, ancient tribal deities. Unfortunately, you’re timid and don’t dare personally visit those remote, barbarian lands, so you can only search for stories in old bamboo slips and pottery shards, or look up waiting for another hero like Marquis Bowang to traverse mountains and rivers bringing back strange tales.”

The Fifth Prince’s face alternated between blue and red—whether from cold, anger, or being moved was unclear. He had always thought Ling Buyi looked down on him, considered him a failure, never imagining…

“The things I like can neither govern the nation nor produce scholarly works. Father Emperor has no regard for them at all. What use are they?” he mumbled.

Shaoshang declared loudly: “Fifth Prince’s words are inappropriate. This concubine believes that reading books is about finding joy in them, not asking about gains and losses, purely arising from the heart. If it’s only to be a stepping stone for economic advancement and official careers, no matter how brilliantly one reads, it’s merely being driven by circumstances. Fifth Prince, knowing that what you love has no use in court and isn’t favored by His Majesty, yet you still pursue it diligently—this can be called a sincere heart. Whether others appreciate it or not, whether others know or not—as long as you yourself enjoy reading, you’ll forge ahead even against thousands. Though her family’s Youth League secretary would be better at inspiring emotion and could become sworn brothers with the Fifth Prince that very day—besides, being a prince means not worrying about starvation. Perhaps if his brothers were like this, when the Crown Prince ascended in the future, he’d be even happier.

The Fifth Prince had never had anyone speak such words to him in his life. For a moment his emotions surged, feelings welling up, almost forgetting that he was currently in the cold lake, pushed in by this very ruthless, cunning young woman before him.

He exhaled a breath of foul air, shouting loudly: “For the sake of what you’ve said today, I won’t hold anything against you. Quickly pull me up—I definitely won’t report you!”

“Not yet.” Shaoshang said.

The Fifth Prince shouted in frustration: “Then what more do you want?!” Being a prince to this extent was truly shameful—being pushed into cold water and still having to promise not to hold grudges, yet she still wouldn’t let up?!

Shaoshang smiled sweetly: “This concubine merely wishes to make friends with Your Highness.”

The Fifth Prince’s eyes instantly widened like bronze bells, hardly daring to believe his ears, baring his teeth: “You, you pressed me in the water and still dare say it’s to make friends! Where did you learn this rule of making friends?!”

Shaoshang said seriously: “Correct, I truly do wish to befriend Fifth Prince, but this matter is a long story…”

“I’m still in the water! Just give me the short version!” The Fifth Prince felt that if he really died today, it definitely wouldn’t be from freezing or drowning, but from being angered to death.

Shaoshang pressed down the bamboo pole in her hands slightly to let the Fifth Prince float more easily at the other end, then said: “Actually, these past few days, Lord Ling and I have quarreled… Just a small matter, we’ll make up in a few days. Your Highness needn’t gape so widely… We had a quarrel, and then Lord Ling wouldn’t let me leave the palace.”

“What this concubine means is, it seems Lord Ling and I will quarrel again in the future. What if Lord Ling uses this move again? Moreover, His Majesty still hasn’t said I can go home—it appears I’ll be staying long-term in this palace. Looking at it this way, I need a friend or two. I can’t have darkness before my eyes the moment I step out of Changqiu Palace, neither knowing anyone nor knowing who to seek help from.”

Like today—after getting rid of Chunyao, traveling all this way she actually didn’t recognize a single person. Those passing guards, palace maids, and eunuchs—she couldn’t trust any of them. The Fifth Prince couldn’t help with much else, but at least he’d grown up in the palace—he counted as half a local snake. Even if just used as a local deity, it would work.

The Fifth Prince seemed to understand somewhat, but he was born with a cheap mouth, his nature hard to change: “Hmph, I am a noble of the imperial family, with the dignity of a prince. What kind of person are you to dare call yourself my peer!”

Shaoshang said: “Your Highness, how often do you see His Majesty?”

Fifth Prince: …

Shaoshang smiled: “Not counting palace banquets when all gather together, you probably only receive His Majesty’s summons once every two or three months, and even then together with other young princes.”

The Fifth Prince’s face turned the color of pickled vegetables gone moldy.

“This concubine can have an audience almost every other day. I dare not claim I can go through fire and water for Your Highness, turning danger to safety, but avoiding misfortune and seeking good fortune isn’t difficult. Given all this, doesn’t Your Highness think this friend is very worth making?”

The Fifth Prince was greatly tempted. His face changed several times before he finally shouted: “Fine! I accept! All our previous conflicts end here—I’ll never mention another word!”

Shaoshang smiled with satisfaction. At this moment, the sound of banquet bells faintly rang in the distance, indicating the feast was about to begin. She looked up at the sky and saw the pale white moon had quietly hung itself on the branches at some point. She quickly pulled the Fifth Prince up and suggested going to Changqiu Palace first to bathe, change clothes, and drink ginger soup.

Having soaked in the water until his hands and feet were weak, the Fifth Prince didn’t even have the strength to pinch this stinking young woman. He could only shout indignantly: “What Changqiu Palace? You haven’t embarrassed me enough? I’m going back to Mother Consort’s place first!”

Shaoshang smiled cheerfully while supporting him, incidentally wringing out his dripping robes: “Face and reputation are floating clouds, passing smoke. Physical health is most important. It’s only half an incense stick’s journey from here to Changqiu Palace, but going back to Beauty Xu’s place takes most of an hour. Walking all that way with cold wind blowing—does Your Highness still want to live?”

The Fifth Prince found the girl’s familiar tone incomprehensible: “Have you forgotten who put me in this state?”

“Has Your Highness forgotten you just said you’d let bygones be bygones and never mention it again?”

Fifth Prince: …

“Besides, whether forgotten or not, going to Changqiu Palace is still closer. Your Highness must prioritize your health.”

“…” The Fifth Prince sighed deeply. “Fine, let’s go to Changqiu Palace.”

Sighing, he suddenly felt today had been extremely bitter, as if a day were a thousand years, seas turning into mulberry fields. Even his lifelong love of quarreling had lost its appeal. He could only wearily sit on the stone platform, pour water from both short boots, then hobble along supported by Shaoshang toward Changqiu Palace, occasionally letting out a sneeze—

“You’re truly ruthless, making me soak in the water so long. If something happens to me, even with Ling Buyi backing you, Father Emperor won’t spare you!”

“Lord Ling says Your Highness only looks delicate but actually has excellent health—it’s just that Beauty Xu worries too much. Once, several princes were riding horses over a mountain stream when a gust of wind blew and all the princes fell into the water. In the end, only you didn’t catch a cold.”

“…How does Ling Buyi have such a good memory? Uh, does he know about this side of you?”

“Which side of me?”

“Forget it, pretend I didn’t ask. If he doesn’t know your true face, then the suffering is yours, because you’ll have to pretend for life. If he knows your true face, then the suffering is his, because he’ll have to endure it for life!”

“Your Highness.”

“What! Where did I say something wrong!”

“After soaking in the lake, Your Highness’s mind is much clearer. Perhaps Your Highness should soak in the lake more often.”

“…Why do I feel like bullying people comes so naturally to you? Scaring and deceiving all in one smooth motion—you must have done this often before.”

“Nothing of the sort. I was watched strictly since childhood, couldn’t be more well-behaved.”

—This time the fellow finally guessed right. Unfortunately, her former glory vanished without trace the moment she encountered Ling Buyi.