That night’s birthday banquet could be said to have everyone enjoying themselves to the fullest.

The Emperor helped the half-drunk Empress walk toward Changqiu Palace. Ling Buyi supported the slightly tipsy Shaoshang wanting to run to his own manor, but halfway there was caught by the sharp-eyed and keen-eared Emperor, who forcibly separated the two. So Ling Buyi settled for second best, expressing he could stay in his former childhood quarters at Changqiu Palace. Who knew the Emperor still refused, ordering Shaoshang to sleep in Changqiu Palace while Ling Buyi must roll off to sleep in the outer hall of South Palace, keeping company with old man Chu, the Left Grand Master of Remonstrance on duty tonight.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, actually this subject and Shaoshang have already reconciled.” Ling Buyi’s face was solemn.

The Emperor raised his eyebrows: “Oh? You quarreled with Shaoshang? I actually didn’t know.”

Ling Buyi bit his lip, his gaze expressing dissatisfaction. The Emperor turned a blind eye and walked away with a carefree wave of his sleeve.

When Ling Buyi had wanted to keep Shaoshang in the palace, he naturally wouldn’t bluntly tell the Emperor “I quarreled with my fiancée, please help me vent my anger,” but instead took a roundabout approach of “study well and improve daily.” At the time, though the Emperor didn’t know what had happened, he deliberately pretended complete ignorance and immediately agreed. Now choking his adopted son a bit also felt quite satisfying.

The Fifth Prince kept sneaking glances this way with shifty eyes, his expression rather ambiguous. Shaoshang didn’t know how many people had seen the scene of her throwing herself at Ling Buyi earlier, but the Fifth Prince had definitely been one of them. And according to this one’s loose lips and wide coverage, by tomorrow morning half the palace court would probably know that Ling Buyi and his fiancée had kissed at the Empress’s birthday banquet.

Shaoshang quickly told Ling Buyi about this before they parted ways. Ling Buyi only said: “So what?” Shaoshang said nervously: “It concerns my reputation. People will say I’m improper.”

“How can such minor behavior be called improper? Otherwise, wouldn’t the second prince’s consort have to hang herself?”

Earlier the second prince had drunk until his face was flushed and covered in sweat. The second prince’s consort, fearing her husband would catch cold, had personally taken a handkerchief and reached inside her husband’s robes to wipe his sweat, from chest to back, wiping thoroughly. In the entire hall, only the Crown Princess had made a couple of sour remarks. Actually, by the latter half of the banquet, everyone had become somewhat unrestrained. The Consort of the Ruyang Prince’s heir and the wife of Marquis Qian had even drunk wine with intertwined necks with their respective husbands.

Shaoshang was somewhat helpless: “It’s still not a good reputation.”

Ling Buyi said: “Ministers need reputation because they must continue as officials, merchants need reputation for prosperous business, young ladies need reputation to marry good husbands… You already have me. What do you need that kind of reputation for? Have you seen any married lady care about such things?”

Shaoshang felt she couldn’t communicate with this man. She shook off his hand and chased after the Emperor and Empress toward Changqiu Palace.

The older princes behind saw this exchange and expressed various opinions—

The Crown Prince sighed: “Zicheng, Shaoshang is quite good. You should be more gentle and considerate.” Like his Crown Princess, presenting a gentle and virtuous face but actually petty and calculating, everything was always someone else’s fault. Even when she was wrong, it was because others forced her.

The Fifth Prince, remembering how he’d been tricked, wanted to express an opposing opinion: “This younger brother thinks…”

The second prince seized the conversation, showing off: “Marriage is heaven-ordained, each pot has its matching lid. Zicheng, you just have to endure it. If you changed to another in the future, she might not be as good as Miss Cheng.” A person’s fate is heaven-determined. Like his princess consort—good family background, beautiful appearance, forthright and capable. Even her little jealousies over concubines were adorable. It was worth that he’d spotted her at first sight years ago and desperately pursued her. With the Crown Prince’s soft, dragging temperament, even if he were reborn ten times he wouldn’t have this fortune!

The Fifth Prince, remembering that the second prince’s consort had always treated him and Beauty Xu well without any discrimination, wanted to express agreement: “Younger brother very much agrees…”

The third prince, drunk and unsteady on his feet, supported by a eunuch, said proudly: “A great man should have ambitions in all directions. How can joy and anger be trapped by a woman’s hand?” So he only took concubines and established no principal wife. All matters in his rear courtyard were coordinated and managed by professionals. How harmonious, how peaceful.

The Fifth Prince was somewhat afraid of this third brother and quickly said: “Third Imperial Brother’s words are very true…”

The fourth prince had just returned from vomiting by the wall. Hearing this, he immediately said: “Third Brother, you don’t want to marry, but I do! But Mother Consort insists on following age order—isn’t this delaying me!” Some aspired to all directions, some aspired to marrying and having children. Everyone had their own aspirations, wasn’t that acceptable?

The Fifth Prince quite agreed. If both the third and fourth princes didn’t marry, when would it be his turn? “Who says otherwise…”

“Thank you all Your Highnesses for your concern about this subject’s trivial matters.” Ling Buyi said expressionlessly. “However…” He cupped his hands toward the Crown Prince: “Crown Prince Your Highness, soft methods should be used selectively. This subject thinks Your Highness should use them less.”

The Crown Prince, remembering the trouble the Crown Princess had caused for Ling Buyi, immediately shut his mouth with nervous laughter.

“Second Highness, this subject has heard that a person’s luck in life has a fixed amount. If luck is too good in one place, it will be very bad elsewhere. Your Highness’s wife luck is unmatched within the imperial clan, but as for other things…”

The second prince’s face turned green: “What about other things?!” This was all nonsense. Wasn’t Father Emperor also sitting on both empire and beauties, double the blessings!

Ling Buyi ignored him and turned: “Third Highness, that year Master Shangguan sighed and said: In life, don’t do things to excess, speak fewer excessive words. If one day Your Highness is bound by a woman’s joy and anger, what will you do?”

The third prince sneered repeatedly: “That sweetheart of yours—you don’t even know if she’s reliable yet, and you come to mock me. Fine, if that day truly comes, for every child you have, I’ll gift a hundred taels of gold!”

“Then it’s settled…”

“No, no, this isn’t fair.” The fourth prince shook his head and clamored. “Third Brother put up stakes, but Zicheng hasn’t wagered anything. If Zicheng loses, what then?”

Ling Buyi raised his eyebrows: “Fourth Highness, a few days ago when His Majesty mentioned this subject’s marriage, I even advised that he should first select a princess consort for Fourth Highness, and Third Prince could wait until he met someone suitable. Now it seems my words were unnecessary.”

“…” The fourth prince turned his head: “Well then, Crown Prince, Third Brother, it’s late. Let’s hurry back.”

The second prince was furious: “I’m also your elder brother! Why do you only greet them and leave me out?!”

The fourth prince pretended not to hear.

The Crown Prince shook his head with a gentle smile.

He noticed Ling Buyi was in particularly good spirits tonight, seeming to have a hidden joy. Even the corners of his eyes and brows had softened somewhat. Otherwise, with his taciturn and indifferent nature, how would he say so many inconsequential words? After all, he was someone about to be married. In the future he would discover that life held not only trials and suffering, but also joy and sentiment—the Crown Prince secretly felt happy for Ling Buyi.

Then he pulled the still-angry second prince and walked ahead first. The third and fourth princes and Ling Buyi each departed in different directions, leaving only the Fifth Prince standing alone in the deep night’s cold wind.

…

Early the next morning, before the thin dawn light appeared, palace maids and eunuchs carried lanterns working in the indigo-blue mist. Shaoshang had already risen, donning a warm fur coat and striding outward. After a few steps, she hesitated and turned back: “Granny, are you really going?”

Granny Zhai said: “Earlier you were sleeping soundly—I was the one who woke you. If you don’t take me along, I’ll shout.”

Shaoshang was helpless and could only take her along.

Taking advantage of the dim light, the two engaged in some fumbling activities in the dark in the garden beside Consort Yue’s palace, then slipped back to Changqiu Palace before the Empress rose. While serving the Empress in rising and grooming, the Empress glimpsed from the mirror that Granny Zhai kept stealing smiles and couldn’t help asking why. How could Granny Zhai dare say? She could only deflect a bit.

Meeting Shaoshang in the palace corridor on her way to begin today’s lessons with the Empress, Granny Zhai couldn’t help asking softly: “It’s broad daylight already. Why is there still no commotion? Do those arrangements of yours work or not?”

Shaoshang lowered her voice: “Granny, rest assured. I’m extremely confident in those arrangements…” She’d used them countless times in her previous life, upgrading from the primitive version with brushes to the later serial footwashing water contraptions. Before even taking engineering mechanics courses, she’d mastered this kind of prank mechanism without a teacher.

“Besides, it just happens they’re all living in one room. Isn’t this heaven wanting me to take revenge!” This wasn’t coincidence. Since those little bitches liked to hang around together, they were obviously close friends normally and naturally wanted to live together.

Granny Zhai nodded while suppressing her laughter.

Perhaps fortunes reverse after reaching their nadir. Shaoshang came to the inner hall carrying heavy bamboo scrolls, only to have the Empress smilingly tell her she could return home today. Shaoshang was overjoyed, repeatedly asking “really? truly? honestly?” nearly shaking the Empress dizzy. Learning the Empress had arranged this with the Emperor early on, she was so happy she didn’t know what to do and could only grab the Empress’s hand and give it a heavy kiss.

The Empress was amused and laughed, scolding: “Hearing about going home makes you this happy—you’d think my place was a dragon’s pool and tiger’s den. Don’t you know how many people outside are breaking their heads trying to enter the palace!”

Shaoshang clasped her small fists and raised them overhead, repeatedly bowing in apology, only saying she missed her parents and siblings.

“Your Majesty, why didn’t you say so earlier!” Shaoshang leaned beside the Empress, face full of smiles. “If I’d known I could go back this quickly, I wouldn’t have reconciled with Lord Ling so fast!”

“If you have the guts, say those words to His Majesty. You only know how to run your mouth before me.” The Empress used her index finger to point at the girl’s forehead, soft as tender tofu. “Yesterday I saw perfectly well how you and Zicheng were together—sweeter than honey candy.”

Shaoshang’s face reddened, but she stubbornly said: “You don’t know how infuriating Lord Ling can be, relying on His Majesty’s backing…”

Before she finished speaking, a clamor of footsteps and shouts came from outside. Not waiting for palace maids to announce, the Fifth Princess had already burst in furiously, standing at the door pointing at Shaoshang and cursing: “You little wretch! Cheap woman! I’ll kill you!”

The Empress’s face suddenly darkened. She slammed her palm on the low table: “Wicked creature! What place do you think this is, daring to shout and yell in Changqiu Palace!”

The Fifth Princess, seeing her mother’s bad expression, immediately came forward to kneel, bowing until her forehead touched the ground, repeatedly admitting fault and saying she’d been rash, then quickly explained the reason.

It turned out the group of young ladies she’d brought were lazy, sleeping until broad daylight before rising. Who knew when they’d just pushed open the door and were walking along a corridor built with green vines, a large amount of waste water suddenly rained down from overhead.

—Shaoshang had set up this mechanism very cleverly. If she’d only placed the waste bucket on the door beam, it would only splash one or two people. So she’d set several waste buckets on the green vine corridor. One end of the corridor was where those young ladies lived, the other end was a small wooden gate. She’d propped the small wooden gate shut with a door bolt. The first young lady to arrive couldn’t push the door open and would call the other girls over to help. Only when several girls came over to push together would they open the wooden gate. At that moment the mechanism triggered—waste water descended from heaven like blessed rain.

This way, even if she couldn’t get everyone, most couldn’t escape.

This was an extremely disgusting prank. Those young ladies hadn’t suffered a single scratch, but even after immediately bathing and changing clothes, that soul-stirring smell would take at least several days to fade.

The Fifth Princess was extremely indignant. Remembering the mocking, contemptuous gazes of Consort Yue’s people earlier, feeling her face had been completely played, she pounded the ground with her fist, forcefully accusing: “Mother Empress, they were brought into the palace by your daughter, and contributed effort dancing to celebrate Mother Empress’s birthday. Yet now they’ve encountered this humiliation! A scholar can be killed but not humiliated. Mother Empress, you must uphold justice for your daughter!”

The Empress held back from looking at Shaoshang, remaining completely still: “Oh, so your meaning is, because they got splashed with some night soil they should commit suicide? Even if they want to commit suicide, what are you doing coming to me?”

The Fifth Princess choked for a moment, then said loudly: “Mother Empress! This was Cheng Shaoshang’s doing. I’ve already asked the people in Long Garden—they said Cheng Shaoshang went there this morning before dawn!”

“Mm, but did anyone personally witness Shaoshang setting up the night soil?”

“Even if no one saw it, who else but Cheng Shaoshang! Mother Empress, are you going to shield Cheng Shaoshang?” The Fifth Princess’s voice was shrill, wishing she could hammer Shaoshang to death in one blow.

“Your Highness, dare I ask one thing?” Shaoshang suddenly said. “Why must it definitely be me? Why would I go to such great lengths to carry out this scheme?”

“Because they previously pushed you…” into the lake—The Fifth Princess bit her lip hard. If she really said it out loud, not only would Cheng Shaoshang be blameless, but Mother Empress might even punish those young ladies.

Shaoshang looked at the princess with a half-smile: “Your Highness, I have no recent grievances or past enmity with those young ladies. For no reason, why would I harm them? You can’t just bite and insist it was me because I went to Long Garden this morning. That’s not convincing!”

The Fifth Princess’s gaze was sinister: “Send you to the Court of Judicial Review—within three hours you’ll confess everything! Then let’s see if you can still be smug…”

“Get out!”

The Empress suddenly flew into a rage, standing and forcefully throwing the brush rest: “Get out! Get out of my Changqiu Palace, get out of the North Palace, get back to your Princess Manor! If you still want to preserve a shred of mother-daughter affection, hurry up and get out!”

The Fifth Princess touched her bruised arm in disbelief: “Mother Empress!”

Granny Zhai, who had followed in, saw things were wrong and quickly directed palace maids forward to help the Fifth Princess up, pulling and tugging to “escort” her out. The Fifth Princess slowly stood, glaring at Shaoshang with sinister coldness: “You just wait!”

These five words were spoken through gritted teeth. Shaoshang frowned, and before another thought could arise, the palace maid guarding the door outside suddenly announced loudly: Consort Yue arrives!

The palace’s first unspoken rule: unless urgent matters arose, the Empress and Consort Yue would try to avoid meeting—everyone in the hall looked at each other. Granny Zhai was completely bewildered. The Empress slowly sat back down. Only Shaoshang detected a peculiar satisfaction and relief on the Fifth Princess’s face.

Consort Yue strode in with a stern face, followed by many tall, strong palace maids and eunuchs. The last to enter was actually Ling Buyi. Unlike others’ grave expressions, he was no different from usual, still that quiet and indifferent appearance. Shaoshang met his eyes. He smiled gently, as if comforting her not to be afraid.

After entering the hall, Consort Yue didn’t sit. After hurriedly performing courtesies to the Empress, she said: “Please Your Majesty move—come outside the hall to see.”

Seeing her serious expression, the Empress had Granny Zhai help her rise and quickly walked outside the hall. She saw in the courtyard a stretcher covered with white cloth, beneath which the vague shape of a human body could be seen—it should be a corpse.

Consort Yue raised her hand. A eunuch lifted the white cloth, and everyone immediately let out shocked gasps. This corpse was actually that plump girl who had accused Ling Buyi of impropriety the day before.

She appeared to have been dead for some time, her whole body stiff, limbs twisted, hair disheveled and clothing much damaged, clearly having struggled before death. A bright cloud-shaped golden hairpin inlaid with green gemstones was stuck in her throat. Especially horrifying were her wide-open eyes, her face full of shock and resentful anger.

Seeing that golden hairpin, Shaoshang’s heart sank. She quietly stepped back and whispered instructions to a familiar little palace maid nearby. The little palace maid nodded and, taking advantage of everyone’s shock, quickly ran off.

Seeing everyone speechless, the Fifth Princess quickly stepped forward, declaring loudly: “Cheng Shaoshang, you can’t deny it now! If I remember correctly, this golden hairpin was given to you by Mother Empress. Two months ago at a palace banquet I even saw you wearing it. A human life is at stake. Now we can send you to the Court of Judicial Review. All those varied torture instruments in the Court of Judicial Review—you can properly enjoy them…”

“Your Highness, calm yourself.” Consort Yue coldly interrupted. “The corpse isn’t going anywhere, the person isn’t going anywhere. The princess doesn’t need to be so frantic convicting someone!”

The Fifth Princess said arrogantly: “Consort Yue, this is Changqiu Palace, not your territory. My Mother Empress hasn’t even spoken—what are you getting involved for? Now with evidence and witness both present…”

“Ill-mannered thing!” Consort Yue cursed without courtesy. “Never mind Your Majesty’s Changqiu Palace—even in His Majesty’s Mingguang Hall, I’ll say what I want to say! If you don’t believe me, I’ll drag you to an audience with His Majesty right now and see whether I can speak or not!” Saying this, she made as if to have someone drag the Fifth Princess.

The Fifth Princess momentarily weakened, seeking rescue from the Empress: “Mother Empress…”

“Stop that shouting! When you disliked the Empress’s discipline, you fled far away to your Princess Manor to live carefree and happy, never seen being filial at her knee. When you want the Empress to back you up, you remember to call ‘Mother Empress’! Today I’ll teach you a lesson: eyes above mouth—before opening your mouth, first open your eyes and see whether the person before you can be provoked or not!” Except for occasions requiring performance, Consort Yue had never in her life recognized the two words “forbearance.”

Before this courtyard full of palace maids and eunuchs, the Fifth Princess was thoroughly scolded, face red with shame. If not for a certain matter she’d long been planning, she would have fled in humiliation long ago.

Consort Yue finished scolding the Fifth Princess and waved her hand to have palace maids and eunuchs push her away, then raised her jade arm, inviting the Empress inside to speak. Ling Buyi waited quietly to the side. When everyone filed into the hall, he suddenly pulled Shaoshang over, pressing her to sit beside him.

The Empress’s face was pale, leaning on Granny Zhai’s arm as she slowly sat: “Sister, please speak first.”

Consort Yue nodded and began narrating concisely: “It’s not any great matter—a shameless dirty thing died. Just for her false accusation of Zicheng yesterday, death isn’t punishment enough. However, the person died in my Long Garden, and she was entrusted to me by the Empress, so I must explain clearly.”

“I’ve caused you trouble.” The Empress said in a low voice.

Consort Yue said: “Back then I sent the children to your palace one after another, letting you worry for many years. When I returned, each child was plump and round, clever and lively. If we’re talking about causing trouble, what the Empress has entrusted to me—how does it even compare?”

The Empress said bitterly: “I don’t know how to raise children. Fortunately you brought them back early. If they’d stayed with me, I probably would have ruined them too.”

Consort Yue said: “Empress, don’t take everything onto yourself. Since ancient times there’s been the saying ‘good bamboo produces bad shoots.’ Even immortal ancestors can’t avoid unvirtuous wives and unfilial sons. Take Marquis Yu—governing the nation, civil and military prowess, such a steady person. Normally before His Majesty he doesn’t say an extra word or take an extra step. Recently I don’t know which number son of his trampled two people to death with his horse back home. When it came out, it wasn’t even the first time. Now he’s arguing with old man Ji Zun.”

The Empress nodded with difficulty.

Consort Yue faced the assembly and concisely recounted the events: “This morning was quite eventful—several things happened. First, the person delivering breakfast discovered this corpse. Then Miss Luo said her personal maid had been missing since last night. She endured repeatedly but finally had to report to me. I thought she’s usually cautious and diligent, and with her marriage approaching, getting involved in this matter wouldn’t be good, so I sent people to escort her out of the palace to return home.”

Shaoshang kept her head down, clenching her right fist. Chunyao was missing—was she truly “missing”? Or had she already…

Ling Buyi turned to look at the girl, pulled over her clenched right hand, smoothed it out and held it.

“You did very right.” The Empress said. “I shouldn’t have summoned Jitong into the palace. She’s about to marry…”

Consort Yue raised her eyebrows, very clearly expressing her disagreement. She was about to speak, but Ling Buyi spoke first.

“Raising soldiers a thousand days to use them for a moment. These years the Empress has treated Miss Luo well, treated the Luo family generously—everyone can see. For what purpose? Wasn’t it hoping she would properly advise the Fifth Princess, reform her character… Some things, if they can’t be done, so be it. This time at Your Majesty’s birthday banquet, asking her to come help out—what’s ‘should or shouldn’t’ about it?”

The Empress looked at Ling Buyi with eyes full of gratification. Shaoshang moved her fingers, gripping Ling Buyi’s hand in return.

The Fifth Princess wanted to speak several times but held back out of fear of Consort Yue. At this moment she very much wanted to question Ling Buyi about “what do you mean by reform character,” but in the end still held back.

Consort Yue continued: “Actually the corpse was discovered quite early. Palace people discovered it when delivering breakfast, but I had people keep quiet and secretly summoned someone to examine the body.”

“The cause of death was the throat wound—killed in one strike. When discovered, she’d been dead at least four hours, possibly five or six hours. I can see this much, and anyone who’s seen many dead can see it.”

“Because this woman’s behavior was improper and she falsely accused Zicheng, from the day before I had her confined, intending to try her after Your Majesty’s birthday banquet ended. The evening meal was delivered at the beginning of the hour of You, and the woman was still fine then. Counting back four, five, or six hours from when the corpse was discovered this morning means…”

“It means Cheng Shaoshang sneaked into Long Garden last night to commit murder.” The Fifth Princess finally couldn’t hold back, saying carefully: “No matter what, that golden hairpin is hers.”

Consort Yue looked at her disdainfully: “Whose hairpin it is doesn’t necessarily mean they did the killing. These past two days Changqiu Palace has had people coming and going—how hard is it to steal a golden hairpin? This kind of trick isn’t rare.”

The Fifth Princess bit her lip resentfully. The “evidence” she’d carefully prepared had been so easily negated by Consort Yue.

“Using one’s own golden hairpin to kill someone—now that’s truly a brilliant scheme.” Ling Buyi said. “Lest others can’t guess whose hand it was, almost more clever than the Princess herself.”

The Fifth Princess heard the mockery in this and said resentfully: “…Perhaps Cheng Shaoshang thought of exactly this point and deliberately used her own golden hairpin to kill, then refuted how she could act this way, thus escaping suspicion.”

Ling Buyi said calmly: “Then why not use a different weapon from the start instead of her own golden hairpin—then there wouldn’t even be this suspicion.”

The Fifth Princess said loudly: “Because Cheng Shaoshang knew that if this woman died, she would be the most suspicious person!”

Shaoshang finally felt some interest: “Oh, why is that?”

“Because she falsely accused Eleventh Brother the day before, so you held a grudge!”

Shaoshang leaned back, rather feeling defeated.

Ling Buyi looked at her and said coolly: “I think her feelings for me aren’t that deep yet.”

Consort Yue turned her head and snorted with laughter. Shaoshang’s face was ashen.

“There’s something Your Highness may not know.” Shaoshang sat up straight, staring firmly at the Fifth Princess. “Since the day before, Consort Yue has been sealing the garden morning and evening. Last night after those young ladies danced, Consort Yue immediately had people seal the garden, guarding all entrances and exits, allowing no one in or out.”

The Fifth Princess’s pupils dilated slightly.

“At the beginning of the hour of You yesterday when the evening meal was delivered, that woman was still alive. But I departed from Changqiu Palace at the third quarter of the hour of You to attend the banquet, and didn’t leave for half a step during the entire feast—everyone saw. After the banquet ended, Consort Yue had already sealed the garden. I couldn’t possibly enter Long Garden…”

The Fifth Princess said urgently: “What about between the beginning of the hour of You and the third quarter? There’s more than half an hour—enough for you to go to Long Garden and kill someone!”

“Fifth Sister, why do you torture yourself so…”

At this moment, a weak voice suddenly came from the hall entrance. Everyone turned to look and saw the Fifth Prince gently enter from behind the door, unclear how long he’d been listening.

Shaoshang felt slightly strange, thinking that little palace maid had run quite fast. Turning her head, she saw Ling Buyi nod slightly toward the Fifth Prince and immediately understood he had summoned the person in advance.

The Fifth Prince performed courtesies to the two imperial consorts, then knelt in front of and to the side of Shaoshang in proper sitting posture. Then, facing Ling Buyi’s solemn gaze, he recounted in detail: “Yesterday evening, I, I carelessly fell into the water. It was Miss Cheng passing by who rescued me. Therefore Miss Cheng didn’t go to Long Garden…”

“You’re lying!” The Fifth Princess flew into a rage, standing and pointing at the Fifth Prince, trembling all over. She glanced at Ling Buyi and shouted loudly: “Did someone threaten you to say this?! Was it Ling Buyi? He wants to exonerate Cheng Shaoshang?!”

The Fifth Prince said helplessly: “After I fell in the water and was rescued, I came to Changqiu Palace together with Miss Cheng, then departed for the banquet together. If we departed at the third quarter of the hour of You, well, one quarter hour to bathe and change clothes, one quarter hour to walk here from Little Mirror Lake, then when I fell and was rescued should have been around the beginning of the hour of You. Everyone at Changqiu Palace can testify. Whether I speak or not actually makes little difference. Also, from Little Mirror Lake to Long Garden takes at least a small half hour’s walk. But at the beginning of the hour of You that woman was still alive. How could Miss Cheng go kill someone? Could she fly through clouds and ride mist like an immortal?” The palace didn’t allow running horses either—if hoofbeats rang out, everyone would see.

Saying this, he turned to look at Shaoshang, lowering his head and saying softly: “Yesterday you insisted I come to Changqiu Palace to bathe and change clothes—it was to prevent me from denying it, wasn’t it?”

Shaoshang smiled faintly: “Your Highness thinks too much. This concubine was truly afraid you’d catch cold.”

The Fifth Prince smiled bitterly. As someone determined to stir up wind and rain by nature and loving to watch excitement, today honestly recounting the facts like this was truly a first in his life.

“I see…” Consort Yue said. “The matter is resolved faster than I thought.”

She looked at Shaoshang again: “You’re quite quick-witted. This morning when the corpse was discovered I sent people to report to His Majesty. Zicheng came rushing over upon hearing the news, arriving even faster than the coroner. Now it seems it was needless worry…”

Shaoshang felt her right hand being squeezed and quickly said: “Not at all, not at all. With Lord Ling here, my heart is settled.” Only then was her right hand slowly released.

Consort Yue looked at their clasped hands with a half-smile, then turned to the Empress: “Alright, let the Empress handle what comes next. It’s not convenient for me to remain long. I’ll take my leave.”

The Empress was both pale and silent at this moment, forcing a smile as she thanked Consort Yue. After everyone had left, she forced herself to sit up straight and said: “Granny Zhai, go summon Grand Chamberlain Cao Cheng, and inform His Majesty that the Fifth Princess has been unfilial—ask him to have the Yellow Gate Attendant send people.”

Shaoshang was shocked. This was the second time she’d heard the word “unfilial” since coming to this world. Last time was during the writing desk incident when Director Xiao, pushed to desperation, had shouted it out. She hadn’t really understood how serious those two words were then, but seeing how anxious and agitated her several brothers had been at the time, this must be an extremely grave charge.

The Fifth Princess was even more shocked than Shaoshang, her eyes wide, shrilly shouting: “Mother Empress, what are you doing!”

Ling Buyi, with a somewhat mocking and pitying tone, said slowly: “Your Highness, don’t you understand yet? From when I saw that corpse at Consort Yue’s place, I knew who did it, who set up the trap.” He paused, as if thinking of something amusing, and continued: “…If this can even be called a ‘trap.'”

“Your Highness, with your noble status, couldn’t possibly act personally, so you must have helpers. Earlier Your Highness kept mentioning the Court of Judicial Review—if I send a round of people around Your Highness into it, I imagine there will be a conclusion very quickly.”

“That corpse shows signs of struggle, so the perpetrator couldn’t avoid being marked. While we’ve been talking here, I’ve already had people investigate.”

“Today’s matter was never primarily about clearing Shaoshang’s name, but about how to deal with the real culprit.”

The handsome man spoke softly and gently, as if discussing everyday matters, his expression also gentle and refined. Yet Shaoshang inexplicably felt a bone-chilling sensation, as if smelling a faint scent of blood at her nose.