Due to the lack of developed public lighting systems at the time, people rarely traveled at night. Every year, numerous commoners died from falling into ditches, lakes, or even off cliffs while walking in the dark. Thus, although Shao Shang didn’t fully understand the so-called "story of the Crown Prince of Emperor Xuan," seeing Ling Buyi’s urgency to rush back to the Capital City overnight made her realize the gravity of the situation—it was likely another plot targeting the good-natured Crown Prince.
She had intended to ask Ling Buyi about it during the journey, but the Third Prince and Fourth Prince also squeezed into his carriage. Afraid of appearing ignorant (though it was true), she held back her questions, silently cursing the Third Prince for his unchanging habit of commandeering carriages for eight hundred years!
Once settled in the spacious carriage, the Third Prince maintained his usual coffin-board expression, closing his eyes to rest. It was the Fourth Prince who noticed Shao Shang’s confusion and straightforwardly explained, "Zisheng’s carriage is sturdier and heavier than ordinary ones—it won’t fall apart even during forced marches. A journey that would take three hours in a regular carriage can be completed in two with this one. Xiao Hou Ban is still shaken, so let his brother take care of him and travel at a slower pace."
Shao Shang let out an "Oh," then mustered the courage to ask, "Why must Your Highnesses return to the Capital in such a hurry? Our Teacher is frail and shouldn’t be rushed." It’s not like either of you is the target!
The Third Prince abruptly opened his eyes, his sharp gaze piercing her. Shao Shang shrank back instinctively for no reason. Ling Buyi, amused by how she trembled like a startled rabbit—even her ears seemed to twitch—gently patted her in reassurance.
Shao Shang forced a laugh. "...What I meant was, with His Majesty in the Capital, nothing is beyond resolution. There’s no need for the Third Prince or Lord Ling to rush so urgently."
The Third Prince sneered. "Today, I’ll teach you a lesson. Though you come from humble origins, you now reside within the imperial palace. Instead of only flirting with Zisheng, you should keep your ears and eyes open, learning what you ought to know the moment it happens. With your current state, it’s only due to the Empress’s kindness and generosity that everyone in the palace praises your cleverness. If you were among truly cunning women, I doubt you’d last long!"
Shao Shang had asked just one question, only to be berated endlessly—without even receiving an answer. Truly, she had gone for wool and come home shorn.
Ling Buyi shot the Third Prince a displeased look before turning to her gently. "You don’t know this, but yesterday, Yan Divine Immortal arrived unexpectedly. His Majesty was both shocked and delighted, so he took him to Tu Gao Mountain Hot Spring Palace to reminisce. His Majesty traveled lightly, so this wasn’t disclosed to outside officials—only the Crown Prince and a few ministers from the Department of State Affairs knew."
Shao Shang seemed to realize something. "...And the flying letter arrived today?"
Ling Buyi nodded.
Shao Shang smiled bitterly. "Then by now, the court officials must all know His Majesty isn’t in the Capital."
Ling Buyi sighed and patted her head.
Worried, Shao Shang murmured, "Her Majesty will be upset again—she’d just started feeling better these past few days." After a pause, she stole a glance at the Third Prince and added in a tiny voice, "I’ve been on leave for three or four days, so naturally, I wouldn’t know about palace affairs..."
The Third Prince said coldly, "I also reside outside the palace, yet I know everything!"
Ling Buyi countered pointedly, "She’s young and innocent—naturally, she isn’t as sharp-eared and keen-eyed as Your Highness."Shao Shang completely surrendered, holding Ling Buyi's hand in silent awe. Alright, she admitted it—she was indeed intimidated by the Third Prince, especially when he scolded her with that air of authority, just like Royal Uncle.
The Fourth Prince had been stifling laughter since the Third Prince began reprimanding Shao Shang earlier, but now he sighed quietly to himself.
He thought to himself, this young lady Cheng might have a temper, but her heart was in the right place, and she was straightforward. Among his siblings, aside from Second Imperial Sister who truly stayed out of matters, which of the other princes and princesses wasn’t secretly observing their father’s every move? Even those young princes still learning to read and write couldn’t be entirely trusted.
They set off in the middle of the night, with Shao Shang dozing in Ling Buyi’s arms until dawn, when the towering walls of the Capital City came into view. Ling Buyi used his and the Third Prince’s faces to clear their way through the city gates, then headed straight for the palace. When they reached Zhuque Lane, the two princes alighted from the carriage, mounted horses, and rode off—who knew where.
Rubbing her bleary eyes, Shao Shang mumbled, "Aren’t they going to the palace? Then why the rush last night?"
Ling Buyi replied, "Why go to the palace? To watch the Crown Prince struggle? In truth, this is a double-edged sword—they have their own reservations too."
Shao Shang lowered her hand and said blankly, "They’re afraid people will say they have ulterior motives, right?"
Ling Buyi gave a quiet hum of agreement.
As usual, the carriage stopped at the Upper West Gate. The palace guards whispered to Ling Buyi, "Several officials entered the palace early this morning, saying they needed to discuss matters with the Crown Prince."
Ling Buyi paused mid-step. Though Shao Shang was eager to see the Empress, he pulled her toward the Department of State Affairs instead, murmuring, "Later, just say the Empress is unwell and request the Crown Prince to visit her."
Dragged along in a daze, Shao Shang thought: Huh? The Empress is unwell again? Since when?
The junior palace attendant on duty at the Department of State Affairs was familiar with both Ling and Cheng and let them pass without question. Before they even stepped into the side hall, they heard the Crown Prince’s weary voice arguing inside: "Regarding the land measurement, His Majesty merely mentioned it in passing. Why must you all press so urgently?"
A chorus of rebuttals followed—
"Your Highness is mistaken! His Majesty never speaks idly. If he mentioned land measurement, then he has this intention. As the heir apparent, how can you plead ignorance?"
"Exactly! Land measurement is no trivial matter—how to measure, where to start, which households to include—there’s much to consider. Your Highness must present a plan!"
Shao Shang was wide awake now. She rushed forward to peek through the door crack and saw a crowd of scholars inside, all gesticulating and speaking vehemently. She didn’t recognize a single one.
Over the past six months, she had frequently run errands to the Department of State Affairs and had seen most of the officials Royal Uncle regularly summoned at least three or four times. That meant these men likely held lower official ranks.
Finally cornered, the Crown Prince spoke up: "His Majesty’s intention with land measurement is to clarify population and land records, verify household registrations and taxes. This will enrich the national treasury, provide insight into regional conditions, and curb those clan leaders who disregard imperial decrees. It’s a great boon for the nation and its people—the intent is most noble...""Your Highness is mistaken," came a mocking voice. "If we're talking about intentions, weren't the 'new policies' of Emperor Li from the previous dynasty well-intentioned? They sounded perfectly reasonable, backed by classics and citations—even the Great Confucian Scholars couldn't argue against him! And what was the result?"
"Exactly! Emperor Li's so-called new policies—changing currency one moment, increasing taxes the next, even conducting household-by-household land and population surveys—all sounded grand and righteous. But in the end, they only drove families to ruin and lined the pockets of corrupt officials. Your Highness should take this as a warning..."
Shao Shang was eavesdropping intently by the partition when Ling Buyi suddenly kicked it down with a loud crash, exposing her hunched figure to the stunned crowd.
Ling Buyi swept his gaze over the room, his voice icy. "The two of you keep mentioning Emperor Li from the previous dynasty. By implication, are you referring to His Majesty... or the Crown Prince?"
The hall fell silent. The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, while the Crown Prince brightened at the sight of Ling Buyi. "Zisheng, you're here."
A sharp-featured scholar stood and declared loudly, "General Wei, there's no need to accuse us like this. Drawing lessons from history to advise the ruler is our duty as ministers—"
"Your duty is to make baseless accusations and fabricate nonsense? What a remarkable skill," Ling Buyi retorted coldly, his words cutting like steel.
"Emperor Li seized the throne unjustly, relying on a woman's influence to usurp power! His Majesty, however, fought for this land with blood and sweat, strategizing battle by battle, city by city! Emperor Li feigned righteousness, masking cruelty with benevolence, exploiting the chaos of dynastic transition to commit his treachery. But His Majesty, with the wisdom of Yu and Tang, eradicated tyranny, restored our ancestors' legacy, and delivered the people from suffering—how dare you compare them?!"
The force of his words left the assembly speechless. Another, milder-looking scholar murmured, "Our advice was directed at His Highness, not His Majesty..."
"It was His Majesty who proposed the land measurement, not the Crown Prince! If you have questions, submit them to the court. Why harass the Crown Prince? Has His Majesty delegated this matter to him? His Majesty has repeatedly said the Crown Prince must first observe and learn, yet you presume to push him into governance!"
Shao Shang thought to herself, The Crown Prince hasn’t even done anything yet, and these idiots are already yapping. If he were actually in charge, they’d drown him in their venom.
Then the mocking scholar spoke again. "It's said General Wei is not only peerless in valor but also possesses the eloquence of Su Qin and Zhang Yi. Today proves the rumors true. Yesterday, flying letters appeared in the Capital City, recounting the story of the Crown Prince of Emperor Xuan. Have you heard of it, General?"
Ling Buyi replied indifferently, "There are countless old tales. If we're speaking of history, I have one as well—do you all recall the story of Crown Prince Wei under Emperor Wu?"
At this, the ministers paled in horror—though Shao Shang still had no idea what it meant.
Ling Buyi stared them down, enunciating each word. "Some so-called loyal ministers, under the guise of advising the Crown Prince of Emperor Xuan, acted no differently than the treacherous Jiang Chong and Han Yue!"After these words were spoken, no one in the hall dared to refute. Ling Buyi glanced at Shao Shang, who was leaning against the doorway. Understanding his signal, she immediately raised her voice and said, "Reporting to the Crown Prince, Her Majesty is feeling unwell and requests your presence."
The Crown Prince seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and hastily rose to take his leave.
As they walked through the palace corridors, Shao Shang muttered under her breath in frustration, "Your Highness, really! Those insignificant pests weren’t here to discuss politics—they were here to bully you. Why bother with them? Just tell them to shut up and get lost!"
The Crown Prince smiled bitterly. "How can I just hurl insults without distinguishing right from wrong…"
Shao Shang placed her hands on her hips and retorted, "There’s a kind of person in this world called scoundrels. When you meet scoundrels, what’s the point of reasoning with them? Not resorting to violence is already being polite!"
The Crown Prince didn’t argue with the young girl, merely shaking his head helplessly as he continued walking forward.
A minor disturbance seemed to have dissipated just like that.
Shao Shang had initially feared that the Empress, having just recovered from illness, might suffer a relapse from such unpleasantness. To her surprise, the Empress remained remarkably composed this time. When Shao Shang hurried back, she saw Her Majesty serenely reading and writing, the Everlasting Autumn Palace as tranquil as ever.
The Empress stroked the girl’s adorable and soft twin buns. "Didn’t you say it yourself? If it’s fortune, it won’t be misfortune; if it’s misfortune, it can’t be avoided. I’m tired too. Let’s just wait for His Majesty to return. Everything will be decided then."
Shao Shang thought it made sense and settled down obediently in the palace, planning to stay for a few days to observe the situation.
However, academic matters brooked no delay. That very noon, while the Empress was napping, Shao Shang slipped out of the Everlasting Autumn Palace and seized the opportunity to corner the Fifth Prince, who was teasing a young palace maid. She dragged him to a secluded spot for questioning.
Having suffered at Shao Shang’s hands before, the Fifth Prince was initially unwilling to be alone with her and even tried to hide among the palace maids, shouting defiantly. But with a fierce glare and a loud shout from Shao Shang, the maids scattered in fear, leaving the Fifth Prince with no choice but to comply.
"Relax, today I’m not asking you to testify for me, nor to help me commit violence… I just have two small historical allusions to ask you about," Shao Shang said, one hand pressing down on the Fifth Prince’s arm and the other gripping the back of his neck.
The Fifth Prince yelped, "Ouch, ouch, ouch… Let go first! I’ve already come with you, why resort to force? Whatever allusions, I’ll tell you!"
Shao Shang released him and frowned. "Your Highness, you really should train more. You’re all flabby, weak-limbed, and short of breath. I can see your little belly starting to show—how old are you anyway?"
The Fifth Prince rubbed his arm. "What do you know? If I were to study military strategy, I’d be asking for trouble. The Empress has righteousness and His Majesty’s respect, Consort Yue has a powerful family background and His Majesty’s favor—what does my mother have? She’s just a sheltered woman who doesn’t know her place, always dreaming foolishly. I won’t follow her path! Only this way can I live safely and long."
Shao Shang was suddenly impressed. "I never realized Your Highness was so clear-headed. Then why do you usually jump around being so annoying? Last time during His Majesty’s sacrificial rites at Mount Tu Gao, I heard you even meddled in the affairs of the Second and Third Princes and got a beating for it!"
The Fifth Prince replied, "If I don’t stir up some trouble now and then, His Majesty might not even remember me. If he doesn’t remember me, how can I expect a good title or rewards in the future? Besides, the more foolish and ridiculous I act, the more at ease my siblings feel."
Shao Shang asked curiously, "Why are you telling me all this?"The Fifth Prince rolled his eyes. "Ling Buyi saw through me the first time I made a fuss. That time when I exposed to Father that he sneaked out of the palace, he beat me up but also praised me a few times... Oh, stop nagging! What allusion do you want to ask about?"
Shao Shang snapped out of her daze and quickly said, "Right, right! I wanted to ask you... what does 'The story of the Crown Prince of Emperor Xuan' mean? And who are Crown Prince Wei and Jiang Chong?" Even the Fourth Prince, who disliked studying, knew about it, so the Fifth Prince should know too.
The Fifth Prince's eyes lit up. "Oh, so you've heard about the flying letters posted in the city yesterday? Tsk tsk, seems your studies aren't up to par. But why—"
Shao Shang rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward, lowering her voice threateningly. "Cut the nonsense! It's inconvenient to ask the Empress or the scholars, Zhai Nanny doesn't know, and Lord Ling is away on business. I need to know now, so hurry up and tell me!"
The Fifth Prince took a step back, standing firm before speaking awkwardly. "Fine, I'll tell you—but I'll keep it brief. You wouldn't understand if I went into details."
"Are you asking for a beating?"
"Step back, and I'll tell you—Emperor Xuan was a ruler from the previous dynasty, benevolent and just, a wise sovereign. He was deeply devoted to his first Empress, but later she was murdered..."
"Pfft, if even an Empress could be murdered, this emperor wasn't so wise after all."
"Don't interrupt! Emperor Xuan wasn't in power when his first Empress was killed! Anyway, where was I... Oh, the first Empress passed away, but she left behind a son, both the eldest and the legitimate heir, so Emperor Xuan made him Crown Prince."
"Oh, so this is the Crown Prince of Emperor Xuan."
"Exactly. To protect the Crown Prince, Emperor Xuan deliberately installed a new Empress who had neither favor nor children. He also appointed many outstanding scholars to educate the Crown Prince. Even when Emperor Xuan later had a favored consort and other sons, the Crown Prince's position remained secure."
"This Emperor Xuan sounds decent."
"He was, but the Crown Prince wasn't the best candidate for the throne. The Teacher who lectured us said the Crown Prince of Emperor Xuan was weak-willed, indecisive, overly lenient, and favored eunuchs. Later, eunuchs close to him caused the death of a high-ranking minister, yet he didn't punish them severely, letting it slide. Emperor Xuan had noticed this flaw while still alive and once said, 'The Crown Prince cannot distinguish between benevolent rule and tyranny—how can he be entrusted with governing the country?' and even harshly remarked, 'The one who will bring chaos to our house is the Crown Prince.' Yet, out of love for his first Empress and pity for the Crown Prince losing his mother young, Emperor Xuan ultimately let him succeed to the throne, becoming Emperor Yuan."
After this lengthy explanation, the Fifth Prince glanced at Shao Shang's expression and subtly edged away a few steps.
Shao Shang stood frozen, struggling to speak. "...So, later generations criticized this?"
The Fifth Prince nodded. "The Teacher said the decline of the previous dynasty began with Emperor Yuan. If Emperor Xuan had acted decisively and changed the Crown Prince, things might have been different. Worse still, Emperor Yuan later appointed a Crown Prince even more unfit than himself—Emperor Cheng. Emperor Cheng indulged in wine and women, let his maternal relatives monopolize power, and allowed the court to fall into disarray. Oh, and the usurper Emperor Li was promoted under his reign—the flying letters posted in the city are using this allusion to target the Crown Prince, our elder brother!"Shao Shang was stunned for a long while, unable to speak: "You can't say it like that. Who said that changing the Crown Prince would prevent the dynasty from declining?" The decline of dynasties follows a cyclical pattern and cannot be altered by subjective will... but how could people of this era accept such reasoning!
"What about the second historical reference?" she pressed. "Was it also about advising the emperor to depose the Crown Prince?"
The Fifth Prince smiled. "This one is the exact opposite. Crown Prince Wei was Emperor Wu's heir. He was benevolent, wise, and deeply loved by the people. As a result, Jiang Chong, a cruel official favored by Emperor Wu, grew fearful, worried that he would be punished once Crown Prince Wei ascended the throne. So he struck first, falsely accusing the Crown Prince of rebellion. Later, Crown Prince Wei was forced to raise an army in self-defense but was defeated and took his own life. When Emperor Wu discovered the Crown Prince had been wronged, he was furious and ordered the extermination of several families involved in the plot."
Now Shao Shang understood Ling Buyi's point. Everyone believed themselves to be loyal ministers persuading Emperor Xuan to change the heir, but who could say they weren't another Jiang Chong—she laughed.
Snapping back to the present, she folded her hands into her sleeves and smiled sweetly and delicately, appearing fragile. "Your Highness, why are you so honest and sincere today? Answering whatever I ask—it almost makes me nervous."
The Fifth Prince wasn't fooled by her act and replied bluntly, "Because I also hope Crown Prince Brother remains safe and sound! He's so good-tempered—my life will be much easier if he succeeds to the throne! If it were Second Imperial Brother instead..." He pursed his lips and made a pained expression.
Shao Shang curtsied playfully and grinned. "Then I’ll take your kind words as a blessing."
Ling Buyi acted swiftly. The very next day, Royal Uncle returned from Mount Tu Gao to the Capital City. Furious at the coarse hemp flying letter placed on his imperial desk, he ordered the Court of Justice to investigate thoroughly. Old Ji Zun accepted the task with a stern face, and after much chaos, they indeed caught the person who had posted the flying letters. However, it turned out to be just a few idle troublemakers from the streets—they had been paid to do the job and couldn’t even read, let alone understand the contents of the letters.
The Emperor wasn’t so easily appeased. He demanded a deeper investigation, determined to uncover the mastermind behind it all. With the addition of personnel from the Northern Army Prison and the City Gate Commandant Camp, the Capital City remained in turmoil.
As the saying goes, no action goes unnoticed, and no secret stays hidden forever. After turning the Capital City upside down—greatly disrupting the entertainment industry in the process—they finally traced the person who had hired the troublemakers to post the flying letters.
But Ji Zun’s relief was short-lived. The culprit turned out to be a disciple of the late high-ranking minister Han Qing. The disciple had grown up in poverty and isolation, raised and educated by Han Qing. When Han Qing committed suicide over the Crown Prince affair, the disciple was left seething with unresolved anger.
Since the Emperor could not be openly resented, the disciple chose to carry on his mentor’s "final wish," spreading warnings about the consequences of choosing the wrong heir to prove Han Qing had not been at fault. After being arrested and brought to the Court of Justice, he would have dashed his head against the wall to kill himself had Ji Zun not taken precautions in time.
Even the Emperor was left speechless. He had long regretted Han Qing’s death, never expecting both master and disciple to be so impassioned, ready to die at the slightest provocation. Beyond being a former high-ranking minister, Han Qing had also been a renowned scholar of ancient Confucian classics, widely respected in court and beyond. Upon hearing of the incident, many officials and commoners alike pleaded for leniency for the disciple, arguing that "while the law must be upheld, the circumstances warrant compassion."
In the end, the Emperor seized the opportunity to step down gracefully, making a show of severity but delivering a light sentence—exiling the disciple for a short term—and hastily closed the case.Upon hearing the outcome, the Empress sighed deeply after a long silence. "What a cunning scheme, using the disciple of Minister Han to set this trap. Now His Majesty cannot pursue the matter with severe punishment."
Shao Shang asked in confusion, "Could that disciple have been acting under someone's orders? Why not investigate further?"
The Empress smiled bitterly. "How could such a thing be investigated? That disciple meets so many scholars daily to discuss literature. Should we arrest everyone who mentioned the Crown Prince or classical allusions to him and interrogate them one by one?"
Shao Shang fell silent.
The Empress then comforted the girl, "Enough, this matter is over. When His Majesty comes later, don't pout. His Majesty has been quite exhausted these past few days. Be good and don't cause trouble, alright?"
Shao Shang nodded earnestly.
When Royal Uncle came to the Everlasting Autumn Palace, Shao Shang was indeed very well-behaved. Not only did she showcase her culinary skills by personally preparing several light and delicious new dishes, but she also shared some silly family anecdotes to amuse the Emperor and Empress.
"...And so, Sister Qiqi has already been adopted by her uncle's family, and my second brother is about to be adopted into the Wan family. Uncle Wan was so overjoyed he kept telling everyone 'I finally have a son,' and even took second brother to pleasure quarters to celebrate. When Sister Qiqi heard about it, she immediately confronted Uncle Wan, asking, 'How could you take your son-in-law to such a place?' To everyone's surprise, Uncle Wan disowned his daughter on the spot and told Sister Qiqi to be more virtuous and gentle, and not to control her husband all the time—which made Sister Qiqi so angry she turned around and reported it to Mother."
The Emperor laughed. "I remember Wan Songbai's daughter—the one who could kill a tiger and cut out its heart. Quite formidable!"
"Mother is even more formidable," Shao Shang said, pretending to be scared. "When Mother found out, she wanted to discipline second brother according to Family Law. Uncle Wan blocked her, saying, 'Why are you hitting my son?' Mother retorted, 'He's still my son right now, so I can discipline him.' Just as second brother was about to be punished, Uncle Wan suddenly threw himself on the ground, rolling around and wailing—'My life is so bitter! I lost my father young and had no son for half my life. Now someone wants to beat my son—who will stand up for justice?!'..."
Her imitation was so lifelike that the Emperor and Empress were both doubled over with laughter.
"What about Cheng Xiaowei? Didn't he intervene?" the Empress asked, still laughing.
Shao Shang pouted. "He disappeared long before that."
The Emperor slapped his thigh, laughing heartily. "Smart move! If I were him, I'd hide too!"
The Empress wiped her tears. "Your mother did the right thing. After raising a son properly for over a decade, should she let him pick up bad habits the moment he's adopted? That Wan Songbai—hmph! What happened afterward?"
Shao Shang replied, "Uncle Wan has already set up an altar, beheaded a rooster, and sworn to heaven and earth that he would never take second brother to do any of those 'one-two-three-four-five' things."
The Emperor asked curiously, "What are 'one-two-three-four-five' things?"
"Mother forced Uncle Wan to write a long list of prohibitions on a silk scroll. I didn't read it carefully, but let's just say Uncle Wan is practically a half-monk now."
The Emperor and Empress burst into laughter again.
After the laughter subsided, seeing the Empress in high spirits, the Emperor suggested that the Crown Prince preside over the upcoming Shangsi Festival in his stead next month. The Empress understood that the Emperor felt guilty for being too lenient in punishing Han Qing's disciples and was trying to make it up to her and her son. She didn't expose him, merely smiling gently and thanking him. For a while, the atmosphere in the hall was warm and harmonious.
Noticing the affectionate exchange between the Emperor and Empress—clearly hinting at some private time—Shao Shang quickly slipped away. After some thought, she decided to deliver the good news to the Crown Prince in advance, to lift his spirits and remind him that the Emperor still firmly supported him.
With the highest authority backing him, what more could he ask for?
She rushed straight to the desolate Eastern Palace and, as usual, distributed money generously. The palace maids and eunuchs, delighted, let her into the inner hall without hesitation. But from afar, she caught a strong whiff of alcohol.
Quickening her pace, she entered and nearly choked with anger—the Crown Prince was already drunk, slumped over the table, while the Second Prince kept urging him to drink more, spouting discouraging remarks like "The court officials all look down on you, whispering behind your back that you're weak and incompetent," and "They say you're unworthy of your position, that His Majesty's decision to make you Crown Prince was the biggest mistake of his life," and so on.Shao Shang took a deep breath, glanced around to ensure no one else was present, then crouched slightly for momentum before launching a flying kick straight at the Second Prince's waist and backside—did he think her street smarts were for nothing?!
Caught completely off guard, the Second Prince let out a pained cry as he crashed onto the floor. Pointing a trembling finger at Shao Shang, he stammered, "Y-you... how dare you be so insolent!" After all, he was a prince raised with proper etiquette—never in his wildest dreams had he encountered such a shrewish woman.
"What of it?" Shao Shang planted her hands on her hips. "Go ahead, hit me back if you dare!" She pointed at her own face. "Right here, don't hold back! Come on, hit me..." If this idiot prince dared lay a hand on her, she'd immediately rush to Royal Uncle with the bruises—she'd see him punished thoroughly or she wasn't Shao Shang!
Whether the Second Prince realized this possibility or some remnant of noble restraint held him back, his face cycled through several shades of rage before he ultimately refrained. Standing up, he said through gritted teeth, "What are you doing in the Eastern Palace?!"
"And what are you doing here?" Shao Shang shot back. "Sneaking out again while the Second Imperial Concubine is asleep, aren't you?"
"Sneaking out?! I come and go as I please—who dares control me?!" The Second Prince's face darkened; no one would be pleased to be described so despicably. "The Crown Prince is my own brother—I came to offer comfort!"
"Spare me, Your Highness. Everyone knows your real intentions." With no one around, Shao Shang was in rare form. "If you can find a single palace maid from Everlasting Autumn Palace to the Eastern Palace who believes you care deeply for the Crown Prince, I'll kowtow three times and throw in a pair of Chunfang Lane's famous roasted pork knuckles!"
The Second Prince trembled with fury. "Y-you... don't think you can overstep your bounds just because Ling Buyi has power! I'll—"
"Does Your Highness truly believe Your Majesty let the Flying Letter case go lightly because he's displeased with the Crown Prince?" Shao Shang decided to shatter his delusions—a service to the nation. "Wrong! His Majesty only showed leniency out of respect for the late Minister Han, not wishing to harshly punish his disciple! Just moments ago, he told Her Majesty he still holds the Crown Prince in high regard!"
She didn't mention the Shangsi Festival matter. Telling the Crown Prince early to cheer him up was one thing—telling others would be leaking secrets.
Dizzy with rage, the Second Prince stubbornly retorted, "I don't believe you. I'll go ask Aheng." Aheng was the Second Imperial Concubine's name.
Watching the Second Prince stagger away from the Eastern Palace in dismay, Shao Shang turned to see the Crown Prince still dead drunk. Her enthusiasm for conversation waned. Waving away the stench of alcohol, she summoned the palace maids to tend to the Crown Prince's washing and rest.
Leaving the Eastern Palace, Shao Shang felt remarkably refreshed—the Crown Prince was (temporarily) secure, the Emperor and Empress were (once again) affectionate, and (presumably) no other major issues loomed. All that remained was waiting for Ling Buyi's return!
The Eastern Palace reeked of alcohol, while Everlasting Autumn Palace was bubbling with romance. Unsure where to go, Shao Shang wandered aimlessly until she came upon an octagonal pavilion. Inside stood a figure—jade crown, brocade robes, elegant and poised. Who else could it be but Yuan Shen?
Shao Shang froze.
Yuan Shen spotted her and beckoned her into the pavilion with a smile.
Approaching, Shao Shang asked, "What are you doing here?"Yuan Shen pointed to the bamboo scrolls placed on the stone stool in the pavilion: "By His Majesty's order, these are to be sent to the Eastern Palace once the scholars have finished compiling them. Being the youngest, I was assigned this errand."
Shao Shang looked puzzled: "Then you should be heading to the Eastern Palace. Why are you standing here?"
Yuan Shen hesitated for a moment, and Shao Shang immediately caught on: "Oh, I see! You just saw the Second Prince entering the Eastern Palace with wine jars. You don’t want to run into him or be invited to drink, so you’re hiding here!"
Yuan Shen gave a wry smile: "There are times when it’s better to play dumb. Couldn’t you pretend to be a little slower?"
Shao Shang shrugged: "What can I do? I was born too clever. But..." She leaned closer to Yuan Shen, "Tell me, who is really behind the attempts to harm the Crown Prince? It’s one thing after another."
A glint flashed in Yuan Shen’s eyes. He hesitated again, but seeing the girl’s eager, expectant gaze, he suddenly remembered her shouting at him before: 'Ling Buyi has saved and helped me many times, but what have you ever done for me?'—Steeling himself, he began to explain methodically.
"You always ask who is targeting the Crown Prince, and to comfort you, Ling Zisheng has kept many things from you."
"In truth, it’s not one person or one family targeting the Crown Prince, but many forces working silently in unison. For instance, Sun Sheng, the cousin of the Crown Princess—one family lured him into debauchery and crime, another investigated his background and gathered evidence against him, and yet a third family planted spies near the Crown Prince to learn of his rendezvous with Madam Qu at the Purple Osmanthus Courtyard."
"These people don’t have a clear-cut strategy. Like gnawing mice, they chip away at the Eastern Palace’s walls bit by bit. One digs here, another there—just one opportunity is all they need to plunge the Crown Prince into peril."
Shao Shang was stunned. First, she hadn’t expected Yuan Shen to explain everything so plainly today. Second, the implications behind his words terrified her. She recalled the attacks the Crown Prince had faced so far—it seemed that at every turn, enemies closed in from all sides.
She stammered hurriedly: "I-I know! Back then, Old Prince Qian'an killed many of Jing Sheng’s loyal officials, so they’re resentful..."
"Not just that!" Yuan Shen interrupted coolly. "Those with grudges against the Qian'an faction are the least of our worries. The real danger lies with the high-ranking officials who have blood from the Qian'an faction on their hands."
Shao Shang gasped.
Yuan Shen continued: "Do you think only Old Prince Qian'an’s hands were stained with blood? The Qian'an faction has scattered like clouds in the wind, their power completely dissolved. Where have all of the old prince’s capable sons, grandsons, sons-in-law, and adopted sons gone? The splendid flowers of today were nourished with flesh and blood. His Majesty’s methods are masterful, and his most trusted ministers are no less formidable. Given this history, even if the Crown Prince has never spoken a word in defense of Qian'an Royal Manor, can they truly rest easy? This is a matter of life and death."
Shao Shang gradually understood, her fingers tightening around her sleeves.
Yuan Shen fixed his gaze on her: "To give one example—the man who personally beheaded the old prince’s top general, who was also the husband of his eldest daughter, was none other than Yuhou’s cousin. Though he was merely following orders, what do you think the Yu family feels about the Crown Prince?"Shao Shang saw a great river before her eyes. At first, it was just a small whirlpool in the middle of the river, but as it flowed, each turn added force to that whirlpool, eventually forming a massive vortex capable of swallowing everything.
"So, they're just using the example of Emperor Xuan and the Crown Prince as a pretext—what they really want is for His Majesty to change the heir!" she said indignantly.
Yuan Shen smiled. "Ling Zisheng countered swiftly too. Hmph, 'Claiming to be loyal ministers, yet acting like Jiang Chong'—what sharp words. Over a decade ago, when His Majesty placed Ling Zisheng in the Everlasting Autumn Palace, I wonder if he foresaw today."
"Lord Ling... was only acting according to His Majesty's wishes," Shao Shang said softly.
Yuan Shen glanced at her and continued, "Exactly. So you needn't worry too much about the Crown Prince. As long as His Majesty still favors him, the Crown Prince is as secure as a rock. Emperor Jing smoothly changed the heir because he wanted to—no civil or military official could stop him. Emperor Wu slaughtered until the rivers ran red because he didn’t want to change the heir but fell victim to schemers, so he exterminated all the powerful ministers, noble clans, and imperial relatives who stood to benefit from the Crown Prince’s death. No matter how many faults Emperor Xuan found with the Crown Prince, he never changed the heir—that was Emperor Xuan’s true intention. In the end, it all comes down to His Majesty’s will."
"With Emperor Wu’s example before them, those secretly wishing to change the heir wouldn’t dare imitate Jiang Chong’s methods. At most, they’d spread rumors about the Crown Prince’s romantic affairs or post flying letters citing historical precedents."
"So rest assured—as long as His Majesty’s will remains unchanged, no one can alter the succession."
Shao Shang sat on a stone stool nearby, torn between relief and worry. After a moment, she suddenly tilted her head and said, "You seem different today."
Yuan Shen gave a self-deprecating smile. "You’ve finally noticed. Yes, I am different—I’m engaged."
Shao Shang was stunned, then laughed. "After all your pickiness, you’ve finally settled on a match? Which Young Lady is it?"
Yuan Shen replied coolly, "A daughter of the Cai family from Henan. Grand Minister of Works Cai Yun is from this family."
"Wow, a perfect match! Congratulations!" Shao Shang cupped her fair little fists, her eyes crinkling with mirth.
Yuan Shen frowned. "No need to look so delighted, as if you’ve shaken off some burden. It’s not as if I ever pestered you much before!"
Shao Shang rolled up her sleeves and said airily, "Stop pretending. You’re not the impulsive type—you think everything through carefully. You must have weighed the Cai family’s pros and cons meticulously, decided this marriage was the best for you, and only then agreed!"
Yuan Shen glared at her for a long moment before finally laughing himself.
"Don’t make me sound so calculating," he said, sitting on the stone stool opposite her. "I entered this engagement sincerely. It’s just a pity, ah..."
"What pity? Did the Cai family demand too high a bride price? For the sake of my Third Aunt’s former fiancé, I’d at least lend you money for the wedding!"
"Enough of your nonsense—you never say anything nice. Actually, I originally wanted to marry Cai Yun’s daughter, the elder cousin of my current fiancée. She’s truly the ideal wife—though not strikingly beautiful, she’s wise, capable, virtuous, and sensible. But alas, she was betrothed in infancy to a sickly man. Hmph, I suspect she’ll be widowed sooner or later!""Pah pah pah! You accuse me of having a sharp tongue, but your words could poison an elephant! Though..."
"Though what?" Yuan Shen pressed.
Shao Shang suddenly changed her tone: "Why do you treat marriage like a business transaction? Don't you want to find someone you truly love? Perhaps you'll meet such a person someday."
Gazing into the distance, Yuan Shen said softly: "Actually, loving too deeply isn't a good thing... My mother was first married to someone else. After her first husband died, if not for my grandfather's desperate pleas, she would have followed him in death."
Shao Shang was startled—why was he sharing such private matters with her?
"Though my mother lives, I know her heart has died—what remains is merely an empty shell," Yuan Shen continued as if speaking to himself.
Shao Shang recalled the rumors—the Yuan family matriarch was considered eccentric, never going out or socializing, attending imperial banquets only out of obligation. For over a decade she'd shown no interest in household affairs or her son, devoting herself entirely to spiritual cultivation—though perhaps it wasn't cultivation, but mourning her lost love.
Suddenly Shao Shang understood Yuan Shen, feeling an odd kinship—both with mothers who withdrew from the world, fathers constantly away governing distant regions, both growing up sharp-witted and wary. She sighed: "So we both had parents, yet grew up as if we didn't."
Yuan Shen smiled faintly: "I've always said we're alike. Had you not met Ling Buyi, you'd have carefully calculated like me to find the most advantageous son-in-law."
"True," Shao Shang sighed. "But I did meet him."
Yuan Shen fell silent, finally murmuring wistfully: "Yes, you did."
Author's note: Originally, "flying letters" referred to messages shot by arrow, later extending to all letters of unknown origin, much like the implied meaning of messages delivered by wild geese.
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