After the morning court session, Jiang Fengyuan sent his daughter to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

The officials there, already prepared, quickly escorted the princess into a small room arranged for her.

Jiang Yuanxi turned over in her sleep and continued to doze off.

By the time she woke up again, two hours had passed.

A young palace maid stood beside her, assisting her in getting up and having her meal.

Meanwhile, on the palace pathways, several princes were walking together—a rare sight.

The Third Prince, Jun Mocheng, spoke to the Crown Prince, “Father wants you to take the Sixth Brother to Yuanxi.”

The Crown Prince shook his head vigorously.

“Father clearly said that you should go, Third Brother.”

Jun Mocheng turned to the Eldest Prince, Jun Moye, only to see that he had already fled like a rabbit, leaving nothing but his silhouette in the distance.

Left with no choice, Jun Mocheng said, “Crown Prince, He’an is your younger brother.”

The Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively. “Third Brother, you must be joking. The Crown Prince stands apart from the line of succession. By that logic, He’an is your younger brother.”

By now, everyone in the palace knew that Jiang Yuanxi had been riding a giant turtle and questioning everyone she met about “Stock Piling”.

The entire palace was avoiding Yuanxi like the plague.

Who would dare approach her?

As the Crown Prince, he had his dignity to uphold.

Ever since returning from Jiangnan, the Third Prince noticed that his younger brother had grown much more cunning—showing the poise of a true heir to the throne.

Look at him now, even using words to block him.

Jun Mocheng sighed and braced himself.

He personally took the Sixth Prince to Yuanxi.

Their father had insisted that a prince should play with Yuanxi so that they could get along like a family.

Glancing at his younger brother, who was chewing on his fingers, Jun Mocheng felt that this plan would be difficult to execute.

As soon as he turned the corner, he spotted a familiar figure.

The other person seemed to be chasing after a palace attendant.

The moment Jiang Yuanxi saw him, she rushed toward him.

Jun Mocheng’s eyelids twitched.

“Pretty Silver Brother!”

Forcing a smile, Jun Mocheng curved his fox-like eyes. “Yuanxi, look who I brought for you!”

He pushed the Sixth Prince, Jun He’an, forward. “Do you like He’an?”

Jiang Yuanxi glanced at Jun He’an.

[Too small, not pretty. Not as pretty as Pretty Silver Brother.]

For the first time, the Third Prince wished he were a bit uglier.

“Pretty Silver Brother, what is—”

“Ahem, well, uh—” Jun Mocheng quickly interrupted her. “I have things to do. He’an, play nicely with Yuanxi, alright?”

With that, he ran off at lightning speed.

Jiang Yuanxi was left confused.

What was going on today?

Why was everyone running away from her?

And why did they leave a little fool behind?

Seeing his third brother flee, Jun He’an anxiously spun in circles on the spot.

His mouth trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.

“Wuuu… Royal Brother!” His royal brother had abandoned him.

They had all abandoned him!

Jiang Yuanxi rubbed her ears.

[Ugh, little kids crying is so annoying.]

Hearing her thoughts, Jun He’an looked at her, then burst into even louder wails.

Jiang Yuanxi had never taken care of children before—after all, she was a child herself.

Growing impatient, she pried a floor tile loose.

“If you keep crying, I’ll smash you!” Just like how her mother spanked her.

As she spoke, she accidentally exerted too much force, and the tile shattered instantly, sending dust flying everywhere.

Oops, too much strength.

She had only meant to scare him, but Jun He’an screamed at the top of his lungs instead.

Standing there, Jiang Yuanxi was at a complete loss.

Then—

“Pfft.”

Someone chuckled.

Emerging from the dust was the Fourth Prince, Jun Molin.

Though now clad in palace attire, his delicate face remained as handsome as ever.

With his deep and mature demeanor, he already showed signs of becoming a troublemaker—though he was only seven years old.

With him around, Jun He’an was quickly soothed.

Jiang Yuanxi watched in awe.

“Big Brother, you’re amazing!” she praised, her bright eyes sparkling with admiration.

Jun Molin’s ears turned red.

“Y-You’re amazing too.”

Since birth, he had always heard the wails of countless lost souls.

He struggled to sleep each night, only finding solace in temples.

Because of this, he had rarely returned to the palace in recent years.

If not for Yuanxi, he might have already been possessed by demons.

He reached into his robes and pulled out a white jade pendant, intricately carved with a plum blossom.

It was an eye-catching piece.

“Here, take this,” he said awkwardly.

Jiang Yuanxi snatched it up immediately.

“So pretty! I love it!”

Jun Molin’s tightly clenched fist relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

[How much is this worth in pork elbows? Ooh, I gotta hide it. Can’t let Mother find it.]

She was already thinking about trading it for food.

Jiang Yuanxi beamed at the thought, completely unaware of Jun Molin’s face turning cold.

..

Upon returning home, Sima Dao erupted in fury.

The floor was littered with shattered porcelain.

Zhao Yue cautiously entered, her heart uneasy—she had already heard about what had happened in court.

This time, it was indeed Ting’er’s fault.

“Husband,” Zhao Yue handed him a cup of tea, “please calm down.”

Sima Dao waved his hand, knocking over the cup.

The porcelain shattered crisply upon the floor.

Seeing the shards, Zhao Yue’s gaze darkened for a moment before she quickly resumed her gentle smile.

“Husband, it was Ting’er’s mistake. I’ve already punished her.”

Sima Dao stood up. “Punishment? Secretly keeping a male lover and getting caught—does that sound like something a proper young lady should do?”

He slammed the table with a loud bang.

Throughout his career, he had never suffered such humiliation.

During court that morning, he had been scolded right to his face by that loudmouth, Zheng Guang, without any room to defend himself.

Zhao Yue softened her voice. “Yes, it’s all Ting’er’s fault. You may punish her however you see fit. But, husband, have you considered something?”

“The alley Ting’er was in was secluded. How did anyone find out?”

Zhao Yue did not believe for a second that it wasn’t a setup.

Sima Dao calmed down. “You’re saying someone framed Ting’er?”

Zhao Yue poured him another cup of tea. “Think about it carefully. Ting’er has been doing this for years without issue. Why did it suddenly come to light? I’ve looked into it—it was the Grand Preceptor, the Jiang family, and several young men from the Zheng family who exposed it.”

“They are clearly targeting you, my husband.” Tears welled in her eyes.

Sima Dao took the tea and sat down.

The Grand Preceptor, the Zheng family, and—unexpectedly—the Jiang family.

They were all His Majesty’s trusted aides.

For them to act against him meant that the Emperor himself had made his move.

Sima Dao suddenly understood.

Seeing this, Zhao Yue smirked faintly.

The old man wasn’t entirely foolish—at least he was catching on.

“Husband, we have long been at odds with the Jiang family, but they have always endured. Why strike now? Clearly, they received someone’s orders.”

And the identity of that person was obvious.

Everything now made sense.

Sima Dao’s hand trembled slightly as he held the tea.

He had devoted his life to the empire, yet the Emperor was turning against him.

Zhao Yue’s goal accomplished, she slowly withdrew.

Once outside, her smile vanished, replaced by an icy expression.

“Where is the young lady?” she asked coldly.

A maid replied, “Miss was throwing a fit, threatening to hang herself.”

Zhao Yue flicked her sleeve. “Useless thing!”