“Yu’er only wants the Princess and Second Uncle to be happy together, not misled by others. If Yu’er said something wrong, you’ll forgive me, won’t you?”

So innocent and sweet, helpless and clingy, with just a touch of cautious sincerity—who could bear to reject such a devoted little darling?

“So, Fu Sangyu, you’re telling me today to give up horseback riding, distance myself from the wife of Duke Fu’s heir, and cozy up to Fu Zhang?”

“Princess, are you angry? Please don’t misunderstand Yu’er. I just want you to become my aunt as soon as possible.”

“You want me to become your aunt soon? Look—Miss Xia looks so upset she might eat you alive.”

Fu Sangyu turned to look at Xia Qingyue, whose face was scrunched in displeasure. When she saw Fu Sangyu glance her way, she flushed red and snapped at Liang Youyi, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Gu Jinyan said seriously to Liang Youyi, “If you ask me, Princess, you should be generous and let Miss Xia become the Prime Minister’s concubine.”

“Sure, I’ve got no objections!” Liang Youyi said to Fu Sangyu. “Miss Xia is a noble lady, educated and well-mannered, strict in conduct—more than qualified to be a concubine. Go tell Madam Fu to send a proposal to the Minister’s residence.”

The two women played off each other perfectly, leaving Fu Sangyu and Xia Qingyue flushed with embarrassment.

Fu Sangyu bit her lip, then sweetly said, “Princess, Sister Qingyue would never become Second Uncle’s concubine. She’s my mother’s closest friend—she only wishes for Second Uncle and you to live happily ever after!”

Xia Qingyue was speechless, utterly humiliated.

Liang Youyi deliberately added, “Your Second Uncle treats me very well. Just a few days ago, he spent his entire month’s salary at the Qilin Pavilion to buy me a newly released gold hairpin.”

Gu Jinyan, amused, fanned the flames. “Of course—you’re going to be the mistress of the Prime Minister’s residence. If he doesn’t spend money on you, what’s he saving it for? Some low-class seductress?”

Fu Sangyu and Xia Qingyue’s smiles froze.

“Second Uncle would never keep seductresses! Everyone knows he avoids women!”

Fu Sangyu, still sweet and innocent, looked up at Liang Youyi. “So, Princess, will you play with Yu’er today? Let Yu’er ride Chao Guang, please? Don’t associate with others, okay?” She clung to Liang Youyi affectionately.

Liang Youyi got goosebumps. She pushed her away and said, “Fu Sangyu, I don’t care what games you’re playing. I’ll tell you this: Gu Jinyan is my dearest friend, and that will never change. No one can drive a wedge between us! As for Chao Guang—not only will I ride it, if it performs well, I’ll buy it. Anyone unhappy can get lost!”

Fu Sangyu’s eyes widened, on the verge of tears. “Princess, you just said Second Uncle treats you well and bought you a gold hairpin—how can you change your mind so suddenly?”

“I’ve never changed. A mere hairpin? Even if he bought the entire Qilin Pavilion and offered it to me, he still wouldn’t be able to control me! Move aside—horse hooves don’t see where they’re stepping. If someone gets trampled, I won’t be held responsible!”

Xia Qingyue snapped, “Princess, do you not care about the Prime Minister’s reputation at all? As a noble lady—”

“Shut up. Say one more word and I’ll whip you!” Liang Youyi cracked her riding crop with flair. “I’ve fought barbarians in the northern frontier—I’m not afraid of you.”

Xia Qingyue gritted her teeth, helped Fu Sangyu step back, and shook her head with a look that said, “Princess Yunshang is hopeless.”

Fu Sangyu, unwilling to give up, called out behind Liang Youyi, “But what if I really want Chao Guang?”

“You can’t have it.”

“Aren’t you afraid Second Uncle will be angry?”

“Let him be angry. I’d love to see it.”

“You… you’re too much!” Fu Sangyu’s sweetness finally cracked. Her face flushed red with anger. “You’re the adult—you should give way to a child! Also, I forgot my riding outfit. Have Fang Ling prepare one for me.”

“Fu Sangyu, I’m not your father. I have no obligation to serve you.” With that, Liang Youyi mounted her horse and left with Gu Jinyan.

“Liang Youyi! I’m the Prime Minister’s niece—how dare you lecture me!” Fu Sangyu shrieked. “That horse—you must give it to me!”

Without turning her head, Liang Youyi said, “Fang Ling, Miss Fu is disrespectful and insubordinate. Twenty slaps.”

Gu Jinyan heard the crisp sound of slaps behind them and finally realized—Liang Youyi truly intended to sever ties with the Prime Minister’s household. She hesitated to speak, but Liang Youyi said, “Don’t hold back. Say whatever you want—I can take it.”

“Youyou, do you really want to break off the engagement with Fu Zhang?”

“I do. But right now, it’s extremely difficult.” She told Gu Jinyan everything that had happened in recent days, hiding nothing.

Gu Jinyan was distressed to hear about the Empress Dowager’s warning and Duke Ding’s suppression—but her anger was directed at Fu Zhang.

“Youyou, there’s something I wasn’t sure I should tell you. Did you know Fu Zhang went to Jiangnan a few months ago?”

“I did. But he didn’t say why—just claimed it was to inspect the salt routes.”

“He did inspect the salt routes. But he timed it to coincide with the autumn tax collection.”

Then Gu Jinyan whispered the rest. Liang Youyi listened, her whole body tense, speechless for a long time.

Fu Zhang had gone to Jiangnan not only to inspect salt and visit the southern shaman doctor Bai Lixiao to purchase a rare pill, but most importantly, under his orders, the fresh grain meant for the national treasury was swapped for old stock. Grain that was only a year old was replaced with moldy, spoiled reserves. At least three provinces were involved in the swap. The total quantity remained unchanged, and the ratio of fine to coarse grain was consistent—no one could detect the fraud. But the price difference between new and old grain was at least 700 wen per dan. If the old grain was more than two years old, the gap was even greater.

“Fu Zhang is far more cunning than you realize. His corruption is ruthless and well-hidden. He pretends to be humble and upright, clutching prayer beads—yet nothing he does can bear the light of day.”

Gu Jinyan whispered, “To cover his tracks, he issued a disaster relief order, sending all the old grain to the affected regions.”

That erased all evidence of the swap. But Gu Jinyan said someone had filed a secret report, and an investigation was underway—though resistance was fierce.

Liang Youyi led her horse, her chest tight with rage.

Swapping old grain for new involved massive logistics. Without Fu Zhang’s high position and Duke Ding’s backing, no one else could have pulled it off.

She thought of the past, of how he’d begged her at the Qilin Pavilion to bid on two treasures for him—even at the cost of appearing greedy and dependent. He probably had more silver than he could spend.

She had dealt with him across two lifetimes, always thinking he was shallow and shameless, climbing through connections.

But today, Fu Zhang truly saw her for the first time. And today, she truly saw Fu Zhang.