With past experience, Madam Chen became more adept at removing the lipstick marks on Jiang Yuanxi’s face.

She relayed what their daughter had said the previous day to Jiang Fengyuan.

“Li Wenbo’s wife has no connection whatsoever with the Chen family,” Jiang Fengyuan found it puzzling. “Rest assured, my lady, I will send someone to investigate immediately.”

The case had already begun to take shape; all that was missing was a witness.

Yet, despite many days of searching, they had been unable to capture any trace of the black-clothed intruder entering or leaving the An Guo Duke’s residence. They could only seek another route—Li Wenbo’s wife was indeed a new lead.

“How are Father and Mother doing?” Madam Chen asked worriedly.

Yuanwu had yet to return, indicating that things were not going well.

Jiang Fengyuan reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ve sent men there. Your parents will be safe.”

Madam Chen nodded. Until her family’s troubles were resolved, she would not sleep soundly.

Jiang Fengyuan looked out at the deepening night. “Rest assured, my lady. The Chen family will soon return to Shengjing. The fall of the An Guo Duke’s household is imminent.”

Meanwhile, the name of Lan Fang Pavilion was spreading rapidly throughout Shengjing.

The demand for their goods was overwhelming, and Madam Chen was so busy she barely had time to sit down. Even Chun Zhi had been summoned back to help manage the shop.

With that, Jiang Yuanxi became the idle one at home.

She spent her days playing with cats and dogs, avoiding anything productive.

Even the black snake hid from her.

Seeing this, Jiang Fengyuan couldn’t bear to leave his daughter alone at home, so he took her to the military camp.

Who would have thought that, by coincidence, two troublesome figures had arrived at the camp?

“Greetings, Your Highness, Crown Prince, and Second Prince.”

“Crown Prince Brother!” Jiang Yuanxi reached out to the Crown Prince.

Jun Yin hadn’t expected to see Yuanxi there and reached out to hold her.

“Yuanxi has gotten chubbier.”

Jiang Yuanxi’s face immediately fell.

Realizing his mistake, Jun Yin quickly corrected himself, “I meant Yuanxi has become even cuter. That was my fault, okay?” He coaxed her, finally managing to appease her.

The Second Prince glanced at Jiang Yuanxi with a sneer. A dignified Crown Prince apologizing to a little girl—how disgraceful for the royal family.

Jiang Fengyuan was puzzled. “What brings Your Highnesses to my camp?”

“Father has ordered that from today onward, you will be responsible for teaching us martial arts,” the Second Prince replied indifferently.

He was displeased. Of all people, why had the Emperor chosen the Jiang family?

He still remembered that Qian Tong had been framed and imprisoned by Jiang’s people. He hadn’t forgotten that debt.

“This… Crown Prince, Second Prince, please come inside.”

Jiang Fengyuan still couldn’t understand the Emperor’s intentions. Many generals in court were more outstanding than him—why was he chosen?

Could it be that the Emperor’s invitation for drinks that day had been for this purpose?

Thinking about that, Jiang Fengyuan became even more perplexed. The Emperor had simply drunk with him and then sent him home. It felt unusual.

Unfortunately, he had been drunk that day and couldn’t remember what was said.

【The Second Prince?】

Jiang Yuanxi shifted her gaze to the young man.

【The Second Prince is no small figure.】

Jiang Fengyuan and the Crown Prince both subtly reacted, their eyes filled with doubt as they looked at the Second Prince.

Eager to hear more, the Crown Prince quickly handed Jiang Yuanxi some jerky.

Jiang Fengyuan tried to stop him but failed.

【The Second Prince, he… Oh, meat! Jerky! Hahaha, hehe.】

【This one is for Hei Zi, and that one is for Mother…】

She rambled on, but never returned to the topic of the Second Prince.

The Crown Prince inwardly cursed himself for being so careless.

He had been just a step away from the truth, but he had lost to a piece of jerky.

Since the Crown Prince and Second Prince had personally come, Jiang Fengyuan dared not slack off.

“Are there any other princes?” Jiang Fengyuan probed.

The Crown Prince replied, “There is also Third Brother, but unfortunately, he went to Miaojiang and has yet to return.”

【The Third Prince went to Miaojiang for the Fourth Prince. Looks like the female lead has already told the Third Prince about the Miao Gu curse. But that curse will only keep the Fourth Prince alive until he is eighteen. It’s not a cure.】

That was how it had been described in the book.

The Crown Prince frowned slightly.

Third Brother had already sacrificed too much for Fourth Brother.

If he knew that all his efforts would only buy the Fourth Prince a few more years, he would probably go mad.

【If you bring the Fourth Prince here, I might have a way.】

The book described the Fourth Prince’s illness as extremely tricky—much like that of the boy from the temple altar.

She wondered if that little boy had listened to her advice.

The Crown Prince was ecstatic.

Yuanxi might have a way to cure the Fourth Prince!

He would have to discuss this carefully with the Emperor upon his return.

Seeing how eagerly the Crown Prince was smiling at Jiang Yuanxi, the Second Prince cast him a disdainful glance.

“Are we going to train or not? If not, I’m leaving.” The Second Prince’s tone was full of impatience.

“We are,” Jiang Fengyuan replied, suppressing his displeasure. “Your Highnesses, please change into training attire.”

When they reappeared, the once elegant young men now looked like formidable warriors.

“Wow!”

【Crown Prince Brother, you look dashing and heroic!】

The Crown Prince straightened his back proudly, basking in Jiang Yuanxi’s praise.

【Ugh, but I don’t like the Second Prince.】

Jiang Fengyuan said, “Your Highnesses must have martial arts instructors in your own residences.”

“Of course,” the Second Prince said arrogantly. “If it weren’t for Father’s orders, who would come to this godforsaken place?”

The Crown Prince frowned. “Second Brother, the general is a pillar of the empire. You should speak with respect.”

The Second Prince waved dismissively. “Fine, fine.”

Jiang Fengyuan’s face darkened, but as a mere fourth-rank official, he dared not offend a prince.

Rumors said the Second Prince despised commoners and had exceedingly high standards. It seemed they were true.

Jiang Yuanxi silently made a note in her little book—she would avenge her father one day.

Jiang Fengyuan trained them the same way he trained Jiang Yuanwu.

“Since His Majesty has entrusted me with your training, there will be no exceptions. I will teach you as I teach my own soldiers.”

“Hurry up! I don’t have all day,” the Second Prince snapped.

To him, this was child’s play. His father was being unnecessarily cautious.

The Crown Prince, however, became more serious.

Father had said that this man before them would be the one to lead the empire to victory against the Xiongnu in the future.

Jiang Fengyuan was displeased but couldn’t punish the Second Prince. If he did, the court officials would surely take advantage of it.

He said coldly, “Very well, start with horse stance.”

Then, he picked up Jiang Yuanxi and started to leave.

“Wait!” The Second Prince fumed. “I came to learn combat, not horse stance!”

Jiang Fengyuan sighed.

If the prince insisted on bringing trouble upon himself, so be it.

Jiang Yuanxi glared at the Second Prince, making another note in her little book.

When the opportunity arose, she would make sure to beat him up—far from prying eyes, so as not to implicate her parents.

“Second Prince, you cannot even defeat my daughter,” Jiang Fengyuan remarked.

The Second Prince sneered. “Are you joking? Fine, let’s have a duel.”

Jiang Fengyuan shook his head. “Beat my daughter first, then we’ll talk.”

“Where is she?”

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened—surely not…

Jiang Fengyuan silently set down the jerky-munching Jiang Yuanxi in front of him.