On the other side, Chen Jiao was also puzzled by the Crown Prince’s sudden coldness.
She had thought that the Crown Prince had simply been in a bad mood that day and that it would pass in a few days. Now, reflecting on it, perhaps things were not so simple. By coincidence, the Old Lady had returned to the Marquis residence, and the whole family gathered to discuss the matter.
Chen Jiao thought that the Crown Prince’s sudden anger might have been caused by her previous gift of nourishing chicken soup being inappropriate in some way.
It was well known that no man liked to be told he was weak.
Although the Crown Prince was frail, she could not recklessly bring it up and loudly presented a medicinal soup as a special gift.
After hearing Chen Jiao’s analysis, the other members of the Marquis household agreed that it made sense.
The Old Marquis slapped his thigh, lamenting, “Jiao’er, you have always been prudent, but this time your actions were truly inconsiderate.”
Had it been any other man accused of weakness, a beating might have been considered light punishment; only the Crown Prince had the grace not to make a fuss.
The Old Lady, however, felt that the matter was not so simple. The Crown Prince had a clear mind and broad heart—how could he hold a grudge over a mere bowl of chicken soup and think himself insulted?
The Old Lady was born a daughter of a prominent family, with a ruthless stepmother and a troublesome elder sister, yet she had fought her way through to finally marry a high-ranking marquis and become the mistress of the Marquis residence.
Though aged now, legends of her cleverness still circulated in the capital, and many young ladies looked up to her as the ultimate example of ambition and strategy.
As a top-tier master of household politics, upon hearing the full story and carefully questioning Chen Jiao about her conversation with the Crown Prince that day, the Old Lady sensed something was amiss.
Frowning, she asked, “Jiao’er, why did you speak to the Crown Prince in such a manner?”
Grand Princess Yihe, puzzled, spoke up in defense of her daughter, “Mother, the heir showed the Crown Prince sufficient respect in his words and actions.”
Compared to the Old Lady, who had fought her way out of the confines of her household, Grand Princess Yihe had been pampered from a young age. Accustomed to having whatever she wanted, she was straightforward in her thinking.
With a motherly filter, she saw no fault in her daughter’s actions, instead admiring her intelligence and quick wit, even in flattery.
If her daughter intended it, she would surely become the court’s most cunning official.
The Old Marquis and Yong’an Marquis were pure straight men, utterly incapable of grasping the subtle intricacies between men, and never thought along those lines.
Seeing that no one else understood, the Old Lady said obliquely, “Although Jiao’er and the Crown Prince are both men in appearance, one must still be mindful of propriety in speech and action…”
Chen Jiao, understanding the Old Lady’s meaning, replied bewilderedly, “I was only occasionally praising His Highness, surely it isn’t that serious?”
She had been careful all along, never casually linking arms or holding hands with the Crown Prince, even visiting the restroom together—yet could this really be misinterpreted?
The Old Lady assumed she might have overthought it. After all, the Crown Prince’s character was widely known; surely he was not as she feared.
Yet if that were not the case, no one could guess what had angered the Crown Prince enough to scold Chen Jiao out of the blue.
Just as the family was lost in confusion, Chen Jiao’s close friend Wang Shijing arrived in haste. “Brother Chen, things aren’t good! You’ve recently been in the Crown Prince’s favor, and many are secretly displeased…”
Chen Jiao, still wondering why the Crown Prince had suddenly been angry, responded casually, “It’s no big deal. If people aren’t jealous, they’re mediocre.”
Since joining the Crown Prince’s faction, she had long grown accustomed to the envy of those resentful of her rise as the Crown Prince’s confidante.
Wang Shijing widened his eyes in shock. “But this is the Grand Tutor! The Crown Prince’s mentor—what he says carries weight no one else can match! The night before you were reprimanded, he personally advised His Highness to keep his distance from you…”
Before he finished, Chen Jiao sat up abruptly, excitement flashing in her eyes. “The Grand Tutor reported against me?!”
The Grand Tutor was close to the Crown Prince, his position far beyond that of ordinary people. His direct counsel would naturally have a profound effect.
With this revelation, Chen Jiao understood immediately. No wonder the Crown Prince had suddenly been angry that day—it turned out someone had attempted to steal the role of whispering slanders behind her back.
Blocking one’s future was tantamount to murder in Chen Jiao’s eyes. She had worked diligently, overcoming countless obstacles to become the Crown Prince’s confidante. Yet scarcely had she enjoyed her position when someone tried to bring her down!
Infuriating!
Chen Jiao calmed herself. She had minimal interaction with the Grand Tutor and had never neglected him when they met at the Crown Prince’s residence. Could she have inadvertently offended him?
Frowning in thought, she turned to Wang Shijing. “I won’t mention this today. When you return, thank the Right Chancellor Wang for me. The Yong’an Marquisate will surely repay this favor one day.”
The Grand Tutor’s advice to the Crown Prince was secret; the exact timing was known only to a few, and Wang Shijing could not have known it solely from studying at the Imperial Academy—so it must have been Right Chancellor Wang who informed him.
Although she did not know why Right Chancellor Wang helped her, Chen Jiao suspected it was connected to Wang Shijing.
If it had been another member of the Crown Prince’s faction, she might have thought they sought to curry favor. But Right Chancellor Wang was the Crown Prince’s maternal uncle, a man of special status; Chen Jiao felt no reason he would personally favor her.
As she suspected, it was indeed Wang Shijing who prompted Right Chancellor Wang’s attention.
Parents are always worried for their children. Though a high minister in court, Right Chancellor Wang fretted over his second son.
Wang Shijing disliked studying and aspired to roam the martial world, driving his father to near despair. In a time of peace, there was no martial world, only bandits. How could the young son of the Right Chancellor venture into such matters?
Unexpectedly, the plot turned: Chen Jiao, having joined the Crown Prince and became a diligent servant, could not stand Wang Shijing’s carefree life and quietly forced him into “hard work.”
Under her guidance, Wang Shijing began studying seriously and, not long ago, had even investigated the Treatise on Water Management in the study.
Seeing the boy apply himself, Right Chancellor Wang finally relaxed. Upon learning that the Crown Prince had been cold toward Chen Jiao, he decided to return the favor and give this young heir some guidance.
Wang Shijing, understanding his father’s motives, waved off Chen Jiao’s thanks. “Brother Chen, no need to say more. My father said that supervising my studies, forcing me to memorize texts, and teaching me to work hard were all for my own good!”
He continued earnestly, “I wrongly thought before that you were merely busy attending to the Crown Prince and couldn’t stand seeing me enjoy myself alone.”
Chen Jiao took the boy’s hand, speaking sincerely, “It’s enough that you understand my intentions. You’re my good brother after all, being last in the Imperial Academy exams every day, what kind of behavior is that!”
Wang Shijing frowned. “But you were second-to-last last time too! We’re all at the bottom, why single me out?”
Chen Jiao quickly withdrew her hand, frowning harshly. “It’s late, so no dinner for you. Bye, bye, see you off!”
…
After Wang Shijing left, Chen Jiao hurried to the Old Marquis and others to discuss the news she had received.
Upon learning the information from Right Chancellor Wang, everyone’s thoughts varied.
The Yong’an Marquis looked worried, while Grand Princess Yihe was furious, appearing ready to march straight to the Grand Tutor’s residence.
The Old Marquis, knowing the situation, said decisively, “You’ve been away from Chang’an for a few days. His Highness has heard slander, so it’s natural he’s distant. You haven’t rested today, and it is still early; the best course is to visit the Crown Prince at the palace soon!”
Chen Jiao intended to do just that. She rose to leave but paused.
Going directly to the Crown Prince now would be unwise—she could neither question who had slandered her nor risk exposing those who had secretly informed her, like Right Chancellor Wang.
After thinking it over, Chen Jiao calmed herself. “If I visit the Crown Prince, I should have a reason.” Since she had just returned from the countryside villa, she decided to choose a special local gift for the Crown Prince.
After her previous chicken soup incident, this gift required even more care.
Hearing this, the Old Lady went to retrieve an item, her eyes nostalgic. “This is a talisman pouch given to me long ago by Master Huiyan’s teacher at Daming Temple.” Since it came from Master Huiyan’s teacher, there was no need to worry about charms or spells.
Master Huiyan’s teacher had once given imperial predictions for the dynasty’s founding emperor. A talisman personally made by him was rare and invaluable. If it weren’t for her granddaughter, the Old Lady would never have released it.
The talisman had aged, of course, appearing slightly worn despite careful preservation.
Chen Jiao hesitated, “Will this look odd? It might seem like we’re presenting something old.”
In the past, she would not have cared, but under the current circumstances, she felt it best to be cautious.
The Yong’an Marquis was from a prominent family, and the Old Lady, now elderly, usually left gift-giving to Grand Princess Yihe. She suggested, “Why not place it in a finely crafted pouch?”
The Old Lady’s brow twitched. This felt… unusual. Yet the others nodded approvingly. “Good idea!”
“This is a fine suggestion!”
The Old Lady thought: a man giving another man a pouch? What is this about? Normally she would object, but as the proposal came from her daughter-in-law, she chose not to interfere, not wanting to disturb family harmony.
…
Holding the pouch, Chen Jiao headed toward the Crown Prince’s palace.
Her mind lingered on how she would defend herself when she faced the Crown Prince. Upon entering the palace, she immediately sensed that the timing might be off.
She had been away for several days, and stepping inside startled her. The Crown Prince’s residence had changed; the atmosphere was tense, the servants and officials cautious and solemn.
In a distant garden, through the flowers, she glimpsed a eunuch sprawled on a chair like mud, with occasional thuds and muffled cries indicating someone being beaten and silenced.
In all her time at the Crown Prince’s residence, Chen Jiao had never witnessed such severity. One could almost call it a state of panic.
Skilled in reading people, she hesitated, considering whether to leave and return later.
Her purpose today was to please the Crown Prince, not to run into danger.
Just as she decided to leave, Eunuch Zhang hurried out, worry etched on his face. Spotting her, he quickly grabbed her sleeve. “Ah, my Chen Jiao, you finally arrived!”
The Crown Prince’s bad mood made everyone else anxious. Eunuch Zhang, having discovered a shocking secret, now wandered the entrance daily, hoping the savior Chen Jiao would appear.
He had realized that people assumed Chen Jiao had angered the Crown Prince, but only he understood that she was the one closest to his heart.
“Eunuch Zhang, you flatter me!” Chen Jiao hadn’t seen this old acquaintance in days, and felt some comfort at his joy.
Previously, she had thought Eunuch Zhang schemed against her, but now she realized she had misunderstood him.
Curious, she glanced toward the garden. “What’s happening over there?”
Eunuch Zhang glanced casually. “Just some traitors being punished… they picked the wrong time to act, adding to His Highness’s irritation.”
Chen Jiao froze. “The Crown Prince has been in a bad mood recently?”
Dragging her toward the inner rooms, Eunuch Zhang said, “Exactly! Look around, even the flowers are not blooming. His Highness has been troubled, and everyone is counting on you, Chen Jiao, to bring him joy!”
As he spoke, a head-down guard was dragged from the garden, his body leaving a trail of blood.
Chen Jiao felt her heart drop, wishing she could turn and run.
Wide-eyed, she tugged at her sleeve. “Bring joy? Wouldn’t that get me scolded too? Don’t trick me, Eunuch Zhang!”
Eunuch Zhang clicked his tongue and glanced at her. “Chen Jiao, what nonsense are you talking about? We’ve known each other a long time; I wouldn’t trick you! Hurry, His Highness asked for you today. Seeing you may brighten his mood!”
Chen Jiao hurriedly protested, “I just remembered some matters at home; I won’t see His Highness these days. You don’t need to accompany me, I can go myself…”
A joke—what could be more pressing than a Crown Prince upset for days, while screams filled the garden? Chen Jiao had no intention of stepping into danger again, remembering her last reprimand vividly.
Eunuch Zhang, however, was determined. Strong despite his lean frame, he dragged her along; her sleeve nearly tore as he pulled her toward the study.
Chen Jiao cursed internally at the wretched eunuch, who always pushed her into these situations whenever the Crown Prince was displeased.
Helpless, she was forced in front of the Crown Prince.
At the study door, Eunuch Zhang released her, shouting inside joyfully, “Your Highness! Chen Jiao has arrived!”
Just as she tried to sneak away:… you little, this will go in your grudge notebook at home!
She had no choice but to stand still, her heart pounding, as Xie Xianqing’s calm voice came from inside: “Enter.”