The coroners from Dali Temple were summoned overnight to examine the bodies of the black-clothed assassins. They determined only that the men’s internal organs had been shattered by profound inner force, but the specific martial technique remained unclear. Their identities were completely unknown—likely professional killers or deathsworn, nameless and without surnames.
Tao Siqing reported the findings in full detail to his superiors. Yinghong speculated that the Second Princess was behind it, but Nangong Yunshang dismissed the idea.
“She has already gotten what she wanted. She wouldn’t go to the extra trouble. Besides, This Palace and she haven’t reached that point yet.”
At that moment, Tao Chuyi reached out to her, like a child asking her mother for a hug.
Nangong Yunshang walked over but didn’t indulge her, merely sitting down at the edge of the couch.
“Prince Ning’s people are more likely.”
Dali Temple had originally been a force that Prince Ning coveted, but Nangong Yunshang had wrested it away by other means. She had also ordered the investigation into Rongrong County Princess—how could that not breed resentment?
Seeing that Nangong Yunshang wouldn’t pick her up, Tao Chuyi scooted closer on her own, looping an arm around Nangong Yunshang’s and rubbing against it back and forth. Nangong Yunshang wanted to ignore it but couldn’t, so she dismissed the others first.
News of the Third Princess’s assassination attempt spread quickly, setting tongues wagging across the capital. With Dali Temple still investigating, Nangong Yunshang had the perfect excuse—having been frightened—to rest for a few more days.
As the main victim of the fright, Tao Chuyi spent most of her time lying in bed playing with the rattle drum, utterly content.
“I want Your Highness the Princess to feed me my medicine!”
Tao Chuyi opened her mouth wide, waiting to be fed.
Nangong Yunshang felt a headache coming on. Rubbing her brow, she said, “You don’t need any medicine. The imperial physicians said you’re not injured and haven’t caught a cold.”
“Oh.”
Tao Chuyi pushed the rattle drum and paper windmill aside. “Then Your Highness the Princess can feed me my meal. Ah!”
But instead of tender words, what awaited her was her ear being pinched.
“Ow!” Tao Chuyi yelped in protest.
Nangong Yunshang looked down at her imperiously, not letting go. “Don’t push your luck, Tao Chuyi. Should I feed you?”
“No feeding, no feeding!”
With her ear finally freed, Tao Chuyi scurried to the far side of the bed, clutching her “treasures” for comfort.
Fairy Sister was too fierce. She didn’t like her anymore.
For the next two days, Tao Chuyi refused to eat at the same table as her. She would pretend to be asleep whenever Nangong Yunshang wasn’t back yet, then bolt the moment she saw her, reverting to her old fearful ways.
Nangong Yunshang began to reflect. Had she been too harsh?
That day, Tao Chuyi was running ahead with Liuzi chasing after her. She had lapped him three times and was feeling smug about it when she suddenly spotted Your Highness the Princess emerging from the study. She quickly veered off, ducking behind a tree.
“Prince Consort, what are you doing standing there?” Liuzi raised an eyebrow and tattled with a cheeky grin.
Tao Chuyi bared her teeth at him, wishing she could bite him to death.
“Prince Consort?”
Pretending ignorance, Nangong Yunshang called out in a questioning tone, looking around as if searching.
“Is the Prince Consort here?”
Tao Chuyi poked her head out sheepishly, plastering on a silly grin while her feet scuffed the ground, poised to flee at any moment.
She knew it—in Fairy Sister’s eyes, she was just a horse. But what kind of horse was a prince consort? Why had she turned into a horse after getting married?
Seeing her guilty, thieving expression, Nangong Yunshang couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, Prince Consort, come inside. I have something nice to show you.”
Tao Chuyi didn’t dare approach, yet the temptation was too strong. Was it something tasty?
In the end, she couldn’t resist and followed Nangong Yunshang into the study.
“Prince Consort be well! Prince Consort be well!”
Tao Chuyi blinked in confusion. Who was talking? After searching for a bit, she spotted a birdcage by the study bed. Inside was a mynah bird with a red beak and black feathers.
“You can talk?”
Tao Chuyi circled the cage in fascination. “What’s your name?”
The mynah hopped lively about inside the cage. “You’re so pretty! You’re so pretty! Prince Consort is awesome!”
Tao Chuyi had found her new toy. She was overjoyed, itching to pry the bird out and play with it herself.
“Don’t open the cage. It’ll fly away.”
Nangong Yunshang stopped her mischievous hand and coaxed, “It’s a mynah bird without a name yet. Why don’t you give it one?”
Tao Chuyi nodded and fell into thought. She paced back and forth with her hands behind her back, imitating a stern schoolmaster, clearly taking the task very seriously.
Finally, she stopped, turned around, and announced with a wobbly head, “I’ll call you Little Eight!”
Yinghong covered her mouth to stifle a laugh from the side, but one glare from Nangong Yunshang had her swallowing it down.
“Very well, Little Eight it is.”
With her little tantrum surely blown over, Nangong Yunshang lavished her with sweet words as one might a child. Sure enough, Tao Chuyi forgot all about it in an instant, sticking close to her side again. The little fool seemed to have no memory at all—like a goldfish brain.
Ever since Little Eight arrived, Tao Chuyi’s moods had stabilized a great deal. Aside from her clinginess, some of her attention shifted to the bird. She spent her days orbiting the cage, feeding Little Eight treats and teaching it to talk.
Holding a handful of melon seeds, she teased it. “Chuyi is the best!”
Little Eight tilted its head, silent.
Undeterred, Tao Chuyi fed it a seed first, then tried again.
“Prince Consort has such fine spirits. Instead of wasting energy on this, why not read a few more books? Lest you embarrass Her Highness outside.”
Min Qing entered the study to clean and, spotting her there, couldn’t resist a sour jab.
Tao Chuyi glanced back but ignored her, persisting with Little Eight. “Good bird, Chuyi is the best!”
Little Eight flapped its wings. “Chuyi is the best! Chuyi is the best!”
Tao Chuyi clapped her hands. “Little Eight is amazing!”
Min Qing snorted coldly and turned to grab the feather duster.
“Fool’s gonna fool.”
Tao Chuyi heard it and puffed up indignantly. Her eyes lit up as she told Little Eight, “Min Qing big dummy!”
“What did you say?!”
Min Qing flung the duster aside and glared furiously.
Tao Chuyi ducked behind the cage, but held her ground verbally. “Min Qing big dummy.”
“Min Qing big dummy! Min Qing big dummy!”
“You stinking bird, I’ll rip your wings off!”
Min Qing lunged for the cage. Tao Chuyi hurriedly blocked her. The two tussled over it; Min Qing used some force but still couldn’t wrest it away.
Little Eight hopped about frantically. “Good tidings to Your Highness the Princess!”
Tao Chuyi abruptly let go, stumbling back two steps to sit on the floor, and burst into tears.
Just then, Nangong Yunshang pushed open the study door and saw the scene. Her brows furrowed instantly.
“Min Qing, what did This Palace tell you?”
The farce ended abruptly. Terrified, Min Qing dropped to her knees, releasing the cage and falling silent.
“This servant didn’t mean to.”
Tao Chuyi pointed at her accusingly. “She pushed me.”
“This servant didn’t!”
Min Qing denied it vehemently. She had only been fighting the fool over the birdcage—she hadn’t pushed anyone.
Tao Chuyi pouted. “She called me names!”
Min Qing shot back indignantly, “It was clearly the Prince Consort who insulted this servant first.”
Little Eight, oblivious to the tension, flapped its wings inside the cage.
“Min Qing big dummy!”
The room fell silent. No one spoke—only Little Eight’s voice echoed through the study.
