Chapter 6

Rumor had it that the Third Prince’s carriage wheels had vanished, with nothing available to rent or buy nearby. In the end, his entourage had no choice but to trudge all the way back to the Imperial Palace on foot, their shoes worn down to the nub.

“This time, he’s become the laughingstock of the palace,” Yinghong said, looking quite pleased.

“But this servant never expected Your Highness the Princess to stand up for the Prince Consort and teach the Third Prince a lesson.”

Everyone in the Princess Mansion took their cues from the princess’s moods. Their princess clearly had no fondness for this Prince Consort—she was merely using him. With the Third Princess’s beauty and talent unmatched by any, they naturally felt a fool like him was unworthy of her.

Nangong Yunshang kept her gaze on the bustling scenes outside the window. “After all, he is already my Prince Consort. Even beating a dog requires looking at the owner first, let alone a living person.”

That particular living person was bounding about energetically in the courtyard, letting her claim victory. In truth, the servants had gone easy on her—who wanted to risk their position over a game of cuju?

With the Third Princess wed to Tao Chuyi, Dali Temple fell into her hands as the Emperor had promised. For years, the organization had stayed neutral, backing no faction and clashing with none—not even the Emperor could fully control it. That was precisely why he had heeded the counsel and betrothed his Third Princess to Young Master Tao, hoping to win over Dali Temple.

The Emperor assumed his compliant Third Princess would bend to his will, that marrying her off was no different from keeping her for himself. He had no idea the advice had come straight from her own designs. To secure more allies, what did it matter if a fool served as Prince Consort for a time?

On the fifth day of their marriage, Nangong Yunshang ignored the bliss of newlywed life. She abandoned Tao Chuyi in the Princess Mansion without a second thought and headed straight to Dali Temple.

Tao Chuyi was not pleased. She rounded up the servants for a game of shuttlecock kicking and forbade anyone from slacking off.

Seeing her so downcast, Xichan took the opportunity to coax her. “Young Master, how about some snacks first? We’ll play more after. The date cakes are delicious.”

Tao Chuyi turned down the offer. “Fairy Sister doesn’t want me anymore. I’ll just work myself to death.”

Liuzi had collapsed onto the ground, barely able to catch his breath. Coaxing a child was exhausting work, especially one bursting with endless energy.

“You’re not the one dying of exhaustion—you’re killing us servants.”

Xichan couldn’t sway her, and neither could Liuzi. The other maids and page boys were worn out too, yet this little tyrant seemed to know no fatigue.

At their wits’ end, all eyes turned hopefully to Xichan. With a long sigh, she tried again, her voice gentle as if soothing a child.

“Young Master, Her Highness the Princess hasn’t abandoned you. She has important duties. Dali Temple—you know the place? It’s your father’s office. There’s a case that needs reviewing, so she’s just there for the routine questioning.”

Tao Chuyi’s attention was hooked at once. Seizing the moment, Liuzi jumped in.

“That’s right, that’s right! Miss Xichan has it spot on. This servant heard there’s a fresh case in the Capital City. It’s the first one since Her Highness took charge of Dali Temple, so of course she’d handle it personally to show how seriously she takes it.”

At his words, Tao Chuyi dropped the shuttlecock without a care and scurried over. She plopped down cross-legged, all set for story time. She wasn’t the only one—the others crowded around Liuzi, leaning in eagerly.

A bizarre new case had gripped the Capital City of late. Young women in the flower of youth were disappearing without a trace, as if they’d evaporated into thin air. Seven such cases had already reached Dali Temple, all from the past month alone.

The victims shared three traits: they were all young women of marriageable age, all quite beautiful, and all from ordinary commoner families with no powerful backing.

Liuzi spun the tale with flair, startling the young maids into little gasps and shrieks.

“So you see, if any of you head out alone, you must be careful. Go missing like that, and it’s probably curtains for you.”

Once the story wrapped up, Tao Chuyi stopped demanding partners for shuttlecock. Instead, she opted for a more refined pastime: cricket fighting.

Liuzi and two of the page boys were old hands at it. They kept her entertained all afternoon. Tao Chuyi didn’t win a single bout—people could throw a match for her, but crickets had no such mercy. Still, her skills were poor but her passion fierce; she lost every round yet clamored for another.

They played on until dusk began to fall and Nangong Yunshang returned to the mansion.

Hearing her arrival, Tao Chuyi bolted excitedly toward the front courtyard. Her robes fluttered in the breeze along the long corridor. She arrived before Nangong Yunshang even set foot on it.

“Your Highness the Princess!”

Tao Chuyi flashed a beaming smile, her hands clasped together in a proper welcome for the Third Princess’s return.

Nangong Yunshang looked her up and down, baffled by this sudden whimsy. She nodded faintly and tried to step past, only to find the little fool blocking her path completely.

“Your Highness the Princess, Chuyi has a gift for you.”

Without further ado, she placed the gift right into Nangong Yunshang’s palm.

Nangong Yunshang’s instincts screamed something was wrong. She glanced down and let out a sharp cry. She flung the cricket away and staggered back a step, caught by a maid’s steadying hand.

Tao Chuyi still hadn’t grasped the gravity of it all. She grinned on, convinced her gift had been a hit.

Nangong Yunshang’s face drained of color. She shot her a withering glare before whirling away with her attendants in tow, leaving Tao Chuyi standing there alone.

Tao Chuyi scratched the back of her head. Fairy Sister wasn’t happy. Did she dislike the gift after all?

At dinner that evening, Nangong Yunshang surprised her by joining at the table. Tao Chuyi was over the moon. She sat obediently beside her and grinned like a fool.

The dishes arrived one after another in glass bowls covered by porcelain lids. One was set before Nangong Yunshang, while the other nine crowded in front of Tao Chuyi.

Yinghong lifted the lid from Nangong Yunshang’s bowl, revealing Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Yinghong served the dish with care, and Nangong Yunshang ate it unhurriedly, chewing with refined elegance.

Tao Chuyi watched, swallowing hard, but she didn’t make a move. Her father had told her she must act with poise—no grabbing food with her hands. She had to wait for Xichan to serve it into her bowl first.

Xichan had stepped away to ladle soup and hadn’t returned yet. Tao Chuyi could only gaze longingly as Nangong Yunshang ate.

“Your Highness the Princess, is it good?” Her big eyes blinked earnestly.

Nangong Yunshang gave her a sidelong glance. “One does not speak while eating.”

She said nothing more, continuing her graceful meal until she finished her small bowl and set down her chopsticks.

Seeing Tao Chuyi still sitting idle, Nangong Yunshang asked with thoughtful concern, “Why aren’t you eating? Are you not hungry?”

Tao Chuyi swallowed again. “Father said I have to wait for Xichan to serve it before I can eat.”

She had a habit of snatching food barehanded in the past, but Tao Siqing had strictly forbidden it. If she didn’t stop, he’d lace her dishes with her most hated green onions. For the sake of good food, Tao Chuyi had bent to the rule and never grabbed since.

At that, Nangong Yunshang smiled faintly and lent her own Yinghong for the task.

“There’s no need to wait for Xichan. Having Yinghong serve you is just the same.”

Tao Chuyi’s eyes lit up instantly. “Thank you, Your Highness the Princess!”

She leaned right over the table, staring fixedly at the glass bowls, a hint of tension in her expression. Nine whole dishes—all for her.

But as Yinghong lifted the porcelain lids one by one, Tao Chuyi’s smile faded away.