Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, after Pei Zhi paid her respects, Emperor Pei asked her to rise.

"What brings you here today to visit Father Emperor at the palace?"

Pei Zhi said helplessly, "Father, you are joking. I was just worried that you would disturb me, given how busy you are with state affairs."

"Since there's nothing else, I'll head back now. I need to go to my study to discuss some matters later."

“There is something else,” Pei Zhi hurriedly said. “I heard that Father is selecting people to transport supplies to the border this time.”

"What, Chang Le wants to go?"

"Father is joking," Pei Zhi said with a hint of complaint. "I think it would be better to send my fifth brother instead."

"After I went to the north last time, my elder brother kept telling me that he wanted to go out and broaden his horizons. So, Father, why don't you give him a chance?"

Pei Zhi mentioned the North, and Emperor Pei understood Pei Zhi's intention.

"Did your imperial brother send you?"

Pei Zhi avoided the topic, saying, "Your Majesty and I are siblings. It's normal for me to know what Your Majesty is thinking."

Who would transport supplies for the army was entirely up to Emperor Pei.

This kind of job is so popular that people are always vying to do it every year.

No bandits were as fearless as them, daring to rob the army's supplies.

If the imperial court investigates, his entire family, including nine generations of his relatives, will be executed.

"Alright, since you've already spoken, I can't refuse you. Let the Fifth Prince go."

Pei Zhi quickly knelt down to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

When Pei Yuanze learned that the matter had been resolved, he was so pleased with Pei Zhi that he wished he could worship her.

Pei Zhi only told Pei Yuance to be very careful and not to make any mistakes.

Pei Yuance didn't take it to heart; there hadn't been any problems so many times.

It's impossible that the supplies and military pay would be stolen as soon as they got into his hands, right?

Before Pei Yuance departed, Pei Zhi went to see him off.

Incidentally, Pei Zhi effortlessly learned the departure time and route from Pei Yuance.

These things used to be classified.

Pei Yuanze naturally had no defenses against Pei Zhi.

Pei Zhi received these items and immediately sent a letter.

Pei Yuanze was eager to take this job, wasn't he?

She was determined to make Pei Yuanze suffer this time, leaving him nowhere to turn.

Before Pei Yuance, who had snatched the job from the Fourth Prince, was sent off with great fanfare, as if he wanted to give him a grand send-off.

Pei Zhi escorted Pei Yuance to the city gate, and only after confirming that Pei Yuance was far away did she turn around and return to her residence.

"Princess Chang Le, please wait."

Pei Zhi stopped, turned around and looked at Pei Yuan Ce's concubine, the Zhong family girl.

She was the one who saw Pei Yuance off today, but Yan Xinyue, the principal wife, was nowhere to be seen.

"What's up?"

Consort Zhong placed her hand on her stomach and gently stroked it. "With the Fifth Prince gone, the mansion is empty."

Pei Zhi replied, "Then you should rest and recuperate at home. Your brother will be back after he finishes his business."

Consort Zhong sighed leisurely, "The princess is right. This child is very troublesome, and there are a lot of things to do in the manor."

Pei Zhi stopped and looked at Consort Zhong. "You are the Empress Dowager's niece, so there's no need for you to stand on ceremony with me. Just say what you have to say."

Consort Zhong was making conversation, and Pei Zhi could easily tell that Consort Zhong had something to say.

"With the Fifth Prince gone, and me being a concubine, Madam Yan is not an easy person to get along with."

Pei Zhi understood what Consort Zhong meant.

"She is the principal wife, and you are currently pregnant. As long as you behave yourself, she can't do anything to you. Behind you stand the Zhong family and the Empress Dowager."

Pei Zhi didn't believe that Yan Xinyue was easy to get along with, but she didn't believe that Consort Zhong was easy to get along with.

Today is the farewell ceremony. Yan Xinyue is the principal wife, so no matter what, it should be Yan Xinyue who comes out to see them off.

Presumably, Consort Zhong knew that she and Yan Xinyue didn't get along, which is why she was saying these irrelevant things.

Consort Zhong's face stiffened slightly, and she could only nod in agreement.

Pei Zhi boarded the carriage and returned to the princess's residence.

Before you know it, Pei Yuance has been gone for half a month.

Pei Zhi was arranging flowers at home, while Qin Xiangyang was looking at the account books and doing the math.

"Princess, the Empress has summoned you to the palace immediately, saying that something important has happened."

Pei Zhi calculated the time and figured it should be about time.

Qin Xiangyang quickly got up, took the work from the maid, helped Pei Zhi wash her hands, and followed Pei Zhi into the room.

"Princess, shall I go with you?"

Pei Zhi was changing her clothes when she heard this, she shook her head, "I can go by myself, just wait for me to come back at home."

Pei Zhi knew what was going on, so she wasn't flustered.

Pei Zhi changed her clothes, and her maidservants helped her get dressed before she entered the palace.

As soon as Pei Zhi entered Changqiu Palace, the Empress dismissed all the palace servants around her, leaving only two people to serve her personally.

"A letter arrived from the court by fast horse, saying that the military equipment and pay that the fifth prince was transporting to the border had been stolen."

"What?!" Pei Zhi suddenly raised her voice. "What are we going to do?"

"Sit down," the Empress said sternly. "My informants have just found out that His Majesty is furious."

Pei Zhi said, her face pale, "This has never happened before. How could all the supplies be stolen so suddenly?"

"The food supplies were untouched, but the weapons and pay were all looted."

The Empress said in a serious tone, "There's too much grain; it won't be easy to transport even if we steal it. It seems these people came prepared."

"Mother, what should we do? My brother just took on a task and messed it up. I don't know how Father will punish him when he gets back."

The Empress was also panicked. "So, the most important thing right now is to get the weapons and pay back."

Pei Zhi remained silent for a moment before saying, "Mother, could it have been done by someone from Mingyue Palace?"

"Them?" the Empress hesitated. "They actually dared to rob weapons and military pay? Do they have a death wish?"

Pei Zhi shook her head. "Yes, then my daughter is probably misunderstanding."

"I was just thinking that since my brother and the fourth prince were vying for this job, and it ended up in my brother's hands, I was afraid that the people of Mingyue Palace would retaliate."

The Empress said thoughtfully, "It's not impossible, but it's just hearsay, and we don't have any evidence to prove it right now."

Pei Zhi asked cautiously, "Then, Mother... if these things can't be found, how will Father punish my elder brother?"

"The fifth prince was in charge of this supply operation, and such a big problem has occurred. If His Majesty investigates, he could lose his head."

Pei Zhi immediately stood up. "No, I must plead with Father Emperor. It's not my brother's fault. He cannot be killed."

"Sit down," the Empress snapped. "What's the rush?"

"Although the item was lost while it was in your brother's possession, he didn't do it intentionally. When he returns, he'll at most be reprimanded, maybe get a beating, and be locked up for a while longer."

Pei Zhi sighed, "Mother, what is all this about?"

Pei Zhi lamented, "There have never been any problems before, but it was only when my brother was escorting supplies that they got robbed? Why are we so unlucky?"