The residence of the Fourth Prince.

When Song Huaizhang entered the last room of the mansion, he sensed that the atmosphere was different. Not only were the palace maids walking lighter, but even the old nanny raised her finger and shushed him.

Nodding, Song Huaizhang tiptoed inside. As soon as he entered, he realized something was wrong. The ground beneath his feet was warm as spring; the room was actually heated by an underfloor heating system.

This is strange, because even in the dead of winter with heavy snow, the floor heating system in this house never goes off.

It happened the last time Jiang Shuwan came over; it burned once.

However, after Jiang Shuwan left, it was never burned again, not even when it was cold.

It hasn't snowed yet, but they've already turned on the ground heating...

With questions in mind, Song Huaizhang walked further inside, only to find the guards kneeling silently in the corners, with the only sound being the burning of charcoal.

Not only were the earthen ceiling heaters burned, but even a brazier was set on fire.

Song Huaizhang was filled with suspicion, and his steps quickened unconsciously. He was afraid that something had happened. He went around the screen and entered the inner room, only to find the man sitting on the wooden floor dressed in black.

He quietly raised his head, looking directly at a painting of spring flowers.

The painting of spring flowers was created by a court painter. The peach blossoms in the painting were beautiful and swaying in the wind. However, the men's eyes were all fixed on a person under the peach tree. The person was dressed in a short and neat women's outfit. Her hair was tied up with a pink ribbon. She was no more than eleven or twelve years old.

She was a very young girl, though of course, she wasn't considered young in this era.

However, she was not tall and had a late-blooming physique, so she looked quite petite and lovely, with a pair of bright, watery eyes that shone like stars.

...

She must be very beautiful and charming.

She had simply slipped and rolled down from the side, so not only was she covered in mud and bits of grass, but her face was also smeared with mud. Apart from her beautiful eyes, no one could appreciate her appearance.

Beside the little girl was a small basket containing a shiny black substance called peach gum, which had been picked from the peach tree trunk.

This thing used to be unwanted, but it's become very popular recently and often appears in various desserts that women like.

Song Huaizhang had never noticed this thing before. He figured that she must have brought it out with her, otherwise most people wouldn't have thought of using peach gum to make desserts.

The little girl in the painting has her chin slightly raised, and her eyes are wide open and clear. You can tell from her eyes that she has a calm and composure that is hard to match.

She seemed to have encountered something difficult, as her fingers were tightly gripping her sleeves.

Staring at the painting of spring flowers and the girl in it, Song Huaizhang slowed his pace.

He was very familiar with the painting; after all, they had been searching for it for as long as they had been separated.

I never imagined that after searching high and low, I would find him right here in Kyoto...

Moreover, he was the one who first met her, yet he didn't recognize her at all. He was pretending so well...

No.

It's not so much that they're pretending, but rather that they're confused. They've fallen into a misconception, always assuming that since they met in Pingzhou, the other person must be from Pingzhou, and they haven't considered the possibility that it's Jiang Shuwan at all.

Looking back now, if that young girl could create such a magical thing as horseshoes, why couldn't she have established several workshops in Donglai Street and Beidi?

With a sigh, Song Huaizhang knelt down next to the man. He looked at Jiang Shuwan in the picture, and then at Li Chengyun on the left.

From the moment he entered, Li Chengyun remained motionless in that position, and it was impossible to tell how long he had been staring at the portrait…

"Your Highness," Song Huaizhang called softly.

"..."

Li Chengyun was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses and looked at Song Huaizhang on his right. "Cousin is here."

As the man spoke, he turned around and sat down cross-legged. Upon seeing this, the palace maid beside him quickly and efficiently brought over a low table, incense burner, and tea. Once everything was in place, Li Chengyun had already lowered his head to look at the documents that Song Huaizhang had sent.

Song Huaizhang said, "Your Highness, the river repair work on the Crown Prince's side has been completed, and the official His Majesty sent to replace the Crown Prince will arrive soon. I believe the Crown Prince will set off for the capital soon."

At this point, Song Huaizhang paused for a moment, "I received news that there are unusual movements among the Crown Prince's men."

"Strange activity?" Li Chengyun smirked. "What strange activity? It was clearly an ambush on the way. Cousin, you're being too euphemistic. Have you been following Wanwan around for too long and started to hold back your words?"

...

Wanwan?

Do you think people will accept you calling me that so affectionately?

Song Huaizhang rolled his eyes inwardly, pondered for a few breaths, and then said, "There are also unusual movements on the Crown Prince's side, but it's not the Crown Prince's intention; it seems to be the Crown Princess."

"The Crown Princess? This woman is indeed much more capable than my weak Crown Prince brother. She is decisive and ruthless. No wonder she is a descendant of the Ye family."

As Li Chengyun spoke, he sneered repeatedly, and when he mentioned the Ye family, the hatred in his eyes almost materialized.

Back then, when his maternal grandfather's family, the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, which was also the Song family, was killed, the Ye family deserved a lot of credit.

So when he was mentioned, not only Li Chengyun, but even Song Huaizhang gripped his teacup tightly, so tightly that the tea spilled out of his hand.

"Your Highness, Ye Jingyu, the half-brother of Crown Princess Ye Jingyi, has rented a shop on Donglai Street. I heard that Your Highness has met Ye Jingyu before?"

"I've seen it, up in the opera house." Li Chengyun flicked his sleeve, bringing up a gust of cold air, as he spoke while gazing at the winter plum tree outside the window.

There were also several wintersweet trees in his yard, which grew wildly without any care, especially in the late autumn when everything else withered, the wintersweet trees stood out even more.

"What does Your Highness think of him? According to the information from the spies in the west, that good-for-nothing from the Ye family is no match for Ye Jingyu. Before Ye Jingyu came to the capital, the Ye family head gave him the family token. The Ye family is now in charge of Ye Jingyu and Crown Princess Ye Jingyi. Ye Jingyu came to the capital to assist the Crown Princess. He is most likely the one who assassinated the Crown Prince this time."

"..."

Li Chengyun, who was drinking tea, immediately turned his gaze to Song Huaizhang's face upon hearing this. "Then what are you hesitating for? Make your move!"

"This is a golden opportunity! Ye Jingyu, the Ye family, the eldest son's men, and Pei Yanzhi—none of them will be coming back! Hahahaha..."

Li Chengyun spoke and laughed, and by the end, his smile had become somewhat manic.

He covered his mouth, laughing so hard his shoulders trembled and his body shook, looking like a madman.

Seeing his appearance, the guards and palace maids around him lowered their heads in even greater fear, not daring to utter a sound.

"Your Highness, the biggest problem is the Crown Prince. There are commercial taxes and land reforms, and the Crown Prince has recently gained popularity among the people."

"Ignorant! What use is winning the hearts of the people if you can't use me? Have you forgotten how the entire Song family died?"