"Just now, the Empress Dowager suggested that I, the Princess, Consort Jia, and Consort Jin go to the Summer Palace together," Shang Xiye said, his face darkening and his brows furrowing, revealing a rare look of worry.

"Is Your Highness worried about the Princess?" Wu Ying quickly grasped the key point and comforted her, "Your Highness need not worry too much. In my opinion, the Princess is very capable. Those people have tried to trip her up, both openly and secretly, but in the end, they were all rendered speechless and suffered the consequences by the Princess."

“Although the Emperor arranged a separate courtyard for us this time, she still has to spend time with the other concubines in the palace once she steps out of the courtyard,” Shang Xiye sighed. “You don’t understand the women in the harem. They are ten times more terrifying than Consort Jia. What’s more, this time the Empress Dowager is the one leading the charge.”

"Then the princess can just stay out of the hospital," Wu Ying said, raising a thick eyebrow with his simple mind.

"With the Empress Dowager around, if she speaks, even I, the Prince, cannot avoid it. If she requires the concubines to wake up at the same time every morning and evening, how can the Princess Consort be exempted?" Shang Xiye rolled his eyes at Wuying, rubbing his temples with a headache and annoyance.

Last night, he had secretly tasted that intoxicating pleasure, and he was planning how to win the heart of the little bandit girl so that he could soon experience true marital bliss. Now, this trouble has suddenly arisen, and the little bandit girl will surely be angry with him. It seems that his plans for the entire summer are ruined.

After Shang Xiye returned to the ink studio, the guards reported to him about Li Cang's visit that day.

Upon learning that Ji Fengyao had finally decided to let Li Cang go, a cold glint appeared in Shang Xiye's eyes—was his wife someone that a clown like Li Cang could possibly mess with?

He had nowhere to vent the resentment he brought from the palace, and Li Cang had really walked right into a trap this time.

"Have someone arrange things for Li Cang," Shang Xiye said coldly. "Make it discreet."

"Yes, Your Highness." Li Cang was, after all, a prince of a surrendered kingdom, so Wu Ying had to carefully ask, "Your Highness, to what extent should we arrange things? Should he be dead or half-dead?"

"Make him unable to take care of himself, and he won't be able to show his face in the future," Shang Xiye said, then calmly dealt with his official duties.

Wu Ying clicked his tongue in disapproval; Li Cang's life was over.

After leaving the study to arrange things for Li Cang, when Wu Ying returned, Shang Xiye was deep in thought, holding the secret letter he had written.

Upon seeing him return, Shang Xiye said, "Go to Huinuan Pavilion and invite Hei Xiao over for me."

Wuying then turned and went out again.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Black Owl yawned and strolled over leisurely, looking like he had been disturbed from his sweet dreams. His tone was extremely impatient: "You'd better have something important to tell me, or I'll kick you out."

"She hasn't been around her for more than a few days, but she's picked up all her bandit-like traits perfectly," Shang Xiye chuckled helplessly, handing the secret letter he had just written to Hei Xiao: "Take a look at this."

"I just find that girl quite interesting," Black Owl said, taking the letter and glancing at it before his eyes filled with doubt. "Where did you get this information? How could a mere Director of the Ministry of Personnel have such power?"

“This morning, Fengming came to see me and gave me a list of Xue Yanshou’s connections, pharmacies, and warehouses in various places, telling me to slaughter this little fat sheep, Xue Yanshou, and that he would wait to share the spoils.” Shang Xiye’s deep voice revealed a hint of helplessness.

Sure enough, Black Owl chuckled and teased, "Your father-in-law and brother-in-law are quite capable. They managed to find out everything that the imperial censors couldn't uncover even after years of investigation, all while they were stuck in the capital. They're still doing what they used to do, except now they're handing you the knife instead of taking the robbery themselves."