“The fourth prince’s intentions are hard to fathom. What if he sets up another trap in the Ministry of Justice? Wouldn’t we be walking right into a snare?” the Crown Prince said.
Shi glanced at the Crown Prince a few times and said, "Your Highness's concerns are very valid! However, poisoning is the most convenient method. We can kill them without even showing our faces."
The Crown Prince nodded and said to his wife, "My dear wife is comparable to a female Zhuge Liang. I will leave everything to you to plan."
The Crown Princess smiled and said, "Your Highness's words have deeply moved me. We have been married for over ten years, and this is the first time I have heard Your Highness praise me so highly."
The Crown Prince walked up to the Crown Princess, took her hand, and said, "I have always neglected you. Now I realize that only you can share my burdens and solve my problems."
Seeing the Crown Prince's sincerity, Lady Shi also said, "Having been married to the Crown Prince for so long, I didn't realize at first that we were one. Now I understand that we truly are one. I will definitely help Your Highness obtain what rightfully belongs to you."
The Crown Prince nodded, and thus became even more devoted to Lady Shi. His former favorite, Lady Li, was now completely invisible to him; the Crown Prince suddenly seemed to have lost all affection for her, even after she bore him two sons.
The Crown Prince now favors male lovers, and has lost interest not only in Lady Li, but in all the other women in his household. Only the Crown Princess Shi, because she can help the Crown Prince with his ambitions and is his principal wife, is able to see him often; the others haven't seen him in a long time.
"Your Highness, I remember there was a man named Xia Mianfang. He should have some connection with those people in the Ministry of Justice. He was promoted by the Crown Prince's tutor back then," Shi asked.
“That’s right. He was promoted by his master in the fortieth year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign. At that time, he was a sixth-rank military officer in Cangzhou, Henan. It was because of his master that he was able to become the third-rank commander of the Firearms Battalion.” The Crown Prince said.
"Forget it, the more people we search, the more people will find out. It would be better to hire a few assassins to sneak into the Ministry of Justice prison and kill them directly. That would be quick and clean," said Crown Princess Shi.
"Hmm, not bad. Why don't you have your cousin handle it?" the Crown Prince said.
"Yes. I will speak to Father, Your Highness need not worry," said Madam Shi.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince had already returned to the Ministry of Revenue. He thought about his conversation with the Crown Prince earlier and had a vague premonition. If it really was the Crown Prince's doing, then, if he wasn't mistaken, the two people in the Ministry of Justice prison would soon be in danger.
After much deliberation, the Fourth Prince decided to discuss the matter with the Prefect of the Capital, so he immediately changed his clothes and left the palace.
The Fourth Prince's carriage arrived outside the Jingzhao Yin's office, and he, dressed in casual clothes, entered the office.
"I am sorry for not greeting you properly. Your Highness, please inform me and I will definitely go to pay my respects," said Tang Bin, the Prefect of the Capital, as he greeted him at the door.
Fourth Master followed Tang Bin into his calligraphy room. After they sat down according to their respective positions, and the servants served tea, they began to discuss serious matters.
"Is Your Highness worried that someone might harm them?" Tang Bin also knew about the matter between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Heshuo. He was currently searching for the person based on the portrait provided by Gao Tan, but in the vast sea of people, finding someone was not easy.
“Indeed, I have an idea. I’d like to select two people from your household who resemble them in build and appearance, and then have them imprisoned in their place. I’m worried they might resort to violence. I still feel it’s inappropriate to put them in the Ministry of Justice; I’d feel more at ease if they were here with you,” said the Fourth Prince.
“Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. In that case, I will immediately select a few who resemble them in appearance and build,” Tang Bin said.
After finishing his business with the Prefect of the Capital, the Fourth Prince went straight back from his residence.
Su Peisheng sat on the carriage shaft outside with the coachman as usual. Seeing that the Fourth Master had been preoccupied these past few days, he dared not disturb him.
Upon returning to the mansion, the Fourth Prince, upon entering, remembered that he had missed visiting the South Courtyard because he had gone to the Uya Clan that day, so he turned directly onto the road leading to the South Courtyard.
Su Peisheng knew from the direction Fourth Master was walking that he was going to the South Courtyard, and he was happy for him.
"Where is your master?" As soon as Fourth Master entered the courtyard, he saw Shui Ling talking to Granny Wang at the door and asked.
"Master is writing in the study!" Shui Ling bowed inside.
Fourth Master then walked into Lanqin's study. He waved to Su Peisheng, who was following behind him, indicating that they did not need to serve him.
"No need to come in and serve me! Didn't I say so?" Lanqin was engrossed in writing. She had become obsessed with calligraphy these past few days. Because she was busy with the affairs of the manor and the children all day long, she sometimes felt like she had lost herself. Writing helped her calm down and think things through.
Fourth Master walked up behind Lanqin, looked at her handwriting, and said, "Are you learning the Liu style?"
Lanqin heard the Fourth Master's voice coming from behind her, and she turned around in surprise to see him. It really was him. Thinking about how he had been intercepted halfway through his journey because of Wuya Shi that day, and then the news of Wuya Shi's pregnancy, she was filled with resentment and refused to pay any attention to the Fourth Master.
"My lord, I don't like being disturbed when I'm writing. Why don't you go sit somewhere else?" Lanqin said petulantly.
"Are you trying to drive me away?" Fourth Master didn't expect Lanqin to still be angry.
"Your Highness is tired. Why don't you let Si Hua attend to Tong Tong's head? Once I finish writing this paper, I'll instruct them to bring the meal," Lan Qin said after a moment's thought, suppressing her displeasure.
"I just want to write with you. Come, let me teach you!" Fourth Master probably knew why Lanqin was angry, so he put his arm around her waist and said.
Lanqin was initially a little angry, but after being embraced by the Fourth Master, her anger subsided considerably. She said coquettishly, "Doesn't Your Highness find my handwriting too delicate?"
“I don’t mind. There’s a charm to being delicate. Come, let me hold your hand and let you write.” Fourth Master grasped Lanqin’s hand that was holding the brush and continued writing with her.
The two pressed themselves together, stroking each other's lips as they wrote stroke by stroke on the rice paper. Lanqin gradually smiled, listening to the Fourth Master's heartbeat and feeling the warmth from his palm.
"Your calligraphy is truly remarkable!" Lanqin's hands were completely relaxed, and she let the Fourth Master guide her hand as he drew and painted on the paper, enjoying his tenderness.
"I've always had exceptional handwriting since I was a child; even Father Emperor praised it," said the Fourth Prince.
"Master, how is the matter concerning the Crown Prince and the Prince of Heshuo? Does Father Emperor intend to keep him locked up like this indefinitely?" Lanqin couldn't help but ask.
"The investigation is still ongoing. The mastermind behind inducing Prince Heshuo has not yet been identified," said the Fourth Prince.
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