Showing weakness (minor revision)

Xiao Jinyi explained on Xiao Yuanqi's behalf, "My brother probably wouldn't go that far. It might just be a coincidence!

"Forget about him. I had the Imperial Kitchen prepare some food, and I brought my jar of Drunken World along when I came. You definitely won't be able to go back on duty today, so why don't we have a drink together?"

There were two things Shen Shixu loved most in life: food and drink. With Xiao Jinyi setting both right before him, how could he have time to think about anything else?

Seeing that his attention was entirely on the dishes and fine wine, Xiao Jinyi hurriedly ordered the food to be served.

With their heads lowered, the palace maids carried in one fragrant dish after another, setting them down without a sound before withdrawing. Xiao Jinyi picked up the jar of wine on the table and removed its red seal.

An intoxicating fragrance immediately filled the room. Shen Shixu held out two wine cups, and the rich, mellow wine filled the glass vessels to the brim.

One whiff told Shen Shixu that this had to be excellent wine. As soon as Xiao Jinyi filled a cup, he eagerly picked it up and took a sip.

It was smooth on the tongue, with a lingering finish, and lacked any harsh, burning bite.

Seeing him eagerly take a sip, Xiao Jinyi began drinking as well. "The wine is good, but these dishes are excellent too. Don't just drink. Eat something to line your stomach."

As he spoke, Xiao Jinyi picked up a piece of braised rabbit and placed it on the small plate before Shen Shixu. Shen Shixu picked it up and ate it, and the two enjoyed the dishes, occasionally clinking their cups.

Halfway through the meal, Bai He came in and bowed. "Your Highness, Lord Shen, the Empress Dowager just sent one of her matrons to invite you both to Cikang Palace."

At this, Xiao Jinyi set down his chopsticks and asked, "Did she say what it was about?"

Bai He cupped his hands and replied, "The Nanny said nothing, but Princess Shou Jia entered the palace today. It should be about Lord Liang."

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyi frowned, his eyes full of impatience. "Go back to the Empress Dowager on my behalf. Tell her the Crown Prince needs me for something, so I can't come today. I'll visit her another day."

Bai He acknowledged the order and hurried off to Cikang Palace with the reply.

It was rare for Shen Shixu to see Xiao Jinyi look so irritated. Curious, he asked, "What's wrong? Do you have a feud with this Princess Shou Jia?"

Xiao Jinyi recalled the courtship tips he had ordered people to gather. One of them was to show a little vulnerability in front of the person he liked, so he immediately put on a pitiful act for Shen Shixu.

"I don't have a feud with her. No, I suppose you could call it that, but it's entirely one-sided. Princess Shou Jia holds a grudge against me and thinks I'm heartless and unfeeling. Heaven knows how unfair that is.

"She's my aunt, the daughter of my father's imperial uncle. Her parents died when she was little, and the late emperor took pity on her. He brought her into the palace and entrusted her to Consort Hui.

"Consort Hui had neither sons nor daughters, so she raised Princess Shou Jia as her own daughter. Later, Consort Hui died saving my imperial grandmother's life, and my grandmother took over her care. For the late Consort Hui's sake, she treated her very well.

"So we're quite close to her. My aunt is fine in every other respect, but my grandmother spoiled her rotten. At her age, she's still unbelievably naive.

"And because she's naive, she's easy to deceive. A man with little ability and questionable character, but a talent for sweet talk, managed to win her over.

"That's the Lord Liang Bai He mentioned just now. After latching onto Princess Shou Jia, he began openly taking bribes and embezzling funds.

"When I caught him, he went begging to Princess Shou Jia, saying he'd suffered a momentary lapse in judgment and hadn't meant to do it. He swore oaths and apologized to her, promising never to do it again.

"Princess Shou Jia swallowed his lies and entered the palace to plead with my grandmother. Out of respect for my grandmother, I didn't arrest him. I only ordered him to repay every last coin he'd embezzled.

"He wouldn't even do that. He coaxed Princess Shou Jia into paying it back for him.

"Once some things happen the first time, a second and third will follow. After Liang Junda tasted the benefits of doing wrong without having to face the consequences, he grew even bolder and kept embezzling.

"Only, he'd gotten smarter. Whenever he embezzled money, he told Princess Shou Jia about it. Afraid he'd be caught again, she had no choice but to cover the shortfall for him.

"One stole, the other paid it back. Since she covered the losses promptly, they actually escaped notice.

"But later, as Liang Junda embezzled more and more, Princess Shou Jia simply couldn't keep up, however much she wanted to. In the end, it all came to light.

"Liang Junda is now locked up in the Ministry of Justice's prison. Princess Shou Jia has already come to the palace several times, trying to beg someone to release him.

"But she doesn't dare approach my mother or father. My brother is too slippery for her to get anywhere with him, so she can only plead with my grandmother, hoping to use her to force me to get Liang Junda out.

"My aunt has put me through no end of trouble since I returned from the Borderlands. Every time she sees me, she cries. Now I get a headache whenever I hear anyone crying.

"She also sends letters to my residence every day, repeating just one thing: begging me to save Liang Junda.

"To be honest, my aunt is driving me mad. I'd rather fight the Tatars for dozens of rounds than deal with her even once."

The mere mention of Princess Shou Jia gave Xiao Jinyi a visible headache. Shen Shixu thought that if he could hide somewhere, he would stay there until Liang Junda had been beheaded.

Looking at his troubled friend, Shen Shixu reached out and patted his shoulder in consolation. "Being love-addled is an illness. It hurts the person suffering from it and drives everyone around them mad too.

"Treating it can be difficult, but it can also be simple. All you have to do is get the love-addled person to fall for someone else!"

Xiao Jinyi only half understood what Shen Shixu was saying, but it sounded as though he could resolve the trouble with Princess Shou Jia. He pressed him for details. "I don't quite understand what you mean. Tell me exactly what I should do."

Shen Shixu gave a gentle smile. "I mean you should introduce Princess Shou Jia to a new husband. You must vet him carefully. Choose someone upright who would never deceive or exploit her, and who will treat her well.

"Let Princess Shou Jia fall for a good man instead. That will be good for her and for you."

Xiao Jinyi thought this was an excellent idea. Liang Junda would be dead soon anyway, and scum like him didn't deserve to have his aunt remain faithful to him. It was time to start looking for a new uncle. Come to think of it, he really did have a suitable candidate.

Shen Shixu reminded him, "Oh, before you introduce anyone new, you need to make Princess Shou Jia give up on Liang Junda. I have a trick that's guaranteed to work..."

After hearing him out, Xiao Jinyi gave Shen Shixu a thumbs-up. "When it comes to brains, yours really are better. If I ever run into something I can't solve again, I'll come straight to you.

"I'm only good at fighting battles. When it comes to anything else, my brain really isn't up to the task.

"If I start coming to you often, please don't find me annoying!"