Even if Chengcheng did no studying today, she would root out every one of these villains!

Jiang Yingcheng went rigid.

Though the voice was soft and brief, she recognized it at once-

It belonged to her beautiful imperial father!

[F-Father, how did you get here so quickly?!]

Her hands paused for only a moment before she resumed unwrapping the package in front of her. As she did, she tipped her head up toward Uncle Liaochen beside her. "Oh my, those Hibiscus Pastries were so delicious! Uncle Liaochen, could you take Chengcheng back to buy another portion later?"

"Chengcheng wants to take them home for my most handsome, most commanding, most~ gen~tle~ beautiful imperial father!"

She poured out flattery as though it cost nothing, but it failed to produce the effect she had hoped for.

Standing behind her, Jiang Yanchuan gave another soft snort. "Jiang Yingcheng."

Jiang Yingcheng turned around, her face filled with wildly exaggerated astonishment. "Goodness! Father, how did you-" Get here so quickly?!

Before she could finish, his low voice interrupted her-

Jiang Yanchuan spoke through somewhat gritted teeth. "You still want to go to the Heavenly Fragrance House?"

Jiang Yingcheng shut her mouth completely.

[Who was it? Who told on me?!] Her indignant, wounded gaze swept back and forth between Uncle Liaochen's and Uncle Zhong's faces as she thought resentfully, [There's a bad egg among the masses!]

Everyone in the prison fell silent as winter cicadas. In that stillness, the sound of Jiang Yanchuan grinding his teeth was exceptionally clear.

Jiang Yanchuan decided to keep watch over Jiang Yingcheng himself for a few days.

At morning court, he no longer let the little one play freely. Instead, he ordered Eunuch Changshun to remove the couch and replace it with a desk, positioned where he could see it simply by lowering his head.

A thick stack of Xuan paper sat on Jiang Yingcheng's