Ji Feihua said, "Princess Yongyang went to Xinning Palace to make trouble, and the First Prince escorted her back. What did the two of them say?"
"This subordinate does not know!"
Ji Feihua chuckled. "You don't know this, and you don't know that. What exactly do you know? Princess Yongyang accompanied His Majesty to the Spirit Firmament Palace earlier. I hear the Retired Emperor nearly strangled her then. Do you know what he said to her?"
He Mu said in a trembling voice, "This subordinate knows nothing of the matter."
Ji Feihua said, "Your ignorance of what happened at the Spirit Firmament Palace is understandable. After all, I didn't assign you to that task. But you don't even know what the First Prince and the Little Princess said to each other. That disappoints me greatly."
He Mu said, "This subordinate acknowledges his fault."
Ji Feihua sighed. "I hope to reward you every time, not hear you endlessly repeating that you acknowledge your fault. Go! Do your duty properly, and don't disappoint me again."
After He Mu left, Ji Feihua adjusted the ties of his cloak and called out, "Li Yan!"
Li Yan approached from a distance and cupped his fist. "What are your orders, my lord?"
"Come with me to Xinning Palace."
After bidding his mother farewell, First Prince Long Tingsheng was about to leave Xinning Palace when he heard an announcement outside: Ji Feihua had arrived. Long Tingsheng's first thought was whether he ought to avoid him. Empress Jian caught his arm. "My son, stay a moment. Eunuch Ji has done us such a great favor. It is only right to thank him in person."
Long Tingsheng nodded reluctantly. Deep in his heart, he always felt an inexplicable fear and loathing toward Ji Feihua.
Ji Feihua had already entered