"Father has sent a letter!"
Shang Hongye, dressed in red and looking every bit the valiant heroine, took the letter and began reading.
Before long, her delicate brows drew together, and confusion and puzzlement appeared on her pretty face.
"Miss, what did the Prince write in the letter?"
Shang Hongye drew a deep breath, her voice low as she murmured.
"Uncle Huo, Father wants me to choose the Crown Prince as my husband."
"The Crown Prince?"
"Didn't Big Brother tell you, Hongye, to choose for yourself—just pick whoever you liked? Why had he suddenly changed his mind?"
Huo Yunting's square face was full of confusion. The contents of the letter were completely different from what they had discussed when they left the Northern Border.
Shang Hongye nodded slightly and pondered for a moment.
"There is indeed something strange about this."
"Father is not someone who goes back on his word."
"Besides, the Crown Prince is the worst possible choice. No matter which prince I chose, I should not choose the Crown Prince, unless..."
Shang Hongye did not finish her sentence.
Unless...
Her father wanted to support the Crown Prince's rebellion.
"Uncle Huo, where did this letter come from? Could it be forged?" Shang Hongye suddenly asked.
Huo Yunting immediately took the letter and examined it.
"The handwriting is indeed Big Brother's."
"The seal is correct as well. It does not look fake."
"It is just that the contents are truly unbelievable."
Huo Yunting turned the letter over and over, reading it several times, yet he could not find the slightest trace of forgery.
"I will write to Father at once and ask him."
"Uncle Huo, make the trip yourself. You must get to the bottom of this matter."
"But... Miss, if I leave, your safety..."
Huo Yunting hesitated.
"Rest assured, Uncle Huo. I have already left the Northern Border."
"His Majesty wants nothing less than for something to happen to me."
"In that case, I will return to the Northern Border. Miss, you must be careful on the road."
"Also, the imperial physician has been clamoring to treat your illness."
"We have delayed for several days already. It would not do to delay any longer."
"Tell the imperial physician that I have recovered. We will set out tomorrow."
The next day.
Shang Hongye and her party set out once again.
However, they traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping and starting along the way. Shang Hongye claimed it was her first time here and that she wished to admire the magnificent rivers and mountains of Great Qian.
After hearing Shang Hongye's excuse, the imperial physician did not press her.
Neither Emperor Yuanchu nor Prince Zhenbei was someone a mere imperial physician like him could afford to offend.
As long as he delivered Shang Hongye safely into Yujing City, his task would be a complete success.
Outside Yujing City.
There were more and more refugees.
These days, Shen Qiushui had been busy distributing porridge.
After using Fang Heng's method, those who came merely to take advantage had never returned.
This made Shen Qiushui increasingly curious about Fang Heng.
Such seasoned and ruthless methods did not seem like something a prince who had only just come of age could employ.
Shen Qiushui sensed eyes watching her from the shadows.
Focusing her gaze, she spotted a furtive figure.
"Second Brother, what are you doing?"
Seeing that his tracks had been exposed, Shen Yinhu had no choice but to step out, coughing once.
"Ahem!"
"I was just passing by and happened to come see you, Little Sister."
Shen Qiushui rolled her eyes.
Second Brother's lies were far too easy to see through.
He did not even bother to hide them.
Ever since meeting the Ninth Prince that day, her second brother had acted as though guarding against a thief.
Every time she came outside the city to distribute porridge, he followed her the entire way.
It was as if he feared she would be abducted.
Seeing Shen Qiushui's displeased expression, Shen Yinhu looked awkward and scratched the back of his head.
"Little Sister, I'll help you distribute the porridge."
"There. You distribute it, then."
Shen Yinhu took the ladle from Shen Qiushui's hand.
He scooped up a ladleful of plain porridge. When he saw that nearly half of it was mixed with sand, his brows could not help but furrow.
"Little Sister, why is there sand in the porridge?"
"Second Brother, you wouldn't understand!"
Shen Yinhu:???
I wouldn't understand?
Little Sister, you've changed!
Before you met the Ninth Prince, you never spoke to me like this.
"Little Sister, did the Ninth Prince teach you this method?" Shen Yinhu asked.
Shen Qiushui nodded openly and honestly.
"It was indeed the Ninth Prince who taught me."
"His Highness is kindhearted and his methods are brilliant. He is a man of true benevolence and righteousness."
Hearing Shen Qiushui's words, Shen Yinhu felt as though his heart had fallen into an icy abyss.
Sure enough...
Sure enough, it was the Ninth Prince!
The Ninth Prince's methods were brilliant—then what was he?
A fool?
Mixing sand into porridge to fob off refugees—was that something any human being could do?
Just how had that sly little thief, the Ninth Prince, sweet-talked his little sister?
Seeing that Shen Yinhu had not moved, Shen Qiushui raised a delicate brow, on the verge of anger.
"Second Brother, stop standing there in a daze. Can't you see so many people are waiting in line?"
"Okay, okay—I know!"
Shen Yinhu lowered his head and distributed the porridge, pondering how he could make his little sister see the Ninth Prince's true colors.
Shen Qiushui entered the porridge stall to rest for a while.
Her personal maid, Qinyin, jogged into the porridge distribution area. Seeing Shen Qiushui wave at her, she quietly approached.
"Qinyin, have you looked into what I asked you to investigate?"
"Miss, you truly are a female Zhuge Liang."
"The porridge distribution point across from us belongs to the Ninth Prince's people."
Qinyin spoke excitedly, marveling inwardly at how clever her miss was.
One glance, and she had seen through the other party's identity.
Qinyin told Shen Qiushui every last detail of the information she had gathered.
At this, Shen Qiushui's eyes lit up.
"Just as I thought!"
"His Highness possesses not only the wisdom of the Literary Star, but also the compassion of the Savior of Suffering."
Seeing her miss praise the Ninth Prince so highly, Qinyin teased her.
"Miss, don't tell me you have fallen for the Ninth Prince?"
"You little brat, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"The Ninth Prince and I are merely kindred spirits who share the same path."
"You must not speak nonsense."
Shen Qiushui glared at Qinyin. Qinyin nodded repeatedly and said she understood, but her eyes clearly showed that she did not believe it.
"Qinyin, Second Brother is distributing porridge. Help me cover for me."
"Miss, where are you going?"
"To the Ninth Prince's Manor. There is something important I must ask the Ninth Prince about."
When she heard that her miss was going to the Ninth Prince's Manor to secretly meet the Ninth Prince, Qinyin froze.
Her eyes widened in shock, and she hurriedly covered her mouth and nose with her jade-like hand.
"Miss, the Ninth Prince is an unrelated man."
"What does it matter whether he is an unrelated man or not?"
"With so many refugees here, which one of them is not an unrelated man?"
"Miss, that is sophistry."
"You are secretly meeting the Ninth Prince. If the master finds out..."
Before Qinyin could finish, Shen Qiushui cut her off and spoke in a resolute tone.
"As long as Father does not find out, isn't that enough?"
"Second Brother is distributing porridge. Remember not to let him notice."
Qinyin watched her miss hurry away, her face full of bitterness.
What kind of situation was this?
Her miss was secretly meeting an unrelated man, and she was expected to cover for her.
Could it be!
Could it be!
Could it be!
Miss really likes the Ninth Prince?
The Ninth Prince had been frail and sickly since childhood, with little time left to live.
If Miss married him, she would have to accompany her in marriage.
Wouldn't that mean becoming a living widow while still so young?
Before you continue