Chapter 173: Increased Dosage

Mother Kou was so angry that she slapped her daughter's arm: "You girl, all you know how to do is make me angry."

The young lady was Princess Yi'an's biological younger sister, named Kou Wan.

She turned her head away, not wanting to speak.

"These Lin sisters are truly interesting; they become a hot topic of discussion among people from time to time. Even someone like me, who stays in the palace all year round, has heard quite a bit," Princess Yi'an spoke indifferently.

"Isn't that the truth? My ears are practically calloused from listening. Previously, when the eldest Miss Lin became engaged to Prince Wei, it was certainly grand, but Prince Wei was too fat back then, so there wasn't much talk about it. This time, when the second Miss Lin became engaged to the Prince of Jing's Heir, it was as if Mother were describing a marriage to a peerless groom whom no one else could hope to match," Kou Wan took the opportunity to complain.

Mother Kou made a gesture as if to strike her: "A young girl with such a sharp tongue..."

A flash of impatience crossed Princess Yi'an's eyes, and she stopped Mother Kou from lecturing further: "I heard the Prince of Jing's Heir is a sickly man. There are plenty of men in this world with outstanding looks; Mother, please don't always say such things to my sister."

"Exactly, isn't Brother-in-law very good?" Kou Wan said with a grin.

Mother Kou also laughed: "That is for certain. This is the husband the Empress Dowager personally selected for your sister."

Due to Princess Yi'an's special circumstances, Mother Kou could not maintain her maternal authority in front of her; instead, she spoke in a coaxing manner.

Princess Yi'an smiled, intending to return to the palace.

Having entered the palace since childhood to accompany the Empress Dowager, it had been difficult for her to become close to her mother; she only did so because the Empress Dowager often told her to go home and visit.

Hearing that her daughter was leaving, Mother Kou felt somewhat reluctant: "At least stay for lunch before you go back."

"The Empress Dowager has been feeling a bit unwell lately; I should return early to spend more time with her."

"Then hurry back to the palace then." Mother Kou did not dare to detain her further. "Wan'er, see your sister out."

Kou Wan accompanied Princess Yi'an as they walked out.

The Kou residence was vast and magnificent, with exotic flowers and plants competing in splendor during the spring. Princess Yi'an's floor-length skirt slowly brushed against the dustless bluestone ground as she said calmly, "Regarding that second Miss Lin, sister, be careful when you deal with her in the future."

Kou Wan's eyes widened slightly: "What about her?"

Princess Yi'an sneered: "A woman who was just kidnapped and somehow managed to escape from villains—can someone who can climb her way to the Prince of Jing's Heir in the blink of an eye really be that simple?"

Moreover, it wasn't just the Prince of Jing's Heir—as Princess Yi'an thought of that glass lantern, the thorn that had pierced her heart on the Lantern Festival grew deeper and deeper.

"Sister understands." Kou Wan responded obediently, but when she thought of Lin Hao, a layer of disgust was added to her feelings.

Princess Yi'an rode in a palace sedan toward the Imperial City, lifting the curtain to look outside nonchalantly.

People came and went on the streets: peddlers carrying poles to hawk their wares, children chasing each other and laughing, and young maidens carrying flower baskets.

"Stop for a moment," Princess Yi'an suddenly spoke.

The sedan stopped quickly. She leaned down to exit, supported by her palace maids, but before she could give any instructions to the attendants, the figure that had caught her eye had already vanished.

"Princess, do you have any instructions?" the close attendant maid asked.

"It's nothing." Princess Yi'an shook her head and sat back into the sedan.

She thought she had just seen the top scholar, Yang Zhe.

Princess Yi'an kept the curtain lifted all the way until she returned to the palace, her mood exceptionally poor.

The Crown Prince, who had also heard of Lin Hao's engagement, was in an equally bad mood.

In the inner chamber, where only his new favorite, Wang Fu, stood by his side, the Crown Prince kicked over a small stool in frustration: "Why is everything always working against me!"

Wang Fu watched silently as the small stool was kicked tumbling back and forth. Only when the Crown Prince stopped did he step forward: "Your Highness, if you have something troubling you, please speak out. Do not keep it bottled up in your heart."

The Crown Prince sat in a chair, his face ashen: "It's nothing."

Only Wang Gui knew his true thoughts.

Thinking of the deceased Wang Gui, the Crown Prince became even more irritated and kicked a small table fiercely. The table slid far away, and the fresh fruit in the fruit plate rolled all over the floor.

Wang Fu moved behind the Crown Prince, quietly massaging his shoulders. After a while, the Crown Prince actually took the initiative to speak.

"I have my eye on a woman, but she is already engaged."

Wang Fu's movements in massaging the Crown Prince's shoulders did not change in the slightest as he said with a smile, "I thought it was some great matter. That woman is only engaged, not married. If she knew she had your favor, who knows how happy she would be?"

"The one engaged to her is the Prince of Jing's Heir."

That damned Prince of Jing's Heir!

Wang Fu's eyebrows twitched, and his expression changed: "The one you fancy is the second Miss Lin?"

The Crown Prince turned to look at him: "You know too?"

Wang Fu hurriedly said, "Regarding the engagement between the second Miss Lin and the Prince of Jing's Heir, many people in the palace are talking about it."

"Then tell me, what should I do?"

Wang Fu looked troubled: "This—"

"Say whatever you think!"

Wang Fu did not dare to hesitate any longer: "If it were an ordinary family, it would be easy to handle, but the Prince of Jing's Heir is a member of the imperial clan; it is indeed difficult..."

"I knew it!" The Crown Prince slapped the armrest of his chair, his heart feeling as if it were on fire, causing his anger to surge.

When the fourth prince broke off his engagement with the eldest Miss Lin, he thought his opportunity had come, but he didn't expect the second Miss Lin to get engaged to the Prince of Jing's Heir so quickly!

Was Heaven playing a joke on him on purpose?

The Crown Prince stood up and paced back and forth, his anger growing more intense until even his face turned crimson.

Drowsiness struck, yet his body felt uncomfortably hot. The Crown Prince hurriedly called to Wang Fu: "Bring the Five-Color Powder."

Wang Fu quickly presented the Five-Color Powder. Seeing the Crown Prince's face look satisfied after taking it, he tactfully said, "If Your Highness still feels vexed, you might as well take a bit more. This Five-Color Powder is best for brightening one's mood."

The Crown Prince had discovered the benefits of the Five-Color Powder some time ago; hearing this, he nodded without hesitation.

The Eastern Palace quietly returned to its peaceful state.

It took several days after the incident of the startled horse for Qi Shuo to arrange a meeting with Cheng Maoming, the Commander of the Jinlin Guards.

Because Cheng Maoming had been rewarded by Emperor Taian for his merit in preventing villains from plotting to blow up Jinxiu Street, he was in a very good mood. Seeing the Prince of Jing's Heir who had brought him merit, his attitude was even better.

"I have yet to congratulate the Heir on finding a good match."

A polite remark made the corners of Qi Shuo's lips curl up: "Thank you."

Cheng Maoming glanced at Qi Shuo's expression and realized something: It seemed the Prince of Jing's Heir was very satisfied with the marriage.

"I came to see the Grand Commander today because I have a request."

Cheng Maoming's expression became serious: "Please speak, Heir."

"It's like this. There is someone who irritates me just by looking at them, but they keep pestering me, so I just went ahead and arrested them..."

As Cheng Maoming listened, his expression became strange.

A woman was pestering the Prince of Jing's Heir, and the Prince of Jing's Heir actually arrested her? This was far too much of a failure to cherish a delicate beauty.

"What does the Heir need me to do?"

Qi Shuo looked helpless: "It's not suitable to keep the person in the Prince's mansion; could I borrow a place within the Jinlin Guards?"

Cheng Maoming froze for a moment.

He wanted to keep the person in the Jinlin Guards?

Qi Shuo frowned slightly: "If the Grand Commander finds it difficult—"

Cheng Maoming snapped back to reality and hurriedly said, "The Heir is being too formal; how could it be difficult? However, let me ask one more thing—do you only need to keep the person confined?"

(End of Chapter)