After Yun Shu fell victim to the "Itch Dust" and so effortlessly dismantled the Eldest Prince's scheme, the prince's follow-up maneuver—sending men from the martial world as cover—had been executed with great subtlety.
He avoided using his own forces in the capital, opting instead for an elaborate roundabout method. Even Emperor Xuanwu had failed to detect it, as the Eldest Prince secretly dispatched his privately trained soldiers to seek someone within the martial world.
At first glance, it was a shrewd move.
Unfortunately, those soldiers ended up contacting none other than that scoundrel known as "Young Master Wuhen."
This Young Master Wuhen was mediocre in martial skill. The only reason his lightness technique could be ranked among the first-class was not due to natural talent, but because he had long known his detestable character would invite revenge. To survive, he had dedicated himself entirely to perfecting the art of escape.
When the Eldest Prince's men first approached him, Wuhen feared he would be silenced once the matter was done. So, using his agility, he silently tailed them and managed to uncover the prince's private training ground outside the city. There, he secured damning evidence.
Later, when he kidnapped Tang Xinhua as instructed by the Eldest Prince and demanded Yun Shu bring gold to secure her release, he noticed something troubling—he could not even detect how many hidden guards Yun Shu had brought with her.
At that moment, he realized he might have provoked a dangerous figure.
So when Yun Shu offered to triple the price in exchange for the identity of the man behind the scenes, Wuhen wasted no time. He handed over the evidence he had been saving as leverage against the Eldest Prince, hoping to protect himself.
And just like that, the Eldest Prince fell into a deep pit of his own making.
To plot against the Crown Princess, to raise private soldiers—neither offense could be brushed aside.
The wrath of Emperor Xuanwu descended swiftly. After all the Eldest Prince's circling and scheming, his fate had ultimately followed the same trajectory as it had in the original storyline—
He was banished to guard the imperial tombs.
As for the Third Prince, although his actions had stemmed from good intentions, his public brawl with the Eldest Prince was a disgrace to royal decorum.
"Confined to quarters for three months!"
"...Father Emperor."
The Third Prince fell silent. Though he knew Emperor Xuanwu was still furious, and that keeping quiet was the wisest course, he could not suppress his thoughts. Gathering himself, he articulated each word with care:
"Your Son requests permission to serve the confinement at the manor outside the city."
"What did you say?"
Emperor Xuanwu's eyes lifted sharply, a glint of authority flashing within them.
"Do you understand what place that is?"
"I do."
The Third Prince pressed his forehead against the cold stone floor. His voice was measured but unwavering.
"Father Emperor, Your Son is fond of the Eldest Miss of the Tang family."
"That is not a reason for you to go to the manor!"
Emperor Xuanwu had never paid particular attention to his third son. To learn so abruptly that the boy had fallen for someone left him with a complicated tangle of emotions.
On one hand, this brat might be useless in many respects, but at least his taste in women was decent.
The Eldest Miss of the Tang family, despite the unfortunate past of having married into the Cao family, was otherwise impeccable.
On the other hand, Emperor Xuanwu was bewildered. How had this son turned into such a hopeless romantic? The woman might be infected with smallpox, yet the boy still insisted on going to the manor to be with her, heedless of risk.
Would he truly lay down his life for love?
The Emperor's thoughts drifted, landing on the deposed Crown Prince who had once conspired against the throne, and the Eldest Prince who had nearly done the same. His fury surged anew.
These sons of his—was not a single one reliable?
And this Third Prince... would he ever go to such lengths for his Imperial Father?
Jealousy, sour and silent, crept across Emperor Xuanwu's expression. Though he seethed, he begrudgingly acknowledged that this son, over the years, had never once asked him for anything. With a cold huff, he relented.
"If the Eldest Miss of the Tang family returns unharmed, We shall grant the marriage.
However, you may abandon the idea of going to the manor!"
"Father Emperor, please reconsider!"
The sudden promise of marriage stunned the Third Prince. He raised his head at once.
"Your Son only wishes to accompany the Eldest Miss of the Tang family out of concern for her well-being. This is a sentiment from the heart.
Your Son has no intention of forcing her to marry her."
Emperor Xuanwu: "...?"
So this useless romantic of a son was harboring a one-sided affection?
"You—"
"Father Emperor, please quell your anger!"
Before the Emperor could explode, Yun Shu, who had been waiting quietly on the side, stepped forward.
"Father Emperor, Your Daughter has something to say. Might I request that Third Brother withdraw for now?"
"...Leave, now!"
Still simmering, Emperor Xuanwu waved the Third Prince away.
Once he was gone, the Emperor turned his still-burning gaze on Yun Shu.
"To throw one's life away for a woman. He may as well be like you, having no interest in marriage at all!"
Yun Shu: "..."
How had this suddenly turned into an attack on her?
She rubbed her nose innocently, then murmured, "It's not as if he's throwing his life away... exactly."
"What was that?"
Emperor Xuanwu narrowed his eyes, catching the implication in her words.
"Do you mean... there is no risk of your cousin contracting smallpox?"
"Not exactly," Yun Shu sighed.
"The girl the Eldest Prince's men found reportedly came from a remote village where many had already died from smallpox.
But this girl, having lived in a cowshed and caught the illness from a cow, only displayed very mild symptoms. She's already nearly recovered."
Meaning Tang Xinhua might not be in danger after all?
Emperor Xuanwu paused.
"You did not tell your Third Brother about this?"
"If I had told him, how would we have seen the sincerity of his feelings?"
Yun Shu, forever single since birth, explained with perfect logic.
"Your Daughter thinks it's good to let Third Brother find my cousin on his own. Perhaps his earnestness will move her heart, and the matter will resolve itself."
"You approve of them being together?"
Emperor Xuanwu arched an eyebrow.
"We thought you might still resent that your cousin was once given to the wrong man, and would now prefer she never marry again."
"This is not a decision Your Daughter can make on her behalf," Yun Shu said as a matter of fact.
"Your Daughter merely believes that if Cousin still wishes to marry, then she deserves someone who will cherish her with single-minded devotion.
So far, Third Brother seems sincere. There's no harm in letting him try.
Ultimately, the choice lies with her."
"You certainly care deeply for your cousin."
Emperor Xuanwu gave a soft snort. His tone, for reasons he could not explain, had grown faintly sour.
===
Dive deeper into the world you're reading! My Imperial Handbook decodes the complex hierarchy of the imperial palace, from the Emperor and the infamous 宫斗 (Gōngdòu) schemes to the nuanced ranks of the harem.
A key highlight is the detailed guide to imperial pronouns and forms of address, explaining not just common terms like 朕 (Zhèn) and 本宫 (Běn Gōng), but also rare ones like 臣妾 (Chénqiè) and 妾身 (Qièshēn) that you rarely find explained elsewhere.
Later volumes detail the 三省六部 (Sānshěng Liùbù) administration and the Imperial Examination System (科举, kējǔ).
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