After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

On the outskirts of Beijing, at the Listening to Rain Pavilion.

The spring rain, fine and continuous, enveloped the vast lake in a layer of grayish-white mist.

The pavilion was draped with bamboo curtains, which kept out the chill from outside.

Xiao Jingchen sent someone to negotiate with Rong Jing, who gave him this address and asked him to meet and discuss the details.

He changed into a simple, moon-white brocade robe, his face still displaying the same gentle, refined, and dignified demeanor, as if the person who had been furious and raging in the study last night was not him at all.

On a small red clay stove in the center of the waterside pavilion, a pot of Junshan Silver Needle tea is being warmed.

Rong Jing leaned back on a chaise longue, toying with a nine-linked ring carved from cold jade in his hand.

He didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard footsteps.

"Third Prince, these hands are for holding a pen and writing beautiful articles. How did they get injured?"

Rong Jing's voice was languid, with a hint of nonchalant mockery.

Xiao Jingchen sat down opposite Rong Jing, a slight smile playing on his lips: "I accidentally broke a teacup last night, it's nothing serious."

"As for Young Master Rong, I heard that a few stray cats wandered into the back mountain of the academy last night. I hope they didn't disturb your rest?"

"There were no stray cats, but a few 'vicious dogs' carrying weapons."

Rong Jing finally raised his eyes, casually tossing the nine-linked rings in his hand onto the table, making a crisp "clink" sound.

"This vicious dog has very sharp teeth, but unfortunately its bones aren't hard enough. With just a tap, it revealed its owner."

Xiao Jingchen's eye twitched slightly, but he still smiled and said, "The people below don't know the rules. They listened to some nonsense and disturbed your peace."

"Jingchen has come today to apologize, and hopes that Young Master will forgive him."

He paused, then pushed an exquisite rosewood box onto the table.

"This is just a small gift to help you calm your nerves, young master. As for those servants who don't know their manners, if you find them an eyesore, you may simply kill them."

A few lives were as insignificant as straw in his mouth.

Rong Jing didn't even glance at the wooden box.

His slender fingers gently caressed the jade pendant at his waist, looking at Xiao Jingchen with a half-smile.

"Does Your Highness think that my life, or rather, Your Highness's crimes of privately raising assassins and raiding the academy at night, are worth only a mere box of gold and silver?"

The smile on Xiao Jingchen's face finally faded.

He knew Rong Jing wasn't so easy to deal with.

Since the other party took the initiative to send someone to arrange a meeting, they must have some ulterior motive.

"Let's not beat around the bush."

Xiao Jingchen's gaze turned cold, completely shedding his gentle facade, revealing a venomous chill in his once affectionate eyes.

"Young Master Rong didn't go directly to Yanhe Palace to find the Emperor, so it must be because I have something you want. Name your price."

Rong Jing chuckled softly, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently into Xiao Jingchen's eyes with an extremely imposing gaze.

"I want the black iron mines from Yunzhou to the border of Yan, and the list of buyers you have."

Upon hearing this, only the faint crackling of the fireplace remained inside the waterside pavilion.

Xiao Jingchen's breathing suddenly stopped, and his hands on his knees clenched tightly, not even noticing the blood seeping from his wounds.

"Your appetite is far too big," Xiao Jingchen said through gritted teeth.

That private mine and those buyers were a secret network he had been secretly planning for three years to build.

It was his money bag for winning over impoverished gentry and raising assassins.

When Rong Jing spoke, he wasn't asking for his money; he was tearing his heart out!

"Rong Jing, what do you need such a large business for, you hostage prince of Great Yan? Aren't you afraid I'll report this to the Emperor and have you charged with treason?"

"Go ahead and sue." Rong Jing leaned back in his chair, shrugged, and smiled smugly and maliciously.

"The Third Prince accused me of plotting to seize the Xuan Tie, so I took the two prisoners from last night to Yanhe Hall to accuse the Third Prince of privately raising secret guards and forming cliques for personal gain."

Seeing Xiao Jingchen's sudden change in expression, Rong Jing slowly added insult to injury:

"His Majesty the Emperor of Dayong is suspicious and ungrateful. Your Highness, guess what? He is more wary of a spoiled hostage who spends his days feasting and indulging in pleasure."

Or is he a seemingly gentle and kind son who is secretly incredibly wealthy and even dares to use assassins in the capital region?

Xiao Jingchen's face turned deathly pale instantly. He stared intently at Rong Jing, his chest heaving violently.

He lost.

In this unprepared contest, Rong Jing seized his fatal weakness.

If it were the eldest son born of the legitimate wife, perhaps the emperor would still remember some of their past relationship.

However, he was born out of wedlock, and once his secret training of assassins and his clandestine embezzlement were exposed, he would be forever barred from the throne.

After a long while, Xiao Jingchen closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with terrifying bloodshot veins.

"Alright, I will send someone to deliver the things Young Master Rong requested to your residence in three days."

"Your Highness is a straightforward person." Rong Jing raised his teacup, offering tea in lieu of wine, and said, "Thank you for the gift."

Xiao Jingchen suddenly stood up, no longer wanting to maintain his usual gentle and refined demeanor.

When he reached the entrance of the waterside pavilion, he paused slightly but did not turn around.

"Rong Jing, don't be too smug."

"The flesh you have taken from me today, I will make you pay back a hundredfold in the future."

"We'll see." Rong Jing sipped his tea leisurely.

Only after Xiao Jingchen's figure completely disappeared into the rain did Wenren Du, who had been waiting in the shadows, emerge from behind the screen.

"Young Master, Xiao Jingchen is a vengeful man. He suffered a great loss today, and I'm afraid he might do something desperate." Wenren Du said with some concern.

Rong Jing put down his teacup, looked at the ripples on the water, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"That's exactly what I want—for him to be in chaos."

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "With this mine, Listening Wind Pavilion's covert operations can be completely penetrated in the Northern Territory."

"His list of buyers includes many powerful and influential figures from the Great Yan Dynasty. At that time, the situation in the Great Yan Dynasty will also be under my control."

Wenren Du hesitated for a moment: "But young master, if it's just about opening up the northern border, we can take it slowly and there's no need to completely break ties with Xiao Jingchen at this critical juncture."

"Wasn't your move a bit too hasty this time?"

Rong Jing paused slightly as he tapped the table.

An image of a girl with red lips and snow-white cheeks, full of mischief, inexplicably appeared before my eyes.

She drew Xiao Jingchen's attention to him, using him as a shield.

They probably thought it was quite amusing to watch the two of them fight like dogs.

But she didn't know that Xiao Jingchen used a significant portion of the wealth he amassed through that black iron mine to infiltrate the Imperial Guards and target the Princess's residence.

By cutting off Xiao Jingchen's financial support, the pressure and risks on Princess Xiao Mingyue's side will be greatly reduced.

And Shen Jingque, whose wings are not yet fully grown, will have a better chance of growing up safely in this treacherous capital.

Rong Jing lowered his eyes and chuckled softly.

"Is it urgent?"

His tone carried a hint of indulgence that he himself was unaware of.

"Since we've accepted someone's 'generous gift,' we have to make sure she gets rid of any future troubles."

"Otherwise, that little girl probably won't sleep soundly at night."

Wenren Du: "..."

His master seems to be acting more and more strangely.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

I just realized the game is now open for separate chapters! I'm adding an extra chapter for you all today. Thank you for your support! I hope you'll give me some good reviews and free gifts. Your support is my motivation to keep going! Love you all!