With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

As dawn approached, Shen Nannan turned over, and her hand slipped out of his palm.

Ah Chao looked down at his empty palm and slowly clenched it.

He stood up, tiptoed to the door, lifted the curtain, and went out.

Under the eaves, Mo Bai knelt in the shadows, his head bowed.

"Master," he said softly, "news has arrived from the Third Prince's residence."

Ah Chao stood in the morning breeze, his mask already on, covering most of his face, revealing only a pair of dark eyes.

"explain."

"Xiao Yunting's men went to the Ministry of Revenue last night and checked Minister Zhao's case file." Mo Bai paused. "He suspects that the Shen family has someone backing them."

Ah Chao didn't speak. A breeze blew by, and the hem of his clothes swayed gently.

"Anything else?"

"He sent people to keep an eye on the general's mansion... perhaps... they've noticed their master."

Ah Chao's lips curved slightly, but there was no warmth in that smile.

"Staring?"

He repeated the two words, his voice so soft it was as if he were saying something amusing.

"Then let him keep an eye on it."

Mo Bai raised his head: "What does Master mean..."

"If he wants to see it, let him see it."

Ah Chao turned around and looked at the lantern in the corridor that was almost extinguished.

"What I can see and what I can't see, I decide."

"Yes."

"And..." he paused.

"We need to keep her quiet for a few days in the palace."

Mo Bai knew who "she" was, bowed his head and responded, then his figure flashed and disappeared into the morning mist.

Ah Chao stood under the eaves, watching the first hint of dawn on the horizon. A breeze blew from afar, carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms and the unique coolness of the morning.

He looked down at his hands.

Her warmth still lingered in my palm, faint, like through a veil.

He clenched his fist and tucked it into his sleeve.

-----

The capital city, the residence of the Third Prince.

Xiao Yunting stood by the study window, a glass of wine in his hand, looking at the moon outside.

He wore a moon-white brocade robe, his hair half-tied and half-loose, which made his face appear even more handsome and otherworldly.

"Your Highness."

The butler quietly announced from outside the door.

"The grain supplies from the Ministry of Revenue have been loaded onto carts and will be sent to the border tomorrow morning."

"Hmm," he replied without turning around.

The butler hesitated for a moment, then said:

"The Shen family's spies have all disappeared."

Xiao Yunting paused for a moment, his hand holding the wine glass still.

He turned around, a playful smile curving his lips.

"Gone?" He put his wine glass on the table.

"Interesting. It seems someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes."

The steward was taken aback: "Your Highness means..."

"The Ministry of Revenue's grain supplies should not have been delivered so smoothly."

Xiao Yunting patted the crumbs off his hands and said slowly,

"Regarding Minister Zhao's poisoning, the Imperial Medical Academy didn't have the medicine that could cure him. Yet, his poisoning was miraculously neutralized. There are very few people in the capital who can produce that medicine."

"The only thing that can save him is..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Your Highness, the person has returned."

"Come in."

A man in gray pushed open the door and came in.

"What did you find out?" Xiao Yunting picked up his teacup and blew on it.

"Your Highness, the Shen family has indeed been making frequent moves lately. The eldest daughter of the Shen family has been busy with matters concerning provisions. Her second aunt, Madam Tong, has been stripped of her power to manage the household affairs, and the second branch of the Shen family has also disbanded."

The man in gray paused.

"She had a guard with her, of unknown origin, but extremely skilled. He was the one who accompanied Miss Shen that night in Peach Blossom Valley."

Xiao Yunting paused in his tea-drinking motion: "A guard?"

"Yes. No one knows his full name, all we know is that Miss Shen calls him 'Ah Chao.' He usually wears a mask, and no one has ever seen his face."

"Ah Chao?"

Xiao Yunting put down his teacup, repeated the name, and a smile curved his lips.

"Dynasty? Which dynasty?"

"I am unaware."

Xiao Yunting leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers absently on the table.

"Is it the 'Chao' of 'rising sun,' or the 'Zhao' of 'bright and clear'?" he muttered to himself.

"interesting."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the old locust tree outside.

"Keep an eye on them," he said. "Don't alert them."

"Yes." The man in gray withdrew.

The steward, still standing at the door, hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, the Shen family... they've sent a visiting card. The eldest son of the Shen family said he wants to pay a personal visit. After all, General Shen will remember your kindness regarding the grain supplies."

Xiao Yunting turned around, glanced at the butler, and suddenly smiled.

"Young Master Shen?" He picked up the visiting card from the table.

"What's the point of visiting a spoiled brat like him..."

The butler lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Xiao Yunzhao threw the invitation on the table.

"Prepare the gifts."

"Where is Your Highness going?"

"The General's Mansion".

Xiao Yunting straightened his collar, smiling with a dashing and unrestrained air.

"If I go in person, won't it make me seem more important?"

The steward was taken aback: "Your Highness, you're going in person? This... this..."

"What? I can't go?"

"No...it's just that Miss Shen..."

"What's wrong with her?" Xiao Yunting raised an eyebrow.

"She's not going to eat me, is she?"

The butler dared not persuade him any further and lowered his head to prepare the gifts.

Xiao Yunting stood in front of the bronze mirror, straightening his clothes. The person in the mirror had a handsome face and elegant features, and his moon-white brocade robe made him look even more refined and otherworldly.

He smiled at himself in the mirror.

"The eldest daughter of the Shen family, Shen Nannan," he murmured the name.

"Little bunny, someone's behind you."

-------

The General's Mansion, the Wutong Courtyard.

Shen Nannan had just woken up and was sitting on the bed with her hair down and the blanket pulled up to her chin.

Qiu Yu came in carrying a basin of water. When she saw the red mark on her neck, she was stunned for a moment, blushed, and quickly lowered her head.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Nannan glared at her.

"No, I didn't look." Qiu Yu put down the basin of water and hurriedly went to open the wardrobe. "What is Miss wearing today?"

"casual."

Qiu Yu pulled out a high-necked spring shirt and handed it to her. Shen Nannan took it, put it on, and turned up the collar to cover the marks on her neck.

She walked to the dressing table, sat down, and combed her hair in front of the bronze mirror.

As I was combing my hair, I suddenly stopped.

"autumn rain."

"exist."

"Where's Ah Chao?"

"He's under the eaves. He's been standing there since early morning, holding a rabbit in his arms, like a door god."

Qiu Yu paused, then lowered her voice, "Miss, did he... stay in your room last night?"

Shen Nannan said without changing her expression, "He's on night watch."

"Oh," Qiu Yu replied, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Shen Nannan saw her expression in the bronze mirror, slammed the comb on the table, and said, "What are you laughing at?"

"This servant did not laugh."

"Your grin is so wide it stretches to your ears!"

Qiu Yu quickly pursed her lips.

Shen Nannan ignored her and continued combing her hair.

"Let him in," she said.

Qiu Yu responded and went out to call for help.

A moment later, A-Chao walked in, holding a rabbit in his arms.

When the rabbit saw Shen Nannan, it kicked its legs, trying to hop toward her.

Ah Chao held it down.

"Behave yourself," he whispered.

The rabbit kicked its legs and became obedient.

Shen Nannan looked at him. He was standing at the door, backlit, so she couldn't see his face.

"Come in, what are you doing standing at the door?"

He walked in and stood behind her.

Shen Nannan looked in the bronze mirror, picked up a jade hairpin, and compared it to her hair.

"Is it pretty?"

"nice."

You always say it looks good.

"Ah Chao".

"Um."

Are you going out today?

"No."

"real?"

"real."

She turned around, looked up at him, her eyes bright: "Then you'll stay with me today."

He looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Okay."

Just then, Linglong's voice came from the courtyard gate, urgent and loud: "Miss! Miss! The Third Prince is here! He says he's here to visit! He's already at the gate!"

Shen Nannan paused for a moment, then turned to look at A Chao.

Ah Chao stood there, his smile gradually fading, his eyes slowly sinking into a bottomless pool of black water.

"Third Prince."

He repeated the three words, his voice flat, "You came at just the right time."

He looked down at the rabbit in his arms, and a slight smile curved his lips.

That smile had no warmth, only a sickly tenderness that sent chills down your spine.

"Miss."

He looked up at her.

"This servant will accompany you."

Looking at the dark look in his eyes, Shen Nannan suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

This guy is going crazy again.