Three days later, Zhen Si entered the palace and took up residence in Yongfu Palace. The Emperor summoned Consort Zhen for three consecutive days, showering her with extraordinary favor.

However, life in the temporary palace remained as peaceful as ever. In recent days, Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji spent their time either fishing or playing chess, living quite contentedly. Wei Ji enjoyed playing chess very much. Although he never won, his enthusiasm remained high. When playing chess with others, Chu Shaoling always liked to toy with his opponent, slowly trapping them with a measured pace, like a cat playing with a mouse. But when playing with Wei Ji, Chu Shaoling was very gentle, deliberately varying his strategies each game so that Wei Ji could learn a lot.

That day, the two of them took a nap at noon. After waking up, just as they were playing chess, Wang Muhan hurriedly came over and whispered a few words in Chu Shaoling's ear. Chu Shaoling nodded and sneered, "It's nothing. Take the person to the front of Sea Tranquility Hall. I'll be there in a moment."

Wang Muhan nodded and left.

Wei Ji looked up, wanting to ask but afraid it might be something he shouldn't know about. After hesitating for a moment, he still asked, "Your Highness, what happened?"

Chu Shaoling smiled reassuringly, "A little eunuch got sticky fingers and stole some things. It's no big deal." Chu Shaoling had made up this story to comfort Wei Ji, but unexpectedly, Wei Ji became alert and said solemnly, "Such a person absolutely cannot be kept by your side. Theft is a small matter, but it shows that this person's character is not upright. This is a lapse in their duties. I think he should be dealt with swiftly."

Chu Shaoling couldn't help but chuckle, "You truly are brothers with Wei Zhan, both equally cautious. It was your elder brother who discovered this person."

Being praised by Chu Shaoling made Wei Ji very happy, but he still tried to conceal the joy on his face and said seriously, "This is my duty. There can be no gaps in security by your side."

Chu Shaoling couldn't hold back his laughter and said, "As you wish, I will go deal with him right now." Chu Shaoling stood up and seemed to remember something, smiling, "You don't need to come with me. It's not a big deal. I'm craving peaches again. Go pick a few for me, choose the redder ones."

Wei Ji originally wanted to go together to thoroughly inquire about when the theft occurred, what was stolen, if there were accomplices or channels to send messages outside. But on second thought, he realized that if he could think of these things, Chu Shaoling naturally could too, so there was no need for him to say more. He nodded, "I'll go right away."

Chu Shaoling waited until Wei Ji was far away before turning to go to Sea Tranquility Hall. The gentleness on his face from moments ago vanished instantly as he ordered coldly, "Besides the guards, summon all the palace servants to Sea Tranquility Hall."

The attendants of the temporary palace hurried to comply.

At this time, a eunuch around thirty years old was kneeling at the foot of the steps in front of Sea Tranquility Hall, trembling as he was held by two guards, his face as white as paper from fright.

Chu Shaoling looked down at him from on high and sneered, "Passing letters, are we?"

Wang Muhan quickly brought a letter over. Chu Shaoling opened it and glanced at the densely packed small characters detailing everything Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji had done in recent days, including the time they kissed by the lakeside under the cover of night. The angrier Chu Shaoling felt inside, the calmer his face appeared. He chuckled, "Not bad, you even know how to write."

Only Wei Zhan had seen that letter just now. At this moment, even his face turned a bit pale. That was close. If that letter had been brought back to the palace, then his younger brother...

Wang Muhan approached and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, all the palace servants are here."

Chu Shaoling nodded and said, "The reason I called you here today is for nothing else. I just want to say that in my life, there are two things I detest: spies and loose-lipped people. This slave has committed both of my taboos. It can't be helped, I have to make an example of him. I can't have people saying that I can't even control the servants by my side."

Wei Zhan raised his head to look at Chu Shaoling, awaiting orders. Chu Shaoling said indifferently, "Beat him to death."

That eunuch clearly hadn't expected Chu Shaoling to dispose of him directly without even questioning him. In a moment of desperation, he shouted in a shrill voice, "Your Highness, spare my life! This slave will tell everything!! It was Fo-" The eunuch's heart was filled with terror to the extreme. He struggled involuntarily. The guards holding him, afraid he would run, quickly struck his head with the hilt of a sword. Blood spurted out as the eunuch clutched his head and wailed.

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "Still want to redeem yourself through meritorious service? Too bad that trick won't work with me. Gag him and beat him slowly for me. If he can die within an hour, so be it." Did he think that by revealing the mastermind, he could beg for his life? Dream on. Chu Shaoling wanted everyone to know that as long as they harbored such thoughts, they would die.

Wei Zhan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been afraid that Chu Shaoling would interrogate the eunuch thoroughly, which would truly ruin his younger brother's reputation.

What Wei Zhan could think of, Chu Shaoling had naturally thought of long ago. This eunuch was not one of his own people but had come with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Zhen family wouldn't do this. When he left the palace, the Zhen family was busy scheming to select a concubine for him. If not the Zhen family, who else could it be? Was there even a need to interrogate?

Chu Shaoling ordered all the palace servants to witness the punishment and turned to go find Wei Ji.

Wei Ji was carefully picking peaches for Chu Shaoling in the east of the temporary palace. The commotion from Sea Tranquility Hall couldn't be heard at all. Wei Ji had already picked a basketful. The peach trees were of different varieties. A few trees bore small, fuzzy peaches no larger than an egg, and they were a bit sour and hard to bite into. Wei Ji stared at those peach trees for a long time. Chu Shaoling found it amusing and walked over, asking, "Aren't these enough for you to eat? Why do you keep looking at that?"

Wei Ji was still thinking about the matter of the thieving eunuch and quickly asked for details. Chu Shaoling smiled, "It's nothing. He stole a small incense burner. He has already been beaten a few times. When we return to the palace, we'll throw him into the Cold Palace."

Only then did Wei Ji put his mind at ease. He told Chu Shaoling that he remembered his nanny making pickled peaches for him when he was little. Wei Ji had a big appetite since childhood, and indigestion was common. At that time, Wei Ji's nanny would use these small, fuzzy peaches to make pickled peaches with licorice for him to eat. They tasted sweet and sour and were very delicious. Wei Ji also wanted to let Chu Shaoling try some.

Wei Ji wanted to give Chu Shaoling anything good he had but was afraid Chu Shaoling wouldn't like roughly made things. He hesitated for a long time before mentioning it. Upon hearing this, Chu Shaoling also perked up and smiled, "Alright, do you know how to make them?"

Wei Ji nodded with a smile, "Yes, back then, my nanny would take me with her every day. I watched her make them."

Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji got up and picked a lot of small peaches. The guards and soldiers nearby felt their hearts twitch. The crown prince and Lord Wei had picked so many big peaches, but that still wasn't enough. Now they weren't even letting these peaches, barely bigger than dates, go to waste.

The two of them returned to the bedchamber and personally washed the peaches. Chu Shaoling ordered someone to bring the sugar, salt, licorice and other ingredients that Wei Ji mentioned. Wei Ji took a small knife and removed all the peach pits, leaving only the firm peach flesh. He then took the sugar powder and salt grains, measured them one by one according to the recipe in his memory, mixed them evenly, and added some licorice.

Chu Shaoling brought a small white glazed ceramic jar. He and Wei Ji first laid a layer of the mixed sugar powder and licorice, then a layer of peach flesh, neatly arranged. They continued layering it tightly. Afterwards, Wei Ji covered the small jar and smiled, "It's done, we can eat it in a couple of days."

It was the first time Chu Shaoling had made these things. It was quite novel. He placed the small jar nicely on the Eight Immortals table in the inner chamber of the bedchamber and instructed the palace servants that no one was allowed to touch it. They waited two days before opening it. Taking some to taste, the flavor was indeed not bad. The two of them picked quite a few more of these green little peaches and made more than ten jars of pickled peaches. The dozen or so jars were neatly arranged behind the screen in their inner chamber. If you didn't know, you would think they were some kind of antique or old porcelain.

The two of them spent their time leisurely in the temporary palace, not realizing it was almost the Ghost Festival. According to custom, the palace would hold a sacrifice on this day. As the eldest legitimate son, it was not good for Chu Shaoling not to return. The Empress Dowager had already sent someone to deliver a message that he must return before the Ghost Festival.

Chu Shaoling could see that Wei Ji was still reluctant to return to the palace. His heart softened and he discussed with him, "It's still hot in the palace these days. If you like it here, you can stay and play for a few more days. I'll be busy with the sacrificial affairs when I return and won't be able to take care of you. After I'm done, I'll have your brother come and bring you back to the palace, okay?"

Wei Ji quickly shook his head, "This subordinate will return with Your Highness." Wei Ji indeed liked it here. It was different from the palace. There was only one master, Chu Shaoling, and he could relax and play. The time alone with the two of them made Wei Ji happy. But if he was the only one staying, even with the beautiful scenery in the temporary palace, he wouldn't be in the mood to look at it. Moreover, he considered himself Chu Shaoling's personal guard, the last line of defense and protection for Chu Shaoling in times of danger. How could he leave his lord?

Chu Shaoling felt a warmth in his heart. His phoenix eyes swept slightly and the palace servants standing around withdrew one by one. Chu Shaoling pulled Wei Ji over and rubbed his head, coaxing him with a smile, "In the future, we will come to the temporary palace at least once a year, okay?"

Wei Ji nodded. After thinking for a moment, he said, "We're returning to the palace tomorrow. This subordinate will go pick some peaches today for Your Highness to bring back to the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Since Your Highness came to the temporary palace, it's better to bring some things back."

Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly, "You're the one who thinks of everything. Alright, I'll accompany you to catch shrimp later."

Wei Ji was not very familiar with the ways of the world, but based on his nature, he felt that if he went somewhere, he would definitely bring back any good things for Chu Shaoling and his family. Since he would do so, Chu Shaoling would do the same.

That day, Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji had a good time playing in the temporary palace. Chu Shaoling wrote down all the unsuitable and inconvenient places he discovered in the past few days. In the evening, he summoned the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who had accompanied him and instructed them one by one, "Change the Sea Tranquility Hall to the Hall of Eternal Joy, change the River Clarity Hall to the Hall of Longevity. The plaques on the palace gates should use rosewood, and the gold characters on the plaques should be made of pure gold."

"Your Highness..." The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs broke out in a cold sweat and said, "The Sea Tranquility Hall and River Clarity Hall were names decided when the temporary palace was built. The Emperor also knows about it. If we change it now, is it..."

Chu Shaoling said indifferently, "Just listen to this prince." What Sea Tranquility and River Clarity? Even when building a palace for his mother, he didn't forget to sing praises of his own achievements.

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs acknowledged with trepidation.

"The peach grove on the east side of the temporary palace is not bad, it's just a bit off to the side. Leave that area untouched and find three times as many peach trees from elsewhere to transplant into the temporary palace. Make sure that peach trees can be seen from everywhere in the temporary palace." Chu Shaoling thought for a moment and said, "It's not for admiring peach blossoms, don't plant those that only bloom but don't bear fruit." Chu Shaoling also instructed on some trivial matters, which the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs all wrote down.

Chu Shaoling ordered someone to send over the reward silver and smiled, "Everyone has worked hard these past few days. This is to reward you all. Don't say that following me out has delayed your chance to make money in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs quickly smiled apologetically, "Your Highness is joking. Being able to follow Your Highness out to broaden our horizons is a blessing for us servants in several lifetimes."

Chu Shaoling closed the tea cup and placed it on the small bed table. He chuckled lightly, "It's not only a reward for your diligence. The matters in the temporary palace these past few days, you all must have seen. How will you respond if someone asks about it after returning to the palace?"

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs vaguely knew that Chu Shaoling was referring to the matters between him and Wei Ji in the temporary palace. Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji had been intimate and affectionate these past few days without avoiding anyone. No one was a fool. It was harmless if the palace servants in the temporary palace knew, as they could only stay here all day and whatever they said wouldn't spread to the palace.

But the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who had accompanied them were going to return to the palace. The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs still remembered the incident a few days ago when Chu Shaoling had an eunuch beaten to death in front of the Sea Tranquility Hall. At this moment, hearing these words, he had already broken out in a cold sweat.

Chu Shaoling raised his eyebrows and chuckled lightly, "Knowing such a juicy piece of news, I bet you're all waiting to go back to the palace and gossip."

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness is wise. We servants are just objects serving our masters. How dare objects speak nonsense? We don't dare to bring back and talk about the matters in the temporary palace."

Chu Shaoling laughed, "This prince was just casually joking. Why are you so nervous?"

Before the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs could relax, Chu Shaoling's expression turned serious again. He said, "This prince didn't make trouble for you last time because this prince knew who was actually stirring up trouble. But this matter is only allowed to happen once. This time, apart from this prince's people, it's just you people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who came along. None of the people by this prince's side dare to say too much. If this prince hears anything after returning, these people are all under you. If something happens again, it won't just be beating an eunuch to death. Don't blame this prince for being ruthless then, hmm?"

Chu Shaoling's prestige was quite heavy. The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs kowtowed repeatedly and said timidly, "Your Highness can rest assured, Your Highness can rest assured. Even if you give this servant a thousand courage, he wouldn't dare. This servant truly didn't know about the previous matter. This servant..."

"Enough." Chu Shaoling had also secretly investigated the previous matter and naturally it had nothing to do with him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have tolerated it. He comforted with a smile, "It's good that you remember this prince's words. Go."

Although he received a dismissal from Chu Shaoling, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was still so scared that he couldn't calm his heart. He agreed repeatedly and withdrew.