Chu Shaoling left the theater and walked east. Wang Muhan followed him out. Chu Shaoling turned his head to Wang Muhan and said, "Don't follow me anymore. The temporary palace here is damp. You go back to Peach Blossom Courtyard first and have someone fumigate the bedding in the inner room, so it won't be troublesome when we return at night."

Wang Muhan quickly nodded and left. Li Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and followed Chu Shaoling towards Linxi Building.

Chu Shaoling said slowly, "Have you been serving here all along or were you transferred from the palace?"

Li Qiao diligently held back a few peach blossom branches for Chu Shaoling and smiled, "This servant originally served in the palace. Because I was young and imprudent back then, I broke a Ru kiln flower vase belonging to Consort Shu, oh no, it should be Noble Consort Shu now. Noble Consort Shu rewarded this servant with twenty paddle strikes. Afterwards, the steward eunuch assigned this servant here."

Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly, "Oh, so do you hold a grudge against Noble Consort Shu in your heart?"

"How could I?" Li Qiao quickly clarified, "Not being able to serve Noble Consort Shu is this servant's lack of fortune. Besides, haha, although the monthly stipend here in the temporary palace is not as much as in the main palace, it's also more relaxing."

Chu Shaoling smiled without saying anything. As Chu Shaoling walked, he silently kept track of the time in his heart. Wang Muhan knew he had gone to look for Wei Ji, but a quarter of an hour had passed and Wang Muhan had not come back to find him, which meant Wei Ji was indeed not in Peach Blossom Courtyard at the moment.

Chu Shaoling's phoenix eyes swept over Li Qiao as his heart surged with undercurrents. It's good that not a single hair on Wei Ji had been harmed, otherwise he would have to punish those behind this with a thousand cuts.

The two turned past the Moon Gate, and were faced with another expanse of lush peach blossoms. Li Qiao smiled, "Your Highness, look, Linxi Building is just ahead." As he spoke, he inconspicuously shook his sleeve, and a few specks of white powder quietly scattered, releasing a strange fragrance.

Li Qiao smiled to cover it up, "The peach blossoms here are all in bloom. The fragrance is really nice."

Chu Shaoling's steps became even more steady. He could see through what Li Qiao was up to.

Chu Shaoling could still smell the fragrance emanating from Li Qiao's sleeves even if others couldn't recognize it. It was the best aphrodisiac used in brothels. Chu Shaoling sneered inwardly. In this life, he kept himself pure and didn't indulge in these things. Did those people really think he couldn't tell? They were truly underestimating him. In his previous life, Chu Shaoling had also kept young male entertainers and played with actors, so he was much more knowledgeable about these things than others.

Li Qiao must have received instructions from Chu Shaoruan to lure him to Linxi Building. Most likely, Wei Ji had also been tricked into going there. When the time came, if the trap was sprung, Li Qiao, this useless person, would certainly be unscathed, but he and Wei Ji wouldn't be able to withstand it. When he and Wei Ji were in the throes of passion, they would lead the Emperor or the Empress Dowager and others to catch them. Then his reputation would be ruined. Afterwards, his name would be completely disgraced. For the sake of the imperial family's reputation, Wei Ji would also inevitably be executed. Chu Shaoling sneered inwardly at this vicious scheme.

However, from this, he could at least deduce that Wei Ji was still safe for now. Chu Shaoling felt greatly relieved. He walked against the wind to avoid that sickly sweet fragrance and followed Li Qiao into Linxi Building.

There was not a single palace servant inside or outside Linxi Building. Seeing that Wei Ji had not arrived yet, Chu Shaoling felt even more at ease and said indifferently, "Where is everyone?"

Li Qiao smiled, "Perhaps they have already been dismissed by Lord Wei. But it's strange, where is Lord Wei?"

Chu Shaoling let out a cold laugh and said, "You'd better pray that Wei Ji won't come, otherwise you will only die miserably."

Hearing this, Li Qiao was stunned for a moment. He suddenly turned his head to look at Chu Shaoling as cold sweat poured down.

Wei Ji instructed the palace servant to wait in the outer room while he went behind the screen to the inner room to change his clothes. After coming out, he followed the eunuch to Linxi Building.

Wei Ji silently watched the palace servant walking in front of him without saying a word. Wei Ji could already be certain that this person was definitely not sent by Chu Shaoling. Even when Wei Ji returned to the Wei Manor during his time off, Chu Shaoling would have his trusted attendants personally escort him back and then pick him up again.

Chu Shaoling was so cautious even when Wei Ji went back to his own home, so how could he be so casual now in this unfamiliar temporary palace? Wei Ji didn't believe it.

Wei Ji tried to calm himself down. There were only two possibilities for this palace servant to ask him to go to Linxi Building - to kill him or to frame him. These people must have already found out about his relationship with Chu Shaoling, which was why they were so certain that he would go alone.

Wei Ji looked at the palace servant in front of him. He didn't think that he, a mere little guard, was worth someone going to great lengths to deal with. If they weren't targeting him, then they were targeting Chu Shaoling.

Wei Ji couldn't help but feel a surge of murderous intent in his heart. These people dared to make a move against Chu Shaoling! If he couldn't be sure of Chu Shaoling's safety, Wei Ji would have already taken action. He could only go along with this palace servant for now. Countless thoughts flashed through Wei Ji's mind. The most pressing matter at the moment was to extricate Chu Shaoling from this. His own safety was not a concern, but Chu Shaoling must not be harmed under any circumstances.

Wei Ji made up his mind and still remained silent. When they arrived at Linxi Building, the two of them turned past a rockery. The surroundings of the rockery were filled with falling petals, and the peach blossom branches intertwined to form a cover. Now was the time!

In an instant, Wei Ji pounced on the palace servant from behind, grabbing his left hand and twisting it behind his back. His right arm swiftly locked around the palace servant's neck, choking his throat. With a quick step back, Wei Ji dragged the palace servant into a stone cave in the rockery!

Wei Ji's actions happened in just a moment. The palace servant had no time to cry out before being subdued by Wei Ji. Wei Ji pressed him against the stone wall and threatened in a low voice, "If you dare make a sound, I'll kill you right now!"

The palace servant was so scared he almost wet his pants. He never imagined that this silent little guard would be so ruthless when he made his move. He quickly nodded and kept his mouth tightly shut to indicate that he wouldn't speak. Wei Ji loosened the arm around his neck and asked in a low voice, "Where is His Highness? Who sent you to find me?"

The palace servant hesitated for a moment. Wei Ji was anxious about Chu Shaoling's safety and had no time to wait. With a twist of his left hand, he dislocated one of the palace servant's arms and covered his mouth to prevent him from crying out. The palace servant broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. Wei Ji released his mouth and said coldly, "If you don't talk, I'll continue. Think about how many bones in your body can be taken apart."

The palace servant spoke intermittently from the pain, "This servant doesn't know where the eldest prince is. It was Eunuch Li, Eunuch Li Qiao. He told this servant to find you, Lord Wei, saying that once you were tricked to Linxi Building, this servant's job would be done. Lord Wei, please spare my life! This servant really doesn't know anything else! Lord Wei, please spare my life!"

Wei Ji didn't believe him at all. With a bit of force, he dislocated the eunuch's right arm as well. The eunuch's body convulsed and twitched for a while, unable to say anything else. Wei Ji knew that he really didn't know anything else. If someone had meticulously planned this, they wouldn't let the underlings know the truth.

Wei Ji grew more anxious. He quickly popped the eunuch's arms back into place and said in a low voice, "Don't speak. Come with me to Linxi Building. If you dare move, I'll snap your neck immediately. Go!"

After a moment, the eunuch crawled up as if he had collapsed. He was truly afraid of Wei Ji now. He struggled out of the cave and headed towards Linxi Building.

The two had been delayed for a while. By the time they rushed to Linxi Building, they saw that the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and their entourage had already arrived in a grand procession. Wei Ji was anxious. These people must have set some trap in Linxi Building to frame Chu Shaoling! Wei Ji had an idea. He took out a small bow that he had hidden when he changed clothes earlier, pulled out a bronze arrow from his sleeve, nocked it on the bow, and pointed it at a lantern about a dozen zhang to the west, saying in a low voice, "Look there!"

The eunuch looked over in confusion. There was a whoosh of wind, and the red lantern swayed slightly. The flame was instantly extinguished. The eunuch broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, "You want to assassinate someone?"

Wei Ji said in a low voice, "No, this is to let you see clearly. You go into the tower for me. Avoid the main entrance and go in through the side door. As soon as you enter, keep saying 'Where is the Second Prince? Has the Second Prince arrived yet?' Just say these two sentences, that's all. I'll be watching. If you dare to make any false moves or say anything else, you just saw how accurate my aim is with the arrow. I'll take you out with one shot! Do you understand?!"

The eunuch had long been scared out of his wits by Wei Ji. Upon hearing this, he could only nod. Wei Ji let go of him, and he himself leaped onto a rockery to hide.

Wei Ji had planned it out. Now that the Empress Dowager and Emperor had arrived, it confirmed his previous speculation. It was too late to go find Chu Shaoling and have him leave now. Wei Ji was determined to extricate Chu Shaoling. He had no choice but to drag someone else into it. After Li Qiao went in and made a fuss, he would rush in himself and insist that it was Chu Shaoruan who told him to come. If anything happened then, it would only be a matter between Chu Shaoruan and himself, and have nothing to do with Chu Shaoling.

Inside Linxi Building, Li Qiao was sweating profusely. He forced a laugh and said, "What is Your Highness talking about? Haha."

Chu Shaoling took out the letter in his hand and sneered, "You've made quite comprehensive arrangements. This does look very much like his handwriting. But Wei Ji never refers to himself as 'I' in front of me, and he knows his place. Inviting me to enjoy the scenery upstairs? Do you think Wei Ji is as frivolous as your madam?!"

Chu Shaoruan and Consort Li saw from Chu Shaoling's reaction that he only regarded Wei Ji as a pet, but while others might not know, Chu Shaoling knew that Wei Ji's etiquette was probably better than the palace's protocol instructors. How could he possibly do something like this?!

Chu Shaoling kicked Li Qiao, causing him to stagger. He said coldly, "Where is Wei Ji now?"

Li Qiao still pretended not to know, pleading, "Your Highness, this servant doesn't know what Your Highness is talking about. Your Highness, spare me. Your Highness, spare me."

Chu Shaoling sneered, "You're quite clever, knowing that the more you say, the more mistakes you'll make. But I already know your intentions. After I deal with you, I'll go find Wei Ji myself, lest he falls into your vicious plot."

There was a commotion outside. The Empress Dowager, Emperor, and the others were about to arrive. Chu Shaoling chuckled, "Sure enough, it's like this! Your mouth is too clever. I can't let you live." He made a move.

Two shadow guards heard the order, leaped in through the window. Chu Shaoling closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, the shadow guards had already retreated outside the room. Li Qiao's hideous corpse lay on the ground, with a piece of broken porcelain left by the shadow guards next to the body. Chu Shaoling slightly disheveled his clothes. When the others entered, he would just say that Li Qiao had lured him here in an attempt to assassinate him, and that he had killed him in self-defense.

Chu Shaoling picked up the broken porcelain and stood up. The Empress Dowager and Emperor entered the main hall and were indeed shocked. Just as they were about to question him, a panicked eunuch rushed in, asking in trepidation, "Where is the Second Prince? Has the Second Prince arrived yet? Where is the Second Prince? Second Prince..."

Chu Shaoling was stunned for a moment. How did this person show up?

When Chu Shaoruan entered and saw only Chu Shaoling, his heart sank. Now seeing this eunuch constantly asking for him, he panicked and said in a trembling voice, "Why are you calling for me?!"

Wei Ji watched for the right moment outside and also entered. Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Ji. In the meeting of their eyes, Chu Shaoling's heart stirred. He instantly understood Wei Ji's intention.

They were both trying to protect each other. Their schemes were vastly different, but it was as if their hearts were in sync. Together, it formed a myriad of strategies that could push Chu Shaoruan into hell!

Chu Shaoling changed his mind. Before Wei Ji could speak, he angrily said to Chu Shaoruan, "Could it be that Second Brother lured me here?!"

Chu Shaoling turned to look at Wei Ji. Wei Ji understood and no longer mentioned that Chu Shaoruan had told him to come. He subdued the eunuch who kept muttering "Second Prince" and pressed him to the ground, covering his mouth with his hand.

The Empress Dowager was so frightened by the blood stains on the ground that she almost fainted. She hurriedly called Chu Shaoling to her side and felt over him from head to toe, asking anxiously, "What happened? Why did you come here first?"

Chu Shaoling's phoenix eyes were filled with fury as he stared straight at Chu Shaoruan, "As for why your grandson came here, you'll have to ask Second Brother! That slave Li Qiao just said that the Empress Dowager would be gracing Linxi Building in a while. He urged your grandson to come first to oversee the arrangements so that it would be convenient for the Empress Dowager later. Who knew that when your grandson entered Linxi Building, there wasn't a single palace servant to be seen. That Li Qiao raised a packet of some unknown powder that was pungent. In my daze, that bastard actually came to tear at my clothes! Fortunately, I dodged quickly and used a piece of porcelain to kill him first. Second Brother! You didn't know?!"

Now the situation was vastly different from what Chu Shaoruan had planned. Chu Shaoruan's heart was filled with misgivings, but he pretended not to know and said anxiously, "Big Brother, what are you saying? I also just arrived with Imperial Grandmother and Imperial Father. How would I know?"

The Empress Dowager said angrily, "Then why did this eunuch ask for you as soon as he came in?!" Seeing that Chu Shaoling was unharmed, the Empress Dowager gradually calmed down, but her heart was filled with doubts. She said coldly, "Bring that powder over."

The Emperor didn't want to lose face in front of everyone and persuaded, "Imperial Mother, don't be angry. Let's return to the main hall to rest first. Leave this place to your son..."

"No need." The Empress Dowager interrupted the Emperor's words. "This concerns the two princes. I want to see clearly for myself. Granny Sun!"

Granny Sun understood and walked over to Li Qiao's corpse, rummaging through it and taking some medicinal powder. After sniffing it slightly, her face changed greatly. She hurriedly walked over to the Empress Dowager and whispered a few words, then turned to the Emperor and explained in a low voice. The Empress Dowager and Emperor's faces suddenly darkened. Looking closely at Chu Shaoling's complexion, there was indeed a slight flush of red!

The Empress Dowager was so angry that she couldn't speak for a while. She smiled coldly, "Well, well, in all my years, this year has really been an eye-opener! Ruan'er, otherwise why were you in such a hurry to have me and your Imperial Father come here? You have limited filial piety towards me usually, but this time you're so attentive, it's really too much for you! Arranging this good play to frame your elder brother!!"

The Emperor originally wanted to defend Chu Shaoruan, but thinking about the events before and after, he also understood. Chu Shaoruan must have schemed to lure Chu Shaoling here, letting that waste Li Qiao use aphrodisiac to bewitch Chu Shaoling, then having Chu Shaoling act out all sorts of unseemly situations, waiting for him and the Empress Dowager to come here and catch them in order to ruin Chu Shaoling's reputation.

Although the Emperor disliked Chu Shaoling, he valued his face his whole life. Seeing Chu Shaoruan do such a despicable thing, anger also rose in his heart. He angrily rebuked, "Vulgar thing! Still not kneeling down!"

There were too many sudden changes. Chu Shaoruan was dazed for a moment and knelt down crying, "This son didn't know, this son just wanted to let Imperial Grandmother come listen to the opera, really didn't know."

Consort Li hadn't come to her senses at all. The originally perfectly planned matter suddenly changed so much. Seeing the Empress Dowager and Emperor's suspicion fall on Chu Shaoruan, she hurriedly also knelt down and anxiously argued, "Your Majesty! The Crown Prince brought that vulgar drug here himself, wanting to do unseemly things, what does it have to do with Ruan'er?!"

Hearing this, Chu Shaoruan was desperate in his heart, just wanting to cover Consort Li's mouth! Granny Sun only told the Empress Dowager and Emperor that the drug was an aphrodisiac, Consort Li clearly should know nothing, but now she spoke of it herself first, wasn't this seeking death!

The Empress Dowager immediately swung the phoenix head cane in her hand at Consort Li, angrily saying, "Despicable thing! You still dare to say you don't know?!"

Only then did Consort Li react, regretting endlessly, wishing she could swallow back the words she spoke. In fright, she could only cry, "This concubine doesn't know, this concubine doesn't know."

This farce nearly made the Emperor explode with anger. The Emperor looked at Chu Shaoruan. Large beads of cold sweat continuously fell from Chu Shaoruan's face, his mouth unable to explain clearly. Chu Shaoruan's heart was already in complete chaos. How to absolve himself of the crime? Speak the truth? That was also a capital offense! What to do? Chu Shaoruan didn't have Chu Shaoling's wit to determine a plan in the blink of an eye. In the rush, he looked at Wei Ji and the eunuch Wei Ji was pressing down on, urgently saying, "He, they are talking nonsense, they..."

Wei Ji raised his eyes to look at Chu Shaoling. Their gazes met and in an instant, Wei Ji understood Chu Shaoling's meaning. While pressing down on that eunuch, when people weren't paying attention, his right middle finger suddenly jabbed into the eunuch's Jianjing acupoint.

That eunuch cried out loudly in great pain as if a pig being slaughtered, his whole body convulsing and twitching. Wei Ji pretended he couldn't hold him down. Loosening his hand, that eunuch lunged towards the Emperor. Chu Shaoling cried out in alarm, "Protect His Majesty!"

The imperial guards beside the Emperor were well-trained. Seeing this, they hurriedly blocked in front of the Emperor. Drawing their swords, they ended that eunuch with a few slashes!

Chu Shaoruan was stunned on the spot. Chu Shaoling inwardly chuckled. Good, now the witness is dead.

The Empress Dowager looked at Chu Shaoruan and Consort Li coldly, "Scheming to frame Ling'er is not enough, you even want to assassinate the Emperor?!"

The Emperor was finally enraged by this unexpected situation. He angrily said, "Take this wicked son and Consort Li and put them under house arrest for me!"

Chu Shaoruan and Consort Li pleaded endlessly. Before long, they were dragged away by the palace servants. The Emperor said to the Empress Dowager in a low voice, "Imperial Mother, you were frightened today. This son will support Imperial Mother back to your bedchamber to rest."

The Empress Dowager still had an ashen face. She coldly said, "I'm fine. The Emperor should first summon the imperial physician to examine Ling'er. Who knows what will happen after taking that, that thing? What if it's poisonous?"

The Emperor was a bit embarrassed. He nodded, "Summon the imperial physician."

The Empress Dowager took Chu Shaoling back to her own palace. After waiting for the imperial physician to come and determine Chu Shaoling was fine, she had Granny Sun send Chu Shaoling back properly. She herself kept the Emperor in her palace to talk.

After returning to the Peach Blossom Courtyard, the two first bathed. Then getting on the couch, they each recounted today's events before both understanding. Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Ji, his heart both warm and fearful. He rebuked, "How many times has it been said, when encountering matters, protect yourself first! Where did you get the guts to act on your own?!"

Wei Ji knelt on the couch wearing only a single layer, lowering his eyes, "This servant is guilty. This servant, this servant was worried about Your Highness."

One sentence made Chu Shaoling's heart soften. Chu Shaoling embraced Wei Ji, letting him lie down, gently coaxing, "I know you were worried about me, but next time you're not allowed to do this again. Do you know when I saw you rush in at Linxi Building today, my heart nearly leapt out of my throat? Deliberately wanting to scare me to death?"

Wei Ji bit his lower lip, softly saying, "This servant was afraid something would happen to Your Highness."

Chu Shaoling's heart warmed. He sighed, "It's also thanks to you today. Otherwise, Chu Shaoruan's crimes couldn't be set in stone. You helped me greatly."

Wei Ji had been on guard the whole night. Only now hearing Chu Shaoling's gentle voice did he slowly relax. After all, he wasn't used to experiencing these things. Now looking at Chu Shaoling, Wei Ji was like a little dog that finally found its home. Wei Ji nestled closer to Chu Shaoling, slowly burying his face in Chu Shaoling's warm, dry lapels.

"Did I scare you?" Wei Ji's wholehearted reliance pleased Chu Shaoling. Chu Shaoling held Wei Ji in his arms, rubbing his head, "You also know there are always shadow guards by my side, what are you still afraid of?"

Wei Ji shook his head, clutching Chu Shaoling's clothes without answering. Chu Shaoling smiled and lowered his head to kiss the top of Wei Ji's head, his doting feelings fully apparent. He softly said, "You finally know how to be afraid now, next time listen obediently. Sleep."

Wei Ji nestled even closer to Chu Shaoling, slightly curling up as he fell asleep.