Wang Muhan moved very quickly. By the time Chu Shaoling and Wei Ji woke up at noon, Shuncai had already been brought over.

Wang Muhan didn't know what the situation was inside the pavilion and didn't dare to enter rashly. He just bowed his head behind the screen and said, "Your Highness, this servant has brought Shuncai."

The two had just finished dressing. Chu Shaoling tied up his own hair and said, "Bring him in, I'll take a look too."

Wang Muhan hurriedly had Shuncai follow him into the inner pavilion. Shuncai had not seen Chu Shaoling since entering the prince's manor and was very afraid after just committing a big mistake. His hands kept trembling. After kowtowing, he didn't move.

Chu Shaoling glanced at him and said, "Raise your head, let me see."

Shuncai slightly raised his head, then lowered it again. Shuncai was young, his face still had a childish look, but it could be seen that his appearance was not outstanding. His eyes were round, nose and mouth small, and a pair of especially funny protruding ears, just like a monkey. Chu Shaoling nodded with satisfaction and said, "About that jade vase matter, this prince already knows."

Shuncai was so scared he kept kowtowing, "That has nothing to do with Lord Wei, it's all this servant's fault, all this servant's fault, Your Highness please spare my life!"

Chu Shaoling said, "Of course it has nothing to do with Wei Ji. You committed such a big mistake, originally you should be beaten to death to settle the matter. It's just that Wei Ji is kindhearted and insisted on keeping you. Forget it, you can be considered to have a predestined connection. From now on, you will serve only Wei Ji. Take care of his study, listen to his orders for other matters. Wei Ji saved your little life, how you should serve in the future, this prince doesn't need to tell you, right?"

Shuncai never imagined he could have such good luck. Not only did he not get punished for the jade vase incident, he could even serve by Wei Ji's side. Everyone in the prince's manor knew that there were many servants but little work by Wei Ji's side, and they could often receive rewards.

Shuncai was stunned for a moment. Wang Muhan coughed and Shuncai came back to his senses. He hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly, his mouth only knowing to say over and over "Thank you Your Highness, thank you Lord Wei". Chu Shaoling saw that he was not good with words and was satisfied in his heart. He waved his hand to dismiss him.

Chu Shaoling raised his hand and stroked Wei Ji's cheek, smiling, "Satisfied?"

Wei Ji smiled and asked, "Does Your Highness have any matters this afternoon?"

"Marquis Zijun is coming at the hour of shen to discuss some matters of the Ministry of Revenue." Chu Shaoling took the tea Wei Ji handed over and took a sip, saying, "What is it? You have something?"

Wei Ji hesitated for a long time, not knowing how to say it. He paused and said, "This official wants Your Highness to pay more attention to the Third Prince."

"The Third Prince?" Chu Shaoling put down the teacup, "What's with him?"

Wei Ji said in a low voice, "Recently, the Third Prince has been going to Mulan Hunting Grounds to hunt. Your Highness should know, right?"

Chu Shaoling nodded, "He has always loved these things. His horsemanship and archery are not bad. He has always liked to go play at Mulan Hunting Grounds."

Wei Ji lowered his eyes and said, "But now it is springtime, not a good time for hunting. This official has heard that the Third Prince is also a person of principles. Your Highness may not know, martial artists have many taboos. Spring is the time when all things multiply. Hunting at this time will inevitably harm the yin and fierceness. Moreover, this official paid attention and recorded the dates when the Third Prince went hunting. After returning to the manor and comparing them one by one with the almanac, it was discovered that these dates are not all suitable for going out and hunting. Some are even greatly taboo.

"This official privately thinks the Third Prince would not be so careless. Even if the Third Prince was momentarily negligent, the people below should advise him. It seems that when Your Highness drinks a mouthful of cold wine, there are so many eunuchs and old ladies advising you. The Third Prince should also have many loyal servants by his side. These old servants would not just ignore it."

Chu Shaoling heard some meaning in it and slowly said, "The Third Prince has always been fixated on martial arts and likes these things. He even bought a manor and land by Mulan Hunting Grounds. I just thought he was neglecting his proper duties, but didn't expect there to be something else."

Wei Ji also didn't dare to be certain. Recently, Chu Shaomo kept going to the army to request horses, saddles, bows, arrows and arrowheads, all wanting good quality ones, only saying that many were damaged during hunting and there weren't enough. Although Chu Shaomo was not favored, he was still a prince. The generals and soldiers didn't dare to neglect him and could only give them to him.

Wei Ji paid attention. He had been to the hunting grounds before. Mulan Hunting Grounds was specially provided for the princes to go on outings. For fear of injuring the princes, the animals raised inside were mostly tame. There were few foxes, at most just deer. Hunting these things would hardly hurt the horses. And even if things were lacking, they could directly go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and have people procure them. Why did he need to keep coming to the army to request them?

The generals and soldiers had no choice but to give when Chu Shaomo came to request. They just counted it as damage from daily drills. It was wrong for Chu Shaomo to come to the army to request these things in the first place, but the generals and soldiers giving them was violating military regulations. Naturally, they didn't dare to spread it outside. Thinking this way, the things Chu Shaomo requested definitely could not be spread to the imperial city. Wei Ji became more and more suspicious. After thinking about it, he still told Chu Shaoling.

Chu Shaoling thought for a bit and chuckled, "Usually, I underestimated Chu Shaomo. He actually dares to privately stockpile troops and horses, and right by the imperial city. Does he not want his life?"

Wei Ji was also worried about this in his heart. He bowed his head and said, "If this is true, the consequences would be unimaginable if they charge into the city one day. It's just that there is no evidence. This official is thinking, next time when the Third Prince comes to request things, I can pretend to be a servant and follow to take a look, to see the situation there."

"No." Chu Shaoling interrupted without thinking, "I will arrange for someone else to go take a look at this matter. You don't need to get involved."

Chu Shaoling walked over and hugged Wei Ji's waist. He lowered his head and kissed the top of Wei Ji's head, smiling, "You really are my lucky star. You noticed even such minor details. Whether it's true or not, I have to record a big merit for you."

Wei Ji smiled and bowed his head, saying, "This official doesn't dare. In the end, I don't dare to be certain. I just wanted to give Your Highness a heads up first."

It was announced that Marquis Zijun had arrived. Chu Shaoling rubbed Wei Ji's head, "Play by yourself for a bit. I'm going to talk with Marquis Zijun. Tell Wang Muhan what you want to eat at night and have the kitchen staff prepare it first."

Wei Ji's heart felt warm. He nodded and left.

After seeing Marquis Zijun, Chu Shaoling first told him about the matter Wei Ji brought up. He said coldly, "Now Chu Shaoan is under house arrest in the temporary palace, allowing Chu Shaomo to be complacent. Recently, some people have been currying favor in front of Chu Shaomo. I saw that it wouldn't amount to anything, so I didn't pay much attention. I didn't expect his ambition to be so big."

Marquis Zijun had been frowning this whole time. After a while, he said, "It is this old official's negligence. This old official will go back and inform Duke Jing'guo. He still has a say in military matters. It shouldn't be hard to investigate. It's just that if this matter is true, how does Your Highness plan to handle it? Will you report it to the Emperor?"

Chu Shaoling shook his head: "No need. If we catch him now, at most we can charge him with the crime of privately amassing troops, which is just a slap on the wrist. Besides, the third prince will never amount to much anyway. It's better to keep this leverage for potential greater use in the future."

Marquis Zijun nodded: "We still don't know exactly how many troops he has gathered. Let's wait and see. This Lord Wei by Your Highness's side will certainly come in handy."

Chu Shaoling's heart stirred and he chuckled lightly: "Of course. Speaking of which, I haven't asked you yet, Grandfather. Has Ling Yun's health improved recently? Did she take the tonics I sent?"

Marquis Zijun sighed: "Your Highness is so thoughtful. Ling Yun's health, alas, has gotten a bit better as the weather warms up."

The physician currently attending to Ling Yun was the same Imperial Physician Zhang who previously served Empress Dowager Ling, sent by Chu Shaoling. In fact, Chu Shaoling was clearer than anyone about Ling Yun's condition. He offered a few comforting words: "Ling Yun is still young. After a few years of good care, she will recover. Grandfather need not worry."

Marquis Zijun knew his own granddaughter's health condition. Weak in the womb, she had grown up sickly. Now it was just a matter of taking things day by day. Marquis Zijun sighed: "Many thanks for Your Highness's concern."

The two spoke for another half day about matters of the Ministry of Revenue. Chu Shaoling wanted him to stay for a meal, but Marquis Zijun declined, saying he still had matters to attend to at home, and left.

Duke Jing'guo acted very quickly. The day after receiving the letter, he had already thoroughly investigated the situation at the wooden fenced grounds. Chu Shaomo had already garrisoned over a thousand soldiers at the manor there. During the day, they pretended to be tenants of the estate. At night, they drilled and trained. Chu Shaomo would also pick some outstanding ones to accompany him to the grounds to practice riding and archery. The investigators even discovered a small armory in the manor, small but fully equipped.

Chu Shaoling looked at the map sent by Duke Jing'guo and pointed it out to Wei Ji: "Here, and here, these seven places each have sentries. As long as someone approaches, the soldiers inside the manor will disguise themselves as farmers and scatter to escape. Heh, he really racked his brains for this."

After a moment of silence, Wei Ji said: "This is not difficult. There is a grove of trees to the west of this manor. Find a few men beforehand to douse the trees with oil. Choose a day with an easterly wind to make our move. At that time, we only need to guard the east side of the manor. Those men will certainly flee westward. Then, from a high point, fire a few rockets into the western woods to start a big fire. The fire, aided by the east wind, will drive the men eastward."

Wei Ji pointed to a spot and continued: "By then, we can either capture them alive or annihilate them."

Listening to Wei Ji's tactics while looking at the map, Chu Shaoling felt enlightened and looked at Wei Ji with a smile: "With a general like this, what more could one ask for?"

Wei Ji's face reddened slightly. He lowered his head and said softly: "Your Highness, I... I'm talking about serious matters."

Seeing Wei Ji's attempt to act mature, Chu Shaoling found it amusing. He pulled him into his arms, lowered his head to look at Wei Ji's face, and teased: "I'm also talking about serious matters. Your plan is very good. It's just that we don't need to move against him for now. I don't know what the third prince is really thinking. In any case, we don't need to act."

Chu Shaoling couldn't very well say the rest to Wei Ji. If Chu Shaomo dared to move against him, Chu Shaoling naturally wouldn't tolerate it. But what if Chu Shaomo was amassing these troops to force the palace and assassinate the emperor?

If not to force the palace, Chu Shaoling really couldn't think of any use for Chu Shaomo to keep these hundreds of soldiers on the outskirts of the imperial city. Just for self-protection? Ridiculous.

Chu Shaoan's downfall had given Chu Shaomo ideas he shouldn't have. Although it was very presumptuous, it didn't stop him from paving the way for himself.

Chu Shaoling affectionately stroked Wei Ji's hair, letting him nestle in the soft crook of his neck. Chu Shaoling didn't want him to see the sinister, vicious smile on his face at this moment.

If Chu Shaomo was hiding troops for the latter purpose, then Chu Shaoling couldn't bear to ruin Chu Shaomo's plans. Chu Shaoling gently caressed Wei Ji's back as he looked out the window with a cold smile. If Chu Shaomo wanted to kill the emperor, what did that have to do with him?

Let's see if Chu Shaomo has that much ability.