Chapter 2

I stood up, intending to jump out of the carriage, but Fu Nangui pulled me back.

He caught my wrist. His palm was hot enough to burn.

Then he looked at me with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

“What a coincidence. I happen to know a physician who can cure madness. Rest assured, Lord Pei—you’ll be coming with me.”

How was that any different from telling me to go calmly to my death?

I raised my head and stared at the sky.

My heart had gone numb.

Fu Nangui put me up in a guest room at his manor. He said it would take time for the physician to arrive, so I should recover from my external injuries first.

Did that mean if I found Fu Nangui’s weakness before the physician arrived, I could complete the emperor’s assignment ahead of schedule and leave the manor?

No sooner had the thought occurred than I acted on it.

I toured Fu Nangui’s entire estate with a measuring tape.

Damn it! Not a single illegal addition!

I searched the manor from front to back.

Damn it! He didn’t even have a concubine!

I even spent my own money on pastries to chat with the servants and ask about Fu Nangui’s usual conduct.

When I saw them hesitating, I knew I was on the right track!

I hurriedly urged them, “If you’ve been wronged, just tell me. I’ll see that justice is done!”

The page looked miserable.

“The prince keeps giving me leave. I have so much free time that I’ve been putting on weight.”

A maid sighed.

“The prince gives us too many things. There’s no room left in my family’s house.”

…

I’d been an official for three years, and I was still renting my home in the capital.

When I didn’t say anything, the page asked, “Is there anything else you’d like to ask, Lord Pei?”

“There is.” I beckoned him over. “Is the manor still hiring maids? I have a younger sister who needs a job.”

The page: “…”

I had no idea that night, while I was racking my brains over how to catch Fu Nangui in some wrongdoing, the page had slipped into his study to report on me.

“Lord Pei first went around admiring the estate, then searched everywhere for concubines. After that, he asked us what kind of person you are. It was all very strange.”

Fu Nangui asked with interest, “What was strange about it?”

The page’s eyes lit up with sudden insight.

“He was exactly like my younger sister when she went to meet a man for a marriage match!”

Fu Nangui’s hand paused as he turned a page.

By candlelight, the tips of his ears turned faintly red.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

4

I spent several days idling at the manor. Not only did I fail to die, I actually gained a little weight.

Maybe I should just lie down and let the world do what it wanted with me.

The thought had barely crossed my mind when the emperor secretly sent me a letter.

【How’s the matter going?】

I wanted to do my job too, but over the past few days I’d combed through the entire estate, inside and out. I’d even shamelessly followed Fu Nangui to dinners and drinks. Everyone he met and everything he said were utterly ordinary!

But when someone was too perfect, that itself was suspicious.

Wait. There was one place I hadn’t searched yet.

Fu Nangui’s study.

My instincts told me there had to be something hidden inside.

The next day, Fu Nangui was going to the military training grounds outside the city. I’d heard the place was full of handsome young men with eight-pack abs, so I regretfully declined to join him. I pretended to have a headache and said my madness was acting up again.

After dark, I sneaked into Fu Nangui’s room.

It didn’t look like the home of someone with power and status at all.

The furnishings were so plain they were almost shabby.

Gold and jewels? None.

Fine porcelain or jade? Not a piece.

My eyes landed on the bed.

Maybe something was hidden beneath the bedboards.

Excited, I climbed onto the bed, threw back the blankets, and felt around the boards.

Just as I was getting into my search, the door was flung open. I jumped, hurriedly wrapped the blanket around myself, and sat on the bed staring wide-eyed at Fu Nangui in the doorway.

His eyes narrowed slightly. His voice was dangerous.

“Lord Pei… what are you doing on my bed?”

What do I do? What do I do?

What should I say?

As Fu Nangui took one step toward me, my mind went blank. I threw off the blanket and spread my arms, looking terribly forlorn.

“Mother, I’m scared to sleep alone. Hug me.”

Silence fell over the room.

I was so embarrassed I wanted to scratch my head. I was about to force my way back to normal when Fu Nangui froze.

All I saw was the wide hem of his robe sweep past. The world spun, and I found myself pressed down onto the bed.

Fu Nangui leaned over me.

I was stunned.

He was so close that he whispered softly, “Don’t be afraid… I’m here.”

Was he really soothing me like a child?

I didn’t dare move. Fu Nangui lay down beside me and drew me into his arms, gently patting my back as if he were putting a little one to sleep.

The usually untouchable Regent had never shown this side of himself in front of outsiders.

I looked at his exquisitely handsome profile. He was so dangerously good-looking that I reached out and put my arms around his waist.

“Mother, don’t you take your clothes off to sleep?”

Fu Nangui: “…”

He turned to look at me, his gaze full of meaning.

I swallowed, immediately lay flat, and shut my eyes as if asleep. I’d planned to wait until he dozed off and then sneak away, but before I knew it, I’d fallen asleep for real.

The next morning, my bedding had been moved into Fu Nangui’s room.

Me: “…”

The page said, “Lord Pei’s madness has gotten worse. He was sleepwalking last night, too. The prince is worried it’s dangerous for you to stay alone, so he’s decided you’ll share his room.”

That struck me like a bolt of lightning.

I was done for…

Forget about framing him—my identity as a woman could easily be exposed now!

I had to make Fu Nangui abandon the idea!

I looked at the servants bustling around the room. Suddenly, my eyes lit up, and I began admiring Fu Nangui’s chambers with great enthusiasm.

“Wonderful, wonderful! The prince’s room smells so nice. It’s beautiful.”

I lifted my hands delicately, touching this and that. Finally, I sat on the bed, hugged the blankets, and took a deep sniff.

“Just thinking I’ll get to stay here from now on makes me…”

I blushed, suddenly shy and full of anticipation.

“…so embarrassed.”

The servants stared at me, dumbfounded.

I noticed the page close to Fu Nangui sprint away to report what had happened and let out a sigh of relief.

Young man, whether you can gross the prince out depends on you now.