As a Spirit Master Realm martial artist and commander of the household guard, Su Wanqing held a high station in Jingyuan Residence. She was in charge of every guard on the grounds. Even so, the soldiers at the courtyard gate felt her presence was somewhat inappropriate this morning. In the past, there would have been no issue with Su Wanqing waking the Prince. But now he was married. It would be monumentally awkward if she were to stumble upon Wei Yuan and his new wife in the middle of some newlywed playfulness. For instance, at this very moment... Though the courtyard gate was some distance from the bridal chamber, faint, intimate sounds drifted from within. Su Wanqing’s brow furrowed. She might be a maiden, but she was a grown woman. She knew exactly what those sounds meant. “That little rascal,” Su Wanqing muttered to herself, a hint of fondness beneath her exasperation. “Starting his mischief so early in the morning.” She turned to the soldier beside her. “You are dismissed. From now on, post the female guards at this gate.” The soldier snapped to attention. “Yes, Madam Su.” With his orders received, he made a hasty retreat from the delicate situation. Inside, the playful energy had settled. Wei Yuan held Qin Shiyue tightly in his arms. Her complexion was rosy, and she couldn't bring herself to meet Wei Yuan’s gaze directly. Wei Yuan stroked her hair, a contented smile on his face. “Well, my dear wife? Are you satisfied with your husband?” Qin Shiyue responded with a soft, shy “Hmm.” Before her marriage, she had worried he might seem like a mere child, but all those concerns had vanished the moment she met Wei Yuan. After their night together, she had discovered the Beihan Prince’s body was surprisingly well-developed. While not overly brawny, he was undeniably fit. He was also handsome, a perfect match for the ideal husband she had pictured in her mind. Her own Qin Family had been implicated by traitors and would take a long time to recover its standing. In that light, marrying a prince was a stroke of incredible fortune. Her father had originally raised her with the hope of becoming the Crown Princess Consort, but she had never wanted that life for herself. Marrying a leisurely, carefree Prince seemed far better. And while the Beihan Prince might lack maturity of mind, that only meant she, the Princess Consort, would wield considerable authority in Jingyuan Residence. Best of all, the Beihan Prince’s fiefdom was far from the Capital. Once they left, they might never return. The very thought of escaping the city’s political heart filled Qin Shiyue with a profound sense of relief. At that moment, Wei Yuan spoke. “We leave for Hanguang City tomorrow. After we get dressed, I’ll go with you to see your father.” “Alright,” Qin Shiyue replied. Later, with the help of two pretty maidservants, Wei Yuan took a quick bath and stepped out of his chambers. When he saw Su Wanqing standing at the courtyard entrance, his eyes lit up, and he instinctively used the system to check her personal data. [Identity: Servant of Chu Yue, sworn sister to Jin Lan, representative of the Su Family's interests, Wang Han's wife, currently leading Jingyuan Residence's guards, Beihan Prince's first love.] Seeing the information, Wei Yuan felt a flicker of confusion. Wang Han’s wife? But Wang Han had died on their wedding day, before the marriage could even be consummated. How could she be considered his wife? And what was this about being the “Beihan Prince’s first love”? Though he had to admit, he was quite taken with her. This identity information seemed a bit unreliable... On the other hand, the system rated Su Wanqing at 97, with a favorability toward him of 98. That detail only served to encourage the wicked thoughts stirring in his heart. Wei Yuan approached with a grin. “Madam Su, eavesdropping so early in the morning?” Su Wanqing made a sound of mock disgust, then scolded him. “You little rascal, up to no good before the sun is even high. Carrying on the family line is important, but you must look after your health!” Wei Yuan laughed. “Don’t you worry, Madam Su. I’m strong. I can handle it.” Su Wanqing shot him a sidelong glance before her expression turned serious. “Eat your breakfast, then go see Duke Mu. Though he was implicated recently, his influence in the military is still considerable. You will need his help to ensure a smooth journey to your fiefdom in Hanguang City.” Wei Yuan was puzzled. “Why would I need his help for that?” Su Wanqing’s smile was knowing. “Yuan'er, you don't truly believe your journey to Hanguang City will be a simple, uneventful one, do you?” Wei Yuan paused. “What do you mean by that, Madam Su? Don’t scare me.” “Although you are likely out of the running for that position,” she said softly, “to some people, only the dead pose no threat.” Wei Yuan understood her meaning, of course. Still, he had always acted the part of a useless wastrel and had never cultivated connections with any important officials. It seemed unlikely anyone would view him as a threat. Su Wanqing seemed to read his mind. “I know what you're thinking. That because you’ve never shown ambition for that position, never cultivated allies at court, you pose no threat. But you've forgotten the one thing you cannot change: your identity.” “Even if you do nothing, who you are ensures that some people will always see you as a threat.” The realization struck Wei Yuan in an instant. He had always assumed that by playing the part of an idle prince, by staying far from the struggle for succession, he would be safe. But he had forgotten about his mother’s powerful family. His mother was from the Su Family. She represented their interests. From the moment of his birth, he had been placed in the Su Family’s camp. Even if he did nothing, others would assume he had a special relationship with them. In the eyes of his rivals, if they wanted to ally with the Su Family, he was an obstacle that had to be removed. Only with his death would the Su Family truly give up on him and turn their support to another prince. Thinking it over, Wei Yuan didn't feel particularly worried. Yesterday, he might have been concerned for his safety. But now that he had the system, he felt a new sense of assurance. “I understand what you mean, Madam Su,” he said. Just then, Su Wanqing’s gaze shifted. Qin Shiyue was emerging from a room, assisted by the two sisters from the Zhou Family, a slight limp in her walk. The moment she saw Su Wanqing, Qin Shiyue offered a greeting. “Greetings to Madam Su.” As the Princess Consort, her station was technically higher, and protocol dictated Su Wanqing should greet her first. But Qin Shiyue was keenly aware of who truly held authority in the Jingyuan Residence. Su Wanqing smiled and nodded. “Shiyue. From now on, Yuan'er is in your care.” “Please rest assured, Madam Su,” Qin Shiyue replied. “I will take good care of the Prince.” Su Wanqing said nothing more, turning and leaving the courtyard. After breakfast, Wei Yuan and Qin Shiyue made their way to the Duke Mu Residence. Duke Mu was an imposing figure, radiating an aura of strength and power. Upon seeing Wei Yuan, Mu Changtian bowed his head. “Greetings to the Beihan Prince.” “Please, Father-in-law, there’s no need for such formality,” Wei Yuan said quickly. Mu Changtian sized up the young man. “This way, Beihan Prince.” He led Wei Yuan into the main hall. Once they were seated, Mu Changtian asked, “I wonder, what plans does the Beihan Prince have after taking up your post in Hanguang City?” Truthfully, Mu Changtian had no desire to discuss politics with Wei Yuan. The boy was young and had a reputation as an idle prince who spent more time at play than with books. Of course, that didn't mean he underestimated Wei Yuan. He was still a prince, after all. Wei Yuan considered the question for a moment. “My only wish is to govern Hanguang City well and live a peaceful life with Shiyue.” Mu Changtian instantly regretted his question. The boy was a complete political novice, utterly oblivious to the implications of his inquiry. He sighed internally, wondering if marrying his daughter to the Beihan Prince had been the right decision. At that point, Wei Yuan spoke up. “I hear that Father-in-law has great influence within the military. I will need your help when I go to Hanguang City to take up my post.” Hearing this, Mu Changtian could only think that the Beihan Prince truly was a child who knew nothing of the world. To speak so plainly of military influence was incredibly naive. But perhaps that was for the best. The less Wei Yuan knew, the more indispensable his daughter would become in the Prince’s Mansion. In a way, that was a good thing for her. Mu Changtian forced a smile. “Rest assured, Beihan Prince. Your journey to Hanguang City will undoubtedly be smooth sailing.”

Chapter 3: A Delicate Morning Duty