Chapter 132: A Matter That Must Not Be Mentioned

"Did that young man really say all that?"

Inside the Prince Jing residence, a tall, imposing man with an air of refined grace was sampling an egg tart. He had seen the Princess enjoy these novel treats many times, yet he had never been tempted to try one himself; if not for the fact that the Princess had prepared this one with her own hands, he likely would have remained uninterested.

He had just finished listening to the Princess speak about Jiang Chen. He could not help but feel a sense of curiosity toward this young man of such profound insight, for the fellow was truly exceptional.

Consider the egg tart itself: in terms of flavor, presentation, and sheer novelty, it was a rarity that had captivated the entire city—something not seen in decades. Throughout the annals of history, those capable of creating such unprecedented marvels were destined for the history books. In this regard alone, Jiang Chen was a man of top-tier talent. Yet, hearing his commentary on the current state of the Great Qian Dynasty and his analysis of the relationship between the Imperial Court and Qishan, it was clear that the man possessed extraordinary vision and genuine capability. It was for these many reasons that Prince Jing felt the urge to meet him in person.

"My Lord, what do you think of the egg tart?" The Princess asked, gazing at him with great anticipation and a touch of nervous uncertainty.

"Mm, a tart made by the Princess's own hands—the flavor is naturally peerless, unique in all the world. I like it very much."

"Oh, you. You always use such flowery words to put me off. I am asking about the taste itself—is it to your liking?"

Prince Jing replied with a smile, "The crust is crisp, the filling is smooth and tender, and it has a rich, sweet aroma. This is the first time I have tasted something so delicious."

Satisfied with this earnest response, the Princess settled back into her seat. She looked at the remaining tarts with the same tenderness one might show a child, already becoming impatient to learn the other two delicacies from Jiang Chen.

"By the way, you must keep in mind what I told you. Handle it quickly; I have already given Jiang Chen my word."

"Very well. Since my beloved has promised, how could I refuse?"

***

Stepping out of the room, Prince Jing walked with a slow, steady gait along the quiet covered veranda. His footsteps were firm and powerful, his deep gaze fixed on the distance, though what he was truly thinking remained inscrutable. Behind him followed Xie An, his loyal chief steward of many years, waiting at any moment for his master’s next instruction.

"My Lord, are you truly going to meddle in the affairs of the Night Watch Bureau for the sake of a total stranger?" Xie An asked, unable to hide his concern. "If you do this, what will the Emperor think..."

Prince Jing was uncharacteristically resolute, declaring that he would indeed provide this help, for he could not allow the Princess to break her word in front of others. More importantly, he had a deeper reason. "Xie An, do you remember how many days it has been since the Princess was as happy as she was today?"

Xie An pondered for a moment before answering, "It seems that ever since that breakfast shop closed, I haven't seen her smile like that."

"Yet she smiled today, and she was truly happy. For that alone, I must repay this favor. You understand what I mean, don't you? Furthermore, I want you to investigate the background of this Jiang Chen. We must not let anyone with ulterior motives get near the Princess."

"As you command, My Lord."

A rare atmosphere of ease and joy filled the Prince Jing residence, all thanks to the Princess's good mood.

***

The next day, Jiang Chen appeared at the Waterside Dungeon. Sitting across from him was Shen Xueying, her brows tightly knitted, with Cat Shadow standing behind her, expression equally solemn.

Jiang Chen and Shen Xueying stared at each other for a long time, neither speaking first. The scene was somewhat bizarre, yet both were busy calculating their own interests. Beside Shen Xueying lay a letter delivered that morning by the Ministry of Justice, its contents both surprising and worrying. She had expected Jiang Chen to exhaust every avenue to intervene in Geng Ji's case, but she never imagined he would have a private connection to the Prince Jing residence.

With a personal letter from Prince Jing delivered to the Minister of Justice, the latter dared not refuse. Because of this, Jiang Chen now held the special privilege of entering and leaving the Waterside Dungeon at will.

"I didn't expect you to know Prince Jing," Shen Xueying said, probing him. If a talent like this were to defect to the Prince Jing residence, it would be a massive loss for the Night Watch Bureau and even the Imperial throne itself.

Jiang Chen replied, "Strictly speaking, I don't know the Prince. It was merely a stroke of luck that I became acquainted with the Princess, so I asked for her help. You know I wouldn't give up."

"Why would the Princess help you for no reason?" Cat Shadow’s tone was accusatory.

Jiang Chen said with a touch of smugness, "Perhaps she appreciates my talent."

Shen Xueying sighed, warning him with grave seriousness, "You cannot possibly be ignorant of the situation regarding Prince Jing, can you? In the capital, no one dares to have too many dealings with the Prince Jing residence. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

"Are you referring to 'that' matter? I am but a commoner; the court won't care about a small character like me. Still, I appreciate your kind warning."

Prince Jing was a figure of much controversy, especially regarding past events that even now left the Imperial Court tight-lipped. People whispered that he had long coveted the throne and would strike again sooner or later. The current Emperor had placed him under house arrest; although the court never publicly admitted it, the illustrious Prince Jing had not left Jinyang City in sixteen years. He lived in seclusion, holding only nominal titles with no real power.

Shen Xueying’s warning was the consensus of the majority: to be entangled with Prince Jing was to court disaster.

"Can I go in now?" Jiang Chen asked, eager to see Geng Ji.

"You may," Shen Xueying said. "Whether he is in the mood to see you, however, is another matter."

"Where have you taken Lan Hui? Only by negotiating properly with Geng Ji can we extract the information we need. The fact that he was involved in the operation against Qishan twenty years ago proves his status in the Xuan Yan Bureau is far higher than we imagined." Jiang Chen slammed the table in anger. "To deal with a man like Geng Ji, one must use both soft and hard tactics. By openly holding his wife and child as leverage, you are only forcing him into a dead end."

"You have botched this task, and I will hold you accountable for the consequences!"

It was the first time Jiang Chen had spoken to Shen Xueying in such a manner, as if he were the one in command of the Night Watch Bureau.