Ning Chen came out of the Inspectorate's cells and was about to go home when he ran straight into Geng Jing coming back.

"Been to see old Master Shen?"

Ning Chen nodded.

Geng Jing pointed at the chests two red coats were carrying behind him. "These are the records on those dancing girls. Could I trouble my lord prince to sit up all night with me?"

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched, and he nodded. There was no getting out of it.

The Eastern Palace.

The crown prince lay in bed with his leg in splints.

There was an ache all over Noble Consort De's face.

She waved a hand and sent every one of the attending servants out.

"This Ning Chen is to blame for all of it. If it were not for him you would not have been hurt."

The crown prince's brows drew together a little. "Mother, did you have some quarrel with Ning Chen?"

Noble Consort De nodded. "When your injury is better, go and apologize to him for me."

"An overbearing, high-handed mother and a humble, well-mannered son... His good opinion of you will double, I am sure of it."

The crown prince shook his head. "Mother, there is no need for any of this... Ning Chen has Father Emperor's whole favor. Offending him is not a wise move."

Noble Consort De said, smiling, "There you are wrong. An overbearing, high-handed person looks to an outsider like someone with no calculation in her."

"At the very least, those great lords and ministers in the hall all thought me a fool at the time, didn't they?"

The crown prince let out a deep sigh. "Mother, must it be this way?"

"Ning Chen is brimming with talent, and Your child looks up to him. And his weight tips the whole court now, and he has Father Emperor's whole trust. To make an enemy of him is not wise."

"Your child holds the rank of crown prince now. When Father Emperor has ascended, the throne comes to me in the end... it is only a matter of…