บท 81: A fragrance of serenity

Zhao Ming had to grovel to the Crown Prince for permission to follow him, but he eventually consented. The emperor had forewarned them to keep their visit quiet and keep it a secret.

They identified themselves as young masters of an illustrious clan by donning a straightforward set of elegant robes. For some reason, Zhao Ming was familiar with the streets of commoners' homes, so the two princes walked right up to her mansion.

"You never leave the imperial palace, so how come you look like a boy who grew up on the streets?" Crown Prince Wu asked suspiciously.

"You know I am friends with that infamous second son of the Qin family. He and I used to often take a stroll here." Zhao Ming casually responded, lying to his brother while maintaining a straight face and an innocent mindset.

'He won't believe me if I tell him what I did here; making a strong web of connection isn't easy,' he thought to himself, his hands clasping behind him.