Didn’t expect this... Evan Foster was right—people always emphasize what they lack the most, isn’t that exactly the case with the Wen family? When faced with a strong-willed princess, they criticize her for not being gentle enough.

Tsk tsk.

【And then, and then!】

【Originally, after a husband dies, the wife is supposed to mourn for three years, but if the wife dies, the husband only needs to mourn for one year. The same applies to princesses, but three months ago, when Princess Qiyang passed away, she went straight to threaten Qiyang Princess’s consort, demanding that he mourn for her sister for three years.】

【Amy Wynn knew about this and wanted to exercise his authority as the father-in-law, scolding Princess Xiangyang for tarnishing Princess Qiyang’s virtue, saying she wouldn’t rest in peace even after death. Princess Xiangyang shot right back, saying not to worry—if she died, she wouldn’t trouble her consort to mourn for three years, she’d just take him with her.】

【Hahahahahaha, oh my, this princess is fierce, Amy Wynn was left completely speechless.】

The officials: Wow! Wow!

Gotta say, gossip about other people’s family affairs is just too delicious, you just can’t stop listening.

Who would’ve thought this old stick-in-the-mud could be scared too. Why is he so harsh on Princess Wanshou!

Isn’t this just bullying the weak and fearing the strong?

All the officials cast mocking glances at Censor Wynn, whose neck was almost completely red, but he still kept a straight face, stiff-necked.

He had actually considered that Princess Xiangyang’s matter might be exposed, but only when truly facing the situation did he realize how unbearable all those pointing fingers, whispered comments, and strange looks could be.

And besides...

It was the princess who was rude, my Wen family strictly observes etiquette, what fault is there in that! The one disgracing herself is the princess, not my Wen family! What’s wrong with these people! Shouldn’t they be criticizing the princess for not following the virtues of womanhood!

Of course, the old stick-in-the-mud couldn’t take it, but he had no way to stop Evan Foster.

—After all, if he shouted “shut up,” Evan Foster would absolutely have no idea he was talking to him. And if he shouted Evan Foster’s name, before he could even finish, the officials closest to him would probably pounce and cover his mouth.

The benefits brought by Evan Foster’s inner thoughts were huge. For example, the Southern Yue rebellion that was exposed yesterday—because it was revealed in advance, the traitors weren’t prepared, so the rebellion could be perfectly suppressed with minimal casualties. Already, more than a dozen noble families had stuffed their sons and nephews into the army to earn some military merit.

As for Amy Wynn wanting to ruin everyone’s interests—no way.

What made Amy Wynn want to die was that Evan Foster’s inner monologue still hadn’t stopped!

He was still digging up dirt on his family! And it was no longer limited to the princess and her consort!

【Tsk tsk, this family has so much gossip. His eldest brother, who serves as the crown prince’s attendant, actually got a venereal disease from playing with male courtesans.】

The officials: Ew!

Who would’ve thought the crown prince’s attendant would consort with male courtesans—truly, you can’t judge a book by its cover!

Chancellor Dawson: “...”

It took him a while to react, then he sucked in a cold breath.

“Wen Attendant?!”

Censor Wynn’s eyes widened as he muttered, “My eldest brother... but he’s seventy-five!”

And the crown prince, upon suddenly hearing about his attendant’s wild deeds, choked on his own saliva: “Cough, cough, cough, cough!” After coughing, he muttered, “Still going strong at his age.”

This was even more impressive than his own father, who at sixty-three was still charming the ladies.

Explosive! Too explosive!

He loved it!

...Is this really okay?

The crown prince, touching what little conscience he had left, thought about how he never liked this attendant anyway—always lecturing him with Confucian platitudes, often blushing and straining his neck to admonish him for being too much of a free spirit, not fit to be a ruler.

Thinking this, he immediately tossed his conscience aside.

This gossip is just too good, hehe!

And he’s always telling me to be gentle, respectful, frugal, and yielding—at least I never mess around in bed!

The officials, having gotten a huge scoop, couldn’t help themselves and started whispering all over the court.

“Wen Attendant is really something, actually caught a disease.”

“I knew it, their family always acts so high and mighty, there had to be some hidden scandal, and now it’s been exposed!”

“Pfft—I can’t wait to see the show, the crown prince’s attendant, tsk tsk, after today, who knows if he’ll still be the crown prince’s attendant.”

“Forget the crown prince’s attendant, maybe Princess Xiangyang will have to get a new consort.”

Some busybody secretly glanced at the old emperor, and sure enough, His Majesty’s face was ashen, looking especially grim.

Evan Foster didn’t notice. Evan Foster was still digging.

His eyes were shining like a flashlight.

The royal family and the officials’ eyes were also shining like flashlights.

Author’s note:

“Xiao guan” and “xiao guan” both refer to male prostitutes, but in reality, in ancient times, they were usually called “xiao guan.” “Xiao guan” was more often used for pharmacy assistants or waiters, and not so much for male prostitutes. So in the main text, I used the term “xiao guan.”

I noticed some confusion in the comments, so for easier reading, I’ve switched back to “xiao guan.”

＊

Also, when there is a crown prince, it is possible to appoint a crown prince’s son.

In the ninth year of Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (Xinmao, 1411), the 14-year-old Zhu Zhanji was appointed crown prince’s son by his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di (while the crown prince was still alive).

As for why the crown prince’s son in the story is appointed, that’s related to later plot developments, so I won’t spoil it.

Chapter 9 Whoa! He actually got so angry he coughed up blood!