Zhao Yi had previously suspected the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince of colluding with Prince Jing. During the welcoming banquet for Prince Jing, he had probed both men, but ultimately discovered nothing out of the ordinary. Since then, he had assigned men to keep them under secret surveillance. The Third Prince rarely left his residence, and when he did, it was primarily to meet with scholars and poets to discuss literature. The Seventh Prince, meanwhile, had recently been commissioned by the Emperor to oversee the construction of a pagoda, a task he carried out with diligent, clockwork regularity, leaving early and returning late every day.
Following his reconciliation with Pei Yiqiu yesterday, the two had discussed this matter. Pei Yiqiu had even invited the Seventh Princess Consort over, testing her in every way possible, yet she too found nothing suspicious. Thus, Zhao Yi decided to seek the counsel of Mr. Nanjin.
"Your Highness, what makes you so interested in the Third and Seventh Princes?" Mr. Nanjin asked with a smile, rather than answering directly.
Chapter 398