The Emperor puts the "Crown Prince colluding with enemy" matter off. At this juncture, the Crown Prince falls ill. Hui Xin reports that he's quite severely sick even.
Xiu Ying: (Self-torture for sympathy? Can't help but admit that it's pretty effective.)
You know how the Emperor is. His expression is already swaying, and you know that the Crown Prince will be released soon. The Crown Prince isn't just the most legitimate heir for the Emperor. He also believes the Crown Prince is the most like him, so he put all his efforts into raising him.
Xiu Ying: (He spent so much timing raising the man, it won't be easy to just give up now.)
You don't have time to wait around either. Next time, it won't be a threat from the Crown prince, but a blade. You walk around in the Imperial Garden and find Yin Zhen talking with a leisurely-looking man in official uniform holding a pipe. Yin Zhen waves at you when he sees you. You run to him all giddy.
Yin Zhen: [Passes a red envelop] This is what you wanted. Mr. Ji Yun made it for you.
Xiu Ying: [Takes it] Thank you Your Highness, and Lord Ji. What kind of report is it exactly that the Crown Prince is so desperate for?
Ji Yun: I don't know. Few would know the context of something His Majesty holds personally. Still, there's no need to worry. There's a good chance that the Crown Prince doesn't know either. So I placed some random stuff inside. Leave the rest to his imagination.
Xiu Ying: A good chance? So there's still a chance that he does know?
Yin Zhen: There's no way he'd know, otherwise, he wouldn't have asked you to steal it. And as he doesn't know what's inside, there's no way he can tell that it's fake.
Xiu Ying: Fine. I figured that I can't rely on you anyway, and have to end up doing everything myself.
Ji Yun: [Laughs] Where did you find this girl? She's about as cheeky as you.
Yin Zhen: [Cannot hold laughter] I'm not even close.
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As soon as you leave Yin Zhen and Ji Yun, you bring the fake red report to the Eastern Palace and visit the sick prince.
Yet Qiu Ying stops you at the gate. She stares you down like she owns the place. It makes you want to laugh.
Xiu Ying: Ms. Qiu Ying, what's this about?
Qiu Ying: [Coldly] What are you doing here? His Highness is unwell. He won't see you.
Xiu Ying: I have something important to talk to His Highness. Please tell him, he knows.
Qiu Ying: I thought I told you, telling me would be the same as telling him. So, speak.
Just as you are getting a bit annoyed at Qiu Ying for not letting you in, you hear a familiar voice behind you.
Fu Heng: What's going on here? So much ruckus.
Qiu Ying: Lord Fu Heng, it's nothing really, just [MC] coming here all of a sudden.
Fu Heng: She works directly under His Majesty, so that's probably who she represents right now. Is this how you protect your master?
Qiu Ying is a bit shaken from those words.
Fu Heng: Qiu Ying, you failed the training last time. How can you protect the Crown Prince like that? Go to the training ground now!
Fu Heng's chain of words forces Qiu Ying to allow you inside the Eastern Palace despite how reluctant she is. She then goes to her training.
Fu Heng looks at you after Qiu Ying leaves. You give him a bright smile.
Fu Heng blushes a little and walks past you quickly.
Eunuch De takes you to the Crown Prince. The Crown prince looks rosy and energetic. Not one hint of sickness.
Crown Prince: The deed has been done?
Xiu Ying: [Present the object] As you wished, sire. I have brought it, Please take a look.
Crown Prince: See, I told you you can do it.
He smiles and opens the envelop after taking it from Eunuch De. Soon his face changed.
Xiu Ying: It took me a lot of effort to get this report. I'm afraid I have to make a forgery as soon as I can and put it back otherwise...
Crown Prince: [Cuts you off] Don't. Just take the report and put it back.
Xiu Ying: Your Highness is already done reading it?
Crown Prince: There are no secrets written on it. My advisor predicted that this might have been something my father used to test us brothers. It would seem that might be true.
Xiu Ying: (Ji Yun was spot on. All I had to do is present it, and leave the rest to the Crown Prince's imagination.) [Tense] Would His Majesty find out? I was very careful!
Crown Prince: I have faith in you. Don't worry. Just put it back immediately.
The Crown Prince's soft comforting voice is completely different from the cruel threats before. His voice makes something this dangerous sound like child's play.
You pretend to have been calmed, and you beg for the antidote. He is pretty quick about it though, and orders Eunuch De to bring the antidote.
You take the antidote gratefully and pretend not to have seen his eyes glisten.
You get back to you own yard as soon as you leave the Eastern Palace, and destroy the fake report.
