“Please send in the Chief Secretary,” Yu Jin’s lazy voice came from the study.
The Chief Secretary belatedly realized: that the previous comment was said by the Prince.
How could the Prince tease him like that? It’s too much!
The servant opened the door, and the Chief Secretary walked in with a stern face.
Seeing the Chief Secretary enter, Yu Jin put down the book scroll and said with a smile, “What brings the Chief Secretary to see me?”
The Chief Secretary first glanced at the book scroll Yu Jin had placed beside him, coughed, and asked, “Is Your Highness reading?”
As Chief Secretary, his three most important tasks were: first, to advise and guide, to correct the Prince’s mistakes; second, to handle matters of etiquette and music; and third, to serve as the Prince’s educator.
Although Prince Yan was no longer young, because he had grown up outside the palace, the Chief Secretary always felt his cultural cultivation was not high enough and needed to read more.
Seeing the Prince nestled in the study reading instead of nestled in the Princess Consort’s chambers in soft jade and warm fragrance, the old man felt very gratified.
“Mm, I quite enjoy reading,” Yu Jin pushed the book with its cover wrapped a little to the side.
The Chief Secretary smiled and said, “It’s good that Your Highness thinks this way—”
Before he could finish speaking, the book fell to the ground with a thud, revealing the title inside: “Thirty-Six Strategies for Coaxing One’s Wife.”
The Chief Secretary’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
“What is this?” The old man asked, pointing at the book on the ground, his beard quivering.
Yu Jin calmly picked up the book, closed the cover, and said with an innocent face, “A book on military strategy.”
The Chief Secretary’s voice went up an octave: “Military strategy?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Your Highness, my eyes may be old but they’re not blind yet. That is—”
It’s an erotic book!
Shame prevented the Chief Secretary from continuing.
Yu Jin dusted off the book cover and said with a worried expression, “I grew up outside the palace and am unclear about many things. Is it inappropriate to read books on military strategy?”
“Of course, it’s appropriate to read books on military strategy—”
Yu Jin immediately cut off the Chief Secretary’s words and said with a smile, “In that case, the Chief Secretary need not worry. Tell me, what brings you here?”
“I came to see Your Highness—” The Chief Secretary paused, realizing he had almost been misled.
“Your Highness, I now believe your reading material is a more pressing issue!”
Yu Jin’s sharp brows raised slightly: “What’s the problem with my reading?”
“Would Your Highness please explain what kind of book ‘Thirty-Six Strategies for Coaxing One’s Wife’ is?”
He couldn’t even bring himself to say such a title!
The Chief Secretary, who had been proper for most of his life, was now filled with indignation.
Yu Jin had no sense of embarrassment and explained seriously, “If I were to have any conflicts with the Princess Consort, reading this book would help me improve our relationship. Does the Chief Secretary not wish to see harmony between myself and the Princess Consort?”
“Of course not!”
Yu Jin said calmly, “In that case, the Chief Secretary need not get so worked up. Please tell me what brings you here.”
The Chief Secretary’s beard quivered, momentarily at a loss for words.
What the Prince said seemed to make some sense…
Yu Jin smiled with satisfaction.
His Chief Secretary was still quite good.
“I came to inquire about Your Highness’s plans regarding the funeral at the Yining Marquis’s mansion…”
“We’re not going.”
The Chief Secretary was stunned for a moment.
How strange. The Prince and Princess Consort seemed so affectionate usually, yet they wouldn’t go pay respects when Princess Consort’s aunt passed away.
But given the Prince’s status, it was understandable if he didn’t go.
“Then I’ll prepare the ceremonial arrangements for the Princess Consort alone.” The Chief Secretary bowed, preparing to take his leave.
“Uh, the Princess Consort isn’t going either.”
Yu Jin said it casually, but the Chief Secretary nearly jumped up: “The Princess Consort isn’t going?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Your Highness, it would be too disrespectful if the Princess Consort doesn’t go. People will think our Prince’s mansion has no sense of propriety!”
The Prince had six brothers who had established their households, which meant there were six other Chief Secretaries besides him.
He was under competitive pressure too!
Faced with his master’s calm expression, the Chief Secretary felt utterly desperate and asked strugglingly, “Why isn’t the Princess Consort going?”
Yu Jin originally wanted to say it was because the Princess Consort didn’t want to go, but considering the Chief Secretary’s advanced age and fearing he might not be able to handle the shock—and a replacement might be even worse—he changed his answer: “The Princess Consort is feeling unwell.”