Hearing the commotion, Charles Reed turned his head and saw a lavishly dressed lady entering the side hall. Her cloud-like hair was piled high, adorned with dangling hairpins, and she wore a gauzy robe draped over her shoulders. In the bitter cold, her neck and chest were exposed, revealing a patch of creamy white skin.

She moved with graceful charm, full where she should be, yet without losing her figure, possessing just the right curves.

It was only after seeing the Crown Prince’s consort The Second Miss Brooks that Charles Reed understood where the beauty of this grand Tang-style robe and skirt, half-concealing snow-white skin, truly lay.

Thinking again of what Mrs. Brooks had said—“The Second Miss and the Crown Prince are close”—he nodded almost imperceptibly.

He could only hope the Crown Prince would still be willing to protect the Du family for her sake.

Chapter 5 Settling In

The Crown Prince’s wives and concubines were divided into three ranks: Crown Princess, Liangdi, and Baolin. The Second Miss Brooks and Aunt Brooks were Liangdi, with the official rank of third grade.

This past January, the Crown Princess of the Wei clan was forced to divorce the Crown Prince due to the Wei Jian case. Because of this, Aunt Brooks was pleased at the possibility of becoming Crown Princess herself, yet also felt uneasy.

That day, just after sending the Crown Prince off, the maid Brooklyn hurried in to report, “The Eldest Lady has sent someone with a token, saying something huge has happened.”

Aunt Brooks knew that ever since her elder sister married Brian Clark, almost all her dowry had been sold off, with only a single jade pendant remaining. She took it and, upon seeing it, immediately ordered them to bring the visitor in.

“Something huge?” She already sensed trouble, a shiver running through her as she murmured, “Treading on thin ice, I’ve finally fallen into the icy pit.”

She composed herself and hurried to the side hall, where she saw a young gentleman sitting upright on a cushion, exuding calm composure.

But when he turned his head, Aunt Brooks sensed a feeling of being scrutinized.

She couldn’t help but frown slightly and asked, “May I ask who you are, young sir?”

“Young sir” was a term for a handsome youth; adding “little” was her subconscious way of resisting Charles Reed’s scrutiny.

“Charles Reed, indebted to the Du family.” Charles Reed got straight to the point: “The Son-in-law Clark has accused the Du family of ‘falsely claiming omens, colluding with the Eastern Palace, and criticizing the throne.’ The Jingzhao Prefecture has already arrested your father. Someone is manipulating things behind the scenes. We have found evidence and wish to present it to the Crown Prince.”

Aunt Brooks’s expression changed instantly, but she quickly regained her composure.

“The Crown Prince is not here. May I see the evidence first?”

Charles Reed produced a draft of the indictment.

Brooklyn was about to step forward, but Aunt Brooks had already leaned over to take it from Charles Reed, a patch of creamy white skin catching his eye.

A faint fragrance drifted by as she took the draft and knelt gracefully on the thin cushion opposite, examining it carefully. She summoned Brooklyn and whispered, “Quickly send someone to fetch the Crown Prince back.”

Afterward, she asked Charles Reed for the details, and Charles Reed recounted everything from the time he lost consciousness and became a bookboy in the Du household.

After listening, Aunt Brooks patted her chest in relief and said, “Mr. Reed, you have gone to great lengths for the Du family. I am feeling a bit under the weather today and have nothing to offer in return, but I will surely thank you handsomely in the future.”

But Charles Reed said slowly, “Although I have lost my memory, I know that since I was beaten nearly to death, I must have offended someone before. When I came here today, there were people watching outside. They might investigate what happened to me before I lost my memory and cause trouble for the Crown Prince.”

Aunt Brooks’s gaze sharpened, catching his underlying meaning. He claimed to fear causing trouble for the Crown Prince, but in truth, he was seeking the Crown Prince’s protection.

Her tone shifted slightly as she said, “If you’ve gotten into trouble, just say so. If I can help, I will not refuse.”

Charles Reed replied, “But I truly don’t remember.”

Aunt Brooks felt a bit displeased.

Charles Reed added, “Ethan Green said I have a brand on the back of my neck and scars on my legs—probably a government slave.”

“Judging by your appearance, could you be from a wealthy family that was confiscated and made into a slave?”

“I can’t remember, but it’s possible.”

Aunt Brooks was willing to return this favor, but the Crown Prince’s current situation was not good. Not knowing whether Charles Reed’s troubles were big or small, rashly promising protection was risky.

So she once again scrutinized Charles Reed carefully, weighing whether he was worth helping.

In the end, Aunt Brooks nodded and said, “Very well, I will ensure your safety.”

Charles Reed breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked, “May I see the Crown Prince?”

“The Crown Prince is busy and cannot see you.” Aunt Brooks’s eyes flickered as she said, “If you have anything to say, you can tell me—it’s the same. The Eastern Palace will not treat you unfairly.”

Charles Reed looked at her and saw a very familiar look in her eyes. He immediately understood—since they both worked for the Eastern Palace, she hoped he would work for her.

It was clear that, though she and the Crown Prince were husband and wife, there were still subtle differences between them.

Charles Reed remained calm and said, “I heard about the Wei Jian case at the beginning of the year and have been thinking: if the Crown Prince abandons those close to him again, it will harm morale, won’t it?”

He already had the air of a strategist under the Crown Prince’s consort, considering matters from Aunt Brooks’s perspective.

Ethan Green, witnessing this, was astonished. It had only been five days since Charles Reed was rescued by the Du family, yet he revealed more and more remarkable qualities each day—clearly, he was deeply shrewd.

But Aunt Brooks needed someone like this very much, and couldn’t help but smile, saying, “Don’t worry, I am not Consort Wei. Besides, we now have evidence to prove the Du family’s innocence. This case is simple, and overturning it will not be difficult.”

Her smile was full of charm—she truly was a beauty for whom men would risk everything.