To divorce his wife, the top scholar preferred being cuckolded to wearing a red hat.

Fu Jingsheng was previously a frail scholar who couldn't lift a finger or carry heavy loads, only knowing how to hold a pen and focusing solely on studying classical texts. Now, being asked to work in the fields and carry heavy objects, he soon felt dizzy and unsteady on his feet. Sweat dripped from his forehead like raindrops, and his legs felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds; every step he took felt like a thousand-pound stone pressing down on him.

Zhao Fu and the Fifth Prince sat under a tree to enjoy the shade, watching the people below work. Putting everything else aside, the soldiers worked with remarkable efficiency and boundless energy, just like in their usual training.

The two of them turned their gaze to Xiao Jing.

Seeing Xiao Jing struggling, Zhao Fu frowned and said to the Fifth Prince, "Your Highness, what's wrong with Xiao Jing? Has he never carried a heavy load before? This is his first time carrying a load, and he's already exhausted. It shouldn't be like this."

“You’re right, he doesn’t look like someone who’s done heavy labor. But wait, the people who were transporting the medicinal herbs this time were all specially selected outstanding soldiers. How did he, who looks so frail and unable to carry anything, end up with them?”

Zhao Fu also sensed something was amiss, recalling Su Mingyue's warning: "Your Highness, Miss Su previously warned us to be wary of those around us, especially those who suddenly approach us. Last night, even if he hadn't rushed in to save Your Highness, Your Highness would have been fine. On the contrary, if he had done so, Your Highness would surely be grateful to him and remember his kindness."

"You mean, he has some connection with that dead soldier."

"It's hard for this old servant to say right now. It's always good to observe further."

“Then take a closer look at him, and if you find anything wrong, tell me immediately.” The Fifth Prince looked up at the sun: “My uncle called me here so that I could come out and bask in the sun.”

"Now that you're fully recovered, you should rest more and get some sunshine."

……

Su Mingyue and Xiao Zhan were talking to the villagers. The villagers were very grateful for the prince's actions.

"Your Highness, you are so kind to help us harvest the grain. The floods a while ago almost destroyed our crops, but luckily our area is on higher ground, so we managed to save some. With this new grain, the villagers will have enough to eat for the rest of the year."

"This year, one thing after another has happened in Qingzhou. You've had a tough time too."

Su Mingyue was treating the villagers in the village when she saw Fu Jingsheng carrying a heavy load from afar, and she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. After saying something to Xiao Zhan, she walked towards Fu Jingsheng.

Fu Jingsheng had just finished carrying a load, and now he sat down to rest for a while.

The others had already made two trips, but he only managed to pick one this time.

Having finally let go of his burdens, all he wanted was to breathe deeply and get some rest.

He looked up and met Su Mingyue's scrutinizing gaze.

He was startled, fearing that the other person would recognize him, so he quickly picked up the empty basket and headed to the field.

"Stop." Su Mingyue called out to him.

Fu Jingsheng stood there, somewhat puzzled: "Miss Su, what brings you here?"

“You don’t look like someone who does manual labor all year round? You’ve never done this kind of work before. Or did you not participate in any training or suffer any hardship when you were in the army?”

"Miss Su, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I can't do it. I just feel a bit tired and weak. I don't know if it's an infection or a cold."

At this moment, he would rather be infected, so that he would have a chance to rest and not have to do hard labor here.

"You're infected. Hold out your hand, let me take a look."

"No need, it's just a minor issue, nothing serious. I'm going back to work."

Xiao Zhan stepped forward, watching Fu Jingsheng's fleeing figure, his brows furrowing: "Is he really Fu Jingsheng?"

“I can’t be wrong.” Su Mingyue nodded: “He must be Fu Jingsheng.”

"I will have him arrested right now."

"Don't you find it strange that he suddenly appeared here? And he even came with the Fifth Prince's entourage. After his attempt to frame me failed, he got into a conflict with Su Ziyu and injured her. It seems that Su Ziyu didn't pursue the matter and had the Dali Temple release him. After leaving the Dali Temple, he didn't stay in the capital but came here instead."

"Someone saw that he couldn't stay in the capital, so they sent him here. The person behind him is probably someone who doesn't want to live well in Qingzhou City."

"I can confirm that he is Fu Jingsheng. Whether you arrest him or not is up to you. He's definitely not here for any good reason." Fu Jingsheng's appearance here is definitely not for her; he's here for Qingzhou City.

If we arrest him now, we won't be able to find out who's behind him.

“I will have someone keep an eye on him and see what he’s up to.” Xiao Zhan certainly understood the key point.

……

After a long day of working in the fields, Fu Jingsheng was too exhausted to move at all by evening. He lay in bed, not even wanting to take a shower.

"Xiao Jing, the Fifth Prince wants to see you and asks you to come over."

He immediately got up and went to the Fifth Prince's tent.

Xiao Zhan was also inside the tent.

Upon entering, Xiao Zhan instructed the Fifth Prince not to go to the village to harvest rice the next day, but to search for spies from Xiqi in the city, and preferably find the person behind it all.

“Uncle Wang, you’re the expert at investigating spies. Why don’t I go to the village to harvest the rice while you go investigate the spies?”

If spies in Western Qi were so easy to find, Uncle Wang wouldn't have given them to him.

He has always looked down on himself.

"Your men don't look like they're working at all. With you around, you're just slowing things down." Xiao Zhan recalled the soldier's work during the day, his face full of disgust.

The Fifth Prince was furious at Xiao Zhan's words but had no way to refute them. Xiao Jing's work today was indeed appalling.

He looked so frail and thin, as if he were some rich young master.

Xiao Zhan bumped into Fu Jingsheng as he came in.

Fu Jingsheng bowed his head and called out, "Prince Zhan."

Xiao Zhan glanced at him indifferently: "I heard that you saved the Fifth Prince before. Considering that you saved the Fifth Prince before, I will not pursue the mistakes you made today. Starting tomorrow, work hard in front of the Fifth Prince and don't let me see you slacking off again."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Fu Jingsheng felt bitter inside.

He's never done any heavy work in his life, and the only reason he can keep going for a day is because he's afraid they'll notice something's wrong.

Xiao Zhan even complained that he wasn't working hard enough.

"Look at you! How did you even get into my service? You can't do a single job!" The Fifth Prince, annoyed by his uncle's inexplicable scolding, continued, "Those who know you might think you're one of my soldiers, but others might think I hired some rich young master to do the work. Your performance today has utterly humiliated me. Since you've made me lose face, you'd better redeem yourself. Tomorrow you must find out where the spies from Western Qi are and how they're communicating. If you can't do it, I strongly suspect you deliberately approached me to cause trouble."