Yan Shang had been drunk for who knows how long when Mu Wanyao kept shaking him awake and forcing him to drink hangover soup.

In his dazed state, he was lying on the bed in his manor’s bedchamber. Mu Wanyao sat at his bedside, holding him and helping him sit up. His head was still splitting with pain, and he kept his eyes closed with furrowed brows. When he finally managed to open them, he only saw the gauze curtains still hanging low, with darkness outside.

Yan Shang propped up his head.

“Does your head hurt badly?” Mu Wanyao asked. “Drink a bit more hangover soup, it should help you feel better.”

Yan Shang remained silent as she forced him to drink the soup she held to his lips. With the gauze curtains drawn, Mu Wanyao looked down at him, seeing his hair loose and wearing only his middle garments as he leaned against her shoulder. His usually jade-white complexion now appeared haggard and pale, though his eye corners and cheeks still burned red.

His mind was still unclear, and his brows remained furrowed, likely from the constant headache.

Yet his temperament was so good that no matter how uncomfortable he felt, he wouldn’t show it or lose his temper at others, only enduring it silently.

The beautiful young man suffering like this, with a hint of self-pity showing through his weakness, was something never seen before – a fleeting glimpse of extreme beauty.

Mu Wanyao didn’t have the heart to wake him halfway through his sleep, after all, the last time he got drunk, he had slept until noon before waking. But Mu Wanyao had to be cruel – she had to ignore his weakness and wake him up.

After drinking another bowl of hangover soup, Yan Shang seemed to become a bit more clear-headed, but he felt so awful he was almost about to vomit. He also felt quite undignified at the moment, at least having Mu Wanyao looking down at him and observing him made him very uncomfortable. But he no longer had the energy to worry about this.

Fighting back the urge to vomit brought on by the hangover soup, Yan Shang’s long hair brushed against Mu Wanyao’s neck as he asked in a muffled voice, “Has dawn not yet broken?”

Mu Wanyao said heartlessly, “No, it hasn’t dawned yet, but you must get up. Go wash up, eat a little, then head out. Today is the New Year’s Court Assembly – not just court officials and capital officials, but all local officials must attend the New Year’s Court Assembly.

“This is only your first year as an official, so you absolutely cannot make any mistakes today. Your official robes have already been prepared by your servants. Today’s court assembly is one of the rare days in the year when official robes must be worn. You absolutely cannot make any mistakes.

“No matter how much your head hurts, you must endure it.”

Yan Shang closed his eyes, rested for a moment, and said, “I understand.”

He propped his elbow on the bed and tried to stand up using the bedpost for support. The lingering effects of the alcohol made his hands shake slightly, and his body swayed. Mu Wanyao quickly moved to support him. Yan Shang gave her a grateful smile before calling for Yun Shu, wanting to go out and wash up.

Looking at his thin, slender back, watching him continuously rubbing his forehead, the redness at the corners of his eyes refusing to fade… Mu Wanyao’s heart softened again, and she hesitated before saying, “Why don’t you skip it and take sick leave?”

Yan Shang said, “How could I make such a mistake on such an important occasion in my first year as an official? Your Highness need not worry, I’m fine. I’ll be better soon.”

Mu Wanyao silently regretted, “I shouldn’t have let you be so reckless last night.”

Yan Shang had already opened the door, with the faint light shining in from outside. He stood still for a moment before turning back to look at his wife who was still lowering her head in regret inside the chamber.

Yan Shang said, “If there’s blame to be placed, it should be on my inability to resist temptation. How could it be Your Highness’s fault?”

Mu Wanyao had no choice – now that she had woken him up, given Yan Shang’s almost frightening demands on himself, he would push through to attend the court assembly, and wouldn’t make a single mistake. After Yan Shang went out to wash up, Mu Wanyao stood in the room for a while. At this moment, she couldn’t spare worry for her affairs, only continuously praying that today’s New Year’s Court Assembly wouldn’t last too long.

At the same time, she was secretly puzzled, thinking that Yan Shang’s constitution of getting drunk whenever he touched alcohol was too extreme.

Was he born this way?

While Mu Wanyao was pondering, there was a knock at the door, and a maid came to report. After the maid said a few words, Mu Wanyao showed a surprised yet thoughtful expression. She said, “I’ll go out and see.” —

Mu Wanyao walked down the steps and met the Liu family’s young lady, who was wearing a face veil, just getting down from her carriage at the manor gate.

As the maid helped Liu Ruozhu down from the carriage, Liu Ruozhu was looking up to see what Second Young Master Yan’s manor gate looked like when she saw Princess Danyang coming out from Yan’s manor.

Liu Ruozhu was startled for a moment before curtsying in greeting. Her snow-white veil reached down to her feet, intertwining with her plain-colored skirt hem. As Liu Ruozhu curtsied, the morning breeze lifted a corner of her veil, revealing her refined and beautiful face – truly the most outstanding appearance of a young lady that could only be seen in ancient paintings.

Mu Wanyao stared at Liu Ruozhu, knowing this person was Yan Shang’s teacher’s granddaughter and that she couldn’t afford to offend her. But she was now particularly sensitive to any young lady coming to find Yan Shang, so she asked, “Has Miss Liu come to seek Yan Shang? Did Minister Liu send you?”

Liu Ruozhu found it strange that Princess Danyang would come out from Second Young Master Yan’s place. A vague thought made her heart jump, but she dared not think too much about it.

Liu Ruozhu obediently answered, “Because yesterday evening Second Brother Yan hurriedly bid farewell, saying he had others to meet. Second Brother Yan was in such a hurry, I was a bit worried, so I came early today to check on him. Moreover… now it’s the ‘City of Fire Blazing Bright,’ when the Prime Minister goes out, the whole city is illuminated. I thought Second Brother Yan hadn’t seen it before, and feared he might miss this rare yearly sight, so I wanted to invite him to go see it together.”

Every New Year’s Day in Great Wei, before the fifth watch, all ward gates in Chang’an would open early. The Prime Minister, Three Commissioners, and the Chief of Golden Guards, surrounded by hundreds of officials on horseback with torches, would patrol the entire city to drive away illness for the people.

The firelight spread throughout the imperial city, illuminating for thousands of miles. The Prime Minister, who usually worked in the palace all year, rarely appeared before the common people and the citizens would crowd around to watch. This was the only chance in the year for ordinary people to see the “Head of All Officials.”

This was the “City of Fire” that Liu Ruozhu spoke of.

When Liu Ruozhu mentioned this, Mu Wanyao finally remembered the tradition of the “City of Fire.” Now that Yan Shang had Minister Liu as his teacher, he might be able to follow behind Minister Liu and personally witness the Prime Minister’s authority and the glory of the City of Fire.

But Mu Wanyao only felt tempted for a moment before thinking of Yan Shang’s current state… She refused, saying, “He’s fallen ill and is unwell, I’m afraid he won’t be able to go with you to see any ‘City of Fire.'”

Liu Ruozhu immediately showed concern about what illness Second Brother Yan had contracted. Mu Wanyao gave a few perfunctory responses, only saying that he wouldn’t miss the court assembly.

Mu Wanyao remained cold throughout, speaking only a few words at a time. She wore a cold expression, faintly showing impatience, seeming ready to lose her temper at any moment. It was only because she didn’t want Yan Shang to offend his teacher that she barely managed to contain herself.

Fortunately, Liu Ruozhu was gentle. Seeing the princess’s poor expression, and confirming that Yan Shang wouldn’t miss the court assembly, Liu Ruozhu didn’t ask further.

At this time, the servant Yun Shu came out from the manor and said quietly behind the princess, “Your Highness, Second Young Master heard there was a visitor and asked who it was.”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She stood at the manor gate, quite unwilling to let Liu Ruozhu enter.

Previously with Zhao Wuniang, Consort Zhao Ling, Mu Wanyao wasn’t very worried.

Because Zhao Ling was lively and bouncy, full of energy, while Yan Shang was extremely reserved and low-key. Zhao Ling didn’t match Yan Shang’s aesthetic preferences for women. With Zhao Ling constantly clinging to Yan Shang, it probably wouldn’t make Yan Shang happy, but rather make him avoid her at all costs.

But Liu Ruozhu was different.

Mu Wanyao vaguely felt that according to Yan Shang’s aesthetic preferences, someone with Liu Ruozhu’s temperament and cultivation would likely be very compatible with Yan Shang and win his favor. Yan Shang liked people with similar interests – she wasn’t one, but Liu Ruozhu was.

With such a dangerous young lady standing at the manor gate, Mu Wanyao really couldn’t put on a pleasant expression.

Liu Ruozhu was observant, and seeing the princess’s displeased expression and inability to say “please come in” after such a long time, she smiled and said, “I’ve already delivered my message, and knowing that Second Brother Yan is still well after his hasty departure yesterday, I’m relieved. Please help me tell Second Brother Yan that I came by. I need to go watch the ‘City of Fire,’ so I won’t disturb Your Highness further.”

Mu Wanyao looked at her and said, “Minister Liu works hard teaching Yan Shang usually. Since Miss Liu is here, let’s kill two birds with one stone. Xia Rong, prepare a substantial teacher’s gift and let Miss Liu take it back to Minister Liu.”

Mu Wanyao nodded to the surprised Liu Ruozhu, her brow and eye corners showing a slight smile as she said, “Miss Liu, you don’t know, but Yan Shang has just become an official and is even renting the place next to my manor. He’s quite poor right now, and the teacher’s gift he could give to Minister Liu surely wouldn’t be enough to express his gratitude. Of course, I should help him prepare this gift properly.

“Miss Liu is kind-hearted, so please don’t tell your grandfather the truth. Just say it’s from Yan Shang.”

Liu Ruozhu hesitantly nodded, and seeing Princess Danyang’s relaxed expression, couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness… why do you want to help Second Brother Yan send a teacher’s gift?”

Mu Wanyao turned her shoulder, already planning to return to her manor. Her eyes were like flowing water as she looked at the young lady below the steps.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes sparkled bewitchingly – even Liu Ruozhu, being a lady herself, was stunned by her beauty.

She heard Princess Danyang say carelessly, “You can find whatever reason to convince yourself.”

Leaving Liu Ruozhu still standing in the alley, Mu Wanyao had already returned to her manor. Watching Xia Rong lead the maids carrying the congratulatory gifts out, she felt a slight excitement in her heart and patted her face to encourage herself.

Although she had initially been outdone by Liu Ruozhu’s cultivation, her later performance was both noble and generous, both casual yet not perfunctory, steadily maintaining the upper hand in the presence… She was very satisfied with her performance.

In this round, she hadn’t lost!

She wasn’t unworthy of Yan Shang! —

Yan Shang missed the “City of Fire” ceremony before the fifth watch but fortunately didn’t make any mistakes at the court assembly.

Throughout the year, this was truly the first time Yan Shang saw all Great Wei officials wearing their official robes and attending court together. Standing outside Hanyuan Hall in the Secretariat’s ranks, being blown by the winter’s cold wind, Yan Shang endured his headache while glancing at the various official robes.

Except for a few officials like his teacher who could wear purple robes with gold jade belts, the other officials were arranged by rank – red, green, blue – in perfect order, following the Prime Minister to perform the grand ceremony to the Emperor above.

Last night was just the grand ceremony, and today’s New Year’s Court Assembly continued to celebrate the new year. Those foreign envoys also participated.

However, the foreign envoys were now all outside Hanyuan Hall, kneeling with the local officials to pay respects to the Son of Heaven. Those who could stand inside Hanyuan Hall now were all officials of the fifth rank and above who attended court daily. The Emperor sitting on the royal throne looked listless, clearly drained of energy by last night’s grand ceremony, and couldn’t quite muster enthusiasm for today’s New Year’s Court Assembly.

Afterward, Minister Liu, as the head of all officials, read the congratulatory memorial, leading all officials in bowing to the Emperor.

Even as Yan Shang’s head ached, he felt the solemnity of heaven and earth, hearing only his teacher’s resonant and high-spirited voice coming from within Hanyuan Hall. Following all officials under the ceremonial officer’s guidance, he would kneel at times, bow at times, and take measured steps at times.

The banners fluttered fiercely, making the official robes wrinkle against people’s bodies.

Yan Shang looked toward Hanyuan Hall, forcing himself to focus on listening to his teacher’s voice.

The surrounding officials of the same rank who couldn’t enter Hanyuan Hall looked up enviously, thinking that if they could enter Hanyuan Hall to attend court in this life, they would have no regrets. But Yan Shang was listening to the content of his teacher’s words – besides the routine congratulatory words, there were also quotes from the sages, advising all civil and military officials.

“When Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals, treacherous ministers and villainous sons feared.”

The way of ruler and subject, the way of the people’s livelihood.

All were written in the thousand-word congratulatory memorial.

However, looking at the expressions of the surrounding officials, Yan Shang sighed softly in his heart, wondering how many had truly listened to the content of this congratulatory memorial.

…This congratulatory memorial was written by Yan Shang.

But this was an internal matter of the Secretariat, not worth announcing to others —

After attending half a day of court assembly and enjoying songs and dances, Yan Shang had originally wanted to ask what had happened at last night’s grand ceremony after the assembly dispersed. But he really couldn’t hold on any longer, afraid he might embarrass himself, so he had to leave after the assembly dispersed, only managing to hurriedly apologize to Minister Liu in his haste.

Having not eaten for a day, upon returning to his manor, Yan Shang immediately vomited, bringing up only acid water.

But vomiting made him feel somewhat better.

After forcing himself to wash up, he lay down on the couch, closing his eyes and breathing heavily, wanting to rest for a while. In his hazy state, perhaps finally feeling a bit better, he drifted off to sleep intermittently.

After who knows how many hours, he seemed to feel a hand on his forehead, cool and refreshing.

He opened his eyes to see Mu Wanyao bending over him. One hand rested on his forehead while her shoulder was turned to the side as she asked the physician about his condition.

When Yan Shang opened his eyes, she sensed it and turned back to look at him, the worry in her eyes fading to joy: “You’re awake? Yun Shu said you vomited as soon as you returned and haven’t eaten all day. Are you feeling any better now?”

Yan Shang’s face was red with embarrassment as he apologized to Mu Wanyao and said he was fine, that nothing was wrong anymore. Mu Wanyao didn’t believe him and insisted the court physician check his pulse. Only when she heard the physician hesitantly say “The young master was merely drunk before” did she reluctantly let the physician leave.

Then when servants brought porridge, Mu Wanyao watched Yan Shang eat it, and only when she saw color return to his pale face did she finally feel relieved.

Yan Shang put down the porridge bowl and looked apologetically at Mu Wanyao. His hand lightly touched her sleeve as he said, “It’s my fault for making Your Highness worry.”

Mu Wanyao was still angry: “If I had known you’d be like this, I would rather have had you take sick leave than attend any court assembly. What’s so important about that? When you become a fifth-rank official, you’ll have to attend court assemblies every day – it’s nothing special.”

Yan Shang said gently: “I’m grateful Your Highness woke me up. At the New Year’s Court Assembly, I made several new friends, so it wasn’t a wasted trip. I probably just felt unwell because of the wind during the day, but I’m better now.”

Seeing him like this, Mu Wanyao said coldly: “Anyway, including yesterday and today, officials have a total of seven days’ holiday. I want you to stay properly at home for the next five days to recover. If you still want to go out and about, I’ll… I’ll…”

Because just a touch of alcohol had caused the current situation, Yan Shang felt both happy about Mu Wanyao’s concern for him and extremely embarrassed, thinking it would be too childish and laughable to take leave for such a thing.

Yan Shang negotiated with her: “Three days of rest should be enough. I still need to pay New Year’s visits to other officials, right? There are also feasts with friends – at most, I can excuse myself due to being unwell and return early… but I can’t keep refusing to go. Your Highness, please don’t be angry.”

Mu Wanyao widened her eyes: “You’re still trying to negotiate with me? No, listen to me!”

She became forceful, lifting her chin in a posture ready to argue with him. Yan Shang looked at her with his dark eyes for a long while, but only sighed and conceded: “Then at least let me write some letters to explain the situation to people, alright?”

Mu Wanyao broke into a smile and nodded in agreement.

Afterward, Mu Wanyao forced Yan Shang to lie in bed and sleep, but after she chased him to bed, he couldn’t fall asleep. He opened his eyes to see her lying prone at the bedside, and when she saw his eyes open, she glared at him with an “I caught you” expression.

Mu Wanyao said sternly: “I told you to rest, why aren’t you sleeping properly?”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes and said softly: “How can I sleep with Your Highness here?”

Mu Wanyao was stunned, then blushed and burst out laughing. She said with a smile: “Then let me keep you company and talk for a while.”

She reached out and held his fingers. While playing with his fingers, Mu Wanyao’s little finger hooked his fingertip, again and again. Yan Shang’s face reddened and his breathing became uneven from her teasing. He coughed once, but Mu Wanyao held his hand, not letting him pull away.

Looking down, she asked: “It’s strange though – even people drinking for the first time aren’t usually like you. How did you end up with such poor alcohol tolerance?”

Yan Shang hesitated for a moment.

Mu Wanyao looked up at him, raising her eyebrows: “What, you can’t tell me?”

Yan Shang sighed and shook his head: “It’s not that. It’s just some minor matters – if Your Highness wants to know, you might as well know.”

Leaning against the bedpost, he lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembling like feathers as he spoke of past events: “It was when I was young, around seven or eight years old, when my mother’s health began to fail. My father was busy taking care of my mother, seeking medical treatment everywhere for her illness. My elder brother was all about wielding swords and spears, my third brother was rough-minded, and my little sister was only three or four years old at the time. To help my father share the burden, I was the one constantly taking care of my little sister.

“Perhaps I wasn’t very good at taking care of people then, and being afraid that I wouldn’t take good care of my little sister, I was always forbidding her from doing this or touching that. One time, Xiaozhou became very unhappy and while playing around with me, accidentally pushed me into a wine vat.

“Every household there made wine, and the vats were about as tall as half an adult. I don’t know how I fell in, but the wine went right over my head, and I couldn’t struggle free.”

Mu Wanyao’s eyes suddenly widened, and she gripped his wrist tightly. He glanced up at her with a reassuring smile and continued remembering:

“Later my elder brother rescued me. I heard him say afterward that Xiaozhou had fainted from crying at the time. Then I was sick for a month, and fearing that my parents would scold Xiaozhou, I made a pact with my little sister not to tell anyone about this, saying I had fallen in by myself carelessly.”

Mu Wanyao said: “Your sister looks so well-behaved, but she was so terrible as a child, too awful!”

Yan Shang smiled: “Actually, it turned out well. After that, my little sister became especially obedient to me, making it much easier to take care of her.

“However, the unfortunate thing is that although my father took us children everywhere seeking treatment for my mother, she still passed away early. As for me… ever since I nearly drowned in wine, I couldn’t touch any alcohol anymore. I suppose it’s some kind of physical aversion, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Mu Wanyao immediately grabbed his hand and shook it, feeling both regretful and guilty, promising him: “I won’t drink alcohol anymore in the future.”

Yan Shang smiled gently and said: “…Occasional small drinks are fine. I…”

He hesitated for a moment, then said: “Not being able to touch a drop of alcohol isn’t a good thing. I still need to try to overcome it… I should overcome it.”

Mu Wanyao was amazed at this almost torturous self-demand of his, but since he couldn’t change, she said nothing more. However, mentioning his little sister reminded her of something, and she said: “But when I was in Lingnan, your sister sent me wine, saying it was made by your family. If you can’t drink alcohol, why does your sister make wine?”

Yan Shang sighed: “How could I let Xiaozhou carry a lifelong shadow just because I can’t touch alcohol? Of course, I coaxed and deceived her into forgetting what happened in childhood, letting her think my inability to drink was something that came later. Besides, it’s just that I can’t touch it – how could I not let others in the family touch it?”

Mu Wanyao tilted her head back, and under the candlelight, her eyes were glistening as she gazed at him intently.

Yan Shang blushed under her intense gaze, and only after some self-reflection did he ask: “…Did I say something wrong?”

Mu Wanyao held his hand and looked up, murmuring: “I wish I could be your sister.”

Yan Shang couldn’t help but laugh.

He chided teasingly: “Talking nonsense again.”

Mu Wanyao pulled his hand to her chest, letting him feel her heartbeat and sincerity: “It’s true, being your sister would be wonderful. I’m so envious of how you protect Yan Xiaozhou.”

Yan Shang quickly withdrew his hand and helped adjust her collar before moving his hand away. His extremely flustered movements made Mu Wanyao look at him in confusion. She saw him shift several steps toward the inner side of the bed, his face redder than before.

Mu Wanyao stared at him blankly, and he glanced up at her once before finally saying after a long while: “You… just now… my hand, it touched your chest.”

Mu Wanyao: “…”

She looked down at her half-exposed bosom and shoulders, then back up at Yan Shang’s evasive gaze, and remained speechless for a long time.

After a while, she snickered: “You don’t have a bone for enjoyment in your body.”

Her eyes twinkled as she smiled sweetly: “Shall big sister help you become more worldly?”

Yan Shang: “Don’t talk nonsense. Who’s my big sister?”

Mu Wanyao widened her enchanting eyes and said: “You’re quite the ungrateful one. Who was it that called me ‘Sister Yao Yao’ before? Now you don’t acknowledge it after getting out of bed?”

Yan Shang’s face flushed red: “…Don’t talk nonsense, we didn’t get into bed.”

Without another word, Mu Wanyao kicked off her shoes and got onto the bed. Without pulling down the curtains, she leaned forward and pressed him down beneath her. She massaged his neck, kissing lightly behind his ear while whispering suggestions about letting him touch her.

He kept refusing, so Mu Wanyao bit her lip and smiled: “If you don’t dare to touch now, how will you dare to paint ‘peonies’ on my chest in the future?”

Yan Shang was stunned: “You… want me to paint? You weren’t just teasing me?”

Seeing him like this, Mu Wanyao suddenly felt discouraged. She lifted the curtain and said whimsically: “Forget it, I might as well find someone else… ah!”

She was caught around the waist from behind and pulled back. Yan Shang embraced her from behind, pressing against her neck as he said softly: “…I’ll try my best, don’t look for others.”

Mu Wanyao lowered her head and smiled, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she pressed her fingers against his hands: “Don’t just talk without action, Brother Yan Er.”

The red candles flickered as the curtains were lowered, filling the room with warm fragrance, intoxicating—

Yan Shang soon learned what had happened at the New Year’s Eve grand ceremony.

Before the seven-day official holiday was over, he often went to Minister Liu’s residence to seek guidance from his teacher. When the central government finally reopened for business, Yan Shang returned to the Secretariat and immediately discussed with his teacher about the Wuman king wanting Princess Danyang for a political marriage.

In the Secretariat, while reviewing historical records, Yan Shang carried books to find Minister Liu.

As the two walked and talked in the courtyard about the matter of political marriage, Yan Shang said: “Throughout history, there has never been a case of a princess entering into political marriage twice. This violates propriety and would bring shame to Great Wei.”

Minister Liu made a sound of agreement and said: “But throughout history, there has also never been a case of a princess in a political marriage returning home midway. According to proper etiquette, Princess Danyang should now be in Wuman, not in Great Wei’s Chang’an, and shouldn’t be actively participating in government affairs like this, still able to discuss her fate at the grand ceremony.”

Yan Shang said: “Teacher, do you mean the princess should go for the political marriage? Wuman is just a small country – it was already laughable to send a real princess for a political marriage back then, let alone this princess being a legitimate daughter. I don’t know the details of what happened back then, so I won’t discuss that, but I do know that if we let the princess enter into a political marriage again this time, it would show Great Wei’s incompetence, our ruler and officials’ incompetence. Great Wei cannot suffer such humiliation.”

Minister Liu looked at the locust tree in the courtyard and said thoughtfully: “It can’t exactly be called humiliation. Wuman has always had traditions of ‘shared wives’ and ‘inheriting the queen.’ That’s their tradition, and for them, welcoming the princess back to Wuman is probably natural. If you try to discuss propriety with them, they won’t understand.”

Yan Shang was silent for a moment before saying: “I will research books and ask people these days to understand exactly what their traditions are like.”

Minister Liu looked at him: “And then?”

Yan Shang said slowly: “Then convince everyone that the princess cannot go for the political marriage.”

Minister Liu looked coldly at his young student.

He said slowly: “Why are you so concerned about this matter? This isn’t something you should be involved with… Do you have a romantic relationship with Princess Danyang?”

Yan Shang looked up.

He said: “Yes.”

Minister Liu’s pupils contracted, his gaze instantly turning sharp. He had suspected this but hadn’t dared to be certain. However, Yan Shang admitted it personally… After a long while, Minister Liu could only smile bitterly and say: “Su Chen, you are truly too bold. Daring to have a relationship with a princess meant for a political marriage, and even daring to admit it to me… I don’t know if you’re being low-key or high-profile.”