When Qin Huaiyuan arrived at the study, Yuchi Yan was standing in the center with his hands clasped behind his back, head lowered in thought.

Today he wore an extremely ordinary light brown cotton robe, his hair neatly arranged and covered with a black net cap. He looked like a common wealthy family’s young master, completely different from his usual elegant and noble attire—clearly showing how cautious he had been in coming today.

Qin Huaiyuan deduced that Yuchi Yan had perhaps discovered spies around him.

Hearing footsteps, Yuchi Yan returned from his thoughts, turned to look at Qin Huaiyuan, and bowed with a smile: “Grand Tutor Qin.”

Qin Huaiyuan hurriedly performed a respectful grand salutation: “This subject pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Grand Tutor Qin need not be so formal.” Yuchi Yan helped him up with both hands, smiling: “Coming so abruptly, I wonder if I’m disturbing Grand Tutor Qin.”

“What words is Your Highness speaking? Your coming here brings honor to this humble residence. I wonder if Your Highness has urgent matters?”

The two sat in round chairs. Qi Tai served tea, then thoughtfully closed the door tightly and went to stand guard at the courtyard entrance.

Only then did Yuchi Yan furrow his brows: “Coming today, there are indeed two urgent matters. Prince Ning’s people received news from Xihua City—Great Zhou is again at war with us. Fighting has already begun at Xihua City.”

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan’s brows knitted deeply.

Xihua City was not far from the capital and was situated at an important port. Whether by land or water routes, Xihua was a crucial transportation hub. If Xihua City were breached, Great Yan’s destruction would accelerate dramatically.

Seeing Qin Huaiyuan’s grave expression, Yuchi Yan also sighed helplessly: “The two defending generals of Xihua City, both General Sun, are Grand Tutor Qin’s maternal uncles. I wonder how they are now.”

“Both maternal uncles are devoted to the country. The day they took up garrison at Xihua City, they embraced the determination to die rather than surrender. No matter what, only if we can hold Xihua do we have better chances of victory.” Qin Huaiyuan frowned: “This news comes timely. Presumably in a day or two, everyone in court will know, and then there will be another round of arguments. We can also discuss countermeasures in advance.”

Yuchi Yan nodded, saying somewhat helplessly: “What use are their arguments? Does Great Zhou fear our few curses? If cursing could truly be useful, I’d gladly learn to curse people every day. What’s important is being able to defeat Great Zhou. Prince Ning still intends to go on campaign, but Father Emperor hasn’t yet given permission.”

Qin Huaiyuan knew the Crown Prince’s willingness to discuss these matters with him showed trust, and he was grateful and moved. However, he dared not become too involved in affairs between imperial family members, so he lowered his voice to discuss countermeasures.

Discussing state affairs, both forgot the time. When everything was settled, the sky had already darkened.

Yuchi Yan, being a person who understood propriety, prepared to take his leave.

But just as he stood up, Yuchi Yan remembered another urgent matter.

With some embarrassment on his face, he said: “May I ask Grand Tutor, did my father emperor summon the young lady from your mansion into the palace today?”

The Emperor had summoned three people, but the Crown Prince only mentioned “the young lady.” Qin Huaiyuan gained some understanding.

“There was indeed such a matter. Why does Your Highness ask this?”

Yuchi Yan asked somewhat nervously: “Did Father Emperor… make things difficult for, er, scold the young lady from your mansion?”

Qin Huaiyuan had originally been puzzled about today’s sudden imperial desire to arrange Qin Yining’s marriage. Now hearing the Crown Prince ask this way, he became even more certain of his suspicions, though he didn’t know exactly what the Crown Prince had done to suddenly arouse the Emperor’s wariness.

So Qin Huaiyuan smiled, deliberately speaking in a relaxed tone: “To be frank, today His Majesty and the Empress summoned my daughter intending to arrange her marriage.”

Hearing this, Yuchi Yan was startled, then his face lit up with joy as he anxiously asked: “To whom does Father Emperor want to betroth your precious daughter?”

Qin Huaiyuan said: “Her Majesty the Empress said her family’s nephew and my daughter are naturally suited.”

Yuchi Yan’s joy froze on his face. His face, which had just carried some flush, became deathly pale in this moment. As his joyful emotions cooled, he no longer entertained wild fantasies or harbored inappropriate hopes. Thinking through the sequence of events, he suddenly slumped back into his chair, murmuring: “In the end, I’ve harmed both others and myself.”

Seeing the Crown Prince like this, Qin Huaiyuan’s heart skipped a beat.

With the Crown Prince acting this way, could he already have… with Yining?

Impossible—they had no opportunity to meet. If the Crown Prince had developed feelings after seeing Yining once, he could believe that. After all, as a man, he best understood male nature. Everyone has a love of beauty, and Yining was born so beautiful.

But they shouldn’t have developed to a deeper level. Why would the Crown Prince show such an expression?

“Your Highness, please forgive this subject’s presumption, but what exactly happened? This subject also doesn’t quite understand why His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress suddenly wanted to arrange a marriage today.”

At this moment, Yuchi Yan only thought Qin Yining was to be betrothed to Empress Cao’s nephew. How could he have the heart to think of anything else? Immediately disheartened, he said: “It’s my fault. After seeing Fourth Miss last time, I found her unforgettable. I returned and painted a portrait of her, but who knew that among my attendant eunuchs were people arranged by the Empress? She learned of this most secret matter. I knew she would certainly create obstacles for me, but I never imagined it would be like this.”

So that’s it!

Qin Huaiyuan immediately understood the Emperor’s wariness.

Looking at the Crown Prince’s dejected appearance, Qin Huaiyuan felt both angry and amused.

Actually, regarding Qin Yining’s marriage, he truly favored the person before him. After all, even without a marriage alliance with the Crown Prince, their relationship was already established—better to make it even closer.

Moreover, though the Crown Prince lacked great political vision, by nature he was an honest person, possessing a scholar’s righteousness and gentleness. If his daughter followed him, as long as she managed things well, life wouldn’t be difficult.

The Crown Prince was also the heir apparent, future emperor. Qin Huaiyuan thought that even though Great Yan now faced storms, however fiercely Great Zhou attacked, surely the country wouldn’t truly fall in the short term? All this was still undetermined, with room for effort and reversal.

Thinking this, Qin Huaiyuan comforted the Crown Prince with a smile: “Your Highness, I haven’t finished speaking. Though His Majesty intended to arrange the marriage, that young master from the Cao family behaved improperly before the throne, his conduct intolerable, causing my daughter to cry in shame and anger, nearly driving her to hang herself. So that marriage proposal was abandoned.”

“What?” Yuchi Yan sprang to his feet, asking anxiously: “Is Fourth Miss alright?”

The words having left his mouth, meeting Qin Huaiyuan’s somewhat teasing gaze, the Crown Prince’s face immediately flushed red. But regret was too late—his earlier words had already revealed his feelings. Now he simply stopped being circumspect: “To be honest with Grand Tutor, regarding Fourth Miss… it was love at first sight for me. Please forgive my presumption.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled: “His Highness the Crown Prince has a pure heart. Being able to favor my daughter is my daughter’s fortune.”

Hearing this, Yuchi Yan immediately beamed with joy: “Grand Tutor Qin, you mean you don’t oppose this matter?”

“Your Highness’s regard is a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes. This subject is grateful beyond measure—how could I oppose it?”

Yuchi Yan turned two circles on the spot before recovering his usual composure, clapping his hands: “Good! Since Grand Tutor Qin speaks thus, this prince will certainly not disappoint such kind intentions!”