As a fellow newly appointed metropolitan graduate from last year, though Wen Feng couldn’t match the top scholar’s extraordinary brilliance of achieving triple first place, his learning was solid.
“Because of lotus, one obtains lotus root; with apricot, no need for plum”—with a moment’s thought, he could realize this was a homophonic couplet: “Why would one need a matchmaker when fortunate enough to obtain a partner?”
Could that young lady have taken a fancy to Yang Zhe?
The youth in the center calmly shifted his gaze away from Princess Lingque and looked at the several Yuliu scholars. “Are there more?”
The several people’s expressions became awkward as they hemmed and hawed, unable to speak.
Those upper couplets had been considered unmatchable absolutes in Yuliu, yet who would have thought Great Zhou’s top scholar would easily match them?
Yang Zhe smiled slightly and cupped his hands toward the Yuliu Prince. “In our Great Zhou, matching couplets is merely entertainment and games—there’s no talk of winning or losing. If your country’s talented scholars are interested, Yang would be happy to oblige at any time.”
Clearly Great Zhou had gained the upper hand, yet the Yuliu Prince laughed heartily. “Worthy of being the top scholar! You’ve let these arrogant ones see what it means that there are always people beyond oneself.”
“Then Yang will take his leave first.”
Hearing this exchange, the watching crowd immediately felt proud and vindicated, vigorously clapping their hands as Yang Zhe walked over.
Yang Zhe nodded modestly, his gaze sweeping through the crowd.
Han Baocheng walked beside him and said in a low voice, “I saw Brother Wen over there.”
The two changed direction and walked toward where Wen Feng and Lin Hao stood.
“Brother Wen—”
Han Baocheng had just opened his mouth when Wen Feng stopped him. “Let’s leave here before talking.”
The several people walked out quickly. After turning a corner, they finally escaped the countless pursuing gazes.
“Second Miss Lin, you’re here too.” Han Baocheng tried hard to assume a steady expression, yet didn’t realize the corners of his mouth were turned up high.
Wen Feng simply couldn’t bear to look, thinking to himself that those who knew understood he wanted to make a good impression on Ah Hao in order to marry the one in his heart, but those who didn’t know might think he had taken a fancy to Ah Hao.
For instance, Yang Zhe, who had faced Princess Lingque’s subtle overtures with an unchanged expression, now clearly paused for a moment, his gaze rippling slightly as it fell on Lin Hao’s face. “Second Miss Lin, it’s been a long time.”
Lin Hao’s lips held a distant, polite smile. “Top Scholar Yang, Young Master Han, it’s been a long time. I’ve been out for quite a while. I’ll head back first. You all chat slowly.”
Hearing Lin Hao was leaving, Han Baocheng became anxious. “Second Miss Lin—”
The rest of his words were scared back by Wen Feng’s sharp glare.
Watching Lin Hao walk away with longing eyes, Han Baocheng sighed, thinking to himself that he hadn’t had time to ask how Elder Miss Lin’s health was.
Yang Zhe lowered his brows, looking at Han Baocheng.
Seeing Yang Zhe like this, Wen Feng knew he had misunderstood, but he couldn’t explain. He couldn’t very well say Han Baocheng was concerned about Chan’er—after all, nothing had even begun yet.
Thinking instead about how Yang Zhe had once given Ah Hao a glass lantern, Wen Feng’s headache grew worse.
Why were all his friends like this!
Han Baocheng had no idea his failure to control his expression had caused his good friend to misunderstand. Instead, he worried for his friend. “Brother Yang, that young lady who stepped forward to pose a couplet—could she have taken a fancy to you?”
“Because of lotus, one obtains lotus root; with apricot, no need for plum.” This was clearly subtly conveying affection.
Wen Feng’s expression became serious.
So it wasn’t just his imagination.
Compared to his two friends’ worry, Yang Zhe still appeared calm and detached, lowering his eyelids slightly as he asked in return, “So what? I’m about to be married.”
Han Baocheng pressed his hand to his forehead. “I nearly forgot—you’re the prince consort. It doesn’t matter who takes a fancy to you.”
Wen Feng wasn’t so optimistic. “That young lady is from Yuliu. For her to step forward to pose a couplet, her status is probably not simple. Brother Yang, you should still be careful.”
Yang Zhe nodded slightly.
Lin Hao returned to the General’s Mansion and went straight to Jiaoyue Residence.
“Second Sister, you’ve seen the shop?”
“I’ve seen it. The location is quite good.”
“I heard the steward say that right across from that shop is a particularly large rouge and powder shop. Since Second Sister wants to sell floral waters, won’t that overlap with the shop across? Doesn’t that make the location less than ideal?”
Lin Hao smiled. “This makes it even better. That shop already has stable customer traffic—the customers who come are all going to buy rouge and powder. As long as our family’s floral water is superior, we won’t lack for customers.”
Compared to the dazzling array of goods across the street, Lin’s Fragrance and Powder Shop planned to specialize in selling only floral water in the future—the two shops actually weren’t really competitors.
Seeing Lin Hao so confident, Lin Chan couldn’t bear to discourage her and smiled. “Then let’s try it. It won’t take much capital anyway.”
Compared to losing capital, she was more worried that her brimming-with-confidence younger sister would cry if she lost money.
Lin Hao smiled broadly and took Lin Chan’s arm. “Elder Sister, I also encountered Young Master Han on the street.”
Lin Chan’s face reddened, losing her earlier composure. “If you encountered him, you encountered him.”
“Oh.” Lin Hao smiled.
After a while, Lin Chan’s voice lowered. “So what did you all say?”
After returning to the guest house, Princess Lingque tore off her veiled hat. Even her distress about her hair not having grown back yet had lightened. “I didn’t expect the plan to go so smoothly. Royal Brother, you must reward Tianming and the others properly.”
The Yuliu Prince smiled neither warmly nor coldly. “Is Royal Sister satisfied with Great Zhou’s top scholar?”
Princess Lingque raised her chin slightly, her face showing undisguised determination to obtain what she wanted. “He was already a satisfactory choice to begin with. Seeing him in person, I’m even more satisfied. Royal Brother, quickly go propose to Great Zhou’s Emperor, lest that couplet reach Princess Yi’an’s ears and she becomes guarded.”
Under Princess Lingque’s urging, the Yuliu Prince soon entered the palace to request an audience with Emperor Tai’an.
Upon hearing the Yuliu Prince requested an audience, Emperor Tai’an’s first reaction was Princess Lingque’s injury.
“Summon him in.”
Before long, the Yuliu Prince entered the hall and saluted Emperor Tai’an.
“Prince, no need for such formality.” Emperor Tai’an gestured for an inner attendant to bring over a brocade stool and invited the Yuliu Prince to sit, then asked about Princess Lingque’s condition.
The Yuliu Prince’s face showed worry. “Royal Sister is fine in all other respects, but to this day she cannot remember the past, which is very troubling.”
Emperor Tai’an’s eyes flashed.
So he had come to demand benefits.
Between nations, there was only talk of interests. It would actually be strange if Yuliu didn’t take advantage of Princess Lingque’s injury to demand some benefits. Ever since Princess Lingque’s accident, he had known this scene was coming—it just depended on how outrageously the other party would demand.
Emperor Tai’an said apologetically, “For such a thing to happen was truly unexpected. However, I believe Princess Lingque is blessed by heaven and will remember sooner or later.”
The Yuliu Prince couldn’t maintain his composure as well as Emperor Tai’an and twitched his mouth upon hearing this.
She’ll remember sooner or later?
Was this nonsense meant to comfort a three-year-old child?
The Yuliu Prince sighed. “This prince also believes Royal Sister is fortunate. However, when we return to Yuliu and Father King learns of Royal Sister’s condition, there’s truly no way to give an explanation!”
Emperor Tai’an quietly waited for the Yuliu Prince to continue his performance.
The Yuliu Prince paused, then said, “Royal Sister has loved and yearned for your country’s culture since childhood. Before departure, Father King laughingly said that if she met an outstanding man of Great Zhou and it made Royal Sister happy, staying in Great Zhou would also be acceptable. Perhaps it’s fate ordained by heaven—though Royal Sister has lost her memory, she has become smitten at first sight with a Great Zhou man. This prince was thinking that if they could form a happy union, it would be perfect for all.”
“I wonder whom Princess Lingque has become smitten with?” Emperor Tai’an asked impassively.
The Yuliu Prince raised his eyebrows, showing delight. “The one Royal Sister has her heart set on is your country’s top scholar from last year.”