Even with Emperor Tai’an’s deep composure, hearing these words left him momentarily stunned.

Grand Eunuch Liu Chuan, who had been silently attending at the side, nearly couldn’t suppress a cough.

Was this person here to compete with His Majesty for a son-in-law?

After an awkward silence, Emperor Tai’an spoke: “Is the Prince referring to Yang Zhe, Compiler Yang?”

The Prince of Yuliu revealed an innocent smile: “This humble prince only knows his surname is Yang, and that he was your esteemed nation’s top scholar from last year’s examinations.”

The corner of Liu Chuan’s eye twitched.

Didn’t even know his name but already took a fancy to him—these Yuliu people truly had no sense of propriety.

Emperor Tai’an stared at the Prince of Yuliu, pondering whether the other’s ignorance was genuine or feigned: “The Prince, being newly arrived in Great Zhou, may not yet know that Compiler Yang and Princess Yi’an will be wed very soon.”

“Scholar Yang is betrothed to Princess Yi’an?” The Prince of Yuliu was greatly surprised.

Emperor Tai’an smiled: “If the Prince stays a while longer, you’ll even be able to attend their wedding banquet.”

The Prince of Yuliu couldn’t hide his disappointment: “Then my royal sister and Scholar Yang simply have no fate together. When my royal sister learns this news, she will surely be saddened.”

“Great Zhou has many fine young men. Once Princess Lingque recovers from her injury, she can take her time choosing.”

The Prince of Yuliu bowed deeply: “When the time comes, we humbly ask that Your Majesty help us discern quality.”

Emperor Tai’an smiled in agreement. After the Prince of Yuliu departed, he put away his smile and fell into deep thought.

Silence filled the hall, broken only by the faint, steady ticking from the great clock that had traveled across the seas. After an unknown length of time, Emperor Tai’an looked toward Liu Chuan: “Go find out when Princess Lingque and Yang Zhe had contact.”

“Yes.”

Liu Chuan departed on his errand and soon returned with information.

“Your Majesty, today several Yuliu scholars were at a teahouse competing in couplet-matching with our people. Their words were extremely arrogant, but in the end it was Compiler Yang who stepped forward and deflated the Yuliu people’s pride. Princess Lingque was present at the time—it must have been then that she became infatuated with Compiler Yang…”

After listening carefully to everything Liu Chuan had learned, Emperor Tai’an shook his head: “It seems they have too much idle time on their hands.”

In Emperor Tai’an’s view, this was merely a minor incident. Knowing that Yang Zhe was already betrothed, they surely couldn’t forcibly seize him. Meanwhile, when the Prince of Yuliu returned to the guest quarters, his disappointed expression had long vanished.

“Now the Emperor of Great Zhou knows that my royal sister has feelings for Scholar Yang.”

Princess Lingque’s delicate eyebrows lifted slightly: “Does this mean the Emperor of Great Zhou will soon learn about my encounter with Yang Zhe today?”

“Most certainly.” Thinking of Princess Lingque’s scheme, the Prince of Yuliu felt somewhat uneasy. “Are you truly confident that doing this will fulfill your wishes?”

Princess Lingque toyed with her neatly trimmed fingernails, smiling carelessly: “I’m a poor little girl who’s lost her memory—I can be shameless. But would the dignified Emperor of Great Zhou really have the nerve to be equally shameless?”

“Then I wish you every success, royal sister.” The Prince of Yuliu raised his teacup, sincerely admiring how thoroughly Princess Lingque could throw away all restraint.

The next day, just as Yang Zhe reached the entrance to his office, someone called out: “Scholar Yang, please wait!”

Hearing the voice, Yang Zhe looked over to see a young woman dressed in Yuliu attire approaching, followed by two Yuliu guards.

The young woman came closer, performed a Yuliu courtesy, and said in a clear voice: “This servant is Princess Lingque’s personal palace maid. I’ve come to find Scholar Yang today to deliver a gift on behalf of the Princess.”

A gift?

The young woman in foreign dress was already drawing attention, and upon hearing these words, people entering and leaving the government office couldn’t help but slow their pace.

They wanted to hear what this was about.

Yang Zhe’s gaze swept across the exquisite small box the Yuliu palace maid was holding, and he said coolly: “Yang has never had any contact with the Princess. I dare not accept a gift from her.”

The Yuliu palace maid raised her eyebrows in astonishment and elevated her voice: “How can you say there’s no contact? Just yesterday, Scholar Yang exchanged sentiments with our Princess, and so many people witnessed it!”

At these words, the colleagues who had stopped exchanged glances with one another.

Yang Zhe’s expression turned cold: “I have never had any dealings with your nation’s Princess. What basis does Miss have for such words?”

The Yuliu palace maid wore an angry expression: “Yesterday at the teahouse, the one who matched couplets with Scholar Yang was our Princess. The Princess was smitten with Scholar Yang at first sight and used the first line of a couplet to test Scholar Yang’s feelings. Scholar Yang provided the second line in response—in our Yuliu, this counts as a mutual pledge of lifelong commitment. How can you turn around and deny it now?”

“Yesterday, Yang merely matched couplets and had absolutely no other intentions. Please convey to the Princess that Yang already has a marriage contract. She should not make such jokes again.” Having said this, Yang Zhe strode quickly into the government office.

“Wait!”

The Yuliu palace maid tried to chase after him but was stopped by the guards: “This is a government office—an important place. Miss, please stop here.”

“You Great Zhou people have no integrity!” The Yuliu palace maid stamped her foot and turned to run off.

The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, which eventually transformed into envy of the top scholar.

Marrying a Great Zhou princess and still attracting a Yuliu princess—only the talented and handsome top scholar could have such romantic fortune.

As for whether Princess Lingque might snatch away the top scholar, no one actually thought that. They simply spread the story of what happened at the government office entrance with an attitude of enjoying the spectacle.

This kind of gossip always traveled fast. After just one day, word reached the ears of the威武侯府. Mother Kou urgently dispatched someone to send word to Princess Yi’an.

Princess Yi’an received the message and hurried back to the marquis manor.

“Mother, your letter said Yang Zhe was caught up in rumors. What exactly happened?”

Mother Kou relayed what she’d heard. Princess Yi’an’s face frosted over, and she slammed her hand heavily on the table: “How utterly shameless!”

“Exactly! I’ve never heard of anyone directly dispatching their personal palace maid to someone’s door, and in broad daylight on the street at that.”

Although she’d heard that Yang Zhe refused without hesitation, Mother Kou still felt it was disgraceful.

“It’s also strange—could that Yuliu princess really not know that Yang Zhe is betrothed to you?”

Princess Yi’an sneered coldly: “She clearly knows, which is precisely why she’s deliberately trying to vex me!”

Seeing her stand up, Mother Kou quickly asked: “Jiaojiao, where are you going?”

Afraid Mother Kou would nag, Princess Yi’an didn’t mention she was going to settle accounts with Princess Lingque, and deflected: “I’m returning to the palace to tell Imperial Grandmother.”

“Don’t cry and make a scene with the Empress Dowager—” Mother Kou hastily called out a warning.

Princess Yi’an boarded her sedan chair and instructed: “To Honglu Guest Quarters.”

Before long, the sedan chair stopped in front of the guest quarters. Princess Yi’an descended and, surrounded by her attendants, walked forward.

Princess Yi’an had come just two days earlier to visit the head-injured Princess Lingque. The gatekeeper recognized her at a glance and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

“I’ve come to visit Princess Lingque. Please announce my arrival.”

The gatekeeper’s expression was strange: “Princess Lingque went out early this morning. Later, the Prince of Yuliu went out to look for her, and neither has returned yet.”

“Both are absent?” Upon hearing this, Princess Yi’an’s anger flared up.

Was this a guilty conscience hiding away, or had she gone to pester Yang Zhe again?

With a cold expression, she turned to leave, only to encounter the Prince of Yuliu head-on.

“Princess Lingque didn’t return with the Prince?”

The Prince of Yuliu stared at Princess Yi’an, suspicion flashing in his eyes: “Princess Yi’an is looking for my royal sister?”

“Princess Lingque was injured. I’ve been very concerned, so I came to visit.” Princess Yi’an spoke these polite words while growing increasingly angry inside.

What was with the Prince of Yuliu’s expression?