Feng Qingyin — she was the legendary Eighth Miss Feng, the one who was said to be drawing close to a formal match with the Crown Prince.

All the Feng family members had come from Feng Manor — only Feng Qingyin had not.

She had originally been within the palace. Rumor had it that recently she had been staying in the Empress’s Xuanhua Hall.

Today, the Crown Prince had even personally escorted her here — such favor and regard was enough to make onlookers green with envy.

“They say the one who originally held the betrothal with the Crown Prince was Feng Jiu’er. Now look—”

The bystanders watched Feng Qingyin step down from the Crown Prince’s carriage, then cast a glance toward the hideously scarred Feng Jiu’er, and the mockery and contempt in their smiles sharpened to a fine edge.

“Two misses — one is the rosy clouds high in the heavens; the other is mud on the ground. Who the Crown Prince would choose goes without saying.”

“Indeed. With such repulsive looks, would marrying into the imperial family not bring shame upon the entire imperial house?”

“I heard it was only because the Crown Prince was infatuated with Feng Jiu’er as a child and made a hasty promise of marriage on impulse. A few days ago, the Crown Prince visited Feng Manor in person — one look at Feng Jiu’er’s appearance… and without another word, he returned to the palace and petitioned His Majesty to issue an imperial decree dissolving the engagement.”

“This engagement — if it were me, I’d dissolve it too! I’d dissolve it if it killed me!”

Expecting them to take such an ugly woman as a wife — would they not be plagued by nightmares for the rest of their lives?

If the engagement weren’t dissolved, surviving to the end of one’s days would be a challenge!

“That said — look at that simpleton’s figure. Say what you will, it’s truly not bad. If the candlelight were snuffed out at night…”

“Does Young Master Yuan have his eye on that little fool? Shall I accompany you to Feng Manor to make the formal request?”

“Get away, get away — this Young Master would have to be out of his mind to go to Feng Manor to propose a match. Unless, of course, it were for the Eighth Miss.”

“Are you mad? The Eighth Miss belongs to the Crown Prince — how do you dare say such things aloud?”

“Yes, yes, this Young Master spoke too hastily — nothing but a slip of the tongue, nothing more. Ha…”

Outside the gates the crowd was beyond counting, and so, although each person’s voice was not particularly soft, it was for the moment impossible to single out who had said what.

Zhan Yuheng paid no heed whatsoever to such idle gossip. Feng Qingyin heard it dimly and kept her face serene and unmoved, though inwardly, she could not have said how pleased she was.

“Crown Prince Brother, Qingyin’s health has already improved a great deal — Crown Prince Brother need not worry. Qingyin can go in by herself.”

These words had barely left her mouth when Feng Qingyin broke into several coughs.

A beauty was a beauty — even the sound of her coughing was so melodious and delicate.

The maidservant who had accompanied them immediately said: “Young Miss, your health is not yet fully recovered — you should not stand outside for too long.”

She looked toward Zhan Yuheng and dipped into a respectful bow: “Your Highness the Crown Prince, the sunlight outside is very strong. Your servant fears that the young miss’s constitution cannot withstand it.”

“It’s nothing — everyone else is waiting out here. I cannot be an exception. I… cough, cough, cough…”

“Go in.” Zhan Yuheng stepped forward.

That maidservant immediately supported the frail Feng Qingyin and followed along with a smile.

Yet as Zhan Yuheng passed by Feng Jiu’er, he instinctively paused.

He had been about to bring Jiu’er in with them — but unexpectedly, Feng Jiu’er turned her body to the side, averting her face, as though she simply hadn’t noticed them at all.

Zhan Yuheng only hesitated a moment before walking through the gates first.

The Imperial Academy had its own rules: all who entered here were equal students. Within the Academy, students need not observe distinctions of rank or superiority, nor were grand ceremonial salutes required.

And so, even when the Crown Prince arrived, the assembled students merely inclined their heads in a gesture of respect — no one performed a formal salute.

Feng Qingyin followed behind Zhan Yuheng. As she passed by Feng Jiu’er’s side, she suddenly stopped. Her eyes, shaped like phoenix feathers, settled on Feng Jiu’er — her cheeks flushed with sunlight — and she spoke with refined and graceful composure: “Jiu’er younger sister, I must follow Crown Prince Brother inside first. You… I will ask Crown Prince Brother in a moment to allow you to enter early as well, all right?”