After leaving Jinxiu Garden, Zhao Sui had no further reason to travel together with Yao Lin’s group of three. He could only clasp his hands in farewell.

Before turning around, he glanced at the painting in Miss Yao’s hand.

Yao Huang understood the meaning of this glance. Li Tingwang had some guesses. Yao Lin watched Lord Zhao’s tall and upright figure with lingering interest.

With the outsider gone, Li Tingwang wanted to snatch the painting from Yao Huang’s hand. Yao Huang immediately put the painting behind her back while simultaneously calling for her brother to help block Li Tingwang.

Yao Lin protected his sister, looking at Li Tingwang with incomprehension: “She doesn’t want to show you. Why are you snatching?”

Li Tingwang often made his sister angry. Some matters Yao Lin knew about, while others neither of them would tell him. But they had happy times more often, and moreover, every time Li Tingwang angered his sister, he himself would get beaten by her. Plus, Li Tingwang always had ways to placate his sister, so Yao Lin didn’t interfere much with these minor scuffles.

But his sister had already clearly refused, so Yao Lin wouldn’t let Li Tingwang bully his sister in front of him.

Li Tingwang couldn’t get the painting and helplessly gave up.

Returning to the front of the carriage, Li Tingwang had Yao Lin drive.

Yao Lin didn’t think much of it, but Yao Huang did. So she sat down next to her brother, her hands protecting the painting in her arms, and said to Li Tingwang, who sat at the carriage door staring intently at her: “If you dare snatch it one more time, I’ll call my brother and we’ll get off the carriage. You can go home by yourself. And from now on, you don’t need to come find us to play anymore either.”

Li Tingwang: “Is the painting very ugly? Otherwise, why wouldn’t you dare show me?”

This kind of talk was relatively normal coming from Li Tingwang’s dog mouth. Yao Huang wasn’t angry at all and admitted: “Yes, but no matter how ugly, it’s still Lord Zhao’s kind intention. It’s also the first portrait gift I’ve received in my entire life. I’m willing to treasure it like a precious object.”

Li Tingwang: “The painting is ugly, but Lord Zhao’s appearance is first-rate. You couldn’t have taken a fancy to him, could you?”

Yao Huang: “Whether I have or not has nothing to do with you.”

Li Tingwang: “It truly has nothing to do with me, but you’re my best brother’s sister, so I must warn you. Lord Zhao definitely comes from a prestigious family. These kinds of prestigious family sons are best at pleasing girls like you—who have some beauty and are easily dazzled by wealth and good looks. The fear is that while you’re thinking about marrying him as a wife, he actually only wants to take you as a concubine, or might not even be willing to give you the status of a concubine.”

Yao Huang smiled: “Young Master Li really thinks too highly of me. I’m so fat and ugly—where would any beauty come from? Lord Zhao was purely sympathizing with me wanting a painting but being unable to afford it, so he kindly gifted me the painting. On the other hand, Young Master Li acts respectful and proper in front of Lord Zhao, but behind his back speaks ill of him having ulterior motives. Is this the conduct of a gentleman?”

Li Tingwang’s expression changed. He was just about to clarify that he didn’t think Yao Huang was fat and ugly at all when he saw Yao Huang jump off the still-moving carriage without hesitation.

Yao Lin hurriedly stopped the carriage.

Yao Huang stood several steps away, looking directly at Li Tingwang: “From now on, I never want to see you again.”

Li Tingwang felt chilled all over.

Yao Lin also jumped down: “What’s this about? It’s just one painting. Where are you two going with all this?”

Yao Huang looked at her brother again: “However you want to call each other brothers outside, I don’t care. But if you ever bring him into our home again, I won’t acknowledge you as my brother either.”

Still not relieved, Yao Huang removed the peony silk flower from her hair, threw it on the ground, and viciously ground it with her feet several times: “This is a silk flower I earned myself, but unfortunately it was touched by the hands of the person I hate most. So I can only discard it too. Fortunately, time was rushed and Lord Zhao didn’t paint this silk flower in. Otherwise, right now I would even tear up this painting!”

After speaking, Yao Huang walked rapidly forward.

Yao Lin glared at Li Tingwang and hurried to chase after his sister.

Li Tingwang drove the carriage to catch up with the siblings, apologizing to Yao Huang repeatedly. He didn’t dare mention Lord Zhao or that painting even once. Because Yao Huang wouldn’t even glance at him, Li Tingwang jumped off the carriage and blocked Yao Huang’s path, pointing at his own face: “Blame my rotten mouth. Yao Yao, hit me twice. After hitting me, you won’t be angry anymore, alright?”

Yao Huang: “Unless you can convince your father to make things difficult for my father at the military camp, I will never acknowledge you again.”

Standing so close, Li Tingwang was nearly frozen by the coldness in Yao Huang’s eyes.

His father wasn’t that kind of person. He was even less that kind of person. How could Yao Huang think of him this way…

From Jinxiu Garden to Changshou Alley was seven or eight li. Yao Huang walked back step by step following her brother.

This distance wasn’t much for Yao Lin. Yao Huang usually ran and jumped around a lot, so walking didn’t feel tiring. Moreover, walking more was good—it gave her enough time to calm down the anger Li Tingwang had stirred up. As for Li Tingwang, who still wanted to follow the siblings, he had long been scolded away by Yao Lin.

Yao Lin had originally thought his sister, as before, was just temporarily angry and wanted to plead on Li Tingwang’s behalf. But his sister’s tearful statement “He always humiliates me” made Yao Lin completely cast Li Tingwang to the ninth heaven.

They couldn’t mention Li Tingwang. Yao Lin thought of Lord Zhao: “He couldn’t really have taken a fancy to my sister, could he?”

Yao Huang: “What’s wrong with taking a fancy to me? Am I not beautiful enough to be worthy of his fancy? Or do you also think that because our father’s official position is low, I can only marry an ordinary person?”

Yao Lin: “Not at all! My Yao Yao is the best in the world. Even marrying a duke or marquis would be the duke or marquis’s good fortune!”

Yao Huang was coaxed into smiling by her brother. Seeing no one around, she carefully unrolled the painting paper to show her brother.

Yao Lin’s eyes widened: “It’s painted this well? Those two painters’ terrible paintings are worth one tael of silver. With Lord Zhao’s painting skill, if he set up a stall, he could sell one painting for ten taels!”

Yao Huang: “Exactly. Just for this painting alone, I’ll be grateful to Lord Zhao for a lifetime.”

Yao Lin recalled that today, aside from giving his sister the painting, Lord Zhao hadn’t said much else to her. He agreed with his sister’s earlier statement that Lord Zhao had gifted the painting out of sympathy for their poverty. He also developed some dissatisfaction with Li Tingwang—rarely did Lord Zhao show such kindness, rarely was his sister so happy, yet Li Tingwang had to spoil the mood there.

By the time they returned to Changshou Alley, it was almost time for lunch. Luo Jinhua said with surprise: “I thought you would eat at a restaurant outside.”

Yao Lin glanced at his sister. Following his sister’s lead, he didn’t mention those disappointing matters.

Luo Jinhua looked at what her daughter held in her hand: “This is—”

Yao Huang smiled: “Jinxiu Garden has painters who paint for tourists. I helped a silk flower stall owner attract business and earned one tael of silver. I exchanged it for this painting.”

Yao Lin followed his sister’s lead completely, absolutely not exposing the truth, lest their mother also misunderstand that Lord Zhao had ulterior motives.

Luo Jinhua had read even fewer books than her daughter. After looking at her daughter’s painting, she just kept praising how good it was, and felt that although this one tael of silver was a bit expensive, it was worth it!

Having brought the painting into the open, in the afternoon Yao Huang went to a calligraphy and painting shop to have the shop’s master help her mount it.

The shop owner looked at the painting and expressed willingness to buy it for ten taels of silver. Yao Huang didn’t agree. The shop owner kept raising the price, increasing it all the way to one hundred taels.

Yao Huang’s heart pounded as she listened. She stopped the shop owner who still wanted to continue raising the price: “Don’t rush. Just help me mount it properly. If I really need money in the future, I’ll definitely sell the painting to you.”

The shop owner looked at the young lady’s fine cotton clothing and felt this matter still had some hope.

Zhao Sui didn’t know what Miss Yao had experienced after leaving Jinxiu Garden, because he had promised not to send anyone or personally track her.

After two consecutive days on duty, on the morning of the thirteenth of the third month, Consort Du sent someone with a message, inviting him to Yikun Palace.

After Zhao Sui finished handling official business at hand, he went.

Consort Du sized up Prince Hui standing before her, her mood quite complex.

Since his youth, Prince Hui had increasingly gained Emperor Yongchang’s favor. After achieving merit in the southern border, his glory immediately surpassed the unremarkable Prince Kang and the two younger brothers below who were still studying. Consort Du was unhappy about it, but wasn’t at all surprised that Princess Imperial Fucheng would take a fancy to Prince Hui as a son-in-law.

Consort Du still hoped for her own fourth son to become crown prince, so naturally she didn’t want Prince Hui to gain Princess Imperial Fucheng’s support. However, Princess Imperial Fucheng had first discussed it with Emperor Yongchang, then hypocritically asked her, his foster mother, to inquire about Prince Hui’s intentions. Consort Du could only comply.

“What do you think of this marriage?” Consort Du asked coolly, not believing Prince Hui would be foolish enough to refuse.

Zhao Sui asked in return: “I wonder if this matter is Mother Consort and Aunt’s idea, or does Father Emperor also have this intention?”

Consort Du said mockingly: “How could the Princess Imperial do something without certainty? The Emperor naturally agrees, so you can rest assured and accept.”

Zhao Sui: “Then this son will go see Father Emperor right now.”

Consort Du and the Princess Imperial were not on good terms. If he asked Consort Du to refuse the Princess Imperial’s proposal, when he clearly only said the two words “no intention,” Consort Du could embellish and add details, speaking a whole host of slanderous words damaging to both him and the Princess Imperial’s mother and daughter.

Consort Du was stunned. What did going to see Father Emperor mean?

However, the young Prince Hui had already turned and left, and paid no attention to her attempts to detain him.

The Imperial Study.

Emperor Yongchang had just finished seeing a minister. He rose from his seat to walk around once and was preparing to continue reviewing memorials when he heard Eunuch Wang say Prince Hui requested an audience.

Emperor Yongchang immediately thought his second son had come about the marriage matter and smiled: “Announce him.”

Zhao Sui came before the imperial presence. First, he paid his respects: “This son pays respects to Father Emperor.”

Emperor Yongchang waved his hand and sat in his chair, looking at his second son opposite him with outstanding grace and bearing: “The Consort told you everything?”

Zhao Sui glanced at Father Emperor and said: “Yes. It’s just that this son has not a trace of romantic feelings toward my cousin. As for Aunt’s side, this son must trouble Father Emperor to decline on this son’s behalf.”

Emperor Yongchang truly hadn’t expected his second son would refuse. His niece’s appearance and family background were top-notch among all the prestigious young ladies in the capital. His second son usually didn’t go near women and didn’t go out of the manor to flirt. He seemed like the type willing to obey parental orders. How could…

“But you’re already twenty, at the age to start a family. If you don’t like Yuanzhen, then tell me—what kind of princess consort do you want to marry?”

Marriage was a major life event. Emperor Yongchang wanted to make decisions for his son but wouldn’t force his son to marry someone he didn’t want to marry.

Zhao Sui lowered his eyes and said: “This son wants to marry a princess consort who makes this son’s heart fill with joy just by seeing her. Cousin is excellent, but to this son, Cousin is only a cousin.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded. He understood. It was just like those many selection ceremonies in the past—a whole room full of beautiful women and talented maidens. Some he saw and just liked, while others, no matter how beautiful, left his heart unmoved as still water.

“Then shall I arrange a selection ceremony for you? Just choosing from among the capital’s official families’ young ladies—that way will be faster.” Emperor Yongchang said considerately, his son’s thoughts coming first in his son’s marriage. Let the Princess Imperial be unhappy if she wanted.

Hearing this, Zhao Sui knelt down: “To be honest with Father Emperor, this son has already met a princess consort candidate that this son admires. It’s just that this son has not yet obtained her consent to marry, which is why this son hasn’t reported it to Father Emperor.”

Selection ceremonies wasted people’s resources and money—there was no need. He also didn’t want Miss Yao to suffer unnecessary grievances, anxiously wondering whether she could be chosen or not.

Emperor Yongchang’s interest was piqued. He looked at his second son, whom he’d always considered a bookworm, and asked: “Which family’s young lady? How did you meet?”

These were all matters Father Emperor could investigate and find out if he wanted. Zhao Sui couldn’t hide them, so he could only relate them briefly, including how he deliberately went to the martial academy to see her, including how he painted for her at Jinxiu Garden, and also including how Miss Yao wasn’t greedy for the honor of princess consort status and didn’t immediately agree to him, but instead proposed meeting more to try things out.

Emperor Yongchang said thoughtfully: “Her family background is too low. At most, she could be a secondary consort.”

Zhao Sui: “This son has already promised her the wife’s position as princess consort, and will not take concubines.”

Emperor Yongchang said with displeasure: “A dignified prince making such a weighty promise to a woman you’ve only met a few times—when did you learn from your third brother to be so easily dazzled by beauty?”

Whether light or heavy, the emperor’s anger required ministers to tremble with trepidation. Yet Zhao Sui’s expression didn’t change. He met Father Emperor’s gaze and explained: “This son doesn’t crave beauty. From childhood to now, countless palace maids have passed before this son. This son has never felt joy seeing a single one. Not liking them, this son doesn’t get involved with them. This son was born Father Emperor’s son, has enjoyed fine clothing and food since childhood. Father Emperor often asks this son if there are any rewards this son wants. This son lacks nothing, so this son seeks nothing.”

“Two years ago, war broke out in the southern border. Father Emperor couldn’t bear for this son to personally go to the battlefield and take risks, but this son wanted to go, so this son persisted in seeking Father Emperor’s permission.”

“Father Emperor, this son is indeed still young, but this son is very clear about this son’s own heart. When this son has no desires or requests, this son would rather refuse Father Emperor than perfunctorily agree with Father Emperor. If this son opens this son’s mouth to Father Emperor, then what this son seeks must be what this son’s heart truly desires. This son still hopes Father Emperor will grant this.”

He prostrated himself and kowtowed.

Emperor Yongchang felt in a trance, as if transported back to that scene two years ago when his second son pleaded in the great hall to personally go to the battlefield.

A son raised to eighteen years old, a son who in eighteen years had never proactively asked him for even a piece of cake or a single embrace, suddenly became determined that he absolutely had to go to the battlefield to gain experience.

How could Emperor Yongchang not clearly understand his second son’s temperament? How could he truly think he craved beauty and made promises lightly?

At the root of it all, he was still dissatisfied with that Miss Yao’s family background, feeling that a centurion’s daughter wasn’t worthy of his second son, flawless as fine jade.

But this was his second son’s second time in his entire life asking him for something. Emperor Yongchang couldn’t harden his heart to refuse outright.

“Get up. Didn’t you say that young lady might not necessarily be willing to marry you? Perhaps after more contact, she still won’t be willing. Why must you ask so early?”

Emperor Yongchang spoke in a deliberately gloating tone.

The young Prince Hui straightened from his kneeling position. When he looked at Emperor Yongchang, his eyes no longer held the determination from moments ago: “Does Father Emperor also think this son’s chances aren’t great?”

Emperor Yongchang: “…”

Which young lady truly couldn’t see the worth of his Sui’er? That young lady must be blind!