Not only her, but Yun Jingshu also stared with unblinking eyes.

Liu Junqing was truly too handsome, and he always maintained a detached expression. In his white robes with gentle breezes, he seemed like an exiled immortal, not of this mortal world.

Liu Sujiang tugged at Yun Jingshu’s clothing. Yun Jingshu reluctantly withdrew her gaze, and Liu Sujiang curled her lips disdainfully, whispering: “Let’s go down and wait for Her Highness.”

Yun Jingshu’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. She followed Liu Sujiang down to the path with two palace maids, leaving space for Princess Fu’an and Liu Junqing.

This was Princess Fu’an’s first time alone with Liu Junqing. Her heart was incomparably sweet, with her heart racing like a startled deer. She stepped forward two paces: “Junqing, the weather is truly beautiful today.”

Liu Junqing replied indifferently: “Your Highness speaks truly.”

Princess Fu’an didn’t notice the distance and calmness in Liu Junqing’s tone at all, saying happily: “Junqing, yesterday when I heard Prince Huo Luo was coming to seek marriage, I was terrified. I was so afraid our engagement would be broken.”

Liu Junqing didn’t speak, instead looking down the mountain.

The temporary palace had scenery like a painting, but unfortunately, that person hadn’t come.

Why?

Was she deliberately deceiving him?

No, he truly didn’t believe she would do such a thing.

She would definitely come.

Princess Fu’an talked to herself for quite a while, then noticed that Liu Junqing was only looking down the mountain without responding. She inevitably felt uneasy—was he still angry with her?

“Junqing, what’s wrong?”

Liu Junqing came back to his senses: “Nothing.”

Seeing he showed no signs of annoyance, Princess Fu’an continued chattering, trying to attract his attention.

Suddenly, someone laughed: “Scholar Liu? Are you having a secret rendezvous with Fu’an here?”

Princess Fu’an turned around and saw two young men approaching. One was the Sixth Prince, and the other she didn’t recognize, but he was also extremely handsome and tall.

The speaker was the Sixth Prince.

Huo Luo was momentarily stunned, then bowed to Princess Fu’an: “So it’s Princess Fu’an—forgive my rudeness!”

Liu Junqing had seen Prince Huo Luo last night and exchanged greetings.

Huo Luo stared unblinkingly at Princess Fu’an with burning eyes: “So Noble Consort De spoke without the slightest exaggeration. Your Highness is indeed devastatingly beautiful with gorgeous features—a rare peerless beauty!”

Huo Luo’s words weren’t exaggerated. Consort Kang was beautiful, and Princess Fu’an was also beautiful. She was only thirteen and hadn’t fully matured yet, but given time, she would certainly be a devastatingly beautiful woman.

Princess Fu’an met Huo Luo’s intense gaze with both pride and some worry, glancing at Liu Junqing beside her: “Sixth Imperial Brother, Junqing and I happened to meet here and were just talking.”

Although Liu Junqing didn’t particularly like Princess Fu’an, he also detested how Huo Luo stared so nakedly at her. He stepped in front of Princess Fu’an, blocking her: “Prince Huo Luo, I’ve long admired your reputation!”

Prince Huo Luo withdrew his burning gaze and laughed heartily: “So this is the famous top scholar of our Great Zhou Dynasty, Liu Junqing? Indeed, seeing is better than hearing a hundred times! Not only outstanding in literary talent but also magnanimous in temperament. You and Princess Fu’an are truly a perfect match of talent and beauty!”

Princess Fu’an had just begun to feel happy when Liu Junqing maintained his indifferent expression: “I don’t deserve such praise!”

Zhou Qin smiled: “Prince Huo Luo, Father Emperor’s eye is naturally excellent. Uncle Liu and Fu’an are a perfect pair. Since you’re here, it seems we should leave. Prince Huo Luo, this way please!”

Liu Junqing felt very uncomfortable.

The Sixth Prince Zhou Qin was Qin Shuying’s nephew. Would he tell Qin Shuying that he and Princess Fu’an had disregarded propriety to have a secret rendezvous here?

Prince Huo Luo laughed heartily: “I originally thought only tribal women were straightforward and generous, boldly declaring their love without being coy. It turns out Princess Fu’an is also such a passionate and fiery woman—truly impressive!”

Princess Fu’an glanced at Liu Junqing with shy timidity, but noticed that Liu Junqing’s attention wasn’t on Huo Luo but on the mountain path opposite them.

Princess Fu’an took two steps forward and saw Qin Shuying climbing up with Ziteng.

Huo Luo laughed heartily several times. Before his laughter faded, Qin Shuying appeared before everyone, looking somewhat surprised: “Sixth Prince, Your Highness, you’re all here?”

Princess Fu’an felt anger rising in her heart, but with Liu Junqing present, she couldn’t show it.

Zhou Qin introduced Qin Shuying to Huo Luo: “This is Seventh Miss Qin, my mother consort’s legitimate cousin and Liang Zhe’s recently betrothed fiancée. Seventh Miss Qin, this is Prince Huo Luo.”

Huo Luo’s gaze toward Qin Shuying became somewhat complex. Qin Shuying greeted him with clear eyes and a pure smile.

Zhou Qin said: “Seventh Miss Qin, let’s go down. Uncle Liu and Fu’an have things to discuss, so we shouldn’t be in the way.”

Qin Shuying smiled charmingly: “I’ll follow Your Sixth Highness’s wishes. This subject’s daughter had nothing to do and heard it was cool here, so I wanted to walk around. Who knew it would be so inconvenient? Since that’s the case, we won’t disturb Scholar Liu and Your Highness.”

Princess Fu’an sneered inwardly—at least Qin Shuying knew her place.

Unexpectedly, when Qin Shuying turned to go down the mountain, Liu Junqing stared blankly at her retreating figure.

That kind of gaze—Princess Fu’an had never seen it on Liu Junqing before.

“Junqing!”

Princess Fu’an became anxious, stamping her foot and calling out resentfully.

Liu Junqing withdrew his gaze. He knew she truly had something to tell him. It was just unfortunate that with so many people here, she couldn’t speak.

Would they be able to meet again?

What exactly did she want to tell him?

Could it be, could it be that she regretted…

“Your Highness, let’s also go down the mountain.”

Princess Fu’an bit her lower lip: “Why go down?”

“We’ve stayed on the mountain so long. If people gossip, it wouldn’t be good for Your Highness’s reputation.”

Princess Fu’an was very annoyed. She was going to marry him anyway—she didn’t care about reputation, she didn’t care what others said.

“Junqing…”

“Your Highness, if you don’t wish to go down, this humble minister will take his leave first. Also, that Prince Huo Luo is not simple. Your Highness should try to avoid any entanglements with him in the future.”

Princess Fu’an stared in amazement at Liu Junqing, watching him walk away step by step.

“Junqing!”

Liu Junqing seemed not to hear and continued walking away.

Thinking of his final reminder, Princess Fu’an’s heart couldn’t help but feel sweet—he should like her, shouldn’t he?

Princess Fu’an returned to her sleeping quarters in a daze, only to see Consort Kang approaching: “Fu’an, where did you go? Do you know that the entire temporary palace is now saying you and Liu Junqing had a secret rendezvous on the mountain!”

Princess Fu’an’s face bloomed with a smile: “Mother Consort!”

Consort Kang was stunned: “You, you really had a secret rendezvous with him on the mountain?”

Princess Fu’an shyly nodded.

Consort Kang still hadn’t recovered. After a while, she said: “You, how could you be so foolish? This is bad for your reputation!”

Princess Fu’an recounted everything that happened on the mountain. When Consort Kang heard her description of Prince Huo Luo, she could hardly believe it: “He already has Liang Qiong, yet he still dares to covet you!”