After Yuan Ce asked his question, he patiently waited for her answer without saying another word.

The side chamber was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The charcoal brazier by their feet made one feel dizzy as if drunk on wine. Jiang Zhiyi maintained eye contact with him, her body still and calm, but her heart was beating so fast it felt like it would leap out of her throat.

These past few days, she had been the one constantly bringing up marriage, but now, sitting sideways in his embrace and hearing him ask her directly, she became so flustered that her mind grew hot and she couldn’t speak.

Even though they had privately pledged themselves to each other three years ago, she couldn’t recall a moment quite as intense as this one…

The “yes” was already on the tip of her tongue, but just as she was about to speak, Jiang Zhiyi nervously swallowed and glanced away slightly to compose herself.

After a moment, she put on an air of dignity, looked back at him, and lifted her chin. “Before I answer you, I want to ask you a question first—”

“Are you only this attentive and caring on the day you propose, or will you treat me well every day from now on?”

Yuan Ce’s eyes filled with amusement. “If you want it to be every day, then every day it shall be.”

“Of course I want you to be as warm to me every day as you are today…”

Yuan Ce’s lips curled into a half-smile. “That’s hard to guarantee. As time passes, perhaps… one day you might suddenly change your mind.”

“Don’t judge my noble heart by your petty standards. I’m not the kind of person who constantly changes preferences! As long as you treat me well every day, why would I grow tired of you?”

“Is that so?” Yuan Ce stared intently into her eyes. “You said it yourself.”

“Yes, I did. What, do you want me to make a vow?”

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Jiang Zhiyi promptly released her arms from around his neck and, imitating his earlier oath, raised three fingers to the sky. “I, Jiang Zhiyi, swear to the heavens that as long as Brother Yuan Ce treats me well every day in the future, I will always love him as I do now and never abandon him. If I break this vow…”

“If you break this vow—” Yuan Ce suddenly interrupted her, saying languidly, “I will bind your hands and feet, and you won’t be able to escape even half a step.”

Jiang Zhiyi blinked. “Isn’t it supposed to be ‘may heaven strike me with lightning’?”

“What would I want that for?”

Jiang Zhiyi pressed her lips together in a smile. “If you can’t bear it, just say so! Binding my hands and feet… You wouldn’t have the heart to do that anyway…”

“So, will you marry me or not?”

Jiang Zhiyi smiled and once again wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning forward to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. “Yes! I’ll marry you right now!”

Yuan Ce was momentarily stunned and turned his head to see Jiang Zhiyi, her face flushed, burying her head in the crook of his shoulder. He raised his hand and gently caressed the top of her head with the edge of his palm, his lips curving into a smile.

The next morning, Jiang Zhiyi awoke to the thunderous sound of suona horns. As soon as she opened her eyes and saw the bed she was lying on, she sat up with her hair disheveled. “Oh no, it’s too late!”

Gu Yu and Xiaoman, who were preparing tea nearby, were startled and quickly approached her. “Princess, what’s too late?”

“What’s wrong with you two? What time is it? The suona horns outside have been playing for half the day, and you still haven’t called me to get up and change into my wedding dress!” Jiang Zhiyi hastily lifted the quilt, ready to get out of bed.

Gu Yu and Xiaoman were dumbfounded, standing in place and exchanging a glance.

Gu Yu: “Su-suona horns?”

Xiaoman: “We-wedding dress?”

Jiang Zhiyi was also stunned. She looked at the bright winter sun outside the window, then at this side chamber which, although furnished with many of her usual furnishings, was not her bedchamber. Her face showed hesitation as she mumbled in confusion, “What day is it today…”

“The day after I proposed to you,” Yuan Ce stepped into the side chamber, looking her up and down with a curious expression. He hadn’t expected to see someone even more eager than himself. “The wedding dress hasn’t even been made yet, and you’re already hearing suona horns?”

“…”

Jiang Zhiyi’s legs, which were dangling over the edge of the bed, froze. She finally came to her senses, and her toes curled one by one in embarrassment.

It was all because she had thought too much about the wedding before sleeping last night. As they chatted, she mentioned that her wedding dress would require dozens of embroiderers working for a hundred days, and that her phoenix crown and ceremonial robes would be of the most noble rank in the Great Yue Dynasty, second only to the Empress’s. She also said that the wedding day should be chosen during a season that was neither too cold nor too hot…

Yuan Ce had agreed to each point, continuing to do so until she grew tired and fell asleep.

In her sleep, she had dreamed of the wedding day, hearing firecrackers and suona horns blaring outside, accompanied by gongs and drums. But she had overslept! No wonder she was anxious!

Jiang Zhiyi silently looked at Yuan Ce, putting her legs back onto the bed one by one just as they had come down, then turning to lie on her side. She slowly pulled up the quilt and covered her face.

Yuan Ce laughed silently, walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling down a section of her quilt.

“Don’t disturb me when I’m not fully awake…!” Jiang Zhiyi covered her face with her hands.

Yuan Ce raised an eyebrow. “Have you already forgotten the vow you made yesterday?”

“…How have you been good to me today? You came early to embarrass me. It’s only right that I’m annoyed with you!”

“I came to ask if you want to have breakfast here or in the dining hall.”

Jiang Zhiyi was taken aback and turned her head. “Going to the dining hall means your mother will see…”

“She’s the one who asked me to ask you.”

Although Jiang Zhiyi had visited the Shen residence many times, she had never left the east courtyard. Initially, Yuan Ce had to acknowledge their relationship to stabilize the situation, so he had his stepmother pretend to be deaf and mute, paying no attention to the happenings in the east courtyard. Now that they were discussing marriage, his stepmother said it would be impolite for her not to appear, and it might also displease the Duke of Yong’en later.

Jiang Zhiyi realized that times had changed, and she blinked, asking, “So your mother wants to meet me?”

“If you want to meet her, then meet her. If not, there’s no need to force yourself.”

“There’s nothing to force. Let’s eat in the dining hall.” Jiang Zhiyi had faced many grand occasions and wouldn’t be intimidated by such a small matter. She got up and had her two maids help her wash and dress quickly.

Yuan Ce leaned against the window, waiting for her to dress, style her hair, and apply makeup. Just then, the sound of rushing footsteps approached, and Qing Song staggered in, supporting himself against the doorframe. “Young Master, terrible news! The Duke of Yong’en has arrived!”

Jiang Zhiyi suddenly turned her head in surprise. “Uncle has come to the capital?”

Yuan Ce hadn’t yet received any news from Mu Xinhong and was also somewhat surprised. “So the terrible news is—”

“The Duke’s face is as black as if he wants to kill someone. He entered the residence without a word, only asking where you were, and now he’s about to arrive here…”

“Where is Shen Yuan Ce? Bring that boy out to me!” A deep, middle-aged male voice approached.

Jiang Zhiyi quickly stood up. Yuan Ce reached out but failed to catch her, watching helplessly as she happily leaned out of the side chamber. “Uncle!”

In the long corridor, the Duke of Yong’en, still dusty from his journey, stopped in his tracks and looked over in astonishment, his round eyes widening—

His niece, whom he hadn’t seen for months, was still dressed beautifully and elegantly, yet she appeared in someone else’s residence early in the morning, when she should have just woken up. Behind her stood the man rumored to be about to marry his niece, a match of which he knew nothing.

He had first heard of this matter at a post station on his way back to the capital, when an official traveling from the capital to the provinces saw him and congratulated him, saying that the Young General Shen and the Princess were a perfect match, both talented and beautiful, destined by heaven.

Before returning to Chang’an, he couldn’t believe that while he was away on official business, his niece, who had always been picky and had rejected dozens of marriage proposals he had arranged for her over the past two years, suddenly found her perfect match.

Even when he returned to his residence and found Jiang Zhiyi absent, with the servants of Yaoguang Pavilion saying that the Princess had not returned the previous night, he still clung to a glimmer of hope. He thought perhaps she had gone to the imperial mausoleum to pay respects to her mother and hadn’t returned, or maybe she had gone to the Princess’s residence to talk to her sister Bao Jia after returning home in low spirits. That hope lasted until this moment, when he saw this scene with his own eyes.

The Duke of Yong’en pressed one hand to his chest and supported his lower back with the other. “Oh my goodness…”

The guards following behind him quickly moved to support him. “Your Grace!”

“Uncle!” Jiang Zhiyi’s face changed as she ran forward, supporting the Duke’s other arm. “What’s wrong, Uncle?”

The Duke of Yong’en recovered from his momentary dizziness, and with a forehead covered in cold sweat, he looked up to see Yuan Ce walking up to him, unhurriedly giving him a cupped-hand salute. “Yuan Ce is here to pay respects to the Duke of Yong’en.”

…Unhurriedly? He dares to be unhurried?

Here? He dares to be here?

The Duke of Yong’en extended a trembling finger, pointing at him, then turned to Jiang Zhiyi, who was holding his arm. “Zhiyi, was it this boy who abducted you and brought you here?”

Jiang Zhiyi belatedly realized why Yuan Ce had tried to stop her when she had rushed out in excitement earlier.

While she was happily reuniting with her uncle after a long separation, her future husband might be separating from this world permanently.

Jiang Zhiyi hurriedly waved her hands. “No, no, Uncle, I came here on my own.”

“Oh my goodness…” The Duke of Yong’en, with his large belly, leaned backward, his vision darkening even more.

“Uncle, don’t misunderstand. Brother Yuan Ce and I—”

The Duke’s eyes bulged as he straightened up. “Brother, what? What brother?”

“…Young General Shen and I,” Jiang Zhiyi rubbed his back to help him calm down, “we’re not being reckless. We’re properly preparing to discuss marriage, just waiting for you to return—”

The Duke of Yong’en raised his palm. “No need to discuss. This marriage, I do not approve!”

Half an hour later, Jiang Zhiyi sat in the lower seat of the warm chamber in Yaoguang Pavilion, anxiously twisting her fingers together, occasionally glancing up at her uncle in the main seat.

She had already explained everything on their way back, saying that she had not shared a room with Brother Yuan Ce, that he was no longer the frivolous playboy he once was, that he had now achieved merit and established himself as a pillar of the nation, that he was wholeheartedly devoted to her, standing up for her when she was bullied, and willing to endure her pickiest temperament.

In short, she had talked the entire way about how wonderful Brother Yuan Ce was and how perfectly matched they were. Her mouth had gone dry from all the talking, yet her uncle’s expression had never improved. He had changed from his initial anger to his current, even more headache-inducing demeanor.

The Duke of Yong’en closed his eyes, hand against his forehead, and remained silent for a long while. When he finally spoke, he let out a long sigh. “If he were still the same playboy as before, as long as you two were in love, your uncle would not necessarily object to this marriage.”

Jiang Zhiyi looked up. “Uncle, what are you saying? If he were truly a playboy, I wouldn’t even look at him!”

“But since he is so capable, can he stay with you in Chang’an for long? When the time comes for him to return to the Western Regions, do you want to be separated from your husband, or follow him to suffer hardships?”

“When Envoy Shen was alive, he governed the Western Regions well. The prosperity of Jinchang City now rivals that of Yangzhou in the south. It’s not as harsh as you imagine…”

“Let’s not talk about that, then. Have you forgotten your mother? War is such a dangerous thing. He’s a general who constantly puts his life at risk—do you want to follow in your mother’s footsteps?”

Jiang Zhiyi lowered her head. “He is highly skilled in martial arts, he won’t…”

“Even if we assume he has an indestructible body and is always victorious, do you know how your Imperial Uncle views him? When Envoy Shen was still alive, he was a hostage kept in the capital by Envoy Shen. In the future, if you have children with him, will your children be able to stay with you?”

“Uncle, I haven’t thought about that yet…”

“You haven’t thought about it, but your uncle has thought it through for you. This is not a good marriage!” The Duke of Yong’en waved his hand. “You’ve only known each other for two months, and there’s no feeling so strong that you must marry him. While you can still extricate yourself, end it early!”

Just as he finished speaking, Gu Yu entered nervously. “Your Grace, Princess, Young General Shen has come to the residence and requests to see Your Grace…”

“What has he come for? Isn’t it enough that he’s fed my niece love potions? Does he want to feed me some too?” The Duke of Yong’en frowned. “Don’t see him. Drive him out!”

“Uncle—!” Jiang Zhiyi anxiously stamped her foot, opened her mouth, and then closed it, hesitating for a long time before taking a deep breath.

At this point, she could only take a risky approach.

“Uncle,” Jiang Zhiyi looked at him sincerely, “if it were a two-month relationship, I could indeed extricate myself, but what if I told you that he and I… have been together for three years…”

The Duke of Yong’en’s pupils dilated dramatically as he slowly turned to face her.

Jiang Zhiyi: “Would you consider…”

The Duke of Yong’en slowly raised his hand, stopping Gu Yu, who had received the order to leave, and gently breathed in and out. “No need to drive him out. Please invite him in.”

Jiang Zhiyi’s face lit up with joy.

“Your uncle will consider which of his legs to break.”

“…”