Lu Heng’s speculation was actually baseless. He was just making random accusations to frustrate Li Qitian.

Seeing such a usually shrewd and calculating figure as Li Qitian change color could somewhat ease the sadness in Lu Heng’s heart over not being able to marry Qin Yining.

Li Qitian clearly knew what had happened at Ci’an Palace that day, yet still favored Pang Xiao and betrothed Qin Yining to that brute. Lu Heng was both angry and regretful, unable even to sleep.

He truly couldn’t imagine that as the legitimate son of the Lu family’s noble house, there would be a time when he wanted something but couldn’t obtain it.

Actually, Lu Heng didn’t know why he was so concerned about Qin Yining. Clearly, Qin Yining wasn’t good to him—not only was she not good to him, she had even schemed against him.

But it was precisely her intelligence that made him look at her with new eyes, that made him admire her endlessly, that made him feel fascinated.

Such an outstandingly beautiful and exceptionally intelligent woman was not someone one could encounter casually. If he just wanted to find any beauty to be his second wife, he wouldn’t need to make it public—plenty of people in the capital would willingly send their unmarried daughters to his door.

But none of those people could move his heart.

This only woman who could move his heart was now going to marry someone else.

Lu Heng looked again at Li Qitian’s furrowed brow, feeling even more melancholy. He won two consecutive games against the emperor before feeling slightly better, then inconspicuously let Li Qitian win the third game.

Li Qitian was already troubled by his inability to fathom the true intentions of Qin Huaiyuan and Pang Xiao, and being devastatingly defeated in two consecutive games by Lu Heng made him even more depressed.

Fortunately, he still won in the end, which at least made Li Qitian feel much better.

Both harboring their own thoughts, they grew tired of playing chess. Lu Heng then took his leave.

When leaving the palace, he encountered Princess Imperial Li Helan head-on.

Li Helan wore a bright red brocade robe, her hair in a high chignon with golden phoenix hairpins that sparkled brilliantly in the warm sunlight, echoing the red palace attire on her body. In such warming weather, it made people feel somewhat glaring and irritated.

Especially since Li Helan’s complexion was extremely ugly, her two eyes swollen like walnuts.

Lu Heng bowed to Li Helan when they met.

Lu Heng was such a noble person. Even when bowing, he wouldn’t make people feel he was inferior to anyone, but rather that his status allowed him to bow to others because he understood propriety and respected people.

Li Helan felt somewhat embarrassed, secretly hoping that others couldn’t notice her swollen eyelids. She said faintly: “You may dispense with the courtesy.”

Lu Heng smiled and said: “Perhaps Your Highness didn’t rest well? Your eyes are swollen—you should take better care of your health.”

Hearing this, all the muscles in Li Helan’s body stiffened. She stared at Lu Heng for a long while before confirming he meant no mockery.

“This princess knows.” Li Helan waved her hand with a dark expression and quickly left with her palace attendants.

Seeing this, Lu Heng found it amusing again.

These imperial siblings were truly born as local tyrants—they probably didn’t even know what real royalty looked like.

The Lu family’s noble house had supported their family for the sake of family stability and development, but now the imperial family was no longer willing to be manipulated and even showed signs of wanting to turn against them.

As the legitimate son of the family, Lu Heng naturally had to calculate for such matters.

“Forget it.” Lu Heng’s mind was now in complete chaos. Just thinking about Qin Yining’s imminent marriage to Pang Xiao made his chest feel suffocated, and he had no interest in considering the family’s serious business.

Qin Yining had no idea that His Majesty’s imperial marriage decree would provoke so many people’s reactions.

At this moment, her family was preparing for her coming-of-age ceremony.

“For the honored guest, Master has already invited the Old Madam of Anchang Marquis Manor. The Old Madam has both sons and daughters, shares deep conjugal love with the old marquis, and both elders are still in good health. She is an Old Madam with both fortune and virtue.”

Sun Shi spoke of these matters with considerable pride.

After all, Qin Huaiyuan had just arrived, yet already had such great influence in court—not just any family’s daughter could have an old marquis’s wife serve as honored guest for their coming-of-age ceremony.

“As for the ceremonial assistant and witness, our family has two young ladies, so let Hui Jie’er serve as ceremonial assistant and Eighth Girl as witness. Is that acceptable?”

“Naturally that’s good.” Eighth Miss nodded with a smile.

Qin Huining also forced a smile: “This is our honor.”

She had now accepted her fate.

People couldn’t be compared—this person was about to become a princess consort, while her own future remained uncertain. Qin Huining now completely lacked the confidence to compete with Qin Yining.

Seeing everything arranged in perfect order with no need for Qin Yining to interject, she simply remained quiet and watched her mother busily arrange everything for her.

This feeling of having a mother to rely on was extremely satisfying—something she wouldn’t have dared imagine a year ago.

Back then, Sun Shi had disliked her, but now they were loving mother and filial daughter.

She would leave home next month. With time so tight, Qin Yining was already beginning to miss her family.

The coming-of-age ceremony was set for the next day.

Qin Huaiyuan remained as low-key as usual and didn’t invite too many people.

However, Yuchi Yan personally attended with Li Yanyan and Gu Chang, presenting Qin Yining with a kingfisher feather and gold filigree phoenix hairpin.

Yuchi Yan had grown thinner and had more white hair at his temples.

Watching Qin Yining arrange her hair and insert the hairpin, his gaze became distant.

He didn’t stay long at the Qin residence, taking his leave after the ceremony.

Qin Huaiyuan personally saw him to the main gate.

Before leaving, Yuchi Yan turned back to look at the courtyard, only to find Qin Yining also looking back.

Her raven-black long hair gleamed in the sunlight, and in her hair was the kingfisher feather and gold filigree phoenix hairpin he had given her.

Their eyes met, and she smiled slightly, her cheek dimples faintly visible. She was beautiful like a painting.

Yuchi Yan’s eyes burned, his lips trembled, and he stiffly turned around and strode away, as flustered as if someone were chasing him.

Both Li Yanyan and Gu Chang noticed Yuchi Yan’s distress, feeling sour in their hearts.

Qin Huaiyuan remained as courteous and respectful to Yuchi Yan as always, personally seeing him to his carriage and following it to the street corner.

After Qin Yining’s coming-of-age ceremony, the family elders began coordinating with Prince Zhongshun’s mansion to discuss wedding details.

Qin Yining was confined to her room to embroider pillowcases.

Three days passed like this. Just as wedding preparations were in full swing, the Qin family suddenly received an unexpected visitor.

“Minister Qin!”

Xiao Luzi, Yuchi Yan’s personal eunuch, fell to his knees with a thud upon seeing Qin Huaiyuan, kowtowing repeatedly: “Please help, Minister Qin! Save the prince! Please!”

“Eunuch Lu, please rise quickly. What’s happened?” Qin Huaiyuan helped Xiao Luzi up with both hands.

Xiao Luzi was already crying with red, swollen eyes, sobbing: “Minister Qin, three days ago His Majesty summoned the prince’s family of three to the palace, not allowing any servants to accompany them. Until now, there’s been no word from the prince—we don’t even know if he’s alive or dead!”