The speaker was a young man. If the stunningly handsome Seventh Prince sitting there was like a landscape painting, displaying peerless grace with unconcealed brilliance, then this young man was completely different. He had been sitting quietly all along, not particularly drawing attention, but when he spoke, it was impossible not to notice him. When he wasn’t smiling, he was already the most beautiful picture in the mortal world, but when he smiled now, you would discover that there wasn’t a single painter in this world who could capture this demeanor on canvas.

So this was the young master from the third branch of Prime Minister Li’s estate.

Li Minde smiled, his expression showing cleverness far beyond his years, yet retaining an almost innocent wisdom: “Princess, is the winner whoever can carry the arrow out the farthest?”

Nearby, Miss Sun and Miss Yan whispered to each other: “That’s the young master from the Li family’s third branch? Ah, he’s so handsome!”

“I heard he’s not the Li family’s biological son! What kind of family could give birth to such a beautiful child!”

“This will be interesting to watch—let’s hear what he has to say.”

Seeing it was a young man of similar age to the Eighth Prince, the Princess couldn’t help but smile: “Indeed, that’s correct.”

“Oh?” Li Minde’s eyes sparkled. “Minde would like to try.”

At these words, laughter erupted from below.

How could that be possible? Li Minde was so young—he probably couldn’t even lift a bow and arrow. The Princess clearly thought the same and said gently: “Can you even lift a bow and arrow?”

Li Minde smiled, his eyes bright with spring light: “Princess, if according to what you said, whoever can send the arrow out the farthest wins, then of course Minde can do it.”

“Is he crazy?” Miss Yan gasped. “How could he possibly do it?”

“Yes, the Fifth Prince already shot it so far—how far could he shoot?”

“It’s impossible…”

Nearby, Li Weiyang looked at Li Minde, not knowing why he would suddenly do this.

“Little master, do you really want to try? Don’t cry later.” Tuoba Zhen said this while glancing at Li Weiyang, implying that she shouldn’t tamper with the arrow in any way.

Tuoba Yu had already shaken his head: “This is impossible, you can’t do it!” If he tried again, he might have a way to shoot farther, but this child was so young—he simply couldn’t have enough arm strength.

“I’ll show you all. However…” Li Minde blinked and smiled. “The prize must go to me then.”

Fifth Prince Tuoba Rui raised his eyebrows: “Is Third Young Master so confident?” He looked him over from head to toe. His face showed a half-smile, and finally he coughed and said: “Just don’t regret it later.”

Li Minde paid him no attention and stood up directly. He walked to the center of the field, and someone nearby handed him a bow and arrow. Everyone stared wide-eyed to see how he would draw the bow. Before taking the bow, he looked up: “Just measuring distance?”

The Princess nodded: “Yes, the farthest wins.”

“Are there any other requirements?”

A strange expression suddenly appeared on Li Weiyang’s face, but her eyes became even brighter. The Princess finally nodded: “There are none.”

“Good.” With this word “good,” everyone saw Li Minde stride over to a birdcage hanging from a nearby tree, pull out the gyrfalcon inside, then tie an arrow to its body, gently pat its wings, and let it fly toward the sky. In moments, even its shadow couldn’t be seen.

Li Minde turned around, standing in the field, his eyes gathering all the brilliance between heaven and earth, shining dazzlingly and captivatingly, his smile gentle: “I’m finished.”

He hadn’t relied on arm strength, nor used any clever scheme—he had simply casually released a bird, and the arrow was carried thousands of miles away…

Such a simple method.

But in that instant, everyone was stunned.

Princess Yongning suddenly laughed out loud, but the Fifth Prince was angry: “What kind of method is this! You didn’t even use the bow and arrow!”

Li Minde looked at the Fifth Prince and simply smiled.

Tuoba Rui suddenly realized—the Princess had only said to look at the arrow’s distance, but she hadn’t said the arrow must be shot with a bow to count. Everyone’s mindset was that they must use a bow to shoot arrows, forgetting that even without a bow, it could be done. This boy was really too cunning!

Li Weiyang suddenly smiled. This child’s method was remarkably similar to her own approach.

Princess Yongning’s expression rarely became gentle: “Good, though this method has some element of trickery, it’s unheard of and very novel. This bronze mirror shall be yours.”

Li Minde held the bronze mirror and smiled faintly.

Everyone’s eyes fell on this young man. Just moments ago he was unknown, and now everyone knew of him. Though they all felt this method was quite opportunistic, they had to admit this young man was more interesting than everyone else. Archery wasn’t the most important thing—more important was grasping the Princess’s thoughts and making her happy, which mattered more than anything.

After the Ninth Princess’s shock, for some reason, she suddenly felt her face flush red.

Li Minde—so that was the kind of person he was…

She quietly moved closer and said to Li Minde: “I like this bronze mirror.”

Li Minde glanced at her, smiled faintly, but acted as if he hadn’t heard. The Ninth Princess disguised as the Eighth Prince became a bit unhappy, but still couldn’t take her eyes away, staring hard at Li Minde.

Gao Min sneered coldly: “Hmph, birds of a feather truly flock together—spending so much time with that little wretch, his mind has also become abnormal.”

Li Changle lowered her eyes, not knowing what she was thinking.

At this time, the Princess needed to go change clothes, so she let all the guests tour the garden freely. The ladies agreed to view the flowers in small groups of twos and threes, while the male guests either drew bows, played pitch-pot, or played chess.

In the pavilion, Tuoba Zhen ordered servants to set up seats. Someone served fragrant tea, then brought out a chess board. He smiled at the Seventh Prince: “Seventh Brother, shall we play a game?”

Tuoba Yu sat down gracefully, with Tuoba Rui and the Ninth Princess sitting on the side to observe.

This chess board was a treasure of the Princess’s estate, carved entirely from a single piece of white jade, flawless in color and warmly lustrous. The jade’s color alone could make it difficult to look away. Gold threads were inlaid to form the chess grid, looking golden and bright—clearly made of the finest pure gold. The chess pieces were actually made of red gold, and when placed on the white jade board, reflected by the precious light, they were dazzling like little suns. Such rare treasures appearing in the Princess’s estate fully demonstrated the Emperor’s favor toward the Princess. Tuoba Yu smiled—such favor probably contained deep guilt.

The Ninth Princess blinked, her gaze drifting toward Li Minde in the distance. Seeing him give the bronze mirror to Li Weiyang, she couldn’t help puffing out her cheeks, her face full of displeasure. Tuoba Rui beside her asked: “What’s wrong?”

The Ninth Princess collected herself and said: “I asked Father Emperor for this chess board several times, but he refused. I didn’t expect him to give it to Imperial Sister!”

Tuoba Rui smiled: “Father Emperor has always treated Imperial Sister differently.”

Just then, the Ninth Princess waved her hand: “Qinglian, bring me some pastries.”

A maid walked gracefully over, delicate as a willow in the wind, presenting a plate of pastries. Tuoba Rui was concentrating intently on the chess board when suddenly from the corner of his eye he caught sight of a jade-white hand holding the pastry plate slowly moving toward him. After a moment of surprise, he looked up along the arm and was immediately struck as if doused with ice and snow, half his body numb, his soul flying to heaven.

This maid was truly beautiful!

Seeing Tuoba Rui staring at her unblinkingly, the maid smiled gracefully—her smile truly like a blooming flower, exceptionally lovely. Only then did Tuoba Rui realize his lapse in composure and hastily coughed, wanting to say something to cover his embarrassment, but couldn’t say anything.

He was indeed talented in both literature and martial arts, but what he loved most was beautiful women. Originally captivated by Li Changle’s stunning beauty, but now looking at this maid, he found another kind of delicate charm.

Seeing the Fifth Prince lose his composure, the maid smiled even more charmingly, turned her waist, and withdrew.

Tuoba Rui couldn’t help being curious: “Little Nine, this girl is quite clever. Where did you find her? I haven’t seen her in the palace before.”

The Ninth Princess glanced at the chess board and said languidly: “I ran into her by chance when I sneaked out of the palace last time. She was originally selling almond cakes on the streets when some scoundrel saw her and tried to kidnap her by force. I simply acted as a champion of justice and saved her!”

Tuoba Rui said in surprise: “You? A champion of justice?”

Tuoba Zhen placed a piece and looked up: “More likely you were deliberately causing trouble.”

The Ninth Princess giggled and said: “Those words aren’t wrong either. I just can’t stand bullying the weak—it’s too shameless! I beat up that son of the Capital Magistrate—”

Halfway through, she realized she’d said the wrong thing and immediately stopped.

All three brothers looked up at her at the same time. Her face immediately flushed red: “Why are you all looking at me like that? I was just helping someone in distress! When Father Emperor found out, he didn’t blame me—he even made the Capital Magistrate apologize to me!”

A princess running out to save people and brazenly claiming to be a champion of justice—the other three all shook their heads together.

“Too undisciplined!” Tuoba Rui tapped her forehead.

The Ninth Princess pouted, her rosy cheeks looking like apples: “I’m not someone who acts willfully. I heard this girl’s grandfather was a meritorious official who followed old Duke Luoguo, but unfortunately after her grandfather died in battle, her father was a gambling addict who not only gambled away all the pension money but lost even their shelter.”

Old Duke Luoguo? The Seventh Prince suddenly looked up. Originally his face still held some coldness, but now it couldn’t be seen. Old Duke Luoguo—was his mother Imperial Consort Zhang’s father and his grandfather, who had died seven years ago. The current Duke Luoguo was his maternal uncle.

So this girl still had some connection with his grandfather.

The chess piece in the Seventh Prince’s hand paused.

“What, Fifth Brother, do you like her? Compared to that Miss Li, she’s just mediocre in looks and clumsy.” The Ninth Princess didn’t notice the Seventh Prince’s expression and only continued questioning Tuoba Rui.

“What are you saying? I was just asking casually.” Tuoba Rui shook his head repeatedly, his face slightly flushed. Li Changle was the one he planned to marry as his principal wife, but this beautiful girl—

Tuoba Zhen had been listening silently all along. Seeing the moment was right, he laughed heartily and finally began speaking seriously: “Ninth Sister, it seems Fifth Brother likes this girl very much. Why don’t you give her to him?”

The Ninth Princess clearly had just enjoyed the thrill of saving someone and didn’t care about that girl at all. She didn’t even need to think and said directly: “Since Fifth Brother likes her, I’ll give her to you. But next time you must take me out to play!”

Tuoba Rui was overjoyed but still made excuses: “How can I accept this?”

“She’s just a plaything.” The Ninth Princess deliberately put on a stern face: “If you don’t want her, forget it!”

“Just joking,” Tuoba Rui hastily waved his hands: “Since that’s the case—”

Tuoba Rui had always been well-liked by the Emperor, but he had an old problem—since childhood, whenever he saw a beautiful woman, he couldn’t walk away. In the Emperor’s eyes, this was a major issue. An imperceptible cold smile crept onto Tuoba Zhen’s lips.

The Seventh Prince suddenly interrupted: “Since Fifth Brother is so modest, then I’ll take this girl back.”

Everyone was startled, except for Tuoba Zhen’s eyes which flashed with barely perceptible joy.

In the distance, Li Weiyang saw this scene. Her gaze swept over the retreating maid, and she couldn’t help but sneer coldly. Tuoba Zhen, oh Tuoba Zhen, your methods were always so insidious.

Before her eyes, a scene from half a year after she had just married over suddenly appeared.

At that time, though Tuoba Zhen was gentle and considerate toward her, he had always kept his distance, as if guarding against her. This was only because Li Changle had already been betrothed to the Seventh Prince, and Li Changxi had also been married off to the Fifth Prince’s estate. He feared she was a spy sent by others and worried even more that she would secretly betray him, so he treated her well on the surface but actually told her nothing.

Li Weiyang was very anxious in her heart. In her mind, since she had married him, naturally she should regard him as her heaven. One night, Tuoba Zhen suddenly returned injured and quietly went to the study. Li Weiyang followed him to the study and saw Tuoba Zhen changing bandages. She was overwhelmed with heartache and couldn’t help saying: “Your Highness, can’t I wholeheartedly be your wife? I’m willing to do anything for you… Can’t I accompany you?”

“What are you saying? Haven’t you always been by my side?” Tuoba Zhen forced a smile.

“No, you’re clearly hiding something from me!” Li Weiyang’s eyes stared at him, revealing stubbornness.

“Sigh…” Tuoba Zhen smiled bitterly, as if helpless. He gently pulled her body up and leaned it against his shoulder, gently stroking her hair. His expression suddenly became grave: “I know you’ll understand me… Heaven has truly been unfair to me. The Crown Prince and I are both Father Emperor’s sons. He will become Emperor in the future, while I can only be a subject. When he becomes Emperor, I’ll have to kneel before him and call out ‘Long live.’ This isn’t much, but look at my wound—this is his warning to me, just because he suspected I wasn’t wholeheartedly following him. Weiyang, in the future when I survive under his wing, if I slightly offend him, he can take my life. For the rest of my life, I can only anxiously try to please him. Tell me, what should I do? Can I continue following the Crown Prince?”

At that time, Li Weiyang’s heart held only pain, overlooking the cunning and malice in Tuoba Zhen’s eyes: “You treated the Crown Prince wholeheartedly and did so much for him. I never thought he would turn out to be such a cold-blooded, heartless villain!”

A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of Tuoba Zhen’s mouth as he hugged her tightly: “The reason he could become Crown Prince, besides being the eldest son, is because he’s the Empress’s son. Father Emperor has always deeply respected Mother Empress. However, Mother Empress’s health isn’t good—she won’t live much longer and absolutely cannot protect the Crown Prince forever. Weiyang, now I need you to help me with something. Are you willing?”

Li Weiyang didn’t even think before nodding.

Tuoba Zhen smiled while stroking her cheek: “There’s another person whose influence on Father Emperor surpasses the Empress—that’s the Empress Dowager. If I work hard to show my filial piety before the Empress Dowager, not only can I get the Empress Dowager on my side, I can also influence Father Emperor through her. Of course, to make the Empress Dowager happy, close personal attendance is essential. But I’m a man—it’s inconvenient to always be by her side. This is where I need your utmost help.”

Tuoba Zhen matter-of-factly assigned Li Weiyang her tasks, even making her willingly work for him, show filial piety for him, and please the Empress Dowager for him. From start to finish, he left not the slightest impression of scheming or plotting—truly supremely skillful.

Li Weiyang hadn’t detected Tuoba Zhen’s true intentions at all. In her heart, she was doing this to save her husband and keep him from the Crown Prince’s and others’ deadly hands. She only felt her husband’s position was extremely dangerous, and as a woman, she couldn’t accompany him but should at least help.

Afterward, the couple tacitly took their respective actions. Tuoba Zhen secretly used the Crown Prince to cultivate his own power. When others were scheming and competing with each other, before the Emperor, he had always been a son who loyally assisted the Crown Prince and earnestly showed filial piety. Li Weiyang went daily to the Empress Dowager’s quarters, quietly winning over this imperial grandmother for him. All of this played a major role later on…

Li Weiyang’s gaze withdrew from the distant pavilion, a hint of coldness appearing at her lips. Tuoba Zhen had always hidden and lurked, doing his utmost to play the Crown Prince’s helper and the Emperor’s filial son. Even until the Emperor’s death, he had grown to detest all his sons but believed only in his loyalty and filial piety. No one knew how many malicious things he had done behind the scenes. In the thirty-eighth year of the current reign, Tuoba Zhen was assassinated! In the fortieth year, the Crown Prince tried to poison him with toxic wine! In the forty-first year, the Seventh Prince set an ambush to kill Tuoba Zhen! Back then, Li Weiyang had thought Tuoba Zhen’s brothers were all wolves and tigers, each wanting his life. Thinking of it now, these people had either awakened or understood Tuoba Zhen’s true nature and wanted to eliminate him! There was an even more vicious speculation—perhaps back then, Tuoba Zhen had deliberately used these accusations to frame others. Haha, if that were true, she had really been utterly foolish back then! Thinking her sacrifice was love, when actually she had just been used her entire life!

“Third Sister, what’s wrong?” Li Minde asked strangely.

“Nothing.” Li Weiyang awoke from her memories and unconsciously lowered her voice.

Li Minde looked at her puzzledly and was about to say something when his eyes caught sight of a figure flashing by. His expression immediately darkened slightly, and he nodded: “Third Sister, I have something to attend to. I’ll leave for a moment.”

Before Li Weiyang could speak, Li Minde had already left quickly. Bai Zhi said: “Miss, don’t you feel that Third Young Master has been strange lately?”

Li Weiyang glanced at Li Minde’s retreating figure and pondered for a moment: “Yes, he is a bit strange.” However, having just lost his mother, it was inevitable. She sighed inwardly.

After half an hour, the chess game in the pavilion still wasn’t finished. Tuoba Zhen and Tuoba Rui had both been invited by people sent by the Princess to drink tea, leaving only the Seventh Prince questioning that girl.

Li Weiyang smiled faintly and walked over slowly.

“Your grandfather was Officer Liu? When I was young, I once learned swordsmanship from him.” Tuoba Yu’s face was refined and handsome, his voice rarely gentle.

If others saw Tuoba Yu at this moment, they would certainly feel surprised, but Li Weiyang knew this wasn’t strange at all. Tuoba Yu was human, and as long as one was human, they would have weaknesses. His grandfather, old Duke Luoguo, was his weakness. He had followed Duke Luoguo since childhood—his literary and martial strategies all came from him, cultivating extremely deep feelings. It could be said that Tuoba Yu was a cold-hearted, cold-blooded person who was indomitable, but anything related to his grandfather would make him lose his calm.

Hearing the Seventh Prince’s words, a layer of pink immediately appeared on the young woman’s delicate skin: “Replying to Your Seventh Highness, Grandfather also mentioned Your Highness to this servant, saying that when Your Highness was young—”

“Did your grandfather say that when Seventh Highness was young, he was very clever and also very mischievous—” Suddenly a clear, bright voice appeared in the pavilion. Tuoba Yu looked up to see Li Weiyang standing on the steps with a smiling face.

Tuoba Yu raised his eyebrows. This girl had actually run right up to him—this was truly rare.

Because she was attending a banquet, Li Weiyang wore a dress with butterflies passing through flowers, though she had deliberately chosen plain colors. Even so, it set off her healthy, rosy complexion as bright and attractive. At this moment, her eyes were sparkling as she looked at him.

Tuoba Yu, suddenly seeing Li Weiyang’s bright smile, was momentarily stunned, an extremely quick flash of interest in his eyes.

Offering courtesies without reason meant either treachery or theft. He didn’t believe this little girl would be so kind as to come keep him company.

The young woman called Yue’er looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, with willow eyebrows and almond eyes, bright and beautiful. She wore a goose-yellow jacket with silver-threaded lotus flowers embroidered at the collar and cuffs. Her outfit was neat, but she wore no powder or ornaments, no hairpins or jewelry—clearly very confident in her appearance to dare show her bare face. Seeing Li Weiyang, Yue’er gracefully bowed, her skirts floating like a western lotus reflected in water: “Greetings to the County Princess.”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly at her. Tuoba Yu said: “Please sit and rest.”

Seeing this, Yue’er wished Li Weiyang would immediately get lost, but her face showed a smile as she respectfully went to pour tea. Li Weiyang actually didn’t refuse and shamelessly sat down.

“Does Seventh Highness know this young lady?” Li Weiyang’s gaze rested on Yue’er.

Tuoba Yu touched the jade ring on his hand and smiled: “Yes, she’s the granddaughter of an old friend. Previously, my grandfather always ordered me to search for Officer Liu. I never expected to unexpectedly encounter his granddaughter today.”

Li Weiyang smiled, a hint of mockery flowing through her eyes: “Yes, what a coincidence.”

Tuoba Yu paused, feeling somewhat unsettled by her smile, and couldn’t help but look at her without speaking.

Yue’er felt somewhat anxious in her heart. Originally, this military formation manual should only be brought out at the most opportune moment to be useful, but if this damned County Princess of Anping had just discovered something, wouldn’t all her efforts be wasted? So she had no choice but to use this move ahead of schedule.

Tuoba Yu weighed the prayer beads in his hand, showing a faint smile on his face: “I like these prayer beads very much and understand your filial piety. I’ll arrange your grandfather’s matters. You may withdraw first.”

Yue’er quietly glanced at him. Seeing no trace of abnormality on his face, she finally relaxed and her expression filled with infinite gratitude: “Yes, this servant takes her leave.”

Li Weiyang watched her depart gracefully and suddenly laughed.

Tuoba Yu slightly narrowed his eyes, smiled as he looked at her, his gaze turning sharp: “Speak. When did you discover something was wrong with her?”

Li Weiyang’s dark eyes seemed to contain faint light: “Your Highness, Weiyang never said there was anything wrong with her.”

Tuoba Yu’s long eyebrows swept into his temples, his phoenix eyes glanced sideways—surprisingly handsome beyond compare: “Stop pretending. You already gave yourself away just now. I know everything.”

Hearing this, Li Weiyang only felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet and spread through her limbs and bones. In this instant, she almost thought this man before her had seen through her. Could he know that she—No! Impossible! Who would think of something so absurd!

Her features were as delicate as if painted in ink, her eyes flowing with flames of light when they moved: “Oh, I wonder where I gave myself away.”

“You just said ‘Princess,’ not ‘Eighth Prince.'” Just now Li Weiyang had been standing not far away and should have seen the “Eighth Prince” give Liu Yue to him, but when Liu Yue mentioned it was the Princess who saved her, Li Weiyang not only didn’t feel surprised but remained perfectly calm. There was only one possibility—she had already recognized the Ninth Princess. “In the palace, even ordinary palace maids can’t necessarily accurately distinguish between my ninth sister and eighth brother. I wonder how County Princess Anping came to know?”

Tuoba Yu’s perceptiveness far exceeded Li Weiyang’s expectations. It seemed that if Tuoba Zhen hadn’t exploited old Duke Luoguo’s weakness back then, Tuoba Yu wouldn’t have been easily deceived either. Also, since Liu Yue was a carefully selected agent, she would naturally block danger for the Seventh Prince ten or eight times to gain his trust. Li Weiyang breathed a sigh of relief, but smiled: “I have entered the palace before, so knowing the Ninth Princess isn’t strange. Moreover—” her smile deepened, “if it were the Eighth Prince, how could he look at my third brother with such an admiring gaze?”

Tuoba Yu was rendered speechless. For a moment, he almost applauded Li Weiyang’s eloquence, but he distinctly felt this girl before him was lying. Though there was no evidence, for her to manipulate so many people, she was definitely not a simple character. Tuoba Yu decided to ask clearly: “Even if that’s the case, how did you discover Liu Yue had a problem just now?”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly and said: “Something Your Seventh Highness has searched for so long came to you completely effortlessly—don’t you find that suspicious? Just as I said earlier, if I encountered danger, I absolutely wouldn’t seek help from a little girl, would I?”

“But why would Ninth Sister scheme against me?” Tuoba Yu laughed.

Li Weiyang laughed, the tassels on her hairpins rustling. The light streaming into the pavilion shone upon them, dazzlingly bright, almost blinding. She said slowly: “I’m afraid it’s not the Ninth Princess.”

Tuoba Yu smiled: “True enough. Too many people want me dead.”

Li Weiyang didn’t intend to tell him Liu Yue’s real master. Many things were better left at hints. Tuoba Yu wasn’t stupid—on the contrary, letting him investigate himself would be more convincing than her actively telling him. However, glancing at the object Tuoba Yu still held fondly in his hand, Li Weiyang suddenly took the prayer beads from him and smiled: “Your Highness had better not touch this thing.”

Tuoba Yu’s ice-cold gaze looked at Li Weiyang. In his eyes was an uncontrollable suspicion.

Li Weiyang laughed. Yes, if someone suddenly came over to help him, he would indeed be suspicious.

She didn’t mind and let her gaze fall on a guard who had been watching their movements. She smiled: “Your Highness, that guard is?”

Tuoba Yu turned to look at the guard she mentioned and said: “That man has followed me for ten years.”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly. This guard—in her previous life, she had seen him in Tuoba Zhen’s study. An old acquaintance. She lowered her head, poured out the lotus dew from a nearby teacup, and applied it to the prayer beads. Then she beckoned to the guard. The guard looked at Tuoba Yu questioningly. Tuoba Yu nodded, and the guard walked forward.

Li Weiyang suddenly threw the prayer beads at his face.

The guard suddenly felt everything go dark before his eyes. He felt something ice-cold and slippery hit his face and was so frightened he retreated three steps. Just as he opened his mouth to shout, something slippery as a loach slithered into his mouth. Greatly alarmed, he frantically pawed at his face. The thing plopped and jumped away with several muffled croaking sounds.

“What is that thing?” Tuoba Yu abruptly stood up.