“Minister Shen? Minister Shen.”

Shen Qiyuan came back to his senses and bowed to the emperor: “This minister was impolite.”

Spring was at its peak in the imperial garden. His Majesty had specially summoned him to the palace today to appreciate the flowers. If it were before, this naturally wouldn’t be anything unusual, but now His Majesty harbored reservations about him. A few days ago, when the imperial lake ice broke and he took dozens of high officials out to play, he hadn’t called on Shen Qiyuan, yet today he specifically summoned him alone and even bestowed spring clothing and spring flowers.

Shen Qiyuan looked up in confusion.

His Majesty smiled very kindly: “You rushed about for several days and raised over four thousand dan of grain for the disaster victims. I am greatly comforted. I heard that to shelter the refugees, your manor suffered considerable losses. I have already prepared rewards—when the Grand Eunuch escorts you out of the palace later, take them all back with you.”

His eyelids moved slightly. Shen Qiyuan went with the flow and bowed: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“No need for ceremony.” Personally helping him up, His Majesty sighed and continued walking forward. “You are the minister I value most, and also the nephew I love most dearly. How could I bear to reproach you? But Ziyan, excessive rigidity leads to breaking. I hope you can be more gentle and leave room when room should be left.”

Shen Qiyuan followed behind him, listening quietly and occasionally responding.

His Majesty suddenly changed the subject: “Once a person marries, their temperament naturally softens by several degrees. I heard from the Empress that she arranged for you to meet many young ladies from prestigious families, but you were unwilling in all cases?”

“This minister’s status is special, and I have many enemies. I don’t wish to burden them.”

“This again.” His Majesty chuckled, clasping his hands behind his back. “You don’t wish to burden young ladies from prestigious families, but what about girls from ordinary families?”

His eyes deepened. Shen Qiyuan asked: “What does Your Majesty mean by this?”

“In your twenty-something years of life, you’ve only brought one woman before me.” His Majesty said teasingly. “That woman came twice. I saw she was bold yet careful, gentle, and lovely. If you truly like her, I could bestow marriage upon you two.”

His steps halted. Shen Qiyuan pretended to recall: “Your Majesty means… that Lady Liu who served as witness?”

“Though she’s currently a commoner, she was, after all, raised in Grand Preceptor Liu’s manor. I imagine she can’t be too lacking. With your abilities, in a few years, you could request an imperial title for her, and then no one would dare question her status.” His Majesty smiled. “I think it’s quite good. What do you say?”

The spring breeze brushed past the crabapple trees beside the path. The flowers swayed gracefully, brilliant and beautiful, much like that person’s bright-colored dress.

Shen Qiyuan lowered his eyes, raised his hands with sleeves together to his forehead, and leaned forward slightly: “This minister had his fortune told in his early years. Having pledged myself to the country in this life, I cannot pledge myself to family. Though Lady Liu and I have some friendship, there are no romantic feelings between us. This minister is unwilling to marry her.”

The smile on His Majesty’s face froze, his eyes full of disbelief: “You’re unwilling?”

“Unwilling.”

“But how did Zhaoying say you liked that Lady Liu?”

With a slight smile, Shen Qiyuan shook his head: “Princess Jinghong must have some misunderstanding. We two are merely ordinary friends.”

Awkwardly glancing toward the other end of the garden, His Majesty vaguely waved his hand: “Since you’ve said so, I naturally won’t force you. To preserve that young lady’s reputation, I won’t mention this matter again in the future.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Straightening his sleeves and back, Shen Qiyuan continued following the imperial procession forward. Though his expression showed no ripples, his heart was turbulent.

To bestow marriage between him and Liu Ruyi, at this crucial moment when he wanted to leave the mortal realm?

One coincidence could be called a coincidence, but two or three coincidences should be called a conspiracy. If previously he had only suspected, now he could almost be certain: there was an immortal who didn’t want him to ascend to the Nine Heavens.

And this immortal must have a stone statue in the imperial ancestral temple.

Great Qian worshipped divine beings, and those who were rulers frequently went to listen to divine oracles. Only immortals with stone statues enshrined in the ancestral temple could influence the emperor’s thoughts.

Shen Qiyuan quickly recalled the offerings in the royal ancestral temple.

Apart from ancient immortals of high virtue and prestige like the Celestial Emperor and Empress, those who had dealings with him were only Supreme Lord who had initially guided his path, Lord Lao who granted him the position of Azure God and his master Puhua, as well as two Divine Lords he had met once.

His master couldn’t possibly harm him. When he insisted on becoming the Azure God, his master had been angry with him for a long time. If he could return to the Nine Heavens, his master would be happy, so the suspects were the remaining few.

With turbulent thoughts, Shen Qiyuan finished touring the garden with the emperor and hastily took his leave, riding straight to God Street.

In the past, when he encountered matters, he would always brood over them alone. Now it was different—he had someone to discuss with.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. He impatiently arrived at the Meeting Immortals Inn, dismounted, and went upstairs, knocked and pushed open the door.

The door opened wide, but inside were only a few raised gauze curtains.

Frowning in disappointment, he turned to ask Zhao Yanning, “Where is your manager?”

Zhao Yanning leaned against the doorway: “You ask me, but I want to ask you. Didn’t Princess Jinghong come early this morning to take the manager to the palace to see you? How is it that she hasn’t returned yet? The Ningyuan Marquis Manor has sent people again, and everyone is waiting for her to make decisions.”

His eyelid twitched inexplicably: “Who did you say took her where?”

“Princess Jinghong took her to the palace.” Zhao Yanning repeated, looking at him with confusion. “What’s with that expression, sir? Did you choke on something?”

Wiping his face with his hand, Shen Qiyuan wanted to speak but stopped.

Just then, the sound of carriages and horses came from downstairs. He tensed and didn’t even take the stairs, flipping over the second-floor railing.

The customers in the main hall were startled by him, chattering about how he lacked propriety. Shen Qiyuan paid no attention at all, only striding quickly to the entrance and standing before the arriving person.

Ruyi was talking with Li Zhaoying, her face white as grease, showing rosy smiles. She didn’t look ahead, but as if she knew he was there, she calmly walked around him and continued smiling: “Rouge still has to be from Baozhai Hall—it’s naturally comfortable to use.”

Li Zhaoying also smiled: “Tomorrow I’ll have someone send you two boxes.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you, Princess.”

Shen Qiyuan touched his nose tip and again blocked her path.

Ruyi looked up and exclaimed “Oh” as if just noticing him: “Lord Shen, why aren’t you returning to your manor so late?”

“I…”

“Can’t find the way home?” She smiled and turned her head. “Qingyi, come, take this money and go hire a carriage outside to send the lord back.”

“No.” He grasped her wrist.

Ruyi immediately broke free, looking at him strangely: “We’re merely ordinary friends—how can you touch and grab like that?”

He knew she had heard.

Shen Qiyuan was silent for a moment, then immediately said: “That was an expedient measure. I’ll explain to you later. I know you’re angry now, and this matter is indeed my fault. I apologize. To show my remorse, I’ll cover all your rouge from now on.”

Ruyi: “…”

Finally, there was a chance for an argument, but this person apologized too quickly, and his attitude was so sincere, his gaze so earnest, that she felt somewhat embarrassed to get angry.