The spring banquet was held in the royal garden, with men and women seated separately, divided by a wall.

After parting from Yu Huanchen, Yu Lingxi went to the women’s section and found an inconspicuous corner to sit down.

At the same time, Crown Prince Ning Dan ascended the Qiongyu Tower with his hands behind his back, followed by a young eunuch dressed in an ochre robe with a jade belt.

“That charred body of a young man found in the arena indeed had a scar from a dagger wound on his chest. It must have been the Seventh Prince.”

The eunuch, pale-faced and beardless, possessed an androgynous quality that transcended age and gender. He continued slowly, “No one in this world can threaten Your Highness’s position. Why worry?”

Hearing this, Ning Dan snorted: “It better be so. If I discover that bastard is still alive, your castrated head will roll too.”

Upon hearing the words “castrated man,” the young eunuch narrowed his slender eyes, his smile unchanged: “I wouldn’t dare.”

After a pause, he added: “Also, the Empress has instructed this servant to inform Your Highness that all unmarried noble ladies of the capital are present at today’s spring banquet. Your Highness may take this opportunity to choose a new Crown Princess. The Empress also mentioned that General Yu’s legitimate daughter would be quite suitable…”

“I will never take a woman from the Yu family as my wife. Tell Mother to give up on this idea.”

Ning Dan reached the top floor of Qiongyu Tower and stood by the window, overlooking the seats of the female guests at the spring banquet. He watched the heavily made-up, gorgeously dressed women with disinterest.

His face showed irritation: “I’ve seen that Yu Xinyi before. Her looks are merely above average, and she’s so unrefined without any feminine charm.”

“The Yu family controls military power. Either eliminate them or if they cannot be brought under Your Highness’s command, they remain a threat.”

As he spoke, the eunuch’s gaze turned toward a certain corner, narrowing his eyes: “I hear the Yu family has a younger daughter.”

Ning Dan followed his line of sight and replied disdainfully: “If the elder daughter looks like that, how good could the younger one be? Girls raised by rough military men must be equally crude…”

His complaint stopped abruptly as his gaze fell on the westernmost corner of the banquet. His pupils dilated, and he stared in a daze.

If not for Cui An, this eunuch’s reminder, he would have almost overlooked her.

Now looking carefully, he saw that as the breeze passed by, creating dappled shadows of flowers, the glimpse of the young lady’s jawline was exquisitely delicate.

Her hand resting on the table was as slender and white as if formed from ice and snow.

True beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. With Ning Dan’s experienced eye, he could tell such a woman must be a peerless beauty.

The eunuch took note of Ning Dan’s fascination and remarked casually: “That is the very lady Your Highness just referred to as a girl raised by rough military men.”

Ning Dan’s throat suddenly felt dry, and he gave the eunuch a knowing look.

The young eunuch immediately understood and bowed: “This servant will make arrangements right away.”

Yu Lingxi was completely unaware of what was happening in Qiongyu Tower, quietly playing the role of background among the chattering female guests.

Midway through, the Empress and an elderly Imperial Dowager Consort made an appearance, representing the royal family in exchanging pleasantries with the noble women and ladies.

During this time, the Empress’s eyes searched around and swept over Yu Lingxi in the corner.

Yu Lingxi quickly lowered her head, pretending to drink, avoiding eye contact.

After the formalities, the Empress escorted the Dowager Consort away. The female guests secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the banquet returned to its initial relaxed and lively atmosphere.

“Sui Sui, why are you hiding here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Tang Buli had extraordinarily applied makeup today and wore a lilac-colored robe reminiscent of sunset clouds, with a silk shawl casually draped over her arms. She looked Yu Lingxi up and down and asked, “Why are you dressed like this?”

“Is something wrong with how I look?”

Yu Lingxi smiled, resting her chin on her palm, “Should I dress like a celestial fairy as you have, hoping to catch a prince as a golden husband?”

“Heartless Sui Sui, you’re teasing me! It was Grandmother who forced me to dress like this. It’s cumbersome; I can barely move my arms and legs.”

Saying this, Tang Buli sat next to Yu Lingxi, smiling as she leaned close to whisper, “Let’s talk about your golden husband instead. I just passed by the neighboring garden and saw Young Master Xue searching everywhere for you.”

This girl was good in every way except for her inability to control her mouth and her love of matchmaking.

Yu Lingxi sighed helplessly: “I can’t handle much alcohol. I should leave.”

“Let’s go together.” Tang Buli was feeling bored anyway, so she rose with Yu Lingxi to depart.

Yu Lingxi waited for a while on the painted bridge but did not see Yu Huanchen. Instead, she encountered Xue Cen.

Today, Xue Cen wore a moon-white brocade robe with his hair secured by a white jade crown. At first glance, he looked as clear and bright as jade, with an air reminiscent of the Wei and Jin dynasties, quite striking.

“Lady of Qingping County.”

He first bowed politely to Tang Buli, then looked toward Yu Lingxi. His eyes contained a faint, restrained smile as he said warmly, “Earlier, His Highness the Crown Prince summoned Brother Chen. Fearing he might not finish soon, he asked me to escort Second Sister home.”

Tang Buli’s eyes darted between the two, and she smiled: “You two chat. I’ll go ahead.”

With that, she ignored Yu Lingxi’s meaningful glances and quickly disappeared.

Yu Lingxi had no choice but to nod: “Then, I trouble Brother Cen.”

Xue Cen rode alongside Yu Lingxi’s carriage, occasionally looking back.

He had deliberately waited at the bridge.

Ever since hearing from Tang Buli that Yu Lingxi had personally made him a pair of boots from the deerskin she had hunted during the spring hunt, he had been in a daze throughout the banquet. His heart nearly pierced through the palace walls, yearning to fly to Yu Lingxi’s side.

Xue Cen felt that there was no better woman in the world than Yu Lingxi, and nothing luckier than mutual affection.

The carriage stopped at the main gate of the Yu residence. Yu Lingxi stepped down from the footboard and casually said: “If Brother Cen doesn’t mind, please come in for a simple cup of tea.”

Xue Cen guessed she probably wanted to find an opportunity to give him the boots, which was why she invited him. He responded eagerly: “Gladly.”

Yu Lingxi was somewhat surprised.

It had only been a polite invitation; she hadn’t expected Xue Cen to accept so readily. Nevertheless, a guest is a guest, and since he wanted tea, she couldn’t turn him away.

The main gate was open, with several elaborately decorated stallions waiting outside.

Yu Lingxi assumed important guests had arrived but didn’t pay much attention. However, when she led Xue Cen inside, she saw two rows of palace servants standing at the front courtyard steps. Each held a tray containing gold and silver hairpins, jade objects, and corals—dazzling treasures of extreme luxury.

These rewards came too suddenly. Yu Lingxi stopped in her tracks, immediately filled with a sense of foreboding.

In the hall, her parents wore forced smiles as they politely bid farewell to an elderly eunuch dressed in brocade.

Seeing Yu Lingxi, the elderly eunuch immediately displayed a wrinkled smile, repeatedly bowing: “No wonder she has captured the Crown Prince’s heart—truly talented and beautiful. Second Miss Yu, this humble servant congratulates you!”

As if struck by lightning, both Yu Lingxi and Xue Cen froze in place.

Yu Huanchen had galloped back at full speed.

Before his horse had even fully stopped, he dismounted and strode rapidly toward the main hall.

Earlier, halfway through the banquet, the Crown Prince and Empress had summoned him to Wenhua Palace, indirectly inquiring about his younger sister’s age and marriage status. He immediately sensed something was wrong and hurried back, but was still a step too late.

The Eastern Palace had moved quickly; gifts of gold, silver, and jade to propose marriage already filled the main hall.

His father and Xue Cen stood in the hall, both with solemn expressions. Nearby, his mother quietly dabbed at the corners of her eyes, which had already reddened.

The atmosphere was oppressively heavy, yet strangely, Yu Lingxi remained the only calm and collected one.

Her appearance today had been extremely unremarkable, and she hadn’t stood out at the banquet. To be chosen by the Crown Prince under such circumstances, there were only two possibilities:

First, someone had deliberately recommended her, bringing her to the Crown Prince’s attention; second, the Yu family controlled military power, and regardless of whether she attended the banquet, the Crown Prince would seek to marry her to consolidate his power.

Either way, the Yu family had been forcibly drawn into the vortex of political factions.

“Given the current situation, what are your thoughts, Sui Sui?” The General was the first to break the silence.

Xue Cen and Yu Huanchen immediately looked over, especially Xue Cen, whose eyes held restrained concern.

“Father, I am unwilling.”

Yu Lingxi’s gaze was steady as she showed a faint smile and continued, “But if this is the only path, I am willing…”

“No!”

“You cannot.”

Yu Huanchen and Xue Cen spoke simultaneously.

Yu Huanchen took a deep breath and stepped forward, speaking in a voice that only the two of them could hear: “Sui Sui, do you know why Father has refused to align with the Eastern Palace faction until now? The Crown Prince is not a pure-hearted person. Moreover, he already has one consort and four concubines, and in the future will possess three thousand beauties. The inner palace is fraught with dangers at every step. With your temperament, how would you manage if you married into it?”

“As long as my daughter is unwilling, no one can force you to marry someone you don’t want to marry.”

General Yu sat in his chair, emanating the dignified bearing of a great general, and said in a deep voice, “For now, it’s merely the Crown Prince’s interest. Before the imperial edict for marriage arrives, we still have a chance.”

“But we can’t fake Sui Sui’s death, can we?”

Lady Yu looked at the gifts in the room, her heart heavy with concern: how could they easily refuse the future emperor who wanted to marry her daughter?

If they faked her death, her daughter would have to hide in a remote place, living under a false identity for the rest of her life, separated from her family, never to meet again.

As a mother, how could she bear that?

“General Yu, Lady Yu.”

Xue Cen broke the silence, “If you want to refuse the marriage without causing public criticism, there is one method, but it would inconvenience Second Sister…”

“What method?” Lady Yu immediately asked.

Yu Huanchen was quick-witted and promptly picked up the thread: “You mean, arrange an engagement for my sister before the imperial edict arrives?”

Engagement?

Yu Lingxi suddenly raised her head. What kind of development was this?

She opened her mouth to speak, but Xue Cen said: “A ruler does not take a subject’s wife. Only this will work.”

Lady Yu thought this plan was feasible and was about to nod, but then frowned: “But where can we find a well-known, suitable young man…”

Before she could finish, General Yu and Yu Huanchen both fixed their gaze on Xue Cen.

Bearing the weight of their intense stares, Xue Cen seemed to make an important decision and slowly stood up.

Knowing that taking advantage of the situation was somewhat ungentlemanly, he still couldn’t suppress the desires of his heart.

If he didn’t step forward now, he would regret it for life.

With this thought, he hesitated no longer. He stepped back and knelt under Yu Lingxi’s astonished and complex gaze.

With his back straight, he solemnly addressed the elders: “Xue Cen admires Second Sister and wishes to take her as my wife, to protect her for life! Please, General Yu, grant this wish!”

…

The apricot blossoms outside Jinyun Temple bloomed exuberantly.

Ning Yin paused, thought for a moment, then casually plucked a branch and curiously brought it to his nose to smell.

Not bad. It was exactly this fragrance that resembled the faint scent permeating Yu Lingxi’s sleeves.

Returning to the Yu residence, he followed the team purchasing rice and grain through the side gate without arousing suspicion from the guard named Qing Xiao.

Ning Yin glanced at the carriage outside the gate—the one exclusively used by Yu Lingxi when she left the residence—and the corner of his mouth lifted imperceptibly.

She had returned.

He lowered his gaze to look at the deerskin boots on his feet, then changed direction, heading toward the main hall.

The servants knew he was in the master’s favor and assumed he was inspecting the safety of the residence, so they didn’t stop him.

Turning down a corridor, he overheard two servants sweeping behind a rockery, discussing something in hushed tones.

“Do you think our Second Miss is going to marry Young Master Xue?” one asked.

“Most likely. Today people came from the palace, bringing many gifts. The General and Lady’s expressions weren’t quite right at the time.”

The other replied chattily, “In my opinion, some prince in the palace must have taken a fancy to our young miss. The General and Lady are reluctant to send their daughter to that man-eating place, so they’re rushing to get the Second Miss engaged. After all, the Xue family has long had a marriage arrangement with our Yu residence.”

The first person agreed: “That’s right. Young Master Xue and our Second Miss grew up together—they’re in love. It was just missing that final step.”

The noisy voices faded away.

The smile in Ning Yin’s eyes dimmed, and he halted his steps.

In the front courtyard, through the shadows of peach branches, Yu Lingxi and Xue Cen walked out side by side.

They said something unknown to him; Xue Cen’s fair face flushed, while Yu Lingxi frowned and shook her head, seemingly concerned.

Xue Cen anxiously stepped forward, his words earnest and sincere. Yu Lingxi’s face showed helplessness as she sighed.

Under the spring sunlight, the noble gentleman and the clear-eyed beauty appeared so perfectly matched, so dazzling…

So dazzling that it hurt Ning Yin’s eyes.

He narrowed his eyes, and unknown shadows emerged and surged in his cold gaze.

So, the warm light that had once pierced the realm of desire had not illuminated him alone.

And the beautiful prey did not belong solely to him.

Absently twirling the apricot branch between his fingers, he suddenly broke into a mocking sneer, then turned and left.

The wind stirred the bamboo blinds in the corridor, bringing a chilling coldness.

Turning the corner, his hurried steps gradually slowed, then slowed further, finally stopping in the shadow cut off from sunlight.

With a soft snap, his five fingers clenched, breaking the apricot branch in his hand, as if breaking a fragile neck bone.

“Xue Cen, is it?”

Ning Yin’s eyes were hidden in the shadow of the bamboo blinds. His pale, thin lips opened slightly as he said indifferently, “In the way.”

So let everything that’s in the way disappear from this world.