At those words, Imperial Consort Chen’s smile stiffened, and she looked at Fu Yun Xi with disbelief. In her view, all men were fickle creatures – there wasn’t a cat that wouldn’t steal fish when given the chance. For a man to remain faithful to one woman for life was utterly impossible. Given the opportunity, they would secretly seek out many women, especially since Fu Yun Xi himself was exceptionally outstanding. The number of noble young ladies throwing themselves at him must be countless. How could such a man be willing to devote himself to just one woman for life?

“Your Highness must be joking,” Imperial Consort Chen, convinced that Fu Yun Xi was merely making polite excuses, continued, “With Your Highness’s status, how could you possibly marry only one principal wife for life? Besides, Miss Zhuang is hardly exceptional. If Your Highness wishes, there are so many other young ladies in the world…”

“This Prince will have only one Crown Princess.” Fu Yun Xi cast a glance at her, the coldness in his eyes making Imperial Consort Chen shudder involuntarily. He wouldn’t even address himself as “your subject” before the Empress Dowager anymore. They heard him say, “His Majesty has already approved this marriage. Is there anyone who ranks above His Majesty?” His meaningful gaze swept over both the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort Chen as he added with significance, “If anyone dares to covet the position of Crown Princess, this Prince will show no mercy.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened as she looked at the handsome youth standing in the hall. He stood tall and straight as a sword, his demeanor cold, yet emanating an aura of murderous intent and frost. It seemed his words were absolute and not to be defied, or else there would be dire consequences. She couldn’t pinpoint when exactly this prince had started growing distant from her, becoming increasingly difficult to control. When facing her, his arrogance showed no restraint, as if deliberately so. What exactly was he planning?

The Empress Dowager pushed aside her thoughts and put on a smile, “I am only concerned for you, child. You’ve always been strong-willed since young, but marriage is no small matter. You…”

“Your subject has come of age,” he said. “Mother Empress can let go now.”

The Empress Dowager started, looking at him with a complex expression, but Fu Yun Xi merely cupped his hands in greeting, “His Majesty has summoned your subject for other matters. Your subject shall take his leave.” With that, he turned and left.

The two women in Cai Feng Palace remained silent for a long while. Finally, the Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, her expression vastly different from her previous loving and languid demeanor, now terrifying in its viciousness. She drawled to Imperial Consort Chen, “You see, a wolf raised to maturity can no longer be kept.”

Imperial Consort Chen lowered her head, “Then… shall we eliminate it from the root?”

Meanwhile, when Fu Yun Xi returned to Xuan Qing Prince Manor, Cheng Lei saw him and teased, “Did you go see your little Princess?”

Fu Yun Xi ignored him and strode into the study. Cheng Lei sensed something unusual in his manner and followed him in, finding Fu Yun Xi giving instructions to Mu Yan: “Find two guards to protect the Princess at Zhuang Manor, keeping watch in secret.” After a moment’s thought, he added, “Also assign two people to monitor those from the palace.”

After Mu Yan left with his orders, Cheng Lei asked suspiciously, “You just returned from the palace?”

Fu Yun Xi replied, “The Empress Dowager is growing restless.”

Cheng Lei’s expression turned serious, “All these years, you’ve had people monitoring the Empress Dowager. What exactly is the reason?”

“You’ll know soon enough,” he replied without looking up.

“Yun Xi, the Empress Dowager opposes your marriage to Miss Zhuang, doesn’t she?” Cheng Lei watched him. “I also heard about how the Empress Dowager previously tried to match Miss Zhuang with Wei Ru Feng. It’s strange – Miss Zhuang seems quite ordinary, why would the Empress Dowager be so invested in her? Have your people discovered anything?”

Fu Yun Xi shook his head, “It seems someone has sworn to secrecy. Her opposition now makes me even more suspicious.”

Cheng Lei looked at him thoughtfully, “Is it worth breaking ties with the Empress Dowager over her?” Seeing Fu Yun Xi’s silence, he continued, “Moreover, you’ve only met her a few times, yet you’re helping her to this extent and even thinking of making her your Princess. Setting aside that she’s only thirteen, still just a young girl – no matter how special she might be, you’re not the type to fall in love at first sight and rush into marriage. I don’t understand.”

Indeed, Fu Yun Xi was typically quite aloof. Back in the military camp, subordinates had sent all manner of alluring women to entertain him. Among them were those who were seductive and charming, those innocent and vivacious, those proud and aloof, and those bold and spirited. These young ladies, not to mention how much silver they had received, had thrown themselves at Fu Yun Xi upon hearing his reputation. The young and handsome youth, invincible on the battlefield and noble in bearing, certainly possessed his charm. Yet even in such harsh conditions, he hadn’t spared those women a single glance. At the time, Cheng Lei had been utterly impressed by his self-control.

But now, for a young girl he’d barely met, he repeatedly broke his own rules. Sometimes, it was as if he had transformed from an otherworldly immortal into an ordinary person with human emotions. He would smile, grow angry, shock the entire court for her sake, and even risk falling out with the Empress Dowager.

Was it worth it?

Fu Yun Xi shook his head and smiled faintly, “The palace banquet wasn’t my first time seeing her.”

Fu Yun Xi remembered that afternoon seven years ago.

At that time, he was still an arrogant youth untouched by worldly troubles. Having just learned a secret that would affect his entire life, unable to accept it, he had his first falling out with his Imperial Brother and volunteered for battle. His Imperial Brother had no choice but to agree to his request. Fu Yun Xi’s anger and grief weren’t lessened by this; that afternoon, he left the palace and wandered almost all of the capital before arriving at a back mountain in the western part of the city.

It was an extremely quiet place, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters. The weather was cold, and heavy snow had just fallen, covering the vegetation in a layer of white. He sat in a tree, and though the wind was strong, his heart remained restless. It was then that he heard crying.

He initially didn’t want to pay attention, but the crying grew louder until it seemed the person could barely breathe. Having come here for peace, only to find something disturbing the tranquility, he grew annoyed. Looking down in irritation, he discovered a five or six-year-old little girl sitting beneath his tree.

She was a dirty little girl with two round buns in her hair, currently wiping tears away as she cried most heartbrokenly. Unable to contain his irritation any longer, he leaped down and stood before the little girl, coldly commanding, “Be quiet!”

The little girl was startled, and seeing such a remarkably handsome young man before her, despite his unfriendly expression, she had never seen someone so beautiful. She reached out to grab his hand in a daze, asking, “Are you an immortal?”

In all of Fu Yun Xi’s years of life, though he had been admired by countless young ladies, his cold nature made him dislike physical contact, and normally no one dared to pull at his sleeves. Yet this little girl, with hands that had just wiped away tears and mucus, was now clutching his sleeve and calling him an immortal. Looking at the black fingerprints on his snow-white clothes, Fu Yun Xi, who had been fastidious since childhood, felt a maddening anger.

He stepped back and said, “Don’t touch me.”