Princess Lingque stood beside the Prince of Yuliu, her eyes slightly reddened, like an innocent little deer that had been frightened.

Emperor Tai’an’s gaze was heavy as he looked at the Prince of Yuliu: “I recall telling you that Yang Zhe is already betrothed to Princess Yi’an and will be wed very soon.”

The Prince of Yuliu wore an expression of embarrassment and helplessness: “This humble prince knows. I told my royal sister as soon as I returned. Today, Minister Ouyang and I searched everywhere for her. We thought my royal sister had disappeared—we never expected she would run to Shuntian Prefecture to file a complaint.”

At this, he bowed deeply: “My royal sister has lost her memory. Like a painting faded to blank paper, her temperament differs greatly from before. Please, Your Majesty, forgive her.”

Emperor Tai’an glanced at the pitiable Princess Lingque, his expression softening considerably: “That the Princess has taken a liking to Yang Zhe is his good fortune, but he is already betrothed and cannot form a marital bond with the Princess. Great Zhou has many outstanding young men. I am certain the Princess will find an excellent husband…”

Hearing Emperor Tai’an’s words, Princess Lingque’s tears fell like rain: “I only have eyes for him. He also gave his answer in front of everyone.”

Emperor Tai’an frowned: “That was merely matching couplets. The Princess has misunderstood.”

“I have not misunderstood.” Princess Lingque stepped forward, her tear-washed eyes bright and compelling. “I ask Your Majesty: is Yang Zhe’s learning and talent outstanding among your nation’s young scholars, or is it not?”

Despite knowing this question held a trap, Emperor Tai’an still nodded.

A top scholar emerged every three years, but a top scholar who achieved the triple crown might not appear even once in several decades. To deny with a false conscience that Yang Zhe was merely an ordinary young scholar would only invite ridicule if word got out.

“The first line of the couplet I proposed at that time was not obscure. With Yang Zhe’s talent, it’s impossible he didn’t understand what I was asking. If he had no such intention, he could simply have said he couldn’t match it, and I would never have pursued the matter. But since he provided the second line, he made me a promise. By turning around and denying it now, where does that leave me?”

Emperor Tai’an’s temples throbbed. He couldn’t help but glance at Yang Zhe.

Yang Zhe lowered his head and cupped his hands: “At that time, the Yuliu scholars were taking turns proposing first lines. Thus when Princess Lingque spoke her first line, this humble minister didn’t think beyond that—I only took it as a competition between both sides.”

“You see, Princess, this is merely a misunderstanding.” Emperor Tai’an said with forced patience.

Princess Lingque’s expression grew agitated: “Can he dismiss the insult to me with one word of ‘misunderstanding’? Royal brother, why won’t you speak? In Yuliu, when young men and women publicly use couplet-matching to pledge their feelings—surely you’re aware of what that means?”

The Prince of Yuliu smiled awkwardly and explained to Emperor Tai’an: “In our Yuliu, the custom of matching couplets is very popular. There’s an unwritten rule: if a young man or woman proposes a first line containing romantic feelings and the other party provides a second line, it signifies a mutual pledge of lifelong commitment. To deny it afterward is equivalent to abandonment after seduction.”

Emperor Tai’an listened silently and furrowed his brow slightly.

The Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs understood and spoke up: “Our Great Zhou has no such custom, and Scholar Yang was even less aware that your esteemed nation had such a custom. The Prince should properly counsel the Princess.”

Some things were inconvenient for His Majesty to say, but he, as the Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs responsible for dealing with foreign guests, could say them.

“This humble prince has long tried to persuade her. If reasoning with her were possible, we wouldn’t be troubling Your Majesty today.” The Prince of Yuliu wore an expression of utter helplessness. “My royal sister has lost her memory. Actually, in her heart, this humble prince is no different from a stranger…”

It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried—how easy was it for a stranger’s words to be heeded?

“Ahem.” The Prefect of Shuntian, who had been listening silently all along, coughed and asked the key question: “If the Princess has lost her memory, why does she remember these customs?”

The Prince of Yuliu’s expression didn’t change: “My royal sister only doesn’t remember people. She still remembers common knowledge that everyone knows. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be unable even to speak?”

The Prefect of Shuntian stroked his beard and had nothing more to say.

“Royal brother, say no more.” Princess Lingque suddenly spoke, staring fixedly at Yang Zhe. “Scholar Yang, I’ll ask you one more time: do you acknowledge the promise made that day?”

Yang Zhe’s tone was indifferent: “My apologies, but this Yang had no such intention.”

“Good. I understand.” Princess Lingque pressed her lips together. Resolve flashed through her eyes, and she suddenly rushed toward a vermillion-lacquered pillar.

The Prince of Yuliu moved with swift hands and sharp eyes, tightly embracing her just as she made contact with the pillar: “Royal sister, royal sister, you mustn’t do something foolish!”

Princess Lingque, collapsed in the Prince of Yuliu’s arms, had her eyes tightly closed, her forehead bruised purple and blue.

Emperor Tai’an rose abruptly: “Summon the imperial physician at once!”

The Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs and the others were all frightened senseless.

This Princess Lingque was truly ruthless!

After a bout of chaos, the imperial physician examined Princess Lingque, who had been settled in a side hall, and came to report: “The impact the Princess received was not severe. She should be fine.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tai’an breathed a sigh of relief.

The Prince of Yuliu bowed deeply to Emperor Tai’an, his tone grave: “Your Majesty, this humble prince presumes to request that you fulfill my royal sister’s wish. Since losing her memory, my royal sister’s emotions have been extremely unstable and cannot be judged by normal standards. If she could strike a pillar once, she can do it a second time. If something truly were to happen in a foreign land, this humble prince would have no way to answer for it upon my return!”

Emperor Tai’an listened quietly, his eyes deep as a pool.

The Prince of Yuliu’s repeated mentions of Princess Lingque’s memory loss were nothing more than reminders that Great Zhou bore responsibility for Princess Lingque’s current condition. So this was the compensation Yuliu had wanted all along by using Princess Lingque’s injury.

Emperor Tai’an was a rational sovereign who wouldn’t let emotions affect his judgment regarding interests and gains. He understood very clearly that regardless of whether Princess Lingque was sincere or acting, if something truly happened, Great Zhou would fall into no small trouble. Therefore, when Princess Lingque expressed her determination not to rest until she achieved her goal, he reached a decision.

After a long silence, Emperor Tai’an’s low, measured voice rang out: “I have never seen a woman as devoted as Princess Lingque… Very well, lovers are the rarest treasure. I shall take it upon myself to fulfill this match.”

At these words, the Prince of Yuliu was overjoyed: “This humble prince thanks Your Majesty on behalf of my royal sister.”

Emperor Tai’an looked toward the tall, crane-like young man standing in the hall: “Compiler Yang, what do you think?”

Upon hearing these words, the Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs and the others secretly twitched at the corners of their mouths.

You’ve already said as much—what choice does Compiler Yang have?

Yang Zhe’s face appeared relatively calm. He lowered his eyes and said: “This humble minister will follow Your Majesty’s arrangement.”

Emperor Tai’an laughed heartily. After the Prince of Yuliu departed, he sighed: “This is unfair to Compiler Yang, but this Princess Lingque has created such a disturbance that we cannot damage relations between the two nations because of her.”

“To share Your Majesty’s burdens is this humble minister’s honor.”

“You may withdraw as well.”

The hall quieted. Emperor Tai’an slowly rubbed his brow and said to Liu Chuan, who accompanied him: “Yang Zhe truly is excellent—rare to find such lack of youthful stubbornness. Come, accompany me to the Empress Dowager.”

For Emperor Tai’an, the Empress Dowager’s reaction would be another headache.

In Cining Palace, Princess Yi’an must have said something amusing, for the Empress Dowager’s laughter could be heard.

“What happy matter does Mother Empress have? Tell your son about it.” Emperor Tai’an walked in.

“I was listening to Yi’an tell jokes. Why has Your Majesty come at this hour?”