Emperor Tai’an’s glance at Princess Yi’an was not particularly obvious, yet somehow, Princess Yi’an caught it.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt inexplicably nervous.

Upon hearing these words, Yang Zhe’s expression showed little change. He replied respectfully, “This humble subject comes from a poor family and does not yet have the means to support a wife and children. I only wish to work diligently and share Your Majesty’s burdens.”

Emperor Tai’an shook his head. “I do not care for such words. You are the top scholar I personally selected, a future pillar of the nation. If even you are not qualified to marry and have children, who else would be? You need not worry about marriage matters. I shall keep an eye out for suitable matches.”

“This humble subject is ashamed to have Your Majesty concern himself with such matters.”

Emperor Tai’an smiled. “Very well. The hour is still early—go stroll the streets.”

“This humble subject takes his leave.”

After Yang Zhe departed, the Crown Prince could not help muttering under his breath, “Truly concerning himself with too much.”

This was his father, not Yang Zhe’s. Why was he worrying about Yang Zhe’s marriage prospects?

Emperor Tai’an glared at the Crown Prince. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing.” The Crown Prince replied resentfully.

With others present, Emperor Tai’an did not scold the Crown Prince, saying indifferently, “Let us all return to the palace. Liu Chuan, arrange for someone to escort Lady Ninghua back to the prince’s residence.”

Qi Qiong boldly ventured, “Imperial Uncle, just now when I accompanied the princess downstairs, I saw both my elder brothers. There is no need to trouble Eunuch Liu with escorting me back to the residence. May I go directly to find my two elder brothers?”

Emperor Tai’an would naturally not make difficulties over such a trivial matter and immediately nodded. “Go ahead.”

Qi Qiong respectfully took her leave. When she reached the street, however, she could find no trace of Lin Hao.

Indeed, she had come to find Lin Hao. Yang Zhe’s gift of the lantern had left her bursting with curiosity that she needed to ask her friend about.

Qi Qiong wove back and forth through the streets until she heard a voice call out, “Little Sister, why are you darting about like a headless fly?”

“Second Brother?” Qi Qiong walked over, her gaze falling upon the flower lantern in Qi Shuo’s hand. “Eldest Brother, is this flower lantern for me?”

Before Qi Shuo could speak, Qi Huan laughed. “Little Sister, I advise you to know yourself better. This is clearly meant for Second Miss Lin.”

Qi Qiong shot him a look. “Second Brother knows this so clearly—did you perhaps think Eldest Brother’s lantern was for you, and only learned the truth after asking and being disappointed?”

Qi Huan faltered.

“Have you not seen Ah Hao?”

Qi Shuo spoke. “She went that way with her friend.”

Her elder brother’s carefree manner irritated Qi Qiong somewhat. “Ah Hao went that way carrying the glass lantern Scholar Yang gave her?”

Was Eldest Brother made of wood?

Qi Huan gave his sister a thumbs up. “At the time, I advised Eldest Brother to give the butterfly lantern to Second Miss Lin, but he showed no reaction whatsoever. Like this, how can he compete with that Scholar Yang?”

The more Qi Huan thought about Yang Zhe, the more urgently he felt a sense of crisis on his brother’s behalf. “That fellow with his slicked hair and powdered face has exactly the appearance that pleases young ladies. Eldest Brother, you cannot be careless.”

Qi Qiong could hardly bear to listen. “Second Brother, there is no need to slander others so.”

To call Scholar Yang’s refined, handsome appearance “slicked hair and powdered face”?

“Little Sister, why are you speaking up for that fellow? Wait—you haven’t fallen for that pretty boy, have you?”

Qi Qiong snapped, “Shut your mouth!”

The bickering between his younger siblings brought a faint smile to Qi Shuo’s lips. “Scholar Yang will not pass the test of Old Madam Lin and Madam Lin.”

No matter how outstanding Yang Zhe might be, in the eyes of Old Madam Lin and Madam Lin, his background too closely resembled that of Second Miss Lin’s father. He could be certain the Lin family would never consider Yang Zhe as a son-in-law.

Qi Shuo lowered his gaze to rest upon the exquisitely crafted butterfly lantern.

He was still angry!

Just as Qi Shuo had predicted, when Old Madam and Madam Lin heard about the Lantern Festival incident where the top scholar had given a lantern to Second Miss Lin, they were instantly alarmed.

Behind Lin Hao’s back, the two held an emergency consultation.

“Absolutely not. No matter how much I dote on Ah Hao, I will not agree to this match.”

Old Madam shot Madam Lin a look. “Now do you understand your mother’s feelings?”

Madam Lin sighed. “Mother, it is useless for me to understand. Ah Hao is at the age where romance first awakens—she has not come to this understanding yet!”

Old Madam grew worried as well, clinging to a hopeful self-consolation. “Ah Hao is far more sensible than you were. She should listen to us… shouldn’t she?”

“That is not necessarily so. The word ‘love’ is what most causes people to lose their reason and act recklessly.”

Old Madam gave her daughter a look and said irritably, “You certainly speak from experience.”

“Why are you bringing up old matters again? Right now, Ah Hao is in crisis. Alas!”

Old Madam also sighed. “Alas, children and grandchildren are all burdens.”

As soon as Lin Hao entered, she heard her grandmother and mother sighing. Puzzled, she asked, “Grandmother, Mother, has something happened at home?”

“No.”

Lin Hao grew even more puzzled and walked over to sit down. “Then why are you both sighing?”

“It is all because of you.” Madam Lin had a temperament that could not hold things in, and she launched into an explanation. “Your grandmother and I are both worried that you have been deceived by that fellow surnamed Yang.”

Lin Hao paused. “You mean Scholar Yang?”

“Who else but him?”

Lin Hao laughed. “Mother, do not worry needlessly. Scholar Yang only gave me the glass lantern because he did not know any other young ladies.”

Madam Lin sneered. “Foolish girl, only you would believe such words. Since he knows no one, why not just give it to some plain, unremarkable commoner girl? Everyone knows the top scholar would not take a fancy to an ordinary commoner girl, so such a gift-giving incident would be forgotten in an instant. Yet he deliberately gave it to you, who excels in both family background and appearance. Is this not creating trouble out of nothing and making people’s imaginations run wild? This clearly shows he has such intentions!”

Seeing her daughter staring at her blankly, Madam Lin waved her hand. “Why have you gone dumb?”

Lin Hao smiled. “I am just surprised that Mother has thought it through so thoroughly.”

Madam Lin awkwardly took a sip of tea. “Your mother was once confused when she was the one involved, but now she sees things quite clearly. Let me tell you, that fellow has his eye on your beauty and good family background—he has no good intentions.”

“Taking notice of such things is normal, is it not?” Lin Hao spoke honestly. “Back then, you did not want Elder Sister to marry Prince Wei precisely because Prince Wei was too fat.”

Madam Lin gasped. “Ah Hao, have you truly taken a fancy to that fellow surnamed Yang?”

Lin Hao’s face grew slightly warm. “I have not.”

No matter how thick-skinned she might be, discussing such matters with her grandmother and mother felt far too strange.

Madam Lin scrutinized her daughter’s expression carefully. The more she looked, the more panicked she became. “Ah Hao, you are blushing!”

She must have become interested in him!

Lin Hao said helplessly, “Mother, truly I have not. Scholar Yang and I have barely any interactions, and I do not understand him either. How could I possibly speak of liking him? If Scholar Yang truly comes to propose marriage, if you are dissatisfied, simply refuse him directly. There is absolutely no need to worry so much.”

Seeing that Lin Hao’s expression did not seem false, Madam Lin finally relaxed, though a new question arose. “Then what kind of person does Ah Hao like?”

What kind of person did she like?

Lin Hao was stumped by the question.

In that instant, a pair of eyes suddenly flashed through her mind.

She had been lying in the snow, with someone collapsed on top of her, face covered by a black cloth, revealing only a pair of eyes.

Perhaps her perceptions had been blurred by her brush with death, but she only vaguely remembered that they were a very beautiful pair of eyes, though she could recall no further details.