She could not even remember the shape of those eyes. Only the light within them had made those eyes startlingly, breathtakingly beautiful.

Then, a handsome and composed face surfaced in her mind—it was Heir Jing.

Lin Hao shook her head.

Had she gone mad? Her mother asked what kind of person she liked, so why did she think of the masked man who had died with her in her previous life, and also think of Heir Jing?

Good heavens, could she possibly like two people?

This discovery frightened Lin Hao.

“Ah Hao, what is wrong?” Seeing her daughter’s expression changing continuously, Madam Lin patted her arm.

Lin Hao stood up abruptly, startling both Madam Lin and Old Madam.

“Grandmother, Mother, I am going back to think things over.”

Watching Lin Hao hurry away, Old Madam and Madam Lin looked at each other in bewilderment.

“Mother, what do you suppose Ah Hao is going back to think about?”

Old Madam’s expression was complex. “Perhaps you awakened something in Ah Hao with your question.”

Madam Lin was dumbfounded.

Lin Hao returned to her chambers and sat down on the bed, picking up the soft pillow at the head of the bed to press against her chin as she stared blankly.

She had always considered herself an honest person. How was it that when her mother asked, she actually thought of two people?

Heir Jing was one thing—at least she saw him frequently. But the person who had blocked the sword for her in her previous life—she did not even know his appearance or age.

Wait, when had she started liking Heir Jing?

Lin Hao calmly thought it over and felt something was amiss.

It was probably that in such an atmosphere, her mother had led her astray, causing her to subconsciously think of the two men who had left the deepest impressions on her.

One had died together with her, the other she interacted with most frequently in daily life.

Good, good—she was still normal.

Much like Lin Hao’s repeated reflections, Princess Yi’an tossed and turned thinking for two days before finally could not help but reveal her feelings to the Empress Dowager.

“Imperial Grandmother, when you previously asked what kind of person I liked, I could not say clearly at the time. Now I know.”

“Oh? What kind of person does Jiaojiao like?” the Empress Dowager asked with a smile.

Princess Yi’an’s personal name was the single character Jiao.

“I like… someone talented and brilliant.” Princess Yi’an’s cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her head.

“Talented and brilliant?” The Empress Dowager repeated these words, understanding Princess Yi’an’s meaning.

Everyone present was a trusted confidant, so the Empress Dowager asked directly, “Has Jiaojiao taken a fancy to last year’s new top scholar?”

The Empress Dowager had long since learned about Princess Yi’an going to view the lantern mountain and riddles on the Lantern Festival, and along with it, learned about the top scholar giving Second Miss Lin a flower lantern.

Princess Yi’an’s face reddened. After a long moment, she nodded slightly.

“This dowager has met that young man. He is indeed refined and exceptional. However, this dowager heard that he gave the glass palace lantern to the young lady of the Lin family.”

Princess Yi’an pressed her lips together.

She did indeed feel uncomfortable about this matter, but now was not the time to dwell on it.

“Scholar Yang said that among the ladies present, he only recognized Second Miss Lin, which is why he gave her the glass lantern.”

“How did Jiaojiao learn of this?” the Empress Dowager asked without revealing her thoughts.

“Father heard that Scholar Yang had solved the lantern riddle and summoned him to Xuande Tower, even concerning himself with his marriage prospects.”

A strange light flashed in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.

His Majesty was concerning himself with Scholar Yang’s marriage prospects? By this measure, he intended to make important use of this person.

Realizing this, the Empress Dowager’s heart softened.

Jiaojiao had stayed by her side since childhood, no different from her own granddaughter. She naturally wanted to choose an excellent husband for her.

The Empress Dowager had originally been dissatisfied with Yang Zhe’s background. One must know that people without family backing would find the official career path much more difficult. But if His Majesty valued him, that changed everything.

What greater support could there be than the Emperor’s favor?

As for situations like Wen Rugui’s, the Empress Dowager was not worried. Jiaojiao’s backing was the imperial family itself.

“Imperial Grandmother, please grant your granddaughter’s wish.” Having spoken this far, Princess Yi’an shook the Empress Dowager’s arm, throwing caution to the wind in her pleading.

“Stop shaking. This dowager’s old bones are being rattled apart by you.” Having made her calculations, the Empress Dowager’s expression relaxed. “Later, this dowager will ask His Majesty’s thoughts on the matter.”

Princess Yi’an was overjoyed. “Thank you, Imperial Grandmother!”

The Empress Dowager reached out and tapped Princess Yi’an’s forehead. “A young lady should be more reserved. We still need to see what your father says.”

“I understand.” Princess Yi’an covered her forehead with a lively smile.

Once Imperial Grandmother spoke, Father would surely agree.

Shortly after, the Empress Dowager found an opportunity to raise this matter with Emperor Tai’an. Emperor Tai’an showed surprise on his face. “Mother has taken a fancy to the top scholar for Yi’an?”

The Empress Dowager naturally would not say it was Princess Yi’an herself who had taken a fancy to him. She smiled and said, “Yi’an has grown up as well. This dowager has long been thinking of finding her a suitable husband. Scholar Yang Zhe is young, highly talented, and of good character. This dowager feels he and Yi’an are a match made in heaven. This dowager just does not know what His Majesty thinks?”

Emperor Tai’an smiled. “Of course your son listens to Mother. Mother’s satisfaction is most important.”

Emperor Tai’an’s answer greatly pleased the Empress Dowager. “The rest of the matter is left to His Majesty then.”

“Mother may rest assured.”

Emperor Tai’an left Cining Palace and glanced toward the direction of the Eastern Palace.

Yang Zhe was talented, but lacking family backing. In the future, when assisting the Crown Prince, he would inevitably be constrained by those ministers of prestigious backgrounds with deeply entangled connections. Having Yi’an as his wife’s family would make things much stronger.

After just a few days, Emperor Tai’an summoned Yang Zhe to the palace.

“This humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“Compiler Yang need not stand on ceremony.” Emperor Tai’an’s manner was as warm as a spring breeze. After chatting about a few matters, he turned to the main topic. “That day I said I would keep an eye out for you. As it happens, the Empress Dowager has been selecting a prince consort for Yi’an since last year. Upon hearing of Compiler Yang’s brilliant display at the Lantern Festival, she is quite pleased with you. I feel you and Yi’an are also a match made in heaven. What are your thoughts?”

Emperor Tai’an asked this politely, yet left no room for refusal.

“A match made in heaven”—this word “heaven” carried two layers of meaning. The Son of Heaven was “heaven.” Having said it was a match made in heaven, who would dare refuse?

Yang Zhe knelt down, somewhat flustered. “This humble subject comes from a humble background. How would I dare presume so highly as to aspire to the Princess?”

Emperor Tai’an assumed a disapproving expression. “Compiler Yang, those words are incorrect. You are the top scholar I personally selected, a student of the Son of Heaven. Where is the humble background? If I say you are worthy, then you are worthy.”

Yang Zhe lowered his eyes. The floor paved with gold bricks reflected his refined, handsome face. Though it was clearly his own face, he inexplicably felt a trace of unfamiliarity.

Under Emperor Tai’an’s condescending gaze, he placed both hands on the ground and pressed his forehead against the cold gold bricks. “This subject… gratefully accepts Your Majesty’s great favor.”

Emperor Tai’an’s expression relaxed, showing a smile. “Rise quickly.”

News that His Majesty had bestowed the marriage of Princess Yi’an and Scholar Yang Zhe soon spread.

Han Baocheng and several others pulled Yang Zhe along to drink, all offering congratulations.

Yang Zhe held his wine cup, maintaining an appearance of being neither overwhelmed by favor nor humiliated by disgrace. Yet he drank cup after cup, clearly more decisively than on previous days. Soon he showed signs of slight intoxication.

Wen Feng looked at Yang Zhe several times and finally could not help but speak. “Brother Yang.”

Yang Zhe looked toward him, his eyes cold and clear.

Wen Feng silently swallowed the words he had wanted to say and raised his cup. “Congratulations.”

Yang Zhe raised his cup to his lips, touching the cold wine, and smiled faintly. “Thank you.”