Chu Hongyu was depressed.

Before him was a large pile of memorials. Eight or nine out of ten were memorials urging him to quickly take consorts.

Although the realm was now at peace, welcoming Great Jin’s greatest golden age, there were still many livelihood issues that needed resolving. Why did these ministers always have to fixate on his rear palace?

“Annoying! Annoying! This is annoying me to death!”

He threw all the memorials on the ground.

Lin Dongdong, the armed imperial guard beside him, quickly bent down to pick up the memorials: “Your Majesty is seventeen years old this year. You really should…”

“Shut up!” Chu Hongyu said irritably. “Lin Dongdong, whose side are you on anyway? If you also urge me to take consorts, I’ll revoke your title of First Guard!”

Lin Dongdong quickly said: “I won’t urge, I guarantee I won’t urge. Even if Your Majesty never marries for a lifetime, I won’t say a single word.”

“You’re the one who will never marry for a lifetime!”

Chu Hongyu glared at him, turned around and walked out of the Imperial Study.

He headed straight for Kangning Palace.

As soon as he entered, he heard Changsheng talking with Yun Chu about his rear palace matters.

His face immediately fell: “Reading memorials, it’s this matter. Coming to Mother Empress’s place, it’s also this matter. Give me a break.”

Chu Hongjue on the side said with a smile: “Elder Brother, a few days ago the son of the Minister of Personnel told me he has an older sister who is beautiful in appearance, gentle and virtuous. I specially went to the Minister of Personnel’s manor to take a look, and I must say, that young lady truly has stunning beauty… Although she’s somewhat inferior to Elder Sister, she’s already very outstanding. How about Elder Brother just…”

“If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute.” Chu Hongyu glared at him, then looked toward Yun Chu. “Mother Empress, must this matter be handled right now?”

Yun Chu spoke gently: “Your Father Emperor and I won’t force you to marry now, but you are Great Jin’s Emperor. Your marriage is not only a family matter but also a state matter. Sooner or later it must be handled.”

“Your Mother Empress is right.” Chu Yi walked in from outside. “Back then, I married your Mother Empress at twenty-six years old. You must marry before you turn twenty-six.”

“That’s still nine years away.” Chu Changsheng laughed. “Then there’s no rush.”

Chu Hongyu let out a long sigh.

“Father Emperor, Mother Empress, Elder Sister, why don’t you ask why Elder Brother is so averse to taking consorts and establishing an Empress?” Chu Hongjue said, propping his chin. “If I analyze it, there might be these two reasons. First, Elder Brother likes men…”

“You’re the one who likes men!” Chu Hongyu was enraged. He picked up a folding fan and struck Chu Hongjue on the head. “If you can’t speak properly, shut your mouth!”

Chu Hongjue dodged and continued: “Then only the second reason remains—Elder Brother has someone he loves!”

Chu Changsheng’s eyes immediately widened: “Elder Brother, you’ve been hiding from me that you have someone you love. Quick, tell me—which family’s young lady is it? Do I know her? Have I met her?”

Yun Chu was first surprised, then became happy: “Yue’er, if you have someone you love, just tell Mother directly. Mother will invite her to the palace to discuss.”

“No, I don’t. Jue’er is talking nonsense!” Chu Hongyu was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Face flushed, he stood up. “I originally came to seek comfort from you all, but each of you mocks me instead. Hmph, I won’t chat with you anymore. I’m leaving!”

He turned around and strode out the door.

“Hahahaha!” Chu Hongjue laughed without courtesy. “I was right—Elder Brother does have someone he loves! Haha, I’m truly clever!”

“Laughing so happily, looks like you’ve completed your lessons.” Chu Yi’s voice rang out indifferently. “Bring them here for me to see. I’ll test you while I’m at it.”

The smile on Chu Hongjue’s face gradually disappeared. He slowly backed away: “Well, not yet. Isn’t Father Emperor supposed to pack for going south? Don’t trouble yourself over my trivial matters, Father Emperor. I’ll be going first, hehehe…”

He clung to the doorframe and fled.

Yun Chu looked toward Chu Changsheng: “Yue’er and you are dragon-phoenix twins. You two share a spiritual connection. He’s always told you about everything. Go probe him and find out what’s really going on.”

Chu Changsheng was also extremely curious and quickly left.

After the children all departed, Chu Yi sat in the position closest to Yun Chu, reached out to embrace her waist, his voice low and husky: “Worried about Yue’er’s marriage?”

Yun Chu smiled: “Not really. I’m just curious which family’s girl could make this boy keep thinking about her.”

“Naturally a good girl.” Chu Yi said. “After the marriage is settled, how about we return to the capital then?”

Yun Chu glared at him: “Shouldn’t we as parents at least screen her?”

Chu Yi chuckled softly: “With so many civil and military officials screening her, where would we still be needed?”

While the two of them were speaking, Chu Changsheng had already found her way to Yangxin Hall.

She circled around inside the hall but didn’t see any sign of her brother. She couldn’t help but ask Lin Dongdong, who was standing at the hall entrance: “Wherever Elder Brother goes, he takes you along. You’re here, so how come my Elder Brother isn’t?”

Lin Dongdong kept his head lowered: “In reply to the Eldest Princess, His Majesty forbade this minister from speaking.”

As he spoke, he secretly extended one finger of his right hand, pointing upward to the sky.

Chu Changsheng looked up. Good heavens, her brother was actually lying on the roof of Yangxin Hall with a blade of grass in his mouth. Truly lacking any imperial image whatsoever.

“Elder Brother, come down.”

Chu Changsheng called out once. Chu Hongyu remained unmoved.

She could only try to climb up to the roof, then pretended to be injured and cried out in alarm. Sure enough, Chu Hongyu quickly came down from above, asking with concern: “Changsheng, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Chu Changsheng grabbed hold of his wrist. “Elder Brother is getting busier and busier now. It’s been so long since the two of us sat side by side chatting like we did when we were children.”

“I know what you want to talk about.” Chu Hongyu spat out the grass from his mouth. “I’ll tell you directly—I do indeed have someone I love. I’ve had her for a very, very long time.”

Chu Changsheng said happily: “Isn’t that wonderful then? Let Elder Brother’s beloved become the Empress, and naturally those ministers at court will shut their mouths.”

Chu Hongyu looked up at the sky with both eyes and let out a long sigh.

“What’s wrong, Elder Brother?” Chu Changsheng asked. “Is that woman’s family background too low to be Empress?”

“As long as she’s willing to marry me, even if her family background is a bit low, it doesn’t matter. I can just promote her father to a higher rank.” Chu Hongyu looked distressed. “The key issue is, the person she loves isn’t me. Alas—”

Chu Changsheng was dumbfounded.

In this world, there was actually a woman who didn’t like her brother?

Her brother ascended the throne at eight years old. Now only seventeen, he had already left a profound mark in the history books. He could be said to be the most outstanding emperor.

Not only was Elder Brother internally talented and brilliant, governing the country properly, but his external appearance was also not lacking in the slightest. Even the three words “handsome man” seemed somewhat inadequate when applied to Elder Brother…

“Elder Brother, which family’s young lady is it exactly?”

“The eldest daughter of the He family.” Chu Hongyu paused. “That is, that fellow Chen San’s cousin.”

Chu Changsheng was stunned again.

She had never met the He family’s eldest daughter, because the He family two years ago was merely a lowly Seventh Rank. Only last year were they promoted to Sixth Rank.

The daughter of a Sixth Rank official, no matter what, would have no opportunity to appear before the Eldest Princess.

However, the He family and Minister of Works Chen’s family were related by marriage, a very close relationship. Therefore, the He family’s eldest daughter had stayed at the Chen manor for a period of time.

And at that time, Chu Hongyu went to the Chen manor every day, chatting about everything under the sun with the Minister of Works. Naturally, he also came to know the He family’s eldest daughter.

“I think I’ve heard Chen San mention…” Chu Changsheng spoke slowly. “He has a cousin who was once engaged, but because her mother passed away, she observed three years of mourning. The engagement was also broken off, and his cousin has thus wasted away to twenty years old… Is this the one?”