The Hanlin Academy was a prestigious government office. Most who entered and exited carried themselves with leisurely composure.

When the time to leave office arrived, Su Yao greeted his colleagues he encountered along the way, walking out unhurriedly.

Those who had spoken with Su Yao inevitably felt some regret in their hearts.

Compiler Su was young and talented, with outstanding character. He should have had boundless prospects—what a pity he was betrothed to Prince Pingnan’s manor.

As Su Yao walked out of the office, he heard a call: “Su Yao—”

The young woman’s voice was soft and languid, yet it made the Hanlin scholars walking out pause in their steps, wariness flooding their eyes as if encountering a flood or fierce beast.

Su Yao cupped his hands politely toward the young woman blocking his path: “This humble official greets Your Highness.”

Princess Changle laughed lightly: “Why hasn’t Compiler Su been to the Youjian Tavern lately?”

Su Yao replied calmly: “This humble official is strapped for cash and cannot afford to go.”

At these words, quite a few people quietly curved their lips, thinking that Compiler Su truly showed neither servility nor arrogance before Princess Changle. Look at how watertight his response was—Princess Changle couldn’t pick out a single fault.

Princess Changle raised her eyebrows and smiled: “I’m good friends with the proprietor of the Youjian Tavern. If Compiler Su goes, I’ll have A’Sheng give you a discount.”

“Even at ten percent off, this humble official’s salary cannot afford it.” Su Yao said coolly.

Princess Changle pressed her lips together: “This palace can treat you.”

Su Yao replied courteously: “Thank you for Your Highness’s generosity, but this humble official already has a marriage engagement. It wouldn’t be appropriate to drink wine together with other women.”

Princess Changle laughed derisively: “Compiler Su is so young, yet as dull as an old pedant.”

Having a marriage engagement meant he couldn’t drink wine with other women?

Those married stinking men still embraced women left and right, with piles of concubines and bed servants.

What made Su Yao any different?

Princess Changle stared fixedly at the extraordinarily handsome youth before her. Her playful intentions gradually underwent some changes.

Su Yao lowered his eyes and cupped his hands: “This humble official is indeed such a dull person. I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”

“What if this palace doesn’t forgive you?”

Su Yao straightened his spine, asking coolly in return: “How does Your Highness intend to deal with this humble official?”

Princess Changle froze. Her snow-jade face became covered in frost.

Su Yao certainly had great audacity, actually contradicting her publicly.

Was he confident she couldn’t act against Prince Pingnan Manor’s Young Princess’s fiancé?

As Princess Changle fell silent, the atmosphere grew tense. Many people cast concerned and worried looks at Su Yao.

Yet Su Yao remained calm. His eyes meeting Princess Changle’s held neither panic nor anger.

This made Princess Changle understand—he was not someone who acted on impulse.

Such people were often very difficult to change.

Princess Changle smiled: “Making friends is about finding kindred spirits, mutual willingness. This palace was just joking. Compiler Su shouldn’t take it to heart.”

Su Yao smiled slightly: “This humble official wouldn’t dare. That Your Highness doesn’t hold it against this humble official—I’m deeply grateful.”

Princess Changle studied the youth’s calm features and laughed: “I can’t see any deep gratitude from Compiler Su. If Compiler Su is truly grateful, why not treat me to wine?”

Seeing Su Yao remain silent, Princess Changle hooked her lips: “Ah yes, Compiler Su has a marriage engagement and it’s inconvenient to drink wine with other women.”

Su Yao said nothing, only cupping his hands toward Princess Changle.

But Princess Changle had no intention of letting this drop. She asked with a smile: “Then has Compiler Su ever drunk wine with his fiancée?”

Su Yao suddenly noticed the gazes directed at him shift from concern to curiosity.

Watching drama, spreading gossip—these had always been human nature.

“This is this humble official’s private matter. It’s inconvenient to tell others.” Su Yao said coolly.

“Even this cannot be said?” Princess Changle appeared light and breezy, but anger had already risen in her heart. “Compiler Su truly protects his fiancée’s reputation well.”

Su Yao replied neither servile nor overbearing: “Propriety is more harsh toward women. It’s proper to protect one’s fiancée’s reputation.”

Princess Changle pressed her lips together.

Fiancée, fiancée—Su Yao kept saying fiancée with every breath. Did he treasure Wei Wen more than his own eyes?

Was it because Wei Wen came from Prince Pingnan’s manor, or purely because of Wei Wen as a person?

Princess Changle stepped forward, lowering her voice: “What if Compiler Su’s fiancée wasn’t the Young Princess?”

Su Yao froze, replying without changing expression: “No matter who it was, the principle would be the same.”

“Is that so?” Princess Changle looked deeply at Su Yao, then strode away.

Su Yao stood motionless in place, letting the autumn wind quietly lift the hem of his azure official robe.

Several colleagues gathered around, offering words of comfort.

“Compiler Su, I don’t admire much else, but I admire how you don’t lose our Hanlin Academy’s integrity when facing that one.”

Princess Changle was currently the Emperor’s only precious offspring—who dared provoke her?

“That’s right, Compiler Su. You’ve offended that one. You must be more careful from now on…”

Hearing his colleagues’ consolations, Su Yao cupped his hands in thanks, his tone modest.

Princess Changle lifted the carriage curtain and leaned out to glance at the azure-robed youth who stood out like a crane among chickens before the Hanlin Academy gates.

The wind blew, and the gauze curtain slipped from her fingers, blocking her view.

Princess Changle leaned against the soft pillow and closed her eyes, concealing the emotions in their depths.

In the garden pavilion of Prince Pingnan’s manor, Wei Wen stared gloomily at the carp playing in the lotus pond, tossing fish food intermittently.

The rumors of Princess Changle favoring the top scholar Su Yao had reached her ears long ago.

When she first heard these rumors, Wei Wen was beside herself with rage, even having the impulse to go confront Princess Changle.

Her father the Prince was gravely ill, her eldest brother had lost his position as Crown Prince, her second brother was obsessed with men—the entire Prince Pingnan manor had transformed from its former splendor and honor into a laughingstock in everyone’s eyes, avoided by all.

She already had nothing left. Why did Changle still have to target her fiancé!

The betrothal to the new top scholar Su Yao was already her only remaining pride.

That impulse was ultimately defeated by reality.

Precisely because she had nothing left—on what grounds could she confront Princess Changle?

A teardrop quietly fell, disappearing into the pool.

A purple-robed maid hurried into the pavilion, speaking in a low voice: “Princess, this servant heard news from He Song—Princess Changle ran to the Hanlin Academy today to corner Young Master Su…”

A vicious glint flashed through Wei Wen’s eyes. Forcing herself to remain calm, she asked: “And then?”

He Song was Su Yao’s page boy.

Wei Wen was extremely satisfied with this betrothal. Constrained by Prince Pingnan Manor’s current situation, it was inconvenient to have much contact with Su Yao, so she instructed her trusted maid Zisu to build a good relationship with Su Yao’s page boy.

The page boy’s warm responses reassured her greatly. This showed that Su Yao hadn’t developed thoughts of breaking the engagement because of the manor’s misfortune.

Later, when rumors spread of Princess Changle targeting the top scholar, Zisu’s contact with He Song increased even more.

Zisu recounted what she’d heard from He Song, comforting Wei Wen: “Princess, don’t worry. Young Master Su wouldn’t look at that one at all. You’re the only one in his heart…”

Wei Wen felt both somewhat heavy-hearted and somewhat proud, her emotions extremely complex.

Within a few days, an invitation from the Princess’s manor was delivered before Wei Wen.