The Emperor turned his head and asked Xu Ziyi again.

Xu Ziyi hesitated for a moment, a trace of bitterness flashing through his downcast eyes.

He spoke in a deep voice: “Your Majesty, my heart already belongs to someone else.”

The Emperor sighed inwardly. Which family’s daughter moved so fast, taking away the two people he valued most?

That only left Li Ren.

He had reviewed the information gathered by his subordinates—Li Ren was barely acceptable.

[This marriage cannot be granted. That little scoundrel Li Ren already has a wife at home.] The marriage bond on Li Ren’s head was glowing bright red, clearly indicating that he had only recently wed.

[A big liar speaking nonsense with his eyes wide open! Mother always said that liars get sores on their buttocks, slip when they walk, can’t relieve themselves when they sit, and end up with a mess in their pants when they stand.]

“Pfft—” The Crown Prince couldn’t help but laugh, covering his face with his sleeve as his shoulders shook.

Jiang Yuansheng: Did Mother really say that?!

He had heard from Father that both the Emperor and the Crown Prince could hear Yuanxi’s inner thoughts. Wouldn’t that completely ruin Mother’s image?

As expected, the Emperor frowned after hearing this.

The scolding was good, but a little crude. Did Madam Chen and Jiang Fengyuan teach their daughter nothing but these sayings at home?

“Li Ren, I’ll ask you again—are you married?” The Emperor’s expression turned cold and severe.

Li Ren replied, “Your Majesty, I am alone and unmarried.” If he was the only remaining choice, then the Emperor would have no option but to select him.

Imagining himself living in a grand estate with seven or eight courtyards and commanding a hundred servants, Li Ren couldn’t suppress his smile.

The Emperor was furious. “Guards! Take Li Ren away and interrogate him until he tells the truth!”

Deceiving the Emperor—he must have a death wish.

Li Ren looked up in shock. The Emperor knew?!

Impossible!

As the armored guards approached, Li Ren finally dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.

“Your Majesty, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have deceived you! I have a wife—please, spare my life!”

Eunuch Cao said coldly, “Drag him away. Don’t pollute His Majesty’s ears.” Lying straight to the Emperor’s face—he really had no sense of self-preservation.

Jiang Yuansheng shook his head.

Ten years of diligent study, only to chase the dream of soaring to success in one day—one misstep, and he lost everything.

Was the gamble worth it?

Seeking shortcuts always led to disaster.

It was better to live life with solid footing.

The Crown Prince spoke up, “Father, there are many scholars from the Spring Examination. You can simply select another.”

The Emperor waved his hand. While many scholars had passed, few were as outstanding as Jiang Yuansheng.

[Emperor Uncle doesn’t know, but the Princess already has someone she likes.]

The Emperor was stunned. How did he not know this?

He looked at the Crown Prince, who shook his head.

He didn’t know either!

[The Princess disguised herself as a man when she left the palace and unknowingly attracted the attention of that man. That man thought she was a real one and avoided her, fearing he might be into men. That man is…]

Before Jiang Yuanxi could finish her thought—

“Pfft!”

The Emperor spat out his tea.

Jiang Yuanxi, who was in his arms, was splashed in the face.

She stared at the Emperor in a daze.

[Emperor Uncle, do you have a hole in your mouth? Why is water leaking?]

The Emperor quickly used his robe to wipe her face clean.

The Crown Prince was shocked—his royal sister was playing such a risky game?!

Also, who exactly was this man? Why did Father have to lose his composure at the crucial moment?

Jiang Yuanxi continued to stare at the people below.

[Today is the day the Princess sneaks out of the palace—she’s meeting him at Zui Chun Lou. I really want to go watch!]

Zui Chun Lou?!

The Crown Prince’s jaw dropped.

That was the largest brothel in the capital!

And it wasn’t filled with women—it was exclusively staffed with handsome men!

His royal sister was something else!

And that man—if he was from a respectable family, what was he doing at Zui Chun Lou?! If he wasn’t from a noble house, Father would have him executed!

The Crown Prince looked up and, sure enough, saw their father’s face darken.

That evening, Jun Yun secretly snuck out of the palace with her maid.

“Young Master, do you think he will come?” the maid asked hesitantly.

Jun Yun unfolded her fan, looking every bit like a refined young master.

However, her brows furrowed slightly, showing her inner conflict.

“He… should come,” she said uncertainly.

Since their last meeting, Brother Xu had completely ignored her, not even replying to her letters.

This was the last time.

She planned to reveal that she was a woman—if he didn’t come, she would sever all ties.

A royal princess did not need to beg for anyone’s affection.

At Zui Chun Lou, two small figures sneaked inside.

Jiang Yuanxi, being small, was hard to notice and went ahead to scout.

“Crown Prince Brother, no one is here,” she whispered.

Jun Yin glanced around cautiously before stepping inside.

“Crown Prince Brother, why didn’t we use the front entrance?” Jiang Yuanxi asked in confusion.

Jun Yin whispered back, “Yuanxi, I’m the Crown Prince. If the officials saw me entering a brothel, what would they think?”

“Oh, right.” That made sense.

“Then why are we here?”

It was because Father forced him to come—and also, he wanted to see what kind of man had caught his royal sister’s eye.

The Crown Prince took Jiang Yuanxi’s hand. “No more talking. Let’s go in.”

According to the original plan, the Princess was meeting the man in the back garden of Zui Chun Lou.

Jiang Yuanxi and the Crown Prince hid behind an artificial rock.

Soon, they saw Jun Yun—still disguised as a man—meeting someone.

“They’re here, they’re here!” The two peeked out.

Xu Ziyi?! It was him?! The Crown Prince was in disbelief.

“Ziyi, you finally came!” Jun Yun beamed at Xu Ziyi. “I heard you placed third in the imperial exam—I’m so happy for you! Tonight, I’m treating—let’s drink until dawn!”

Xu Ziyi dodged her reaching hand.

His face was grave.

He looked at Jun Yun for a long moment before suppressing all emotion and bowing.

“Brother Gou, you are too kind.”

…Brother Gou?!

What kind of ridiculous alias had his royal sister given herself?! How was he supposed to report this to Father?!

[So ‘Gou’ can be a name? I’ve decided—starting tomorrow, I’ll be called Elbow Brother! Big Elbow, haha!]

The Crown Prince covered his face.

Great. Now there was an even bigger fool.

Meanwhile, Xu Ziyi gathered his courage.

“From the moment I first met Brother Gou, I felt an unexplainable attraction. Since then, I have thought of you constantly, unable to sleep at night.”

Jun Yun blushed. This fool—he was so direct.

But Xu Ziyi continued, his voice full of sorrow. “I know I am sick—I should not love another man.”

Wait.

Jun Yun felt something was off.

Love?

A man?!

Xu Ziyi pressed on, “I still have my parents—I must carry on the Xu family name. I should not have fallen for you. I know that once I confess, we can no longer be friends, but Brother Gou, I am serious.”

“From now on, we should go our separate ways. I will never trouble you again!”

Xu Ziyi turned and fled, as if being chased by wolves.

[Wow, Princess scared him away. Does this move have a name? I want to learn it!]