Jun Yun’s mind went completely blank.

Xu Ziyi actually liked men!

If she revealed that she was a woman, wouldn’t that mean Xu Ziyi would never see her again?

“Princess, are you alright?” Her maid looked at her worriedly.

Xu Ziyi’s words just now were too shocking—the maid couldn’t even bring herself to say them out loud.

She was afraid that the princess might do something irreversible out of heartbreak.

After a long silence, Junyun looked up and smiled bitterly. “I am the only princess of Yufeng. Why would I live or die for him?”

“Liking men? Ha! I’m a woman. He’s blind, face-blind, and brainless!” Junyun spoke angrily, but tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

She had gone through so much trouble to arrange a meeting with him, just to confess her feelings. But in the end, this was the outcome.

“Let’s go back!”

The crown prince frowned. “Did Royal Sister misunderstand something?”

[Such a perfect couple, how did things fall apart? Xu Ziyi is clearly Princess Jun Yun’s destined partner. If she misses this chance, she won’t be able to get married for the next ten years!]

The crown prince furrowed his brows.

It seemed like he needed to go back and discuss this matter with the emperor.

A joke! If his royal sister couldn’t get married for ten years, that would be a disaster!

[Adults’ emotions are so complicated. In the future, if I like someone, I’ll just take them for myself!]

The crown prince: …

Seeing that there was no more drama to watch, the crown prince handed Jiang Yuanxi over to Jiang Yuansheng at the gate and hurried back to the palace.

By nightfall, news had spread that Princess Jun Yun was betrothed to Xu Ziyi, the top-ranked scholar of the imperial exam, by imperial decree.

At the same time, Wu Jiping was ordered to arrange a marriage for Xu Qianhua.

Additionally, the second-place scholar, Li Ren, was found guilty of deceiving the emperor, had his title revoked, and was permanently banned from holding office.

While Jiang Yuanxi was fast asleep, the family held a small meeting.

Jiang Yuanfan took out a piece of paper. “This is Li Ping’s confession.”

Jiang Yuansheng took it and read it. “According to him, three years ago, the Duke of An suddenly targeted the Chen family.”

His eyes flickered. “Could it be that Grandfather has some kind of leverage over them?”

Jiang Fengyuan suddenly recalled something. “In three days, Yuanwu will return. By then, Xin-niang will be able to see Lord Chen.”

Madam Chen grasped Jiang Fengyuan’s hand tightly. “Really?”

Since the downfall of the Chen family, she had not seen her parents for two years.

Jiang Fengyuan held her hand in return and nodded gently.

Madam Chen couldn’t control her tears and left to compose herself.

Jiang Fengyuan, worried, followed to comfort his wife.

Jiang Yuancheng rested his chin on his hands, full of envy. “Father and Mother have such a great relationship. I want that too. When can I get married?”

Before he could finish speaking, he was smacked on the head.

Jiang Yuanfan said, “You’re still a kid! What wife are you talking about?”

…

When Jun Yun returned to the palace, she had barely sat down when she received the imperial edict of marriage.

She ran straight to the imperial study to beg her father and mother to cancel the engagement, but surprisingly, both were in agreement—

The marriage could not be annulled.

“Mother, please talk to Father and make him cancel the marriage!”

Concubine Chen tapped her daughter’s nose. “Your father issued the decree himself. It cannot be undone.” If the emperor hadn’t told her that their daughter liked Xu Ziyi, she would have been completely unaware.

“Mother!” Jun Yun tugged at Concubine Chen’s sleeve, acting spoiled.

“You’re about to get married. Stop acting like this,” Concubine Chen sighed, slightly frowning. “Guards, take the princess away.”

Jun Yun looked at her mother in disbelief. “Mother, am I not your real daughter?”

Concubine Chen quickly waved her hand. “Hurry up and take her away.” It was precisely because she was her real daughter that she didn’t have time to entertain her childish games.

She still had so many things to prepare—how could she waste time chatting?

The emperor had mentioned that it was Jiang family’s youngest daughter who predicted Jun Yun’s destined match.

She was quite curious to finally meet this legendary young girl.

…

Meanwhile, the Chen family had returned to the capital in secret. Madam Chen had bought a small house, tidied it up, and hired a few servants with death contracts to ensure there were no leaks.

Just then, Chun Zhi hurried in, her forehead covered in sweat.

“Madam, something has happened!”

At the Lan Fang Pavilion, a large crowd had gathered outside.

On the ground lay two women, their faces ashen and lips purple.

“My wife used the products from your shop and ended up like this! If you don’t give us an explanation, I’ll report you to the authorities!”

Madam Chen entered, holding her daughter, just in time to hear those words.

Chun Tao, flustered, rushed forward. “Madam, he barged in with these two women and collapsed on the ground. Our people couldn’t drive him away!”

Madam Chen frowned and sat down.

Liu Er, the man causing trouble, had never seen such a beautiful woman before. His gaze lingered on Madam Chen with increasing malice.

He lowered his voice and said, “Beauty, if you come with me, I’ll take my two wives and leave. How about it?”

His yellowed teeth and leering expression were repulsive.

Madam Chen was disgusted. Her eyes turned icy, and she wished she could flay the man alive.

[Daring to harass my mother? This guy must have a death wish!]

Jiang Yuanxi stepped forward and, with a sweeping kick, sent the man crashing to the ground. Seizing the moment, she pulled a cooking spatula from her sleeve and smacked him across the face.

“Ugly! Disgusting!”

Chun Zhi quickly pulled her back. “Miss, we might get into legal trouble. We can’t cause a scene now.”

The man’s face was covered in blood.

He got up, his expression dark. “You little brat, you’ll regret this.” He then threw himself to the ground.

“Help! Look, Lan Fang Pavilion is beating people up! Their products harmed my family, and now they want to kill me to silence me! Please, everyone, help me get justice!”

Jiang Yuanxi tossed the spatula aside and stood proudly.

[This scumbag poisoned his own wives and tried to pin it on us!]

Poison?

Madam Chen immediately had an idea.

“You claim my Lan Fang Pavilion’s products are faulty?”

“Of course!” The man was firm.

“How much money will it take to settle this?”

“What?” The man was caught off guard.

He hadn’t expected her to be so direct. Lan Fang Pavilion was a prestigious business frequented by the capital’s noblewomen. Thinking he could extort a fortune, he held up five fingers.

“Five thousand taels!”

“Five thousand taels?! You might as well rob us!” Chun Tao was furious and nearly grabbed a broom to beat him out of the shop.

Jiang Yuanxi pointed at the women on the ground. “They’re about to die.”

Liu Er glanced at them but didn’t seem to care.

“Just give me the money, and I’ll take them to a doctor.”

“Give you money?” Jiang Yuancheng pushed through the crowd. “They’re dying, yet instead of taking them to a doctor, you dragged them here? Are you hoping they’ll die in our shop?”

The young man’s gaze was sharp, his words cutting straight to the truth.

Liu Er panicked. “No, no! I don’t have money for treatment!”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you take them to a doctor first and then come here?”

“The real reason you didn’t is that someone paid you to slander Lan Fang Pavilion!”