She waved cheerfully at him but the moment she turned around, Liu Yin’s expression immediately soured. It was such a pity about her Yunlu cake, she’d stood in line for such a long time to get it.

As they walked further away, Xiyun couldn’t help but lean in and whisper. “Miss, what if His Highness finds out it wasn’t made by you?”

The Crown Prince already didn’t like her young mistress, and if he discovered the deception, he would likely distance himself even more. What should they do then?

Liu Yin shot her a glance and casually shrugged. “Do you think the Crown Prince would eat my food?”

Considering the Crown Prince’s attitude toward the original owner, if he actually ate it, Liu Yin would write her own name backwards.

Upon hearing this, Xiyun was momentarily stunned before she quickly understood, nodding in realization. She thought her mistress was really clever—this way, the gesture would still be conveyed without the risk of being found out. Truly a win-win.

Having just finished the morning court session, many officials were present in the council hall, most of them from the Ministry of Personnel. With the imperial exams approaching in three years, someone had recently submitted a petition, criticizing the heavy atmosphere of corruption among court officials and the difficulty for scholars from poor families to rise. As a result, the Crown Prince himself would personally oversee the selection process. Some officials with ulterior motives were now more cautious.

Holding a box of pastries, Xia Yi entered the hall, scanning the room before his gaze landed on the man in a dark robe standing by the desk in the center of the hall. Stepping forward, he bowed respectfully. “Your Highness.”

The atmosphere in the council hall was tense, and upon closer inspection, a few officials were seen avoiding eye contact, raising suspicion.

The man slightly lifted his gaze and suddenly picked up a bamboo scroll from the table, handing it over to Xia Yi. Taking it with both hands, Xia Yi unrolled the scroll and carefully studied it.

“Not bad. The wording is quite bold and free-spirited. But if I’m not mistaken, many of the ideas seem to be borrowed from the writings of scholars. How did such a piece make it into the imperial exams?”

Xia Yi furrowed his brow and glanced at the officials below but none met his gaze. It was clear that many of them were trying to play tricks in this examination. Truly, their audacity knew no bounds.

The man in the dark robe cast a cold glance at the officials, each of whom had their own thoughts. “Before the time of Xu tonight, I want all the essays from the provinces and counties submitted to me,” he ordered.

At his command, the officials hastily responded. “Yes, Your Highness,” though they couldn’t help but grumble as they returned to their tasks. They knew well enough that this Crown Prince was not someone to be easily fooled.

Xia Yi sighed quietly, wondering when the corrupt atmosphere in the court would ever change.

“Why did you seek me out?” The man, Qin Yan, glanced at him.

At the question, Xia Yi immediately bowed and replied, “Your Highness, the person you asked me to find has shown some progress. However, he has been living in seclusion for many years and harbors deep dissatisfaction with the court. It would be difficult to convince him to serve in the government.”

The factionalism and infighting within the court had caused many talented, idealistic individuals to grow disillusioned. They preferred the life of an unknown recluse over becoming part of the corrupt administration. However, the Crown Prince was a man who valued talent, and Xia Yi wasn’t sure whether he could persuade the recluse to change his mind.

“Let me know once you find his exact location.” The man’s voice was calm and indifferent.

Xia Yi nodded thoughtfully, and as if struck by a sudden idea, his gaze fell on the box of pastries in his hand. He placed it on the desk and said. “I ran into Miss Liu’er earlier in the palace. She asked me to bring you these pastries, claiming she made them herself. I never expected that such an impulsive girl could actually cook. It seems she’s gone to great lengths for Your Highness.”

As he finished speaking, the man who had been reviewing documents, glanced up at him with a faint expression. Xia Yi quickly cleared his throat and added. “However, for a woman, it’s important to maintain a sense of propriety. This gesture might be considered… a bit too forward.”

With that, he bowed and withdrew, feeling he’d done his best. It was clear that His Highness was not fond of Liu Yin, and he had done all he could.

The box of pastries looked out of place on the desk which was cluttered with official documents. The eunuch in blue, well accustomed to the task, swiftly removed it. His Highness had never cared for sweet treats, not even the ones sent by the Empress. To put her mind at ease, however, he always “took care” of them himself.

He opened the box, glanced inside, and then paused, suddenly taking out one of the pastries with a surprised exclamation. “Isn’t this the oil paper from Juyuezhai?”

He mumbled this to himself, but the man at the desk froze for a moment, his gaze briefly shifting before he returned to his documents.

—

Fortunately, the sun wasn’t too harsh in the morning. By the time Liu Yin arrived at the academy, the Grand Tutor had not yet arrived. However, the room was already filled with young princes and princesses, all of whom recognized her as the Empress’s niece. They were surprised to see her there, though.

The Sixth Princess, dressed in a soft pink palace gown, immediately approached her. “Sister Liu.”

Even though the room was full of royal children, Liu Yin felt no need to fear. These individuals all lived in the inner palace where they had to abide by her aunt, the Empress’s, wishes. Only someone with a foolish mind would dare to provoke the Empress’s niece.

Thus, the original owner had always been arrogant and domineering within the palace, frequently bullying the princesses she disliked, earning a notorious reputation.

“I thought I was late and wanted to bring you some Juyuezhai pastries, but unfortunately, they were spilled in an accident.” Liu Yin said with a regretful expression as she sat down at her spot.

The Sixth Princess was the Empress’s biological daughter, but her relationship with the original owner was rather indifferent, given the latter’s unpleasant personality.

Her words were an attempt to make amends, and the Sixth Princess, somewhat surprised, smiled and shook her head. “It’s no trouble. At noon, Mother had someone prepare your favorite Qianshui cake, and she asked me to invite you to join us for lunch.”

Since the Sixth Princess had already addressed her as “cousin,” Liu Yin naturally took the opportunity to build a better rapport. “Alright, I haven’t paid a visit to Auntie in a long time either.”

The Sixth Princess, feeling relieved thought that perhaps her once domineering cousin had become much easier to get along with today. She sighed in relief, thinking how much better it would be if things stayed this way. When she had heard her mother say that Liu Yin would be joining her as a study companion, she had nearly been distressed to the point of despair.

Others in the room, however, weren’t as impressed. Though they didn’t show it on the surface, they secretly looked down on Liu Yin. Everyone knew that the eldest daughter of the Liu family was illiterate, crude, and shameless—only ever chasing after the Crown Prince. The idea of her serving as a study companion for the princess seemed laughable; they thought she would be no more helpful than a three-year-old.

Liu Yin paid no attention to their opinions. However, things hadn’t gone as planned today. Shen Yao had claimed to be ill and didn’t come to the palace while the Grand Tutor had assigned a pile of homework. The original owner couldn’t read, and Liu Yin found herself even more lost in this unfamiliar world of characters.

But she was at least an adult, so she humbly asked the Sixth Princess for help. She managed to memorize all the characters she recognized. But when it came to calligraphy, things became a challenge. She had never written with a brush before, and even though the Sixth Princess patiently taught her how to position her wrist, the results were hardly presentable.

For a moment, it felt as though the Sixth Princess had become her own study companion. The others held back their laughter but pretended nothing unusual was happening. Meanwhile, the Grand Tutor was incredibly patient, teaching her how to hold the brush, showing no sign of resentment over how Liu Yin had once bullied his daughter.

Liu Yin’s fondness for the Grand Tutor grew; this was truly a man of integrity and dignity, the epitome of a scholar.

When class was over, Liu Yin gathered up the papers with her clumsy writing, planning to destroy the evidence. However, the Sixth Princess continued to comfort her. “Don’t worry, cousin. You did great! When I first started, it took me forever to remember just a few characters.”

Liu Yin shot her a glance. The problem was, she had started school at eight, whereas Liu Yin was already seventeen!

Determined, Liu Yin vowed not to remain illiterate thinking it was just reading and she was once a graduate, so she could always start from scratch!

The midday sun was scorching and by the time they returned to Changchun Palace, both of them were exhausted from the heat. As soon as they entered the inner hall, a cool breeze greeted them. The sight that met their eyes was that of an exceptionally grand and luxurious hall. Palace attendants moved about, heads lowered, going about their tasks in an orderly manner, creating an atmosphere that was both oppressive and strict.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, Liu Yin followed the Sixth Princess deeper into the hall. There, on a large, soft couch, sat a middle-aged woman dressed in a dark red Luán robe. Her hair was adorned with few jewels, yet her dignified and regal presence was unmistakable. This, no doubt, was her aunt, the Empress.

However, Liu Yin’s gaze was drawn to another figure in the room—a man dressed in a black robe, his tall, slender figure exuding an air of aloof elegance. His gold-tasseled crown gleamed, and even though he was merely standing, he radiated an unapproachable, noble aura. Liu Yin blinked, unsure whether to consider herself fortunate or unfortunate.

“Gege, you’re here too?”

The Sixth Princess immediately smiled and approached him. Then, as if struck by a thought, she glanced back at Liu Yin. “Today, cousin came with me to the academy. She’s incredibly smart and learned so many characters in no time! Even Grand Tutor Shen praised her.”

Liu Yin: “…”

Her dear little cousin, can you please stop praising her?

At this, the Empress’s interest was piqued, and she waved toward her niece. “Why are you just standing there? Hurry and come greet your cousin.”

She had specifically sent for her, so why was the girl still lingering? In the past, she would have already come forward by now.

Still holding the piece of paper she planned to destroy, Liu Yin stepped forward, trying to adopt the same shy and reserved demeanor as the original owner. She glanced at the man with a hint of bashfulness and said, “Crown Prince gege.”

Qin Yan briefly glanced at her before turning his attention away. Suddenly, he addressed the Empress with a respectful tone. “The hour is late. Would you allow your son to accompany you for a meal?”

The Empress, noticing that he didn’t even bother speaking to his niece, felt a pang of worry. The Crown Prince was not her biological son, and there were certain things she couldn’t express too openly, for fear of distancing their relationship even further.

With this thought, she cast a subtle glance at the nearby maidservant. “Serve the meal.”

While the Empress remained silent, Liu Yin couldn’t afford to ignore him. Given the original owner’s clingy nature, once she saw her love interest, she simply couldn’t let go. So, she had no choice but to continue smiling in the face of his cold indifference.

Taking a deep breath, she immediately approached the man with a bright smile and sweetly said, “Crown Prince gege, I enrolled in the academy just for you, I’ve been working so hard.”

As she spoke, perhaps due to not holding it tightly enough, a piece of slippery parchment suddenly slipped from her hand and fluttered down, landing right at the man’s feet.

Qin Yan’s gaze dropped briefly, and he noticed the crooked characters on the paper, resembling those of a child who had just begun learning. The entire atmosphere in the hall grew tense and awkward. Liu Yin flushed with embarrassment and quickly squatted down to pick it up.

“This… this was just an accident. Things can’t be rushed; there’s always a process of improvement, right?” She said earnestly, hiding the paper behind her.

The Sixth Princess wanting to say something but decided to turned her face away, not daring to look at her brother.

The Empress cleared her throat and offered a gentle compliment. “Yin’er is doing quite well. It’s good that she’s putting in the effort.”

Liu Yin felt that she and the Crown Prince were clearly on different wavelengths. Every time she made a fool of herself, it seemed like it was inevitable that he would witness it. But fortunately, her thick skin made it all trivial.

Before long, she approached him again with a serious expression, speaking earnestly. “The Grand Tutor always says that it’s not the foolishness that’s concerning, but the lack of ambition. Am I right, Crown Prince gege?”

Her charming face still carried a hint of cheekiness, and after a day of studying, her speech had become more fluent. Just then, the palace servants finished preparing the meal, and Qin Yan turned slightly to assist the Empress, saying nothing.

But Liu Yin, ever persistent, slipped right next to him, blinking her large eyes and unwilling to give up. “Am I wrong?”

He didn’t turn to look at her. After a brief moment, his thin lips parted slightly, and he responded. “Mm.”

>>>