Liu Yin was still immersed in her performance when a book was suddenly knocked out of her hands. The intruder, as if oblivious to her presence, walked straight into the room with a cold and detached voice. “Someone, come here.”

As the words fell, several guards rushed in from outside. Liu Yin’s eyes darted around, and she hurriedly followed after the man, her voice full of emotion as she exclaimed. “Crown Prince gege, please let me stay! If you let me stay today, I promise not to bother you for the next month!”

She raised three fingers solemnly as she saw the guards approaching, swearing. “If I break my word, let me choke on water when I drink, or get hit by a carriage when I step outside!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the man remained silent, and the guards exchanged glances, waiting for his next command.

Seizing the moment, Liu Yin cheerfully slipped into the inner hall. Of course, she wasn’t really intent on staying. She was just using this as an excuse—this way, she could take a justified break for a month without arousing suspicion. It was a win-win! After all, pretending to be an infatuated fool was exhausting work.

The grand inner hall was silent, enveloped in a faint sandalwood fragrance that calmed the mind and soothed the senses. The decor was not ostentatious but exuded an understated elegance. The walls were adorned with paintings coveted by scholars and artists alike. If not for her recent lessons with the Grand Tutor, she wouldn’t have recognized the difference between these masterpieces and ordinary paintings. Using such treasures as mere decorations—it was indeed the privilege of someone as wealthy as the Crown Prince.

Her gaze, however, was drawn to the row of bookshelves on the left. Glancing sideways, she noticed someone seated at the desk, writing something. Unable to resist, she took a few steps closer, her eyes scanning the dazzling array of books.

Unlike her father’s collection, which consisted mostly of dry and tedious poetry by renowned figures and bureaucratic documents from the Ministry of Personnel, the books here covered a much broader range of topics. From astronomy and geography to curious anecdotes and rare accounts, the variety was dazzling.

Her attention was suddenly captured by a book with a sheepskin cover. Rising on tiptoe, she struggled to pull it down. The title had three characters—Ji-something-Shu—but the middle character was one she didn’t recognize. Opening it, she was met with intricate diagrams and explanations of mechanical contraptions. It was incomprehensible to her at first glance.

So, it was a book about mechanics. Knowing full well that her knowledge was at a beginner’s level, Liu Yin returned it to the shelf and instead picked up a book on rare and curious stories.

The hall was unusually quiet, unlike her usual chatter and noise. Qin Yan lifted his gaze slightly and saw the young woman standing by the bookshelf, flipping through the books with curiosity. He was suddenly reminded that the Grand Tutor had mentioned she was now serving as a study companion to the Sixth Princess.

Having found the book she wanted, Liu Yin turned around, content, only to find the man watching her. Flustered, she quickly put the book back on the shelf. Fine, she admitted silently—it wasn’t entirely proper to touch someone else’s belongings without permission.

“Uh… Crown Prince gege, could I borrow this book for a few days?” she asked, pointing to the one she had been holding.

The girl was dressed in a simple blue palace gown, her delicate face still carrying a hint of playful innocence. Yet her eyes were clear and bright, no longer holding the same expression they once did. Qin Yan’s gaze darkened slightly, but he remained silent.

“You can read?”

His voice was calm, but the question made Liu Yin’s face fall. What was that supposed to mean? Was he looking down on her?

“Of course, I can read! Crown Prince gege, are you looking down on me?!” Liu Yin glared at him, her expression indignant. She hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to be so blatantly condescending.

The man, however, remained composed, his expression indifferent as he simply said, “Take it.”

A person doesn’t suddenly become eloquent overnight, and their eyes can’t easily deceive. Compared to the cunning courtiers he dealt with, this cousin’s pretense was superficial. When it came to disguise, Qin Yan suspected this wasn’t the real Liu Yin at all.

Liu Yin pouted but didn’t bother arguing. In her view, everyone in this world seemed to look down on the original Liu Yin, even her father. He’d often told her not to waste time on trivial books and instead focus on classics about proper conduct for women—clear, undeniable discrimination.

Taking the book, Liu Yin still made a polite gesture, stepping closer to thank him. “Although I was indeed a bit undisciplined in the past, I’ll study diligently from now on. I know Crown Prince gege finds me annoying, but I’ll keep my word—not a single bother for the next month.”

Though her face looked pitiful, inwardly Liu Yin was overjoyed. The thought of not having to chase after the Crown Prince for an entire month filled her with bliss.

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed the man’s thin lips part slightly. “Sit down.”

Liu Yin: “…”

Her back tensed, and a strange unease crept over her. She glanced around nervously before tightly clutching the book and reluctantly sitting in the chair by the desk.

The hall was eerily silent. The man’s gaze shifted, suddenly landing on the edge of her ear. Her pale, flawless skin was without blemish. Liu Yin, however, was fidgeting, her eyes darting about uneasily under his stare. Her discomfort grew, and a ridiculous thought crossed her mind: had he finally noticed her beauty?

At that moment, the man’s fingers suddenly brushed against her ear. The touch was warm and smooth against her skin. His fingertips moved slightly, as if searching for something, but he didn’t find the layer of disguise he seemed to be expecting.

Liu Yin was completely stunned!

She sat frozen in place, barely daring to breathe. Had she just been violated?!

Sensing her reaction and seemingly realizing the impropriety of his actions, Qin Yan quickly withdrew his hand. His deep voice carried a hint of apology, “I’m sorry.”

Liu Yin shot to her feet, stepping back several paces. Her hand flew to her ear as she stared at him with a mix of shock and confusion. This situation was beyond anything she had prepared for—how was the original Liu Yin supposed to react to being violated?

“Men… men and women shouldn’t touch! How could you do that?!” she stammered, her cheeks flushing crimson.

Stumbling over her words, she clutched the book tightly and bolted out of the room as if she were being chased by a wild beast.

Watching her retreating figure, Qin Yan’s brow furrowed. For the first time, he doubted his own judgment.

Liu Yin exited through the back door as usual. Outside, Xiyun was waiting for her near the Eastern Palace. Seeing her mistress rushing out in such a flustered state, Xiyun couldn’t help but feel curious but didn’t dare ask whether she had encountered the Crown Prince.

Liu Yin couldn’t shake the thought of the Crown Prince’s bizarre behavior. She was convinced he hadn’t intended to violate her—there had to be another purpose. But why? Didn’t he realize this might only encourage her to cling to him even more recklessly?

Noticing her mistress walking along the palace path with a troubled expression, Xiyun couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer. “Miss, did you see the Crown Prince just now?”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Liu Yin let out a soft sigh and continued strolling leisurely. “I did, but I also promised Crown Prince gege that I wouldn’t bother him for the next month.”

“What?” Xiyun exclaimed in surprise. “Then… then doesn’t that mean you won’t see His Highness for an entire month?”

Knowing how much her mistress admired the Crown Prince, Xiyun was certain that not being able to see him for such a long time would surely make her anxious.

Suddenly, Liu Yin pulled a book from her sleeve, raising her brow with a hint of satisfaction. “This is from Crown Prince gege. If I miss him, I’ll just read the book instead.”

Hearing this, Xiyun’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to give her mistress something. Could this be a sign that his impression of her had improved significantly?

As they spoke, a group of people emerged from another path in the imperial garden. Among them was a graceful figure that looked all too familiar. Liu Yin glanced over, silently cursing her bad luck. What a small world. She immediately turned to leave.

But the Fifth Princess had sharp eyes and called out, “Isn’t that Sister Liu?”

At her words, everyone turned to look. However, what they saw was clearly just a palace maid. Could that really be Liu Yin?

The next moment, the maid turned around, revealing her face. One by one, their eyes filled with surprise—it really was her!

“Why is Sister Liu dressed like a palace maid and sneaking around like this? If someone mistakes her for an assassin and arrests her, what will she do?”

The speaker was Princess Mingyue, daughter of the Grand Princess, who was the emperor’s elder sister. Mingyue was deeply favored and had grown up arrogant, with little regard for others. She particularly delighted in making trouble for the original Liu Yin, and their disputes were frequent and fiery.

“I think she’s just trying to sneak closer to my royal brother,” the Fifth Princess chimed in with a cold sneer. “A proper young lady with no sense of shame at all. And yet, the other day, she had the audacity to lecture me. Does she even realize what kind of person she is?”

Standing nearby, Shen Yao glanced at the Fifth Princess with mild disapproval. “Your Highness, please mind your words. Criticizing others is hardly becoming of a learned individual.”

Ignoring their mockery and banter, Liu Yin, still clad in her palace maid attire, walked calmly toward them. Fixing her gaze on the displeased Fifth Princess, she said in a steady voice, “The Fifth Princess truly embodies purity and elegance, surpassing all mortal realms. Only now do I realize that those lofty scholars who cherish their virtue enjoy hurling insults about shamelessness. Perhaps I should consult the Grand Tutor tomorrow to clarify this peculiar phenomenon.”

Her words struck a nerve, and the Fifth Princess’s hands clenched tightly, her face paling slightly. The others also stared at Liu Yin in surprise. After only a brief time away, she seemed to have become unexpectedly sharp-tongued.

Princess Mingyue let out a derisive laugh, her delicate face full of scorn. “Just a few days of reading, and you’re putting on airs. How ridiculous.”

The imperial garden often had passing servants, but they all kept their heads down and hurried past, pretending not to notice the scene.

Liu Yin’s lips curled into a faint smile. She turned her gaze to Princess Mingyue and said lightly, “So, in the Princess’s eyes, all scholars are merely posturing?”

Mingyue’s expression shifted instantly. “When did I ever say that?”

“That’s exactly what it sounded like to me. Or am I mistaken?”

Liu Yin let out a cold laugh, her delicate face brimming with mockery. However, she also knew better than to pick a fight she couldn’t win. Turning her attention to the Fifth Princess, she spoke with feigned earnestness, “Your Highness, if you provide me with a reasonable explanation today, I’ll let this matter go. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to ask my aunt to accompany me to see the Noble Consort. I’d like to understand why the princess deems it proper to insult a humble court lady like myself. What is the reasoning behind such behavior?”

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