Sima Dao sought an audience with the emperor.

“Your Majesty, I have a daughter who has just reached the prime of her youth. A few days ago, she took a liking to Jiang Yuansheng. I humbly ask Your Majesty to grant my daughter a marriage decree.”

The emperor’s brush slipped slightly, almost making him write the wrong character.

The prime minister’s daughter paired with Jiang Yuansheng, the greatest scholar—indeed, they could be considered a perfect match.

However, such matters required the consent of the groom’s parents.

Besides, there was no guarantee that Yuanxi himself would agree.

“This matter shall be discussed later.”

Sima Dao insisted, “Your Majesty, my daughter admires the young scholar of the Jiang family. As her father, it is my duty to consider her happiness. I have never asked anything of Your Majesty, but today, I beg Your Majesty to grant this marriage and fulfill my daughter’s deep affection.”

The Emperor put down his brush and frowned.

“Prime Minister, you should know that for a marriage decree to be issued, both parties must consent. Even as the ruler of this nation, I cannot simply interfere in my subjects’ marriages.”

Sima Dao lowered his gaze.

So, for the sake of the Jiang family, the emperor was unwilling to grant even a minor marriage decree.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

After Sima Dao left, the emperor’s expression darkened.

“Hmph! It seems Sima Dao has had an easy life for too long! His daughter’s character is hardly worthy, yet he dares to dream of pairing her with the greatest scholar in the land.”

He turned to his servant. “Cao Cheng, make sure Yuanxi is well taken care of when he attends school tomorrow.”

That old fox has deep schemes. Who knows if he might try to trip Yuanxi up on his way to school?

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

..

Jiang Yuanxi and his group had been walking for a long time.

Finally, the three people behind her couldn’t bear it any longer.

Wang Hanqi was the first to speak, “Are we really going to keep walking like this?”

Tortoises live long, but they sure walk slow!

A journey that normally took just the time to finish a cup of tea had now stretched into an entire hour.

This was pure torment.

Zheng Yu looked up. “I think this speed is quite manageable.”

Wang Hanqi glared at him. “That’s because you’ve had your nose buried in a book this whole time! How dare you say that!”

Jiang Yuan Cheng had also run out of patience.

“Yuanxi, weren’t we supposed to be looking for Sima Pingting? If we keep walking this slow, she’ll be long gone before we get there.”

Most importantly, they simply couldn’t endure this anymore.

This was like an old man learning to walk—step by step, stop by stop.

“Exactly! We can’t let that woman escape.”

To everyone’s shock, Jiang Yuanxi pulled a black snake from her robes.

She pinched the snake’s head and, with a sharp flick, smacked it onto the back of the Xuanwu tortoise.

The slow-moving Xuanwu suddenly burst into a sprint.

Dust flew everywhere, and in the blink of an eye, it disappeared from their sight.

Zheng Yu’s book dropped to the ground.

Jiang Yuancheng was the first to react. “Why are we still standing here? Chase after it!”

Damn it, who knew a tortoise could run like the wind?

In all his years of living, this was a first!

By the time they arrived, Jiang Yuanxi had already been waiting for quite a while.

Wang Hanqi panted heavily as he stared at Xuanwu.

“What… what kind of tortoise is this… I’m exhausted.” Normally obsessed with cleanliness, Wang Hanqi collapsed onto the ground without a second thought.

Jiang Yuancheng leaned against the wall and gave a big thumbs-up.

His sister’s mount was seriously impressive!

If he hadn’t trained in the military camp with their father, he wouldn’t have been able to keep up at all.

Not long after, Zheng Yu ran up.

“Princess, is your tortoise male or female? Would you consider letting it breed?”

Xuanwu glared and immediately hid behind Jiang Yuanxi.

What kind of people were these?

One was more terrifying than the next.

He was a divine beast! How dare they talk about using him for breeding?

Xuanwu pressed his shell against the wall, refusing to budge.

Jiang Yuan Cheng suddenly noticed their surroundings. They were standing in a narrow alleyway—a dead end.

“Yuanxi, this is a dead end. Aren’t we supposed to be looking for Sima Pingting?”

Jiang Yuanxi hushed him and pointed at a small door in front of them.

“Someone’s inside.”

..

Sima Pingting had taken a fancy to a scholar and had been secretly keeping him here.

She would visit him every few days.

In their past life, her husband had caught her in the act.

But in this life, because of Jiang Yuansheng’s presence, Sima Pingting had now set her sights on him.

The three of them peered through a crack in the door and spotted clothes scattered around the courtyard.

Along with the unmistakable noises coming from inside, it was clear what was happening.

Wang Hanqi was excited—this was his first time catching someone in an affair.

He immediately suggested, “Let’s rush in and scare them!”

“No way,” Jiang Yuancheng stopped him. “It’s no fun if we’re the only ones who see it.”

Zheng Yu hesitated. “Gentlemen shouldn’t do such things.”

Jiang Yuanxi added, “But Sima Pingting has set her eyes on my brother. She wants him to be her concubine.”

Zheng Yu was a scholar, and in the capital, scholars revered Jiang Yuansheng as their role model.

Upon hearing that someone was trying to tarnish their idol’s reputation, Zheng Yu was outraged.

“Outrageous! I’ll go get my father!”

His father was a censor. He would ruin Sima Pingting with one report.

Jiang Yuanxi stayed behind to guard the door.

To buy more time, she even sent her black snake inside to bite the pair, ensuring they would be stuck together for a little longer.

Half an hour later, the three of them returned with a crowd.

The Grand Duke saw Zheng Guang and was momentarily stunned.

“My lord, are you here to visit the academy as well?” he asked in confusion.

Zheng Guang looked him up and down with disdain, barely stopping himself from spitting in his face.

The Grand Duke was puzzled.

This guy was being unusually arrogant.

But his son’s education was important—he couldn’t waste time.

Taking a few quick steps forward, he reached the front.

Wang Hanqi pointed at the small door ahead. “Father, it’s in here.”

Without hesitation, the Grand Duke pushed the door open.

“Ahhh!”

Three screams rang out.

The Grand Duke stormed out, his face as black as ink. “THIS is what you call visiting a teacher?!”

Wang Hanqi chuckled. “Father, Zheng Yu invited his father, so I couldn’t fall behind.”

The Grand Duke nearly fainted from rage.

They were supposed to be visiting famous scholars, and instead, they were here to catch an affair?!

And not just anyone—the prime minister’s daughter!

Now he understood the look Zheng Guang had given him earlier.

Grabbing his shoe, the Grand Duke chased after Wang Hanqi. “You unfilial son! I’ll beat you to death!”

Inside the courtyard, Sima Pingting and the scholar lay on the ground, completely exposed.

“Get out!” Sima Pingting was in a panic, wishing she could smash her head into a wall.

The scholar was drenched in sweat.

They had exhausted themselves earlier, and now, neither of them had the strength to move—worse yet, they were still stuck together.

A crowd gathered outside.

“Didn’t they say there was a play here? Turns out it’s just a lowly woman disgracing herself.”

“This isn’t a play—it’s a live erotic performance!”

“Who’s she sneaking around with?”

Jiang Yuanxi spoke up. “Sima Pingting, daughter of the Prime Minister.”

Gasps filled the crowd.

“This is outrageous!”

“Drown her in a pig cage!”

Sima Pingting trembled with rage, hearing the mockery from all directions.

She was going to be the laughingstock of the entire capital.

Suddenly, an old woman chuckled. “Oh my, they’re stuck together.”

Jiang Yuanxi curiously asked, “Grandma, what’s wrong with them?”

The old woman covered her eyes. “Nothing, dear. Just two wild dogs playing a game.”