As he strolled along the cobblestone path, the man suddenly seemed to remember something and glanced back. “I recall there’s still a roll of cloud-patterned brocade in the storeroom.”

Xiao Luzi hesitated for a moment before quickly nodding. “After the extinction of the rare silk-producing Si Silkworm from Ying Kingdom, only two bolts of its fabric remained.”

One had been used years ago to make clothing for the Empress Dowager. Now, the last remaining piece in the world was stored in the Eastern Palace’s treasury.

“Have the Ministry of Internal Affairs use it for the wedding robe.”

Xiao Luzi’s eyes flickered with surprise. Traditionally, the Crown Princess’s attire was crafted from brocade—luxurious, yes, but still far less rare than cloud-patterned silk. Did His Highness make this decision to honor the Liu family… or had he truly taken a liking to the second daughter of the Liu household?

Meanwhile, Liu Yin had no interest in the political discussions between her mother and the Empress. Tugging at the Sixth Princess, she suggested they visit the academy to find Grand Tutor Shen. With her wedding approaching, she knew she wouldn’t be able to attend classes for some time—perhaps ever again.

However, before they even reached the academy, fate had other plans.

While passing through the Imperial Garden, they ran into a group of rather unwelcome individuals.

Was this bad luck, or just the universe making things interesting?

Either way, while Liu Yin had her fair share of reservations about marrying the Crown Prince, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t seize the opportunity to annoy a few certain people.

“Cousin…” The Sixth Princess grabbed Liu Yin’s arm, hesitant as she eyed the group ahead.

Liu Yin, on the other hand, simply smiled and stepped forward, glancing at the flowers nearby. “These blossoms are lovely. Perhaps I should have the Crown Prince move a few to the Eastern Palace. What do you think, dear cousin?”

Hearing her smug tone, Princess Mingyue scoffed coldly and turned to He Xin. “Xin’er, don’t waste your time on that wretched girl. The Crown Prince may be marrying her, but he clearly despises her. He probably won’t even touch her—how pitiful!”

Liu Yin’s smile didn’t falter. She strolled up leisurely and said with a saccharine tone, “Matters of the bridal chamber hardly require Your Highness’s concern. But rest assured, I will dutifully fulfill His Majesty and Her Majesty’s wishes to ensure the royal bloodline thrives.” She paused, then feigned sudden realization. “Ah, I nearly forgot—Your Highness’s face has healed quite nicely! It seems the Imperial Physicians are not entirely useless after all.”

Across from her, Princess Mingyue’s hands clenched into fists. From between gritted teeth, she spat, “Shameless!”

“Cousin, let’s go.” The Sixth Princess could tell Princess Mingyue was about to stir up more trouble and quickly tugged at Liu Yin.

But Liu Yin, unbothered, simply hummed a tune and strolled past them at an unhurried pace.

Just as she passed, He Xin turned her head slightly, her gaze sharpening. “Then allow me to wish Lady Liu a harmonious and devoted marriage with His Highness.”

Liu Yin’s steps briefly faltered. Then, with a light chuckle, she replied, “Many thanks for Your Highness’s kind blessings. I’ll be sure not to disappoint you.”

After successfully aggravating her rivals, Liu Yin felt particularly cheerful as she strolled toward the academy. Behind her, however, the expressions of those left behind were anything but pleasant.

“Xin’er…”

“No need to say more.” He Xin cast a cold glance at Liu Yin’s retreating figure, her voice laced with venom. “There’s plenty of time. No rush.”

What she wanted would belong to her, and her alone.

Upon reaching the academy, Liu Yin was disappointed to find that Grand Tutor Shen had already dismissed class for the day. Left with no choice, she turned back to reunite with her mother and prepare to leave the palace.

But just as she passed by a pavilion, her gaze caught on a lone figure seated beneath a towering tree.

“Cousin…”

Waving a hand dismissively, Liu Yin gestured for the Sixth Princess to wait while she quietly approached.

The summer sun was relentless, but beneath the tree, there was at least a small patch of shade. A faint breeze passed through, making this spot one of the more comfortable places in the palace.

The young man sitting there held a tattered book in his hands, his long, dark hair ruffled gently by the wind. The scar on his forehead had faded noticeably—proof that he had indeed used the medicine she had given him.

As the embroidered pink shoes halted before him, the young man slowly lifted his gaze. A delicate, breathtaking face entered his vision, her bright smile as radiant as the scorching summer sun—so dazzling it was almost impossible to look at directly.

“I told you the medicine works. Keep using it for another month, and your scar will be completely gone.”

Liu Yin suddenly crouched down, tilting her head to glance at the book in his hands. “You like reading? I can bring you more next time—it’s no trouble.”

Her crisp voice drifted into his ears. The young man lowered his gaze slightly, silent for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice light yet tinged with a faint rasp. “Why?”

Liu Yin remained crouched, watching him intently. Then she chuckled softly. “Because we’re the same.”

At her words, he slowly lifted his head, his deep eyes locking onto hers.

“I’m just like you,” she continued. “Those people may act respectful to my face, but I know they secretly look down on me. They think I’m crude, uneducated, just an arrogant girl riding on her family’s status. But that’s fine. I’ll let them stew in their own anger while I live my best life. It’s not like they can do anything about it.”

She shifted closer, settling beside him as she gazed up at the scorching sun. Her voice was light, almost wistful. “Life is full of things beyond our control. But everyone has different pursuits, and true strength comes from within. You’re probably wondering why I chose to help you.”

She tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. “It’s because I think you’re incredible. If I were in your position, I wouldn’t have endured like you did. I’d probably curse the heavens, blame myself, wallow in resentment.”

Resting her chin on her palm, Liu Yin let out a small sigh. “Honestly, even now, I have no idea what I should do. But what choice do I have? I can only look forward and hope for the best. After all, we don’t live just for ourselves.”

She had her family—her father and mother. And so, she had to marry the crown prince.

A gentle breeze stirred, rustling the leaves. The young man kept his head lowered, his gaze hidden beneath his lashes, making it impossible to tell what was going through his mind.

Remembering that the Sixth Princess was still waiting, Liu Yin quickly got to her feet, brushing the dust off her dress. She glanced down at him and smiled. “I’m heading off. Next time, I’ll definitely bring you a book.”

On a whim, she lowered her head and tentatively asked, “Can I… ask for your name?”

When he didn’t respond, she hesitated for a moment before turning away, feeling a little dejected.

Just as she took a step forward, a low voice finally broke the silence.

“…Ji Lin.”

Her footsteps halted. For a second, Liu Yin wondered if she had imagined it. Slowly, she turned back and looked at the figure beneath the tree, a bright smile spreading across her face.

“I heard that!”

Sometimes, Liu Yin felt that the ones who seemed the most distant were, in reality, the easiest to draw close.

Watching her figure gradually disappear from sight, the man beneath the tree slowly closed his eyes, concealing all traces of longing.

Back at Changchun Palace, Liu Yin left the palace with her mother. However, before she could escape completely, the Empress gifted her with Liu momo—an experienced palace matron—supposedly to teach her the proper etiquette of the palace and to accompany her in the Eastern Palace after marriage.

It was nothing short of a disaster.

With Liu momo constantly at her side, wouldn’t that mean she’d be forced to follow all those rigid, old-fashioned rules from now on?

No matter how much she protested, the Empress refused to change her mind, assuring her that Liu momo was merely there to guide her, not to interfere too much.

Guide? More like a glorified watchdog! But there was nothing she could do—her mother had no objections, so Liu Yin had no choice but to accept her fate, however unwillingly.

She had assumed the wedding would take place next month, but once again, she had been far too naive. To her mother, the time already felt too short. From that moment on, her days were filled with lessons on palace etiquette, courtesy of Liu momo, who drilled into her that not a single mistake could be made. As the future Crown Princess, she could no longer act recklessly—she had to oversee the entire Eastern Palace, maintain absolute composure, and, most importantly, never give Consort Lu an opening to exploit.

And so, Liu Yin’s life of confinement began. Days were spent learning palace etiquette, nights were dedicated to embroidery, and to her absolute horror, Liu momo even took it upon herself to educate her on matters between men and women.

“These are things a woman cannot afford to be ignorant about,” the old woman had said, handing her a yellow book.

Liu Yin was utterly stunned. So, this was where all those lost volumes had ended up—hidden away in the palace!

As if that weren’t enough, Liu momo also regaled her with scandalous tales of palace intrigue, supposedly to help her “gain experience.” Liu Yin listened with great enthusiasm, discovering that Noble Consort Li starved herself daily, surviving only on porridge to maintain her figure. She also learned that when her own aunt gave birth to the Sixth Princess, Consort De had secretly sabotaged the delivery, leaving her infertile ever since. No wonder Consort De had fallen from favor so quickly.

Before she knew it, the wedding day arrived. Strangely enough, Liu Yin felt remarkably calm—unlike her mother, who was in a complete frenzy. Even before dawn, she was shaken awake, ushered into a perfumed bath, and then wrapped in layers upon layers of ceremonial robes.

The entire capital was abuzz with anticipation. Curious citizens crowded the streets, eager for a glimpse of the spectacle. Everyone had heard the rumors—the Liu family’s eldest daughter was wild and unruly, yet she had somehow managed to marry the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, Imperial Guards lined every major road, ensuring the bridal procession’s smooth passage.

Back at the Liu estate, the household was a whirlwind of activity, illuminated by a sea of lanterns. Amidst the chaos, whispers spread among the servants—

“They say the wedding robe was personally commissioned by His Highness, made from the last piece of Cloud Brocade in existence.”

As Liu momo helped her into the elaborate wedding robes, her usually stern face softened with a rare smile. She prided herself on her keen judgment, and though no one else seemed to believe it, she was certain—His Highness viewed this young lady differently.

The room bustled with noblewomen from the Liu clan, all gathered to send off the bride. The moment they heard the remark, their faces lit up with delighted flattery, showering Liu Yin with praise. Of course, they all understood—this grand display was more about honoring the Liu family than any personal affection from the Crown Prince.

Meanwhile, Liu Yin was struggling to keep her eyes open. Seated before the dressing table, she let them fuss over her, barely registering their chatter. It wasn’t until the first light of dawn spilled through the windows that she finally blinked awake, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

The mirror reflected a face so exquisite she almost didn’t recognize it. Delicate brows arched gracefully, her lips painted a striking crimson, glowing faintly under the morning light. Her dark hair was swept up, adorned with an intricate golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with jade and seven precious gemstones, its wings poised as if ready to take flight.

For a moment, Liu Yin stared, momentarily dazed. Was this… really her?

The other women couldn’t help but admire her as well. While she may have been a bit unruly, there was no denying—she was stunning. Few in the capital could compare.

“You’re truly blessed, Sister-in-law! With such a stunning daughter, His Highness is bound to be smitten,” one of the noblewomen couldn’t help but praise.

“Exactly! What man wouldn’t be drawn to beauty? As long as Yin’er is gentle and considerate, how could His Highness not cherish her?”

In an instant, the room buzzed with advice and strategies, dissecting the ways of men. Meanwhile, Liu Yin sat before the mirror, barely listening. The only thought occupying her mind was how unbearably heavy the ornaments on her head felt. How am I supposed to walk like this?

The sky outside had brightened, and the candles in the room had burned low. Madam Zhang, gazing at her exceptionally beautiful daughter, suddenly felt her throat tighten. She stepped forward, grasping Liu Yin’s hands, her voice thick with emotion. “Once you enter the Eastern Palace, you mustn’t be as reckless as before. Serve His Highness well… and bear his heirs.”

Though this was merely a political marriage, the reality of leaving home weighed on Liu Yin’s heart. Seeing her mother like this only made it harder to suppress the lump in her throat. She turned her head away, mumbling under her breath, “That’s… not just up to me.”

=^_^=