Chapter 143

The Second Prince was momentarily taken aback by the news, but the next moment, a genuine smile spread across his face.

He stood up abruptly and asked urgently, “Where is my elder sister now?”

Just as he finished speaking, a figure in a lake-green dress entered the room, adorned with pearl hairpins, looking elegant and proper.

“Second Brother!”

It was none other than the Grand Princess, Shen Yuanxian!

“Elder Sister, what brings you here?”

The Second Prince walked around the long table to greet the Grand Princess, his slightly arched brows and eyes making his already striking face even more radiant.

The Grand Princess looked him over, her eyes reddening slightly.

“Second Brother, you’ve lost so much weight.”

The Second Prince waved it off nonchalantly. “It’s hot these days, so naturally I’ve slimmed down a bit. It’s nothing.”

“But, Elder Sister, this is the Clan Mansion. You shouldn’t have come here; it’s not good for you.”

The Clan Mansion was a place where royal relatives were punished, and everyone avoided it. The Second Prince hadn’t expected the Grand Princess to visit him in person.

In his memory, this sister, only three years older than him, had always taken care of him.

When they were young, she often brought him delicious pastries. When they were older, if any palace servants dared to bully him, she would stand up for him without hesitation.

Later, as he began to strategize and plan, no one dared to bully him anymore.

Yet, his sister’s care and affection never waned. Occasionally, she would visit him at Chonghua Palace to chat.

To be honest, in the vast imperial palace, his sister’s kindness meant the most to him, and he remembered it all.

The Grand Princess turned and took a food box from a maid, smiling. “If a gem like you can stay here, why can’t I sit for a while?”

“I brought you some pastries. You can’t get these in the Clan Mansion, and I was worried you’d crave them!”

With her eyebrows curved in a smile, the Grand Princess stepped to the table, hesitating slightly upon seeing the Book of Filial Piety on it.

“Elder Sister, let me help.”

The Second Prince stepped forward, helping her take the pastries out of the box one by one.

The Grand Princess turned to the others and said, “You may all leave. I want to have a proper conversation with my brother.”

Once they were alone, the Grand Princess looked at the Book of Filial Piety with reddened eyes.

“How can Father be so cruel—”

“Elder Sister! Please don’t say such things.”

The Second Prince quickly stopped her.

Seeing his reaction, the Grand Princess said no more, instead offering him a small plate of osmanthus cakes.

“Second Brother, your favorite osmanthus cakes. Don’t worry, I had the royal chef use less sugar because I know you don’t like them too sweet.”

Feeling warm inside, the Second Prince picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

“Thank you, Elder Sister. I know it wasn’t easy for you to come here.”

The Grand Princess smiled and shook her head. “It was nothing, just a small favor I asked of Father.”

Under her watchful gaze, the Second Prince couldn’t refuse her kindness, so he ate a few more pieces.

When he looked up again, he saw the Grand Princess staring at the osmanthus cakes, lost in thought, looking troubled.

Furrowing his brow, the Second Prince asked with concern, “Elder Sister, are you facing some difficulty? Is someone giving you a hard time?”

The Grand Princess was taken aback, then laughed softly.

“Silly brother, who could possibly trouble me, the Grand Princess? It’s just… well, I suppose I can tell you.”

With a seemingly casual tone, the Grand Princess said, “Father wants to choose a consort for me.”

The Second Prince’s furrowed brow relaxed immediately upon hearing this. “Elder Sister, this is good news. Why aren’t you happy?”

The Grand Princess sighed softly, “I haven’t met any of them, so I can’t say whether I’m happy or not. It’s entirely up to Father.”

The Second Prince instinctively tapped the rough surface of the long table, a texture he had grown accustomed to.

“Elder Sister, is there someone you fancy?”

The Grand Princess blushed slightly at his question, then shook her head.

“Second Brother, to be honest with you, I once thought the eldest son of the Qiao family was a good match. He was suitable in many ways.”

“Father actually had the same idea at the time, but the eldest son of the Qiao family made it clear that he wasn’t considering marriage in the near future.”

“I’m proud by nature, so I couldn’t pursue him for a consortship and just let it go.”

The Second Prince felt a pang of regret. He had failed to notice his sister’s feelings. If he had, he could have helped her achieve her wish.

“Father mentioned a few names to Mother Consort, but I…”

The Grand Princess trailed off, shaking her head in dismay. Then, she suddenly brightened up and smiled.

“Let’s not talk about these things. How have you been, Second Brother?”

Seeing her smile, the Second Prince felt a bit uneasy. Among all the young talents in the capital, the eldest son of the Qiao family indeed stood out.

But now his marriage was already set, with the wedding date approaching. It was too late to change anything.

“Elder Sister, this isn’t trivial; it concerns your lifelong happiness.”

“If you don’t mind, could you tell me the names Father mentioned?”

Warmed by his concern, the Grand Princess listed the names.

The Second Prince, well-versed in the power dynamics of the capital, immediately found flaws in each candidate and shook his head.

“Elder Sister, none of these men are suitable.”

Hearing this, the Grand Princess lowered her head in disappointment, but soon smiled in resignation.

“Second Brother, as the Grand Princess, the choice of consort is ultimately Father’s decision. I can’t be too picky; I’ve accepted that.”

The Second Prince furrowed his brow tightly, considering potential candidates. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

“Elder Sister, I do have an excellent candidate in mind!”

The Grand Princess was taken aback. “Who?”

With a slight smile, the Second Prince replied, “The top scholar of the recent imperial examination, Tan Hanchi!”

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name, a glimmer of interest in her downcast eyes.

A while back, she had seen a young man leaving the imperial study when she delivered a health tonic for her father. He had bowed respectfully as they passed, his official robes immaculate, and his voice gentle and clear.

She had caught a glimpse of his strikingly handsome face.

A maid by her side had quietly reminded her, “Princess, this is Tan Xiuzhuan.”

It had dawned on her then that this young man, the top scholar of the year, had been appointed as a Hanlin Academy compiler and was highly favored by her father.

“Elder Sister, Tan Hanchi is from Zhuozhou. He is renowned for his literary talent and has an excellent reputation.”

“He has no roots in the capital and is now deeply trusted by Father. If he were chosen as your consort, he would surely rely on you.”

“This makes him a much better choice than the proud sons of other noble families.”

“Elder Sister, what do you think?”