Gu Ruoxu turned pale with alarm and said regretfully, “I told you to take the carriage, but you insisted on riding!”

Feng Que replied calmly, “It’s rare to indulge myself. I didn’t expect I’d still be so weak.”

Zi Ting lowered his gaze and said nothing. The young lord’s acting skills were getting more impressive by the day. That “blood” was probably for the palace spies, wasn’t it?

Just moments ago, they’d dealt with Fu Zhang. When Fu Zhang slandered the Princess inside the carriage, both Feng Que and Zi Ting—masters of martial arts—naturally overheard.

Gu Ruoxu had thrown a stone at the horse’s hoof, while Feng Que used internal force to strike the carriage with a palm wind. Even if the passengers didn’t die, they’d be seriously injured.

---

Liang Youyi and Fang Ling reached Zhuque Street outside the Duke Ding’s residence. Fang Ling asked, “Princess, wasn’t the young lord of Prince Qi’s household recovering in Jiangnan? Is he healed now?”

Liang Youyi shook her head. She didn’t know either. Before age twelve, she lived with her great-grandmother in Huainan. When she returned to the capital, Feng Que had already left. Today was the first time she’d seen the legendary young lord. Yet something about him felt familiar—though she couldn’t recall where she’d seen him before.

“The Duke Ding and Prince Qi’s households don’t get along. Don’t mention seeing the young lord to anyone in the manor.”

“Understood!”

The mistress and maid returned to Liang Youyi’s private quarters—Bamboo Grove. Her maid, Fang Zhi, rushed forward, deftly removed her cloak, hung it up, and set the brazier.

“Princess, come warm yourself. Your stomach’s acting up again? I told you not to ride, but you wouldn’t listen!”

Liang Youyi had suffered from chronic stomach pain since childhood. Today’s cold wind had made it worse.

Fang Zhi quickly tucked a warm hand warmer against her chest and asked Fang Ling, “How did the talk with the Prime Minister go? Is the wedding date set?”

Fang Ling closed the door and sighed, “Ugh, that man is truly despicable.”

Liang Youyi warmed her hands and said crisply, “From today on, cut off all support to the Prime Minister’s residence. I’m breaking off the engagement.”

“Breaking it off?”** Fang Zhi was shocked and shook her head anxiously. “The Empress Dowager, the Duke, the heir, the madam… none of them will agree!”

Liang Youyi was nearly twenty. If she broke off the engagement now, it would be hard to marry into another noble house.

“It won’t be easy… but how will I know unless I try?” She took a deep breath and said firmly, “No matter what, even if I shave my head and become a nun, I won’t marry him.”

After resting a bit, Liang Youyi tidied her appearance and told Fang Zhi,
“Come with me to see my mother.”

Even though she’d already confirmed Fu Zhang’s affair with Yao Suyi at the ferry, she still wanted to know her parents’ stance on the engagement.

Fu Zhang was now twenty-nine, powerful and favored by the Empress Dowager. Everyone in the household saw him as an ideal match. In her dream, she’d begged her parents—they refused. Her grandparents scolded her for being selfish, saying Fu Zhang was loyal and kind for caring for his late brother’s widow and children. She’d begged the Empress Dowager, who didn’t even listen—just issued a decree for immediate marriage.

None of her brothers supported her. Breaking off the engagement would mean defying the Empress Dowager and the entire Duke’s household. No one would stand up for her. No one cared what she wanted.

Everyone in the Duke’s household obeyed the Empress Dowager.

Today, she needed to test her mother’s stance. If it matched the dream, she must not seek help from her grandparents or the Empress Dowager.

In Pear Blossom Courtyard.

Jiang Shuang saw Liang Youyi and scolded, “I heard you went riding this morning. You just recovered—why are you running around?”

“I worried you, Mother.” Liang Youyi curtsied. “I went to see the Prime Minister to ask when he’ll send betrothal gifts and set the wedding date.”

“Ah! Did anyone see you?” Jiang Shuang panicked. A noble girl urging marriage? That would ruin her reputation.

“He was returning from Jiangnan. I met him at the ferry—no familiar faces were around.”

“And what did he say?”

“He dodged the question.”

Jiang Shuang fell silent. It had been over six years since the imperial marriage decree, and Fu Zhang still hadn’t sent betrothal gifts. What was he waiting for?

“At the palace’s plum appreciation banquet, your grandmother and I will ask your aunt’s opinion.” She sighed. “We’ve waited this long—what’s a little longer?”

Seeing her mother trying to avoid the issue, Liang Youyi said, “Mother, I’d love nothing more than to stay by your side forever. But my reputation is already suffering. Please help me break off the engagement.”

“Absolutely not!” Jiang Shuang instinctively objected.

Seeing Liang Youyi’s sorrowful expression, she softened: “You’re the only legitimate daughter of this generation in the Duke’s household. We raised you carefully so you could support your aunt.”

She explained that Fu Zhang was now the most powerful official in court, and both politically and personally, the best match for Liang Youyi.

“You’re almost twenty. If you break off the engagement, you’ll either marry beneath your station or become a second wife. Your aunt won’t allow it.”

It was exactly what her dream had shown.

Liang Youyi bit her lip. “Mother, what if he’s already having an affair and has children with another woman?”

“Then be generous and let her join the household. Men having multiple wives is normal. No matter how many illegitimate children there are, they can’t surpass your legitimate heir. If you raise them yourself, you won’t even have to go through childbirth.”

Her mother’s message: painless motherhood wasn’t a bad deal.

“Mother, what if he deceives me for life—or even kills me—and favors only the illegitimate child?”

“A woman must be virtuous, gentle, and broad-minded. You can’t make wild accusations without proof.”

Hearing this, Liang Youyi felt suffocated.

“Don’t worry. I’ll discuss it with your father and brothers. We’ll urge your aunt to issue the marriage decree. Fu Zhang won’t dare disobey her.”

“Mother, please don’t trouble Aunt. Let things take their course.”

Liang Youyi no longer wanted to marry Fu Zhang. She only wanted to break off the engagement.

Jiang Shuang sighed with relief. “Your grandmother says Fu Zhang is a capable minister, loyal to your aunt. He’s truly a good match. Don’t worry, we’ll talk it over.”

Liang Youyi took her leave. As she stepped out of Pear Blossom Courtyard, her eyes turned red.

T/N: The term 小王爷 used for Feng Que literally means Little/ Young Prince. But he was the sole heir of the non-royal prince’s household (his father had passed away), so I refer to him as the young lord.