On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, Fu Zhang asked Zhao Hu, “Has Princess Yunshang come by?”

Zhao Hu, who had run to the gate eight times a day recently, had to admit: “Prime Minister, the Princess hasn’t come.”

“Did you tell her I was injured?”

“The Duke’s household already sent supplements. I’m sure the Princess knows.”

She knew he was hurt—and still hadn’t come to see him? Was she really planning to break off the engagement?

Fu Zhang was so furious that he smashed a teacup.

On the fifth day, he couldn’t wait any longer. Early in the morning, he had Zhao Hu send an invitation to Liang Youyi, asking her to join him at Qilin Pavilion to admire treasures.

Fang Ling looked at the invitation and exclaimed, “Didn’t he break his leg?”

Liang Youyi said, “He probably found out Qilin Pavilion is auctioning those two treasures and wants me to be the fool who buys them for him.”

“He wishes!” Fang Ling snapped. “Princess, don’t fall for it again.”

“Don’t worry.” Liang Youyi tossed the invitation into the brazier.

Fu Zhang, still annoyed, decided to make her wait. Though the meeting was set for mid-morning, he deliberately delayed until noon. After all, he was injured—wasn’t it inconvenient?

He drank two pots of tea at Qilin Pavilion. By late afternoon, she still hadn’t shown up. Furious, he returned to the Prime Minister’s residence.

Yao Suyi greeted him, “Well? Did Princess Yunshang bring the silver?”

Not wanting to admit defeat, Fu Zhang said stiffly, “She said she couldn’t gather it in time.”

“Was that on purpose?”

“No.” He was irritable and stormed into his study, smashing a fine inkstone in frustration.

Zhao Hu quietly cleaned up the shards and prepared a footbath. After soaking for a while, Fu Zhang finally calmed down.

On the sixth day, he sent another invitation—this time slipping a silver ingot to the gatekeeper to ensure it reached Liang Youyi directly. He was convinced: if she saw the invitation, she’d come.

There was a morning court session. Normally, he stayed until late afternoon, but this time he used his leg injury as an excuse to leave early. He didn’t even return home—he went straight to Qilin Pavilion.

Liang Youyi still didn’t show.

He summoned the attendant and asked, “Did Princess Yunshang come today?”

“No, sir.”

“Are you sure? Maybe you missed her?”

“If Princess Yunshang came, everyone here would know. I’m absolutely certain—she didn’t.”

Fu Zhang was beside himself. He couldn’t wait any longer. He decided to visit the Duke’s household in person. He asked Qilin Pavilion to bring out their newest jewelry and carefully selected a gold-and-jade hairpin.

Princess Yunshang rarely wore elaborate accessories—only for formal occasions. But she had always liked him. Even if he gave her a blade of grass, she’d treasure it. Since he wanted to see her, he told the gatekeeper he was there to visit Jiang Shuang.

Jiang Shuang chatted with him briefly and asked about the wedding date.
“You’re both of age. We hope you’ll marry soon.”

Fu Zhang respectfully agreed, saying he’d consider it after the New Year. Then he asked to speak with Princess Yunshang.

Jiang Shuang sent someone to fetch her.

Liang Youyi arrived with Fang Ling and saw Fu Zhang in a wheelchair, a bandage peeking out from under his gauze cap. He’d nearly died—and still had the nerve to try and swindle her?

She didn’t even bother asking about his injuries. “What do you want, Lord Fu?”

Fu Zhang froze, annoyed. He was injured, sent her invitations, and she hadn’t replied—and now she asked what he wanted?

But he was here to make peace. “It’s New Year. I thought this gold hairpin was lovely, so I brought it for you.”

He handed her the wrapped gift. Liang Youyi motioned for Fang Ling to take it.

A single hairpin in exchange for two priceless treasures. A sugar dumpling for a mansion. Small favors for big gains—Fu Zhang was a master of manipulation.

She didn’t value his gifts. Like him, they were worthless. But if he was willing to spend money, why not take it? She could sell the hairpin and donate the silver to the poor. It would earn her a good reputation.

Seeing her accept the gift, Fu Zhang felt smug. She adored him. Give her a little sweetness, and she’d obey him completely.

So easy to please.

“Qilin Pavilion has new treasures. There’s a big auction before the New Year. I’d like to invite you to admire them.”

“Anything rare?”

“I’m not sure. Why not go see?”

“Alright. Let’s go the day after tomorrow.”

Liang Youyi agreed readily. Jiang Shuang, watching nearby, was relieved. She’d feared Liang Youyi might cause a scene and embarrass Fu Zhang.

---

After Fu Zhang left, Die Jin returned to Bamboo Grove and reported, “Princess, I’ve obtained the information from Lingyin Pavilion.

Everything about Fu Zhang’s past. The documents were sealed with wax—three full pages.

Liang Youyi inhaled the scent of ink, touched the characters, and examined the contents. Her thousand taels of silver were well spent.

Lingyin Pavilion specialized in intelligence gathering. Rumor had it they possessed dossiers on officials from every nation on the Eastern Continent.

Fu Zhang had been in office for over a decade. Lingyin Pavilion had stripped him bare. The records were neatly written, well-organized, and freshly transcribed—verified and reliable.

Liang Youyi opened the file and was stunned: Prime Minister of Great Chen: Fu Zhang, married into two households. Has four children with his elder brother’s widow. His elder brother, Fu Chen, had been engaged to Yao Suyi. The betrothal was made in May of the 13th year of Xuanhe. That same day, Fu Chen enlisted—and was never seen again. Two months later, Fu Zhang married Yao Suyi in his brother’s place. A year later, to continue the family line, he married into both households at age fourteen.

In May of the 15th year of Xuanhe, Yao Suyi gave birth to their eldest son, Fu Hechen. The family moved to a county seat.

In July of the 17th year, she gave birth to a second son, Fu Nankai.

In May of the 20th year, Fu Zhang’s third year in office, she gave birth to twins: Fu Xiu’en and Fu Sangyu. The family moved again.

In the spring of the 22nd year, the Fu clan held a gathering. Bandits attacked. The ancestral hall was burned. Every member of the Fu clan died—none survived.

Liang Youyi trembled. Her hands and feet turned cold.

Xuanhe was the late emperor’s reign. On the Dragon Boat Festival of the 22nd year, the emperor granted her marriage to Fu Zhang. But two months earlier, the entire Fu clan had died? Coincidence—or a cover-up?

The records were detailed—Fu Zhang’s ancestral home, the four relocations. Fu Chen was never seen again.

Yao Suyi’s four children—three sons and one daughter—were all Fu Zhang’s.

Precisely as she had seen in her dream.