The Third Prince and the Eldest Prince exchanged glances, both puzzled as to how that troublemaker had once again ended up at odds with Princess Qiyang. Even their imperial father tread carefully around the Southern Warlord’s family—yet this girl? Reckless as ever, completely oblivious to restraint.

Princess Mingyue’s face flushed as soon as she saw the newcomer. Clutching her handkerchief, she took slow, deliberate steps forward. “Ji-gege,” she called softly.

The man merely gave a slight nod.

At that moment, Liu Yin turned as well, her tone indifferent. “Apologies for disappointing you, Your Highness. I’ve never been one for rules—so much so that even my own aunt doesn’t bother to control me. But it seems you’re quite invested in doing so.”

Her expression carried a faint smile, but her voice was laced with coldness.

Princess Qiyang’s gaze darkened. It was the first time someone had so openly disregarded her, and she was just about to retort when He Ji suddenly stepped forward.

“Are you saying my sister is meddling where she shouldn’t?” His chiseled features held a faint smile, but his voice was cold.

Their eyes locked, and Liu Yin’s confidence wavered. She wasn’t stupid—she knew when to stand her ground and when to retreat. Going head-to-head with this family was a losing battle.

“I… I never said that,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

The Third Prince suddenly chuckled and stepped in. “A simple misunderstanding. He Ji, since when did you start taking trivial matters with young ladies so seriously?”

Meanwhile, Princess Mingyue watched with unconcealed mockery in her eyes. Let’s see how arrogant this wretched girl can be now—she’s finally hit a wall.

But just then, He Ji’s gaze swept over Liu Yin’s uneasy face. Without warning, he grabbed her slender wrist, and when his eyes caught the faint powder dusting her skin, his expression turned sharp. His gaze immediately shifted to Princess Qiyang.

“The antidote.”

“I…” Princess Qiyang lifted her chin slightly, then casually pulled a small vial from her sleeve and tossed it over.

Liu Yin stared, completely dumbfounded by his actions, and instinctively yanked her arm back. But when she saw the small bottle he was handing her, she hesitated for a moment before finally accepting it.

Gone was her earlier arrogance—now, she just looked flustered and uncertain. The man’s voice was smooth and cool. “I thought Miss Liu was much braver than this.”

Noticing the teasing glint in his eyes, Liu Yin scowled, half embarrassed and half annoyed. “So the young lord enjoys scaring people?”

She didn’t know what kind of powder this was. Uncorking the vial, she took a cautious sniff—a faint, refreshing fragrance, but nothing seemed to come out when she tried to pour it.

“Big Brother…” Princess Qiyang immediately stepped forward, her face full of displeasure. “I saw her maid acting suspiciously. She must have done something to Mingyue! Why would you give her the antidote?”

Hearing this, Liu Yin bristled. She wanted to argue, but remembering that this was the princess’s brother, she swallowed her retort and instead let her icy expression convey her irritation.

“Enough.” He Ji shot his sister a warning glance, his tone dropping a few degrees. “If I catch you causing trouble again, you won’t be stepping foot outside the manor.”

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Princess Qiyang frowned but ultimately backed down, casting Liu Yin a cold, unwilling glare before stepping aside and muttering stiffly, “I won’t do it again.”

Liu Yin smirked. So, there were still people in this world who cared more about reason than family ties. Without another word, she grabbed the Sixth Princess and walked off—her business here was done.

Watching her leave with the same reckless disregard for decorum, the Third Prince let out a helpless chuckle. “She’s always been this headstrong. Xin’er, don’t take it to heart.”

The latter kept her head down, making it impossible to read her expression. Her voice remained calm. “Your Highness is overthinking.”

He Ji glanced at his sister, then suddenly placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his tone low and commanding. “Rein in your temper. Don’t think I’m merely joking with you.”

Feeling the weight of his grip, Princess Qiyang stiffened before striding forward, her eyes flashing with calculation. She knew their father had come to the capital with plans to arrange a marriage alliance with the Liu family. Wasn’t her brother the one who always opposed such unions? Had he finally decided to compromise?

Watching her retreating figure, He Ji’s expression remained displeased. The Eldest Prince, however, chuckled lightly. “Young ladies are bound to have a bit of a temper. Princess Qiyang is far better than that unruly Liu girl.”

Under the evening sky, the group made their way to Hua’an Hall at a leisurely pace. He Ji said nothing in response, only smiling faintly. This Liu family’s eldest daughter… she wasn’t quite as the rumors described.

By the time they arrived at Hua’an Hall, the place was already filled with court officials. Liu Yin sat in the women’s section on the right, where her mother had already taken her seat. Upon seeing her, she smiled and lifted a handkerchief, dabbing at her forehead as if wiping away nonexistent sweat.

“What took you so long? Where have you been causing trouble with the Sixth Princess this time?”

The Liu family’s women naturally sat in the front row, second only to the Sixth Princess, who was of imperial birth. Liu Yin had barely settled into her seat when a wave of sycophants approached, including her ever-present shadow, Lin Xuan. But she simply waved them all away.

“Mother, you always imagine the worst. I was perfectly well-behaved—just took my cousin for a short stroll,” she said, glancing at the Sixth Princess beside her.

The young princess immediately nodded, though her voice lacked confidence. “Aunt, you’re overthinking it. Cousin only took me to see the river lanterns.”

Madam Zhang’s eyes flicked between the two girls, scrutinizing them with suspicion. But in the end, she said nothing more—she knew her daughter all too well. If Liu Yin were suddenly on her best behavior, that would be the real cause for concern.

Liu Yin’s eyes darted around before she made up her mind—she should probably bring this up. If she had truly offended someone important, it might complicate her family’s relationship with the Zhennan Prince’s household, that would be a disaster.

Leaning in, she hooked her arm around Madam Zhang’s and hesitantly murmured. “I ran into the Zhennan heir just now… and Princess Qiyang. Got into a bit of a conflict with her. This… won’t be a problem, right?”

Madam Zhang’s expression immediately shifted to one of I knew it. Liu Yin lowered her head guiltily and clung to her mother’s arm, gently swaying it in a silent plea for reassurance.

Inside the hall, music and dance filled the air, the melodies of flutes and strings intertwining seamlessly. In the women’s section, ladies clustered in small groups, chatting about the latest gossip in the capital, discussing rouge, perfumes, and the latest fashion trends.

Madam Zhang took a quick glance around before lowering her voice. “This is something I should have told you. The Zhennan Prince’s family arrived in the capital a few days ago, and they even visited our estate. From what I gathered, the prince seems interested in forming an alliance with our family—he intends to marry off Princess Qiyang to the Crown Prince. It’s a well-calculated move. Your father hasn’t outright rejected the idea yet—he knows better than to burn bridges. If the Crown Prince ultimately refuses to marry you… the Zhennan heir is young, accomplished, and rather handsome. He wouldn’t be a bad match either.”

Liu Yin: “……”

That was… a lot. She needed a moment.

The Zhennan Prince’s family had come to the capital for one reason—to reaffirm their loyalty. Their interest in marrying into the Liu family was undoubtedly a calculated move, leveraging the Liu family’s political influence at court. But at the same time, they were also eyeing the position of Crown Princess. Aiming for both alliances without missing a beat—quite the balancing act.

But did they really think the emperor would allow it?

Political marriages with powerful ministers were already a sensitive matter. If their two families joined forces, they could sway half the court. And now, they wanted to place their daughter on the throne as the Crown Princess? The Prince of Zhennan’s ambition was astonishing—far bolder than even the Liu family’s. Then again, those in power always seemed to prefer taking the most treacherous paths, pushing against the current rather than following it.

“Of course, securing the position of Crown Princess is still our top priority,” Madam Zhang continued, her tone brooking no argument. “Your father has already paved the way for you today. Once your aunt raises the issue, the ministers will submit their petitions urging the Crown Prince to select a bride. Given your family background and appearance, tell me—who in the capital could possibly be a better choice?”

Liu Yin sucked in a sharp breath, quickly retreating to her seat. She took a long sip of fruit wine to steady herself. So, this was a trap from the start. A feast laid out with hidden knives. Was she really about to marry the Crown Prince?

Before she could fully process it, her ever-present shadow, Lin Xuan, suddenly approached, leaning in close to whisper in her ear with barely contained glee. “I just heard that Princess Mingyue has broken out in red rashes. She’s already been taken to the side hall to summon the imperial physician.”

Liu Yin’s eyes lit up instantly. Finally, some good news. Her mood lifted at once, and she was just about to respond when she noticed one of her father’s attendants approaching.

“Second Miss, the master requests your presence.”

She hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. Turning to Lin Xuan, she quickly instructed her to keep an ear on whatever happened in the side hall. Then, she followed the attendant toward the far end of the grand hall.

The area was crowded with court officials, their voices overlapping in conversation. Among them, she could make out her father speaking with a deep, hearty voice—another man joining in with occasional interjections from other ministers. As she stepped closer, she caught sight of the person standing opposite her father.

A tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man with sharp, rugged features. His presence alone was imposing, but the sword hanging at his side made his identity unmistakable—only one person in the entire empire was permitted to carry a weapon inside the imperial hall.

Noticing her approach, Liu Guozheng immediately smiled and beckoned her over.

“This girl—what are you standing there for? Come greet your Uncle He!”

The young woman was dressed in a flowing jade-green gown, embroidered with delicate snow silk patterns that cascaded like rippling water. Graceful and poised, her skin was as fair as freshly fallen snow, her features exquisitely charming. A murmur of admiration rippled through the gathered officials—there was no denying that the Liu family’s legitimate daughter was a striking beauty. However, her temperament? That was another matter entirely.

As Liu Yin approached, she greeted the middle-aged man with a bright, clear voice, offering a graceful curtsey.

“Greetings, Uncle He.”

Behind him stood Princess Qiyang, who watched the display with thinly veiled scorn. What an act. But outwardly, she maintained the illusion of unfamiliarity, as if this were their first meeting.

“It’s been years since I last saw you, and now you’ve grown into quite the young lady,” the Prince of Zhennan mused, shaking his head with an exaggerated sigh. “Lord Liu, you are truly blessed. Unlike my daughter—she spends all her time playing with swords and spears, with not an ounce of ladylike grace. Her mother and I have nearly lost our wits over it.”

He sighed again, but there was a glint of approval in his eyes as he studied Liu Yin. Perhaps the rumors about her weren’t entirely accurate after all.

“You flatter me,” Liu Guozheng replied, waving a hand modestly. “This daughter of mine is no better—always running around causing trouble. The princess, on the other hand, is far more disciplined.”

Liu Yin remained standing behind him, her smile perfectly in place. So this was why her father called her over—to watch two grown men exchange compliments?

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived!”

A eunuch’s sharp voice rang through the hall, instantly silencing the crowd. In a synchronized motion, everyone took a step back and bowed deeply.

“We humbly greet Your Highness.”

A procession emerged from the gathered officials, with all the royal princes trailing behind the leading figure. At the forefront stood a tall man, his posture regal, adorned in a dark, close-fitting robe embroidered with golden pythons. A jade-inlaid crown rested upon his head, accentuating his sharp, commanding presence.

The moment Princess Qiyang laid eyes on him, her usual aloof expression softened, a smile blooming at the corners of her lips.

“Crown Prince gege,” she called out, quickly stepping forward to greet him.

Liu Yin stood frozen, her emotions a tangled mess—especially after watching someone else steal her moment.

Princess Qiyang had already positioned herself at the Crown Prince’s side, her expression tinged with a hint of shyness.

“It has been five years, Crown Prince gege. I suppose you must have long forgotten about me.”

The surrounding officials exchanged knowing smiles, their gazes inevitably drifting toward Liu Yin. Only the Prince of Zhennan sighed and shook his head helplessly. Coming from a military lineage, he had little patience for the delicate wordplay of courtly intrigue and saw no issue with his daughter’s boldness.

However, Liu Guozheng was far less pleased. He shot a quick glance at his daughter, clearly expecting her to step forward. Yet Liu Yin remained stubbornly still, absently tugging at the sleeve of her jade-colored gown. Even when someone reached out and tugged at her arm, she refused to budge. Fine on any other day, but with so many people watching? No way. She still had some dignity—she was not about to play the lovestruck fool.

“My sister is being reckless. Please, Your Highness, do not take offense.”

A smooth voice cut in from behind. He Ji stepped forward with an easy smile, gently pulling his sister back. Princess Qiyang’s expression flickered with discontent, but she knew better than to press further in such a formal setting. She quickly schooled her features and withdrew with practiced grace.

Qin Yan’s expression remained unreadable, though his gaze briefly flickered toward the figure in jade. His lips parted slightly.

“It’s fine.”

Liu Guozheng, however, was far from satisfied. Noticing that his daughter still hadn’t moved, he let out a deliberate cough and reprimanded her lightly.

“You insolent girl—aren’t you going to greet your cousin?”

=^_^=