The people around them bowed respectfully, and Xiyun quickly released Wu Yu, standing obediently to the side. She hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to show up at this moment, and now it seemed that Liu Yin’s impression would only worsen.

At the sound of the announcement, Liu Yin froze as her gaze fixating on the hairpin in her hand. What terrible luck!

But what was there to fear? The Crown Prince already despised her, so she might as well act as if she didn’t care. Besides, she certainly hadn’t been seeking the role of a Crown Princess.

Remembering how the original character had spoken to the Crown Prince, she composed herself and turned around, lifting her skirt with a beaming smile as she approached him. “Crown Prince gege!”

gege-older brother

Her coy tone was a stark contrast to the earlier boldness, meanwhile, Wu Yu rubbed her sore arm, feeling frustrated. Once she got back, she would definitely tell Sister Shen to help her get revenge.

A group was standing in the corridor, each person wearing a different expression. At the forefront was a man in a dark brocade robe with sharp brows and bright eyes. His chiseled features revealed no emotion, and before Liu Yin could get close, a servant immediately stepped in front of her.

Pausing for a moment, Liu Yin glared angrily at the servant before turning to the man in the dark robe with a beaming smile. “I can’t believe I’d run into my Crown Prince Gege here. What a coincidence!”

After a quick glance, Liu Yin had to admit that the original character had good taste seeing that the Crown Prince was indeed quite handsome… Ah, but such a cold and distant person was not her type.

At her words, a man in a white robe nearby nearly burst out laughing as if he could sense that Liu’er was waiting here specifically for the Crown Prince.

“Lady Liu, what’s this all about?” he said, glancing meaningfully at Wu Yu.

This man was Xia Yi, the son of a high-ranking official and currently a scholar at the Hanlin Academy. He had a good relationship with the Crown Prince, and the original character had once tried to win him over but her efforts had ended in failure.

“I was just joking with Sister Wu; it’s nothing serious,” she replied with a serious expression, already hiding the evidence of her mischief up her sleeve.

Zhou Xitong stepped forward, her eyes watery as she said. “Sister Liu wanted to harm Sister Wu’s face. Please help me, Your Highness!”

Seeing her dare to complain, Liu Yin blinked innocently. “I’m such a coward so how could I ever do something like that?”

The Crown Prince’s entourage couldn’t help but chuckle, turning their heads away. If Liu’er was really timid, there wouldn’t be anyone in the world brave enough.

“You—” Zhou Xitong’s eyes reddened further with anger.

Liu Yin pouted, still feigning innocence but the man in the dark robe walked right past her, seemingly uninterested in interfering.

“Crown Prince Gege… Crown Prince Gege…” Liu Yin clung to him, fully embodying the essence of a clingy person. Seizing the moment when the servant was distracted, she suddenly grabbed the hem of the man’s sleeve.

As expected, he halted in his tracks. Liu Yin quickly withdrew her hand, only to find herself staring into his deep, bottomless black eyes.

The woman in the flower-patterned skirt had a slender figure, and her bright, clear eyes sparkled with mischief. The man cast her a casual glance before turning and continuing on his way.

The servant couldn’t help but feel surprised. Today, His Highness actually acknowledged Liu’er with a look.

It wasn’t until they had walked some distance away that Liu Yin came back to her senses and continued to call out. “Crown Prince Gege!”

After a few more calls, she calmly turned around and waved to Lin Xuan. “Let’s go home.”

Life was like a play, entirely dependent on one’s acting skills, and she was more than capable of playing the role of a lovesick girl.

“Go… go home?” Lin Xuan shot a reluctant glare at Wu Yu and Zhou Xitong. “What about them?”

Walking ahead, Liu Yin replied nonchalantly. “Today, I’m feeling merciful and letting them off the hook.”

Hearing this, Lin Xuan could only give the two girls a sarcastic glance. “Hmph, I’ll let you off this time!”

With that, she quickly fell in step behind Liu Yin while the two behind them clenched their fists, their eyes filled with envy. If it weren’t for her family background, what would Liu Yin even be?

Once they climbed into the carriage and returned home Liu Yin heard from a servant that her mother was looking for her, so she headed toward the Tinghe Courtyard.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw several boxes arranged outside with servants methodically sorting through them. Upon noticing her return, they immediately bowed and greeted her. “We greet the Second Miss.”

Waving her hand, she went straight into her room where a graceful and charming woman was seated on a soft couch. She appeared to be brewing tea, her movements elegant and fluid, like a graceful dance. This was the standard of refinement, but Liu Yin knew that she was nowhere near such elegance.

“Mother, I heard you were looking for me?”

She settled herself casually on the soft couch then lifted a cup of fragrant tea, and curiously glanced outside. “What’s with all the boxes out there?”

The spacious and tranquil room was filled with a subtle aroma of tea. A maid in green suddenly chimed in with a smile, “These are items that the eldest young master specially had sent back from the border. He knows that the young lady likes peculiar trinkets, so he collected quite a few boxes of them.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yin’s eyes lit up. So her brother was that good!

Seeing her silly expression, Madam Zhang playfully tapped her forehead. “Half of the letters your brother writes mention you, while your father and I only get a single greeting.”

Covering her forehead, Liu Yin smiled as her eyes crinkling with delight. “Isn’t it enough that Mother and Father have me?”

The green-clad maid couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle. For some reason, she felt that the Second Miss had been particularly charming these past few days, her words sweet as honey.

Madam Zhang couldn’t help but smile as she poured Liu Yin a cup of tea, casually asking, “Did you see His Royal Highness today?”

At the mention of this, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Liu Yin pouted, resting her chin on her hand, looking somewhat downcast. “I did see him, but the Crown Prince just wouldn’t acknowledge me.”

She was definitely going to continue her act; after all, it wouldn’t cost her anything. Once that prince married someone else, she would finally be free.

Seeing her daughter unhappy, Madam Zhang let out a vague chuckle. “Don’t worry, I have good news for you.”

After taking a sip of tea, Liu Yin looked at her mother with curiosity, a nagging sense of foreboding creeping in.

“I went to the palace today to see the Empress,” Zhang Shi said. “After some discussion, it has been decided that you will be the study companion for the Sixth Princess. You’ll have the chance to enter and exit the palace daily, which means you’ll run into the Crown Prince much more often.” It seemed like Madam Zhang could already envision her daughter’s ecstatic reaction.

Liu Yin: “…”

So, she was to present her warm face to someone’s cold backside every day?

Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile. “That’s wonderful!”

But then as if remembering something, her expression fell, and she sighed with a frown. “But what if the Crown Prince still ignores me? What if he ends up marrying someone else?”

After speaking, Liu Yin kept an eye on her mother’s reaction, and Madam Zhang’s expression suddenly hardened. “That’s impossible.”

Grabbing her daughter’s hand, Madam Zhang leaned in, her demeanor serious. “With your aunt’s help, and the Emperor’s inclination, it’s just a matter of timing before the marriage is granted. Don’t worry, I will make sure you become the Crown Princess!”

It wasn’t just for her daughter’s sake; it was also for the Liu family. Although they appeared to be flourishing, in reality, they were treading on thin ice. The Emperor already harbored suspicions, and with some scheming individuals stirring trouble, failing to secure the Crown Prince would spell disaster for their future. Only by having her daughter become the Crown Princess, or even the future Empress, could the Liu family continue to thrive.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yin projected confidence on the surface, but inside she was filled with dread. Even if the Crown Prince did marry her, she would likely end up as someone who was not well-regarded. With her family background, how could any ruling power tolerate an overly influential maternal relative?

What rises must eventually fall. Their family should be keeping a low profile, not pushing her to become the Crown Princess. What if they ended up discarded once they were no longer needed?

After leaving the Lotus Courtyard, she felt all enthusiasm drain away. She directed the servants to move the items her brother had sent into the courtyard, picking out a few interesting pieces to take to her room, all the while gloomily munching on her watermelon.

The Sixth Princess was two years younger than her. Liu Yin knew that the previous study companion was the daughter of a Minister of Rites, but her aunt had quickly replaced her with an excuse to help Liu Yin. This made Liu Yin’s feelings complicated because her rival, Shen Yao was also in the academy as the study companion for the Fifth Princess, meaning they would face each other daily.

However, she couldn’t let her momentum falter. According to the original character’s nature, encountering a rival would energize her like a shot of adrenaline.

On the first day of her new role as the study companion, the sun shone brightly. She chose a cherry blossom pink gown—only the Empress could wear true red, and not just anyone could don other shades of red. But Liu Yin was different; as the Empress’s favored niece, she had no restrictions except for true red.

When she arrived at the palace gates, she had to walk to the academy, which was yet another palace regulation.

Looking at the towering palaces that stretched endlessly before her, Liu Yin felt as insignificant as a speck of dust. They say once you enter the palace, it’s like sinking into a deep sea. Yet the original character had dived right in. Even if she became the Crown Princess, she would likely be torn apart by the women of the Eastern Palace.

As she passed through the Meridian Gate, she heard a familiar voice. Although Liu Yin had no intention of acknowledging it, she couldn’t help but recall the original character’s nature which compelled her to put on a show.

“Brother Xiayi!”

From a distance, a lively voice called out. The man who had been heading toward the Hall of Political Affairs, suddenly halted and turned to see a dazzling woman running toward him. His expression changed instantly; it was this lady again.

Seeing him attempt to walk away, Liu Yin quickly dashed forward to block his path, glaring at him in discontent. “Why are you leaving? Don’t you want to see me?”

The palace corridor was quiet with palace attendants passing by, their heads bowed, afraid to look around. In this place, knowing too much could be a death sentence.

“Not at all! I just happen to be in a hurry,” Xiayi replied, lightly shaking his folding fan and smiling as if it were no big deal.

Not wanting to expose him, Liu Yin suddenly glanced around, leaning in curiously. “Where’s Brother Crown Prince?”

Xiayi: “…”

He knew all too well that this lady was only after the Crown Prince. She had even pursued him all the way to the palace today, showing remarkable persistence.

Clearing his throat, he replied earnestly. “His Highness is currently discussing matters with the Emperor. Is there something important that Miss Liu wishes to convey?”

The way he spoke without a hint of embarrassment, showed he intended to evade her question. However, Liu Yin was merely putting on an act to express her interest in the Crown Prince.

Upon hearing his response, she feigned disappointment, letting out a soft, “Oh.” Then, suddenly inspired, she snatched a box of pastries from Xiyun’s hands. “Brother Crown Prince must be working hard on state affairs every day. I made these myself; could you please deliver them to him for me?”

At that, Xiyun’s expression shifted, after all, hadn’t Miss Liu just asked her to buy these pastries from Juyuefang when they passed through the East Alley?

She hadn’t expected this lady to actually make pastries! Xiayi’s opinion of her began to change. After a moment of hesitation, he kindly accepted the box. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they reach him.”

Seeing him take the pastries made Liu Yin’s heart ache a little, after all, she had sent Xiyun to wait in line for quite a while to buy them.

Though reluctant, she smiled sweetly, nodding her head in appreciation. “Thank you so much!”

Upon closer inspection, he realized the woman before him was exceptionally beautiful—her skin like snow, her features like a painting. Previously, he had thought her arrogant and domineering, but now she exuded a charming allure.

He found himself thinking that even if the Crown Prince were to marry her, it wouldn’t be so bad. A woman with such shallow thoughts could be easily managed. With that in mind, Xiayi offered a polite smile. “It’s just a small favor, so no need to mention it.”