She froze. Slowly, she glanced around, but the prince’s gaze remained locked on her. Wait… was he talking to her?

Blinking quickly, she shuffled forward in small, hurried steps. “Your Highness, do you have any orders?”

The sudden display of obedience caught everyone off guard. Even the Third Prince and the others behind him exchanged surprised glances. Was this really the same unruly girl? Just a few days of study, and she was acting this well-behaved? Could Grand Tutor Shen actually work miracles?

Qin Yan’s gaze darkened as he stared at the top of her head. His voice dropped slightly. “Are you done causing trouble?”

What?!

Liu Yin’s eyes widened in disbelief. She was the one being bullied!

She shot an indignant glare at Princess Qiyang, her face full of grievance. “She hit me! Why am I the one being blamed for stirring up trouble?”

The Sixth Princess hesitated, looking like she wanted to speak up on Liu Yin’s behalf. Everyone else remained silent. After all, the Crown Prince’s dislike for Liu Yin was nothing new—they had long since gotten used to it.

Meanwhile, Princess Qiyang crossed her arms slowly, a serene smile gracing her lips. “I won’t admit to something I didn’t do.”

Before the words had fully settled, a cold, emotionless gaze swept over. The man’s voice carried a quiet chill.

“I don’t want to see this happen again.”

Their eyes met. She sucked in a breath, fingers curling tightly into her palm. Hidden beneath her composed expression was disbelief—was her royal brother actually standing up for that fool?

He Ji’s eyes flickered. Without hesitation, he pulled his younger sister behind him. “Your Highness, please forgive her. I will make sure she is properly disciplined once we return home.”

The Third Prince and the others exchanged bewildered looks. What was their imperial brother thinking? Hadn’t he always despised Liu Yin the most?

But to Liu Yin, the Crown Prince’s impartial judgment felt like justice. Her mood instantly lifted—especially when she caught the unwilling expression on Princess Qiyang’s face. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes, and before anyone could react, she darted forward and clung to Qin Yan’s arm, her small face full of sincerity.

“As expected, Crown Prince gege is truly wise and fair. I promise I won’t argue with the princess again. Even if she hits me, I’ll just endure it—I mean, I can’t beat her anyway.”

The moment she latched onto him, He Xin’s brows furrowed sharply. Her glare fixated on Liu Yin’s hands, her chest rising and falling with restrained fury. But even after waiting for a reaction from the Crown Prince, none came. The silence stretched on, and her anger burned so fiercely that she forgot to breathe.

Qin Yan said nothing. His dark, abyss-like eyes simply bore into the girl before him.

Faced with that unrelenting gaze, Liu Yin immediately chickened out. She let go of his arm, took several steps back, and turned away as if nothing had happened.

He Ji glanced between the two of them before slowly lowering his gaze, his sharp features betraying no emotion.

“…Royal Brother, I—I’ll take my cousin and head back now,” the Sixth Princess suddenly stepped forward, breaking the tension.

Hearing this, Liu Yin immediately grabbed the Sixth Princess’s hand and bolted downstairs without a second thought. She didn’t even dare to glance back. Every time she faced the Crown Prince, an inexplicable panic took hold of her—especially after getting exposed by him. The awkwardness was unbearable.

The two of them dashed downstairs in a blur, leaving behind the Third Prince and the others, who could only shake their heads in amusement. The only exception was He Xin, who kept her head lowered, eyes dark with a dangerous glint.

No longer in the mood to wander around, Liu Yin escorted the Sixth Princess to the palace gates before heading home with Xiyun. On the way, she made up her mind—she needed her father to find her a martial arts master. If she ran into Princess Qiyang again, she’d be at a serious disadvantage. Better to prepare in advance than suffer later.

When she arrived at the study, she raised her hand to knock—only to hear voices coming from inside. Instantly intrigued, she leaned in, pressing her ear to the door.

But before she could make out anything, a nearby guard suddenly let out a deliberate cough.

“Second Miss, you… what exactly are you doing?” The guard gave her a hesitant look.

Only then did Liu Yin realize—there were still guards in the courtyard!

To cover up her embarrassment, she shot the guard a glare, then pushed the door open and strode inside as if nothing had happened.

The conversation inside came to an abrupt halt. Upon seeing his daughter, Liu Guozheng waved a hand at the scholar with the goat-like beard. “Do as I instructed. You may go.”

“Yes, I understand.” The scholar nodded, but before leaving, he cast a fleeting glance at Liu Yin—one that felt oddly unreadable—before slowly retreating from the room.

Something about his look felt strange, but Liu Yin didn’t dwell on it. She strode forward without hesitation and spoke earnestly, “Father, I want to find a skilled female bodyguard to keep by my side.”

Liu Guozheng looked up at her, his interest piqued. “Oh? And why is that?”

Circling around behind him, Liu Yin began massaging his shoulders while grumbling in frustration. “I ran into that Princess Qiyang again today, and she hit me—again! She’s absolutely unbearable! You have to find me a martial arts expert, or how am I supposed to keep my dignity intact?”

Liu Guozheng could only shake his head helplessly. He closed the official documents on his desk, then reached out to ruffle his daughter’s hair with a doting look in his eyes.

“I’ll have Steward Zhou find you someone skilled in both medicine and martial arts. If that Princess Qiyang dares to bully you again, you must tell me immediately.”

Looking up at the warm, affectionate gaze of the middle-aged man before her, Liu Yin felt a sudden rush of warmth in her heart. She nodded firmly—either way, she wasn’t about to let anyone push her around.

“Oh, right. In two months, it’ll be His Majesty’s birthday banquet. Your elder brother should be returning to the capital for the celebration. He even sent a letter just the other day—worried sick that your mother and I aren’t taking proper care of you.” Liu Guozheng sighed, a mix of pride and exasperation on his face.

Liu Yin’s eyes lit up. Her brother was coming back? That was great news! Did Princess Qiyang think she was the only one with an older brother? Just wait—when the time came, she’d definitely make up for all the times she’d been wronged!

“Um… Father, Mother said… if I don’t end up marrying the Crown Prince, does that mean I’ll have to marry the heir of the Southern Duke?”

The thought suddenly weighed on her, making her uneasy. After all, she barely knew him.

Liu Guozheng patted her hand reassuringly before standing up. With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked to the window, his square-jawed face clouded with concern.

“Of course, I would prefer for you to marry the Crown Prince,” he admitted. “But neither the emperor’s intentions nor the Crown Prince’s thoughts are things I can predict. We must prepare for the worst. If His Majesty truly wishes to suppress the Liu family, then forming an alliance with the Southern Duke is our only option—to protect ourselves and ensure the emperor hesitates before acting.”

Liu Yin wasn’t well-versed in court affairs, but she wasn’t clueless either. Even with her limited understanding, she could grasp the implications. Such an alliance would only heighten the emperor’s suspicions, making him more likely to wipe them out completely.

“…Father—”

“That’s enough,” Liu Guozheng interrupted, shaking his head. “This isn’t something you need to concern yourself with. Go on now. Your brother sent rare treasures from the borderlands for you again—specifically for you, that little rascal. Even your mother and I didn’t get anything.” He sounded both amused and a little jealous.

Liu Yin smiled faintly. She had more to say, but in the end, she simply nodded and left the study.

She knew she had changed a lot recently, but everything had to be done step by step. Some things weren’t meant to be said just yet.

One shouldn’t just passively accept kindness from others without considering the bigger picture. If marrying for the sake of the Liu family was necessary, then so be it. However, she firmly believed that marrying the Crown Prince would be the better choice. After all, an alliance with the Southern Duke would make their family a direct threat in the emperor’s eyes, escalating tensions to the point of no return. And if the conflict reached its peak, what if her father and the Southern Duke were forced into rebellion? That was a disaster she definitely didn’t want to see.

Besides, there was also her—that insufferable Princess Qiyang. If there was any way to avoid it, Liu Yin absolutely did not want to marry into that household.

That night, the entire imperial palace was shrouded in darkness, so thick one could hardly see their own hand in front of them. The atmosphere was solemn, oppressive. Yet, within Qianqing Palace, the glow of countless candles illuminated the hall, casting two uneven shadows onto the golden-yellow soft couch.

A crisp click echoed as a chess piece landed on the board. The middle-aged man in golden sleepwear lazily picked up a nearby teacup, gently brushing the lid across the surface of the tea. But the moment he saw the black piece his opponent had placed, a faint smile of amusement tugged at his lips.

“I have to commend you—you always lose to me so convincingly that it’s nearly imperceptible.”

The man in black robes across from him merely lowered his gaze slightly, his expression unwavering.

“Father must be joking. Your son simply lacks the skill to match you.”

The emperor took a slow sip of tea, his eyes settling on the son before him—one whose thoughts were as unfathomable as the deep sea.

“You understand, and I understand,” he said at last. “It’s time for certain decisions to be made.”

Setting down his teacup, his expression grew inscrutable.

“I hear the Southern Duke intends to form a marriage alliance with the Liu family. Are you aware of this?”

A heavy silence filled the grand hall. The air was thick with an unspoken weight.

Qin Yan calmly began tidying the chessboard, his tone indifferent.

“I’ve heard a little.”

“The southwest is rich in resources—it must be reclaimed,” the emperor said, his gaze dark and contemplative. “I’ve long suspected that the He family harbors disloyalty. There’s no proof, but I cannot allow them to align with the Liu family. As for the Lius… what is your opinion?”

His son did not hesitate. His expression remained unchanged.

“Take back their military power.”

The emperor said nothing. People often claimed that an emperor’s mind was impossible to read, yet he, too, often found himself trying to decipher his own son’s thoughts.

“The Liu family won’t easily relinquish their command. Liu Guozheng is not a man to be cornered—he needs a taste of sweetness before we take the blade to him. You understand your mother’s intentions, don’t you?”

As Qin Yan calmly returned the black and white pieces to their respective positions, his chiseled features remained unmoved.

“I will do as Mother wishes,” he said evenly.

The emperor’s gaze sharpened. He studied his son intently.

“As your mother wishes,” he echoed. “Or as you wish?”

For the first time, Qin Yan’s hand paused.

With a crisp plink, the black chess piece slipped from his fingers, landing in the ceramic bowl.

Then, he looked up, his expression as composed as ever.

“I don’t understand what Father means.”

Their eyes met, but the emperor remained silent. Then, he let out a soft chuckle, raising his teacup for a slow sip. The grand hall fell into absolute stillness, the only movement coming from the flickering candle flames, swaying in the quiet.

“I only want you to remember,” he said, his tone solemn. “Above all else, the empire comes first. Everything else—everyone else—can be sacrificed.”

Qin Yan closed the chessboard with deliberate care, then rose to his feet and bowed slightly.

“Naturally.”

The emperor glanced out the window, his gaze settling on the bright, unblemished moon. Then, setting his teacup down, he let out a knowing smile.

“That girl, Yin’er, is a little headstrong,” he mused. “But she’s easy to control—and, most importantly, loyal to you. I am satisfied with her.” He waved a hand dismissively. “It’s late. You should go.”

Qin Yan took a few steps back before turning to leave. He said nothing, moving at an unhurried pace as he stepped out of the inner hall.

A cool night breeze met him at the threshold, brushing against his face. The air was crisp, carrying with it a quiet, desolate chill.

=^_^=