The young woman moved gracefully, her crimson silk dress glowing like fire under the scorching sun, outshining the delicate flowers along the roadside. Behind the crown prince, the noble sons of prominent families instinctively lowered their heads, stealing glances at her out of the corners of their eyes. Inwardly, they couldn’t help but think that His Highness was having a streak of bad luck today—once caught by the Liu family’s eldest daughter, shaking her off would be no easy task.

As she drew closer, she paid no mind to the peculiar looks from those around her. With a radiant smile, Liu Yin fixed her gaze on the man ahead. “Crown Prince Gege,” she said cheerfully, “we must really be fated. In a palace this vast, we still managed to run into each other—it must be destiny!”

Several noble young men could barely suppress their laughter. It was likely the first time they’d seen such a bold woman, one who showed no trace of feminine modesty.

Qin Yan’s expression remained unchanged, as though he hadn’t noticed the woman in front of him. He simply nodded slightly to Old Master Shen. Meanwhile, Xia Yi, standing nearby, wore an expression of mild confusion. It was hard for him to reconcile the presence of Liu Yin and Old Master Shen together, so his curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn’t help but glance at the tutor. “This…?”

Lowering his head, Old Master Shen replied earnestly. “Miss Liu’er is the sixth princess’s companion. I was just thinking of giving her a calligraphy book to practice from. Although she joined late, as long as she has the will to improve, it’s never too late.”

“She’s the sixth princess’s companion?” Even Xia Yi couldn’t hide his surprise.

Liu Yin shot a glare at him. “I’m clever, don’t look down on me!” she retorted.

At her words, the others quickly lowered their heads to stifle their laughter. Everyone knew that the eldest daughter of the Liu family couldn’t even read properly, was reckless and headstrong—how could she possibly serve as the sixth princess’s companion?

However, Old Master Shen with an unusually serious expression, insisted. “Miss Liu is indeed exceptionally clever. She grasps things immediately and even has her own perspective on matters.”

As if to further defend Liu Yin, he rummaged through his things, eventually pulling out a piece of writing she had completed that day. After a bit of searching, he handed over the sheet of paper, its scrawl barely readable.

The noble young men at the back nearly burst into laughter at the sight of the childlike scribbles. The handwriting was so messy that even a three-year-old could likely write better.

Old Master Shen was not one to often praise people, so Xia Yi, about to reach for the paper, found that it was already taken from his hands before he could act.

The Third Prince cast an interested glance at the essay. Though the phrasing was slightly off, it accurately conveyed the intended meaning, and the points made were quite sharp. It was hard to believe that this could have been written by Liu Yin, the eldest daughter of the Liu family, who was notorious for not being able to read.

“Not bad,” the Third Prince commented. “Though the wording is a bit awkward, it’s very interesting. Looks like you’ve finally had a breakthrough, huh?”

The Third Prince, son of Consort De, had a good relationship with the original owner’s gege and was very kind toward the original owner as well. Liu Yin tilted her chin upward with a proud look. “Of course! I’m really clever!”

As the Third Prince praised her, the other noble young men became increasingly curious about the essay. Even Xia Yi, after reading it, looked surprised. He never expected this to be written by the brash and reckless Liu Yin.

Qin Yan cast a glance at the proud woman, his gaze eventually shifting to Old Master Shen. His voice was calm and composed. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper chat. I’ll find a day to have a drink with you.”

“Your Highness honors me,” Old Master Shen immediately replied, bowing his head.

As the group began to move, Liu Yin, seizing the opportunity, reached out and tugged on the dark sleeve of the man. With large, innocent eyes, she asked. “Crown Prince Gege… Why don’t you compliment me?”

Her delicate fingers shimmered in the sunlight, but the man’s expression remained unchanged. He quickly freed himself from her grasp and walked away without a word, the others quickly following suit. Only the young eunuch in green glanced at Liu Yin with an odd expression. It was rare for His Highness to let Liu Yin touch him like this.

Seeing them leave, Liu Yin, still reluctant, called out after them. “Crown Prince Gege!”

After a few calls, it was the Third Prince who finally stopped, tapping her lightly on the forehead. “With all this ambition, your gege will surely be overjoyed.”

“Don’t be so touchy! Men and women shouldn’t be so familiar!” Liu Yin shot him a glare.

Now you’re concerned about propriety? The Third Prince chuckled, his gaze shifting to his older gege, the Crown Prince, ahead of them. He raised his voice deliberately. “Some people are always calling ‘Crown Prince Gege‘ this and ‘Crown Prince Gege‘ that. Talk about favoritism!”

Liu Yin quickly covered his mouth, her face flushed as she glared at him. “Say another word, and I’ll follow you around every day from now on!”

Perhaps genuinely afraid of being harassed by the fiery little girl, the Third Prince immediately fell silent, though his smile remained enigmatic. He placed his hands behind his back and quickly followed the others.

Once they had left, Liu Yin sighed in relief. She shuddered at the thought of how she’d just been acting. In this world, it wasn’t easy to earn a living.

Remembering that Old Master Shen was still nearby, she noticed his unusual gaze on her. Liu Yin suddenly felt she might have frightened him. After all, women here were expected to be demure, not clingy like her.

“Um… I’ll be leaving first, Master Shen. Please take care.” She straightened up, giving a respectful bow before quickly walking off toward the palace gates with Xiyun in tow.

Old Master Shen simply shook his head and smiled without speaking, continuing his leisurely walk.

Back at her residence, Liu Yin immediately took a bath to cool off and then sipped on a bowl of chilled plum soup while lounging on the chaise. She had a book in her hands, though she could barely read many of the characters—she mostly had to guess.

With a smirk, she thought to herself that once she taught herself properly, she’ll definitely blind them with her skills!

“Miss, I think His Highness the Crown Prince looks at you differently now.”

Xiyun, fanning her gently, smiled and added. “I believe His Highness must have seen your sincerity. After all, he wouldn’t have spoken to you last time if not for that.”

Liu Yin: “…”

She only said one sentence—why was she still remembering it?

“As long as you stop reporting everything to Mother, little spy.” Liu Yin shot her a sideways glance.

Xiyun immediately grew flustered, dropping to her knees with a thud. “I thought such good news should be shared with the madam. If the young lady doesn’t like it, I won’t tell her again!”

Seeing Xiyun’s panicked reaction, Liu Yin waved her hand dismissively. “I was just joking. If I were really angry, would I still be talking to you? But from now on, no matter what happens around me, you mustn’t tell Mother. If you do, I’ll definitely punish you.”

Xiyun, of course, hurriedly nodded. “I understand.”

“Get up. Let’s go to Father’s study and find a few books.”

Liu Yin said, setting aside the novel with its winding, convoluted writing. She decided it was time to find some more enriching books at her father’s study—she was determined to become a cultured person.

As she passed through the winding corridor, gently fanning herself, she arrived at the study. The guards in the courtyard didn’t stop her—this was a privilege granted by her father, who dote on his daughter. Normally, even her brother couldn’t enter the study so freely, as the residence of such a powerful official required caution.

Liu Yin slowly pushed open the door. Inside, two men were speaking. A middle-aged man with a square face saw her and shook his head helplessly, motioning for the guest to leave.

“Second Miss.” The man with a goatee gave her a slight nod.

Liu Yin gave him a brief glance, closed the door with a smile, and walked over to her father. “Father, do you have any books on geography, strange records, or oddities? If not, history books would do.”

Liu Guozheng, holding a wolf-hair brush was scribbling something. His voice was rough as he spoke. “I told you to learn to read and write, but you didn’t listen. Now, for that Crown Prince, you’ve remembered. Do you think you can understand history books with your brain? You’re better off reading something like The Book of Women or Women’s Etiquette.”

The study fell silent. On the left, a long row of bookshelves were lined with an assortment of books. Liu Yin pouted, walking over to browse, grumbling. “Always looking down on me.”

Perhaps finished with his writing, Liu Guozheng folded the letter and placed it into an envelope. His gaze, tinged with helplessness, landed on his daughter. “It’s good to learn more, but don’t push yourself too hard. Either way, your father will make sure you become the Crown Princess.”

Liu Yin didn’t respond, continuing to sift through the books. Did that mean she would be trapped in the palace for the rest of her life? If that were the case, she would rather risk exposing herself than marry the Crown Prince.

“Your father has already joined forces with many court officials to advise the Emperor on selecting the Crown Princess. Our Liu family’s foundation is solid. How could the Crown Prince not consider the pros and cons? Over the next few days, I’ll push harder and make sure your aunt brings it up to the Emperor. Then, we’ll settle your marriage at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.” Liu Guozheng said, his eyes narrowing with determination.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yin’s expression subtly changed. Her palms tightened, and for a moment, she didn’t speak, her mood turning heavy.

Though she didn’t fully understand the court’s politics, she knew no crown prince would want to be pressured like this. Moreover, from what she had seen, the Crown Prince wasn’t someone who could be easily manipulated. The Liu family was powerful, but no emperor would not be wary of such a strong foreign influence. Even if she did marry the Crown Prince, she knew that one day, he would likely suppress the Liu family—and perhaps even eliminate them.

Power naturally fades after reaching its peak. Now, they should act low-key, hiding their strengths and avoiding drawing attention. It would be wise to give up some actual power, ensuring their own safety and future development, rather than continuing to push for higher positions which could invite unnecessary risks.

Her position, though seemingly glorious, comes with dangers, whether she steps back or moves forward.

“What’s wrong? Are you unhappy?”

Noticing her change in demeanor, Liu Guozheng furrowed his brows. In the past, his daughter would have been overjoyed and floating on air by now.

Snapping back to her senses, Liu Yin put down the book in her hands and walked over hesitantly, her voice trailing off. “I… I’m afraid the Crown Prince will ignore me.”

Seeing his daughter’s forlorn expression, Liu Guozheng let out a helpless smile. He reached over and gently pulled her slender arm, his square face softening with affection. “If the Crown Prince truly marries you, it means he’s accepted our Liu family’s allegiance. Even if it’s just for show, he won’t ignore you. As time passes, there will be some feelings between you two.”

As he spoke, something seemed to cross his mind, and his expression shifted to one of seriousness. “Marrying you off to the Crown Prince is for the good of the Liu family. Though I have a significant say in the court, the Emperor has always been wary of me. With others scheming in the background, I tread carefully every day. Our only opportunity is for you to marry the Crown Prince. Once you become Empress, even if your powers are diminished, it will still be worth it.”