CHAPTER 2

Yue Yiwan watched him leave first, caught off guard when his brother patted him on the shoulder.

“What are you thinking about?” Yue Zhigu asked with a frown. “You just got back from studying abroad, and now you’re in a rush to get married? Don’t get in the way of his blind date, okay?”

“Wait a minute, I’ll go meet him.” Yue Yiwan gave his father a confident look and then walked over as well.

On the side of the banquet hall, there was a resting area reserved for the royal family, where they could change clothes and rest.

The screen at the entrance was embroidered with swimming goldfish using fine silver threads, and the countless petals of the hydrangeas were edged with pale gold.

This place was quiet and elegant, and faint sounds of tea being brewed could be heard.

The broken white tips and red leaves were steeped to produce amber-colored tea, and the rich, mellow fragrance quietly filled the room.

The maid in the gray robe silently bowed to the two of them again and retreated out of the door.

Yue Yiwan sat in front of him, raising his hand to touch the edge of the bone china cup.

British-made, with a substantial feel.

“To be honest, there was indeed a misunderstanding between us.” He looked up, his jawline quite striking. “I’ve been studying abroad for a few years, so I’m not very familiar with the royal etiquette here.”

“Hmm.” Hua Muzhi looked up at him, his smile deepening. “But your attitude doesn’t seem like you want to refuse me.”

“That’s right.” Yue Yiwan looked at him directly. “I don’t personally oppose this marriage.”

This was quite an unusual choice.

Arranged marriages spanned thousands of years in ancient times, but nowadays everyone prefers to fall in love freely.

Even if it’s truly love at first sight, it makes sense to develop feelings before getting married and having children.

Getting married as impulsively as buying a cabbage is clearly too hasty.

“To be more honest,” Yue Yiwan paused for a long time before speaking, “I don’t believe in marriage.”

Hua Muzhi raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Rather than growing to despise each other with someone you love as you grow old, it’s better to live a lifetime treating each other with respect as strangers.” His voice was cool and clear, yet tinged with a sudden sense of world-weariness. “At least with two men together, the relationship likely can’t get too bad.”

Even among women, friendships can experience extreme highs and lows, and it’s entirely possible for them to cut ties over something.

Although men can be sensitive and serious, they usually get along well with each other. Their easygoing nature makes it hard for them to have serious fallouts.

If two guys spend their lives together, there likely wouldn’t be too many upheavals.

“Have you ever been heartbroken?”

“Quite the opposite,” Yue Yiwan lowered his gaze and smiled. “I’ve never been in a relationship.”

There must be some hidden story behind that.

“What about your understanding of your sexual orientation?”

“I am purely bisexual, so there’s no issue with being attracted to men.” Yue Yiwan took a sip of his tea, savoring the slightly sweet aftertaste, and slowed his speech. “What about you?”

Hua Muzhi smiled.

“You are quite an interesting person.”

His identity was that of the crown prince of this country.

From birth, his fate was intertwined with the entire royal family. He was a luxurious bird in a gilded cage and a noble permanently stripped of political rights.

Before entering the elegant room, he had never considered discussing such candid topics with this gentleman.

But it wasn’t out of the question.

“Before attending the flower viewing festival, my relatives gave me a list,” Hua Muzhi said slowly, as if the decision about his marriage concerned someone else.

The list Included daughters of politicians, sons of wealthy families, and important figures from other countries.

Everything was considered from the perspective of maximizing benefits, but they pretended to be lenient by saying, ‘In the end, it’s still your choice.’

Yue Yiwan looked up, the small moon earring in his left ear glinting under the chandelier’s light.

“Am I on that list?”

Hua Muzhi met his gaze for a few seconds, suddenly reluctant to admit it.

He paused for a long time.

“Yes.”

“So, it’s more like—no choice?”

“That’s correct…” Hua Muzhi chuckled, pouring him another half cup of tea, speaking leisurely. “Although I have no choice, you still have time to leave.”

Even though he was the crown prince looking for a consort, he seemed resigned to being abandoned and even encouraged the other person to leave.

“Even if you really consider entering the palace, there is a three-month etiquette training period. The royal family also hopes candidates think it over carefully—” He looked at Yue Yiwan’s hoodie and earring, his tone becoming more serious. “Once the grand wedding ceremony is over, it will be difficult to leave.”

Yue Yiwan stared at him intently, as if ready to sign a lifelong contract.

He knew his father and brother expected him to marry and have children, but some things… he probably wouldn’t dare to hope for in this lifetime.

“Let’s give it a try.”

“Alright.”

Hua Muzhi took out a jade token carved with snapdragons from his sleeve. It looked like a whole circular piece but could be split into two interlocking parts, much like magatama. The white jade was translucent, with a warm and smooth feel.

Both pieces of the token had cords attached, meant to be hung next to their ceremonial attire as a symbol of their union.

“This is the token. If you accept it, starting tomorrow, you will move into the palace and begin the three-month etiquette training period.” He stood up slowly, his demeanor very solemn. “Remember what I said— the training period is your final chance to change your mind.”

“Um, I understand.”

Yue Yiwu carefully took the jade pendant and turned to leave.

“Wait,” Hua Muzhi called out again, “Yue Yiwu.”

“What?”

“Do you really not know that the Moon Flower Appreciation is used to select a concubine?”

“I do know,” Yue Yiwu smiled as he securely kept the jade pendant close to him, “I just accidentally drank your cup of wine and decided to make the best of it.”

“I thought you were tricked into coming here by them,” Hua Muzhi paused, “So are you just going through the motions?”

“Not exactly,” Yue Yiwu thought seriously for a moment, then winked, “There’s a tiny bit of Cinderella fantasy involved.”

Everyone has a narcissistic side.

They want to become someone extraordinary, hoping to be favored by fate.

Before coming here, he assured himself that he was presentable and flawless. If chosen, it would prove that the Crown Prince’s taste was impeccable.

“Cinderella?”

“Yeah,” Yue Yiwu smiled openly, “If the banquet needs a Cinderella among the chosen few, maybe I fit the bill.”

Hua Muzhi stared at his smile for a while before responding.

He had a lot on his mind originally, but after meeting this person, he inexplicably felt relieved.

“Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock, meet at Yuan Yong Palace.”

That evening, when Yue Yiwu returned home, his father and older brother lectured him thoroughly, almost wanting to use the ancestral washboard to scrub his mind clean of any foolish ideas.

“It’s probably because he drank too much foreign coffee that he did something so stupid!”

After his father and brother finished their nagging, Yue Yiwu leisurely took out the half piece of jade pendant from his embrace. “Look—I’m moving to the palace tomorrow.”

“You—” Yue Zhi took the jade pendant stiffly, his voice strained. “Are you really preparing to marry?”

“I’ve already told the steward. We’ll move things gradually. The palace officials will come to check and account for everything.” Yue Yiwu watched his father struggle to catch his breath again, gently helping him to sit down before speaking earnestly, “Once I become a prince in the future, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

… It sounded like he was preparing for a major exam.

Yue Pin knew that this kid had been mischievous since he was seven or eight years old, but to mess up something as serious as a lifelong matter was beyond belief.

Just as he was about to speak, Yue Yiwu put on an innocent expression again. “I fell in love with him at first sight, from then on, mountains are without edges, heaven and earth are one, day and night are endless.”

Yue’s father and son: ???

Where did you learn all this nonsense?!

“Forget it, Dad, think of it like he’s going into military training,” Yue Zhi felt his head was going bald dealing with his brother’s antics, “Lots of rules and troublesome things inside, staying for half a month, he’ll probably come back screaming.”

Yue Yiwu nodded seriously, “That’s what I thought too.”

On his way home, he took out a new “Royal Knowledge Handbook” and earnestly flipped through it for half the day.

Over the centuries, the royal family has indeed weathered many storms, and the palace has seen its fair share of scandals. There have been well-educated ladies who suddenly eloped with foreigners halfway through their marriages, and rebellious youths influenced by too many dramas like “Empresses in the Palace”, determined to propagate freedom of thought and popular culture within the royal court.

Originally, the etiquette training period was only supposed to last ten days, but a certain Empress Dowager, with a stern face, extended it to three months to ensure thorough assessment and screening.

During this period, if anyone wanted to leave, even the royal family would rush to help cover it up, claiming it wasn’t a suitable match.

In this era, respect for the royal family is dwindling, while opportunists aiming for the top are on the rise—something one must guard against.

The next day, the driver woke up early and found three Bentleys parked in their underground garage.

The license plates were not numbered but adorned with the emblem of goldfish grass and water deer.

Yue Yiwu carried a small suitcase and appeared before everyone like a grade-schooler ready for an outing.

His layered shirts and slim-fit jeans resembled a street-style model.

His recently dyed silver-gray hair was tied back, and he still wore the same crescent moon earring.

Inside the mint-green suitcase were only simple clothes and a laptop, with other items to be sent later.

An elderly gentleman in a deep blue flowing cloud-patterned robe awaited him by the car, flanked by three attendants.

As soon as he appeared, the attendants behind him all bowed deeply, while the elderly gentleman gave a slight bow, his silver-white hair neatly groomed.

Yue Yiwu wasn’t intimidated and returned the gesture confidently.

“Please get in the car, Mr. Yue.”

If this were a period drama, they might have carried him in on a sedan chair.

Yue Yiwu settled into the middle rear seat of the vehicle, positioned as a VIP behind the driver.

It was the safest and most comfortable place.

The elderly steward, dressed in a manner befitting his role, sat in the front as a temporary attendant, maintaining a dignified posture.

The journey proceeded in awkward silence.

Yue Yiwu felt as though the two in the front were practically robots, barely even breathing. He cleared his throat lightly before asking, “May I inquire…”

The elderly steward nodded slightly. “Please go ahead.”

“Will I have to change my hair color and remove my earring once I enter the palace?”

It seemed he had seen this episode before.

A foolish and arrogant modern person enters the deep palace, forced by matronly figures resembling headmistresses to learn etiquette and correct posture, feeling out of place like a clown in aristocratic life.

Yet he was a cultured and well-bred young man… Surely he didn’t have to act like a bumpkin.

“As per the usual rules, indeed, one cannot arbitrarily dye their hair or wear jewelry beyond regulation,” the elderly steward respectfully explained. “However, you may be one of the luckiest individuals in the palace.”

“…What?”

“The Crown Prince previously sought favor with His Majesty.”

“In the future, whoever enters the palace, apart from necessary public occasions, will be allowed to maintain all reasonable habits from their life outside the palace.”

Yue Yiwu blinked.

He didn’t know much about his unfamiliar fiancé. Today, because of these words, he gained some new understanding.

‘In the future, whoever enters the palace.’

It sounded gentle, considerate, and accommodating.

He nodded in response, flipping through the pages of the “Royal Knowledge Handbook,” contemplating the emblem of goldfish grass at the footer.

Sometimes, even precociously mature children need a hug.