Chapter 192: Coming to the Door

Even with Emperor Taian's profound and calculating nature, he couldn't help but be stunned upon hearing these words.

The grand eunuch Liu Chuan, who was standing silently by his side, nearly couldn't suppress a cough.

Was this person here to compete with the Emperor for a son-in-law?

After a moment of awkward silence, Emperor Taian spoke: "Is the Prince referring to Yang Zhe, the Compiler Yang?"

Prince Yuliu revealed a pure smile: "This little Prince only knows that his surname is Yang, and that he was your country's new top scholar from last year."

Liu Chuan's eyes twitched.

To take an interest in someone without even knowing their name—the people of Yuliu truly were unrefined.

Emperor Taian stared at Prince Yuliu, pondering whether the other's ignorance was genuine or feigned: "As the Prince has just arrived in Great Zhou, you may not yet know that Compiler Yang is to be married to Princess Yi'an in a few days."

"Scholar Yang and Princess Yi'an are engaged?" Prince Yuliu was greatly surprised.

Emperor Taian smiled: "If the Prince stays for a few more days, you might even be able to drink their wedding wine."

Prince Yuliu could not hide his disappointment: "Then it seems my royal sister and Scholar Yang are not destined to be. If my sister knew this news, she would surely be heartbroken."

"Great Zhou has many fine men. Once Princess Lingque has recovered from her injuries, she can take her time choosing."

Prince Yuliu gave a deep bow: "I shall rely on Your Majesty's keen eyes when that time comes."

Emperor Taian smiled and agreed, but once Prince Yuliu departed, his smile vanished and he fell into deep thought.

Silence filled the hall, broken only by the faint, continuous *thud-thud* of the great bell that had traveled across the seas. After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Taian looked at Liu Chuan: "Go and find out when Princess Lingque first had contact with Yang Zhe."

"Yes."

Liu Chuan took his orders and left, soon returning with news.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, today several Yuliu scholars were at a teahouse competing in couplet matching with our side. Their words were quite arrogant, and in the end, it was Compiler Yang who stepped forward to quell their momentum. Princess Lingque was present at the time; she likely fell for Compiler Yang then..."

Listening to Liu Chuan's detailed account, Emperor Taian shook his head: "I think they are simply too idle."

In Emperor Taian's view, this was merely a minor interlude. Knowing that Yang Zhe was already engaged, they couldn't simply snatch him away. Meanwhile, back at the guest house, Prince Yuliu no longer looked disappointed.

"Now the Emperor of Great Zhou knows that my sister is interested in Scholar Yang."

Princess Lingque's delicate brows arched slightly: "So, you mean the Emperor of Great Zhou will soon learn about my meeting with Yang Zhe today?"

"That is certain." Thinking of Princess Lingque's plan, Prince Yuliu felt somewhat uneasy: "Does my sister truly believe that doing so will grant her wish?"

Princess Lingque toyed with her neatly trimmed nails and smiled nonchalantly: "I am just a poor, amnesiac little girl who can afford to be shameless. Does the dignified Emperor of Great Zhou also have the nerve to be shameless?"

"Then I wish my sister all the best." Prince Yuliu raised his teacup, sincerely admiring Princess Lingque's willingness to go all out.

***

The next day, just as Yang Zhe reached the entrance of the government office, he was called to a halt: "Scholar Yang, please stay your step."

Hearing the voice, Yang Zhe looked up to see a young woman dressed in Yuliu attire walking toward him, followed by two Yuliu guards.

The girl approached, performed a Yuliu salute, and said crisply: "This servant is Princess Lingque's personal maid. I have come to find Scholar Yang today to deliver a gift on behalf of the Princess."

A gift?

The girl in foreign clothing was already eye-catching, but upon hearing this, the people entering and exiting the office couldn't help but slow their pace.

They wanted to hear what was going on.

Yang Zhe's gaze swept over the exquisite small box held by the Yuliu maid, and he said indifferently: "I, Yang, have no prior connection with the Princess and dare not accept a gift from her."

The Yuliu maid raised her eyebrows in astonishment and raised her voice: "How can you say there is no connection? Just yesterday, Scholar Yang and our Princess exchanged sentiments! There were so many people watching!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the colleagues who had stopped to listen exchanged glances.

Yang Zhe's expression turned cold: "I have never dealt with the Princess of your country. Why would you say such things?"

The Yuliu maid looked indignant: "The one who was matching couplets with Scholar Yang in front of the teahouse yesterday was our Princess. The Princess fell for Scholar Yang at first sight and used the upper line to test his intentions; Scholar Yang provided the lower line in response. In our Yuliu, that counts as pledging one's life to each other! How can you turn around and deny it now?"

"Yesterday, I was merely matching couplets; I had no other thoughts. Please convey to the Princess that I already have a marriage contract. Do not play such jokes again." Having said that, Yang Zhe walked briskly into the office.

"Wait!"

The Yuliu maid tried to chase after him but was blocked by the guards: "This is a government office; please stay back, young lady."

"You Great Zhou people have no integrity!" The Yuliu maid stamped her foot and turned to run away.

The onlookers looked at one another, eventually turning their gaze toward the Scholar with envy.

To have married a Great Zhou princess and now attract a Yuliu princess—only a top scholar of peerless talent and looks could enjoy such romantic fortune.

As for whether Princess Lingque would actually snatch the scholar away, no one thought so; they simply spread the news of what happened in front of the office for the sake of gossip.

Such gossip always travels fast. Within a single day, it reached the Marquis of Wei's manor. Mother Kou hurriedly sent someone to deliver a message to Princess Yi'an.

Upon receiving the news, Princess Yi'an rushed back to the manor.

"Mother, your letter said Yang Zhe is caught up in rumors. What exactly happened?"

Mother Kou recounted the news she had heard. Princess Yi'an's face turned frosty, and she slammed the table heavily: "How shameless!"

"Indeed. I've never heard of someone sending a personal maid directly to someone's door, especially in the middle of the street."

Even though she heard that Yang Zhe had refused without hesitation, Mother Kou still felt disgraced.

"It is strange. Does that Yuliu princess not know that Yang Zhe is engaged to you?"

Princess Yi'an sneered: "She clearly knows, which is why she is intentionally trying to spite me!"

Seeing her stand up, Mother Kou hurriedly asked: "Jiaojiao, where are you going?"

Fearing Mother Kou's nagging, Princess Yi'an did not say she was going to settle scores with Princess Lingque, but replied perfunctorily: "I am going back to the palace to see Imperial Grandmother."

"Do not go crying to the Empress Dowager—" Mother Kou hurriedly cautioned.

Princess Yi'an boarded her sedan and gave an order: "To the Honglu Guest House."

Not long after, the sedan stopped in front of the guest house. Princess Yi'an stepped out and walked forward, surrounded by her attendants.

Princess Yi'an had visited the injured Princess Lingque just two days ago, so the gatekeeper recognized her at once and hurried to salute.

"I have come to visit Princess Lingque. Please inform her." In the time it took to travel from the Marquis's manor to the guest house, Princess Yi'an had suppressed her anger; at least on the surface, she could not allow herself to be criticized for storming in.

The gatekeeper's expression was strange: "Princess Lingque went out early this morning. Later, Prince Yuliu went out to look for her, and they have not returned yet."

"Neither of them is here?" Upon hearing this, Princess Yi'an's anger flared up again.

Had she gone into hiding out of a guilty conscience, or had she gone to pester Yang Zhe again?

She turned to leave with a cold face, only to run straight into Prince Yuliu.

"Princess Lingque did not return with the Prince?"

Prince Yuliu stared at Princess Yi'an, his eyes flashing with suspicion: "Is Princess Yi'an looking for my sister?"

"Princess Lingque was injured, and I have been very worried, so I came to visit." Princess Yi'an spoke the polite formalities, but her heart grew increasingly irritated.

What kind of look was Prince Yuliu giving her?