Blind to What Was Before Them

What are these?

There were many booklets on the table. Qi Lingheng glanced at them; they were all family information about unmarried women.

Lin Yunwan said helplessly, "These are the girls of marriageable age that Mother picked out for Yun Yi. Mother compiled them into a booklet and sent it to me for my help in making an assessment."

"Is there anyone who would be a good match for Yun Yi?"

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "Even if Yun Yi is a divine being, these women are all exceptionally beautiful and outstanding. How could they not be a good match for him?"

Qi Lingheng gently stroked her eyebrows and said, "Then what are you still worried about?"

Lin Yunwan grasped his hand, telling him to stop fooling around.

"Your Prince may not know, but Yun Yi still holds the same attitude. He wants to choose someone who is somewhat stable and good at managing a household. Although such women exist, they are older than him, and their backgrounds... what family would be willing to let their daughter remain unmarried at an advanced age? Their families are most likely not very good."

"Yun Yi is quite successful at a young age. I heard from my mother that he's very confident he'll Presented Scholar the imperial examination. My mother and the elders will inevitably have some complaints."

"Mother sent these booklets so that I could review them and then help persuade Yun Yi."

Their identities and family backgrounds are laid out in the register, making it clear at a glance who is better and who is more outstanding.

So what do you think?

Qi Lingheng sat down beside her.

Lin Yunwan paused for a moment, then said, "Forced love is never sweet. I think we should listen to Yun Yi and let him choose after his exams. What does Your Prince think?"

Qi Lingheng nodded. "I've known Yun Yi since I met him that he's a very strong-willed person. Although it's not in accordance with etiquette, it's his own decision about the marriage, so there shouldn't be any major problems."

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "Then I will tell my mother that both the Prince and I support Yun Yi."

"Drag me into the water?"

Qi Lingheng laughed and said, "Aren't you afraid your mother-in-law will be unhappy with me?"

"My mother wouldn't do that; she thinks highly of the Prince." After speaking for a while, Lin Yunwan finally noticed that Qi Lingheng had changed into his outdoor clothes. "Where is the Prince going?"

Qi Lingheng stopped sitting and said, "I have an appointment with someone; I need to go out and discuss some things."

Lin Yunwan knew that many things in the Imperial Court couldn't be discussed openly, so she stopped asking questions.

"The Prince is riding out on horseback?"

Qi Lingheng said, "Have someone hitch up a carriage, A Fu will follow."

Lin Yunwan nodded and watched Qi Lingheng leave. She was a little sleepy and just wanted to lie down and take a nap, but she ended up sleeping for an hour.

I haven't felt this sleepy since arriving in the Capital.

\

"Your Prince, the person is inside and has been waiting for you for half an hour."

Qi Lingheng had arranged to meet that person at a bustling restaurant, but deliberately stood him up for half an hour.

He said to A Fu with a cold expression, "Change rooms. Have him come over."

"Yes."

Qi Lingheng chose another clean private room, A Fu went there to lead Lu Zhengliu out, saying, "The Prince is waiting for you over there."

Lu Zhengliu pursed his lips.

He had been waiting for half an hour and was already feeling frustrated. Then, they changed the location at the last minute, as if they were playing a trick on him.

Thank you for your help.

The opponent was Prince Huan; what could he do even if he was being played?

He has now learned to be patient.

Besides, he's doing this now... for Yun Wan.

After Lu Zhengliu in, he did not see Qi Lingheng. Prince Huan was behind the screen, and there was only a blurry shadow of him.

"Your Prince?"

He called out tentatively.

Qi Lingheng ignored him. A Fu walked up to him, frowned, and said, "Having been stripped of your title, you don't even know the proper etiquette when you see Prince?"

Lu Zhengliu then knelt down.

"This humble citizen..."

Qi Lingheng listened leisurely to the conversation from behind the screen, his voice gentle and calm. "A Fu, you can go out."

"Yes."

After A Fu left, Qi Lingheng asked Lu Zhengliu, who was standing outside the screen, "I think I've seen you before?"

Lu Zhengliu a burning sensation on his face as he thought about what happened at the Duke Xingguo's Residence that day.

He was too humble before Prince Huan that day.

"Yes, this humble subject has visited the Duke Xingguo's Residence and met with the Prince..."

Qi Lingheng, impatient to listen any longer, asked casually, "Having gone to so much trouble to see me, what do you want to tell me about the Princess Consort?"

"Your Prince, I..."

Lu Zhengliu's voice trembled slightly, and he hesitated in his heart.

But if he doesn't say anything, then his relationship with Yun Wan will end there.

Remembering Ge Bao'er's words, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Prince, Prince Huan Consort is... the former mistress of the Wuding Marquis Residence."

It was completely silent on the other side of the screen, except for the sound of the tea lid being turned over in the teacup.

However, he has already said it all.

Lu Zhengliu had no choice but to continue, adding confidently, "I have evidence."

Qi Lingheng remained silent. Lu Zhengliu, unsure of the Prince Huan's meaning, gritted his teeth and repeated, "I have evidence of the Princess Consort's crime of deceiving the King!"

"Bang."

Qi Lingheng put down his teacup and said slowly, "Didn't you ever consider that it wasn't the Princess Consort who deceived the emperor—it was me?"

Lu Zhengliu was stunned.

Prince Huan was indeed aware of the situation!

Did Prince Huan not know what crime it was to deceive the emperor?

Lu Zhengliu found it somewhat absurd.

Even if it's deceiving the emperor, Prince Huan, are you still going to... protect Yun Wan?

He exclaimed incredulously, "This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"

Even princes cannot deceive the emperor!

Prince Huan might even lose his future position as Crown Prince because of this! He refused to believe that Prince Huan wouldn't care about the position of crown prince or the Crown Prince!

Qi Lingheng chuckled, saying nothing, yet it was as if he had said everything.

Lu Zhengliu filled with turmoil, and he could not calm down for a long time.

How could this be?

How could Prince Huan possibly go to such lengths?

After a long silence, Qi Lingheng coldly said, "Get out."

Prince Huan didn't care at all about Yun Wan's background, or even that she had been married to another man before!

Lu Zhengliu stood up weakly and took his leave.

At the last moment, Qi Lingheng said in a condescending tone, "Fortunately, your Lu family is blind, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to marry my beloved Prince Huan Consort."

Lu Zhengliu in panic, riding wildly on horseback, not knowing where he wanted to go.

"What does Prince Huan know! He knows everything!"

Yun Wan faked her death and left the Wuding Marquis Residence, all thanks to the secret help of Prince Huan!

They actually did it right under his nose back then...

But he knew nothing about it!

"Yun Wan, you betrayed me. How could you—"

Lu Zhengliu was unwilling to accept this.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Ge Bao'er had been waiting for Lu Zhengliu all day. He didn't return until dark, looking travel-worn and with his hair all messy.

However, Lu Zhengliu remained silent upon his return.

Ge Bao'er pressed him for a long time, but he didn't say anything.

She wisely refrained from asking further.

"It seems that Prince Huan doesn't care about Lin Yunwan's status at all."

"But Prince Huan doesn't care, but the Crown Prince does."

Ge Bao'er arranged for Madam Chen to meet the Crown Prince Consort.

\

"The Crown Prince Prince, please take a look."

The Crown Prince was frail and never held birthday banquets. Lin Yunwan had already heard about this after arriving in the capital.

Lin Yunwan handed over the invitation, saying, "Something is amiss. I heard that Madam Chen went to apologize to the Crown Prince Consort. I suppose this birthday banquet at the Crown Prince's Residence is about me."

Are you scared?

Qi Lingheng asked.

Lin Yunwan grasped his hand and said, "Isn't it you who's here? I'm not afraid."

Instead, she couldn't wait any longer! She also had something nice to give to Lu Zhengliu and Ge Bao'er!

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly and silently held Lin Yunwan in his arms.

A murderous glint appeared in his eyes.