"Yes, I saw a familiar pair of eyes." Xue Fuyao did not hide it.
"So you suspect that the person with the Zhang Clan members carries the bloodline of the Xue Imperial Clan?" Shadow Three asked in astonishment.
"I don't suspect it. I'm certain. I sensed it." Xue Fuyao paused before continuing, "I was too young then and knew little about imperial affairs, so I wanted to ask you whether there was ever a marriage alliance between the Xue Imperial Clan and the Zhang Family."
After a moment of silence, Shadow Three said, "Over a decade ago, when the current head of the Zhang Family was still its young master, the previous family head asked for Princess Fangfei's hand on behalf of his son, the current family head."
Hearing that name, Xue Fuyao frowned. Only after a long while did she dredge the name up from a corner of her memory.
"I remember Aunt Fangfei's fragrant soul faded and her jade beauty perished when she was twenty."
"Yes, Your Highness, you remember correctly. Princess Fangfei died young. Publicly, it was announced that she died of illness, but the true cause was lovesickness."
"Lovesickness? Because of the Zhang Family? Imperial Grandfather refused the marriage?"
Xue Fuyao worked out the timing and realized that her Imperial Father had not yet ascended the throne when the proposal was made.
"To be precise, His Majesty, who was still the crown prince then, refused it. The Late Emperor was also opposed, so he went with the current and rejected it.
"But unexpectedly, Princess Fangfei and the Zhang Family's young master, Zhang Xian, seemed to have long been exchanging secret affections and had even privately pledged themselves to each other for life. After learning that their marriage had been refused, Princess Fangfei washed her face with