"I have heard that the Deputy Minister of Agriculture has recently developed a new variety of vegetable, which has greatly pleased His Majesty."

Su Luo remained calm and composed, saying slowly, "The research is almost complete, and we can plant them next January."

"Congratulations to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, you have added another achievement to Nanning."

Su Luo wasn't there to reminisce with Prime Minister Yan; she had important business to attend to.

"It's all as it should be; it's Prime Minister Yan who has truly made great contributions to Nanning!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Su Luo finally revealed her true purpose for coming.

"Prime Minister Yan, the reason I've come to bother you this time is all because of my good-for-nothing son..."

Yan Chuan had been waiting outside for a long time, wondering how his mother's talk with Prime Minister Yan had gone.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, Su Luo came out of the Prime Minister's residence.

Yan Chuan helped her into the carriage and asked anxiously.

"Mother, has Prime Minister Yan agreed?"

Su Luo shook her head: "Miss Yan is the apple of Prime Minister Yan's eye, it's not that easy."

Today at the Prime Minister's residence, I saw quite a few matchmakers; this scene truly reflects the saying, "If one family has a daughter, a hundred families will seek her."

Hearing this, Yan Chuan understood that he had probably been rejected by the Yan family.

"Mother, is there really no other way?"

Su Luo patted Yan Chuan on the shoulder. Her son had grown up and had found a girl he liked.

"If what you say is true, that Miss Yan has feelings for you and you also have feelings for her, and that Miss Yan has felt your sincerity over the past few days, then this is not impossible."

Besides, judging from what the Prime Minister just said, he seems quite satisfied with you. But Yan Chuan, did you do something to displease the Prime Minister?

Yan Chuan reflected on the past few days and realized that Prime Minister Yan's attitude towards him had indeed changed a lot. It seemed that he had not displeased the Prime Minister.

Unless, unless Yan Qimeng was angry with him that day, it's possible that she would have provoked Prime Minister Yan to treat him like that.

"I understand, I understand, Mother..."

After figuring it out, Yan Chuan immediately got out of the car and ran towards the market.

He bought a kite, wrote his heartfelt wishes on it, and flew it in a visible spot in Yan Qimeng's room at the Prime Minister's residence.

The words were full of apology, and he even arranged to meet Yan Qimeng.

Sure enough, when Yan Qimeng saw the kite, she walked to the window and looked down to see Yan Chuan holding the kite string.

"Miss, it's the young master's kite."

Yan Qimeng looked at Yan Chuan, who was full of anticipation. Today, the Princess Consort of Yu came to the mansion to propose marriage, but her father refused.

Her father meant that if Prince Yu truly cared, he wouldn't give up on her after just one rejection, and told her to wait patiently.

Yan Qimeng hesitated for a moment, then went down to see Yan Chuan.

The two used to be very friendly when they met, but this time they were speechless.

"Qimeng, I'd like to take you somewhere, is that alright?"

Yan Qimeng nodded, her heart aching. Three years had passed, and she still wasn't sure if Yan Chuan had feelings for her.

Once inside the carriage, Yan Chuan took Yan Qimeng to see the abundant betrothal gifts he had prepared; every single item there was incredibly valuable.

He had prepared everything carefully; any one of these items could sustain an ordinary person for a lifetime.

"Qimeng, do you still remember what you said before? You said you liked me, and you also said that I should repay you with my body, and that I, Chen Yanchuan, could only be your husband in this life."

Do you still remember those words? Do they still hold true today?

"It's been too long, I forgot..."

Yes, it's understandable that she's angry since I haven't responded for so long.

Yan Chuan apologized from the bottom of his heart, only hoping that Yan Qimeng would forgive his belated realization.

"It's okay, Qimeng. Even if you've forgotten what you said before, let me take the initiative from now on."

Qimeng, I like you, more than you can imagine. My feelings for you arise without warning and deepen over time.

Even I don't know when I started liking you. I like having you by my side, and I like your carefree attitude.

I also like it when you stick close to me. I like everything about you. Perhaps it was when I first saw you outside the Imperial College that I was attracted by your courage.

The moment I saw you, I knew you were a man dressed as a woman. I thought to myself, how could there be such a bold girl in the world?

She even dared to kick down the gates of the Imperial Academy. Seeing a group of talented men defeated by you, I knew you were an extraordinary woman.

I admire you, and I admire your unconventional perspective.

I used to think that perhaps only my mother and sister would want to open a girls' school, until I met you.

Yan Chuan spoke with emotion, but his sobs were not well concealed.

"Qimeng, do you know? Although I have the title of a prince, I don't have a good background. When I was a child, I ate all kinds of wild vegetables on the mountain."

I've eaten everything—black flour, fine bran, coarse grains—and without them, my family might have died long ago.

I've also fought with the shrewish women at the village entrance, but I could never win an argument against them.

You have no idea how you once argued with someone in the street; that was the kind of person I wanted to be.

You said you like me, but deep down, I've had a deep-seated inferiority complex since I was a child. I don't dare to reciprocate your feelings, and I'm afraid of falling for you.

You've grown up in luxury, and I'm even more afraid that one day you'll look down on me for growing up in such a terrible way.

Qimeng, I like you, I like you so much. When you were discussing marriage with someone else, it felt like a force was squeezing my heart, making it hard for me to breathe.

I don't want to see you with other people. I'm not good at expressing myself when it comes to love and romance.

But I started preparing these betrothal gifts two years ago. I hope that one day I will be the top scholar in the imperial examination and be able to carry them all into the Yan family mansion.

"Qimeng, are you willing to spend the rest of your life with me and have children?"

Yan Qimeng's grievances and sacrifices were finally reciprocated at this moment.

It turns out that she wasn't just making a one-sided effort; over the past two years, Yanchuan had also been quietly contributing to their future.

She, a woman who was usually very outgoing, eventually broke down in tears.

"Chen Yanchuan, why didn't you say it sooner? Do you know how afraid I was that you didn't have feelings for me?"

Do you know how much it hurt me to see you with Yuan Nanyan?

Yan Chuan turned around and embraced Yan Qimeng, gently kissing her ear and temple.

"I will never do it again. I went to see Grand Secretary Yuan to ask him what kind of betrothal ceremony I should make to you without being impolite."

I also want to wait for the imperial edict to come down so I can propose to Prime Minister Yan in the most dignified way. Qimeng, please don't marry someone else, wait for me, okay?

Yan Qimeng smiled through her tears, her heart pounding like a deer's. The joy of having her wish fulfilled left her speechless, only able to nod repeatedly.

After reconciling with Yan Qimeng, the two returned to their previous state.

But they were closer than before, and they would hold hands occasionally. Yan Qimeng leaned against Yan Chuan, listening to him make his vow of being together for life.

...

After much anticipation, the day of the results announcement finally arrived.

Yan Chuan's talent and writing skills undoubtedly placed him first on the list of top scholars.