"Who! Who! What happened?!" Nan Ying asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Is Miss back?"

Asagao gently pinched her arm to remind her to look at the person who had come.

“How could it be a young lady! Ah Huang only calls out when he sees a stranger.”

Nan Ying looked up and saw that in the very center of the courtyard stood Prince Rui, Shen Hanshan, who should have been at home preparing for his marriage to the eldest princess.

The flickering firelight illuminated his handsome face.

Half of his face was illuminated by the firelight, while the other half was hidden in darkness.

A fire seemed to be surging in his eyes.

“Prince Rui, now that you are the son-in-law of the current princess, it is rather improper and inappropriate for you to come here so late at night and trespass into my daughter’s boudoir.”

Zhao Shouzhen's voice came from outside the courtyard, carrying a hint of sternness and dissatisfaction.

The servants moved swiftly upon hearing the commotion, their skilled movements creating a gap in the previously tight encirclement.

Zhao Shouzhen walked in slowly.

"Lord Zhao, I've only come to say a few words to Zhizhi. I'll leave after that." Shen Hanshan's attitude was respectful, a stark contrast to his previous arrogant and domineering demeanor.

"I have already resigned from my official post and am no longer an official of the court. Please do not address me as such, Prince Rui."

Zhao Shouzhen waved his hand, signaling the servant to extinguish the torch in his hand.

After the fire went out, the courtyard was plunged into darkness once again.

The flame on the torch in front of Shen Hanshan and Zhao Shouzheng flickered in the night wind.

“Zhizhi has been away from home for a long time.” Zhao Shouzhen sighed. “Since the day the decree of Prince Rui to marry Princess Chang was issued, Zhizhi has not returned home.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Hanshan felt a lump in his throat and his eyes well up with tears.

He silently wondered to himself: Could what Zhao Yi said be true? If I really can't wholeheartedly commit to the marriage with the Princess, then will I never see Zhizhi again?

He secretly vowed in his heart, "Very well, Princess, you are very well! Although I don't know why you insist on making me your consort, I will definitely make you regret choosing me!"

"I'm sorry to have bothered you! I won't come here again." Shen Hanshan took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

The crowd made way for him.

Shen Hanshan turned around and strode out of the courtyard, his figure gradually disappearing into the darkness.

Zhao Yun slowly emerged from the shadows, took Zhao Shouzhen's arm, and said, "Father, you had people guarding Second Sister's courtyard for so many days, just to say this to Prince Rui?"

Zhao Shouzhen sighed softly and walked out.

"If only I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."

“Yes, if Prince Rui hadn’t refused to annul the engagement with my second sister, none of this would have happened.” Zhao Yun spoke up for Zhao Zhi.

"Alright, no one is allowed to let a word of Prince Rui's intrusion into the Zhao family's residence today slip away. If I find out, anyone who utters a word of it will be beaten to death!"

All the servants responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"

However, in just two days, the news of Prince Rui sneaking into his former fiancée's bedroom at night spread throughout the streets and alleys.

Du Heng stood in front of Shen Hanshan, looking distressed, and complained, "Your Highness, you shouldn't have acted so impulsively! We have no idea whether the Princess is easy to get along with. Once the rumors spread, it will be very detrimental to Miss Zhao."

"What are you afraid of?! If that princess dares to lay a finger on me because of this, I'll twist her head off and use it as a football!" Shen Hanshan said angrily.

“Your Highness, this is not a battlefield for men,” Du Heng said helplessly. He didn’t know how to persuade his lord. “We men can’t even imagine the battlefield and methods of women.”

Shen Hanshan cursed, "Du Heng, surrendering without a fight? That would be a joke!"

Du Heng pretended not to understand him and changed the subject, "Your Highness, are you talking about the five prefectures and twelve states of Yun Dynasty? They didn't surrender without a fight. They abandoned the darkness and turned to the light. That Yun Shu sells official positions and is licentious. With him around, Yun Dynasty will be finished sooner or later."

Shen Hanshan kicked him, "Get out of here!"