After the two had stopped standing, Lin Shixuan spoke first, "Miss, I'm sorry..."

The woman straightened her clothes, her expression somewhat displeased, and said, "Who is it..."

She paused mid-sentence, her eyes showing surprise.

She had never seen such a handsome man before, with exquisite features and a dress as white as snow.

His faint smile was like the shrewd moon in the world, and he exuded the air of a scholar. His speech and behavior were proper and generous.

He undoubtedly has the appearance of a gentle and refined gentleman.

She lowered her head shyly, "Young Master."

"Young lady, are you alright?"

The woman shook her head slightly. "It's alright. I didn't see clearly just now. I'm sorry, young master."

Lin Shixuan also examined the woman and was genuinely amazed.

Unlike Liu Ruyan, she was more beautiful, and her speech and manners were not as shy as Liu Ruyan's, but rather had a more generous and poised feel.

"May I ask which noble family you belong to, young lady?"

The woman smiled and curtsied to Lin Shixuan, "I am Shen Lanxue, the legitimate daughter of the Minister's family."

Lin Shixuan was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

"So it's Miss Shen. I've heard so much about you. I never expected to meet you here."

The woman was taken aback, and raised her eyes. "Young master, do you know Lan Xue?"

"I have heard of the young lady's name. She is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is reminiscent of the eldest princess, who was known as one of the Four Beauties of Bianjing in her time."

"Unexpectedly, the girl's beauty is no less than that of the Four Beauties of Bianjing."

Being praised so highly by Lin Shixuan made Shen Lanxue blush slightly, feeling a little embarrassed.

"You flatter me, sir."

As she spoke, she looked at Lin Shixuan and asked, "May I ask who you are, young master?"

"Oh." He cupped his hands and said, "I am Lin Shixuan, the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhenbei."

"So you are Lin Shixuan? Your reputation is widespread, and everyone in Bianjing knows you. Meeting you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

He was polite, elegant, and humble.

Lin Shixuan was quite pleased with the flattery he received. He humbly replied, "Those were just some casual verses, nothing to mention. If I have the chance, I would very much like to ask you for some advice."

Shen Lanxue smiled and said, "At that time, I hope you will show mercy, young master."

"That's natural."

The maid standing to the side whispered a reminder, "Miss, we've been out for quite a while. If we don't go back soon, Master will probably worry."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lanxue curtsied again, "Young master, this humble woman will take her leave now."

"Okay, take care, young lady."

Only after the woman left the restaurant did Lin Shixuan withdraw his gaze, follow her out the door, and strode away.

After Shen Lanxue got into the carriage, she looked at the maid.

"Yunxiang, what do you think of Lin Shixuan?"

“Miss, Young Master Lin is handsome and talented, and has even been praised by the Emperor. I think he is quite good.”

"It's a pity, her status is too low," Shen Lanxue sighed.

Yunxiang seemed to have thought of something and said:

"Miss, I heard that he is getting married soon. He is marrying General Liu's eldest daughter, Liu Ruyan."

“Liu Ruyan?” Shen Lanxue was somewhat surprised. “Liu Ruyan is already seventeen years old, while Lin Shixuan is only fifteen.”

"That's right. I heard that Liu Ruyan is extremely fond of him, and the two of them have already pledged their lives to each other."

When people think of Liu Ruyan, they often compare the two of them. There was even an instance where she took away my chance to do the test in public.

She couldn't help but feel a little happy, and muttered to herself:

"Liu Ruyan, being the legitimate daughter of a second-rank official, never expected to marry someone whose official rank was so much lower than her father's."

"Yes, Miss. Liu Ruyan is now married to Young Master Lin. She will be the mistress of a noble family in the future. Look at Ye Lanyin, the eldest daughter of the Ye family, and what happened to her after marrying the Marquis of Zhenbei?"

“If a husband keeps a mistress and his son secretly pledges himself to another woman, then the bloodline will be lowered in status.”

Shen Lanxue snapped, "Shut up! How can you say such things so casually?"

Yunxiang quickly shut her mouth.

Shen Lanxue suddenly leaned closer to Yunxiang and whispered:

"By the way, didn't His Majesty say that there would be no eldest prince from now on?"

"When will the Second Prince be named Crown Prince?"

"Yunxiang, have you found out anything?"

Yunxiang shook her head. "Miss, I've asked many people, but the Emperor is very tight-lipped. Since he deposed the Crown Prince, he has never mentioned appointing a new Crown Prince."

"Moreover, he didn't even mention the Second Prince's name."

Shen Lanxue frowned.

What exactly does Your Majesty mean? The Crown Prince has been deposed, and there has been no new Crown Prince appointed for so long. Does Your Majesty really have no intention of appointing a new one?

No, she had to go back and ask her parents.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Minister's residence, and Shen Lanxue got off the carriage with the help of her maid Yunxiang.

Just then, Madam Shen returned from outside.

"Mother, where have you gone?"

When Madam Shen heard her daughter call her name, she paused as she stepped through the gate and turned around. "Lanxue, you're back."

"Yes, Mother, where have you been?"

Seeing that she looked like she had dressed up carefully, Shen Lanxue deliberately sized her up.

Madam Shen smiled and said, "I'm going to listen to a storyteller."

"Oh." Shen Lanxue knew that her mother had always had this hobby, so she didn't ask any further questions.

Immediately, she nervously pulled Madam Shen into the mansion and ordered the servants to close the gate.

Seeing her anxious appearance, Madam Shen asked in confusion, "Lanxue, what's wrong with you?"

"Mother, I ask you, have you heard Father mention anything about His Majesty establishing a crown prince?"

When Madam Shen heard that the crown prince was to be established, she was immediately displeased.

"Lanxue, let me tell you, it's better to marry the son of a minister than to marry into the royal family."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lanxue knew something was wrong. Meeting Madam Shen's gaze, she asked:

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