"Is it pretty?" Fang Xiyue heard someone ask her.

"It looks good," Fang Xiyue answered honestly, then realized something was wrong and turned around to see three accusing faces.

"I really just admired it, I didn't mean anything else, really, I swear."

Fang Xiyue raised her hand and swore that she really didn't think of anything else. Although her heart was indeed pounding, it's normal to like looking at beautiful things, and she would take a second look when she saw a beautiful woman.

The three men had nothing to be angry about seeing her smiling face; they had known this was how she was all along, and they were prepared for it.

What Fang Xiyue didn't know was that the moment she turned her head, the top scholar also looked up in her direction, and he could never forget her after just one glance.

The crowd dispersed, and the once bustling street became much quieter. Those who weren't interested continued with their work.

Fang Xiyue also went out for a stroll with her three husbands. They had limited time to go out each day, and although the three children were taken care of by Chu's mother and Song's mother, they still missed their mother.

Upon returning to the palace, Fang Xiyue saw several princesses gathered together, their cheeks flushed. Intrigued, she went over to them.

"What's wrong? What happened? Tell me quickly." It feels best to hear these kinds of little stories.

"My elder brother said he intends to bestow marriages upon the newly appointed top three scholars (the first, second, and third-ranked scholars) and asked if we were willing."

There are three princesses, and the emperor wants to give them the opportunity to cultivate these three talented young men. Although they are not from wealthy or noble families, they have achieved such success now and are sure to do well in the future.

The Emperor said that even if one marries a princess, one can still enter the court as an official, and his talents will not go unused.

"Wow, I saw all three of them today. They're all pretty good-looking. Marrying them would be a good deal, but I don't know if they're good people."

If someone has bad character, it's no use if they're good-looking.

"Yes, sister-in-law, we're thinking of sending someone to inquire before making a decision."

The three princesses were also worried about their character. They wanted to marry good husbands and didn't want to live a miserable life.

Gong Yunxiao looked at his three younger sisters and was surprised that they had reached marriageable age. He knew a bit about those three talented men, and their character should be fine, but he still wanted to investigate them just to be on the safe side.

Three days later, the emperor bestowed marriage upon the three in the court, but the top scholar, Su Zheyu, refused on the spot.

"I already have someone I love and cannot marry the princess. I hope Your Majesty will rescind your decree."

Su Zheyu knelt on the spot, neither humble nor arrogant. The fleeting glimpse he had seen three days ago haunted his dreams and he could never forget it.

"Does Minister Su know the consequences of refusing the bestowed marriage?" The Emperor's expression was not good. Two of his three younger sisters had been successfully married off, and if only one of them remained, what would others say about her? His younger sister would also be sad.

"I know, but my heart already belongs to someone else, and I cannot give the princess what she wants."

Refusing the Emperor's bestowed marriage would undoubtedly be a slap in the Emperor's face, making it difficult to remain in the capital to take up a post. But Su Zheyu simply did not want to accept such a marriage.

"Since that's the case, then so be it. I've been forcing you to do something you shouldn't." The Emperor's face turned even paler, but for the sake of his image, he could only endure it and immediately bestowed the remaining Princess Zhaoyang's marriage upon the student who ranked fourth in the imperial examination.

Princess Zhaoyang of the Prince's Palace was so angry that she burst into tears when she learned that she had not been granted a marriage with the top scholar, but instead had been betrothed to someone she did not know.

Everyone went to comfort her, but after she cried, she acted as if nothing had happened and happily prepared her wedding dress, leaving everyone wondering what was going on.

Later, she learned from the maid that Princess Zhaoyang had met the consort Shen Yue. Although he was not as outstanding as Su Zheyu, he was not bad-looking either.

Moreover, Shen Yue treated the princess very well and even bought her a gift, which immediately won her heart.

That day, Fang Xiyue was out shopping with her three husbands when she heard people talking about the top scholar.

"Have you heard? The top scholar has been exiled to a remote area to serve as a county magistrate. He set off early this morning."

"Yes, I heard that. It's such a pity. He finally became the top scorer in the exam."

"Then I say it's still the Emperor's fault. Why force someone to marry a princess when they already have someone they love?"

"Shh, are you out of your mind? How can you or I comment on the Emperor's actions? Hurry up and leave, lest someone with ulterior motives reports us to the authorities."

After those people left, Yunxiao put down her teacup. "It's a real pity about Scholar Su. I've read his examination essay, and it was far superior to everyone else's."

His methods for controlling the floods were reasonable, well-founded, and very feasible. Alas, my imperial brother originally intended to give him an important position.

If he had simply told his elder brother privately after court that he did not accept the arranged marriage, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

Even the best emperor can't lose face in front of so many people. If everyone did what Su Zheyu did, where would the emperor's dignity be?

"But I still think the Emperor was wrong in this matter. The practice of bestowing marriages should not exist in the first place. Forcing two strangers to marry is really putting people in a difficult position."

Song Yifan lowered his voice, indicating his support for Su Zhuangyuan on this matter.

"My brother knows this, of course, but if we don't grant the marriage, do you think anyone will take the initiative to marry the princess? Are you going to leave my sisters to grow old alone?"

Gong Yunxiao's words hit the nail on the head; most people wouldn't choose a princess.

After all, having a woman of higher status than oneself at home can indeed make one feel more restrained, and there are many things one cannot do. One might not even be able to speak loudly in front of a princess.

So the emperor was in a dilemma. He originally thought it would be easier to marry the princess to a scholar with little social standing taking the imperial examinations, but problems arose.

"This matter is already settled, and no one can change it." Gong Yunxiao ended the conversation abruptly.

When the three months were up, Gong Yunxiao and the others set off back to Black Cloud Village. This time, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor Emeritus, and Chu's parents all accompanied them.

Father Song couldn't leave, and Mother Song couldn't leave either; they could only watch helplessly as their children all left.

The emperor was also standing on the Star-Picking Tower; although he couldn't see it, it was as if he could see it.

——

Fang Xiyue was holding her babies and admiring the scenery outside the car window. Song Yifan was with them, mainly because Song Yifan was the best at martial arts and could protect Fang Xiyue and her three children.

Suddenly, a group of fierce-looking bandits, armed with weapons, blocked the carriage's path. They shouted, "This mountain is mine, this tree is mine, if you want to pass, leave your toll!"

Oh dear, she ran into an old colleague. Fang Xiyue's fiery temper couldn't stand it, so she handed the child over to Song Yifan and got off the carriage.

Outside, the villagers who had come out of Black Cloud Village together, along with Gong Yunxiao's guards, were already fighting with the bandits.

Amidst the clashing of swords and the constant shouts of battle, Fang Xiyue leaped forward, drawing her sword and charging towards the bandits.