This plaque was personally inscribed by Emperor Gaozu. The four characters "Yiguo Gongfu" are written in bold and powerful strokes, but now they are covered in dust.

"Have someone take it to the storeroom," Shen Youying instructed, and was about to return to Qingwu Courtyard when she heard someone call from behind: "Zhaozhao."

She turned around in response and saw her cousin Lu Minghe standing at the bottom of the steps looking at her.

Lu Minghe was dressed in an ordinary blue robe, and he looked much thinner, with a haggard expression on his gentle face.

Shen Youying was somewhat surprised, wondering how he had managed to get himself into this state. She was about to ask when she suddenly remembered that their current status made it inappropriate for them to be too intimate, so she politely stepped back, curtsied, and asked with her eyes lowered, "Cousin, what brings you here?"

“I’m late.” Lu Minghe stared at her, his eyes filled with pain. “Zhao Zhao won’t even look at me anymore?” He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “That’s right, you should hate me.”

Shen Youying remained expressionless, not understanding that the die was cast, so what use was it for Lu Minghe to come and say these things now?

"If you have something to say, cousin, please speak freely. If not, I will head back now."

Upon hearing this, Lu Minghe suddenly stepped forward, as if to reach out and grab her, but he froze when she frightened him and hid behind the maid. He stood rooted to the spot, looking at Zhaozhao who was resisting him, and waves of regret welled up from the bottom of his heart, bringing tears to his eyes.

"I didn't know it would be like this, I really didn't know."

That day, he was going to the Shen family to receive the auspicious blessing, but his mother stopped him by threatening to kill herself, demanding that the marriage be called off. He couldn't watch his mother die, nor was he willing to abandon Zhaozhao, so he could only kneel in the courtyard and beg.

He knelt from day to night until his mother finally softened and agreed, but said that it was not appropriate to discuss marriage at this critical juncture. She said that the Shen family had offended the emperor, and the fate of the Duke of Shen was unknown. If the family's daughter were to continue to discuss marriage, it would not be good for their reputation. It would be better to wait until the storm had passed before continuing the marriage.

He listened to his mother and thought that as long as he communicated with Zhaozhao in advance, she would understand.

Unexpectedly, while waiting for a reply at home, he received news that the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon the Prince of Qin and Shen Youying.

"I never intended to break off the engagement." Lu Minghe clenched his hands tightly, barely managing to suppress the overwhelming regret that surged within him, preventing his inner turmoil from showing. He squeezed his eyes shut and said in a trembling voice, "If I had known it would turn out this way, I would have risked my life to come to Naji on that day."

"Did my cousin sneak out of home?"

Shen Youying finally looked up at him, and was momentarily moved when she saw the scarlet in his eyes, but that was all.

Her gaze swept over Lu Minghe's simple cloth clothes, and the mud and dust that had accidentally smudged onto the hem and soles of his shoes. She said softly, "My cousin is willing to die for me, but he might not be able to bear seeing my aunt heartbroken. Now that the die is cast, why are you doing this?"

"Cousin, please go back." Without looking at Lu Minghe's expression, Shen Youying curtsied and turned to walk into the mansion.

Behind her came Lu Minghe's almost shrill cry: "Zhaozhao!"

Shen Youying paused, turned to look at him, her expression distant and aloof: "I am the Princess Consort of Qin, personally appointed by the Emperor. It is inappropriate for my cousin to call me by my childhood name anymore."

"Cousin, please go back. I hope you find a good match soon." She lowered her eyes and curtsied again.

Her slender body shivered in the chilly wind, yet surprisingly, she did not appear weak.