The Imperial Palace.

Inside the imperial study, the pre-imperial emperor sat on a high seat, while the three brothers, Qian Ze, Qian Ya, and Qian Qing, stood below him.

"Sit down. I've summoned you here today to discuss something with you."

The Emperor's expression was serious, and his tone was calm and composed.

The three of them sat down and looked at the unofficial emperor on the high seat, ready to listen attentively.

"As you all know, Yan'er's natal divine beast is an ancient phoenix. I don't need to say anything, you all understand Yan'er's future prospects."

I only have three sons, and you are all around the same age as Yan'er. Next year, Yan'er will come of age.

"My intention is that whichever of you three can win Yan'er's heart will marry him. Of course, this has nothing to do with the position of Crown Prince."

After the Emperor finished speaking, the three men looked puzzled, but none of them were surprised.

"Your subject understands," the three replied in unison.

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction, asked each person a few more questions, and then everyone dispersed.

The three brothers came out of the palace together. Qian Qing spoke first, "My two elder brothers, what do you think of what Father just said?"

Qian Ze, dressed in a white ink-wash style robe and holding a fan, was as warm and gentle as ever.

"Of course I will follow Father's arrangements, but I am not in Qingze."

"I'm afraid that opportunity is lost. Both of my younger brothers are in Qingze, so they probably have a better chance there."

Qianya crossed his arms and shrugged. "Brother, you're overthinking it. That girl is like she's seen a ghost when she sees me. She wants to stay as far away from me as possible. She probably doesn't like me."

The image of Bei Yan carrying a large broom and dragging Shangguan Mu along as they ran wildly left a deep impression on him.

She couldn't help but pinch her nose. Was she really that scary? All she did was lift her up a little.

Qian Qing smiled faintly, his gentle and refined face slightly raised. "So, does that mean I have a better chance?"

Qianze and Qianya tacitly extended a hand and patted Qianqing on the shoulder on each side, saying, "Brother, we believe in you."

Although the three were born into royalty, they did not have any historical precedent.

In that case, they fought to the death for the throne.

Qianya was skilled in martial arts, but his literary talent was only so-so. Knowing that he was not cut out for governing the country, he planned to guard the border, become a general, and expand the territory after completing his studies.

Although Qian Qing was a talented writer, he was in poor health and had been taking medicine for many years. Moreover, he was used to being carefree and had no interest in the throne.

In other countries, people fight to the death for the throne, but it's different for these three.

When the emperor was choosing a crown prince, the three candidates declined the position, none of them wanting to be the one.

Enraged, the Emperor glared and cursed, "I worked so hard to build this empire for you, and you don't want it?! You unworthy descendants, you're infuriating me!"

The three of them had no choice but to think that Qianze was the most suitable. As the eldest brother, he was both literate and martial, and in excellent physical condition. If you don't go to hell, who will?

Qianze: "..." As the eldest brother, I have sacrificed too much for this family.

Qianya Qianqing: Big brother is awesome! Big brother, you've worked hard!

,

Little did Bei Yan know that he was being watched. He swept fallen leaves until nightfall before carrying his large broom back to his house.

I grabbed a change of clothes and rushed to the hot springs behind the mountain, where I soaked comfortably.

Only when the bright moonlight was high in the sky and the stars were twinkling did he get up and go back to the courtyard, not even in a hurry to go to sleep.

Instead, he held Junlin in his cat form, lay on a bamboo rocking chair in the courtyard, and watched the stars twinkle in the sky.