The Duke of England received a letter from his daughter, Shuzhen, and after reading it over and over again, he fell into deep thought.

"Father, did you call your daughter here?" Ulanara Xueying had already entered Wuge's study at some point and came to his sandalwood desk.

Wu Ge snapped out of his reverie. He had been thinking a lot, and he had never been so clear-headed about the Ulanara family before, but now he had no choice but to make plans.

“Ying’er, you’re twelve this year, right?” Wu Ge suddenly asked.

"Yes, it's exactly twelve." Xueying looked at her father, who always doted on her, with a puzzled expression, not understanding why he asked such a question.

"Was it the Fifth Prince of Yongqin's mansion who brought you back last time?" Wu Ge then turned his gaze to his youngest daughter.

“Yes, he is my aunt’s illegitimate son. He is known as Hongzhou,” Xueying said calmly.

"It seems he's interested in you?" Wu Ge cut to the chase and asked directly.

"He's not the only one interested in our daughter. Why is Father suddenly asking about this?" Xueying asked with a proud smile. She certainly had reason to be proud; among a group of young ladies from prominent families, she always stood out, truly because her beauty was exceptional.

Wu Ge looked at his youngest daughter and said, "Ying'er, since you didn't manage to marry into the Yong Prince's mansion and become Hongshi's wife last time, your father is considering other marriages for you. You'll be of marriageable age next year, so it's time to seriously discuss your marriage."

Xueying showed no shyness on her face, but calmly said, "It seems that Shuzhen is not favored by Hongshi now. Is my aunt trying to pull me into the Yong Prince's mansion again?"

Wu Ge has always liked Xue Ying, not only because she is good-looking, but also because she is incredibly intelligent.

"What if I asked you to marry the Fifth Prince Hongzhou?" Wu Ge asked without answering Xue Ying's question.

"I refuse!" Xueying said resolutely, her beautiful face cold.

"Why?" Wu Ge asked, staring into her eyes.

“I don’t like him. If a daughter is to marry, she should marry the best man in the world. Second cousin, I wouldn’t even look at you.” Xueying looked back at Wu Ge’s eyes and said.

Wu Ge knew his daughter was always proud and had strong opinions; he had raised her to be a model of a promising young lady from a prominent family. Judging from the current situation, Prince Yong was very likely to ascend the throne, making his elder sister the future empress. Regardless of whether the Fourth Prince liked it or not, once he became emperor, he would have to make Ulanara empress.

Therefore, Wu Ge decided to send Xue Ying to Prince Yong's mansion first, and choose the one most likely to become the crown prince from among the fourth prince's sons.

Hongshi was the man favored by Wuge and Fujin. That's why they had so carefully planned to marry Xueying to him. However, the Fourth Prince had already made a verbal engagement with Irgen, and the matter was thus disrupted. Now, although Shuzhen has become Hongshi's concubine, she cannot win his heart, causing great worry to Fujin and Wuge.

"Then who do you think is the best man in the world? Marriage is a major event, and it is always arranged by parents and matchmakers. How can you, a girl, speak so shamelessly? Don't you even care about your father?" Wu Ge said, feigning anger.

“Father taught Ying’er from a young age that Ying’er is unwilling to marry easily in order to fulfill Father’s expectations of her. If she is to marry, she must marry the right person, someone who is beneficial to the Ulanara family.” Xue Ying raised her face and said, “I don’t want to be like my aunt, who doesn’t win her husband’s heart and only holds a title. It’s really too frustrating.”

Wu Ge was slightly startled, a thought flickering in his heart. He tentatively asked, "Do you have someone you like?"

A slight blush appeared on Xueying's face. It turned out that she could be shy too. But she shook her head and said, "Father, I don't have anyone I like yet."

Wu Ge narrowed his eyes slightly, stood up, and personally took out a scroll from the large blue-and-white porcelain jar behind his armchair, then slowly unfurled it in front of Xue Ying.

Xueying looked at the painting in the scroll and was immediately stunned.

"Well? Would you be willing to marry this person?" Wu Ge asked, seeing Xue Ying staring at the person in the painting without even blinking.

"Him? I'm afraid he won't agree, and besides, they're already engaged?" Xueying said, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

“We’re not married yet, are we? As long as we’re not married, anything is possible. Father is only asking you, are you willing to marry him?” Wu Ge said.

Xueying lowered her head, pondered for a moment, and then nodded.

“Good, you have a good eye. This man is probably your second cousin’s greatest rival,” Wu Ge said. “But Father will still marry you off to him first. That way, our Ulanara clan will not be defeated.”

Xueying looked at her father, knowing that he would sacrifice anything for the Ulanara clan. But she never felt that she would be a sacrifice.

“Father, how can we let our daughter marry him? Fucha Mingyu is already engaged to him,” Xueying said.

“Father will find a way. Go and keep your aunt company, and also go see Shuzhen. Her throat ailment has flared up again, so it's only right that you go to the manor to check on her,” Wuge said.

“Yes, then daughter, take the medicine that Sister Shuzhen is used to taking to see a doctor,” Xueying said.

A few days later, Ulanara Xueying took some medicinal herbs to Prince Yong's residence. As she climbed out of the carriage and was helped down by her maid, she happened to run into Hongli coming out of the gate.

This was the first time the two had met without anyone else around, and Ulanara Xueying quickly bowed to Hongli.

Hongli returned the greeting because of Hongzhou. In truth, he didn't like Ulanara Xueying; she was the Fujin's niece, so he disliked her. He disliked anyone connected to the Fujin. Now that Hongli was a twelve-year-old boy, he naturally understood the relationship between his mother and the Fujin.

As Ulanara Xueying and Hongli passed each other by, she thought to herself: Hongli, one day I will make you watch me closely!

That's right, the portrait of Hongli that Wuge showed Xueying in the study was indeed of Hongli. And Ulanara Xueying had fallen in love with Hongli from the very first moment she saw him.

Wu Ge arranged for Xue Ying to marry Hong Li not for his daughter's sake, but because he favored Hong Li over Hong Shi. Although the Fujin (Prince's wife) was unwilling to face this, Wu Ge believed that if the Fourth Prince ascended the throne, the position of Crown Prince would inevitably be his.

When Xueying reached the threshold, she turned around and saw Hongli, supported by a servant, step onto a small stool and enter the carriage.

The young man's tall and upright figure and elegant demeanor were very appealing to women.

Xueying smiled faintly, then turned around and walked inside.