"Aya, you're right."

Lu Xiuyuan's eyes sparkled as he said, "No matter why, I am now the top scholar in the imperial examination. I must work even harder to be worthy of the official robes I wear."

"So, are you still going to resign from your official post?"

Lu Xiuyuan quickly shook his head, "I won't resign. After ten years of hard study, I've finally achieved success, and I should leave something behind."

Lu Xiuyuan thought that he couldn't run away like a coward.

Regardless of why His Highness the Crown Prince chose him to be number one, there's no other way.

He's already in first place, and he needs to live up to his achievements.

Pei Zhi asked, "Then let's wash up and go to bed?"

"You go to sleep first. I haven't finished my official business yet, and I still need to go back to my study."

Looking back now, Lu Xiuyuan realized that he hadn't been very careful or cautious in handling his official duties that day.

Seeing that Lu Xiuyuan looked energetic, as if he had drunk a big bowl of chicken blood, Pei Zhi did not stop him.

Pei Minxue felt dizzy after getting up early for her shift.

Having been forced to drink too much by Shang Huai yesterday, Pei Minxue had even forgotten how he got back.

Upon entering the government office, Pei Minxue was so startled that he took a step back. "Good morning, Lord Pei."

Pei Minxue looked at the energetic Lu Xiuyuan standing in front of him in surprise, "Good morning, you yesterday..."

Pei Minxue wanted to ask, "Did Lu Xiuyuan get a good rest yesterday? He seems to be in such good spirits."

However, looking at the dark circles under Lu Xiuyuan's eyes, it seemed that he hadn't rested well yesterday either.

"Did you rest well yesterday?"

Lu Xiuyuan said in a strong voice, "I've had a very good rest."

Pei Minxue nodded, "That's good, that's good, you can go in now."

Pei Minxue originally wanted to give Lu Xiuyuan a few more words of advice, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.

Seeing Lu Xiuyuan's abnormal behavior, he decided to talk to him again in a few days.

Pei Minxue finished some official business and went to find Xiao Chengci, only to find out that Xiao Chengci had not yet come out of the palace.

After the morning court session ended, Emperor Xiao kept Xiao Chengci behind to have breakfast together.

They used it in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and there was no one else around, just the father and son.

After having breakfast, Emperor Xiao slowly sipped his tea, pondering how best to bring it up.

This morning at court, the ministers started pressuring him to get married again.

With Xiao Chengci's position as Crown Princess still undecided, several ministers are eager to take her place.

Xiao Chengci finally managed to get out of the temple, then ran off to the north, but now he's finally back.

Then came the rumors that the Crown Prince was frequently seen visiting male prostitutes.

Many people witnessed this firsthand, which made the ministers even more anxious to force the marriage.

Emperor Xiao put down his teacup. "I heard from your aunt that you went to her residence for a while?"

Xiao Chengci said in a serious tone, "Your subject is concerned about your aunt, so I went to visit her."

Emperor Xiao blew on his beard. "I heard that you asked your aunt for a few male prostitutes?"

After handing the person over to Xiao Chengci, Princess Duanyang felt something was amiss and immediately turned around and went to the palace to report the matter to Emperor Xiao.

Emperor Xiao didn't take it to heart at first, until rumors started circulating.

"I remember that girl was also in the capital, wasn't she?"

Emperor Xiao had many informants, so he naturally knew that Pei Zhi was not dead.

This time, Emperor Xiao pretended not to know.

Xiao Chengci said frankly, "She got married."

Emperor Xiao gasped. Could it be because this girl got married?

Emperor Xiao's eyes were filled with complex emotions; for a moment, he couldn't tell whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

So the crown prince decided to go all the way and stop liking women altogether?

Emperor Xiao said gently, "It's a pity that she got married, but there are still many women in the world. Why don't you take a closer look?"

Xiao Chengci shook his head, "No, I want her."

Emperor Xiao was now even more confused. "Then what are your relationship with these male prostitutes?"

Xiao Chengci put down his teacup, stood up, and walked to the entrance of the hall.

Emperor Xiao was also taken aback by Xiao Chengci's actions.

"I learned from these male prostitutes how to serve women."

Emperor Xiao blinked, seemingly too far away to hear clearly, "What did you say? I didn't understand."

Xiao Chengci cleared his throat and said loudly, "Your subject says that you are learning from male prostitutes how to serve women."

The servants serving in the Hall of Mental Cultivation wished they could bury their heads in their stomachs. How could they, as slaves, possibly listen to such words?

"Come here." Emperor Xiao beckoned to Xiao Chengci. "I am old and my hearing is failing. Come to my side and speak."

Xiao Chengci shook his head firmly, "If Father did not hear clearly, then let it be."

Emperor Xiao got up and looked around, trying to find a suitable weapon.

Seeing that things were not going well, Xiao Chengci tried to slip away: "Father, I still need to pay my respects to Mother, so I will take my leave now."

Emperor Xiao was so angry that his face turned red, and he shouted, "You unfilial son, stop right there!!"

Xiao Chengci wasn't that stupid to stay here and get beaten up.

"Does anyone speak?"

How could a prince, a prince of such high status, resort to such despicable means to serve women?

This is the good son he gave birth to, the good son on whom he placed high hopes!

Emperor Xiao roared in anger alone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, while Xiao Chengci had long since vanished without a trace.

Now that Xiao Chengci knew that his father wouldn't do anything to Pei Zhi, he had nothing to fear.

Empress Shang had just seen Xiao Chengci off when Emperor Xiao arrived.

For no apparent reason, Empress Shang was once again severely reprimanded by Emperor Xiao, who accused her of failing to properly educate her son.

The gist of it is that Xiao Chengci is already quite old, yet Empress Shang still hasn't chosen a wife for him.

It is also said that Xiao Chengci has been spoiled by Empress Shang to the point of being lawless. What will happen when the world is handed over to Xiao Chengci?

Before Empress Shang could even offer a rebuttal, Emperor Xiao stormed off in a huff.

This angered Empress Shang for no reason. When Emperor Xiao came that evening, Empress Shang refused to let him in.

The next day, Emperor Xiao couldn't understand it, so he disguised himself and left the palace.

He wanted to see what kind of woman could bewitch his son so completely.

Emperor Xiao wanted to see for himself what made this woman different from others.

Otherwise, Emperor Xiao would be truly unwilling.

Emperor Xiao's henchmen are everywhere; finding Pei Zhi would be a piece of cake.

After Lu Xiuyuan went on duty, Pei Zhi had nothing to do at home, so she decided to plant some flowers in the yard.

Hearing from the servants that a guest had come to visit, Pei Zhi assumed it was Shang Huai.

During this time period, only Shang Huai was available.

When entertaining Shang Huai, Pei Zhi was too lazy to change his clothes and entered the hall in coarse cloth.

Outside the hall, two armed guards stood watch, and Pei Zhi glanced at them a few more times.

Upon entering the hall, Pei Zhi saw a dignified and handsome middle-aged man.

Xiao Chengci's appearance was very similar to that of the man in front of him.

With just one glance, Pei Zhi made a guess about the identity of the middle-aged man in front of her.

Pei Zhi couldn't help but take a second look. Xiao Chengci had aged; this was probably what he looked like.