Lin Tingwan's fingertips dug deeply into the silk handkerchief in her palm, the embroidered begonia branches on the handkerchief were crumpled into a ball by her grip, the outline of the petals almost being pinched off.

The gold thread embroidery pressed against her fingertips, causing a slight pain, but it couldn't suppress the bitterness surging in her heart.

Her gaze was sharp, yet somewhat bewildered, as she stared at Gu Zhixing's playful demeanor—he was leaning to the side, massaging the emperor's shoulders, his slender fingers tapping idly while he uttered flattering words, making the emperor beam with delight.

She felt a tightness in her chest, as if someone had stuffed a wad of soaked cotton into her chest, weighing her down heavily, making it difficult to even breathe.

On what grounds?

She had just gone to the Imperial Concubine's palace to pay her respects last night. Her mother gently stroked her hair and said that the marriage was settled and that they were just waiting for the Ministry of Rites to draft the regulations so that she could have a grand wedding before the Dragon Boat Festival.

She was so happy that her fingertips trembled, and even in her dreams, she saw scenes of brightly lit red candles and joyous celebrations.

But today, Gu Zhixing only said a few words, and the emperor changed his mind!

"His Majesty……"

She finally couldn't help but take half a step forward, the tassels hanging from her sleeves swaying gently with her movement, her almond-shaped eyes filled with a thin layer of water, like the mist rising from a lake in spring.

Her voice was very soft, tinged with a cautious probing: "The Ministry of Rites is currently busy with the Spring Festival. If we were to prepare for a wedding as well, I'm afraid..."

Before she could finish speaking, a hand with distinct knuckles suddenly appeared in front of her.

The celadon teacup was as lustrous as jade, with a clear and translucent glaze that made the fingers holding the cup appear even longer and whiter.

Shen Huaixu's fingertips lightly rested on the rim of the cup, his posture composed yet carrying an irresistible air.

"Princess, please try this newly harvested snow bud."

His voice was deep and resonant, like a clear spring babbling on jade, pure yet gentle.

But offering her tea at this time is just a way of telling her not to talk, isn't it?

Could it be that he doesn't want to get married?

No!

That shouldn't be the case.

Before the disaster relief efforts, he even personally promised to ask the emperor to grant him a marriage!

She's probably overthinking it.

Lin Tingwan's lips trembled slightly, but she still reached out and took the teacup.

The moment their fingertips touched, she felt the cool touch of his fingertips, like a winter breeze that chilled her to the bone.

The teacup was warm, and wisps of steam rose up, blurring her vision.

This idea eventually took root in her heart.

Lin Tingwan lowered her head and took a sip of the tea. The tea was slightly bitter, and the astringent taste on her tongue spread all the way to her heart.

She blinked, tiny water droplets clinging to her eyelashes—it was hard to tell if it was tea mist or something else.

She dared not look up, afraid that if she did, tears would fall.

Gu Zhixing's cheerful voice could still be heard in my ears.

Lin Tingwan sighed.

Ultimately, we can't win.

Gu Zhixing was the emperor's most beloved nephew, a playboy who swaggered around the capital, and even the crown prince had to give him some leeway.

And what about her?

She was nothing more than the daughter of a concubine of a fallen kingdom, a mere figurehead with the title of princess.

She bit her lower lip hard until she tasted a hint of blood, then slowly released it.

"Anything else? If not, we're leaving!"

Gu Zhixing suddenly jumped up from beside the imperial desk, like a hunting dog that seizes any opportunity to run wild, and darted to Shen Jintang's side in a few steps.

With a flick of his finger, he precisely caught the silver cloud pattern embroidered on her cuff, and gently tugged at it like a cat teasing a ball of yarn.

The satin shimmered under the candlelight in the hall, its surface rippling softly with his movements as it touched her wrist.

"We're really going back!" he deliberately drawled, his thumb lingering suggestively on the skin inside her sleeve. "We're still busy—"

That's a statement that really sparks the imagination.

Shen Huaixu paused slightly as he held the teacup, and when he looked up, he saw a thin blush spreading across the tips of Shen Jintang's ears.

Gu Zhixing was tilting his head and whispering something in her ear, his thin lips almost touching her earlobe, which made her subtly step on his foot.

Gu Zhixing grimaced in pain, but still looked smug.

Where the sleeves of the two men overlapped, the dark patterns intertwined with the crimson official robes, making them particularly eye-catching.

Their subtle movements were particularly noticeable, and Shen Huaixu looked away.

"Nonsense!"

The emperor slammed his teacup down on the table, making the candied fruit in the dish jump.

"Do you think everyone is as unruly as you?" He pointed at Gu Zhixing and laughed, "You dare to be so undisciplined in front of me!"

“A legitimate business?” Gu Zhixing said matter-of-factly, “My getting married is the most legitimate thing in the world!”

"What could be more important than my getting married?"

Before he finished speaking, a chorus of coughs filled the hall.

Shen Jintang felt her face burning, and her feet, hidden under her official robes, slammed into Gu Zhixing's brocade boots.

But this person pretended to hiss and leaned closer with a pitiful expression: "Lord Siyan, you're so cruel. My injury hasn't fully healed yet..."

"Behave yourself."

She lowered her voice to warn him, pinching his palm with her fingertips as a warning.

But before she could pull her hand away, he tightened his grip on her fingers, forcing her into a position where their fingers were intertwined.

Gu Zhixing winked at her smugly, his eyelashes casting small shadows under his eyes, making him look like a cat that had just stolen some fish.

Shen Jintang finally couldn't help but sigh.

To Shen Huaixu, the sigh sounded like a helpless indulgence.

He saw that although Shen Jintang was frowning, her eyes and brows were filled with a soft light. She let Gu Zhixing play with her fingers and let him use his wide sleeves to cover himself as he traced her palm with his fingers again and again.

"Let's get down to business."

The emperor suddenly cleared his throat, and Shen Jintang immediately tried to pull her hand away as if she had been burned, but Gu Zhixing held it tightly.

She glared at him, but he just grinned at her, looking smug.

"Huai Xu has done a good job in this disaster relief effort." The emperor glanced meaningfully at the two men's clasped hands. "He has been in the position of Censor-in-Chief for three years; it's time for a change."

He suddenly called out, "Jin Tang, who do you think is suitable for the position of head of personnel selection?"

Shen Jintang suddenly stood up, the hem of his official robes almost knocking over a teacup.

Gu Zhixing reluctantly let go, but his fingertips still lingered on her sleeve.

“Your Majesty,” she said, her voice slightly louder than usual, “the Vice Minister of the Chancellery was in mourning the other day, and the Grand Councilor is in need of a deputy.”

"Granted!" The Emperor clapped his hands and laughed. "Issue the decree! Promote Shen Huaixu to the position of Vice Minister of the Chancellery, and send the imperial edict of marriage to his residence tomorrow!"

He deliberately glanced at Gu Zhixing, whose face had instantly fallen, and drawled, "As for some people, it would be good if they didn't spend their whole lives in the Dali Temple."

"You don't like me? Then I'll just leave!"

Gu Zhixing snorted coldly and turned his head away.

The emperor was so angry that he glared and puffed out his beard, unable to utter a word for a long time.

No one in the world dares to talk back to him like that!

The emperor was angry, and the room fell silent; no one dared to make a sound.

After all, the emperor doted on Gu Zhixing, but others didn't receive such good treatment.