November 20th, 6:15 p.m.

The Purple Star Palace in the capital of Laifeng Kingdom.

Behind the pearl curtains, in the inner room, beneath the embroidered silk tent, Nalan Yunzhi, lazily sprawled on a broad agarwood bed for a nap, asked leisurely, "Old Guo, how is the selection process for the Crown Princess and the Imperial Concubine in the Eastern Palace going? Which families have been chosen?"

"Reporting to the emperor, all 316 handsome men sent to the palace today were eliminated in the selection of princesses and maids in the Eastern Palace." The chief eunuch Guo Dongbing, who was waiting outside the pearl curtain, bowed and replied.

"Are the young masters of the four great families and the boy from the Pei family also among those selected today?"

Considering Hua Qingcheng's attitude towards selecting the princesses to serve the king in the morning, Nalan Yunzhi didn't care too much about the result. As long as the ones she had chosen were sent there in the end, it would be fine.

"Reporting to the Emperor, no."

"Well, send them directly to the East Palace tomorrow." After giving the order, Nalan Yunzhi closed his eyes and began to rest.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After receiving the order, Guo Dongbing bowed and walked out of the Zichen Hall, and ordered someone to inform the four major families and the Pei family to prepare for the marriage tomorrow.

…

November 21st.

After the ten-day holiday, Hua Qingcheng and Wu Chen rode in a carriage back to the Imperial College early in the morning. Now that Wu Chen also lived in the East Palace, it was much more convenient for them to go to and from school together.

"Monk Hua, are you tired?" Hua Qingcheng looked speechlessly at Wu Chen, who had held her in his arms and sat her on his lap all the way.

"Good sister, I have plenty of strength as your brother..." Wu Chen, with his arms around Hua Qingcheng's waist and his head lightly resting on her back, also said something suggestive.

"You old bastard!"

"Since you entered the palace, in less than a month, how many beds have been changed in Xianxianyuan?"

Hua Qingcheng pinched Wuchen's thigh hard. This guy never knew how to be satisfied, and he was really good at destroying things.

"Hiss~"

"Good sister, please be gentle. It hurts..."

Wu Chen covered his thigh and pretended to be in pain, but in return he only received a speechless look from Hua Qingcheng.

If she believed this guy, in modern times, she would probably only be able to go to the pediatric department of the hospital...

The rumbling carriage arrived at the gate of the Imperial College before noon. Hua Qingcheng and Wu Chen walked side by side and returned to the classroom of Class D before the bell rang.

Hua Qingcheng and Wu Chen were the only husband and wife to attend the Imperial College together. Newlywed and deeply in love, they often attended classes together, drawing the envy of many, such as the Second Princess, Nalan Wansheng. Of course, they also attracted the jealousy of some, such as Si Lingyun.

Si Lingyun, who was sitting in one group, would occasionally cast his gaze towards Hua Qingcheng, who was sitting at the end of the last group. But when he looked at Hua Qingcheng, his fair and handsome face was instantly flushed with two red clouds.

Yesterday at noon, the palace had sent someone to inform him that he was on the shortlist of candidates for the position of Crown Princess and Lord Consort. Tonight, he, Si Lingyun, would also become one of the Crown Princess and Lord Consorts of the Eastern Palace.

Now Si Lingyun was eager to try, looking forward to the moment when he could win the favor of the princess, defeat Si Chengfeng again, and crush him under his feet. It was just like when Si Chengfeng was a child, watching him in the middle of winter, wearing wet clothes and a wet quilt, suffering from a cold, and looking like he was dying...

At the same time, in the East Palace, Lingkunyuan study.

"Zhengjun, this is the list of the princesses and attendants sent by the emperor. I want you to arrange accommodations for the attendants who will be entering the palace. They will be in the palace before 10:00 tonight."

As Shu Mo spoke, he had already handed the list that the eunuch chief Guo Dongbing had personally delivered early in the morning to Mu Lige who was sitting at the desk.

"Meng Haoling, Si Lingyun, Gongzi Chu (Chu Kangyi), Nangong Shilun, Pei Zijun..."

Mu Lige read out the names while looking at the list, but when he read the three words "Si Lingyun", his slanted eyebrows couldn't help but frown slightly.

There was a deep hatred between the second young master of the Si family and the fifth brother Si Chengfeng. If he were to enter the East Palace backyard, I'm afraid the fifth brother would...

Mu Lige pinched his eyebrows in annoyance, but he also knew that this was Nalan Yunzhi's order, and he could not disobey it at least in appearance.

"Shumo, go to Yixia Garden and tell Si Liangce that I want to see him. Lixiang, have someone clear out Xicuiyuan, the farthest courtyard from the Crown Princess's bedroom. Place these people there until their status is determined."

"Yes, Masaru-kun."

Shumo and Lixiang received the order and then bowed and left.

Mu Lige was sitting in front of the desk. His heroic eyebrows were slightly furrowed, his lips were lightly pursed, his bony fingers tapped the table from time to time, and his bright eyes looked leisurely in the direction of Xicuiyuan, with a dark and unclear look in his eyes.

At this moment, Mu Lige inexplicably felt as if his territory had been invaded. He feared that the East Palace would not be peaceful from now on...

A quarter of an hour later, Si Chengfeng, who was looking through the account books in the study of Yixia Garden, received a summons from Mu Lige asking Lixiang to come over.

After learning that Si Lingyun was about to enter the Eastern Palace, Si Chengfeng's reaction was calmer than Mu Lige had expected.

"Chengfeng knows the answer to this matter. Thank you for the reminder, brother." Si Chengfeng smiled at Mu Lige, but his smile was full of bitterness.

"Fifth brother, this matter... may be related to me. You... must not blame Qingqing. The emperor's order is hard to disobey, and Qingqing cannot disobey it. But don't worry, even if Si Lingyun enters the East Palace, it... is not as easy to treat here as he imagined..." Mu Lige's face sank slightly, and he spoke to comfort him.

"Her Highness has her own difficulties, and Chengfeng will naturally not blame her."

"I'm relieved that you think so."

…

Half an hour later, Si Chengfeng came out of Lingkun Courtyard and returned to Yixia Garden.

At four quarters past the hour of Si, in Yixia Garden, in Si Chengfeng's bedroom.

"Jiang Yi, Chu Wei, change your clothes!"

"Yes, Si Liangce."

Si Chengfeng did not choose the noble and luxurious palace dress, but still chose his favorite moon-white cloud brocade robe.

At five minutes past four in the morning, Si Chengfeng asked Jiang Yi and Chu Wei to take food and ride with him on the carriage to the Imperial College, and they arrived at the Imperial College before noon.

“Dang! Dang! Dang!”

At noon, as usual, the bell for the end of the morning class at the Imperial College rang on time.

Si Chengfeng waited at the gate of the Imperial College for about a cup of tea, and then Hua Qingcheng and Wu Chen came out together. As Si Chengfeng expected, Si Lingyun followed closely behind them.

"Your Highness, Sixth Brother."

Seeing Hua Qingcheng and Wu Chen coming out, Si Chengfeng, who was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, smiled and stepped forward to greet them.

"Afeng~"

Looking at the man in white who was walking slowly towards the East Palace carriage with a warm smile on his face, and listening to his very official address, Hua Qingcheng's heart couldn't help but tighten slightly.