Chapter 1

"Ask General Min and Lord Peng to wait a moment, then invite them up," Miss Zhuo said with a helpless expression, giving a soft command.

"Yes," the guard responded, about to withdraw.

"Wait! Have Steward Liu come up as well," Miss Zhuo called out, adding to her instructions.

Si Si and Qiao Er helped Miss Zhuo up and into the side room. Looking at Miss Zhuo's body, which could only be described as frail, Ye Tao couldn't help but sigh. What kind of luck did one have to have to end up with such a terrible body when transmigrating? Fortunately, this body belonged to a woman born into a family of high officials and great wealth. If her family background were worse, or if she were a man, she probably wouldn't have been raised to such an age. But what kind of family, what kind of experiences could give a 14-year-old girl such a calm and peaceful temperament, a kind of aura that unconsciously revealed that nothing could affect her?

The top floor of Xunfeng Pavilion was designed with a large living room and bedroom as one. Just as Ye Tao had hoped, on this floor, apart from the slight inconvenience of starting a fire for cooking, almost anything could be done. Hearing the rustling sounds and the giggling of the two maids from the side room, Ye Tao knew that Miss Zhuo had gone to change her clothes. While waiting, Min Yue and Peng Detian ascended to the top floor of Xunfeng Pavilion.

Both adults were very familiar with Xunfeng Pavilion. Peng Detian was, on the whole, an honest official. After extorting a garden from Ye Tao, he didn't have the money to pry Xunfeng Pavilion out of the Du family's hands. But Min Yue was extremely wealthy. Although he had forcibly bought a manor from Ye Tao, he had never stopped thinking about Xunfeng Pavilion. However, neither of them had ever ascended to Xunfeng Pavilion with such a mood.

"Ye Tao, you're here too?" Min Yue asked in surprise when he saw Ye Tao.

"Greetings, Lord Min," Ye Tao said after giving a salute, as he was very familiar with Min Yue. "I came to thank Miss Zhuo earlier, and we talked late. I was honored to be invited to dine with her, but I didn't expect you two to arrive at this time… Lord Peng, thank you for your help today. I will certainly repay you in the future."

Peng Detian waved his hand and said, "Cang Huai, there's no need to be so polite. This is Yicheng, after all, and such a thing happened, I, the governor, have lost face."

Min Yue snorted and said, "Xue Yuan? He won't have it so good."

"General Min is as forthright as ever," Steward Liu said as he ascended the stairs, cheerfully speaking to Min Yue. His expression was clearly that of facing an acquaintance, an old friend, without any restraint, and he didn't treat Min Yue as a second-rank official at all.

"General Liu!" Min Yue bowed deeply, actually saluting Steward Liu. "After hearing Lord Peng speak, I had some idea it was you."

Seeing Min Yue's behavior, both Ye Tao and Peng Detian were shocked. There probably weren't many people in the entire Dongping Kingdom who could make Min Yue act like this.

Peng Detian quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, saying, "I didn't know you were arriving, I was rude earlier."

Steward Liu chuckled and said, "Don't mention honorifics. Lord Peng doesn't know me, so there's no need for formalities. If it weren't for this unexpected twist, the two of you might not have even known about our trip."

Min Yue asked, "That Miss Zhuo, could she be…?" Knowing that the other party hadn't revealed their identity, Min Yue didn't dare to rashly expose it, for fear of angering that extremely eccentric "Miss Zhuo."

"Indeed," Steward Liu nodded. "However, since the young lady has asked me to meet with the two of you, she probably doesn't intend to hide her identity. It's just that the two of you, and young master Ye, must not spread the young lady's identity."

Ye Tao and Peng Detian felt a bit restrained, afraid that the background of this "Miss Zhuo" was even greater than they had imagined.

Sure enough, after receiving Steward Liu's words, Min Yue nodded and introduced them: "This is the famous Liu Yong, formerly the Deputy Chief Steward of the Imperial Guards, and commander of the Yulin Army… Lord Peng, do you now know the background of that Miss Zhuo?"

Peng Detian's body trembled. Although his information wasn't as well-informed as Min Yue's, he still knew Liu Yong's identity. The position of Deputy Chief Steward of the Imperial Guards wasn't something anyone could hold. Although it was only a position with the authority of a second-rank official, without formally conferred rank, it held considerable power and influence, and also represented the trust of the royal family. When Liu Yong retired from the Imperial Guards and transferred to the Yulin Army, it was to make way for his younger brother, Liu Meng. Afterwards, after retiring from the Yulin Army, he didn't take any other position, but became the head guard of the current Dongping Emperor's most beloved daughter - Princess Zhaohua.

"...Then, then Miss Zhuo is Princess Zhaohua?" Peng Detian said the identity of "Miss Zhuo" in disbelief.

"Princess Zhaohua?" Ye Tao was also startled. Although he had already seen that this Miss Zhuo wasn't simple, he didn't expect her to be a princess. Earlier, when Min Yue and Peng Detian were explaining Liu Yong's identity, he didn't quite understand. The affairs of the capital, especially those related to the royal family, were not something that ordinary people like him could interfere with. And he happened to be someone who didn't like to listen to gossip. But Princess Zhaohua, Tan Weixin? Even he, who didn't like to listen to gossip, knew some of her stories.

"Knowing who I am is enough, don't really treat me like a princess. I'm here in Yicheng to have fun, don't ruin my mood," the princess said as she walked out of the side room at the perfect time. Si Si and Qiao Er moved the screen for her and helped her sit by the windowsill.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Although Princess Zhaohua said that, everyone still bowed respectfully. The princess, who was already used to this kind of scene, though feeling somewhat helpless, didn't find it too surprising.

"You may rise," the princess sighed lightly. She looked at Ye Tao with great interest, and Ye Tao was also looking at this princess he had long admired with great interest.

"Your Highness, are you really just here in Yicheng for sightseeing?" Min Yue asked. When he had just heard about the Moyu Tiger Talisman, Min Yue had a thought that some secret change had occurred in the capital, and the royal family had sent someone with the Moyu Tiger Talisman to Yicheng to dispatch troops back to the capital to protect the emperor. Although he had almost immediately dismissed that thought, he still had to ask this question now.

"Yes. The capital is too stuffy," Princess Zhaohua said lightly. "In a few days, Lord Min will probably have new news to read. In that news, there will definitely be my name."

Hearing Princess Zhaohua's tone, which was somewhat resentful, Min Yue immediately stopped and dared not ask any more questions. Princess Zhaohua continued, "Actually, it's nothing. My father is going to take the Bai Lian Princess of Chunnan Kingdom as a concubine, and the empress actually agreed. Although it's understandable to form such a marriage alliance between the two countries, if they were going to send someone as a royal concubine, why not send Song Xiangyun, the most beautiful woman in Chunnan Kingdom, or the fourth princess, known for her 'gentle virtue'? Why did they have to send the Bai Lian Princess, who is known for her arrogance and eccentricity, and who is still unmarried at the age of 27? Is the Dongping royal family a garbage can for handling defective goods?... I made the Chunnan Kingdom's envoy lose face in public, and my father had no choice but to make me 'reflect on my mistakes.' Since I don't think there's anything to reflect on, and it's inconvenient for me to be an eyesore in the capital, I naturally have to come out and take a walk. This time, I came to Yicheng to see the sea. I hope this long journey won't be a disappointment."

Speaking of disappointment, Princess Zhaohua looked at Ye Tao again.

Min Yue and Peng Detian were both shocked by what the princess said. The relationship between Chunnan Kingdom and Dongping Kingdom was hard to describe. Perhaps, it was just a mutual dependence on trade. Chunnan Kingdom was rich in grain, and in recent years, with the adjustment of maritime taxes, Chunnan Kingdom's grain greatly compensated for the insufficient grain production of Dongping Kingdom. Dongping Kingdom's craftsmen had unparalleled skill in various crafts, and also exported a large number of weapons to Chunnan Kingdom. If Dongping Kingdom hadn't supported them with weapon exports a few years ago, the two westernmost states of Chunnan Kingdom would probably have changed hands by now. Everyone knew that Xiling Kingdom coveted Chunnan Kingdom. But if it weren't for Dongping Kingdom's ingenious provocations, Chunnan Kingdom and Xiling Kingdom wouldn't have fought so quickly, and the situation wouldn't have become so irreconcilable.

If Dongping Kingdom and Chunnan Kingdom could have a royal marriage, it would be very beneficial for the stability of the two countries' relations, and for the stability of trade and taxes. However, Princess Zhaohua's complaints were indeed reasonable. Sending that Bai Lian Princess to Dongping was probably not entirely out of good intentions. If she could cause discord in Dongping's imperial palace, that would be the greatest achievement that Bai Lian Princess could accomplish. And judging from various rumors, that Bai Lian Princess clearly had that "ability."

For this kind of thing, being trusted enough to have the princess explain it to them was certainly a sign of trust, but this kind of trust wasn't so easy to bear. Min Yue and Peng Detian both knew that it wasn't appropriate to say anything now, so they just stood there quietly.

"I'm just complaining casually, I can't change what's already been decided," Princess Zhaohua smiled, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere. "The two of you don't need to mind. My identity should only be known by the people in this room today. I still want to have a good time. I just arrived in Yicheng today, and I was able to meet someone as interesting as young master Ye. It's already been worth the trip. I'll be traveling around Yicheng for a while, so I'll have to trouble the two of you to take care of me."

Princess Zhaohua was very polite, but Min Yue and Peng Detian repeatedly said, "We wouldn't dare! We wouldn't dare!" The two were also very curious. It seemed that in just a few hours, Ye Tao had already left a very good impression on the princess. With Min Yue's shrewdness, he couldn't help but tentatively say, "Young master Ye is a famous talent in Yicheng. Although his talent isn't in poetry, perhaps those scholars can't stand him, but he is worthy of the princess's favor. Moreover, when it comes to the scenery in and around Yicheng, and all the delicious and fun places inside and outside the city, young master Ye knows better than anyone."

Ye Tao didn't say anything, but Princess Zhaohua said lightly, "That's the best. I was still worried. After seeing the Ye family workshop tomorrow, I didn't know where to go. Since young master Ye is familiar with the Yicheng area, he can guide me. It's best to ask the person most familiar with it, so I'll have to trouble young master Ye."

Min Yue was shocked and exclaimed, "The Ye family workshop?"

"What's wrong?" Princess Zhaohua asked strangely.

"Ye Tao has been hiding it. Lord Peng and I wanted to see those strange things in the workshop, but he always made excuses. I didn't expect him to be so generous, actually willing to let you go without you even revealing your identity?... Lord Peng and I can't help but feel a little jealous," Min Yue said cheerfully. "I hope the princess doesn't mind letting this official accompany you."

Ye Tao was put in a difficult position. He couldn't explain that the princess was from the same era as him, so it was nothing to see, but if you guys went, I would be exhausted just explaining all the miscellaneous things, right? So he lowered his head and continued to remain silent.

"Oh? There's such a thing?" Princess Zhaohua looked at Ye Tao curiously, nodded, and said, "Lord Min, Lord Peng, then you can come together."