After walking just a few steps, I was blocked by a man in white, elegant and handsome, standing in my way.

"Ayue." He called me softly, his voice gentle.

Without even looking up, I turned and walked away.

But he grabbed my sleeve.

"The Crown Prince may not understand your worth, but I do. I admire you and will cherish you like a precious gem. Shall I ask the Emperor to grant us marriage?" Lu Yuan's eyes were full of sincerity.

"No." I replied firmly and decisively.

"Ayue, I know you resent me, but back then..."

Lu Yuan, unwilling to give up, stood in front of me and refused to move.

Seeing his sorrowful look, I couldn't help but find it amusing.

Marrying me was simply to gain control of the military power in my hands, what pretense of deep affection.

"So, are you planning to marry me, then on our wedding night, shoot me with a cold arrow?"

"No, that arrow back then..."

I couldn't be bothered to listen to his insincere explanations, so I directly pulled out a whip and lashed at the hand grabbing my sleeve: "Back off, stop bothering me."

He winced in pain, his face turning pale, but stubbornly refused to let go.

As we struggled, a sedan chair approached from afar, with the Princess seated inside.

Since the Empress's passing, she was the most respected woman in the palace.

"What are you doing! Have some dignity!" The Princess scolded Lu Yuan sternly.

Lu Yuan had to release me, bowing to the Princess: "Younger brother pays respects to the Princess."

The Princess didn't even look at him, just shifted slightly and smiled at me, patting the space beside her: "Ayue, come here."

I nodded, lifting my skirt without hesitation and stepping into the luxurious sedan chair.

"I was just about to find you, but this fool just wouldn't leave." I frowned and complained.

"I didn't realize you truly disliked him." Lu Jiao raised an eyebrow, teasingly, "Knowing you, if you really hated him, you would have sent him to the Northern Frontier to be fed to the wolves long ago."

"I... don't hate him."

A gust of wind blew, and Lu Jiao's ink-like long hair brushed against my face.

I reached out, twirling a strand and sniffing it lightly at my nose: "It smells nice."

Lu Jiao smiled triumphantly: "I knew you'd like my new 'Snowy Plum Blossom' fragrance."

I paused.

In my mind, an image involuntarily surfaced of a young man, full of spirit, smiling as he handed me a plum blossom in the midst of a snowstorm.

The palace walls towered high, and as I stared at the seemingly endless corridor, I finally snapped back to reality: "He has harmed me, but also saved my life. As long as he doesn't obstruct my path, I will spare his life."

Lu Jiao sighed, resting her head on my shoulder: "Alright, coming to see me this time, is it about the trouble caused by the Crown Prince?"

I nodded.

When the Crown Prince sought to marry me, it was for the military power in my hands.

Unwilling to marry him, I used a pot of warm wine to bless the legitimate daughter of the Jingguo Duke's Mansion.

The Jingguo Duke's Mansion, once prestigious, was gradually declining. If the Crown Prince had any brains, he would know that I intended to eliminate him to seize power.

But whether he was too foolish or too arrogant, even before the Crown Prince's marriage, he took two concubines from military families and caused such a commotion.

Wasn't this a direct challenge to me?

Entering the Chonghua Palace, I lazily leaned back on the couch: "Depose the Crown Prince and find a replacement, you have plenty of brothers anyway."

"If you're sure, I'll look into it these days and find someone obedient." Lu Jiao stuffed a piece of newly harvested melon into my mouth, "This time, we absolutely cannot raise another wolf."