I have long lamented that this body does not truly belong to me.

Ever since Fu Lanchen returned from Liaodong, he had become much more diligent in his duties at court. The Emperor and Empress were satisfied, but the cooks in the Eastern Palace were less so. For the past three days, meals sent to Yonghui Pavilion had been returned, barely touched.

Nanny Wu was troubled. "When he wasn't busy before, we worried His Highness would be too picky with his food. Now that he's busy, he's neglecting meals altogether."

The staff at Yonghui Pavilion could do nothing but turn to Nanny Wu, who promptly informed Xu Guiyi, insisting the Crown Princess herself deliver the meal and attempt to persuade him. Xu Guiyi, unable to resist Nanny Wu's gentle urging, braved the blazing sun and carried the meal box to Yonghui Pavilion.

Wei Yuan informed her, "His Highness is still handling military affairs and has instructed that no one disturb him."

Xu Guiyi waited at the entrance for a while, but her patience soon wore thin. With a signal, Qingyu and Xiyue blocked Wei Yuan, and Xu Guiyi ventured in, determined to see how the Crown Prince was so absorbed as to forget to eat and sleep.

Fu Lanchen, seeing someone enter, did not even lift his head, his eyes still fixed on the military reports.

Xu Guiyi set the meal box on the desk. "Greetings, Your Highness."

Fu Lanchen asked, "Is there something you need?"

Xu Guiyi softened her tone. "I heard Your Highness hasn't properly eaten in three days. I fear your health may suffer. So I had the kitchen prepare some light dishes and brought them for you."

Fu Lanchen said nothing.

Xu Guiyi persisted, "Your Highness, the food is cooling. Please spare a moment to eat something."

Perhaps annoyed by her persistence, Fu Lanchen finally looked up at the dishes, frowning as if eating was more troublesome than reading military reports. His voice was flat. "Leave it here. I'll eat later."

As if I could believe that! Xu Guiyi took a deep breath. "Your Highness, please continue your work. I'll wait here until you finish and eat." She quickly added, "I have nothing else to do anyway." If he wanted to wait her out, she would wait him out as well—neither in any hurry.

Fu Lanchen pressed his lips, set aside the military report, and conceded.

In Zhongnan Court, Lu Zhirou was tending to an orchid while Cheng Hewei sat nearby, cradling a white puppy, another black puppy sprawled at her feet.

Lu Zhirou smiled softly. "Yesterday I visited home, and my mother said Lady Yongjia has been looking at eligible daughters from prominent families for some time now. I recall the Yongjia heir is eighteen this year—certainly old enough to discuss marriage."

Cheng Hewei, stroking the puppy's fur, mused, "At the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, Lady Yongjia mentioned several candidates. The one she favored most was the daughter of the Baron of Sincerity—seventeen years old, well-matched in status and age with the Yongjia family. Seems quite suitable."

Lu Zhirou paused and turned. "Baron of Sincerity? The Song family of Laiyi Lane?"

Cheng Hewei nodded. "Yes, that Song family."

Lu Zhirou's expression soured as she frowned. "Which daughter from the Song family?"

Cheng Hewei was surprised. "You know the Baron Song family, don't you? They have only one daughter, Song Ruoyu—the one we've met before."

Lu Zhirou sighed deeply, set down her shears, and sat beside Cheng Hewei.

"Why aren't you tending the orchid?" Cheng Hewei asked.

"I'm done," Lu Zhirou replied gloomily.

"What is it? Speak up," Cheng Hewei demanded, never one for secrecy.

At first, Lu Zhirou hesitated, but then spoke rapidly. "I... fought with her as a child."

"What? Fought?" Cheng Hewei eyed Lu Zhirou's delicate frame—a girl who once cried at the mere mention of assassins—hard to imagine her in a fight.

Lu Zhirou had to recount the childhood incident in detail, then concluded in a low voice, "That's how it happened."

Cheng Hewei was dumbfounded. "It was just a magnolia tree—what could possibly warrant such a fight?"

Lu Zhirou was indignant. "How could it not? The tree grew in the alley, but she insisted it belonged to her family. Our Lu family moved in two years before theirs!"

Cheng Hewei's voice was clear. "But didn't your father concede two feet of land to her family? The tree was indeed closer to their house."

Lu Zhirou gritted her teeth. "Land can be given, but not the tree."

Cheng Hewei swallowed and said gently, "It's all ancient history. Let it go. If the Shen and Song families marry, we'll be relatives someday."

Lu Zhirou snorted and pretended to ignore her.

Unable to persuade her, Cheng Hewei continued coaxing, "Besides, your father was promoted and your family moved away. After all these years, it's just a magnolia tree. Look at your courtyard now—so many magnolia trees. What's one more?"

Lu Zhirou kept her face cold and refused to yield.

Cheng Hewei rubbed her forehead and sighed, "The Crown Princess went to the palace today to pay her respects—why isn't she back yet!" She had completely run out of ways to handle Lu Zhirou.

In the palace, the Empress and Lady Yongjia pulled Xu Guiyi aside to discuss Shen Yu's marriage. Fu Lanchen, impatient with their conversation, went off alone to wander the Imperial Garden, Wei Yuan following.

Fu Lanchen grumbled, "Wei Yuan, do you think my mother and aunt are giving up on my uncle now that they're focused on Yu? Unable to control the elder, they've shifted their sights to the younger."

Wei Yuan merely smiled.

Fu Lanchen paused, then continued, "Luckily, I'm already married. Otherwise, my mother and aunt would fret even more. With my uncle remaining single for so many years, it seems the Song family produces nothing but careless bachelors. My grandparents must be restless in their graves."

Wei Yuan, himself a young man just past twenty, had little experience with marriage and said nothing.

"Your Highness, the Empress and Lady Yongjia are only concerned for you all."

Fu Lanchen snorted. "I heard Father received the East Yue envoy today in Tai Ning Palace, and kept them for a long time. Who knows what they discussed."

Wei Yuan replied cautiously, "Perhaps His Majesty will summon Your Highness tomorrow."

Just as he finished speaking, Fu Lanchen saw Eunuch Yuanhe approaching with a group of young attendants.

Fu Lanchen said, "It seems we need not wait until tomorrow. The matter may be decided today."

Sure enough, Yuanhe greeted Fu Lanchen cheerfully. "Your servant pays respects to Your Highness. His Majesty requests Your Highness to proceed to Tai Ning Palace."

Fu Lanchen forced a smile. "Thank you, Eunuch."

Watching Fu Lanchen enter Tai Ning Palace, Wei Yuan waited outside. He looked up at the sky—cloudless and bright, perfect weather for hunting, fishing, or perhaps horse-taming.

Before entering the Eastern Palace, Wei Yuan was a lowly stable hand. His mother was a fisherwoman, his father a groom. Strong and hardworking, he began working at the imperial stables as a child.

The year his parents died, he encountered the Crown Prince at the stables. Of all the stable hands, Fu Lanchen chose Wei Yuan—scarred and battered—and later brought him into the Eastern Palace as a guard.

Such a breach of protocol drew scorn from the ministers, but Fu Lanchen ignored them all. Thus, a humble stable hand, blessed by fate, became the Crown Prince's attendant, serving for many years.

Crash! The sound of porcelain shattering echoed from Tai Ning Palace.

Though Wei Yuan stood far from the inner hall, his hearing—unusually keen, like his skill with horses—caught the sound.

Inside, the Emperor, furious, jabbed a finger at Fu Lanchen's forehead, wishing he could crack it open with a teacup to see what was inside.

"I tell you, you're marrying whether you want to or not! I've already agreed with the East Yue envoy—they'll send Princess Guanghua to Guangling next month."

Fu Lanchen stiffened, refusing to bend. "Since it was Father who promised the East Yue envoy, then Father can marry her yourself. You're in the prime of life—she won't be wronged."

The Emperor's anger flared even hotter. "Wretched child! I'll beat you yet!" He hurled another barrage of objects. "Don't think your recent military success gives you leave to defy your sovereign and father. You will marry the East Yue princess!"

Fu Lanchen had been in good spirits, but upon arriving at Tai Ning Palace, he was told he must marry Princess Guanghua of East Yue. His rebellious nature awakened instantly. At first, the Emperor coaxed him, but Fu Lanchen was unmoved. The Emperor, never patient, soon resorted to shouting.

Despite the Emperor's furious scolding, Fu Lanchen's back remained straight. "I despise political marriages and do not wish to marry Princess Guanghua. I beg Father to show mercy and spare me." With that, he prostrated himself in a grand salute, leaving the Emperor momentarily stunned.

The Emperor's angry expression froze at his brow. "What did you say?"

Fu Lanchen enunciated each word. "I beg Father, spare me."

"Fu Lanchen, do you know what you're saying?" It was merely marrying a foreign princess. If Princess Guanghua could be secured, the Eastern Palace would gain East Yue's support. Any prince would wish for such an opportunity.

Yet Fu Lanchen asked the Emperor to spare him.

"Aunt Yongqing is far away in the southern border, weeping day and night. I hate political marriages, I do not want to marry Princess Guanghua." Fu Lanchen's resolute attitude infuriated the Emperor, yet... a flicker of hesitation appeared.

He knew this son—the more pressed, the less he yielded.

"You compare Princess Guanghua to your Aunt Yongqing?" Thinking of his own sister, the Emperor could not help but feel sorrow.

Fu Lanchen looked weary. "Yes, I am indecisive, unable to learn Father's decisiveness. If a marriage with East Yue is necessary, Prince Zhao or Prince Qi are more suitable. I ask Your Majesty to reconsider." He bowed again.

Seeing his son kneeling and refusing to rise, the Emperor suddenly understood.

He was not merely refusing a marriage, but the position of Crown Prince—and, in time, the throne itself.

He truly did not want the throne. His son... the legitimate son of the Emperor and Empress, was genuinely weary of being Crown Prince...

"Get out! Immediately!" The Emperor's last words were nearly a roar.

Fu Lanchen obeyed, rose promptly, saluted, and left Tai Ning Palace without a backward glance.