Fengqi had long served at His Highness’s side. How could he not know of his master’s peculiarities? Of course, he worried—but what use was worry?
With a bitter face, he said, “Master Rong, please don’t make things difficult for me. What status do I have to dare advise His Highness? But Master Rong, why did you say you wanted to touch His Highness’s finger? Could it be that you…”
He looked at Rong Ruo with sudden suspicion. It was one thing for the noble ladies of the capital to stare at His Highness like hungry wolves eyeing a piece of meat—but Master Rong was a man! How could this be!
Rong Ruo: “…”
Grinding his teeth, he snapped: “I was giving an example, an example! You, who serve His Highness daily—can’t you be less brawn and more brain?”
Fengqi looked aggrieved. He suddenly raised his arm, flexing his muscles, and said earnestly, “Master Rong, I don’t know if my brain is simple, but my muscles aren’t very developed. I still need to work harder. Thank you for the compliment.”
Rong Ruo: “…” He deeply suspected His Highness kept this man around just to drive him mad.
At last, Rong Ruo gave up trying to reason with him. Resting his chin in his hand, he sighed gloomily: “Forget it, I’ll worry alone. Your master—who could ever control him? He relies on that very fact to act so willfully.”
Everyone knew the throne was now occupied by Zhou Xiaokun. But those who understood the truth knew His Highness had won half the empire.
Because he commanded vast armies and wielded immense power, countless people coveted his position as Crown Prince—but none dared utter a word. Even the Emperor himself feared him. Yet brilliance too sharp invites disaster. If things continued this way, who knew what changes the future might bring?
After all, in times of peace, ability was measured by more than just military skill.
“You’ll see,” Rong Ruo said sourly. “Even if your master refuses to marry, there will be plenty who force him. Let’s see how long he can hide.”
Meanwhile, Su Liuyue had slipped into a corner with Ersi and Er’an while the Capital Prefecture officers arrested the culprits. Only after the officials departed and the crowd dispersed did she emerge again.
Shopkeeper Yuan, looking utterly relieved to have survived, was slowly helped back toward *Manyifang* by his clerks. Dragged into such a case without cause, nearly arrested as a murderer, he felt exhausted—his head wound forgotten in the weight of it all. He wondered if he had somehow offended fate by going out today. Perhaps his wife should take time to visit the City God Temple outside the city and offer prayers.
Just as he sighed and was about to step into *Manyifang*, a familiar voice called from behind: “Shopkeeper Yuan, how is the wound on your head?”
Shopkeeper Yuan froze, turning sharply to see Su Liuyue standing there.
“Y‑young lady… didn’t you leave? I was just thinking I should find you to properly thank you!”
Su Liuyue smiled faintly and said something that shocked him even more:
“I came here specifically to find Shopkeeper Yuan. How could I leave so easily? When I was young, I often heard my uncle and aunt say that Shopkeeper Yuan managed *Manyifang* very well. This shop was opened by my grandfather especially for my mother, and the person he entrusted to run it was the one he trusted most.”
Shopkeeper Yuan’s eyes widened, thinking he must be hallucinating. After a long moment, he realized it was no dream. His eyes reddened as he looked at the graceful young woman before him. “You… could you be the Third Young Lady? Our eldest lady’s only daughter? You’ve grown so much!”
He had never imagined the Third Young Lady would come to *Manyifang*! And earlier, she had even cleared his name!
Seeing his excitement, Su Liuyue smiled gently: “Shopkeeper Yuan, you’re still injured. Let’s go inside, sit down, and talk slowly. I’ve already sent my maid to fetch a physician. Soon, he will examine your wound properly.”
Even after sitting inside the shop, Shopkeeper Yuan still felt as if he were dreaming. But when Su Liuyue removed her veil, revealing a face almost identical to his eldest lady’s, tears spilled down his cheeks. His lips trembled as he repeated: “It truly is the Third Young Lady. You look so much like your mother— especially those eyes, they’re exactly the same…”
Su Liuyue smiled softly: “My aunt once told me you were by my grandfather’s side when my mother was born, and you watched her grow up. I should have come to see you much earlier.”
The affection in Shopkeeper Yuan’s eyes was unmistakable. Though his love was born of loyalty to her mother, it was still far more genuine than anything Su Liuyue had received from the Su family.
Not only Shopkeeper Yuan, but Su Liuyue could also clearly tell that her mother’s family truly cherished her.
Unfortunately, her mother’s family, the Xue clan, was only a declining minor house. Though once illustrious, its descendants had failed to uphold its glory, and it gradually fell into obscurity. The current head, Xue Chengyi, only passed the imperial exam in his thirties, and even now holds no more than a sixth‑rank post as a Censor.
The original Su Liuyue had been raised by Madam Guo to be arrogant and proud. She even looked down on Zheng Jiulang, so how could she possibly value the Xue family? As she grew older, she gradually distanced herself from them, often acting as though her maternal family was beneath her lofty status. With such an attitude, how could she ever have paid attention to a mere shopkeeper serving under her mother?
Shopkeeper Yuan seemed slightly stunned at her words. He looked her up and down several times before speaking in a trembling voice: “Third Young Lady has become so sensible… yet I clearly heard before…”
Su Liuyue could guess what he had heard.
Lowering her eyes, she said softly: “My mother passed away when I was very young. Without her guidance, my actions were inevitably flawed. But after what happened with the Zheng family, I came to a great realization: it is better to rely on oneself than on others. Only oneself will never betray.”
Shopkeeper Yuan’s face changed, his expression tense: “Third Young Lady… could it be… that the Su family has been bullying you?”
Su Liuyue intended to rely heavily on Shopkeeper Yuan in the future, so she had no wish to hide anything from him. After a pause, she recounted everything that had happened recently, leaving out only her suspicion that her birth father had killed the original Su Liuyue.
Shopkeeper Yuan listened, dumbfounded, then slammed the table in fury, gritting his teeth: “Outrageous! They bully you only because you have no mother to protect you! And that so‑called General Wu—he is clearly no good match! If you truly married him, your life would be ruined!”
Su Liuyue gave him a reassuring look and said: “To be honest, I don’t intend to sit and wait for fate. But as a young woman, I have neither wealth nor power. I cannot do much. That is why I sought to reclaim this shop from Madam Guo, and why I came here to find you…”
Shopkeeper Yuan was a clever man. He immediately understood her meaning, though his face showed embarrassment as he said: “I… may disappoint you, Third Young Lady. A few years ago, the profits from *Manyifang* might have been enough to help you. But now, I fear I have the will but not the means.”