Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

When the news reached Yihua Palace, Green Pearl was overjoyed: "Miss, after the Crown Prince receives his investiture ceremony, shouldn't he marry you?"

Yan Zhen leaned back on the chaise lounge, while Fan Xue lay lazily in her arms, dozing off.

She was flipping through the popular storybook that Eunuch Wende had sent over a couple of days ago. Beside her was a blue and white porcelain vase with a blooming snow plum blossom, still glistening with dew. Xiahou Jin had cut it early that morning and sent it over.

He was very busy, and the two rarely met, but his presence was felt everywhere in Yihua Palace, and no one found it abrupt.

It was as if everyone thought that it was only natural for him to be made crown prince and marry her.

Yan Zhen put down his storybook, his face expressionless: "Perhaps."

From the moment she entered this world until now, she has spent four months observing him from an outsider's perspective.

He didn't orchestrate the incident at the palace banquet where she fell into the water. The Imperial Concubine treated her like a daughter-in-law, and he treated her very well. The passion and sincerity of the nineteen-year-old boy were evident in every word and action, and everyone assumed they were a couple.

But she couldn't marry him.

Now that he has ascended to the position of Crown Prince just like in her previous life, it's time for her to take action.

Two days later, news came from outside the palace that the matriarch of the Xiao family was seriously ill.

When the news reached Yihua Palace, everyone's expression became subtle.

The Jin Dynasty valued filial piety, and if an elder in the family passed away, the younger generation had to observe a three-year mourning period.

He is forbidden to marry within three years. The Crown Prince is about to be appointed, and after that, Xiao Lingyi will be welcomed into the Eastern Palace.

If the delay is due to the death of the matriarch of the Xiao family, who knows what might happen during those three years?

Yan Zhen was extremely anxious. He changed into a plain palace dress and went to the outside of the council hall to request an audience with the emperor.

Emperor Jin summoned her to an audience. As soon as she entered the hall, she knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, my grandmother is seriously ill, and my father and mother are far away on the border. I humbly request Your Majesty to allow me to return to the Xiao family to take care of my grandmother."

Emperor Jin, moved by her filial piety, agreed and assigned a detachment of Imperial Guards and two maids to escort her.

Yan Zhen returned to the Xiao family that same day.

Upon learning that Xiao Lingyi had left the palace, the uncles and elders of the collateral branches of the Xiao family waited at the door early in the morning.

Upon arriving at the Xiao family home, Yan Zhen greeted his uncles and elders before hurrying to the old lady's courtyard.

The old lady was delirious with illness. When she heard that her granddaughter, who had been in the palace for many years, had returned home to take care of her, she struggled to get up, her eyes filled with strange light.

In front of the two nannies, Yan Zhen performed the duties of a "patient" to the fullest extent, wiping the old lady's hands and face, and personally feeding her medicine until the old lady fell asleep, at which point she returned to the courtyard where she had lived as a child.

The two old nannies followed her closely, and at night one of them even stayed behind to keep watch with Hongyu.

As night fell, calming incense was lit in the room. The old woman, leaning on her arm, felt her eyelids weighing a ton as she was enveloped in the fragrance and finally drifted off to sleep.

Soon, the curtain was lifted, and Hongyu called to her in a low voice, "Princess, the people have arrived and are waiting in the outer room."

Yan Zhen got up, nimbly got out of bed, grabbed the cloak draped over the screen, and ordered as he walked, "Go outside and keep watch."

"Yes."

In the outer room of the boudoir, Yan Zhen saw a middle-aged woman.

The woman was plain-looking. She had changed into a rough servant's dress, and when she was expressionless, she was no different from the servants who swept and dusted in this mansion.

But when he looks up and smiles sweetly, he instantly transforms into a shrewd, worldly, and sophisticated businesswoman.

This was an informant left outside the palace by Xiao Dingfang when Xiao Lingyi entered the palace in her early years. Her public identity was that of a female shopkeeper who ran a business with her husband's family, dealing in cloth and gemstones between the border and the capital.

Any unusual activity in the capital would be relayed to the border at top speed through the trade routes she had established.

Xiao Dingfang was not entirely unprepared for his daughter's seemingly luxurious life of being taken hostage in the palace. In the ruthless and cruel inner palace, a single misstep could lead to utter ruin.

Yan Zhen sought her out to deliver a message to Xiao Dingfang through her.

But this news was too explosive. The more people who knew about it, the more unsafe it would be, not to mention that they would be communicating by secret letters. If the secret letters were intercepted, the entire Xiao family would be wiped out and their entire clan would be exterminated.

Yan Zhen planned to deliver the message in person—to have this woman named Rong Niang take her to the border and tell Xiao Dingfang in person.

After Yan Zhen finished delivering the message, Rong Niang was so shocked that she couldn't recover for a long time.

"Rongniang," Yan Zhen called to her, "What's wrong?"

Rongniang realized what was happening, stammered for a moment, and looked at her with a completely different expression. She curtsied and said, "Yes, sir."

After saying that, he turned to leave.

Yan Zhen called her back and instructed her, "The secret letter is with you. If it is intercepted on the way, you should know what to do."

Rong Niang became serious and clasped her hands in a fist salute to her: "Your subordinate understands. If we are intercepted on the way, the secret letter will rot underground along with your subordinate."

-

Yan Zhen stayed at the Xiao family's residence for three days, serving the old lady without ever taking off his clothes.

Three days later, urged by the old nanny, Yan Zhen had no choice but to return to the palace.

Before leaving, she visited the old lady. The old lady held her hand and whispered, "Lingyi, your grandmother won't last much longer. You should marry the Crown Prince as soon as possible. The Xiao family can only rely on you."

Like everyone born in this era, the Xiao family could not escape being brainwashed and tamed by imperial power.

Those who have achieved great merit and threatened the emperor are suppressed, and they accept this.

They would even accept their legitimate daughter being taken to the palace as a hostage.

Imperial power was a guillotine hanging over their heads, yet they still harbored illusions, thinking that "as long as they are obedient and well-behaved, they can escape this calamity," "His Majesty is not a muddle-headed and incompetent ruler; he will see the Xiao family's loyalty sooner or later," and "as long as they marry the Crown Prince and hold him firmly, they can ensure the Xiao family's safety."

Yan Zhen grasped the old lady's hand in return, smiling sweetly: "Yes, Lingyi will listen to her grandmother."

But she only trusts herself.

Escorted by the Imperial Guards, Yan Zhen walked out of the Xiao family residence and unexpectedly encountered Xiahou Jin.

He was still wearing his official robes and riding a horse.

Upon seeing her, Xiahou Jin dismounted and walked up to her, saying, "You've had a long journey. Is the old lady feeling any better?"

Yan Zhen gently shook his head.

Xiahou Jin paused for a moment, then said, "I'll have the imperial physician come to the manor to take a look."

"it is good."

"Come on, I'll take you back to the palace."

He took Yan Zhen's hand and helped her into the carriage.

Upon reaching the entrance of Yihua Palace, Xiahou Jin stopped and said, "Aheng, let's get married."

Yan Zhen's hands tightened under her sleeves. Meeting Xiahou Jin's tense yet expectant gaze, she nodded gently: "Okay."

Xiahou Jin breathed a sigh of relief: "I will ask my father for permission later to get the marriage done as soon as possible, so as not to cause any unforeseen problems."

His eyes held a hint of guilt and unease, which he quickly suppressed. As if to show his determination, he pulled her hand into his palm.

"I will definitely treat you well and make you the most noble woman in the world."

Yan Zhen smiled as usual: "I believe you."

After Xiahou Jin left, Yan Zhen had just entered the main hall when Green Pearl rushed out in a flurry: "Miss, Fanxue is missing!"