First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

"You mean, my father and mother had you beaten out?" Mu Qingfu looked Sun Wencai up and down.

Sun Wencai neither denied nor confirmed. He continued to blame himself, "It's my fault. It's normal that the Prince and Princess don't agree to us being together. Maybe... Qingfu, let's just call it quits!"

"Or you... wait for me a few years, until I pass the imperial examination with top honors. I will definitely come to your door to ask for your hand in marriage..."

"How about we get married tomorrow!" Mu Qingfu suddenly spoke up, interrupting Sun Wencai's impending heartfelt confession.

"Huh?" The surprise came too suddenly, and Sun Wencai stared wide-eyed at Mu Qingfu.

Mu Qingfu used the whip in her hand to lightly lash her palm, like a rebellious child, and said impatiently.

"Father, Mother, Gu Xiaoxi and the others all disagree, but I, the princess, am determined to go against them. The wedding is tomorrow. Once it's over, the deed is done, and they'll have no choice but to accept it. Go back and prepare; the wedding banquet will be held at your home, is that alright?"

The deed was done, which was exactly what Sun Wencai wanted. He couldn't wait to agree, but to maintain the facade, he pretended to be hesitant: "Wouldn't that be too much of a burden for you? You are a princess, a woman of noble birth!"

"What 'golden branch and jade leaf' nonsense? Enough with the chit-chat, it's settled!" Mu Qingfu said impatiently.

"Mu Qingfu, you can't marry him." Mu Qingfu and Sun Wencai had just made their agreement when a figure rushed out from the shadows.

Zuo Chengfeng was still wearing the same flamboyant battle robe that resembled a fighting rooster, his face dark and brooding, ready to fight Sun Wencai to the death at any moment, making the image of a fighting rooster even more vivid.

After leaving Yihonglou, Zuo Chengfeng separated from Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye.

The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. He was determined to see Mu Qingfu again and persuade her not to marry Sun Wencai, no matter what.

He had planned it all out before he came; he wanted to speak to Mu Qingfu calmly and patiently.

Before he could even speak to Mu Qingfu, he heard the news that Mu Qingfu was determined to marry Sun Wencai the next day.

Mu Qingfu didn't take Zuo Chengfeng seriously, glancing sideways at him: "Zuo Chengfeng, I can marry whomever I want, what's it to you?"

These words struck a chord with Zuo Chengfeng, who realized he had been paying too much attention to Mu Qingfu. But he couldn't bring himself to ignore her.

Zuo Chengfeng's face turned bright red, and he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "We are friends!"

A hint of sadness flashed across Mu Qingfu's eyes, and she sneered, "This princess is getting married, and even my father and mother can't interfere. What right do you, a mere friend, have?"

Zuo Chengfeng was speechless, but he was not convinced and wanted to say more.

Fearing that Zuo Chengfeng would really ruin his plans, Sun Wencai stepped forward to stand in front of Mu Qingfu, blocking Zuo Chengfeng's view.

"Young Master Zuo, you've been trying to stop the princess from marrying me. Is it because you're in love with her? It's just a pity that the princess doesn't think much of you, so give up!"

"Zuo Chengfeng, you care so much about whether this princess will marry or not, do you really like this princess?" Mu Qingfu pulled Sun Wencai away from her.

As Zuo Chengfeng was being watched by both Sun Wencai and Mu Qingfu, the answer he didn't want to admit and dared not face was about to be revealed.

He moved his lips, but ultimately chose to remain silent in avoidance.

Mu Qingfu seemed to suddenly lose interest, turned around and walked towards the gate of the mansion: "Forget it, whether you like this princess or not, this princess doesn't care!"

Mu Qingfu climbed the steps one by one, her crimson figure growing farther and farther away. Just as she was about to reach the gate of the mansion, Zuo Chengfeng's hands, which had been hanging by his sides, suddenly clenched. Finally, he closed his eyes, as if he was finally willing to face his own heart and shout out in desperation.

"Mu Qingfu, I'm willing to marry you!"

Once those words were uttered, it was as if the Ren and Du meridians had suddenly been opened, and all the entanglements and struggles disappeared.

Zuo Chengfeng opened his eyes, and everything suddenly became clear. He felt completely relaxed and at ease.

His voice was even louder than before: "Mu Qingfu, you should know that my mother has already come to propose marriage! Don't marry Sun Wencai, marry me instead. You kissed me, and I remember everything. You have to take responsibility for me!"

Yes, he remembered everything that happened with Mu Qingfu in the alley when he was drunk that day.

He just pretended not to remember anything.

Mu Qingfu stopped in front of the mansion gate. After a moment of stillness, she didn't turn back and continued forward, walking through the gate and leaving behind only two words: "Too late!"

So Mu Qingfu's sudden attention to him some time ago was not his imagination; Mu Qingfu was indeed interested in him.

It was his avoidance that chilled Mu Qingfu's heart.

Zuo Chengfeng stood there blankly, his face flushed with belated regret.

Hearing with his own ears that his fiancée was having an affair with another man made Sun Wencai very uncomfortable.

He cursed Mu Qingfu inwardly, thinking she was indeed frivolous, not only having no boundaries with the lower classes in the military camp, but also having an ambiguous relationship with Zuo Chengfeng.

However, that slight discomfort vanished completely when he caught a glimpse of the expensive robe Zuo Chengfeng was wearing.

Zuo Chengfeng was the son of the Left Prime Minister and came from a noble family, but so what? Mu Qingfu still chose him.

"Young Master Zuo, give up. Princess Qingfu only loves me. If you don't mind, you're welcome to attend the wedding banquet tomorrow." After declaring his ownership, Sun Wencai happily picked up the tattered fruit and left.

Halfway there, he suddenly realized that he was about to marry the princess, and that the rough and tattered fruit was no longer worthy of his status. He threw the fruit away with a flick of his wrist.

When Sun Wencai returned home, he took out all the silver he had received from Mu Lingye and asked his parents to use it to prepare for the wedding banquet the next day.

The food must be the best, and the wedding banquet must be held in a dignified manner.

He needs to win Mu Qingfu over first, so that she can open her heart to him even more.

In addition, these displays were also meant to impress the Prince Su's residence.

He was simply paving the way for Prince Su and his wife to accept him.

Sun's mother was reluctant to spend the money she had received so easily and wanted to keep a small portion of it.

Sun Wencai simply had his mother take out all the family savings to buy things.

"Mother, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. The princess has already come to our house, do you think the prince and princess would let their daughter suffer?"

When Sun's mother heard what Sun Wencai said, she immediately felt that it made sense. Despite the pain in her heart, she listened to Sun Wencai's advice and generously purchased the supplies needed for the wedding.

And they would spread the word to everyone they met that their family was going to have a princess as a wife, and that they would soon be drinking tea served by the princess.

Here.

After leaving the Prince Su's mansion, Zuo Chengfeng went to the Crown Prince's mansion in a daze.

After seeing Gu Junxi, he didn't say anything and just sat blankly in the chair.

Gu Junxi was afraid that Zuo Chengfeng would cause trouble, so after they parted ways, she had someone follow Zuo Chengfeng. Therefore, she heard about everything that happened in front of the Prince Su's mansion.

After taking a sip of tea, she asked, "Brother, are you truly in love with my cousin and want to marry her? Is this not just a passing impulse?"

As soon as Gu Junxi finished speaking, Mu Lingye's sharp gaze fixed on Zuo Chengfeng.

In the past, Zuo Chengfeng would reject Gu Junxi calling him "brother," but now he didn't react to the address at all. His mind was entirely on Mu Qingfu, and he could only hear things about Mu Qingfu.

His dull eyes lit up, and he eagerly raised his head, raising his hand as if to swear: "I, Zuo Chengfeng, swear that my feelings for Mu Qingfu are sincere, and that I truly want to marry her. If there is even the slightest insincerity, may I be struck by lightning."

The fact that he dared to swear without any hesitation shows that he was sincere.

Gu Junxi nodded in satisfaction.

Mu Lingye turned his gaze away with a smile, in a great mood. One less rival in love, he could set off firecrackers to celebrate.

"No, my feelings are not important now. What's important is that Mu Qingfu has decided to marry Sun Wencai tomorrow. I have no chance anymore, it's too late."

Zuo Chengfeng lowered his hand, feeling that everything was in vain.

Why am I so unlucky? I'm always a step too late for everything.

He was a step too late to develop feelings for Gu Junxi, and a step too late to acknowledge his feelings for Mu Qingfu.

He simply called it a step too late.

"Xixi, unless you have some idea that can stop Mu Qingfu from marrying Sun Wencai tomorrow!" Hope rekindled in Zuo Chengfeng's eyes.