"You’re being too modest!" Fu Zhen ate a dried plum, "The Empress doesn’t like to force people. To appear on the list, it’s certain that the person’s willingness was inquired in advance. You don’t need to worry about age; you’re not old!

"In the capital city, those widowed officials often marry young girls aged seventeen or eighteen, and both parties are willing.

"Just tell me, is there anyone you fancy!"

Initially, the Empress wanted Yang Yi to marry quickly, even lowering standards to accept a woman who might have already had children, just so he could smoothly have his own offspring. But how could Fu Zhen really do that?

Not to mention commoner women, even among the daughters of officials, there were quite a few who would be willing to marry down due to family reasons.

Moreover, he was the son of the Emperor and Empress!

Even if he doesn’t become the Crown Prince or a Prince, his status wouldn’t be ordinary! How could he not find a wife?!

After he became the Crown Prince, it was even easier for Fu Zhen to get this list.

Few high-ranking families wanted to join this excitement, but there were many candidates among the lower-ranking official households. They were equally of clear reputation, well-educated, and well-mannered with good family backgrounds.

After listening to Fu Zhen, Yang Yi held the tea cup without speaking for quite a while.

A snow-white cat rolled in like a ball, glanced at the courtyard, and without hesitation, chose Yang Yi, leaping onto his lap.

Fu Zhen exclaimed, "Xue Er, you’re bold, how can you lie on the lap of His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Yang Yi glanced at her, "This isn’t the first time."

With that, he skillfully picked up the cat and began to stroke its head.

"...Xue Er!"

Gu Yingying’s figure appeared at the door; panting, she glanced at the two in the courtyard, then gracefully stepped forward and bowed, "I’ve seen His Highness the Crown Prince, and Sister Fu."

Fu Zhen looked at her, "Why are you chasing the cat?"

Gu Yingying glanced at the cat napping confidently on Yang Yi’s lap and said, "I was trimming its nails, but before I finished, it ran away."

Fu Zhen looked at the cat, then at Yang Yi, and finally at Gu Yingying, before lazily standing up with the help of the table:

"I’m feeling a bit sleepy, Your Highness, think carefully now, and I’ll come back tomorrow to ask you again."

With that, she bowed slightly and took her leave.

Once she stepped out of the threshold, she paused, leaned on the door frame, and peeked into the courtyard again.

By then, Yang Yi had already stood up, and from a few steps away, handed the cat over to Gu Yingying.

Gu Yingying lowered her head, took the cat, and walked out.

Yang Yi called out to her, "Weren’t you going to trim its nails? It doesn’t seem afraid of me. Would you—would you like me to hold it while you trim?"

Gu Yingying raised her head in surprise, paused for a moment, then slowly lowered it again.

Xue Er lay obediently on her arm, just like she was at that moment.

Fu Zhen withdrew her gaze, thought for a moment, and asked Zi Yan, "Where’s the Grand Tutor? I haven’t chatted with him in a while, I’ll go keep him company for tea."

...

Fu Zhen’s tea session at the Gu family lasted for two hours.

The next day, two new lists were presented separately to Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace.

The news of the formal betrothal from the palace to the Grand Tutor Mansion arrived half a month later.

When the news reached the Pei family, a reward was also delivered to Fu Zhen, along with a smiling eunuch from Kunlun Palace.

Su Xinger jokingly said it was a thank-you gift for matchmaking, but Fu Zhen didn’t see it that way; she merely provided Yang Yi, who was held back by age, with a stepping stone.

During the tea session with Grand Preceptor Gu, she only shared some stories about Yang Yi that were not yet known to outsiders, tales not of a princely legend, but of an ordinary man’s resilience in refusing to succumb to adversity.

Grand Preceptor Gu didn’t mention Gu Yingying at all, but when sending Fu Zhen off, he invited her, his younger friend, to visit and have tea another day.

So this marriage was not her achievement.

They found something in each other’s eyes worth lingering for.

Even though they had only known each other for a few months, perhaps not long enough to speak of lifelong vows, the quick realization of this marriage was based on the hope of both the ruler and his ministers to see the Imperial Family continue its lineage soon. But it’s always necessary to have a beautiful beginning to have the courage to continue forward and pursue greater values.