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Damn it, didn’t I indirectly refer to the Empress?

But it was the truth. Princess Wu Mingyue was only sixteen years old, an age that would be considered middle school in modern times.

Although it was common for teenage girls to become mothers in this era, he wasn’t a pervert. The Empress, at twenty-four or twenty-five, was more in line with his aesthetic preferences.

At that age, the Empress was in the prime of her beauty, like a blooming rose, exuding a mature and noble charm.

Despite his thoughts, he knew he couldn’t voice them. This era was different from the modern world, and even in modern times, flirting with a female superior was a huge mistake.

The hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Wu Zhao’s expression remained calm, her cold and noble face showing no sign of emotion.

She didn’t seem to grasp the deeper meaning behind Yang Yi’s words and simply said, “There is no rush. You can start as friends.”

“Alright, you may leave now. I am tired.”

Seeing that the Empress hadn’t caught on to any hidden meaning, Yang Yi quickly took his leave. As he exited, the silence in the hall persisted. Wu Zhao, now alone, took a deep breath.

A blush slowly crept up her beautiful neck, spreading to her ears. Her dark, pearly eyes revealed a hint of embarrassment and annoyance.

This scoundrel dared to flirt with me? How brazen.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall.

“Imperial Sister…”

Wu Mingyue rushed in angrily, clutching her freshly changed dress.

“Imperial Sister, I want to file a complaint…”

Wu Zhao looked at her with a knowing expression. “Did Yang Yi push you into the river?”

Wu Mingyue’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Imperial Sister, how did you know?”

Wu Zhao shook her head helplessly.

“He just told me… Besides, you are an Imperial Princess. Don’t be so loud and reckless. If people mistake you for an attacker, you can’t blame them.”

Wu Mingyue was speechless. That brat actually blamed me ahead of time? This princess is furious.

…

The news of Yang Yi’s promotion and ennoblement spread quickly, attracting significant attention.

At only twenty years old, he had risen to the position of Vice Minister of the Secretariat, which was astounding and a clear sign of the Empress’s favour.

Many were envious, but his accomplishments were undeniable. The effects of the drought in Hangzhou had been minimized, a task that would have been a challenge for anyone else.

At the Yang residence, Yang Yi used his character summoning cards. With a flash of light, two figures appeared in front of him.

One was a tall, stocky man with a fierce appearance—Dian Wei. The other was a nondescript man of medium build, but his mere presence exuded a calming steadiness—Li Cunxiao.

Yang Yi nodded with satisfaction. “From now on, you two will stay by my side as my guards.”

Li Cunxiao and Dian Wei promptly replied, “Yes, my Lord.”

…

Three days later.

“Vice Minister Yang, the Third Princess requests your presence…”

A palace maid hurriedly approached and bowed respectfully to Yang Yi.

He raised an eyebrow, set aside the memorial he was reading, and followed the maid to Wu Mingyue’s room.

He wondered what the Third Princess wanted from him, but he knew he had to give her face.

Moments later, at Shu Yu Palace, Yang Yi entered with a calm smile.

“Your humble servant greets the Third Princess.”

The princess before him was dressed in a light blue flowing gown, her pale collarbones and ample breasts accentuated by the delicate fabric.

She clasped her hands behind her back and snapped,

“A few days ago, you actually accused me in front of my sister? You clearly pushed me, but I ended up taking the blame. It’s simply outrageous.”

Yang Yi regarded her thoughtfully, a faint smile on his lips.

“Indeed, it was my fault. I apologize to Your Highness.”

“Hey, hey, hey…” Wu Mingyue hadn’t expected such a reaction from Yang Yi.

This was completely different from the argument she had imagined.

She quickly said, “Wait, you tricked me once, so you owe me a favor. I need you to help me with something.”

Yang Yi raised an eyebrow, recognizing that the Third Princess had been waiting for this moment.

With a serious expression, he said,

“Please speak, Your Highness. As a loyal subject of the Great Zhou, I am at your service. If the Princess has a problem, how can I not help?”

“I can’t help with big things, and I don’t like to help with small things, but remember, if you have any problems, just come to me.”

Wu Mingyue blinked, her big dark eyes full of confusion.

This guy is really something.

But as his words sank in, she realized he was just being evasive.

Wait… After all this, isn’t this just a roundabout way of saying nothing?

Her realization made her glare at Yang Yi, her slightly plump face full of indignation.

“You’re messing with me!”

Yang Yi couldn’t help but smile.

The Princess was amusing and endearing in her naivety. Unfortunately, there weren’t many historical records about the third daughter of the Wu family, so his knowledge of the Princess before him was limited to their recent acquaintance.

With a more serious tone, he said,

“Your Highness, you misunderstand. I was only joking. Please tell me your problem, and I will certainly find a solution for you!”

Wu Mingyue sulked, giving Yang Yi a sideways glance. “At least you have a conscience.”

“It’s nothing major, really. Just a few noble offspring who keep harassing me. It’s very annoying. Can you find a way to make them go away?”