Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

The carriage moved slowly down the street. Princess Zhaoyue leaned against the window, staring blankly out the window, without saying a word.

Qing Shuang sat opposite her and said with some helplessness, "Princess, don't be angry. He doesn't know your identity, and those words weren't directed at you."

Princess Zhaoyue looked away and shook her head, saying, "I'm not angry."

From the first day she met him, she knew that he was a free-spirited and unrestrained person who did not want to be bound by anything.

That's why she never told him her true identity.

At that time, what she admired and respected was his free and unrestrained nature.

Little did she know that what she admired back then is now what causes her melancholy.

She thought for a moment, then looked at Qing Shuang and said, "Remember not to tell him my identity."

Qing Shuang looked puzzled and asked, "Why?"

Princess Zhaoyue shook her head slightly and said, "I will tell him myself when the time is right."

Qing Shuang sighed and said, "Alright then..."

She really couldn't understand what the princess was thinking.

Wouldn't it be better if everyone spoke frankly and openly?

Not long after, at the Bright Moon Palace.

Princess Zhaoyue returned to her bedchamber, dismissed all the palace maids, and sat alone in front of her dressing table.

A stunningly beautiful face was reflected in the bronze mirror, but there was a hint of melancholy on it.

"Shen An, Chen Chang'an..."

She murmured the two names, and the slight melancholy at the corner of her mouth quickly turned into a smile.

A month ago, she was still troubled by this sudden engagement.

Having just escaped the clutches of the Yan Kingdom, she was now being forced to marry a dissolute young man who had assaulted her cousin. For the past month, she had been troubled by this matter.

But now, overnight, everything has changed.

That lecherous playboy suddenly became a hero of Da Ning. He could turn the tide when the country was humiliated, and he could also find peace in the mundane details of life in a small kitchen...

He could write with the boldness of "An old steed in its stall still aspires to gallop a thousand miles," and also with the gentleness of "Yet he says, 'What a fine autumn day!'"

Not to mention that he is also skilled in both literature and martial arts, possessing a martial arts talent that even Qing Shuang herself is ashamed of.

He's also so handsome...

Isn't this the prince consort she's always dreamed of?

The only downside is... he doesn't want to be a prince consort.

Princess Zhaoyue sighed softly, and suddenly felt as if she had forgotten something.

She thought for a moment, then her expression suddenly changed.

When she returned from the imperial mausoleum, she passed by the Xiao family's residence and took Qing Shuang with her back to the palace. There, she learned that Shen An was actually Chen Chang'an, and immediately went to the shop with her...

According to etiquette and custom, the first thing she should do upon returning to the palace is to pay her respects to her father, the Emperor…

Princess Zhaoyue hurriedly got up, left Mingyue Palace, and walked quickly towards the Imperial Study.

Inside the Imperial Study.

The Emperor of Da Ning was reviewing memorials, with a bottle of Qing Shuang Lu beside him.

Whenever I feel a little tired, I pick up the porcelain bottle and take a sniff, which will refresh me for a while.

Footsteps sounded at the door. The Emperor of Da Ning raised an eyebrow, paused for a moment, but did not stop writing.

Princess Zhaoyue walked in slowly, bowed, and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

The Emperor of Da Ning put down his vermilion brush, looking at her with a half-smile, and said, "You've gone to see that boy?"

Princess Zhaoyue blushed and immediately said, "Please forgive me, Father Emperor, your son, your son..."

The Emperor of Da Ning smiled and said, "How is it? Isn't the consort your mother chose for you quite good?"

Princess Zhaoyue was taken aback, then belatedly raised her head and asked, "Father, did you already know?"

Emperor Da Ning did not deny it, and nodded, saying, "After Qing Shuang's great victory over the Yan envoy in the Golden Hall that day, I investigated his identity. The reason I didn't tell you was that I wanted you to find out for yourself, so that you wouldn't feel that I was interfering in your marriage again..."

Princess Zhaoyue's expression was complicated; she didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

If her father had told her earlier, she wouldn't have worried for this past month.

But she could also understand her father, who was doing it for her sake.

Emperor Da Ning stood up, walked to her side, and said, "You don't need to worry. What Chen Wenyuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, said that day was not true. Chen Chang'an did not molest his cousin. His stepmother framed him to drive him out of the house..."

Princess Zhaoyue nodded slightly and said, "Qingshuang has already told me."

The Emperor of Da Ning sighed, "This child has suffered so much these past years. Chen Wenyuan was obsessed with currying favor with the Grand Tutor, and Zhao Shi mistreated him for ten years, making him live in the woodshed with the servants. As his biological father, Chen Wenyuan ignored him completely. Growing up in such an environment, he still managed to cultivate such talent. I wonder how much hardship and suffering he endured..."

Upon hearing this, Princess Zhaoyue slowly clenched her fist, which was hidden in her sleeve.

Putting herself in Chen Chang'an's shoes and thinking about his experiences over the years, she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

The Emperor of Da Ning looked out the window and spoke again: "A fine sword is forged through tempering. This experience may not be a bad thing for him. Throughout history, many who have achieved great things have emerged from setbacks and hardships..."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I want to grant him an official title."

Princess Zhaoyue was slightly taken aback and asked, "An official appointment?"

Emperor Da Ning nodded and said, "His defeat of the Yan envoy, saving face for the court, and winning Liangzhou City are all real achievements. In addition, his writing of 'Though the Tortoise Lives Long' revitalized the spirits of veteran generals, and he opened a military academy to continue serving the court. It would be a real pity if such a talent did not serve in the court..."

He paused, then continued, "I have high hopes for him. I'm considering whether to send him to the Hanlin Academy to gradually familiarize him with court affairs, or to send him directly to the Six Ministries..."

Princess Zhaoyue pondered for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Father, I think this is inappropriate."

The Emperor of Da Ning raised an eyebrow and said, "Is that inappropriate?"

Princess Zhaoyue nodded and said, "Based on my understanding of him, he currently prefers a free and unrestrained life. Entering the court as an official is not a favor to him, but a shackle..."

The Emperor of Da Ning looked at her, remained silent for a while, and then shook his head, saying, "You're not even married yet, and you're already thinking about your future husband..."

Princess Zhaoyue blushed and then said, "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want him to serve as an official, but the timing is not right. I beg you to reconsider."

After pondering for a long time, the Emperor of Da Ning finally nodded and said, "Then let it be as you say. However, I will absolutely not waste such a talent; he will surely be ranked among the court officials in the future..."

He didn't continue on that topic, turning his gaze back to Princess Zhaoyue, and said, "Speaking of which, you are both not young anymore, and you are already engaged. Should I bestow a marriage upon you so that you can get married as soon as possible?"