At this moment Wei Changying was being taken by Princess Anji to an open area by the lake in the garden. Within a few paces, there was a lone weeping willow that had been standing there for many years and the rest of the place was simply empty.

A warm breeze was coming from the lake, carrying a hint of lotus fragrance. The water was clear and the lake was vast, cooling the summer heat. There was a gentle sound of cicadas overhead. Probably, some had been removed recently.

The two of them sat down on the grass under the willow. Princess Anji took a folding fan out of her sleeve and fanned herself casually, smiling, "This is a nice place. It’s shady and cool. It’s a good place to talk. There is no need to worry about being overheard."

Princess Qingxin had gotten Wei Changying into trouble today and Wei Changying had asked Wei Changjuan to come out. Guessing what time it was, Wei Changying thought that by now Infanta Chengxian probably would have left home and the banquet would start soon. If she didn't go soon, this would draw a lot of attention. So she asked directly, "Your Royal Highness, what would you like to say? You seem discreet."

Princess Anji noticed that she didn't want to stay for too long, saying with a faint smile, "If Linchuan asked you out and you stayed for too long, people would keep wondering why. But if it was me or Qingxin, people would just have sympathy for you. So you don't need to worry about going to the banquet."

Wei Changying thought, "Does this mean she wants to have a long chat with me?"

Wei Changying doubtfully said, "Sure."

But Princess Anji added, "Actually, I'm not planning to talk with you for a long time."

"..." Wei Changying.

Princess Anji fanned her fan and sighed, "I saw Linchuan was secretly doing something and thought I could take advantage of it. However, Wei Changjuan doesn't know and neither do you. It's so weird. Why did Linchuan help you?"

Wei Changying put on a wry smile and thought Princess Anji had refused to let her go and dragged her all the way here just over this issue. She tried to guess Princess Anji's meaning, saying tentatively, "No matter what, Your Royal Highness has helped me a lot today. I should thank you, Your Royal Highness."

What the princess meant was that she wasn't someone who helped people for nothing. Since she had helped someone but hadn't got the benefit she had imagined, she wasn't pleased. No matter whether Wei Changying had heard or seen with her own eyes that no one dared to bully Princess Anji openly, Princess Anji was in a bad spot. So, naturally, she would ask for benefits from an official's wife in any possible way.

"You must thank me." Princess Anji wasn't shy about it at all, nodding directly, "I have heard that your family is rich and you are loved by your elders. So I believe your private vault won't disappoint me."

Wei Changying suddenly had an urge to go and pull her cheeks to see if she was Duanmu Xinmiao in disguise.

Princess Anji added, "But there is no urgency to give me the gift. I have not married. My mother is still a Madam in the palace. But in fact, she just spends her life in the Doujin Palace and with me. There are the Empress's spies everywhere in the Six Palaces. If my Empress Mother finds out that I have something nice, how can I pretend to be poor to blackmail her when I get married?"

"..." Wei Changying suddenly thought that Princess Anji couldn't be Duanmu Xinmiao in disguise, as Wei Changying was sure that Duanmu Xinmiao only thought about medicine. Duanmu Xinmiao was definitely not as calculating as Princess Anji.

She asked, "So, after Your Royal Highness are married?"

When talking about marriage, Princess Anji wasn't embarrassed at all, saying, "Sure. But who do you think I should marry?"

On hearing her question, Wei Changying paused, thinking for a moment before saying, "Has His Majesty already started to look for a husband for you, Your Royal Highness? If so, I think..."

"Stop thinking me as Linchuan!" Princess Anji said directly, "Everyone in the capital knows that my mother and I aren't liked by Father. You have been married into the capital for a few months now. How could you not know?"

Seeing how open she was, Wei Changying asked her straightforwardly, saying, "Have you got an idea already, Your Royal Highness?"

Princess Anji sighed, "If I had an idea, why would I bring you here to ask you? You know my reputation among the imperial madams. Do you think there would be someone who comes and whispers to me which family's sons are nice or which aren't? Even if someone did, do you think I would believe the person immediately? My mother is from a poor family, and there is no anyone useful in my uncle's family. That b*tch Linchuan... She hates me for beating her up and every day thinks about how to get me married somewhere far away. She hopes I will marry someone useless. However, I just can't talk to anyone openly about this."

"I've only just arrived in the capital, so I don't know much about the children of other families." On hearing her words, Wei Changying was in a dilemma, saying, "Your Royal Highness, to be honest, did you see my eldest aunt's two daughters, Song Xiyue and Song Ruxuan? They are the ones who spoke with Deng Wanwan, the Miss of the Deng Family. As my eldest aunt has only just returned to the capital with my eldest uncle because of his job reassignment, she is not familiar with the families in the capital. So she has entrusted me with two cousins’ marriages. However, I haven't been able to give my eldest aunt a certain answer yet."

Princess Anji smiled slightly, saying, "I know you are someone who has only just arrived in the capital. I didn't say I'm going to marry someone today, did I? Anyway, Father hasn't got Linchuan married, so he won't consider me. You will keep an eye for me these two years, so just think of it as returning the favor to me today. How about that? Shen Cangfeng is a responsible person, and I heard that you get along well with him since you married him. I guess the wife that Shen Cangfeng likes should be smart and capable, so you should be a grateful person. Besides, I'm sure there will be someday you will ask me for help."

She was now slightly more relaxed, "Anyway, it is worth offending Father, Empress Mother, and Qingxin for you today." She was still thinking about how to get some benefits for what she had done.

Following the path of her thought, Wei Changying was thinking, "So, I don't have to give you a thank you gift, right?"

As she was wondering whether to ask this question, Princess Anji suddenly said, "Actually, your brother Wei Changfeng is not bad!"

Wei Changying was startled, instantly looking at Princess Anji and thinking quickly. In terms of appearance, Princess Anji wasn't bad. Her mother, Madam Zhenyi, had been able to become a First Rank Madam in the imperial harem where there were even three empresses. Her rank in the imperial harem was only a little lower than the Empress’ and Four Honored Consorts’. Her life in the past was glorious.

Madam Zhenyi was from a poor family but she had been honored and had been given the title of "Zhenyi". Apparently, she had a beautiful appearance.

In terms of status, even if Madam Zhenyi and Princess Anji weren't favored, a princess was still a princess. In the opinion of the people among gentlefolks and the aristocratic families, a marriage between two well-matched families was considered as good, which meant that they would prefer to choose a family of similar social rank. However, if it was the daughter of the royal family, who would dare to be openly picky?

In terms of abilities and scheming, Princess Anji was certainly qualified. As she hadn't yet turned fifteen, her mother and she were both out of favor. While other concubines in the palace and her sisters were in favor, she was still doing well in such a situation. She would definitely be able to assist Wei Changfeng to get the position of Family Head.

If there was a shrewd sister-in-law who would treat Changfeng well, it would probably be good! Wei Changying started to consider it seriously. Wei Changfeng, the only son of the eldest branch from Ruiyu Hall, should have already gotten married and had children. The reason why he hadn't become engaged was that Old Madam Song was so cautious that she wanted to find a reliable considerate wife for her only lineal grandson.

According to Old Madam Song's original requirements, it would be best to have someone like Song Zaishui. However, Song Zaishui was only one Miss in the lineal branch of the Song Family, and she was a few years older than Wei Changfeng, and she had been engaged to the Crown Prince!

As for the Liu Family, because of the assassination attempt on Wei Changying and her brother, their daughters would not be considered even if they were nice. As for the Duanmu Family, there weren't any particularly outstanding girls in present times. Recently, Duanmu Wusei had been divorced by her husband, making the girls of the family too ashamed to go out.

As for Duanmu Xinmiao, the most famous Miss among all the Misses of the Duanmu Family. If she became her sister-in-law, her presence would give Wei Changying a headache, let alone her simple mind.

Shen Cangning of the Shen Family wasn't a suitable person either. Her cousins in the Su Family had all become engaged...

Having considered all the possibilities, she thought Princess Anji was the most appropriate person.

However, as it was something important, Wei Changying couldn't express a decision on it in just a few words. When she was thinking about how she should answer politely, Princess Anji suddenly smiled, sighing, "It's a pity. I've been intrigued by others and have done the same in return in the palace for too long. I'm too tired. If I marry Wei Changfeng, I'll have to help him deal with Wei Shengyi and his family! Later on, I will have to deal with Zhiben Hall! Though I'm not afraid, I'm tired of living a life in a web of intrigue. I'd rather have an honest tolerant husband whose relatives are all in harmony with each other."

She squinted, looking over the high wall of King Run's courtyard. Looking at the bell tower in the royal palace from afar, she murmured, "After I'm married, I will request permission to take my mother to live outside of the palace. I'm sure Father will grant it. At that time, I will just live happily with my mother and my husband. I don't need to worry about what how fiercely they fight in the palace!"

She added, "I know many people say that Lingxian is miserable because her mother was dismissed and became just an ordinary citizen. She wasn't favored but even treated worse by Father! But I don't think Lingxian's life is bad. Her fiancé insisted on asking for the approval of the marriage, though he was going against the wishes of his elders. Lingxian is not allowed to see Father, so if her husband's family had treated her badly, she would have had no one to complain to. However, her husband treats her well! Though Father has long forgotten this daughter of his, she lives happily with her husband and children!"

"I hope to have an ending like that of Lingxian. Madam Wei, do you understand?"

She finished her emotional words. As she turned her head, she saw a trace of struggle on Wei Changying's face.

Princess Anji asked curiously, "What do you want to say? Just say it. I believe you understand now. As long as I am not deliberately treated disrespectfully, I will accept sharp criticism."

Wei Changying painfully covered her face with a handkerchief, letting out a long sigh, "Your Royal Highness, based on what you said, a person suddenly came into my mind! It's just that... I don't know if he's married or engaged. Neither do I know if he loves you as much as how Princess Lingxian's husband likes her. I think it's better not to tell you about him now. When I find out more about it, I will tell you, in case I let you down, Your Royal Highness."

Having understood her, Princess Anji raised her eyebrows, sneering, "Because everyone knows I'm fierce, you are worried that if you tell me now, I might ask for an imperial edict to get married to him. You are afraid of being complained about by him and his family? Who is he? He is even a worthy match for me?"

"Anyway, I definitely won't say anything now!" Wei Changying put down her handkerchief, saying with a firm look, "The banquet is about to start. Your Royal Highness, you are not hungry, but I am. I still have to look after my two cousins for my eldest aunt. How about we go now?"

Princess Anji became furious and grabbed her sleeve, "No, no. Tell me who he is first. I'll go and ask about him myself!"

"Your Royal Highness, please stop it." Wei Changying wasn't that frail Wei Changjuan. She easily escaped, smiling and saying, "You said it yourself. You can't find out what boys in the families in the capital are like! I'll tell you when I've found out more for you."

Princess Anji was going to behave unreasonably, but apparently, this wouldn't work when dealing with Wei Changying in a place without others. Wei Changying moved swiftly as if she had been a lively fish. She escaped from Princess Anji's hands and walked amongst the trees. Princess Anji chased after her but soon she lost sight of her. She kept stomping her feet in anger, clenching her teeth and saying, "Ungrateful Wei Changying! If you don't want to tell me who this suitable person is, you should always keep your mouth shut! You then said something about it but didn't finish. You kept me hanging there. Nothing is more hateful than this behavior! You know martial arts skills, so you could get away from me. Don't let me see you in the future, or I'll beat you mercilessly!"

She kicked the bushes on the side of the road with hatred. Suddenly, a caterpillar fell onto her nose. It slid down and unexpectedly fell onto the ribbon on her chest. Though Princess Anji wasn't as delicate as Linchuan and Qingxin, being so frightened by this sight, she screamed instantly and almost fainted. She was also so disgusted by it. Feeling extremely frustrated, she pulled out a silver hairpin and stabbed the bug to death. Then she threw the silver hairpin away in the flowers, grunting, "What bad luck!"

When Princess Anji had gone farther away, someone jumped down from the weeping willow that was near the place where the two had been talking privately early. Deep in thought, the person stared at where they had disappeared. A moment later, as if recalling something, his brow suddenly furrowed...