"Take your time finding your future husband. Look around more, search more—maybe you'll find someone pleasing to the eye," Chen Xi said, glancing at Mi Zhen. Thinking about Cai Yan's current situation, he felt that Mi Zhen being more cautious now was justified.
"Actually, you're quite pleasing to the eye," Mi Zhen replied with a smile.
"Don't tease me," Chen Xi said, looking into Mi Zhen's clear eyes. He could tell she was playing with him again. Initially, he felt a bit excited—not that he would marry Mi Zhen—but being admired by a beautiful woman was something most men would enjoy, a common weakness.
"It didn't work?" Mi Zhen exclaimed in surprise.
"What were you expecting?" Chen Xi said, exasperated. "You should learn from Zhen Mi—look at how well-behaved she is."
"He said you're well-behaved," Mi Zhen remarked, turning to Zhen Mi. Instantly, Zhen Mi's face turned crimson.
"Alright, enough playing around. You're the only one here who can choose your future husband freely. The others don't have that luxury, so don't make your friends feel bad," Chen Xi said, glancing at Zhen Mi before speaking in a gentle tone.
Among the girls surrounding Mi Zhen, some were already married, others were engaged, and some, like Zhen Mi, were treasured gems of their families. But their marriages were not theirs to decide—whether through alliances or social status, they had no freedom to choose their husbands like Mi Zhen did. Cai Yan's method of taking control of her own fate was far too distant for these girls.
When Liu Liang once praised Zhen Mi with a single sentence, many saw it as admiration. But now, Zhen Mi understood the weight of those words. She realized that because of that one sentence, her only possible future husband could be an emperor or a prince, as only someone of royal status could match the title of "unparalleled in nobility." Since only those of the Liu family could hold the title of king, it became clear to her that any connection with Chen Xi was destined to remain unfulfilled.
At the time, when Zhen Mi looked in the mirror, she thought her fate had changed. But after a period of uncertainty, she realized that her status had not shifted—she was still the same Zhen Mi, unmatched in nobility. This realization made her gradually suppress her feelings for Chen Xi because, knowing their paths were destined never to cross, she didn't want to create awkwardness between them.
Although Mi Zhen was somewhat mischievous, she had a kind heart. After Chen Xi's words, she quickly realized her mistake. Glancing back at Zhen Mi and the others, she felt a pang of guilt. Fortunately, Zhen Mi calmly nodded to her, easing the tension Mi Zhen had inadvertently caused.
"Lord Chen, we won't disturb you any further. May we borrow your study?" Zhen Mi stepped forward, her expression serene as she bowed to Chen Xi.
"Sure, go ahead. Just don't burn it down," Chen Xi replied with a nod, understanding that these girls seemed to be searching for something in his study.
After Zhen Mi and the others left, only Chen Xi, Fan Jian, and Chen Lan remained in the courtyard.
"Husband, are you still thinking about her?" Fan Jian asked, glancing in the direction Zhen Mi had gone before turning back to Chen Xi.
"Not really, it's just a passing thought. Without that unique charm, she's beautiful, but that's all," Chen Xi replied calmly. "Come, let's go inside. The wind is strong, and another year has passed."
Chen Xi couldn't help but recall Liu Liang's famous remark about Zhen Mi and then think back to his first encounter with her in Jizhou. That unforgettable charm still lingered in his memory, but as he had said, it was just a thought—people cannot live in the past.
As Chen Xi left the house that evening, Zhen Mi and the others were still rummaging through his study. However, it was clear they hadn't found anything of significance. Chen Xi couldn't recall anything particularly special in his study. If there was something, it would likely be the notebook where he recorded yearly events that he could remember.
But even if Zhen Mi and the others got hold of that notebook, they probably wouldn't be able to decipher it. It wasn't just a code—it was something far more complex.
"What are you looking at, Zhen Mi?" Mi Zhen asked curiously, noticing that Zhen Mi had stopped searching and started reading a book.
"Nothing, nothing at all!" Zhen Mi hastily closed the book, her expression flustered. The way she acted made it seem even more suspicious.
Mi Zhen eyed Zhen Mi skeptically, then glanced at the plain-covered book in her hands. After a moment's hesitation, she decided it was best not to provoke Zhen Mi, who now seemed like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
"Phew…" After Mi Zhen left, Zhen Mi exhaled deeply, her face slightly flushed. She quickly slipped the book into her sleeve, pretending as if nothing had happened before resuming her search. Soon, she found another book with a misleading cover and, after skimming through it, quietly slipped it into her sleeve as well, her expression showing a hint of irritation.
"What are you up to?" Cai Yan's younger sister suddenly tapped Zhen Mi on the shoulder, startling her so much that she almost dropped the book.
"Just reading," Zhen Mi replied calmly, though a faint blush remained on her cheeks. She didn't show any signs of guilt for lying.
"Oh…" Cai Yan's sister glanced at the book in Zhen Mi's hands, noting the split in its cover. As a woman who had been married for several years, she instantly recognized what kind of book it was. Though it wasn't in scroll form or silk-bound as usual, the essence remained the same.
"Once you're done reading, go take a bath and cool off," she teased with a mischievous grin, leaving Zhen Mi feeling flustered.
Chen Xi, of course, had no idea that the indecent book Liu Bei had prepared for his wedding had ended up in Zhen Mi's hands. Not that Chen Xi cared much—he already knew all he needed to know.
While Zhen Mi dealt with her embarrassment, Chen Xi had his own troubles. He had been cornered by someone outside, and it was clear that anyone daring to block his path in Mount Tai wasn't just anyone. If they weren't insane, they had to be someone not to be trifled with—especially since they dared to stop him right outside Liu Bei's residence.
"Tell me, Zichuan, will you have this work done by tomorrow?" Lu Su asked with a smile, pointing to the stack of plans Wang Xiu was holding—a stack a foot thick.
"Yes, yes, don't worry," Chen Xi said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he quickly agreed. It was clear Lu Su was already angry, and no one wanted to provoke an angry man known for his patience.