Chapter 336: Third Brother, Take Me Out of the Palace

"How about this? The four of our families can take turns hosting her," Qian Fu proposed.

Elder Gu thought it over and found it feasible. "Each family must host her for at least a month."

"Fine," Madam Zhan nodded.

"...I’d rather not." Ye Qianning didn’t want all the trouble.

"Little girl, it’s settled then," said Elder Gu. "Otherwise, this argument will never end. If you keep living at the General’s estate, we’ll have nothing to look forward to and will just have to gather there every day."

Ye Qianning was in a bind. But if they were always gathering at the General’s estate, rumors would inevitably start to spread over time.

"Let’s do it that way, my little disciple." Dean Chen also thought it was acceptable; after all, they were all family.

The younger generation had acted improperly before, but he had seen the character of the elders for himself.

Ye Qianning looked at her father.

Xiang Minghou nodded at her.

Ye Qianning couldn’t bring herself to refuse Elder Gu and her master, and seeing that her father also agreed, she relented. ’I guess this is how it will be for now,’ she thought.

The night air was cool in the Imperial Garden of the Imperial Palace.

When Sang Zhi learned that Ye Qianning’s marriage had been decreed, he rushed to the palace, but the banquet was already over. He sniffled, his face deathly pale.

His mind couldn’t help but fill with images of that chubby little girl—the way she looked lazing about, the way she ate with such gusto... the way she smiled as she spoke to him.

’Imperial Father betrothed Pangtuan to the Crown Prince...’ The thought brought an unbearable ache to his heart.

"Eighth Brother." A gentle, refined voice drifted over.

Sang Zhi turned, holding his palace lantern. "Third Brother."

"What are you doing in the Imperial Garden so late?" Sang Yan asked as he walked up to him.

"Third Brother, I heard Imperial Father arranged a marriage for the Crown Prince."

"That’s right. Who would have thought? Just a short while ago, she was an unknown little girl, and now she’s to be the future Crown Princess Consort."

Sang Zhi lowered his gaze.

"Are you upset?" Sang Yan asked, crouching down.

Sang Zhi sniffled and gave a slight nod.

"Third Brother knows you and Pangtuan are close at the academy, but from now on, you must remember to keep your distance from her there. Understand?" Sang Yan advised.

Sang Zhi shook his head. "But we promised we would always be together."

"But things are different now. Something that belongs to the Crown Prince is not for others to touch, even if he himself discards it. What’s more, he already dislikes you. If he finds any pretext to use against you, you’ll be the one to suffer."

"But she’s a person, not a thing," Sang Zhi said earnestly.

"The principle is the same. Just focus on your studies at the academy from now on, and don’t fail the next monthly exam," Sang Yan said gently, ruffling his hair.

"Third Brother, I want to leave the Imperial Palace."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"Leaving the Imperial Palace without Imperial Father’s permission is a serious offense. You’ll be severely punished if you’re caught."

"I’m not afraid. Please, Third Brother, just take me out," Sang Zhi pleaded, tugging on his sleeve.

Sang Yan hesitated.

"Third Brother."

Sang Yan asked, "What do you want to do outside the palace?"

"Go to the General’s estate."

"To the General’s estate? This late?" Sang Yan was puzzled, but he was also starting to suspect something.

"Yes. I want to go see her."

"Eighth Brother, be honest with me. Are you..." Sang Yan started to ask. He had wanted to know if his brother had developed a crush on Pangtuan, but he stopped himself. ’He’s still just a child,’ he thought. ’What would he know about love and romance?’

"What were you going to say, Third Brother?"

"It’s nothing... It’s just, it’s already nighttime. Even if you went to the General’s estate, Pangtuan would already be asleep."

Sang Zhi pressed his lips together. He just wanted to go to the General’s estate, right now. Even if he couldn’t see her, he still had to go.

"Eighth Brother, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but you can’t leave the Imperial Palace whenever you wish. Imperial Father might summon you at any moment."

"Why would Imperial Father summon me?"

"The Seventh Princess of East Shu, your aunt, specifically asked to see you at the banquet today, and Imperial Father has already agreed."