That evening, the Leng Family had a reunion feast in the dining hall, with Ye Yiheng and Ye Jiu also in attendance. Halfway through the meal, Lai Taihong placed his wine cup on the table with a tone that was neither light nor heavy, "Jing’er, Xing’er, Sheng’er, you’re all not getting any younger; it’s time to start families of your own to be truly filial." "Grandfather, you’ve already said this back in Beilan City," Lai Yuxing boldly stated. "If you didn’t find suitable girls in Beilan City, now that you’re in the capital, you should look here," Lai Taihong said while signaling his son to pour him more wine, as he lectured his grandsons, "Just release the word, and plenty will come to visit. You should not waste the good reputation your sister has built for you, surpassing many in the capital with your literary and martial abilities." He said without any hint of bragging that his children were indeed of the finest appearance and that it would be no trouble at all for them to find granddaughters-in-law—if only they were willing! Lai Ran lifted the wine jug to fill his father’s cup, while his peripheral vision swept across his sons: "Just do as your grandfather says!" The three Leng brothers shifted their reproachful gaze toward Li Yuyue; they hadn’t expected their elder brother, now with the Ninth Princess, to stiffen his back so much. Looking at him now, he actually arched his brows and even occasionally served food to the Ninth Princess... This act must be purely for their grandparents’ benefit, right? Li Yuyue found himself in an unprecedented state of relaxation, now that the elders had finally shifted their marriage pressure away from him. And so, naturally aligning with his grandfather and Father King’s words, he also chimed in, "That’s right, both grandfather and Father King want the best for you. Finding a good wife will make our family even more lively! You’re not young anymore; you shouldn’t let the elders worry too much." The trio’s brows furrowed in unison; their eldest brother not only stopped helping them, but even began lecturing them. At this point, Lai Yuxing exchanged a glance with Leng Yusheng. The twins’ tacit understanding was immediately apparent: "Let’s first deal with the Second Brother’s marriage. We’re still young." Leng Yuqing was flabbergasted; before, the eldest had taken the brunt, and now these two were passing the buck to him. Just as he was about to retort, Lai Taihong, with a robust voice, questioned, "Young? Your younger sister is getting married before you." Leng Yusheng muttered under his breath, "It’s different for men and women." "In our family, there’s no such difference!" Lai Taihong’s voice boomed, "Your sister could become top scorer in the Imperial Examination, but could you?" Lai Yuxing lowered his gaze, his voice barely audible, "It sounds like grandfather could." Lai Taihong slammed his cup down, feigning anger, "You brat, even daring to mock your grandfather?" The four Leng brothers trembled at the shoulder, and Leng Yu Yan seemed to have figured it out; her brothers were genuinely afraid of their grandfather. She laughed and said, "Grandfather and Father King could, of course, have become top scorers as well; it runs in the family’s scholarly tradition—you’re absolutely right." "Of course, my brothers are impressive too. After all, my scholarship is the lowest in the family." Leng Yu Yan moved to Lai Taihong’s side and filled his wine cup to the brim. Lai Taihong couldn’t hold back and laughed heartily. For a time, the dining hall of Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion was filled with joyous laughter and endless merriment. After dinner, Ye Yiheng formally stated his intention to return to the Eastern Palace. Neither Lai Taihong nor Lai Ran tried to detain him, with Lai Ran saying, "Tomorrow morning, I will discuss the wedding date with the Emperor during the morning court; it would be best if Your Highness could be present." The Crown Prince’s wedding was a major event, akin to a national affair for Tiancheng. Thus, it was only natural to discuss it during the morning court. To highlight the Crown Prince’s esteemed status. Ye Yiheng nodded in agreement, "I understand; I will enter the palace early tomorrow." "Good, Your Highness, please take your time leaving!" Lai Ran gestured. Ye Yiheng put on his eye veil and immediately left the dining hall. Thirty minutes later, Leng Yu Yan returned to her room from the dining hall. She was pondering where to hide the nightgown that her mother had given her in a brocade box when she looked up abruptly and saw someone in her room. His fingers were lightly tapping on the brocade box. She had casually placed the brocade box she got from her mother on the table by the window, little expecting that this playboy would not go back to the Eastern Palace and accidentally be sitting right next to it. She slowly lowered her gaze and asked softly, "Didn’t Your Highness say you were returning to the Eastern Palace?" Ye Yiheng replied indifferently, "That was for your family elders to hear." Besides, if Ye Jiu could stay in the Prince Mansion, why couldn’t he? "Didn’t Father King and Grandfather agree with you earlier at dinner that tomorrow you’ll go directly from the Eastern Palace to the palace?" Leng Yu Yan frowned, "If you stay here tonight, won’t that give us away tomorrow?" "Don’t worry, Yanyan, I will leave before dawn," he assured. Since the day the Imperial Examination results were announced, she had moved back to Prince Zhenbei Mansion, and he had wanted to sleep closer to her. "No way!" Leng Yu Yan suddenly raised her voice. "Yes, it can," his voice was low and deep, "Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter are skilled, and they can hear sounds which Miao Zhu couldn’t." Leng Yu Yan covered her mouth and asked in a whisper, "Is my bed that comfortable?" It actually made him shamelessly want to stay. "Hm?" She was puzzled. He said bluntly, "It’s you who are more comfortable to sleep with." She scolded him in a low voice, "Ye Yiheng, you’re a rascal!" He smiled lightly, "Wronged, I am talking about the blanket not being as soft as you, just the literal meaning." He then flicked her forehead lightly with his hand, "Don’t think dirty thoughts, little head!" Leng Yu Yan’s face turned red in an instant. How could she not think dirty? Seeing the enticing peach color rise at the corners of her eyes, she, in such a state, stirred him even more. Ye Yiheng tilted his head and pressed his lips against hers. The sudden cool and soft touch on her lips surprised Leng Yu Yan, and she pushed him. But, as soon as her hand pressed against his chest, he caught both her wrists in one hand, and she was pinned against the wall by him. Kissing her until the world faded. Yet, during a break for air, he said in her ear, "Don’t call for anyone!" Now that her whole family was here, if she were to call out, everyone in the Prince Mansion might come running, and their wedding date could be postponed. Leng Yu Yan asked, "Why can’t I call out?" "I do not want to leave a bad impression on your family." "Heh, a playboy still wanting a good impression?" No sooner had she spoken than she received an even more intense kiss. Leng Yu Yan felt a hint of grievance... It was clear he said he was returning to the Eastern Palace, yet he came to tease her. He was indeed a true playboy, yet he told her not to call for help. After a while, Ye Yiheng let her go. Both cleaned up and went to bed. Leng Yu Yan lay on her side, huffing in anger, if it weren’t for his sickly condition, she wouldn’t have taken him in. Nor would she share a bed with him. Unexpectedly, despite his ailment, his skills in teasing and quarreling with his mouth were becoming ever more perfect. Ye Yiheng lay down behind her and extended a long arm, scooping her into his embrace. Scooped she was but, unfortunately, his hand wasn’t idle, persistently pinching the soft flesh around her waist. "Can you please stop pinching? I want to sleep." Leng Yu Yan tried to escape his embrace, but the man only held her tighter. "You sleep, and I’ll pinch," he said. To Ye Yiheng, this woman’s waist was excessively thin and excessively soft. The difference between a woman and a man was vividly showcased. She said angrily, "I’m not clay for you to just pinch however you want." Although Ye Yiheng did not understand what clay was, he got the gist and said in a deep voice, "Then you pinch me."