After all, he had said he wanted to marry as soon as possible. But the second day of the fifth lunar month wasn’t far off, so why was he unhappy? Leng Yu Yan couldn’t figure it out and reached out to pinch his fingers. Ye Yiheng grasped her hand in return and smiled gently, "It’s nothing." Leng Yu Yan’s intuition told her that he had something on his mind, so she suggested, "Shall we go out for a walk?" Ye Yiheng nodded in agreement. Thus, Leng Yu Yan informed her grandfather and Father King, and the two of them left the Prince Mansion. They boarded the Eastern Palace Carriage, which rolled towards the suburbs. Leng Yu Yan lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw the bustling streets outside. Though she wanted to wander, considering his identity, they better choose a place with fewer people. "Let’s go to the countryside to enjoy the scenery, that will make us feel a lot better." She dropped the curtain and her eyes sparkled playfully, "Does that sound good, Your Highness?" Her voice was soft and sweet. Ye Yiheng nodded but did not speak. Fearing that the Crown Prince’s silence would displease the Commandery Princess, Song Guo offered a smile and said, "As long as the Commandery Princess is by Your Highness’s side, anywhere is good." Miao Zhu couldn’t help but snort, "Song Guo, you’re such a flatterer." Leng Yu Yan chuckled softly and turned to see Ye Yiheng with his eyes closed, resting. She then gestured to Miao Zhu and Song Guo to keep quiet. Both of them nodded respectably and decided to leave the carriage, sitting next to the driver, Mo Chen. Leng Yu Yan took a thin blanket from the cabinet and just as she covered Ye Yiheng with it, his eyes suddenly opened. "I will take you to a place to meet someone." His voice was somewhat hoarse, seemingly tinged with melancholy. Leng Yu Yan nodded, "Okay." "Aren’t you going to ask where we are going, or whom we will meet?" Ye Yiheng’s face showed little expression, he just took one of her tender hands in his and wrapped it tightly in his palm, as if he was afraid she would run away. Leng Yu Yan slowly met his deep, sea-like eyes and murmured, "When we arrive, we’ll know where we are. When we meet, we’ll know who it is." "Mm," Ye Yiheng murmured in response, then called out to the exterior of the carriage, "To Lu You Bamboo Forest." "Yes, Your Highness!" Mo Chen replied, his voice tinged with surprise. Song Guo whispered, "Why is Your Highness thinking of going there?" Mo Chen shook his head, lifted the whip, and with a snap, the carriage accelerated instantly. Inside the carriage, Ye Yiheng closed his eyes again to rest, still holding onto Leng Yu Yan’s hand, not loosening his grip at all. The atmosphere was strange. Leng Yu Yan did not know where this Lu You Bamboo Forest was or who lived there. Intuition told her that he was carrying a heavy heart, and since he wouldn’t speak, she didn’t know how to comfort him. She scooted closer to his side as much as possible. He seemed to notice and tightened his grip on her hand. Unaware of how much time had passed, Leng Yu Yan knew only that after reaching the suburbs, they continued southward until they came upon a bamboo forest. The carriage entered the bamboo forest and stopped at a secluded spot. Ye Yiheng slowly opened his eyes, donned an eye veil, and then, holding Leng Yu Yan’s hand, stepped out of the carriage. Miao Zhu exclaimed, "What a beautiful bamboo forest! Can we eat the newly grown shoots on the ground?" Mo Chen and Song Guo exchanged a glance at Miao Zhu’s words, both remaining silent, casting puzzlement upon Miao Zhu. "Why aren’t you speaking?" Miao Zhu inquired. Leng Yu Yan shook her head at her, signaling her to be quiet. At this moment, Mo Chen and Song Guo looked serious, worry apparent in their eyes, clearly showing that they knew who resided in this place. Song Guo walked in front, with Leng Yu Yan supporting Ye Yiheng by the arm, following behind. Mo Chen and Miao Zhu flanked her on either side. A party of five made their way deeper into the bamboo forest. After walking for a little over a quarter of an hour, they came to a clearing within the bamboo woods, which held a courtyard made of bamboo. Hearing footsteps, someone from inside the courtyard hurried out to check. Upon seeing Ye Yiheng, the person bowed their head silently in greeting, then went back inside, where they could be heard speaking to someone within the house in a series of grunts and moans. Song Guo turned back to explain, "Commandery Princess, that person is a Dumb Slave; they cannot speak but can hear." "Oh." Leng Yu Yan acknowledged with a sound, her heart filled with even greater curiosity. In a moment, the Dumb Slave came back out, gesturing an invitation with their hand. Ye Yiheng gave Leng Yu Yan’s wrist a squeeze, then walked towards the house. The sounds of footsteps on the bamboo floor creaked and crackled, mingling with the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves, all pouring into Leng Yu Yan’s ears. This place was too quiet. Passing through a bamboo corridor, it was not long before Leng Yu Yan found herself in the house, following Ye Yiheng. Several cushions were laid out on the floor of the house, and upon one of them, knelt an old woman with white hair, currently turning prayer beads with closed eyes. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and spoke in an aged voice, "Has the Crown Prince arrived?" "Hmm, how have you been recently?" Ye Yiheng inquired. "Thanks to Your Highness, all is well." The old woman turned, looking over Ye Yiheng to size up the outstandingly beautiful young girl beside him. Faced with the old woman’s scrutiny and without an introduction to who she was, Leng Yu Yan inclined her head in greeting, "Old grandmother, hello!" "Good," said the old woman with a subdued expression. "Sit down." There were no chairs in the room, only a few cushions. Leng Yu Yan helped Ye Yiheng to sit on one cushion while she herself knelt on another. "I am to get married," Ye Yiheng suddenly announced. Hearing this, the old woman’s face showed a hint of a smile, "It is proper for young men to marry and young women to wed. Your Highness is of age; it is time to take a wife." Her gaze shifted from Ye Yiheng to study Leng Yu Yan, and she asked, "The one you wish to marry, is it her?" Ye Yiheng nodded, "Indeed." The old woman’s brow furrowed all at once, and the wrinkles on her face deepened, "A woman’s beauty can bring about unnecessary troubles. Your Highness, do you have the capability to protect the woman you fancy, to prevent others from taking her away?" Not to follow the same path as her son once did! "I will not let anyone take Yanyan away from me!" Ye Yiheng’s voice grew stern. "Good," the old woman nodded, "Since you two are here, have a vegetarian meal in the bamboo forest before leaving." "Hmm." Ye Yiheng consented, then stood up and reached out his hand to Leng Yu Yan. The moment Leng Yu Yan placed her hand in his palm, he pulled her up. The old woman turned back around, her back facing the door, closed her eyes again, and continued her murmured prayers. Once they had left the bamboo house, Leng Yu Yan let out a long sigh of relief. The eyes beneath Ye Yiheng’s veil kept a close watch on Leng Yu Yan, and amidst a slight furrow of his brows, he asked, "You still don’t ask who she is, why I brought you here?" "The room’s furnishing was plain, I didn’t know who she was and couldn’t guess in the moment," Leng Yu Yan admitted frankly, "To be honest, along the way here, I was indeed curious about these mysteries. This place is so secluded, I wondered who the person we just met was. If Your Highness is willing to tell me, I am all ears." "Oh, right, she seemed to dislike me quite a bit," Leng Yu Yan added. Someone who sees the Crown Prince yet does not offer a greeting is either presumptuous or has some background. Now reflecting on it, that old woman’s countenance was quite authoritative, suggesting she had some background. Ye Yiheng squeezed Leng Yu Yan’s hand and walked deeper into the bamboo forest. Inside the bamboo house at that moment, the old woman watched their retreating figures with a growing frown. With each change in imperial power, there must be turmoil within the court, pulling countless innocent people into its wake. And the main cause of the unrest is not just the lure of imperial power, but also the temptation of women.