Ye Liuyun had no intention of ruining Liu Yunyao’s plans today. Seeing how considerate she was of his feelings—even publicly inviting him to stay at her residence—he decided to give her an easy way out.

"Alright, I’ll go with your plan," he agreed.

Hearing his acceptance, the Grand Tutor finally let out a sigh of relief. But noticing the stunned expressions of the onlookers, he quickly sought to wrap up the welcoming ceremony before things escalated.

"Your Highness, please," he urged, gesturing toward the palace. "Mr. Ye, after you."

The crowd grew even more bewildered at the Grand Tutor’s deferential tone toward Ye Liuyun. Everyone was now speculating—just who was this "Mr. Ye," that not only did the princess treat him with such gentleness, but even the Grand Tutor showed him such respect?

Lin Fengzhi frowned inwardly. *Is the Grand Tutor truly being polite to Ye Liuyun, or is he just humoring the princess? No matter how strong Ye Liuyun is, he’s just a beast tamer. There’s no reason for the Grand Tutor to act this way—unless... he has another identity?*

Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun strode forward, with Liu Yunyao walking right beside him.

The message was clear to everyone now—this man was someone the princess held in high regard. Crossing him would be unwise.

Lin Chengzhou, however, was livid at the sight of Ye Liuyun walking shoulder-to-shoulder with the princess. He sent a furious mental message to his father. *Father, look at this martial cultivator! The audacity—how dare he walk beside Her Highness—*

*SMACK!*

Before he could finish, Lin Yao spun around and delivered a sharp slap across his son’s face. His voice was a cold whisper in Chengzhou’s mind. *Has jealousy rotted your brain? You have no right to dictate the princess’s actions—not unless you become her consort. Until then, keep your mouth shut. Go home and reflect on your stupidity. Don’t show your face until you’ve learned some sense.*

Lin Chengzhou clutched his stinging cheek, resentment boiling in his chest. Yet he dared not argue. With a stiff bow, he turned and stormed off.

Lin Yao, meanwhile, offered an apologetic smile to the crowd. "My apologies, everyone. It seems I’ve failed in disciplining my son."

The onlookers chuckled awkwardly, though inwardly they agreed—Lin Chengzhou *did* need a firmer hand.

Only the Grand Tutor spoke bluntly. "Left Minister, you really ought to teach your son better. He must *not* make an enemy of Mr. Ye."

Then, with a pointed glance at the assembly, he added, "Let this be a warning—none of you can afford to offend this man. And as for his relationship with the princess? Stay out of it, unless you want trouble. Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The Grand Preceptor’s abilities were well-known to all. His words only served to confirm that Ye Liuyun was no ordinary man.

Even Lin Fengzhi began to wonder if Ye Liuyun had aided the princess in defeating the barbarian tribes. Knowing the princess as he did, it seemed unlikely she could have achieved such a sweeping victory without outside help. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He had suspected Ye Liuyun’s involvement before, but he never imagined the man’s role had been so pivotal.

Unable to contain his curiosity, the Left Chancellor pressed, "Grand Preceptor, just who is this Master Ye?"

Instead of answering directly, the Grand Preceptor posed a question of his own, further confirming Lin Fengzhi’s suspicions.

"Do you truly believe the princess could have subdued the barbarians entirely on her own? Our Willowwood Dynasty has been locked in a stalemate with them for years—not a single inch of territory gained!"

With that, the Grand Preceptor turned and left without another word. He had said enough, given his warning. If anyone still wished to court disaster, that was no longer his concern.

The assembled officials exchanged uneasy glances, mulling over the Grand Preceptor’s cryptic remarks. Only Lin Fengzhi nodded thoughtfully, as if in understanding.

"Commander Lin, do you know something we don’t?" the Left Chancellor asked, noticing his reaction.

"I wouldn’t presume to know anything," Lin Fengzhi replied cautiously. But considering his rapport with the Left Chancellor, he added a discreet warning: "Though I will say this—Master Ye once gifted Xiaoxiao a Dominator-tier beast of the second rank."

With a quick bow, he excused himself before he could reveal anything more about Ye Liuyun.

That single remark, however, sent shockwaves through the room. Many had heard of Lin Fengzhi acquiring a Dominator-tier beast, an achievement that had earned him great prestige in the royal capital—until the creature was mysteriously poisoned.

Now they learned that the beast had been a gift from Ye Liuyun. At the very least, this proved Ye Liuyun possessed the power to subdue such a formidable creature.

It all aligned with the Grand Preceptor’s words. Clearly, this "Master Ye" had played a decisive role in the princess’s victory over the barbarians. A man of such strength was someone to befriend, not provoke.

The Left Chancellor’s brow furrowed with concern as he took his leave, lost in troubled thoughts.

He was worried that his son’s marriage to the princess might fall through. The position of royal consort was far too important, and he was determined to secure it for Lin Chengzhou.

The entire journey back, he pondered his next move. Suddenly, it struck him—Ye Liuyun didn’t bear the surname Liu, much less Lin. At this realization, the tension in his expression eased, and he immediately turned around to head straight for the palace, seeking out Liu Qianzhong for a discussion.

There was no way he could persuade the princess now, and with someone as formidable as Ye Liuyun, brute force was out of the question. The only angle left was to exploit the matter of surnames.

Whether the princess was willing or whether there was anything between her and Ye Liuyun didn’t concern him in the slightest. All he cared about was securing that powerful position of royal consort for his son.

Liu Qianzhong, as it turned out, was also unaware of Ye Liuyun’s involvement. With a few probing words, Lin Yao confirmed his ignorance and swiftly glossed over the topic. Instead, he emphasized that the princess could not marry outside their lineage—and between the Liu and Lin families, Lin Chengzhou was the most suitable candidate.

Liu Qianzhong agreed with this reasoning. The Left Chancellor then proposed announcing Liu Yunyao and Lin Chengzhou’s betrothal during the princess’s coronation ceremony, making it a double celebration and allowing Liu Qianzhong to relinquish power with complete peace of mind.

After some thought, Liu Qianzhong realized that if Liu Yunyao’s marriage could indeed be settled, there truly would be nothing left for him to worry about. So he gave his consent.

Following Lin Yao’s suggestion, they also agreed to keep it a secret until the last moment, intending to surprise the princess. Liu Qianzhong readily agreed—after all, such matters were never announced prematurely.

It was habitual for Liu Qianzhong to assume that royal marriages were naturally tied to power and influence, with no room for personal sentiment. Thus, he overlooked Liu Yunyao’s feelings entirely.

He briefly considered consulting the Imperial Preceptor but recalled that the man had once declared Lin Chengzhou the only worthy match for the princess in the entire kingdom. So he dismissed the thought, forgetting that circumstances could change with time.

Once Lin Yao secured Liu Qianzhong’s promise, he returned home and shared the good news with Lin Chengzhou.

Overjoyed, Lin Chengzhou hadn’t expected his wish to be granted so soon. Still, Lin Yao cautioned him—even with the betrothal settled, he must remain prudent in words and actions, ensuring no repeat of today’s careless slip of the tongue.