"Sixth Highness, you are mistaken."
Cen Yiyi offered her explanation with the utmost solemnity.
"I simply felt that Sixth Highness lacks for nothing. I pondered for many days and still could not determine what would be a fitting gift.
In the end, I could only present these few books to Your Highness. May your days in the Upper Academy be smooth and free of trouble."
Yun Chuhuan froze.
So it was not that she was brushing him off—it was mockery, was it not?
Fifth Elder Sister no longer needed to attend the Upper Academy. Cen Yiyi didn't either. Only he and Liu Ziming were left to continue their miserable studies under the constant scrutiny of their tutors.
Fuming, Yun Chuhuan silently retracted the gift he had prepared for Cen Yiyi.
"This Prince refuses to accept this! If you are truly giving me such a thing, then the gift I prepared for you shall remain with me!"
"Oh."
Still clutching her beloved military texts, Cen Yiyi pouted with a flick of her lips, utterly unbothered.
"As long as Sixth Highness is happy."
Yun Chuhuan nearly choked.
Happy? He was anything but!
…
All because Cen Yiyi had taken a small jab at him, even after she later presented her actual gift, Yun Chuhuan could not help but grumble about it for a good while.
Only when the meal concluded and the group began to take their leave did he finally huff and mutter awkwardly.
"This Prince has heard that Qiongzhou is a truly impoverished place, where nothing can be found no matter how one searches.
You are just a young girl. If you find it unbearable, you had best come back quickly. Father Emperor's decree merely commands your father to go to Qiongzhou. Nowhere does it say you must follow."
"That is not for Your Highness to concern yourself with."
Cen Yiyi bristled instantly. Chin lifting as she hugged her military texts to her chest, she exuded the commanding aura of a general's daughter—resolute and proud.
"I follow my father to Qiongzhou in order to train with the naval forces, not to seek comfort."
"What good is there in going to the military?"
Knowing she had already made up her mind, Yun Chuhuan understood that no amount of persuasion would change her course. He grumbled the words under his breath and said no more.
He followed Yun Shu as they exited the private room. His mood had already been poor, and upon descending to the third floor, it soured further.
At the turn of the stairs stood a familiar figure, leaning against the wall. The sight made Yun Chuhuan's expression darken.
"Why does this man linger like a restless spirit? Does he truly believe that loitering around you a few more times will make you marry him, Fifth Elder Sister?"
"Hmm?"
Yun Shu had been speaking with Cen Yiyi, head tilted slightly, but at Yun Chuhuan's words, she followed his gaze.
Sure enough, she saw Huyan Mingchuan leaning casually against a corner pillar, clearly waiting for someone.
When their eyes met, he lifted a hand and offered a relaxed greeting.
"To meet the Crown Princess once more—truly not an easy task."
"So you have finally dropped the act?"
Yun Shu's gaze swept over him without emotion. Her fingers brushed lightly across the bracelet she had just received.
"You do not fear that this Tian Waitian Restaurant might house spies sent by Bei Xiang to keep an eye on you?"
"Is this not a secluded corner?"
Huyan Mingchuan gave a lazy shrug.
"We did have an agreement, did we not? I trust Her Highness would not allow your people to sell me out.
After all, should Bei Xiang truly send assassins to hunt me in the capital, the peace of this realm will be far from intact."
"If you remembered our agreement, you would not have come looking for This Princess today."
They had agreed. He would remain in the capital, but he was not to harass her.
Did his words mean nothing?
Yun Shu's brow furrowed. She was about to rebuke him further when he suddenly pulled a book from within his robes.
"A promise made to Her Highness shall be kept. I came today for no other reason than to return what rightfully belongs to you."
He flicked his wrist and tossed the book—Basic Mathematics—into her hands. A faint, almost mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"One more thing. If I may be bold, Her Highness's standards in choosing a consort are rather... lacking."
"...What?"
Yun Shu was startled. Consort? What consort?
Wait.
Her mind flashed back to the palace banquet. Back then, she had handed him this very book and jokingly stated a condition…
She hurriedly flipped to the final few pages.
As expected, the set of middle-school exam questions that had originally been blank were now filled in, every answer written meticulously.
And more astonishing—every answer was correct.
So this was what it meant to wear out iron shoes in vain, only to find what one sought without effort.
She had searched so long for a mathematical prodigy, and yet he had been here all along.
In hindsight, it made sense. Huyan Mingchuan may be eccentric, but had he not been gifted, he could not have risen to where he stood today.
In this world, even to play the part of a madman in the royal court required true ability.
Closing the book, Yun Shu's eyes flickered with intrigue.
"In that case, This Princess may be able to offer you temporary shelter, somewhere safe from Bei Xiang's eyes and ears."
"Her Highness would not show such kindness without reason."
Huyan Mingchuan's brow rose, clearly intrigued.
"What do you want in return?"
"Until This Princess finds a new instructor, you will teach mathematics at Tian Sheng Academy."
She raised the Basic Mathematics book in her hand.
"Teach this."
"Teach? This?"
Huyan Mingchuan snorted.
"These are things one can grasp with a single glance."
"Yes, the fundamentals are indeed quite simple."
Yun Shu nodded in agreement. Now that she had finally secured someone capable of mastering middle school mathematics in forty to fifty days, she was more patient with him than usual.
"If Teacher Huyan finds it worthwhile, This Princess can also send you Intermediate Mathematics and Advanced Mathematics.
If you manage to grasp those as well, then we can consider Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, and so forth.
I believe those should keep Teacher Huyan well occupied."
"...What?"
Hu Yan Mingchuan stared at her.
What 'abstract', what 'functions'?
There was more beyond Basic Mathematics?
If he had known this earlier, he would never have pretended to be disinterested.
Heavens, his thirst to conquer had long since twisted into something unrelenting and monstrous.
In his youth, he had dedicated himself to one purpose—to trample his so-called blood relatives underfoot. He had pursued that goal with a ferocity unmatched.
Eventually, there was no one in the royal court of Bei Xiang whom he still deemed worthy. Though he had not slain them all yet, he was already ten parts confident in his supremacy.
Bored of his old enemies, he had set his sights on the Crown Princess of Tian Sheng.
And yet, just as he turned his gaze toward her, Yun Shu had tossed him a copy of Basic Mathematics.
These past days, he had buried himself in its pages, studying by candlelight while expanding his network of power, eye bags heavy with sleepless nights.
Now, just as he came to return the book and renew his pursuit, the Crown Princess informed him that this was only the beginning?
That there were more books? Harder ones?
Perhaps... perhaps he ought to reconsider his path.
Should he find the person who authored these infernal volumes and eliminate them first?
Who in their right mind created such torturous knowledge just for leisure?