I am the champion of palace intrigue, and even the proud prince bows his head in submission.

Chapter 567 Xie Jue's storyline: The marriage is already arranged?

Beside her, the young empress was also present, dressed in a light gold palace gown, her features still innocent and youthful.

She was only thirteen years old, the same age as Gao Che. Although young, she already had the bearing of an empress. When she saw Gao Wanzhi, she smiled and called out, "Sister Wanzhi."

Gao Wanzhi bowed in return and said softly, "Your Majesty."

Hearing the noise, Jiang Huaiyu turned around and met Gao Wanzhi's gaze.

His eyes flickered slightly. "Princess."

Gao Wanzhi nodded slightly and said calmly, "Young Master Jiang."

The little queen happily greeted her, took her hand and sat her down beside her, "Sister Wanzhi, you've finally come! I've been so bored."

Gao Wanzhi was amused by her words, "Who made our Empress angry?"

"Hmph, all those people in the palace make me angry and refuse to play with me. They just talk nicely at me."

Not far away, a group of noble ladies sat together, some gently waving fans, others whispering, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Someone asked, "Madam Jiang, Young Master Huaiyu has reached the age; has he chosen a wife yet?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Madam Jiang.

Madam Jiang smiled with a hint of helplessness, "This child has a lot of ideas, and I, as his mother, can't interfere."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Gao Wanzhi, who was sitting next to the young empress, and said with a smile, "If I could make the decision, I would have married Wanzhi as my daughter-in-law long ago."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone laughed, taking it as a joke from an elder.

To everyone's surprise, Gao Wanzhi didn't join in the laughter as usual. Instead, she calmly said, "The Jiang family is doing quite well too."

The atmosphere suddenly tensed up, as if someone had gently plucked a string on a musical instrument.

Madam Jiang was startled. Jiang Huaiyu, who was not far away, suddenly heard a familiar voice, and his heart skipped a beat.

He turned to look at Gao Wanzhi, and suddenly a deafening roar filled his ears.

Does this mean he also has a chance?

After she finished speaking, she said no more. Although the others were slightly surprised, they quickly followed the topic and started chatting about other things.

As the flower show ended, people gradually left, but Jiang Huaiyu did not go far.

He waited in the corridor behind a rockery, where Gao Wanzhi was talking to the young empress.

As she turned to leave, he quickly stepped forward to meet her.

"Princess," Jiang Huaiyu said in a lower voice, "may I have something to say to you?"

Gao Wanzhi stopped, and the two found a secluded spot.

Jiang Huaiyu took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on her face, and said directly, "Wanzhi, I love you, I've always loved you. I want to marry you and protect you for the rest of my life from this day forward. Are you willing?"

Gao Wanzhi looked at him and paused.

Just when Jiang Huaiyu thought she would refuse, she suddenly nodded slightly and smiled, "Okay."

His eyes lit up, and the composure in his eyes was overshadowed by that moment of joy.

His voice was low and hoarse, "Wanzhi, really?"

Gao Wanzhi nodded.

Xie Jue didn't like her and treated her like a younger sister, so she didn't want to humiliate herself any further.

The other party has already made their point clear; there's no need to keep bringing it up...

Xie Jue doesn't like her, but it's not like she's unwanted.

Evening, at the Princess's residence.

The maidservant delivered the letter from that morning to Gao Wanzhi.

After reading it, Gao Wanzhi calmly closed the letter and said, "Keep it."

The maid took the letter and couldn't help but ask, "Princess, what did Young Master Xie write?"

"It's nothing. He said he has something to do in the south and needs to go there."

The maid sighed, "Princess, isn't it a bit too hasty for you to agree to Young Master Jiang's marriage proposal today?"

Gao Wanzhi didn't speak, but just quietly looked out the window.

"Go and rest, it's getting late."

The maidservant tactfully withdrew, leaving her alone in the room.

The next morning, the area in front of the Princess's residence was bustling with activity.

One after another, the Jiang family's carriages stopped. Madam Jiang, along with Jiang Huaiyu and a matchmaker, slowly stepped down, followed by several servants carrying sixteen loads of betrothal gifts, covered with red cloth and silk.

Gao Yunzhi was stunned by the scene. "Xiufang, what are you doing?"

Madam Jiang smiled and bowed. "Yesterday at Luoying Terrace, my son proposed to Wanzhi. Wanzhi accepted, so we've come to propose marriage right away."

Gao Yunzhi was even more stunned.

She missed the flower viewing party yesterday because of palace affairs. How come the marriage is already arranged in the blink of an eye?

Or is it Jiang Huaiyu?

Although the child was refined and polite, a newly appointed top scholar, and came from a respectable family, she had never heard Wanzhi mention him.

She rubbed her temples, feeling a slight headache, and turned to instruct her maid, "Go, invite the princess over."

A moment later, Gao Wanzhi stepped into the main hall. Gao Yunzhi looked at her and asked in a deep voice, "Is what Madam Jiang said true?"

"It's true. I'm willing to marry into the Jiang family."

"You...are you really sure?"

"Think it through."

Gao Yunzhi closed her eyes and finally sighed softly, "Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I can't stop you anymore."

Madam Jiang's face lit up with joy, and she quickly called for someone to present the betrothal gift list.

And so, the marriage was quickly arranged, and the news spread throughout the capital in just a few days.

"Princess Anhe is going to marry the Jiang family's newest top scholar."

"Really? Why so suddenly?"

The news quickly spread throughout the capital, sparking widespread discussion.

The inner courtyard of the Prince's Mansion.

Qin Jiuwei was sitting under the eaves talking to Xie Jingchun when she heard a maid rushing in to report.

She raised an eyebrow and looked up at the person who had come in: "Whose marriage are you talking about?"

"It is Princess Anhe and Young Master Jiang of the Jiang family. Madam Jiang personally brought a matchmaker to propose marriage today, and the Princess has already agreed."

Qin Jiuwei slowly sat up straight, but her expression still showed that she had not yet recovered from the shock.

"This child isn't..." she murmured, then suddenly stopped, her brows furrowing. "Does Xie Jue know?"

Xie Jingchun shook his head, "He probably doesn't know. He left the mansion last night."

Qin Jiuwei sighed heavily, went into the room, and picked up a pen to write a letter.

After writing it, she sealed the letter, summoned a maid, and said, "Send this letter to Xie Jue, on the fastest horse, traveling day and night."

The maid immediately took it and turned to leave.

Qin Jiuwei raised her hand to rub her temples, and sighed again, "This child, if he doesn't get it soon, he'll really regret it for the rest of his life..."

In Jiangnan, a light drizzle falls.

Xie Jue stood on the dock. "Have you found out?"

The accountant wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly replied, "We've found out. The problem occurred in the transshipment process in Jiangzhou. Someone secretly switched the goods, and the money is gone forever. Our men have already set their sights on two businesses there, and are just waiting for your orders, young master."

Xie Jue didn't speak, his brows furrowing even more tightly.

He thought it would be resolved in ten days, but he didn't expect that more people would be involved than he had imagined, including some local officials.

"Keep things calm and don't make a fuss," Xie Jue instructed in a deep voice. "I will personally go to Jiangzhou tomorrow."

"Yes."

Changqing, standing beside him, glanced at him, hesitating to speak, "Young Master, you didn't have lunch today, and you didn't sleep much last night either. If this continues..."

"I'm fine," Xie Jue interrupted calmly. "Give me another copy of the account books that were delivered yesterday. I'll go through them carefully again tonight."

Changqing opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't try to persuade him, only softly replying, "Yes."