In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

"Who is Seventeenth Sister?" Xie Wanrou asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Sister-in-law, Seventeenth Sister is the manager of Shufangzhai and also my friend," Xie Yige explained.

Although Xie Wanrou still had doubts, she didn't ask any more questions. She only instructed, "Then you entertain your friends first. I'll go and have someone prepare breakfast for you."

Today, Seventeenth Sister wore a rose-red, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), which made her even more charming and beautiful. She also carried a wooden box in her hand, which she casually placed on the table.

"My poor young mistress," Seventeen Sister approached, gently lifting Xie Yige's chin and examining her closely, "Why do you look so haggard? Did Princess Yuzhen bully you?"

"You also know Princess Yuzhen?"

"Of course I know her." Seventeen sat down by the bed. "She's the Fifth Prince's younger sister. It's hard not to know her."

"The person you're with... isn't that the Sixth Prince?" Xie Yige asked doubtfully.

"Who says I can only pay attention to one prince?" Seventeenth Lady looked at her with a half-smile. "Do you think everyone is as stubborn as you?"

"I thought you liked the Sixth Prince."

"We each get what we need, saying 'I like you' is too much of a burden." Seventeen Niang brushed a stray hair from her forehead, instantly exuding charm. "I don't do things that complicated."

As she spoke, she opened the wooden box and took out two hardcover picture books, each about six pages long.

"What is this?" Xie Yige asked in surprise.

"So you can recognize people, so you won't get bullied later." Seventeen Sister smiled and gently tapped her little head with her finger.

"Wow, Master, there's some gossip here! I want to hear it too!" Dudu's voice rang in my mind.

"Can't you also peek into gossip yourself?"

"That's different! My versions are all incomplete, and Dudu can't see some people with special identities—like your Cui Langjun."

Sigh, that's what congenital malnutrition is like. Xie Yige silently comforted herself.

Seventeen Niang opened the first picture book, and the first person that caught her eye was Cui Yutang, dressed in a sky-blue straight robe. The painter had captured his cool and restrained demeanor so vividly that he seemed as if he might step off the paper at any moment.

"Our young master must know this Mr. Cui better than Seventeen Niang," Seventeen Niang said with a teasing smile.

Xie Yige maintained a calm expression, but her bright red ear tips betrayed her inner turmoil.

"However, I need to give you some additional information about him." Seventeen's expression turned serious for the first time. "The Princess Yuzhen you met yesterday was almost his fiancée. Princess Yuzhen did a lot of outrageous things back then in order to marry him. Cui Yutang even went to Donglin to study in order to refuse the marriage."

I can't believe this actually happened.

Xie Yige's heart skipped a beat. So that's what her brother meant when he said, "His family doesn't even look down on princesses."

"Princess Yuzhen is... quite beautiful," she asked, her words contradicting her true feelings. "Why would he rather leave the capital than agree to the marriage?"

"Then you'll have to ask your Mr. Cui in private." Seventeen raised an eyebrow, not giving a direct answer.

The second painting to be turned over is of the sixth prince, Li Xianhong. In the painting, he is dressed in a white brocade robe, with a graceful and elegant demeanor.

"He is a strong candidate for that position in the future." Seventeen's tone became serious. "But Master said that the Tang royal family will face great turmoil in the future, and that we should lie low. So, young master, remember to stay away from him."

"Then why...?"

"I'll tell you about this when the time is right," she interrupted Xie Yige and turned to the third page.

The third is Liu Yunren, an elegant gentleman, depicted in the painting as a refined and graceful gentleman.

"He's caught the eye of a noblewoman in the harem," Seventeen Sister said seriously. "You should stay even further away from her."

Xie Yige's lips twitched as she listened. How awful!

The fourth one is surprisingly Master Xuanji. In the painting, he has thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes, with a calm gaze, possessing a transcendent beauty and an air of asceticism.

"Seventeenth Sister, you dare to put this in the top of the list?" Xie Yige exclaimed in surprise.

"Our list of the top ten most handsome men in the capital is very objective, fair and just, okay?" Seventeen Sister said proudly, "Regardless of status, it is absolutely fair and just."

"What's the situation between him and Princess Yuzhen?"

"It is said that Princess Yuzhen pursued Cui Langjun repeatedly, but was rejected each time. When she chased him to the Great Ci'en Temple, Master Xuanji tried to hide Cui Langjun's whereabouts, which incurred Princess Yuzhen's wrath." Seventeen sighed, "And then... she forced herself on him."

Xie Yige's heart tightened.

"When Cui Langjun chose to leave the capital, it was not only to refuse the marriage, but also because he felt guilty towards his friend."

Xie Yige gripped the corner of the table tightly with her fingertips, feeling inexplicably heartache and anger. Seventeen Niang patted her hand reassuringly.

The fifth is Yu Xiaoshan, the master of Liuying Pavilion. The person in the painting has a pair of mysterious purple eyes, and his features are handsome and delicate, a rare and divine face.

"This is one of our own people. I'll introduce you to him later," Seventeen Sister said meaningfully.

Then they went through ten more people in succession. To Xie Yige's surprise, Li Zhige was not among them.

"Of course he's not qualified." Seventeen Niang was ruthless in defending the authority of this list. "Not just anyone can be on this list."

After closing the list of handsome men, Seventeen Niang opened the second picture book—the list of noble ladies of Kyoto.

First on the list is Shangguan Wanning, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. Her appearance is aloof and ethereal, and her temperament is like a plum blossom in frost and snow.

"This woman's talent is no less than that of men, and she is a rare, clear-headed person," Seventeen Sister commented.

"I want to talk to you about the person who ranked second."

Xie Yige turned to a page, where it read: Princess Chaoyang – Li Roujia. The woman's eyes were bright and her demeanor dignified and noble.

"She is also one of your master Cui's admirers." Seventeen looked at her, her tone calm. "Compared to Princess Yuzhen, the Cui family prefers this one as their daughter-in-law."

Xie Yige's expression changed.

"However, you don't need to worry too much." Seventeen Sister smiled. "According to the intelligence we have so far, your Mr. Cui is not interested in her."

Xie Yige felt a little more at ease, but couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness.

She absentmindedly looked through the list of ten noble ladies in Kyoto, feeling as if her mind had been instantly filled with information.

"These two picture books are yours to keep. Take your time looking at them." Seventeen Sister tapped the table again with a special rhythm.

"Erjiu, come in."

As soon as Seventeen Niang finished speaking, a woman in black walked in. She had a high ponytail, a slender figure, and sharp eyes. She knelt down on one knee as soon as she entered.

"Erjiu greets the young master."