Those people’s intentions were very clear to Qiann Yan; she didn’t plan to avoid them, nor was it any trouble. Seeing their various performances each time was just like watching a play.

If they wanted to come and brought things with them, she would meet them.

Over time, as this continued, they would find it fruitless and naturally stop coming; this worked much better than avoiding them.

After Ashui understood this, he said no more. The Commandery Princess was indeed more astute than him—it’s possible to evade for a while, but not forever; whenever those people had the chance, they’d always disturb the Commandery Princess.

Now she met people and accepted their gifts but did not reciprocate, which probably infuriated them.

Half a month passed, and the young princess consorts related to the princes of lesser ages seldom visited.

In private, they complained that Princess Anning accepts but does not reciprocate; no matter how many times you visit, it’s useless. She is so thick-skinned that there’s no point in sending things.

They weren’t fools; they couldn’t possibly send things to her for nothing.

The once bustling Commandery Princess Mansion grew quieter again.

Yet, those marriageable princes persisted in coming over relentlessly. Qiann Yan welcomed them all the same, always offering two cups of tea each time.

These few seemed to be competing in endurance, showing no sign of giving up.

Qiann Yan didn’t mind the trouble, and Ashui felt it was like watching clowns perform. But Jing Xiyu couldn’t quite bear it, always feeling that Qiann Yan looked as if she were selecting a suitable husband.

This was someone Jing Xiyu had his eyes on; he absolutely couldn’t allow others to touch her.

After half a month, fewer and fewer princes came looking for Qiann Yan, and upon inquiry, it turned out they had been particularly unlucky recently. Either falling or getting sick, none could recover quickly.

"Commandery Princess, it’s Jing Xiyu; he even spread rumors about you, claiming you’re a husband killer." Ashui was a bit angered; was Jing Xiyu trying to create drama?

Qiann Yan: "Ignore it. Since he’s happy to deal with his own brothers, let him be."

Ashui found Qiann Yan had no regard for Jing Xiyu, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, such petty men weren’t worthy of the Commandery Princess; her standards were high, how could she possibly fancy them?

These princes, upon coming of age, would have two close palace maids, none of whom were clean, yet they dared to approach the Commandery Princess—how presumptuous.

To be near the Commandery Princess, cleanliness was the first requirement.

The matter of Qiann Yan bringing calamity to husbands spread first in the Capital City, then throughout Great Zhou, and later turned into rumors that she was a lone star of disaster, not only bringing ruin to husbands but also to family.

Why else would she be a solitary figure now?

Taking everything into account, everyone believed she was a lone star of disaster.

The princes who used to visit had all disappeared, leaving no trace, and the Commandery Princess Mansion was thoroughly quiet.

Qiann Yan wasn’t idle. She was preparing for future travels throughout Great Zhou, instructing the Wu Family Brothers to collect local features from each place in Great Zhou, planning to visit them all one by one.

Meanwhile, the princes were embroiled in the storm of contending for the throne, full of intrigue; each day, a prince would make a mistake and be harshly criticized by the Emperor. The exclusion and competition among princes were intensifying, unstoppable now.

Jing Xiyu showed no intention of revealing himself; rather, he feigned illness, appearing constantly sickly and on the verge of life-threatening. For several months it remained so, convincing those who thought he was faking; this Seventh Prince seemed truly near death, even the Emperor showed more fatherly affection towards him.

"As the Commandery Princess anticipated, Jing Xiyu is truly a character; poisoning himself is a decisive and ruthless move." Ashui remarked.