Pan Ge's eyes suddenly flashed with displeasure.

But she didn't rush to speak up; instead, she chose to let Han Lie handle the situation.

The scheming little princess had immense faith in Han Lie's endless bag of tricks.

And Han Lie, wily as ever, was indeed sensitive enough to immediately feel that undisguised hostility. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The reason? Han Lie mused. No need to even think about it. One look at Pan Ge's clever, mischievous eyes and I know it's definitely about romantic rivalry again. This plot is so cliché, but incredibly realistic. In a village, a desirable girl would have countless suitors lining up, let alone the daughter of a Magic Capital tycoon? Besides, Pan Ge isn't just from a wealthy family; she's an only child with stunning looks and an interesting soul. Isn't it perfectly normal for her to be popular? My love rivals exist now, they'll exist in the future, and they won't disappear even after we're married. Trying to out-jealous them is impossible. It's best to just crush them one by one.

So, he quickly walked over to the elegant Pan Ge, wrapped an arm around her waist, and then responded to Zhao Zhen with a smile.

"Hello, Brother Zhao. My name is Han Lie. The Han from Han Xin, and the Lie from Liezu Liu Bei. Which Zhen is yours? The Zhen from Chongzhen?"

Zhao Zhen cursed inwardly. He was so mad he almost couldn't catch his breath.

It was infuriating enough that Han Lie declared his territory as soon as he arrived, but the words that came out of his mouth were even more infuriating.

You get to be Han Xin or Liezu Liu Bei, but I'm the hanged Chongzhen Emperor? Are you kidding me?! Do I look like such a spendthrift? Do I have the face of someone destined for bankruptcy?!

But as angry as he was, Zhao Zhen found it hard to explain. How could he? Should he say it wasn't the Zhen from Chongzhen, but the Zhen from Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen?

Isn't that as redundant as taking off your pants to fart?!

Han Lie's verbal jabs were too subtle, too malicious, and too difficult to defend against.

Zhao Zhen simply didn't possess Han Lie's quick wit. His mind blanked for a moment, and he responded dryly, "Ah... yes... erm, the character is correct, but my full name is taken from Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty..."

"Oh!" Han Lie exclaimed, looking as if he'd had an epiphany, then gave a thumbs-up. "Emperor Renzong was the first emperor in Huaxia history to have 'Ren' as his temple name. It seems your family had very pure aspirations for you, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Zhen's mood suddenly lifted. He began to think this rival wasn't so detestable after all, and even started to wonder if he himself had been too suspicious.

He's just a young man; surely he can't be that scheming, right?!

Just as this thought flashed through Zhao Zhen's mind, he heard Han Lie continue his commentary.

"Having two empresses, one in life and one in death—Emperor Renzong was truly a man of deep affection..."

Zhao Zhen chuckled inwardly.

Hey! That's spot on! I'm exactly that kind of devoted man, completely faithful!

But just as the corners of his lips curled up, Han Lie's next comment followed—

"...However, such love is truly lamentable. He genuinely loved only two women in his entire life, yet due to pressure from his mother, he couldn't grant them their rightful status. It wasn't until his beloveds passed away that he, enduring his grief, forcibly elevated the deceased to empresses. It truly is..."

F*ck! Something's not right here?! Zhao Zhen's eyes widened.

Before Zhao Zhen could react, Han Lie had smoothly transitioned to his concluding remarks.

"Moreover, Emperor Renzong died without a direct heir, ultimately having to pass the throne to his adopted son, Emperor Yingzong... Brother Zhao, forgive my presumption for speaking so frankly as we've only just met, but your name... erm, your esteemed parents..."

Han Lie was quite cunning, leaving his last two pointed remarks unfinished.

It seemed considerate, but was actually even more ruthless. This was because everyone could infer something, filling in the blanks with what they deemed most appropriate.

And so, as soon as Han Lie finished speaking, a sound like cackling hens erupted beside him.

"CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK..."

Pan Ge's face flushed red from laughing, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she shook with mirth in Han Lie's arms, utterly delighted.

Her best friends and the two wealthy young socialites were also laughing. Why wouldn't they enjoy the show? Zhao Zhen had ignored them to focus solely on Pan Ge; why should they harbor any goodwill towards him?

Their chorus of bell-like laughter was a delight to hear.

To Zhao Zhen, however, it was piercingly jarring, and his anger suddenly flared.

Damn it! Attack me if you want, but do you have to drag my parents into it as well?!

But this was the truth.

His parents weren't highly educated. His father was unrefined but bold and hardworking; his mother, though lacking formal education, was a skillful socializer. Their intentions in choosing his name were good; it was just an unfortunate coincidence that it matched an emperor with such a complicated legacy.

Was Emperor Renzong's reputation bad?

No.

He was the first emperor in Huaxia history to receive 'Ren' as part of his temple name. Beloved by the common people who spontaneously mourned his passing, his fame endured through the ages.

But were the connotations of the name Zhao Zhen, especially after Han Lie's twisting, pleasant?

Not so much.

At least, after listening to Han Lie's brief, slanted account, the two wealthy young women found an opportunity to mock him.

"So Emperor Renzong was a mommy's boy, huh? Even as an emperor, he couldn't decide for himself whom to make Empress. The feudal era was truly terrifying..."

"Having no heir is even more terrifying, right? Was he normal? Weren't emperors supposed to have numerous consorts in their harems? Why couldn't he father children? There must have been something wrong with him in *that* department..."

"Brother Zhao, you're hilarious... Your name... PFFT!"

As Pan Ge's best friend snorted with laughter, Zhao Zhen also 'erupted'.

PFFT!

He felt as if he'd coughed up a mouthful of blood from sheer rage.

To hell with you! Your husband is the mommy's boy! Your future boyfriends will be the ones who are incompetent in bed! I'm perfectly capable!

His face flushed crimson, Zhao Zhen retorted furiously, "Emperor Renzong fathered many children! It was just that medical conditions were poor, so all his male heirs died young! Six of his princesses also died in infancy!"