The Top Scholar Refused the Crown Prince, Then Was Forced into Love

Bai Yu was born into a happy family. His father was the local magistrate, and his mother was one of the most beautiful women around.

Bai Yu passed the county-level imperial examination at fourteen, became a successful candidate in the provincial examination at sixteen, and made a name for himself in the spring metropolitan examination the following year. He then took first place in all three stages of the palace examination, becoming the top scholar at just seventeen.

He was the youngest presented scholar in history, and the top scholar of his year.

Yet all it took was one cup of tea at a teahouse, where he publicly embarrassed Crown Prince Han Cangmin, a man with tremendous power in the palace, for Bai Yu to incur his wrath.

The crown prince then arranged for him to marry the Ministry of Rites minister's fat, ugly adopted son.

How could the top scholar be humiliated like this? Bai Yu was so furious that he cried all night.

The next day, dressed in his wedding clothes, he knelt before the crown prince to apologize.

“This lowly one was wrong, Your Highness. Please take me back.”

Han Cangmin lifted his chin with the tip of his shoe. “This Crown Prince thought you had enough charm to deserve my tender care. You didn't know what was good for you. Do you have to be driven to this before you'll finally submit?”