Chapter 1 Stillness Amidst Song and Dance

Within the Taiji Hall, songs and dances continued in full swing.

No one's mood was dampened by the departure of Qiu Shiyi Niang and Xie Qiyun.

Only You Wanwan had been feeling uneasy ever since Qiu Shiyi Niang left.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Xie Qiyun still hadn't returned. She finally grew restless.

Frowning, she instructed the maid beside her, "Go and see why the First Prince hasn't returned yet."

At that moment, the Consort Shu, who was not far away, suddenly spoke, acting coquettishly with Emperor Wei Jing.

"Your Majesty, it's so boring just sitting here. The plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom, and the narcissus are also doing well. Only the Imperial Garden offers such beautiful scenery this season."

"How about we move to the Imperial Garden and have everyone compose poems inspired by the flowers?"

Consort Shu was the most favored concubine in the past two years besides Consort Liu, and also the youngest among the consorts. She was only twenty-two years old this year, with a beautiful and charming appearance and a sweet voice.

The moment she opened her mouth, not just men, but even women couldn't resist her.

Emperor Wei Jing turned his head, smiled at her with great affection, and then turned to the crowd and said, "Consort Shu's suggestion is good. Let's go, prepare the procession to the Imperial Garden."

Thus, a group of dozens of people marched mightily towards the Imperial Garden.

It took some time to travel from the Taiji Hall to the Imperial Garden.

Yu Qingwu followed closely beside Xie Jin Yan, walking cautiously. The princes and princesses, on the other hand, were quite casual, chatting and laughing all the way. Only the Sixth Princess, Xie Ruizhi, still had red eyes, looking at Xie Jin Yan from time to time, and then at Empress Zhou, her eyes filled with tears.

At this moment, the Fifth Princess, Xie Rongrong, suddenly approached. She smiled and asked knowingly, "Sixth Sister, what's wrong with you? On such a festive day, why do you look like you've been crying?"

Xie Ruizhi had always been at odds with Xie Rongrong. Seeing Xie Rongrong's sarcastic tone, she couldn't help but glare at her and say, "None of your business! Mind your own affairs!"

Hearing this, Xie Rongrong frowned, looking innocent. "Sixth Sister, I'm just showing concern as your older sister. If you don't appreciate it, that's fine, but why are you being so rude?"

Xie Rongrong's 'innocence' further provoked Xie Ruizhi. Her expression became even angrier, and she retorted sharply, "Xie Rongrong, stop being so sarcastic! If you have time to worry about others, take care of your own marriage first! I heard that your mother is planning to marry you to her good-for-nothing nephew, the Fourth Young Master Liu! Who doesn't know that the Fourth Young Master Liu loves to frequent brothels? He even contracted a venereal disease before, and Father Emperor had to send an imperial physician to treat him!"

Xie Ruizhi's words were spoken rather loudly. In an instant, the other princesses and princes, as well as the members of the imperial clan, all turned their heads.

Xie Rongrong's body trembled violently, and her face instantly turned liver-colored.

But soon, she calmed down again, glanced at Xie Jin Yan, who was walking in front, and sneered at Xie Ruizhi in a sarcastic tone, "So what if he contracted a venereal disease? My mother only intends to arrange a marriage with the Liu family, it doesn't necessarily mean I have to marry that Fourth Liu. Which of my three older cousins and five younger cousins aren't outstanding talents? Unlike your own elder brother, who crawls over like a dog at the beck and call of a Qiu family girl..."

"And your mother, she doesn't even dote on her own daughter, but insists on doting on someone else's daughter. Oh, right, I almost forgot about Brother Xu. Brother Xu is the most affectionate towards Shiyi Niang..."

"It's no wonder Shiyi Niang is like that, it's just that some people are wilful and only know how to use swords and spears..."

The more Xie Rongrong spoke, the more excited she became. Seeing that Xie Ruizhi's eyes were even redder, her expression became even more smug.

Curving her lips, she took another step closer to Xie Ruizhi, and said slowly and deliberately, "Tell me, who would like a Southern Yue half-breed? Even your own mother despises you..."

"Xie Rongrong! Do you believe I'll make you regret it!" Xie Ruizhi gritted her teeth, her fists clenched tighter and tighter...

"Southern Yue half-breed? Is the Fifth Princess insulting the Empress Dowager?"

Just as she was about to kick Xie Rongrong away, a clear and cold female voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

Hearing this, the princes and princesses all turned their heads.

Xie Rongrong was stunned, and looked somewhat guiltily at Yu Qingwu, who had walked up to them at some point.

For some reason, even though the other party was just a merchant's daughter, she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine when she met those cold eyes.

She pursed her lips and stammered in retort, "Fifth Imperial Sister-in-law, be careful with your words, don't slander people..."

"Slander people?" Yu Qingwu scoffed, coldly scanning the princes and princesses, neither humble nor arrogant, "Everyone heard clearly what the Fifth Princess just said, how am I slandering people?"

"It's you, Fifth Princess, who are insulting your own sisters who share the same blood, may I ask, where do you place His Majesty?"

Yu Qingwu's lips curved into a smile, her eyes mocking and scornful.

She would feel pressured when facing Emperor Wei Jing, but when facing these princes and princesses, she, who had crawled out of a pile of corpses, would not feel any fear.

On the contrary, the princes and princesses were immediately stunned, looking at each other, none of them daring to speak.

Xie Rongrong was also choked speechless...

She pursed her lips for a long time, reluctantly retorting to Yu Qingwu, "Fifth Sister-in-law, your words are so sharp. I didn't mean to do it on purpose. I was kindly showing concern for Sixth Sister, but she insulted me, so I was just angry for a moment and couldn't help but fight back."

"Show concern? Who shows concern with a sarcastic tone?" Yu Qingwu snorted, then turned to look at the Third Princess and Fourth Princess, and asked, "Furthermore, may I ask the two princesses, is it true what the Sixth Princess said about Consort Gui intending to marry the Fifth Princess to the Liu family's Fourth Young Master? Is it also true that the Fourth Young Master Liu likes to frequent brothels and has contracted a venereal disease?"

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

The Third Princess and Fourth Princess looked at each other, their faces turning red, but neither of them answered.

The birth mothers of the two of them were not favored, and their maternal families were not influential in the court. They dared not offend Xie Rongrong, the daughter of Consort Liu, nor Xie Ruizhi, who was a di princess.

In the end, it was the Sixth Prince who spoke first. He glanced at Xie Rongrong, then looked at Yu Qingwu, stammering, "Replying to Imperial Sister-in-law, these... are indeed all true..."

"Xie Qinwei!" Xie Rongrong shouted sharply, immediately threatening Xie Qinwei with her eyes.

The usually most timid Xie Qinwei seemed to have taken the wrong medicine today. Before Xie Rongrong could finish speaking, she immediately raised her voice and shouted angrily, "I... I was just stating the facts! Why does Imperial Sister have to be so fierce?"

"You..." Xie Rongrong was furious.

Yu Qingwu smiled and continued, "So, Fifth Princess, Sixth Sister was just telling the truth, why are you so humiliated? It is you, Fifth Princess, who have insulted your own sisters, as well as the Empress and His Majesty, may I ask... what should be the punishment?"

Xie Rongrong bit her lip, unable to speak.

"Who's there!" Just as the two of them were deadlocked, a stern voice suddenly came from the front, from Consort Shu.

Immediately after, a familiar and seductive voice came from behind the rockery.