Chu Feiyan was clearly in a bad mood, her nose and eyes red, indicating she had been crying.
Upon seeing Chu Qianli enter, her expression darkened further.
Head bowed, on the verge of tears, her eyes seemed ready to fall at any moment.
Feng Qihe was comforting her, "If the County Princess is feeling unwell, how about I accompany you for a walk?"
However, Chu Feiyan's gaze bypassed him, settling on Feng Yexuan to his side.
Prince Xuan was silently drinking, waiting for the Empress Dowager, not saying a word, nor sparing her a glance.
Chu Feiyan felt wronged and then looked at Feng Qihe, "The Empress Dowager is hosting a banquet, how can I dare to leave early? Even if I am bullied, I can only wait quietly."
"Who dares to bully Princess Feiyan?" Feng Qihe seemed indignant.
Chu Feiyan bit her lip, glanced at Chu Qianli, and that look, even a blind person could see, was filled with resentment.
Afterward, she simply lowered her head, shook it, and remained silent.
Appearing extremely wronged yet afraid to speak.
In truth, she didn't understand what was going on with this Prince He. Not long ago, he had been protecting Chu Qianli.
But today, upon seeing her, he was trying to please her in every way.
Chu Feiyan enjoyed being flattered by a handsome man, and for a moment, her grievances subsided, though her face remained pitiful.
Towards Chu Qianli, however, her hatred was genuine and absolute.
Feng Qihe's gaze also fell upon Chu Qianli, a flicker of something flashing in his eyes before quickly turning to disgust.
He said indifferently, "If they are just some unimportant people, then forget about them. Some people cannot be judged by their appearance. You think she is pure and simple, but in reality, her ambition is sky-high, and her heart is as venomous as a snake."
Finally, he picked up a cup of wine and drained it in one gulp.
It was as if he were burdened with many thoughts.
Although Feng Qihe's voice was not loud, Chu Qianli could hear it clearly.
He was talking about her, wasn't he? The implication was so obvious, and he had even glanced at her a couple of extra times while speaking.
She simply didn't know when she had offended this Prince He again.
A man's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; when it's unfathomable, it's better to pretend not to know.
Princess Ling led Chu Qianli to Feng Yexuan and Feng Qihe, smiling faintly at Feng Qihe, "Is this Prince He from the Northern Underworld Kingdom?"
"This must be Prince Xuan."
She said with a smile, "I am Princess Ling, greetings to both princes."
Feng Qihe smiled at her, "Greetings, Princess Ling."
Feng Yexuan also looked at him and politely said, "A pleasure."
But he remained unenthusiastic, as cold as an ice mountain.
Cold and arrogant, this man was not easy to approach.
So Princess Ling only exchanged a few pleasantries before leading Chu Qianli to her own seat.
It turned out to be directly opposite Feng Yexuan and Feng Qihe.
"Other princes..." Chu Qianli was somewhat surprised. Such an important position should have been reserved for the princes.
Princess Ling leaned closer to her and whispered, "The Empress Dowager is hosting this banquet, but she did not invite the other princes, only these two."
She was, of course, referring to Feng Yexuan and Feng Qihe.
Chu Qianli thought for a moment, and then suddenly, it dawned on her, "Is this to choose consorts for the County Princesses?"
"Only one of the purposes." Princess Ling smiled mysteriously, about to say something when she heard a wet nurse call out, "The Empress Dowager has arrived."
The two immediately stood up. Before the Empress Dowager's arrival, Princess Ling whispered in an even softer voice, "Every banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager has a purpose, which is to... select beauties for the Emperor! You today... are also one of the chosen ones."