Wuchen chuckled, "Your Majesty, you may not know, but Ta Xue accepted one hundred taels of silver from him. If this is not successful, won't she have to return it?"
Just as Xue Xingyue was about to speak, Wuchen was called away by a palace attendant. A moment later, Wuchen returned and said, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince has also sent someone, saying he wishes to invite Your Majesty for a drink to apologize!"
"Tell the Third Prince, he may set the time!"
Ta Xue's eyes lit up, "Your Majesty, why did you agree again?"
Xue Xingyue heard this and said, "When two tigers fight, one must lose."
Ta Xue nodded, "Then this servant will go and reply to the Third Prince."
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Go!"
Qi Yuheng actually didn't have much hope for inviting the Empress, thinking she would surely refuse. He never expected the Empress to agree.
"You really agreed?" Qi Yuheng still had doubts.
A Ling said, "Does Your Highness not trust your subordinate?"
Qi Yuheng shook his head, "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just a bit strange. Yesterday, he clearly saw that the Empress was only cold to him, even disgusted. I didn't expect the Empress to agree today."
A Ling heard this and said, "This subordinate spent one hundred taels of silver just to have the Empress's maid announce it."
"When did you get to know the Empress's maid?" Qi Yuheng asked.
A Ling's face turned red. A Da, standing nearby, couldn't help but say, "Isn't it just yesterday, he grabbed the maid's skirt and wouldn't let go?"
A Ling's face turned even redder, "I... I didn't mean to."
"I didn't say you grabbed the girl's skirt and wouldn't let go," A Da teased.
A Ling, both shy and angry, said, "I... I really didn't mean to. I just saw Your Highness was struggling and acted rashly."
"A Da, that's enough!" Qi Yuheng interrupted A Da.
A Da closed his mouth. Qi Yuheng said, "Instead of wasting time, why don't you go find out where they make the best peach blossom cake in the capital?"
A Da rose, "Your Highness, your subordinate will go now."
Qi Yuming, having heard that the Empress refused him but agreed to Qi Yuheng's invitation, was naturally filled with jealousy. Ming Tang knelt on the ground, "Please punish me, Your Highness. It is my subordinate's incompetence."
Qi Yuming heard this and said, "This is not your fault. In fact, it's not your fault at all. It's just that Qi Yuheng insisted on competing with this Highness."
"Your Highness, does the Empress doing this mean..."
"The Empress must be angry with this Highness. If my good third brother hadn't interfered, the Empress wouldn't have known. Now he dares to come and compete with this Highness. This Highness cannot stand this insult."
"Your Highness, what do you need your subordinate to do?" Ming Tang asked.
"Go find out where my good third brother is inviting the Empress."
Ming Tang said, "Yes, Your Highness."
The day of Qi Yuheng's banquet arrived. He had booked the entire Mingyue Tower, as with the Empress's arrival, no idle people should be present.
"Your Highness, everything is arranged. No suspicious individuals will appear," A Da said.
"Be extra careful and cautious!" Qi Yuheng instructed. If anything went wrong, he would be undeniably responsible.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has arrived!" A Ling quickly came before Qi Yuheng and whispered.
Qi Yuheng walked out of Mingyue Tower and saw a carriage stopped in front of the entrance. A delicate maid alighted from the carriage. He recognized her as the maid whose skirt A Ling had pulled a few days ago at Huguo Temple, whose name seemed to be Ta Xue.
Ta Xue did not leave but helped Xue Xingyue, who then alighted. Xue Xingyue looked up and immediately saw the Third Prince, Qi Yuheng, standing at the entrance of Mingyue Tower.
Qi Yuheng quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty."
Xue Xingyue said, "Third Prince, there is no need for such formalities."
"Your Majesty, please," Qi Yuheng quickly invited Xue Xingyue into Mingyue Tower.
Upon entering Mingyue Tower and seeing it empty, Xue Xingyue knew that Qi Yuheng had invested heavily.
Qi Yuheng chose a private room by the window, from where he could see what was happening below.
"This place is nice," Xue Xingyue said.
Qi Yuheng felt a slight joy, thinking that at least the Empress was satisfied for now.
Soon, someone came to serve the dishes. The dishes were light and exquisite, appearing very delicious.
Qi Yuheng looked out the window, somewhat absent-minded.
Seeing this, Xue Xingyue asked, "If the Third Prince has something to attend to, you may leave."
Qi Yuheng quickly shook his head, "Your Majesty misunderstands. There is nothing, I am just waiting for something."
After waiting for a long time and no one delivered anything, Qi Yuheng looked at the food, which had lost its warmth, and apologized, "Your Majesty, please be seated!"
Xue Xingyue sat down, and Qi Yuheng said, "These are the finest dishes from Mingyue Tower. Your Majesty, please try them."
Xue Xingyue did not stand on ceremony and tasted each dish, finding them indeed worthy of their reputation.
Qi Yuheng poured a cup of wine and said, "Your Majesty, please!"
Ta Xue, standing by, picked up the cup and tasted it. Seeing that it was not poisoned, she passed it to Xue Xingyue.
All the dishes had been tested and confirmed to be safe before the Empress was allowed to taste them.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Third Prince."
"Your Majesty is too kind. In fact, I have yet to repay Your Majesty for saving my life!"
"It was merely a small gesture. Third Prince, you are too polite."
"Your Highness has bought it!" someone shouted from outside the door.
Ta Xue opened the door and saw the guard who had grabbed her skirt that day and had been laughed at by Wuchen. Her expression turned cold, "Shouting so loudly, aren't you afraid of disturbing His Majesty's presence?"
A Ling then noticed that his Highness's face seemed quite dark. He had the urge to turn and run.
Ta Xue snatched the brocade box from his hand and asked, "What is this?"
"Peach blossom cake!" A Ling replied.
Ta Xue was stunned and turned to look at Xue Xingyue. Clearly, Xue Xingyue had also heard these words.
"Your Majesty, this was meticulously prepared for you. I hope you will like it." Qi Yuheng took the brocade box from Ta Xue and approached Xue Xingyue.