The Crown Princess was amused, giggling until she finished. Then, with utmost seriousness, she said, "My dear sister-in-law, you mustn't speak like that. We each have our own merits, neither of us inferior to the other. Why put yourself down so?"
As she spoke, she surveyed Lu Qingwan from head to toe with an appreciative gaze. "Looking across the entirety of Zhongzhou, there are fewer than five people whose appearance surpasses yours. But if others were to hear your words and use them against you, it would be difficult to refute them then."
She turned and lightly chided Feng Xiwu, "Feng Wu, you too. Praise your wife more often. You need to get her accustomed to compliments and flattery so she doesn't become uncomfortable and self-deprecating every time someone praises her."
Feng Xiwu was bewildered by the scolding, while Lu Qingwan paused before realizing. Her lighthearted joke had apparently made the Crown Princess believe she was a neglected waif, suffering from a fear of praise!
She quickly clarified for Feng Xiwu, "Imperial Sister-in-law, you misunderstand. I truly said that because I cherish your words. If anyone else dared to call me ugly, I'd be the one blinding them, not feeling self-deprecating. That simply doesn't exist."
The Crown Princess eyed her and Feng Xiwu with a mixture of belief and doubt. "Truly?"
Feng Xiwu, having caught up, was amused and exasperated. "Imperial Sister-in-law, please rest assured. She's the type who believes she can fly just by flapping her arms. If anyone in this world lacks confidence, it won't be her."
He said this, ignoring Lu Qingwan's glare, and stepped forward to put his arm around her waist, walking alongside his brother and sister-in-law.
The Crown Princess remained somewhat worried, while Lu Qingwan found herself both amused and deeply touched. Being so far from home, it was rare to have someone who cared so much about her feelings.
Separating from Feng Xiwu, she moved to link arms with the Crown Princess, engaging her in conversation. "Why are you visiting the palace today as well?"
"His Highness said that as this is your first time in the palace, you might not be familiar with the customs of Qin, so he asked me to accompany you, to ensure no one takes advantage of you," she whispered into Lu Qingwan's ear. "My father is the Grand Censor, holding the power to oversee all officials. Publicly, no one dares to bully me. If you have any grievances, don't hold them in; I'll support you."
Lu Qingwan chuckled lightly. "I understand. But don't you worry either. Look at the lady beside me; she's a female warrior who can knock down burly men with a single punch. I won't be taken advantage of."
The Crown Princess, being a lady of the inner chambers and not having frequented military camps like Lu Qingwan, cast a surprised and admiring glance at Ru Yue.
Ru Yue, who had overheard their whispered conversation, pursed her lips speechlessly. A female warrior was one thing, but knocking down burly men with one punch—wasn't that a bit exaggerated?
While the two sisters-in-law murmured amongst themselves, the Crown Prince behind them playfully teased Feng Xiwu, "I heard that when Yuan'er was in the manor, your wife rarely gave you a second thought. Now that my Crown Princess has arrived, you've been overshadowed again. How does that feel?"
Feng Xiwu glared good-naturedly at his brother, who seemed to enjoy stirring up trouble. "How does it feel to want to kill Gengshi Emperor this instant? Want to experience it with me?"
The Crown Prince was startled and discreetly glanced around. Seeing that no one had overheard Feng Xiwu's audacious remark, his racing heart finally settled. "Don't be foolish. If we only wanted to kill him, why would we have endured all these years? We need irrefutable evidence, to nail him to the pillar of shame for fratricide and patricide. Otherwise, Father and the others died in vain!"
Feng Xiwu nodded listlessly. "I know."
The Crown Prince, mistaking his mood for youthful impetuosity and eagerness for revenge, patted his shoulder in reassurance. Feng Xiwu's gaze, however, remained fixed on Lu Qingwan, as if drawn by an invisible tether, unable to look away.
"Your servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince, Her Highness the Crown Princess, Your Highness Prince Qin, and Her Highness Princess Qin. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and Her Consort Li have been waiting for some time. Please, everyone, come in."
The elderly eunuch stooped and gestured for Lu Qingwan and the others to enter Zichen Palace. The solemn and majestic palace, built primarily in black with purple and gold accents, exuded a grandeur that far surpassed the brick-red and golden palaces of Da Gan. It looked like a colossal beast coiled in the heart of Zhongzhou, instilling an inexplicable tension in everyone.
Following the eunuch, they all bowed in unison. "Your servant greets His Majesty, the Empress. We pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
"Rise, all of you!" A slightly weary male voice commanded, and they obeyed.
Lu Qingwan's eyes fell upon a middle-aged man seated on the main throne, clad in a black robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon. Beside him sat an elderly woman in a deep purple robe embroidered with the character 'Fu' for fortune. Her hair was almost entirely white, adorned with a hollowed, carved gold crown that gathered her hair into a bun. She sat there with an imposing presence, exuding authority without anger.
To the left and right of these two sat two women. Beside Emperor Gengshi sat a woman in a black gown embroidered with peony-like patterns, wearing a similar floral crown. And beside the elderly woman sat a consort in a snow-blue 'Hezi' dress, her bosom partially exposed, her hair styled in a high 'duoma' bun. She was currently scrutinizing Lu Qingwan and her entourage without restraint.
Then, without warning, she spoke, "His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager summoned Prince Qin and his wife to the palace, and yet the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have also arrived. This is truly… brotherly affection!"
What seemed like an innocuous remark caused the Emperor on the throne to subtly darken his expression. "Crown Prince, I assigned you to assist the Prime Minister in the screening of new officials this year. Why are you in the palace today? Has the selection of officials concluded?"
Si Fengming, the Crown Prince, replied calmly, "Replying to Your Majesty, as per your command, the first round of screening for new officials this year has been concluded. However, the proportion of candidates from humble backgrounds was unusually high. The Prime Minister believes it prudent to discuss this further with the officials before reporting to Your Majesty. Therefore, I have indeed been unoccupied these past few days. Hearing that His Majesty summoned Prince Qin and his wife, I was concerned that it was their first formal audience with His Majesty, and they might inadvertently make mistakes. As their elder brother, I could not rest easy and thus accompanied them, hoping they have not caused His Majesty any trouble."
Si Fengming's earnest explanation almost made Lu Qingwan burst out laughing. It was brilliant! Consort Li had made a sarcastic remark, subtly implying that the Crown Prince accompanying her and Feng Xiwu to the palace indicated a lack of trust in Emperor Gengshi. And he had directly addressed it.
Emperor Gengshi's expression stiffened, and Consort Li’s face showed annoyance. The Empress Lan, sitting beside the Emperor, smoothly intervened with a smile. "The Crown Prince speaks wisely. With your elder brother as such an esteemed example, how could Prince Qin, your own brother, be far behind? His Majesty awaits your brothers' assistance. Prince Qin must not follow your elder brother's example of false modesty. His Majesty's lineage is thin; you brothers must diligently assist His Majesty."