During their newlywed phase, the Crown Prince was happy to dote on Wei Yu, naturally choosing to spend his nights in her chambers.
This was one reason.
Another was that for his position as Crown Prince to remain secure, he needed to father a legitimate heir as soon as possible.
Now that he was angry and no longer inclined to dote on Wei Yu, she had no choice but to endure it.
No man lived his life with only one woman.
He was the Crown Prince, and would one day be Emperor; a harem was inevitable.
Even the Emperor, after many years of affection with Consort Wei, still brought a host of young and beautiful women into the palace during the annual selection.
This was the Crown Prince's mindset.
It was normal, but Wei Yu was determined to outshine Wang Qingyao, and naturally felt a surge of defiance.
If Prince Ding'an could do it, why couldn't the Crown Prince?
Wei Yu knew this thought was naive, and after a night of anger, she began to strategize.
Since the Emperor was aware of the situation, she had to make an appearance, however reluctant.
Thus, the Crown Princess hosted another banquet in the Eastern Palace.
This time, she changed the theme to a flower arrangement banquet.
As the name suggested, it involved arranging flowers, much like modern flower arrangement.
The people of Da Sheng loved flowers, and the custom of wearing flowers in their hair was popular, with flower arrangement being an art form prevalent among the upper class.
It was spring now, the most beautiful season of the year, with flowers blooming in a riot of colors, and vendors selling them everywhere on the streets.
Because Wang Qingyao was "forbidden to enter the palace without summons," Wei Yu had no choice but to request it from the Emperor.
After speaking, her face flushed, and she knelt with her head bowed, not daring to look at the Emperor.
The Emperor joked, "Don't you dislike Consort Ding'an? Why are you inviting her again?"
Wei Yu broke out in a cold sweat, forcing a smile to explain, "Your Majesty misunderstands. This humble servant does not dislike Consort Ding'an. It was all a misunderstanding. This humble servant is inviting Consort Ding'an this time precisely to explain things properly."
Since Wei Yu had put it that way, the Emperor had no reason to refuse.
This time, Wei Yu invited fewer people. Besides seven or eight of her close friends, only Feng Jiangduo and Wang Qingyao were familiar to her.
Wei Qing did not attend for some unknown reason.
The weather today was pleasant, neither too cold nor too hot, with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze.
Wei Yu moved the flower arrangement venue to the rear garden.
She had long ago sent people to the market to procure a large batch of fresh flowers, including peonies, peach blossoms, Chinese tree peonies, and magnolias. These flowers were particularly fresh, their petals still adorned with glistening dewdrops.
No woman dislikes flowers.
Wang Qingyao liked them too.
However, as for flower arrangement, she simply placed her bought flowers in vases, letting them last as long as they could. There was no artistic merit to it.
Several types of vases were prepared for the flower arrangement, including baskets, porcelain vases, jade vases, and bronze vases.
Wang Qingyao surveyed the scene and then plopped down on a chair, smiling, "You all arrange the flowers; I don't know how. I'll be your judge."
Feng Jiangduo also sat down, "I don't know how either."
The others exchanged glances and then looked at Wei Yu in unison.
Wei Yu's flower arrangement banquet was intended to mend her superficial relationship with Wang Qingyao – regardless of their private animosity, they should at least appear amicable in public.
She had truly not expected Wang Qingyao to not even know how to arrange flowers.
Which noble lady in the capital did not know a bit about flower arrangement, embroidery, polo, archery, or incense blending?
Wang Qingyuan didn't know how?
Even if she hadn't been taught at home, after marrying into Prince Ding'an's manor, hadn't she diligently studied these skills?
Wei Yu found it perplexing.
"Consort Ding'an, you don't even know how to arrange flowers?" Wei Yu asked.
The Crown Prince and the Emperor disliked Wei Yu's underhanded tactics, so she decided to confront her openly.
Asking a question like this wouldn't be seen as deliberately embarrassing Consort Ding'an, would it?
After all, she genuinely hadn't known Wang Qingyao couldn't arrange flowers before.
Some people already wore mocking expressions.
Wang Qingyao calmly replied, "Yes, I don't."
Neither embarrassed nor flustered, she acted as if nothing was wrong, even taking a pastry to share with Feng Jiangduo.
Wei Yu felt as if she had punched cotton, her heart filled with frustration.
She also sat down and said sweetly, "It's alright if you don't know; I can teach you."
Wang Qingyao turned her head to look at her.
With her signature innocent smile, she reached out and took Wang Qingyao's hand. "I feel an affinity with Consort Ding'an the moment I see you. If you don't mind, I'll call you sister from now on."
To be able to call the Crown Princess sister was a great honor.
The few ladies present who had discernible familial ties with Wei Yu clearly displayed envy in their eyes.
Wang Qingyao, however, got goosebumps.
As if struck by a thought, she suddenly sprang up from her chair and stammered, her voice filled with panic and distress, "No, no... Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I, I don't like women... No, what I mean is, Your Highness has sisters, how could I dare..."
Her face showed a look of vexation, as if she had inadvertently misspoke, but a sly smile hid in her eyes.
Silence fell.
Wei Yu's face turned from pale to red, anger churning in her chest.
How dare Wang Qingyao?
How dare she?
Wang Qingyao, having apparently said the wrong thing, appeared deeply remorseful.
"Um, Crown Princess, I have something to attend to at home. I'll take my leave now."
Wang Qingyao departed grandly.
When she left, Feng Jiangduo naturally followed.
Once they were out of the Eastern Palace, even the usually stoic Feng Jiangduo couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"You are truly audacious," she said.
Wang Qingyao clapped her hands, a picture of innocent, guiltless amusement, "Oh dear, I was only speaking the truth."
Wei Yu's flower arrangement banquet had failed, and she was left with a belly full of anger.
The remaining guests dared not linger and also found excuses to slip away.
Subsequently, rumors about Wei Yu being a "mirror-polisher" circulated for a while. Although it didn't fundamentally shake Wei Yu's position, she no longer dared to play any more tricks.