Chapter Fifteen: The Provocation of Prince Chiyang

On the day of the palace banquet, at General Yan’s residence—

“Ru Qing, tonight you must seize the opportunity to catch the attention of the Emperor and the princes. That fool Yan Ziyu will be there too. She’s the closest to you in the residence, and as the Princess of Prince Xiao, she can serve as your stepping stone. You must not miss this chance!” Madam Wang, wife of the general, was speaking to her legitimate daughter Yan Ruqing in their chamber, her brows laden with selfish ambition.

“Mother, rest assured. I will find a way to ruin that fool. Prince Xiao is such a heroic figure; how could he be sullied by her? Only my wit and beauty are worthy of him.” Yan Ruqing had long admired the illustrious Prince Xiao and had absolute confidence in her own appearance.

As she lowered her voice, a series of poisonous schemes flashed through the minds of mother and daughter, while far away at Prince Xiao’s residence, Yan Ziyu suddenly sneezed several times.

* * *

“Wow, Mother, is this the Imperial Palace? It’s so big and beautiful!” Rui’er blinked his bright eyes, staring wide-eyed at the so-called palace, amazed by its grandeur and splendor.

Hearing this, Yan Ziyu affectionately patted his head, her eyes revealing a hint of admiration for the surroundings.

Indeed, the Imperial Palace is the heart of the nation. Everywhere one looked along the path was magnificently striking—golden light shimmered, pavilions and jade structures gleamed, the gold-carved tiles and jade decorations spoke of opulence and grandeur. The soaring and spiraling dragons exuded an imposing vitality. No wonder so many longed desperately to enter its gates.

Beyond her initial admiration, Yan Ziyu’s gaze gradually cooled to a faint impatience; she couldn’t deny that the ancients were excessively conservative in architectural design. These repetitive, unchanging structures, though luxurious, lacked novelty. Seeing so much of it was truly wearisome.

“Rui’er, when you meet the Emperor, you must behave and be sensible. Don’t speak recklessly, understand?” Yan Ziyu knew Rui’er was clever, but she couldn’t help but remind him again.

The palace gates were as deep as the sea; a single misstep in words could bring about overwhelming disaster. Her current strength was insufficient; she had no room for arrogance. To survive, she had to keep her tail tucked and act submissively.

Life was as cheap as weeds.

This was the deepest impression she had since arriving in this ancient time. Just days ago, she witnessed a maid accidentally break a vase beloved by a certain madam and be beaten to death for it. That scene struck her deeply. Coupled with the assassination attempt that day, it steeled her resolve to become stronger.

* * *

Rui’er nodded obediently, his youthful voice carrying a hint of premature maturity. “Mother, don’t worry. Rui’er will be well-behaved.”

“Alright, Qiuhe, Ali, I entrust Rui’er to you. Take good care of him and don’t let him cause trouble,” Yan Ziyu said, her eyes settling on Qiuhe and Ali, the two assigned to look after Rui’er today.

Qiuhe was steady and reliable. Ali was a bit mentally unstable but had excellent skills. For Rui’er’s safety, despite her hesitation, Yan Ziyu decided to take Ali along into the palace. She had a premonition that the previous assassination was only the beginning; the situation for her and Rui’er would become increasingly perilous. To survive, she must tread cautiously, every step deliberate and careful.

“Up ahead is the Night Splendor Hall. Stand by my side and say as little as possible. Don’t embarrass me,” Long Xiaoyan cast a disdainful glance at Yan Ziyu beside him, the contempt and coldness in his eyes and tone unmistakable.

“Yes, Your Highness!” she replied softly, lowering her head to assume a submissive demeanor, but a cold gleam flickered briefly in her eyes.

The palace banquet was reserved for imperial family members and officials ranked third grade or above. As the Princess of Prince Xiao, Yan Ziyu was naturally entitled to attend. However, though her status was high, she was not favored by Prince Xiao. Hence, this was her first time entering the palace for such a formal banquet.

“Your servant greets Prince Xiao. May Your Highness enjoy good health!”

As Yan Ziyu followed the cold-faced Long Xiaoyan to their seats, a beautiful young woman in an ice-blue robe approached gracefully. Even Yan Ziyu couldn’t help but silently admire her: truly a peerless beauty.

With skin like ice and bones like jade, and a face of exquisite loveliness—this must be what they meant by a flawless woman! For some reason, a trace of loathing and even fear stirred in Yan Ziyu’s heart toward this stunning beauty. Could this be the so-called repulsion between those of the same sex?

Lost in her wild thoughts, Yan Ruqing’s words suddenly revealed the reason.

“Sister, you’re here too! When Father first told me, I almost couldn’t believe it. Now that I finally see you, I’m truly delighted.” Yan Ruqing’s exquisitely beautiful face showed a flicker of excitement as she grasped Yan Ziyu’s hand tightly. To outsiders, it appeared a touching scene of sisterly affection.

“Sister is also pleased to see you. But this is a palace banquet, not the place for us to catch up. Another day, I will send someone to escort you back to the general’s residence for a proper visit. How about that?” Yan Ziyu smiled serenely on the surface, but inside, her nerves were taut.

So, this was Yan Ruqing. The original owner of this body had described her in just four words: “A venomous and ruthless woman.”

* * *

“Little sister is so happy to see you, she nearly committed a faux pas. Thank you for the reminder! Oh, is this the young master Rui’er? He’s so handsome…” Whether intentional or not, Yan Ruqing called him “young master,” and Yan Ziyu’s heart sank.

Sure enough, she keenly felt an angry gaze fall upon her. Without looking, she knew whose it was.

“Since it’s our first meeting and I have no gift prepared, please accept this jade pendant as a token of greeting. Young Master Rui’er, don’t find your little aunt’s gift too trivial!” Yan Ruqing said as she unfastened a piece of creamy white jade from her waist and tied it around Rui’er’s waist with a smile.

“This is far too precious. Rui’er, quickly return the pendant…”

“The banquet is about to begin. Miss Yan, please return to your seat to avoid giving others cause for gossip!” Long Xiaoyan’s eyes flashed with anger as he coldly interrupted Yan Ziyu, issuing a curt dismissal.

After about the time it takes for incense to burn...

“The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived! The Noble Consort has arrived!”

A shrill, unpleasant voice—like a quacking duck—rang out. Then several figures entered Night Splendor Hall. Leading the procession was the current Emperor Long Xiaotian, crowned and wearing purple-gold boots, his bright yellow dragon robe enhancing his majestic aura. Beside him stood the Empress, adorned in phoenix robes, regal and elegant. Behind them followed the Noble Consort Rou and the Virtuous Consort De. The group entered Night Splendor Hall with great pomp.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Noble Consort!” The crowd knelt, voices unified in their acclamation.

“Rise, no need for ceremony!” The Emperor sat high on the dragon throne and spoke loudly.

“Our great Da Yun has long maintained friendly relations with the kingdoms of Chi Yang and Sheng Yue. Now we intend to forge a century-long alliance. Today, envoys from both Chi Yang and Sheng Yue have come to negotiate this alliance. I have specially arranged this banquet to welcome them!”

Shortly after the banquet began, the Emperor announced the envoys’ purpose, his words brimming with firm confidence.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generous hospitality! I have long heard that the women of Da Yun are both virtuous and talented, unmatched in arts and skills. Coincidentally, I have brought along a concubine unfit for public display. Might one of the ladies here be willing to guide this ignorant concubine of mine?”