Under the shade of trees in the garden over there, Princess Duanwen and the Emperor stood facing each other. From the looks of it, they must have just gone through quite a struggle—the Emperor’s crown and sash were askew, and Princess Duanwen’s eyes were red with an indignant expression.

Shen Guiyan wanted to stop and watch more, but Noble Lady Jiang behind her pushed her. “Let’s go first, Noble Lady Yan. Watching too much is not a good thing.”

She turned to look at Jiang Biyue, whose face was somber—clearly what had just happened in the great hall wasn’t anything good either.

Slowing her pace, Shen Guiyan deliberately pulled Jiang Shi to fall behind, pursing her lips to ask her, “What just happened?”

Jiang Shi was so angry her hands were trembling slightly. Looking carefully, there was even a tea stain on her rose-pink palace gown.

“What an insufferable Princess Duanwen.” Grasping Shen Guiyan’s hand, Jiang Shi said through gritted teeth in a low voice, “She came back from Huainan, supposedly having won the favor of the Prince of Huainan and serving as some general in the military. When she entered the palace, she performed the courtier-meeting-sovereign ritual, but upon seeing His Majesty, she directly smashed a teacup and nearly started fighting on the spot.”

Shen Guiyan was startled. Such audacity!

“Biyue merely said that the Princess’s behavior was improper. She glanced at me, swept the teacup from the table and smashed it in front of me, splashing this outfit all over… Truly no upbringing!”

Regarding Princess Duanwen, Shen Guiyan only knew that she was raised by Empress Dowager Nian, was well-loved by palace attendants in her youth, and was also doted upon by His Majesty. Her temperament was indeed somewhat willful, but to act so wildly in front of Grand Empress Dowager Wen—wasn’t she afraid of angering her?

Shen Guiyan was somewhat puzzled and asked again, “What was His Majesty’s reaction?”

Jiang Shi’s eyes grew even redder. “What reaction could His Majesty have? He smiled and played around with her like children at play. Seeing this, the Grand Empress Dowager just let them go out to talk and didn’t pursue the matter.”

This reaction wasn’t wrong though. Otherwise, if Princess Duanwen were punished, what benefit could Gu Chaobei gain? Shen Guiyan glanced at Jiang Shi. Her grievance was understandable—she had been in favor these past two days, then a princess returned and humiliated her publicly, yet His Majesty didn’t even ask about it once.

Thinking about Princess Duanwen’s attitude toward the Emperor, Shen Guiyan suddenly felt somewhat fortunate that she was completely inconspicuous today.

“They say you killed the Crown Prince.” Duanwen looked at Gu Chaobei with red eyes. “Since you’re an Imperial Prince, why would you kill your own biological elder brother?”

Gu Chaobei helplessly rubbed his brow. Dealing with Duanwen was the most troublesome—this girl was more serious than anyone when it came to reasoning.

“I had no choice. The Crown Prince killed Father Emperor.” Gu Chaobei said, “Even though Father Emperor showed me no nurturing grace over all these years, there’s still the bond of birth. Moreover, when I had my grand wedding back then, Father Emperor even secretly left the palace in plain clothes to see it.”

Duanwen had rushed back to the capital upon hearing the news of the Late Emperor’s death, but unfortunately, she was delayed many days on the journey. By the time she returned, Father Emperor had already been buried.

Unable to hold back her tears, they fell in strings. Glancing behind her and seeing everyone had left, Duanwen finally couldn’t help but cry out loud.

She had been waiting to come back and marry Gu Chaobei, waiting to see Father Emperor—why had everything changed in just these three or four years away?

Gu Chaobei stood beside her, sighed, and handed over a handkerchief.

“Have you established an Empress?” Duanwen asked while crying.

“No.” Gu Chaobei closed his eyes.

“Don’t you have a first wife? Why not establish her?” Duanwen was startled.

Gu Chaobei chuckled lightly, looking at the eaves of the East Palace. “Grand Empress Dowager Wen won’t allow it. She’s now pregnant and can only be a Noble Lady.”

There was such a thing? Duanwen knew Grand Empress Dowager Wen was always petty, but she hadn’t expected her to make things difficult for Gu Chaobei’s first wife as well.

Since they had already become siblings, what more could she say? She would spend some time accepting it. She could ride war horses and write poetry—surely she could still find a suitable husband?

“Let’s go to the Juhuan Pavilion.” Duanwen wiped her face and stood up. “I’ll also help Imperial Brother take a good look at your harem.”

Gu Chaobei nodded, looking at this young girl’s stubborn profile, thinking it was truly difficult for her to see things so clearly.

The two Empress Dowagers were already seated, with the Emperor’s position in the middle. Consort Shen sat beside Grand Empress Dowager Wen. Noble Lady Yan should have sat beside Empress Dowager Nian, but since Princess Duanwen had returned, a position was inserted for her to sit between Empress Dowager Nian and Noble Lady Yan.

As soon as Duanwen sat down, she swept her eyes around the banquet. Those in the upper seats all had status—currently there were only Consort Shen, Noble Lady Yan, and Noble Lady Jiang. The two Ladies were standing together with the palace ladies.

Consort Shen was dressed extremely richly and magnificently today, quite the bearing of an Empress, her face wearing a smile as she assessed Duanwen. When Duanwen looked over, she frowned, thinking—could this be Gu Chaobei’s first wife? Then there was truly nothing to say about not establishing her as Empress. A mere Noble Lady dared to dress like this.

Sweeping another glance at Noble Lady Jiang in the lower seat—the one she had just splashed with tea—gaining some favor and daring to lecture her in public showed no sense of proportion. One cup of tea served as a lesson.

Gu Chaobei seemed to have brought quite a few courtesans and singing girls into the palace, though none had been given status yet. Counting it all up, this harem truly had no one substantial…

Turning her head and sweeping past Shen Guiyan, Princess Duanwen paused, frowning. “Why is a nanny sitting beside me?”

Muffled laughter came from around the banquet. The standing palace ladies also had amused expressions in their eyes. The dignified Noble Lady Yan had been mistaken for a nanny by the Princess.

However, Shen Guiyan didn’t feel embarrassed. She smiled and nodded to Princess Duanwen. “In answer to the Princess, this consort is Noble Lady Yan of Zhuangde Palace. Fearing the palace maids at the banquet might be lazy and serve inadequately, I’m temporarily acting as a nanny. I hope the Princess enjoys her meal.”

Noble Lady Yan? She was Shen Guiyan? Duanwen was startled, looking her up and down several times. A beauty was indeed a beauty, but wearing these clothes was far too plain—no different from Nanny Qiujin standing beside the Empress Dowager.

“I recognized incorrectly. My apologies.” Duanwen still nodded in apology.

Shen Guiyan smiled, not the least bit concerned. From the moment she put on these clothes, she knew she would face many difficulties at this banquet. At least Princess Duanwen would apologize—she was already a decent girl.

“This servant deserves death. How could I let Noble Lady Yan sit here?” Nanny Jiawen beside Grand Empress Dowager Wen patted her forehead as if suddenly remembering, respectfully saying to Shen Guiyan, “Noble Lady Yan is with child and has a specially arranged position. Please follow this old servant, Noble Lady.”

Shen Guiyan turned her head and looked in the direction Jiawen pointed.

What a specially arranged position—it was actually in the corner. The seating arrangement at this banquet also had its significance—the closer to the Emperor, the higher the status. This was perfect—they had directly sent her outside the proper seating area.

The two Empress Dowagers idly chatted about family matters, as if they hadn’t heard Nanny Jiawen’s words. The Emperor didn’t speak up either. Consort Shen held her cup watching the show. Princess Duanwen looked at that position with some surprise. “Isn’t that too far away?”

Nanny Jiawen said, “Noble Lady Yan is with child, so naturally she’s different from others.”

It would be easier to understand if they just said the Empress Dowager was asserting her authority. Shen Guiyan didn’t resist. She stood up saying, “Thank you, Nanny,” then went to sit in that position.

Among the palace ladies, there were inevitably those who gossiped, all saying this Noble Lady Yan was truly pitiful, and His Majesty turned a blind eye and deaf ear.

White Fox stood among the palace ladies, looking at the Emperor’s lowered eyes, sighing inwardly.

He wasn’t turning a blind eye at all. In his heart, who knew how anxious he must be?

Shen Guiyan sat down in the corner. Her field of vision was actually broader here—she could see every move of everyone at the banquet.

Consort Shen wanted to toast the Emperor. Princess Duanwen said, “Today is Duanwen’s first return to the palace. Naturally Duanwen should toast first.”

Having said this, she picked up her wine cup and presented it to Gu Chaobei.

Consort Shen felt somewhat embarrassed. She put down her wine cup, thinking to wait for the next round. But after Duanwen finished drinking, she said, “Next I should toast the various consorts. Duanwen will need everyone’s indulgence in the future.”

Raising her cup from afar, Consort Shen naturally had to drink the wine in her own cup. But this wine was prepared for the Emperor! Wasted again!

Gritting her teeth, she poured the wine in her cup onto her sleeve. Consort Shen glared at Princess Duanwen.

Duanwen didn’t see it and continued toasting. She even toasted the two Empress Dowagers six cups in succession, quite as if she intended to get herself drunk.

Singing girls, dancing girls, and palace ladies all came up to perform. After watching for a while, Empress Dowager Nian and Grand Empress Dowager Wen felt tired and departed first. Only then did Duanwen and Consort Shen sit on either side of the Emperor.

“Imperial Brother, from now on Duanwen will call you Imperial Brother.” Duanwen smiled, looking at Gu Chaobei with red eyes. “You must govern the realm well and establish an Empress that makes Duanwen wholeheartedly convinced.”

Gu Chaobei smiled. Before he could respond, Consort Shen beside him laughed. “The Princess need not worry. His Majesty’s harem has more and more beauties—there will always be one suitable to be Empress.”

Duanwen glanced at her without speaking. After drinking another mouthful of wine, she asked, “Where is General Yuwen? I’m drinking happily and want to spar with him. These years, I haven’t stopped improving…”

Fight in this drunken state? The Emperor sighed. “Let’s end here for today. You should return to your own palace first.”

“I don’t want to!” Duanwen looked up at him. “It’s definitely another cold, icy palace. I won’t stay there. Which of your palaces is warm? I want to sleep there!”

She was truly drunk, otherwise Duanwen wouldn’t say such things. The warmest palace in the entire palace was only the Emperor’s bedchamber.

The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward. Shen Guiyan slowly walked forward, extending a hand to offer Princess Duanwen a cup of tea. “This consort’s palace is very warm. I wonder if the Princess would be willing to endure one night there?”

Duanwen glanced at Shen Guiyan, took her tea and drank a mouthful, smacking her lips before nodding. “Alright then.”

Considering this woman was as pitiful as herself, she’d take the graceful exit offered.

The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief, but Consort Shen frowned. “Having the Princess sleep in Zhuangde Palace is somewhat improper, isn’t it?”

Shen Guiyan truly appeared everywhere. They had already given her a corner seat, yet she still dared to come forward.

“Are you the Empress?” Duanwen squinted, looking at Consort Shen and asking.

“…” Consort Shen paused, glancing at the Emperor. “Naturally, not yet.”

Not yet, but one day she would be.

Duanwen chuckled lightly, pulling Shen Guiyan’s hand to stand up. “If you’re not, then don’t meddle too much. I’m going back to rest.”