Ren Yaoqi had seen the Prince of Yanbei before, but this time was different from the previous occasions when he appeared before crowds. When he looked at Xiao Jinglin, his eyes held a kind of paternal contentment that made him appear no different from any ordinary father watching his daughter grow into adulthood.

The one serving as Xiao Jinglin’s witness was indeed Miss Yun Qiuchen from the Yun family. She stood there in her scarlet robes with a gentle smile, and even without saying a word, she easily drew others’ attention.

The entire coming-of-age ceremony was extremely elaborate. Perhaps due to her different status, Princess Xiao’s coming-of-age ceremony took longer than that of ordinary young ladies, and she had an additional phoenix crown with four phoenixes facing the sun, as well as a formal ceremonial robe in deep purple.

When the ceremony was nearly complete, someone came in and reported something to the Prince of Yanbei. The prince nodded, giving a few instructions, then had the officials continue.

Finally, after the ceremony was concluded, Xiao Jinglin, wearing her heavy robes, performed the kowtow ceremony to the prince and princess consort. At this moment, a sharp voice came from outside: “Imperial edict arrives! Prince of Yanbei Xiao Yan, Princess Consort of Yanbei Rong Shi, and Princess Xiao Jinglin receive the edict.”

The Eastern Hall immediately fell silent, and everyone turned to look at the Prince of Yanbei.

The Prince of Yanbei’s expression remained unchanged as he ordered preparations for the incense table to receive the edict. The princess consort also instructed the attendants to arrange for the guests to first retire to the Qingzheng Hall in front to have tea. What had arrived first was just the advance young eunuch to inform the host family that an imperial edict had arrived, so they should quickly prepare the incense table to welcome it. The actual eunuch who would announce the edict was still behind.

Ren Yaoqi glanced at Xiao Jinglin and followed Rong Shi, Li Shi, and the others out of the Eastern Hall.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi frowning all along the way, Rong Shi whispered, “Don’t worry, it won’t be anything serious.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded. She also knew that with the current strength of the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion, even if the court looked unfavorably upon the prince’s residence, they wouldn’t come to provoke him on his territory at this time. However, her right eyelid had been twitching since earlier, so she felt vaguely uneasy.

But seeing that Rong Shi had also noticed her, Ren Yaoqi, fearing they would worry, said nothing and followed everyone toward the Qingzheng Hall.

Their group came out last, so they fell behind. Just as they were about to enter the doors of the Qingzheng Hall, they saw a group of people walking toward them.

Leading the way seemed to be the Prince of Yanbei’s half-brother, Xiao Heng, and Third Young Master Xiao Jingyue. When Ren Yaoqi saw who was walking shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Heng, she couldn’t help but stop in her tracks and stand frozen on the spot.

Both Rong Shi and Li Shi turned back to look at Ren Yaoqi. Li Shi was about to speak when the group over there also happened to notice them.

A somewhat effeminate voice laughed and called out loudly: “Oh my, isn’t this Princess Consort Xian?” That person quickened his pace and came forward, but halfway there, he slapped his forehead in chagrin, saying, “Ah, look at my memory – where in this world could there still be any Princess Consort Xian?”

With that, he stared at Rong Shi with a smile and asked, “Tell me, how should I address you now?”

Rong Shi carefully examined the person for a few moments, then smiled and nodded: “Eunuch Lu, long time no see.”

Since Rong Shi called him “Eunuch,” he must be a palace eunuch. Li Shi and Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but look toward the man.

Eunuch Lu wore the lotus-blue regular robes of a head eunuch, with a cap on his head. He appeared to be in his thirties and was quite handsome, but his way of looking at people made others feel uncomfortable.

Eunuch Lu sneered: “Oh my, your memory is really good – you still remember this humble servant. Back when you frequently entered the palace, this humble servant was just a brat who understood nothing, only knowing how to follow behind the senior eunuchs and play the grandson. In a flash, more than ten years have passed… Look, we can’t go without a proper form of address. Let me think – what was the maiden surname of the abolished Prince Xian’s mansion?” This last sentence, Eunuch Lu asked by turning to address a young eunuch behind him.

Though the young eunuch was not old, he was quite clever and immediately replied: “Reporting to grandfather, the abolished Princess Consort Xian’s maiden name was Rong.”

Eunuch Lu clapped his hands: “Right, right, right – surname Rong! Look, I nearly forgot. The Rong family was also great back then, but unfortunately, not many people were left later, so no wonder I can’t remember now.”

Rong Shi’s expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.

But Eunuch Lu’s gaze turned to Li Shi and the Ren sisters. Ren Yaoqi lowered her eyes expressionlessly, but no one saw that her hands hidden in her sleeves were trembling slightly.

“Rong Shi, who are these people to you? Oh, I still have some impression of this one – she also frequently entered the palace with you back then. This is Princess Yurong, isn’t it?”

Li Shi looked at Eunuch Lu, then at Rong Shi. More than ten years ago, when she frequently entered the palace court, Eunuch Lu was indeed an obscure little eunuch, so she had no impression of him. Moreover, this eunuch had been speaking with barbed words full of hidden malice from the start, so Li Shi only smiled and said nothing.

The young eunuch beside Eunuch Lu was dissatisfied and scolded: “Grandfather Lu is speaking to you.”

After muttering, he added: “She doesn’t even see whose world this is now – does she think she’s still a princess?”

Li Shi, who usually avoided disputes and had a peaceful temperament, unexpectedly replied: “My grandfather’s surname was Li, his given name was Ye. I don’t know which grandfather you’re referring to.”

This statement made everyone present fall silent. Li Ye was the name of the late emperor, which ordinary people didn’t even dare mention, and even Eunuch Lu didn’t dare openly respond with “Your grandfather is me.”

That young eunuch came from the palace and knew the seriousness better than anyone. Seeing that in trying to curry favor with Eunuch Lu, he had said the wrong thing and given others a huge handle against him, he was so frightened that his face turned white and he nearly wet himself.

Eunuch Lu stared at Li Shi for a long moment, then suddenly laughed and slapped the young eunuch across the face: “When you return, go before the Empress Dowager and receive one hundred strokes of the rod yourself. Whether you can keep your life depends on heaven’s mood.”

That young eunuch knelt to one side and didn’t dare make another sound.

Eunuch Lu smiled and nodded to Rong Shi: “Excellent, truly excellent!”

Rong Shi knew that these people serving before the Empress Dowager were humiliating them to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, far away in the capital. She had long grown accustomed to such behavior, so Eunuch Lu’s meaningful smile didn’t shake her in the least.

She nodded and smiled slightly: “Eunuch Lu must have come to Yanbei on official business. We won’t disturb you in your duties – we’ll take our leave first.”

Xiao Heng also said, “Eunuch Lu, Chengde Hall is just ahead. I’ll escort you there.”

But Eunuch Lu seemed not to have had enough fun. His gaze swept past Rong Shi to look at Li Shi and the Ren sisters. Ren Yaohua felt very uncomfortable being stared at by a eunuch. If it had been her previous temperament, she would have exploded long ago, but her character had become much steadier now, and she knew that people from the palace couldn’t be casually offended, so she frowned and lowered her head.

Eunuch Lu’s gaze shifted between Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi, then he smiled and nodded again: “Excellent, truly excellent.”

Though he didn’t say what was excellent, his gaze contained malice. Ren Yaohua almost couldn’t restrain herself, but Ren Yaoqi quietly grasped her hand from under her sleeve.

Eunuch Lu turned to Xiao Heng and his son Xiao Jingyue: “Those flowing with Noble Consort Wan’s blood are truly different. Look at these two young ladies – tsk… especially this one, she has some of Noble Consort Wan’s shadow from back then. Little girl, come tell this humble servant – what’s your name?”

Eunuch Lu approached Ren Yaoqi and raised his hand to pinch her chin. Both Rong Shi and Li Shi’s expressions changed, and they were about to stop him when Ren Yaohua, standing beside Ren Yaoqi, quickly stepped forward half a pace to block Ren Yaoqi, then gave Eunuch Lu a hard shove.

Ren Yaohua was full of rage, so naturally her push was quite forceful. Eunuch Lu hadn’t expected anyone would dare lay hands on him. Since he carried the emperor’s edict, even the Prince of Yanbei’s mansion didn’t dare openly move against him, which was why he dared to beat the fallen dogs of Prince Xian’s mansion on the Prince of Yanbei’s territory – to report back to the Empress Dowager and amuse her. So he was completely unprepared and was pushed into a stumble by Ren Yaohua, twisting his right ankle. He immediately cried out “Aiya” in pain.

Both Xiao Heng and Xiao Jingyue’s expressions changed as they hurried forward to ask if Eunuch Lu was injured anywhere.

Eunuch Lu, his face contorted, pointed at Ren Yaohua and shrieked: “How dare you lay hands on this humble servant! Quickly arrest this person!”

Li Shi hurriedly pulled Ren Yaohua into her arms to protect her.

Seeing the situation had escalated beyond control, Rong Shi found it difficult to handle and could only step forward: “The child doesn’t understand – please, Eunuch, be magnanimous and don’t hold it against her. Are you alright, Eunuch? I’ll go get a physician to examine you.”

Eunuch Lu turned a deaf ear and only shouted at the other two young eunuchs: “Why aren’t you arresting that girl for me?”

Some of those who had originally entered the Qingzheng Hall heard the commotion and came out to look. But seeing it was a eunuch in conflict with Rong Shi’s group, no one felt comfortable intervening, only secretly sending people to Chengde Hall to notify the prince and princess consort.

Seeing those two young eunuchs about to step forward to arrest Ren Yaohua as ordered, Ren Yaoqi was also anxious to resolve this crisis. She knew better than anyone that they couldn’t let Ren Yaohua fall into Eunuch Lu’s hands, or he might very well ruin her.

Just at this moment, a voice with a smile came from not far away: “So everyone’s here. Eunuch Lu, the incense table has been prepared. My father and mother are still waiting in Chengde Hall to receive the edict.”