The room fell silent. Hongyi held the tea tray, three cups of hot tea sending up delicate wisps of steam, the fragrance rich and pronounced.

Jun Beiyue lounged lazily against Ziqing’s right side, expression unreadable, watching everything unfold with amused interest. Ziqing, no matter how casually she sat, couldn’t hide the natural, inborn nobility that radiated from her—let alone now, seated properly in the seat of honor, giving off an unmistakable air of untouchable dignity. Jun Beiyue’s gaze lingered on Ziqing far more than anything else; he had never before thought that this woman had the bearing and qualifications to one day rule as the mother of the realm—yet now, for the first time, he saw it clearly!

Chu Feiyan was seething with rage. She believed Han Ziqing was deliberately making things difficult for her, deliberately trying to humiliate her. Yet Ziqing was treating this matter with genuine seriousness—otherwise, she wouldn’t have adopted such a posture!

She could easily have lounged lazily to the side just as Jun Beiyue was doing, and simply demanded three cups of tea from Chu Feiyan.

“I don’t care. The tea’s been offered, and you’ve accepted it—Han Ziqing, don’t you dare go back on this!” Chu Feiyan said fiercely.

“This consort’s patience has its limits, Princess Imperial. If you won’t offer it properly, then please, take your leave,” Ziqing said earnestly, her stern expression unconsciously intimidating even Chu Feiyan. She had wanted to turn and test Jun Beiyue’s reaction by walking away, but the moment her eyes met Ziqing’s, she suddenly found herself unable to move at all!

Yet while she hesitated, Ziqing wouldn’t wait for her—instead rising to leave before Chu Feiyan could even react!

“Wait!” Chu Feiyan shouted urgently. Having already swallowed her pride to come here and offer tea today, she was determined to see this through to the end!

Ziqing stopped, asking coldly, “Has the Princess Imperial thought it through?”

Chu Feiyan took a deep breath. She had to endure this. What else could she do but endure it?

“Fine, I’ll offer it!” Chu Feiyan agreed bitterly, turning to fetch a cup of tea.

Ziqing sat back down, her posture straight and dignified, watching coldly.

Chu Feiyan bent forward, offering the teacup to Ziqing. “Princess Yao, I caused offense a few days ago through a misunderstanding. I hope you can forgive me. This cup of tea is my apology to you.”

Now that finally resembled a proper apology. Ziqing, perfectly composed, asked, “What misunderstanding a few days ago? What offense exactly?”

She didn’t care whether Chu Feiyan’s apology would clarify what she was actually apologizing for.

But if she was going to accept someone’s apology, she needed to know exactly what she was accepting, didn’t she? Acceptance couldn’t be given carelessly.

Hearing this, a surge of anger rose in Chu Feiyan immediately, but she forced herself to swallow it. After careful consideration, she said, “The other day, while disciplining my servant, I accidentally startled Princess Consort, causing her injury. That was my fault.”

Surely there was nothing in these words Han Ziqing could seize upon—surely she’d have to accept this!

Indeed, this was one genuine offense. Ziqing nodded, accepting the teacup, though of course she had no intention of drinking it, simply setting it aside.

Chu Feiyan glanced at it, a flash of malice crossing her eyes. Lowering her head, she brought forward the second cup of tea, once again offering it respectfully with both hands. She was about to speak, then paused, and repeated her earlier words, “The other day, while disciplining my servant, I accidentally startled Princess Consort, causing her injury. That was Feiyan’s fault. Feiyan offers Princess Consort this tea as an apology.”

But this time, Ziqing wasn’t buying it at all, raising an eyebrow and countering, “Princess Imperial, didn’t you just apologize for that very same offense?”

Chu Feiyan couldn’t hold back any longer, roaring furiously, “Then why did you make me offer three cups!”

Ziqing’s lips curled into a cold smile. Ignoring her entirely, she rose silently to leave.

“You!” Chu Feiyan seethed—this woman kept using the threat of leaving against her, when that was supposed to be her own weapon to wield! How had this woman turned it against her, forcing her to be the one begging her to stay!

Chu Feiyan felt as though every organ in her body might burst from sheer frustration. She had to admit, she now regretted her impulsiveness in rushing here to provoke Han Ziqing ahead of schedule!

Han Ziqing hadn’t even given her time to think before reaching the doorway.

Chu Feiyan had no choice but to hurry and block her path. “Princess Yao, wait! Come back!”

Ziqing stopped, saying flatly, “If the Princess Imperial has only one offense to apologize for, and has already done so, then please, take your leave.”

“Han Ziqing, you!” Chu Feiyan pointed at her furiously—this woman was going too far!

Ziqing let her point without concern, her gaze turning cold and decisive. “Hongyi, see the guest out!”

“I have another offense, don’t I still have another one!” Chu Feiyan cried out urgently. If she were truly thrown out now, who knew what would happen—she hadn’t come merely to apologize, but eventually to beg Han Ziqing and Jun Beiyue for safe passage!

If apologizing to Han Ziqing was already this difficult, what would it be like on the day she actually had to beg her for something?

Chu Feiyan didn’t even dare imagine it.

She obediently held the teacup, waiting for Han Ziqing to sit back down before respectfully offering it again. But she had thought about it for so long, she genuinely didn’t know what other fault to admit, what other offense to apologize for!

After much deliberation, it really only came down to two matters: one was that she had punished Hongyi, and Han Ziqing had stepped in to take the blame in her place; the other was that she had deliberately thrown the teacup at the doorway.

Combined with the earlier incident when she’d struck Han Ziqing over Physician Gu, that made exactly three incidents in total!

And those were precisely the three offenses she’d committed at the Prince Yao’s estate!

Realizing this, a chill ran down Chu Feiyan’s spine, and she couldn’t help but shiver several times. That night when Jun Beiyue had gone to the envoy’s residence, he must have already known it would take exactly three cups—that’s why he’d specifically insisted on three cups that very night!

This man had remained entirely composed all day, letting Han Ziqing take charge of everything—but in reality, if these three cups weren’t properly completed, he wouldn’t have let the matter go so easily!

Chu Feiyan couldn’t help but glance toward Jun Beiyue, only to see him lounging comfortably, watching Han Ziqing with amused interest, a faint smile playing at the corners of his handsome lips.

Such a strikingly handsome, captivating man—yet for the first time in her life, Chu Feiyan felt nothing but fear and unease looking at him, none of the infatuated admiration she’d once felt.

She didn’t even dare look at him for long, immediately lowering her head.

“This cup of tea is for my error in letting Princess Consort personally come out to address the disciplining of my servant. Feiyan was reckless in that matter, and hopes Princess Consort will forgive me.”

Aside from this offense, was she supposed to invent some fabricated crime against herself now?

Chu Feiyan had come here for revenge, to declare war on Han Ziqing—she never could have imagined sinking to this level!

Ziqing nodded, accepting the second cup, once again setting it casually aside.

Chu Feiyan immediately brought forward the third cup, saying urgently, “This cup of tea is for my carelessness in accidentally injuring Princess Consort at the doorway. I hope Princess Consort will forgive me.”

She could hardly wait to flee this place immediately, could hardly wait to be free of needing Jun Beiyue’s escort at all, because she had finally realized—on this long journey ahead, before she even had a chance to make trouble for Han Ziqing, Jun Beiyue would never let her off easily. And if Han Ziqing ever decided to strike first, who knew what schemes she’d fall victim to?

She no longer cared about any of it. She’d leave everything to Chu Tiange—she wanted nothing more to do with any of this!

Once Ziqing accepted the third cup of tea, Chu Feiyan hastily retreated. Not until she reached the main gate did she remember something, and forced herself to ask, gritting her teeth, “Prince Nanzhao has already sent word urging us on—when shall we depart?”