This scene fell into nearly everyone’s view.

Empress Xu, well informed as she was, had long known of the Crown Grandson’s secret affection for Ling Jingshu, so witnessing this scene with her own eyes did not surprise her. Others’ thoughts, however, were far more subtle and complicated.

Wei Jieyu looked toward Ling Jingshu with concern, sighing inwardly. Today’s events were plainly the Crown Princess deliberately venting her anger on the innocent Ling Jingshu.

The Crown Grandson’s behavior today had also gone a bit too far.

Whatever the case, Jiang Rongyue was the newly married Crown Grandson Consort, the Crown Grandson’s proper wife. For him to so brazenly humiliate Jiang Rongyue in front of everyone — no wonder she looked as though she were about to cry.

And there was Wei Yan, who had rarely let himself fall for a woman. But now it seemed the Crown Grandson, too, had feelings for Ling Jingshu — could Wei Yan possibly compete with the Crown Grandson?

Beside her, Princess Yan was also watching Ling Jingshu, her gaze dark and hostile.

This Ling Jingshu — relying on nothing but her looks, she had bewitched Prince Yan, and now she had even driven the Crown Grandson out of his senses, to the point that he would humiliate his new bride in front of everyone…

Princess Yan, feeling a certain empathy for the matter, grew rather indignant herself.

After the palace banquet ended, everyone followed Empress Xu to stroll and enjoy themselves in the imperial garden.

It was springtime, with grass growing lush and orioles in flight, all manner of flowers in full bloom. The imperial garden held countless rare flowers and exotic plants, pavilions and towers, rockeries and flowing streams — a new view at every few steps, almost too much to take in.

When they reached a rockery, Empress Xu and the others finally stopped. Some went to sit in the pavilions, others paired off to admire the scenery. Jiang Rongyue, troubled in spirit and in no mood for conversation, walked off alone to a corner.

Princess Yan quietly approached Jiang Rongyue.

Before their marriages, the two of them had both been noble young ladies of the capital, neither willing to concede to the other, often vying for the upper hand. Now that they had each married — one as Princess Yan, the other as Crown Grandson Consort — they were destined to stand in opposition.

Jiang Rongyue eyed Princess Yan warily and addressed her flatly: “Sixth Imperial Aunt.”

Princess Yan laughed softly and affectionately took Jiang Rongyue’s hand: “Rongyue, the two of us grew up together since childhood. Even though we’ve each married now, that doesn’t mean we should sever the bond between us. In front of others, there’s a difference in generation between us, but in private, you may as well call me Sister Lan.”

Jiang Rongyue withdrew her hand and replied: “Propriety cannot be discarded! I am your nephew’s wife — calling you Sixth Imperial Aunt is only right and proper. How could I casually use your given name? If anyone heard it, it would reflect badly on me, and I’d surely be mocked behind my back for not knowing my manners.”

Princess Yan’s smile froze.

She had planned to use this moment to commiserate and form an alliance, perhaps secretly scheming against Ling Jingshu to vent some frustration. She had never expected Jiang Rongyue to reject her overture.

Provoked by Jiang Rongyue’s words, Princess Yan grew inwardly furious and said with a smile that did not reach her eyes: “Speaking of which, I truly feel for you. That Ling Jingshu is nothing but a lowly female official — being given the chance to serve you at lunch is her good fortune. That the Crown Grandson would lose his temper at you over such a trivial matter is truly infuriating.”

“No wonder you feel so wronged — even I, watching from the side, feel indignant on your behalf. You mustn’t let that Ling Jingshu off so easily!”

Was this really indignation on her behalf?

It was closer to gloating over her misfortune while egging her on to harm someone else!

Jiang Rongyue scoffed inwardly, yet on her face she maintained a dignified, composed smile: “Wherever did Sixth Imperial Aunt get such an idea? His Highness the Crown Grandson and Official Ling already knew each other beforehand. Seeing her standing behind me, he was naturally a bit surprised, which is why he asked. How was that losing his temper at me?”

Princess Yan was left speechless, choked by the reply.

Jiang Rongyue smiled gracefully at Princess Yan once more: “I’d like to go over there and look at the flowers, so I won’t keep you company any longer.”

Princess Yan watched helplessly as Jiang Rongyue turned and walked away, so angry that smoke seemed about to pour from her eyes!

What a Jiang Rongyue — I’ll remember this. We’ll see about this in the future!

And as for Ling Jingshu — don’t think she’ll get off so easily either!

It was not until the evening palace banquet ended that the Crown Prince’s party returned to the Crown Prince’s residence.

The Crown Princess had kept up a forced smile the whole time, but the moment they returned to the residence, every trace of it vanished from her face. She said coldly: “A’Yao, do you even know what day it is today? In front of so many people, you made Rongyue lose all face. Does that bring honor to you as Crown Grandson?”

“Even if you don’t care about the dignity of Rongyue, your new wife, you ought to consider the reputation of our Crown Prince’s household.”

Hearing these words, Jiang Rongyue felt the grievance she had been holding back all day rise up again, and her eyes immediately reddened.

The Crown Grandson, paying no attention to Jiang Rongyue’s expression, looked the Crown Princess straight in the eye and said: “If Mother cares so much about the reputation of our household, then why did you deliberately make things difficult for Ling Jingshu by having her serve Rongyue at lunch?”

The faint accusation in his tone made the Crown Princess’s expression shift, her eyes filling with displeasure: “She serves in the palace — waiting on people is exactly her duty. How is having her attend Rongyue’s meal making things difficult for her!”

“Whether it was making things difficult for her or not, Mother knows better than anyone!”

The Crown Grandson retorted stiffly: “She is a proper young lady of good family. Even though she serves in the palace, her duties are tending to the flowers and plants. Even Imperial Grandmother has never asked her to wait on anyone at meals. Why did Mother insist on humiliating her in front of everyone — just what were you thinking?”

“Liking her is my own business! She has never made any advances toward me of her own accord. What sense does it make for Mother to take out her anger on her without even asking what’s right or wrong?”

The Crown Princess was so furious smoke seemed to pour from every orifice, her face ashen with rage: “You dare talk back to me over some insignificant woman! Have you truly lost your mind to her charms!”

“Let me tell you right now — don’t even think about marrying Ling Jingshu into this household as a secondary consort. I will never agree to it!”

The Crown Grandson clenched both fists, a tumultuous mix of pain, anger, sorrow, and loneliness surging endlessly within his chest, and the words burst out of him: “Mother worries for nothing! Forget secondary consort — she wouldn’t even agree to be Crown Grandson Consort. I wanted to marry her as my proper wife, and she refused outright. She turned me down long ago!”

The Crown Princess: “…”

The Crown Princess’s face flushed red then turned pale in rapid succession, quite a sight to behold.

The Crown Grandson pressed his lips tightly together, his face full of anguish.

The Crown Prince, who had remained silent the whole time, looked utterly stunned, his brow furrowing.

No one was more mortified and humiliated than Jiang Rongyue.

Large teardrops slid from the corners of her eyes, falling onto the front of her robe.

She did not have the courage to look up at anyone; her shoulders trembled slightly as she wept silently.

Just yesterday, she had been the happiest bride in the entire capital, marrying into the Crown Prince’s household full of hope and joy, becoming the noble Crown Grandson Consort. She had imagined flying wing to wing in perfect harmony, hoping to hold his hand and grow old together.

Yet in the span of a single day, her beautiful dream had shattered into pieces, vanishing like a bubble.

Her husband’s heart belonged not to her at all, but to Ling Jingshu.