The Ninth Princess had never suffered such humiliation in all her life. Born of imperial blood, a golden branch and jade leaf, from childhood to now she should have been held in everyone’s palms. Yet now, to lose such tremendous face before so many people—she didn’t even want to recall it. In her fury, she smashed everything in the room that could be smashed.

Even her personal female official could only avoid her from afar, standing anxiously outside the door, practically wishing she could burn incense and pray to Buddha—the Ninth Princess had suffered such a great loss, and she as the personal female official bore unavoidable responsibility. Who knew how she would be dealt with?

It was Chen Mingyu who boldly knocked on the door and entered the room. Seeing the complete chaos on the floor, she simply pretended not to see it. She slowly knelt down before the Ninth Princess’s bed, both hands supporting the Princess’s hands as she gently consoled: “Your Highness is of imperial blood, a golden branch and jade leaf. Why lower yourself to the same level as Song the Sixth?”

She had originally considered Song the Sixth someone of consequence, but now it seemed she was nothing special after all—unable to distinguish who could be provoked and who couldn’t, actually unable to even exercise the word “forbearance.” Having a conflict with the Ninth Princess was one thing, but to dare make the Ninth Princess suffer such tremendous loss before so many people—did she not consider what enormous trouble this would bring her family? When the Son of Heaven rages, a million corpses fall. Did Song the Sixth truly believe she had several heads available for beheading?

Though she said this, she didn’t skimp on adding fuel to the fire: “Miss Song the Sixth has always been arrogant and haughty, relying on having an aunt who is a princess and the limitless favor of Elder Song in her household. She’s simply been spoiled rotten. Why should Your Highness bother being angry with her?”

Not be angry with her? Then should today’s grievances simply be endured in vain?! The Ninth Princess’s teeth ground audibly, her face full of malevolent energy. Clutching the blanket, she sharply rebuked: “Shut up!”

Chen Mingyu had already stirred her fury to its peak. Hearing this, she carefully assumed the manner of a quail, her face reddening as tears welled up. She sighed, yet still didn’t forget to tuck in the Princess’s blanket.

An announcement sounded from outside. Immediately after, from the corner of her eye, Chen Mingyu caught a glimpse of a sapphire blue treasure-pattern robe flash by. A palace-dressed woman wearing a purple-gold rose crown with a rising-sun five-phoenix hanging pearl hairpin strode rapidly to the bedside and sat down, pulling the Ninth Princess into her arms.

It was Consort Xian who had arrived. Chen Mingyu hurriedly prostrated herself on the ground. Even in such haste, her etiquette remained impeccable—the bells on her dress train didn’t make the slightest sound.

Consort Xian glanced at her, increasingly satisfied in her heart with this daughter of an elder statesman’s household. With a pleasant expression, she called for her to rise, then held the Ninth Princess, examining her up and down with deep concern: “Why race horses when all was well? Hearing you fell into a water pond, and the palace maids couldn’t explain clearly—it nearly frightened this consort mother to death!”

The Ninth Princess’s eyes immediately reddened. Tears as large as beans fell in continuous strings. Nestled in Consort Xian’s embrace, she cried so hard she could barely catch her breath.

Consort Xian’s heart ached terribly. She had borne two sons and one daughter. Her sons had all gone to their fiefs early on—at most, she saw them once a year during New Year’s. If there were disasters and famines and the Emperor didn’t issue an edict, it could be three to five years before seeing them once. Therefore, her only daughter who could remain by her side became increasingly precious, like a pearl or treasure. Normally, she feared the girl would melt if held in her mouth, or fall if held in her hands. Now, seeing her daughter crying like a tearful wreck, with wounds on both her arms and face, her heart already ached beyond measure. She asked repeatedly: “What happened?! Why are you crying like this?”

But the Ninth Princess, who was always arrogant before outsiders, became like a small child before her consort mother. She only knew to sob and whimper, refusing to speak a complete sentence. Consort Xian was extremely anxious. Her gaze swept around the room as she pointed to the Ninth Princess’s personal female official: “You speak. The Princess is usually in your care—how did such a thing happen without reason?!”

The Ninth Princess was naturally lively and adorable. Even Emperor Jianzhang indulged her considerably. Coming to the hunting grounds and wanting to race horses was a common occurrence, but never once had she been in such a wretched state. Exactly which blind fool had she competed with to end up in this condition?

The female official looked fearfully at the Ninth Princess who was looking at her, her legs going weak as she knelt on the ground: “Reporting to Your Ladyship, the Princess raced horses with Miss Song the Sixth. Miss Song the Sixth, desperate to win, used her riding crop to wrap around the horse’s leg, and the Princess fell into the water pond along with her horse…”

Song the Sixth?! That Song the Sixth whose son was quite wary of, who two years ago had declined to be the Ninth Princess’s study companion?! Consort Xian’s fury turned to laughter, repeatedly saying “good, good, good.”

Such audacity—bullying people and bullying those of imperial blood! Did they truly think that because Consort Song had borne a prince, they had all risen to the surface, and everyone must retreat a distance?!

She smiled coldly through gritted teeth, then looked at her daughter again. After standing lost in thought for a moment, she lowered her head to ask the Ninth Princess: “Why did you suddenly think to race horses with Song the Sixth?”

She knew her daughter’s temperament. Since childhood, she’d been pampered somewhat excessively. Among all the princesses, she was the most lively and also the most fond of displaying affection. Apart from conducting herself with restraint before Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian, when had she ever regarded others? Even if she disliked Song the Sixth, she should know her older brother already had methods to bring misfortune to both Song the Sixth and the Eleventh Princess. When all was well, why must she make trouble for Song the Sixth at this particular time?

The Ninth Princess instinctively glanced at Chen Mingyu—in fact, if Chen Mingyu hadn’t repeatedly told her how Song the Sixth was this and that, she wouldn’t have been so hotheaded as to insist on making trouble for Song the Sixth.

But unexpectedly, not only did she fail to make trouble, she was instead schemed against by Song the Sixth. Trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it—now everyone probably knew she had lost to Song the Sixth and fallen from her horse. Losing such tremendous face, how could she continue following Father Emperor to hunt afterward? What meaning did this spring hunt still hold?! Where would she have the face to go out and see people?!

Her face flushed crimson. Unable to bother finding fault with Chen Mingyu, she imperceptibly turned her eyes away, lowering her head as if containing infinite grievance: “If Eleventh Sister hadn’t insisted that this cousin of hers was so capable, I wouldn’t have been provoked into losing my composure…”

Just like Consort Song—appearing gentle and harmless on the surface, yet who knew how many schemes lay hidden within.

Consort Xian lowered her eyelids and sat for a while, her expression inscrutable. After quite some time, she suddenly gave a sinister laugh, lifted her skirts and stood up: “Go to the Yanbo Zhishuang Pavilion!”

Chen Mingyu had been maintaining a lowered gaze, playing the role of an obedient daughter of a distinguished family. Now she couldn’t help but secretly gloat—Consort Xian clearly intended to lodge a complaint with Emperor Jianzhang. Given the Ninth Princess’s level of favor, Song Chuyi would very likely suffer the consequences this time.

The Ninth Princess clearly thought the same. The corner of her mouth held an extremely cold smile, her eyes flashing with dark light.