The Grand Prince’s display of tenderness and consideration surprised all the ladies present.

The young woman seemed quite casual about it, as if long accustomed to the Grand Prince’s attentiveness. She even picked up another crab and pushed it toward the Grand Prince, indicating that he should peel another one.

The assembled ladies gasped.

Even husbands with gentle dispositions wouldn’t dare be ordered around like this!

Let alone the cold and volatile Grand Prince?

Some whispered: “Looking at him this way, the Grand Prince seems like a reliable husband.”

“Reliable husband? In my view, he’s a money god! Have you heard? To prepare for the wedding, the Grand Prince procured lavish betrothal gifts in Jiangnan and even arranged the bride’s dowry. According to the ceremonial official handling the arrangements, the dowry prepared for the Yan family’s daughter, including land and properties, cost a full hundred thousand taels of silver!”

“So much? That can’t be right. I heard that when the Second Prince was preparing for his wedding, Consort Shang intervened, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs only allocated three thousand taels!”

This conversation made Yao Shu feel even worse. She put down her wine cup heavily and said mockingly: “Perhaps His Majesty favors the Grand Prince and thus adds more silver. Our Second Prince wouldn’t dare ask for so much, given the imperial treasury’s emptiness. After all, everyone inside and outside the palace practices frugality…”

She deliberately spoke the last sentence loudly, intending to tarnish the Grand Prince’s reputation and to be heard by the families of senior officials like Elder Teng.

Hearing this, Consort Yi frowned slightly. As the one managing palace affairs, she explained: “His Majesty has always been fair. The allocation for the Grand Prince’s wedding is also three thousand taels. However, the Grand Prince declined, citing the imperial treasury’s depletion as his reason. The silver for the wedding preparations comes from the Grand Prince himself.”

Upon hearing this, Yao Shu immediately said: “How is that possible? The princes’ allowances have always been fixed. Even with occasional rewards, they couldn’t accumulate this much…”

Consort Yi said calmly: “You’ve forgotten, the late Lady Ye was from a wealthy family in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The Ye family’s assets once supported half the region.”

With this explanation, everyone suddenly understood. Indeed, without the Ye family’s financial support, His Majesty and the late Emperor could not have succeeded in their endeavors.

Yet looking at General Yezhong’s family, they didn’t appear particularly wealthy or unconcerned with money. How had the Grand Prince, as a grandson, inherited his maternal grandfather’s estate?

Just then, someone knowledgeable mentioned several financial establishments spread throughout the Dafeng Empire: “The Ye family patriarch always favored his daughter. These were all part of Lady Ye’s dowry. When she passed away, she entrusted them to reliable managers. Over the years, they’ve grown substantially and been well-managed. Naturally, all these now belong to the Grand Prince.”

Meanwhile, the main branch of the Ye family had developed modestly since Ye Zhong abandoned commerce for military service.

As it turned out, the isolated and motherless Grand Prince was an unostentatious, wealthy man!

Many young women felt secretly annoyed, realizing they had been shallow in not recognizing that the Grand Prince was truly the most financially secure among the princes, generous in spending on his bride’s family.

It was known that when the Yao family was preparing their daughter’s dowry, they had been pressured by Consort Shang, who implied that a meager dowry would embarrass the prince. She had planned to profit from the marriage for the Second Prince!

In this light, it seemed the unknown salt merchant’s daughter from Jiangsu and Zhejiang had lucked out. What virtue or capability did she possess to deserve a hundred-thousand-tael dowry without bringing anything herself?

The ladies’ gazes toward the young woman had transformed from earlier contempt and mockery to envy and jealousy!

These sour comments drifted to Xiaoying’s ears.

She thought to herself: You’re underestimating. Had Feng Yuan given her just a hundred thousand in dowry? He had practically prepared to entrust his entire fortune to her, having already compiled a register of properties and handed it to her.

But Xiaoying felt Feng Yuan was being calculating, deliberately creating work for her so she would be too busy to regret the marriage.

Thinking of this, she whispered to Feng Yuan: “Did you hear that? They’re saying I’m getting something for nothing! If you had married someone else, you could have made a substantial profit…”

Feng Yuan’s dexterous fingers continued skillfully peeling the crab. Hearing her words, he finally looked up and glared at Xiaoying.

Xiaoying knew she had touched his reverse scale and immediately smiled sweetly, swaying his arm coquettishly: “Hurry up, I want more crab.”

After Xiaoying had contentedly eaten a small plate of crab, the Crown Prince had thoughtfully poured his sister a cup of yellow wine that had been warmed with ginger and dried plum.

This combination would dispel the cold, allowing her to eat another crab.

The Third Prince at the same table attentively served Xiaoying dishes, while stretching his neck to ask quietly: “Lady, was what you said earlier true? Will the Grand Prince help resolve Yanyan’s marriage situation?”

Xiaoying glared at him. In the garden earlier, hadn’t he already pestered the Grand Prince into agreeing to find fault with Yanyan’s future husband? Why was he endlessly asking about it in such a setting?

Thinking this, she said bluntly: “If you keep running your mouth like this, the entire capital will know. By then, there’ll be no need for the Grand Prince and me to bother—you can figure it out yourself!”

The Third Prince immediately acknowledged his error and fell silent, awkwardly smiling as he served more food to the Grand Prince.

From a distance, their table appeared harmonious and joyful.

The wives of officials like Elder Teng were puzzled. Wasn’t it said that the Crown Prince had been humiliated by the Grand Prince and was desperately insisting on relinquishing his position as heir?

How was it that the three brothers seemed to get along so well?

The Crown Prince’s cheeks were flushed from drinking, and he was smiling warmly, appearing quite close to the others, with no sign of resentment or inappropriateness.

However, Feng Qiyuan didn’t wish to linger at such an occasion. After sufficiently supporting his sister, he used the excuse of being unable to drink more and left.

He now only hoped that His Majesty would quickly issue the decree to depose him as Crown Prince, so he could finally be free and at ease.

Halfway through the banquet, someone suddenly entered the hall with a message: the Wei Kingdom’s envoy, Prince Fu, had heard of Consort Yi’s birthday celebration and had prepared a gift, coming personally to offer congratulations.

Xiaoying looked up at Consort Yi. Though her expression remained unchanged, the slight tensing of her jawline revealed her nervousness.

The man who had once courted her, now wielding great power, was determined to reclaim all he had lost, aggressively displaying his persistence.

Who knew what trouble Huo Buxun would cause this time?

When the palace attendants brought in a tray, everyone noticed it was covered with a silk cloth.

Consort Yi declined Prince Fu’s entry to offer congratulations, using the pretext that palace ladies shouldn’t receive outside guests. She showed no interest in viewing the gift publicly and ordered it to be taken away.

Just then, the palace troublemaker sauntered into the hall.

The Second Prince, with a gloomy face and a forced smile, had led Prince Fu inside.

“Consort Yi, this is most improper of you. Prince Fu has come from afar as a guest. How can you be so negligent, not even offering a cup of water before sending him away?”

After entering the hall, Huo Buxun’s gaze was unrestrained, openly fixed on Consort Yi at the main seat.

He pulled off the cloth from the tray, revealing a golden hairpin. Its style was not recently fashionable but resembled designs popular several years ago. However, it had been well-maintained, frequently handled, and polished to a bright luster.

Seeing Consort Yi’s slightly changed expression, Xiaoying immediately guessed that the golden hairpin must have been a token of love she had given to Prince Fu years ago.

An angry, humiliated man refusing to accept rejection? He was deliberately trying to destroy Consort Yi with such a public display!

Thinking this, before Consort Yi could speak, Xiaoying raised her voice: “Prince Fu, don’t you understand Dafeng customs? As a male guest, it’s inappropriate to give hair ornaments to the female host. Consort Yi cannot accept your gift.”

Prince Fu had originally hoped to force Consort Yi to show emotion, recalling their past relationship.

Regarding the peace negotiations, he had already drafted terms with Dafeng but refused to finalize them, using this as leverage to demand one person from Emperor Chunde.

This time, he was determined to take Tang Mi away.

Emperor Chunde always prioritized the realm’s interests. After weighing the options, he would surely agree to exchange a woman for peace at the border.

The method to save face for both sides was simple: claim that Consort Yi had suddenly died, then send her in a sedan chair to his embassy.

Though he had planned this, Prince Fu also knew the temperament of the Tang family women. So he had personally entered the palace to meet Tang Mi, informing her of the matter so she would be prepared.

Unexpectedly, Tang Mi hadn’t spoken to him, but the woman beside her had started talking.

When he turned to look, Huo Buxun was stunned.

Had that effeminate Crown Prince gone mad? Why was he wearing women’s clothing at such an occasion?

Before Prince Fu could speak, Feng Yuan promptly intercepted his inappropriate words: “Prince Fu, let me introduce you. This is my future princess, and in five days, we will be married. If Prince Fu hasn’t departed by then, you’re welcome to join us for a cup of wine.”

Prince Fu’s eyes widened in disbelief. Wait—an elder brother marrying his younger brother? Was this how things were done in Dafeng? Had everyone gone mad?

But upon closer inspection, the young woman’s figure was slender and delicate, not like a man in disguise.

Goodness, could there be such identical men and women in the world…

Prince Fu finally came to his senses and said coldly, “What gift I give is not for you to dictate. Consort Yi, you need only say whether you accept it or not. If you don’t accept it, this prince shall present you with an even greater gift!”

That “greater gift” was full of threat. It meant that if Consort Yi disregarded their past relationship, he would overturn everything.

Xiaoying smiled cheerfully and said, “The gift is naturally Prince Fu’s to give, but whether to accept it depends on Prince Fu’s ability to offer it. Before the banquet began, the Consort entrusted me to temporarily serve as her lady-in-waiting for today. His Majesty practices frugality, and if anyone sends overly valuable gifts today, she cannot refuse them directly, so I am to do so on her behalf.”

With that, Xiaoying rose and walked to the tray, examined the hairpin, and frowned, clicking her tongue: “The style is outdated, no longer fashionable, and the jewels set in it are rather valuable. The Consort no longer likes such hairpins. Prince Fu, please take it back and give it to someone more suitable!”

Hearing this, Prince Fu narrowed his eyes. The more he looked at her, the more she resembled the woman who had once combed Tang Mi’s hair and helped her escape.

Thinking of this, he said coldly: “Whether the Consort likes it or not isn’t for you to decide!”

“I indeed don’t like this hairpin. Now that I serve His Majesty, I prefer not to have cumbersome ornaments on my head. Thank you for Prince Fu’s kind intentions, but please take it back,” Consort Yi finally spoke, following Xiaoying’s lead.

Hearing these words, Prince Fu’s eyes began to redden slightly. He gritted his teeth and said coldly, “This hairpin’s style is indeed old-fashioned, but it is something I cherish. I often take it out, not daring to forget how I obtained it. Unfortunately, people are often fickle, and some forget the promises made when they first gave such tokens.”

These words were too explicit. The audience exchanged glances, looking toward Consort Yi with uncertainty and suspicion. What was the story behind this hairpin? Could it be that Prince Fu and Consort Yi…

Xiaoying sighed. Well, since she had decided to help Consort Yi, she might as well go all the way!

But this method was rather damaging. Thinking of this, she turned to look at Feng Yuan, her eyes showing a slight apology.

Feng Yuan understood this woman too well. He knew she was about to make an unexpected move and merely nodded casually, indicating that she could proceed as she wished, and he would support her.

With this, she spoke with reddened eyes: “Why are you so persistently annoying? I told you two years ago that I only care for men with responsibility! Now I’m about to be married, and you come with this broken hairpin to make a scene? Didn’t you say that wealth and status were more important than women? Why are you being so disagreeable? If I didn’t like you before, I certainly don’t now! For a dignified prince to pressure a woman to death like this—I must have been blind to have liked you initially! A man with such a narrow mind should find a tree and hang himself!”

Xiaoying spoke bluntly, using her mouth to say all the words Consort Yi wished to express.

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped. What was happening? It seemed Prince Fu and Lady Xiaoying were old acquaintances, and he had entered the palace to settle an old romantic score with her?

As expected of a poor salt merchant’s daughter, causing such a scene in this setting, where was Prince Ruixiang’s dignity?

Yet looking at the Grand Prince, his expression remained unchanged. He even casually poured a cup of wine, seeming entirely unbothered by this apparent cuckolding.

The Second Prince stood stunned. When his mother was still alive, he had discovered Prince Fu’s past relationship with Consort Yi.

Later, he had used this to pressure Consort Yi to plead for his mother, but Consort Yi had avoided him.

Today, he had brought Prince Fu along, driven by the mentality that “if I can’t live well, no one should.”

But he never expected that not only had his plot against Yan Xiaoying failed, but she had now disrupted this scheme as well.

“No… what does this have to do with you? Why are you falsely claiming—”

Before the Second Prince could finish, the Grand Prince hurled a wine cup that struck Feng Qiting squarely in the face.

Simultaneously, he followed Xiaoying’s lead: “Why bring a Wei Kingdom person to a palace consort’s birthday? Isn’t it just because you knew I’d be here and deliberately wanted to spoil things in front of me?”

The Third Prince’s happiness now entirely depended on his elder brother.

Though he didn’t understand the current situation, the Grand Prince’s thrown cup was a signal enough. He leaped up with a roar, grabbed the Second Prince’s collar, and dragged him outside. Soon, screams were heard—the Second Prince was likely being beaten soundly by the Third Prince.

The Grand Prince rose and walked to Prince Fu, adjusting his clothes for him, then said coldly: “Live in comfort and luxury too long, and one begins to think of improper things. If Prince Fu is so idle that he must tarnish a gentle woman’s reputation, then I might as well give Prince Fu and your royal brother something to do. How about Xiangcheng?”

Prince Fu’s pupils dilated upon hearing this. Xiangcheng bordered Fengwei Slope, another strategic location for Wei.

However, after the Fengwei Slope battle, Xiangcheng had reinforced its troops and wasn’t easily taken.

So Prince Fu thought Feng Yuan was bluffing: “Xiangcheng is not Fengwei Slope. If you dare to attack, even if it means mutual destruction, you’ll gain nothing!”

Feng Yuan couldn’t be bothered to continue sparring with him. Since the Crown Prince had claimed illness, he had taken over the peace negotiations.

So-called peace talks never relied solely on talking. Thus, Feng Yuan had devoted more energy to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, thousands of miles away.

He had previously found ways to contact Luo Zhen, analyzing the current situation’s pros and cons. Only by creating a deterrent against Wei could they instill fear.

Though Xiangcheng had the natural defense of Tuoshan Mountain, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack, Feng Yuan had used a travel map left by his mother to plot a route for building a plank road on Tuoshan’s cliff.

So, a month earlier, Luo Zhen had sent people to build simple plank roads at several key points along this shortcut on Tuoshan Mountain adjacent to Xiangcheng. Now, with the roads complete, Luo Zhen had gathered troops, creating an overwhelming advantage over Xiangcheng from the high ground.

If peace talks yielded no results, fire and arrows would rain down on Xiangcheng.

Prince Fu had received early intelligence about troops stationed on Tuoshan Mountain near Xiangcheng.

But Tuoshan was treacherous, all cliffs, making it seemingly impossible to move large troops there. If what Feng Yuan said was true, once action began, Xiangcheng would fall, and Wei would be entirely on the defensive.

Thinking of this, Prince Fu’s expression changed dramatically. No longer concerned with romantic entanglements, he hurriedly turned and left, preparing to investigate the situation at Xiangcheng.

With this scene concluded, Consort Yi’s birthday celebration ended early.

When Consort Yi grabbed Xiaoying’s arm, Xiaoying felt her hand was as cold as a corpse’s.

If she hadn’t diverted attention from the hairpin earlier, Consort Yi knew her fate would have been worse than death.

What could she do? The debt of gratitude to this young woman and the Grand Prince grew increasingly heavy, seemingly impossible to repay in this lifetime.

But with Lady Xiaoying acting this way, would the Grand Prince blame her when they returned?

Hearing Consort Yi’s soft murmuring, Xiaoying smiled dismissively: “He and I are similar people. So-called reputation is just what remains after others have chewed it over—it doesn’t affect our daily lives. Why should we let it weigh on us?”

As she spoke, Feng Yuan put his arm around her, thoughtfully draping his cloak over her shoulders, then said to Consort Yi: “Xiaoying drank too much yellow wine earlier. I’ll take her back to the mansion to rest.”

As they left, they saw the Second Prince tearfully pointing at his third brother, threatening to complain to their father.

Xiaoying couldn’t help but look at the Second Prince with sympathy: “A child without a mother lives a life as directionless as a blind person.”

Those who had ambushed Xiaoying today were the Second Prince’s people. Since losing Consort Shang, the Second Prince had been like a headless fly, bumping around aimlessly.

Hearing that Yan Xiaoying was entering the palace, he had been incited by those around him to try to teach her a lesson.

Unknown to him, the instigator was someone Feng Yuan had planted in the Second Prince’s circle through Shen Wen’s connections.

This person had fanned the flames, setting a trap full of flaws, and insisted on leading her through the conspicuous Imperial Garden.

Feng Yuan had arranged this to strike preemptively.

He had planned early for Xiaoying to be entrapped, then for Consort Yi to discover it, allowing Xiaoying to pretend to be frightened and leave the palace.

But Yan Xiaoying felt that avoiding trouble now would only delay it. It was better to take this opportunity to meet His Majesty and lance the boil.

Having lived in the palace for so long, she was familiar with the Emperor’s daily routine and knew this was the time when His Majesty would be strolling in the Imperial Garden. So when she glimpsed His Majesty approaching from afar, she kicked the Second Prince’s people into the lake.

As for the Third Prince and Crown Prince, they were naturally arranged by her.

The Emperor cared about appearances. If presented with the image of loving children, he wouldn’t do something as unreasonable as immediately executing his future daughter-in-law, whom he had approved, in front of two of his sons.

This approach proved effective. Regardless of the method, having stopped His Majesty’s murderous intent was crossing the biggest hurdle.

But seeing how Feng Yuan had rushed over, he must have found the Desolate Palace empty and anxiously searched everywhere for her.

Someone who had been misled would surely want to settle accounts with her in private.

Xiaoying simply clung to his arm, using the effects of the wine to act coquettish: “Ah Yuan… I only decided on the spur of the moment, it wasn’t intentional! Elder Brother, don’t be angry with me…”

Recently, Xiaoying had developed a new habit. When she angered Feng Yuan, she would call him “Ah Yuan” or “Elder Brother” in a flurry, combined with her mischievous yet sweet smile. It made it hard to decide whether to spank her or embrace and kiss her.