“I’ve barely been here long enough to warm my seat, and you’re already eager to drive me away. Seventh Sister, you’re being quite heartless. Besides… I haven’t finished speaking yet.” With that, Xin’an let out an exaggerated sigh and continued, “Though becoming a concubine is indeed quite undignified, if Seventh Sister could truly marry out, I, as your elder sister, would be happy for you. It’s just a pity… Seventh Sister, you lowered yourself to become someone’s concubine, yet they still don’t fancy you. I heard that yesterday Seventh Sister was stopped at the gates of the Tang Prince’s mansion and wasn’t allowed to enter. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Tell me, what’s the point of all this suffering? If you’re truly so eager to marry, just tell me or His Majesty, and we’ll certainly find you a talented young man from a prestigious family, allowing you to marry in grand style. That would surely be better than being rejected as you are now, don’t you think?”

Yunyi showed no anger, saying calmly, “I never would have imagined that Fourth Sister cared so much about me. I’m truly moved.”

Xin’an replied with feigned concern, “You and I grew up together since childhood, and we’re blood sisters. If I don’t care about you, who would I care about?”

Yunyi smiled slightly and said, “Speaking of which, Fourth Sister is also alone now. If there truly were good young men from prestigious families, His Majesty should arrange a marriage for Fourth Sister first.” Just as Xin’an was about to offer some polite words, Yunyi suddenly changed her tone: “However, in the past, Fourth Sister forcibly seized someone else’s fiancé, and later kept male favorites, indulging in debauchery without restraint. With such a terrible reputation, I imagine… no one would dare marry Fourth Sister.”

Xin’an’s expression stiffened. Ruyi beside her laughed softly, “The Princess speaks truly. With Fourth Princess’s reputation, forget about young men from prestigious families—even ordinary households wouldn’t dare to marry her, fearing… they’d be wearing one green hat after another, endlessly.”

“Insolent!” Xin’an was already furious from Yunyi’s mockery, and Ruyi’s addition of fuel to the fire made her anger erupt. She raised her hand to strike, but when her hand was only halfway up, someone firmly grasped it. Yunyi said expressionlessly, “Ruyi is my palace attendant. You needn’t trouble yourself with her.”

Xin’an forcefully broke free from her grip and sneered, “If Seventh Sister doesn’t know how to discipline her servants, then I, as your elder sister, will have to work a bit harder and discipline her for you.” She then said to the palace attendants behind her, “Ruyi has committed the crime of disrespecting her superiors, not knowing her place. Give her twenty slaps!”

The palace attendants were about to step forward when Yunyi shouted sternly, “Let me see who dares to make a move!”

Xin’an stared at Yunyi and said, “No matter what, I am still your Fourth Sister. Don’t I even have the right to discipline a palace maid?”

A cold smile curved Yunyi’s lips. “That’s right, nominally you are my Fourth Sister, but you mustn’t forget that I am the Princess Imperial. In terms of rank, you are still one level below me. What qualifications do you have to punish palace attendants here in Mingse Hall?”

“You!” Xin’an trembled with rage. Yunyi being named Princess Imperial had always been a source of hatred in her heart. No matter how she calculated—by age, by status—it should have been her by rights.

Yunyi didn’t wish to say more to her and turned away, saying, “Well then, if Fourth Princess has nothing else to discuss, please return to your Shuangyue Hall.”

Xin’an said through gritted teeth, “It’s just the title of Princess Imperial. What’s there to be so proud of?” She then sneered, “You did so much before, all just to marry Li Shimin. And what was the result? Even as a concubine, he doesn’t want you!”

Just as Ruyi was about to argue with her, a clear, resonant voice came from outside: “The matter between Princess Jinyang and myself requires no concern from Princess Xin’an.”

Hearing this voice, Ruyi’s heart leaped with joy, and she quickly curtsied, saying, “This servant greets Second Young Master!”

Xin’an also saw Li Shimin walking in. His legs seemed to have some problem, causing him to walk with a limp. She deliberately mocked, “What happened to Second Young Master’s legs? Don’t tell me that because of Jinyang’s matter, the Tang Prince broke your legs in a fit of anger?”

Li Shimin, supported by Chuyi, stepped over the knee-high threshold and said with lowered eyes, “Princess Xin’an truly enjoys joking. Actually, I came here today specifically to formally propose to Princess Jinyang. As long as the Princess agrees, we’ll set the wedding date and I’ll marry the Princess as my equal wife!”

This statement caused Xin’an’s smile to freeze on her lips as she stared at Li Shimin, “What did you say?”

Li Shimin ignored her words and turned his head, saying, “Chuyi!”

“Yes.” Chuyi responded and took out a bright red betrothal gift list from his chest, handing it to the stunned Yunyi with a smile, “This is the betrothal gift prepared by Second Young Master. Please examine it, Princess!”

Yunyi stared blankly at the blindingly red gift list. She had thought that with Li Yuan’s strong opposition, she and Li Shimin were destined to have no fate together. She never imagined that suddenly, Li Shimin would not only appear before her but also present a betrothal gift list. Had the Tang Prince… agreed? But hadn’t he been strongly opposed before, even forbidding her from entering the Tang Prince’s mansion?

The shock in Xin’an’s heart was no less than Yunyi’s. Clearly, the news she had received was that Li Yuan would not permit Li Shimin to marry Yunyi. How could it suddenly… This made no sense at all.

After pondering for a moment, a cold glint appeared in her eyes as she said coldly, “Second Young Master truly has deep feelings for Seventh Sister, willing to disregard even the Tang Prince’s opposition and become an unfilial son just to marry Seventh Sister.”

Chuyi had long found her displeasing, and hearing her speak this way, he deliberately provoked her, “Fourth Princess is mistaken. When the Prince learned that Second Young Master would take the Princess Imperial as his equal wife, he was overjoyed and immediately ordered the preparation of betrothal gifts. As soon as they were ready, he had Second Young Master bring them for the Princess Imperial to examine!”

“Impossible!” Xin’an would never believe his words and shouted, “Jinyang once killed the Tang Prince’s third son. How could he possibly agree to this marriage? You’re clearly lying!”

Chuyi smiled disdainfully, “If Fourth Princess doesn’t believe it, you’re welcome to go ask the Tang Prince yourself!”

Xin’an was rendered speechless by his words. After a long while, her face, pale to the point of being almost blue-white, forced out a smile, “If that’s truly the case, then congratulations to Seventh Sister and Second Young Master for finally becoming a couple.” With that, she hurriedly left, unwilling to remain there any longer.

Chuyi made a face at her retreating figure and muttered under his breath, “That princess is truly detestable.”

Li Shimin walked up to Yunyi and smiled warmly, “Aren’t you going to look at this gift list?”

Yunyi had no mind for any gift list at the moment. She stared at Li Shimin without blinking, and after a long while, she asked in a hoarse voice, “The Tang Prince… truly agreed?” She feared that Chuyi had been speaking nonsense just to anger Xin’an, leading to empty joy.

Li Shimin’s face radiated deep happiness, “Yes, Father has agreed to our marriage.” At this point, he tightly grasped Yunyi’s hand and said excitedly, “Yunyi, we can be together, truly be together!”

After confirming that all this was real, tears fell like broken pearls, streaming down continuously. Yet on her face was a smile that hadn’t appeared for days. She had thought they were destined to have no fate together, but it turned out there was hope after despair, a sudden turning point.