The imperial palace stood majestic in the golden sunlight, remaining an awe-inspiring sight that countless people across the realm yearned to behold.

Carriages and horses gradually dispersed from the vicinity.

Jiang Si and Yu Jin left the palace, walking toward the Yan Prince’s carriage parked to one side.

Old Qin was driving the carriage, while Ah Qiao held a parasol to shield Jiang Si from the sun.

Jiang Si had always believed that everyone had their strengths; the key was using them appropriately.

Ah Man was bold and straightforward, making her suitable for accompanying visitors from various households—if anyone ended up at a disadvantage, it would be the other party. Ah Qiao, being steady and cautious, was most fitting for palace visits.

At the carriage, Ah Qiao quickly stepped forward to lift the curtain and help Jiang Si board.

As Yu Jin attempted to follow, Jiang Si shot him a glance. “Didn’t you ride here on horseback?”

“I wanted to talk with you,” he replied.

Jiang Si glanced at the carriages ahead and whispered, “Ah Qiao is here—why squeeze in? Father and the others are probably anxiously waiting by now. You should head over early.”

Yu Jin had no choice but to give up. He took the reins from Old Qin, mounted his horse, and rode alongside the carriage.

Old Qin cracked his whip, and the carriage began moving slowly in the sunlight.

Not far away, in another carriage, a curtain embroidered with dark golden clouds quietly lowered, blocking out the harsh sunlight.

The interior was luxuriously appointed, filled with a subtle, pleasant fragrance.

Princess Rongyang reclined against the carriage wall and glanced at her daughter.

“Mingyue, are you on bad terms with the Yan Prince’s wife?”

The sudden question startled Cui Mingyue.

Of course, she was on bad terms with that lowborn Jiang woman, who made no effort to hide her dislike. However, she hadn’t mentioned this to her mother.

Princess Rongyang closed her eyes slightly. “You were foolish enough to get involved with the Zhu family, which caused friction with the Yan Prince’s wife. It shouldn’t have been a major issue, but she rose from a mere Earl’s daughter to become a Princess Consort and now has earned the Emperor’s favor. This cannot be ignored…”

Cui Mingyue sat sideways, listening quietly with downcast eyes.

“In any case, the Yan Prince’s wife is at the height of her influence. You should avoid confronting her directly in the future.”

Cui Mingyue raised her eyes, with a mocking smile. “Mother, are you wary of the Yan Prince’s wife?”

It surprised her to see her mother, who typically argued fiercely with her father and showed no mercy when disciplining servants, actually advocating retreat.

“Wary?” Princess Rongyang gave her daughter a sideways glance and sneered. “In the Emperor’s nearly twenty years on the throne, there have been countless favorites. What became of them? No one stays fortunate forever, just as no flower blooms for a hundred days. There’s no shame in avoiding confrontation when someone is at their peak.”

Princess Rongyang adjusted her position, appearing increasingly languid. “The crucial thing is not to anger the Empress Dowager or the Emperor—that’s what truly matters.”

What was so special about the Yan Prince’s wife? Even the Yan Prince himself had to properly address her as “Aunt.” But since her royal brother currently favored the Yan Prince’s wife, opposing her would be foolish.

“Daughter understands,” Cui Mingyue replied neutrally, though internally scornful.

Some people were like sick cats—their temporary success wasn’t worth worrying about. But others were tigers—if you didn’t eliminate them as cubs, they would become real threats later.

The Yan Prince’s wife was such a tiger, and she couldn’t allow her the time to grow into her full strength!

Upon returning to the Princess’s mansion, Cui Mingyue drank a full cup of flower tea brought by her maid, yet still couldn’t dispel her agitation.

“Young Miss—” her maid hesitated to speak.

Cui Mingyue frowned. “Why are you stammering?”

The maid quickly said, “This servant has something to report to Young Miss.”

“Speak,” Cui Mingyue set down her teacup impatiently.

The maid instinctively glanced around before lowering her voice. “Young Miss, when I accompanied you to the palace today and was waiting in the side hall, I saw an unexpected person.”

“Who?”

“The Yan Prince’s wife’s maid.”

“So what?” Cui Mingyue asked dismissively, having no impression of the maids serving Jiang Si.

The maid wore a peculiar expression. “I had seen her at the perfume shop where I often buy fragrances for you. The female shopkeeper showed her unusual respect, treating her not as a customer but as an owner…”

Cui Mingyue suddenly sat up straight, her expression turning serious. “You mean—”

The maid hurriedly continued, “That’s why when I saw her in the palace today, I recalled that strange situation and wanted to report it to Young Miss…”

“Well done,” Cui Mingyue praised, her fingers lightly tapping the table.

The shopkeeper showing such respect to a maid?

Cui Mingyue recalled accidentally discovering that inconspicuous cosmetics shop and being impressed by their particularly fragrant perfumes. She had since regularly sent her maid to make purchases and occasionally visited herself.

Despite her obvious noble status, the shopkeeper had never been overly deferential to her.

Given the shopkeeper’s attitude toward the Yan Prince’s wife’s maid—Cui Mingyue raised an eyebrow, spreading her palm flat on the table.

Could the Yan Prince’s wife be the secret owner of that cosmetics shop?

Cui Mingyue closed her eyes, her long thick eyelashes casting shadows beneath them like her long-held dark mood, while her slightly trembling eyelids betrayed her current excitement.

It was an excitement tinged with anticipation.

If the Yan Prince’s wife truly was the secret owner of Lu Sheng Xiang, making her fall would be effortless.

Cui Mingyue recalled Yu Jin’s eloquent speech in Changsheng Hall, Jiang Si’s composed demeanor, and their unconscious exchanges of understanding glances. It all grated on her nerves, filling her with the urge to destroy them both.

Why should they enjoy such harmony and brilliance?

She would start with Lu Sheng Xiang—let’s see how smug the Yan Prince’s wife remains after this.

The people at Earl Dongping’s mansion had indeed grown anxious waiting.

Although they had received word that the Yan Prince and his wife would first attend a palace banquet, Old Madam Feng still had servants watching at the gate to welcome them immediately upon arrival.

The Earl’s mansion now had a proper Princess Consort—the mere thought of it still excited Old Madam Feng.

Since Jiang Si’s marriage, Old Madam Feng felt as if in a dream, and on the day of her return visit, she grew unsettled when the couple didn’t appear immediately.

As the sun began to set, everyone became increasingly anxious.

“At this hour, surely they wouldn’t come?” Jiang Zhan stood at the main gate, muttering with his arms crossed.

Jiang Ancheng glared at him. “Stop talking nonsense. How could she miss the traditional third-day return visit? Do you think your sister is as unreliable as you?”

Jiang Zhan gazed helplessly at the sky.

Father was shifting blame again.

It seemed that since Fourth Sister’s marriage, Father had become particularly prone to finding fault.

It made sense—even he felt strange seeing the empty swing under the tree when he visited Haitang Residence recently. How much more must it affect Father?

“They’re here, they’re here!” The steward keeping watch outside spotted the Yan Prince’s carriage and hurried to welcome them.

Jiang Ancheng peered out, then quickly turned back.

“Father, where are you going?”

Jiang Ancheng replied irritably, “Back to the room—you expect me, as the father-in-law, to greet my son-in-law at the door?”

Watching his father’s retreating figure, Jiang Zhan shook his head.