Shaoshang covered the back of her hand, glaring furiously at Ling Buyi. However, at this moment no one in the palace hall was paying attention to them—everyone’s gaze had been drawn to the consort in regular palace attire walking slowly inside.

“I’ll settle accounts with you later!” Shaoshang was eager to watch the drama unfold, so she could only first threaten him in a low voice.

Ling Buyi turned his head away, refusing to look at her again.

Noble Consort Yue walked forward and slowly performed courtesy to the Emperor and Empress. The imperial children also rose to bow to her—only the Crown Prince could perform a slight salute. When Noble Consort Yue raised her head, Shaoshang saw her appearance—a round, delicately pretty and spirited face with shallow dimples on both cheeks. Though she was already approaching forty, she looked only around thirty.

Shaoshang murmured: “This Noble Consort Yue is also very beautiful—no less than the Empress.” This was not very good.

Ling Buyi poured wine for himself, pretending not to hear.

“…Why did you come today?” The old Princess Consort Ruyang seemed somewhat uncomfortable, her tone no longer the lofty superiority of before. “Don’t you always skip family banquets?”

Noble Consort Yue, supported by palace maids, slowly rose and walked toward the head seat, saying as she walked: “Naturally it’s because I miss Uncle’s wife. I’ve been so anxious missing Uncle’s wife I couldn’t even sleep. As soon as I heard Uncle’s wife had come, I rushed over without even changing my clothes.”

Every word of this sentence was affectionate, yet the tone was flatter than the floor. Noble Consort Yue’s face showed not a trace of closeness but rather cold indifference—Shaoshang detected something interesting here.

At the same time, she also noticed that the people around her seemed to have collectively fallen into aphasia and facial paralysis—one by one lowering their heads in silence, restraining their expressions and staying quiet, clearly expressing through both facial expressions and body language their desire to keep a low profile and avoid attention.

More interesting were the Emperor and Empress’s expressions. The former’s expression was complex, seeming both pleased yet not afraid of trouble, while the latter smiled helplessly and imperceptibly retreated slightly backward—from a psychological perspective, this was a posture hoping to stay out of the matter.

Noble Consort Yue stepped up the stairs and walked before Princess Consort Ruyang, eyes staring downward: “Uncle’s wife, shouldn’t you make way?” This was exactly like the earlier scene of the old Princess Consort forcing Beauty Xu to retreat.

The Fifth Prince’s eyes lit up.

The old Princess Consort Ruyang said angrily: “After all, I am your elder!” Although as the nation’s second most noble lady, Noble Consort Yue’s fief and rank were both above her own, she still couldn’t save face.

“If we’re talking about elders, you’re even more His Majesty’s elder. Why not ask His Majesty to also make way, and you can sit above His Majesty?” Noble Consort Yue’s lips moved lightly, speaking both rapidly and dismissively.

Princess Consort Ruyang’s face turned purple. Seeing the situation was bad, Princess Yuchang very cleverly helped up her suffocating grandmother and retreated to sit behind another food table the palace maids had just set up.

Noble Consort Yue sat down naturally and looked around below: “Eh? Where’s the Third Princess? Why didn’t she come?”

The Emperor stroked his beard, just considering how to speak, when Noble Consort Yue answered her own question: “Oh, I know—she must have committed another error. Seems last time’s punishment wasn’t enough. It’s all His Majesty being soft-hearted, only penalizing thirty percent of her fief. I said from the start we should confiscate all her fief and servants completely—see if she still dares be so arrogant without money or power!… How about we add that on this time?”

The Emperor sheepishly closed his mouth.

The Second Princess couldn’t bear it and forced a smile: “Mother Consort, Third Sister already knows she was wrong and has been confined in reflection these days. Besides, if you really leave her penniless, won’t she just come begging from me?”

Noble Consort Yue didn’t even lift her eyelids: “You should put more effort into poetry and dance. If you can’t speak properly, speak less. Keep nagging and I’ll pray to Goddess Nüwa to let you also bear a daughter like your Third Sister.”

The Second Princess choked and deeply lowered her head.

Seeing the Second Prince’s Consort across from her shrinking like a quail, the Crown Princess raised her head and smiled: “Mother Consort’s instruction is very apt. It’s just that since Father Emperor has already punished Third Sister, it wouldn’t be appropriate to punish her again.”

“I haven’t had much dealings with the Crown Princess ordinarily, but I’ll advise the Crown Princess one thing…” Noble Consort Yue’s lips barely opened wide: “First manage your own one-third acre of land properly. When you become Empress in the future, then come guide me on how to conduct myself.”

The Crown Princess’s face turned purple, extremely embarrassed. The Second Prince’s Consort stole a glance at her awkward state, laughing mockingly inside. The Crown Princess’s face was full of grievance, tears welling up about to cry, when Noble Consort Yue said again: “But don’t worry—I’ll definitely do my best to die early and not make the Crown Princess go to this trouble. So stop crying.”

The Crown Prince was alarmed and immediately prostrated himself: “Mother Consort’s words are too much for your son to bear.” He turned back and sternly said: “Why are you crying? Be silent!”

The Crown Princess indeed didn’t dare cry anymore.

The old Princess Consort Ruyang put on the airs of an elder, saying in a deep voice: “You’re too harsh—look how you’ve frightened the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Princesses are still princesses after all. They should have proper bearing—don’t manage the children into dullness…”

“Princesses are not only princesses but also His Majesty’s daughters.” Noble Consort Yue slowly continued: “As parents, we birth them and raise them, let them not worry about food and clothing, and grow up in glory and dignity. We don’t ask how filial and considerate they’ll be—we only hope they won’t behave dissolutely, be domineering and unreasonable, and lose their parents’ face. Uncle’s wife, is this expectation I have for my children too high?”

Thus the old Princess Consort Ruyang could only close her mouth as well.

Shaoshang was incredibly shocked, shrinking behind Ling Buyi’s side and secretly watching with wide eyes.

The Emperor seemed very accustomed to this and had no desire to speak from beginning to end. The Empress even more so pretended not to hear.

“Alright, the elders need to speak. First let the younger ones return to rest.”

Noble Consort Yue pointed at several young princes under ten years old sitting in the back. The Empress hurriedly nodded from afar. The attending Nanny Fu and palace maids quickly led the five young boys away.

Speaking so unilaterally, Noble Consort Yue felt nothing improper. Her gaze followed everyone one by one. When she saw Shaoshang, she said: “So this is Eleventh Lang’s new wife? How shabby looking—like she hasn’t eaten her fill.”

Hearing several snickers around her, Shaoshang was greatly embarrassed and stammered in reply: “This subject, subject, subject…” Her gaze went to Ling Buyi, but her fiancé turned his face away refusing to move.

The Fifth Princess was overjoyed, feeling she’d finally found her platform, and quickly said: “Mother Consort has good eyes. This Lady Cheng…”

“Little Fifth, how are you still this way!” Noble Consort Yue stared at the Fifth Princess’s face and frowned: “The acne all over your face has been there for two years now. Not only hasn’t it receded, it’s become even more vigorous. Do you want to marry with this face? A round fan can’t cover it.”

The Fifth Princess instantly petrified, her paste still purple-red.

“The beloved consort speaks reasonably.” The Emperor finally spoke: “Before the year end, I heard the Empress tell you to eat lightly, abstain from wine and meat, stop playing around all day seeking pleasure with day and night reversed. Did you listen or not!”

The Fifth Princess was ashamed and furious, trembling all over, tears circling in her eyes. Finally unable to bear it, she cried out and ran from the palace hall.

The palace hall fell silent with quite an atmosphere of nervous tension.

Noble Consort Yue acted as if nothing happened, even muttering to herself: “Ran off without asking leave to withdraw—no manners. Ah well, let her be carefree before marriage. I’m just too soft-hearted and love indulging the children.”

Everyone: … (You’re lying!)

The Fourth Princess had been secretly laughing, but raising her head she saw her mother glancing over. With a start, she immediately said loudly: “Your daughter will go see Fifth Sister and properly console her, tell her to change her eating habits.” After receiving the Emperor’s wave of permission, she left the palace hall with the speed of a desperate escape.

Shaoshang was shocked beyond words. Having Noble Consort Yue as a mother—life was HARD mode from birth.

“Why are you so harsh! Look how you’ve frightened the children.” The fearless old Princess Consort Ruyang again opened her mouth to directly confront Noble Consort Yue, drawing admiring gazes from the younger generation.

Noble Consort Yue was completely unaware, retorting: “Uncle’s wife, why only criticize me? Just now His Majesty also scolded the Fifth Princess.” Seeing the old Princess Consort speechless, she continued on her own: “No wonder—from childhood Uncle’s wife never liked me, always saying I was willful and arbitrary…”

The First Prince Consort saw the awkward situation and came out to smooth things over: “Deep love brings strict discipline. Uncle’s wife also loves Noble Consort Yue—that’s why her words are heavy. We’re all family, all family…”

This time it was the First Princess’s turn to sigh. Though not as smooth as her husband, she understood Noble Consort Yue far better than he did. From childhood to adulthood, she always firmly remembered that speaking less before Noble Consort Yue was best—this was a profound lesson learned through countless ridicules and mockeries.

Sure enough, Noble Consort Yue smiled and said: “Uncle’s wife doesn’t love me at all. What Uncle’s wife loves is His Majesty.”

The First Prince Consort still didn’t know death approached, smiling: “Is that so? Your son-in-law has long heard His Majesty was sensible and steady from youth—no wonder the elders loved him.”

Noble Consort Yue looked to the heavens thinking, then shook her head: “Not entirely. Actually when His Majesty was young, Uncle’s wife didn’t love him much either. Later when His Majesty managed agriculture effectively, Uncle’s wife began to love him. His Majesty was capable in his youth, gradually earning family wealth and reputation—Uncle’s wife loved him more and more. After His Majesty ascended the throne as Emperor, Uncle’s wife’s love became incomparable. First Prince Consort, what do you think?”

First Prince Consort: …

Shaoshang pitied him: Alas, another plaster statue.

Princess Consort Ruyang was furious beyond measure, slapping the table: “Yue Heng, what do you mean by this! Are you trying to sow discord between His Majesty and my flesh-and-blood kinship?!”

Noble Consort Yue ignored her, smiling at those below seats, very amiably: “Prince Consorts, it’s not that I’m treating you as outsiders, but some elders’ stories—you’d better not hear them.”

The First Prince Consort was so grateful he nearly cried and quickly rose to take his leave.

The Second Prince Consort was clumsy with words but not slow in action. The two couples simultaneously requested to withdraw. The Second Prince Consort in the second second pulled up the Second Princess and left with speed too fast for ears to follow, truly moving like rippling waves—swift and light. The First Prince Consort couple chased behind gasping for breath.

Shaoshang watched them leave, suppressing laughter until her belly hurt.

“…Uncle’s wife’s reproach I dare not accept.” Noble Consort Yue drank a mouthful of wine, saying casually: “Back when the Grand Princess Imperial was pregnant and extremely weak, Uncle’s wife was unwilling to lend money to buy meat and nourishment. In the freezing snow, His Majesty had no choice but to enter the mountains to hunt, hoping to obtain some furs and meat for his elder sister. When Big Brother Huo Chong chased him back, he was already frozen purple all over.”

Old matters being brought up without warning—Princess Consort Ruyang was both ashamed and embarrassed. She stole several glances at the Emperor. Seeing his expressionless face, she could only stammer: “It wasn’t that I was unwilling to spend money. At that time your uncle and the others hadn’t returned for months outside—I had to keep some savings! How could this old woman know His Majesty would enter the mountains? Once I knew, I immediately sent people to report to the Huo family!”

Though she tried her best to explain, the four princes below were already glaring at her furiously and dissatisfied. The Emperor faced inward with head bowed sideways, not saying a word.

“Yes,” Noble Consort Yue suddenly became sorrowful: “My family was in a neighboring county. By the time we knew, Big Brother Huo Chong had already paid money and provided people, nursing the Grand Princess Imperial’s pregnancy and His Majesty’s cold illness. Alas, good people don’t live long…”

The palace hall fell silent again. After a moment, Noble Consort Yue said to Ling Buyi: “Your uncle has only your bloodline left. Marry and have children to offer incense and fire for your uncle’s family, lest in future they have no one to worship them and become lonely wandering ghosts.”

Ling Buyi cupped his hands in acknowledgment. Shaoshang discovered his fingers were trembling slightly.

“Exactly!” Princess Consort Ruyang said urgently: “I also hope Eleventh Lang will quickly marry and have children. But look at Lady Cheng—young in years and small in stature, undistinguished in family background. How can she match Eleventh Lang! We should seek a woman of noble birth and slightly older age—this way she can bear children immediately upon entering the house!” As she spoke, she pulled her granddaughter beside her: “My daughter Ying…”

“Beauty Xu, I see your complexion is poor.” Noble Consort Yue suddenly said this sentence.

Beauty Xu and her son had been listening intently. Hearing this they were stunned. Mother and son exchanged a glance and quickly understood. The mother pressed her forehead moaning while the son hurried to suggest escorting his mother back to rest, then both departed.

Watching the people around them grow fewer and fewer, Shaoshang felt somewhat uneasy.

Noble Consort Yue smiled pleasantly at Princess Yuchang, who shivered instead.

Noble Consort Yue said: “Niece Ying, you’re an honest child with no fault of your own. Unfortunately, you have a grandmother who bullies others whose brothers died early. Let me put it this way—even if Eleventh Lang randomly pulled an unmarried woman of appropriate age from the street, she’d be better than you! Some delusions you’d best abandon early. While you’re still young, find another good husband and marry.”

Princess Yuchang sobbed once and began crying lightly with covered sleeves.

“What are you saying!” Princess Consort Ruyang shouted with a torn voice: “You, you, you… you defy your elders, you…”

Noble Consort Yue leisurely drank another cup of wine, completely unmoved.

“Your Ladyship,” Ling Buyi suddenly said, “allow your subject to say something to Princess Yuchang.”

Then he rose: “Princess, even without the old Princess Consort Ruyang, I still wouldn’t marry you. Back then I’d rather die in battle at the frontier than return to marry you…”

“Zicheng!” The Emperor suddenly turned back, his voice rarely sharp: “Marry whoever you want to marry! Whoever you don’t want to marry, no one can force you! Anyone who dares threaten you—I’ll make them unable to live or die!”

Princess Yuchang’s face went deathly white. Unable to bear the shame any longer, she covered her face crying and left.

Princess Consort Ruyang was shocked by the Emperor’s威势, involuntarily restraining her momentum, saying awkwardly: “This old woman was just talking. Zicheng’s marriage is naturally for His Majesty to decide—how can outsiders say much… I just wanted the Chunyu clan to receive proper courtesy…”

Noble Consort Yue turned toward those below: “We’re about to discuss the Huo family’s hidden matters. Besides Eleventh Lang and his wife, do you still want to keep listening?”

The princes shuddered and quickly requested to withdraw. Just as they were about to rise, Noble Consort Yue sighed: “Crown Prince, Crown Princess—what are you leaving for? Shouldn’t you have some understanding in your hearts about Zicheng’s matters?”

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess could only continue sitting with awkward faces. This time the Second Prince couple didn’t envy them at all and quickly left following the Third and Fourth Princes.

Shaoshang: … Four more escaped.

“…Why must you protect Huo Junhua? She, she…” Princess Consort Ruyang was wary of Ling Buyi’s expression and didn’t quite dare continue.

“Uncle’s wife.”

Noble Consort Yue sighed helplessly: “Do Huo Junhua and I still need you to sow discord between us? We’ve known each other for decades and been enemies for decades. She’s splashed me with hot soup; I’ve scattered iron nails on her. This person—full of lies, domineering and unbridled. If not for Big Brother Huo Chong’s sake, how many people would want to beat her up. Speaking of which, she harmed me one more time—that year she tricked me into going out and I nearly encountered bandits.”

Hearing Noble Consort Yue’s accusations, Shaoshang secretly looked at Ling Buyi, but saw his expression unchanged, still calm and inscrutable.

“Exactly, exactly!” Princess Consort Ruyang nodded excitedly and repeatedly: “Since that’s the case…”

“What ‘since that’s the case.'” Noble Consort Yue said contemptuously: “Even if Huo Junhua’s character is terrible, the Chunyu clan is also a cheap wretch! Uncle’s wife, you’d better take it easy. Don’t tip yourself over trying to protect her.”

“How can you speak of a duke’s wife this way?” Princess Consort Ruyang said disapprovingly.

“How deeply moving this devotion is.” Noble Consort Yue indifferently flicked her fingers: “Fine, you just keep walking down this one road to the end. But come to the palace less often to point and criticize—you don’t have that weight. Otherwise I’ll have to keep ‘missing, missing’ Uncle’s wife.”

She stared at Princess Consort Ruyang, saying word by word: “…Next time, I won’t dismiss the princes and princesses.”

The old Princess Consort was indignant but didn’t dare talk back, thinking she’d just avoid her next time.

Shaoshang had been paying attention to the Empress. She saw her sitting silently in the shadows, quiet and transparent, as if unrelated to all of this.

She knew the Empress had originally been very happy tonight—with husband and children beside her, everything complete. She’d even had palace maids specially dress her up. The light crimson jacket and skirt were embroidered with gold throughout, accentuating her graceful figure. Her thick long hair was loosely bound up, gentle and lingering.

Unfortunately, it was all ruined by the old Princess Consort Ruyang.

Once those long, distant past events were discussed, the Empress was an outsider who couldn’t insert herself at all.

…

The final act of this wonderful family banquet had the already stupefied Crown Princess seeing off Princess Consort Ruyang. Ling Buyi spoke in low voices with the Crown Prince outside the hall doors. Shaoshang finally received permission to leave work. Before leaving she kept looking back, curious about where the Emperor would sleep tonight.

Passing through the lush imperial gardens, the summer night’s vegetation emitted a rich, refreshing fragrance. Shaoshang walked with light steps toward the palace gates and saw that familiar pitch-black iron-forged carriage stopped in the old place. However, due to the hot weather the four walls had been removed and replaced with breathable, cool thin gauze curtains. The Liangqiu brothers led the guards waiting quietly to the side.

Young Liangqiu Fei, seeing only Shaoshang alone, asked where the young master was.

Shaoshang had originally wanted to say he’d come soon, but thinking about it, she felt Ling Buyi’s condition tonight wasn’t very good—best they not meet first. So she said: “Lord Ling is speaking with the Crown Prince and I don’t know until when. I see he’s also tired tonight. How about I take the carriage back to the Cheng family myself, then leave the fine horse for him so he can return to his residence on his own and rest earlier.”

Liangqiu Qi was noncommittal. With both arms exerting force, he lifted over a small stone block from beside the palace gates for Shaoshang to step on to board the carriage. Shaoshang sighed deeply: “I say, can’t you prepare a stepping stool in the carriage? You can’t prevent times when Lord Ling isn’t here and you won’t lift me up. Next time if there’s no stone block, do I have to climb up myself?”

Liangqiu Qi said rigidly: “When that time comes, this humble servant will bend his back for the young lady to step on to board the carriage.”

Shaoshang was speechless: “…Then I’d better climb myself.”

Standing on the stone block, she turned back again: “Also, I’m not yet your family’s young lady.”

She had a lifetime to be a married woman—did her maiden days have to be this brief?!

Sitting in the carriage listening to the light sound of turning wheels, she stretched and leaned against the carriage frame, half-closing her eyes, slowly organizing in her heart the information she’d heard and seen tonight—the Huo family, the Ling family, the Emperor’s family, the deceased, the living, people who might help, people who would bring trouble… She could go home now, finally could go home. She needed to rest well.

Just as she was lightly dozing, Shaoshang suddenly heard rapid horse hooves. Before she could fully wake, the thin gauze curtain and carriage door were suddenly flung open. In an instant it was as if a surge of seawater flooded into the carriage. The cool seaside mist followed the intruding summer wind, permeating around her, winding endlessly.

Ling Buyi sat upright opposite her, his expression cold.

The silver crown was already removed. His originally straight robe had also been removed, replaced with a plain-colored long robe with silver-embroidered hem. The broad ramie fabric covered his tall, beautiful skeletal muscles. The collar hung loosely open, exposing his pale, smooth chest. Following his lean neck, Shaoshang vaguely saw a slender vein.

Shaoshang had never been in love and didn’t understand how to skillfully handle men, but she instinctively knew now wasn’t the time for jokes. She could only remain silent like this, anxious and uneasy.

“…What do you take me for?” Ling Buyi’s voice seemed to come from the other side of the horizon.

Shaoshang didn’t know how to answer. What did she take him for—was that important? She had no decision-making power… Suddenly her shoulder felt heavy. She discovered Ling Buyi’s large palm gripping her shoulder and neck, pressing her before him.

Ling Buyi slowly approached her face with unfamiliar and dangerous breath: “At fifteen, I went to see the Kunlun sea of clouds, floating between sky and mountain peaks, supremely true and pure, penetrating the heart—just like your gaze when you looked at me in Hua County. I also liked how you spoke to me—it always made me happy. You were the one who provoked me first. What happens next is beyond your control.”

Shaoshang stared wide-eyed, at a loss.

“I’m not your brother for you to order around at will. I’m also not your servant for you to summon and dismiss at will. I am your future husband. You should respect me, love me, trust me. Your eyes should be on me.”

Ling Buyi’s voice was gentle and low, yet Shaoshang felt somewhat afraid. The two were so close she smelled the cool, clear scent of water on him mixed with faint wine fragrance.

“I hope you remember this point and think about how you should treat me in the future.” Ling Buyi’s tone was calm.

Shaoshang hurriedly nodded.

Ling Buyi looked at the girl’s tender chest rising and falling from rapid breathing, the delicate blood vessel slightly protruding on her neck, even its pulsing so fragile. He wanted to tenderly kiss that small blood vessel, yet also wanted to viciously bite it until it bled.

He watched for a while without doing anything. Slowly calming his breath, he lowered his head and removed the jade pendant from his waist to knock on the carriage frame.

The carriage stopped.

Shaoshang was lifted down by Ling Buyi’s powerful palms. He let her walk back on her own, then drove the carriage away without hesitation.

Shaoshang stood dumbly at the entrance to her family’s alley, stunned for a full five minutes before beginning to move her feet, then reflecting inwardly—so, was she really too excessive?

Following the Cheng family alley for three to five minutes, old steward Cheng Shun had long since opened the gate wide waiting there. Seeing his young lady walking over, he immediately greeted her with a smile, mouth chattering: “Why did Young Lady return so late tonight—it’s almost curfew… Aiya, why do you smell of wine? Did Lord Ling let you drink? Oh no, it should be a banquet at the palace. Eh, where’s Lord Ling? Why didn’t he come tonight? Did he see you to the alley entrance?”

Shaoshang was quite annoyed and glared at the old steward: “You talk less! Let me ask you—these days Lord Ling has been picking me up and dropping me off every day. Why didn’t you remind me this wasn’t appropriate! What if he gets tired?!”

Cheng Shun was stunned for a moment, then smiled: “…It was the master’s instruction. No one should interfere in matters between Young Lady and Lord Ling. As long as you don’t come to blows, handle it yourselves.”

“Father said this?!” Shaoshang’s eyes widened, hands on hips: “Father is too casual! Being head of the family is really easy for him!”

Old Cheng Shun smiled: “Don’t blame the master. Back when the master and lady had any disputes, as long as others didn’t interfere, they’d be fine the next day for sure. But once someone interfered…” He smiled without continuing.

Shaoshang knew without listening that Mother Cheng must have often fanned the flames in between back then.

She let out a long breath, shoulders drooping as she dragged her feet slowly through the gate. Just as she was about to step inside, she suddenly turned back sharply, picked up a small pebble from the ground, and used all her strength to throw it toward the alley entrance where Ling Buyi had departed.

—She still had accounts to settle with him, yet he got angry first! As if being neurotic made him superior!