Slyly whispering gossip with her girl friends, and caught gossiping inside the palace — even the notoriously fearless Yunjia’s eyelids twitched this time.

She and her friends froze and turned stiffly until they saw who had come; Mu Yang only then let out a big breath:

“Little uncle! So it was you! You scared me to death!”

“Tsk, look who’s talking. Aren’t you little uncle always restless too?”

“Right, uncle, why did you come out by yourself? You don’t even have anyone accompanying you. When grandmother finds out she’ll worry again…”

Mu Yang glanced up at the almost-empty area behind them and couldn’t help frowning slightly.

“So what, were you caught and got nervous?”

Seeing her niece’s little schemes at a glance, Situ Jing cleared his throat lightly. His gaze paused for a moment on the pale-robed girl carefully sheltered behind them; his normally gentle face quickly resumed a smile.

“Let’s go. Mother has probably waited long enough…”

“Prince Jingyu!”

Only when everything seemed normal did An Ning quietly poke her head out from behind her friend and greet the man in a cheerful tone.

Prince Jingyu, the current Empress Dowager’s youngest son, was born late in her life and had been of frail health. Now approaching coming-of-age, he rarely appeared in public.

Even An Ning had only met him a few times recently because of repeated summons to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

This prince was known for a mild temper; their few encounters had been extremely polite, so An Ning felt no need to be overly reserved now.

Along the way, the two girls chattered as usual, as if their private talk would never end. Situ Jing, on the other hand, quietly walked to one side the whole time, his slightly slower pace clearly accommodating them.

He truly matched his reputation of having a very pleasant disposition.

Until Mu Yang shot him a curious look:

“By the way, Yiyuan Garden is usually so remote; how did you happen to come here, little uncle?”

The folding fan he had been holding tightened in his palm. After a moment he answered in the same mild voice:

“Just strolling with nothing to do, and I happened to see two familiar figures by the garden, so I came over to look.”

He added softly to the two of them: “Uncle knows Mu Yang that you are always bold and playful, but this is the palace — these out-of-the-way places rarely see people. Do not linger too long to avoid trouble…”

Although he was speaking to them, An Ning inexplicably felt he was directing the words at her.

Clearly, when it came to her friend, Mu Yang reacted quickly. First she inspected him suspiciously:

“Understood, uncle!”

Then she happily grabbed her friend’s hand, her bright, clever eyes full of natural entitlement:

“And A-Ning, ha, what are we to each other? Haven’t I told you already? Sisters for life — what’s mine is yours. In other words, my uncle is your uncle.”

“Come on, A-Ning, quickly thank our uncle!”

Mu Yang tugged at her friend; she was unusually exuberant.

An Ning: “???”

Wait… you can count it that way?

Situ Jing: “………”

After a round of banter, when the three returned to the main table, the languid singing and dancing had already passed its peak. Empress Dowager Zhou at the head table wore a trace of fatigue.

Seeing the three approach, she showed a little pleasure. The Empress Dowager had summoned many times recently, and now with that expression, her gaze flicked to Yang’s Third Miss’s face — radiant and perfectly coquettish — and many sharp-eyed people at the table began to sense something.

The Empress at the upper seat sipped and pursed her slightly dry lips, then lightly cleared her throat and murmured:

“A woman’s virtue should be appropriate for family life; to be fitting and complete is the correct way. Besides, the imperial brother always likes poetry and calligraphy; if—”

But before she finished, the Mingde Emperor at the lower seat snorted, a faint curl at his lips. He raised his hand and drank from his cup, showing no courtesy as he cut in:

“If that’s so obvious, why doesn’t the Empress just plainly announce your niece, Third Miss Huang’s name!”

“Always trying to claim everything for your natal family. Such petty behavior! Those who know you are the state’s Empress; those who don’t would think you were a foolish market woman!”

The emperor’s words, especially the last sentence, were not lowered in volume, and many of the royal kin and civil and military officials seated closer heard them clearly.

They all lowered their eyes slightly, staring at their cups and tableware and pressing lips together, afraid of revealing any sign of reaction.

Especially the Duke of Cheng’en seated nearby; his face became extremely awkward.

Despite this cutting tone, which made the noble ladies a source of amusement, the Empress’s expression remained unchanged. Her bright yellow ceremonial gown made her seem even more dignified; even the curve at the corner of her mouth was impeccable, leaving no fault to be found.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager slightly lowered her gaze, and for the first time did not smooth things over for the Empress. She looked at the lower table and spoke in a deep voice:

“The beauty of women in the world lies in myriad forms and thousands of charms. Only when all flowers bloom together does spring’s splendor truly exist. Graceful and refined, literate and accomplished are beautiful; composed and gentle are also excellent; simple and sincere, lively and spirited — these too inspire affection.

Those with resilience have their noble bearing; even the languid have their charms.

Empress, it is said that beauty is subjective and each flower appeals to different eyes. But if one uses personal preference as excuse to belittle and pick apart others, to suppress different voices and exclude dissent — whether that springs from bias or desire to remove rivals, only you yourself know!”

“Mother—”

It had been a long time since the Empress Dowager spoke with such anger. The Empress’s eyes moved; she clenched the embroidered handkerchief tightly. After a long while she trembled and said:

“You are right, Mother. Your daughter spoke improperly…”

This was not simply speaking improperly; the Empress was plainly too anxious. Though displeased, considering the Empress Dowager’s situation over the years, she did not press further.

Just as people thought the matter ended there, the Grand Princess suddenly coldly said from nearby:

“If you have the time to fuss over other people’s children, Your Majesty the Empress should instead pay attention to His Second Highness. I heard the recent mess down in Jiangnan was not small.”

“You can’t just treat a child who was adopted by someone else’s knee as an excuse for all kinds of negligence!”

At her words, the entire front of the hall fell silent. Many nearby royal relatives wiped sweat from their brows.

Tsk, the Grand Princess’s temper is truly as always…

But no one here was surprised; this woman, when angered, would dare to speak back even to the emperor. The Empress had hit a sensitive spot.

Like attracts like: Yang’s Third Miss’s temperament being what it was, the Mu Yang who was her close friend was no less fierce.

Illiterate in poetry and prose, ignorant of the arts, the county princess spent her days wandering and being playful — many had gossiped about that earlier.

But the Grand Princess wasn’t generous; when it came to her precious protégé, a single remark of being unlearned once sent the Grand Princess storming to the house of that girl’s father.

She had forced the esteemed second-ranked uncle to be publicly beaten, and then openly expelled him from his household.

Their face and reputation were utterly shattered.

That night the sharp-tongued young girl of the respected household was sent to a temple.

Since then, within the boudoir and in the mansion, and indeed throughout the capital, no one dared say anything against Mu Yang.

Now the main hall was deathly quiet.

Pointed at and scolded in public, His Second Highness gripped his fists as if he had used all his strength, while the Empress at the upper seat, as if she were the one wronged, remained composed and said:

“Big sister, please forgive me. I misspoke earlier…”

Visible to the eye, the storm had passed, and the hall soon returned to its former liveliness.

An Ning and Mu Yang, having arrived early and mingled among the other young ladies, had avoided the worst of it.

Because An Ning’s cultivation had improved recently, she overheard a few things vaguely and sighed inwardly.

She glanced at her friend. The Grand Princess’s temper was understandable; judging by this scene, the grudge was likely formed long ago.

“What’s wrong, A-Ning?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking about a silk gauze skirt I had ordered at the Brocade Pavilion recently. I liked the design. I wonder how the finished product turned out!”

Tapping her chin, An Ning sounded a little troubled.

Mu Yang did not hesitate; she clapped her friend’s hand:

“Don’t worry, A-Ning. You look good in anything!”

“I have plenty of fabric. At worst we can make a few more; we’ll find one you like!”

“Right…” An Ning quit worrying decisively.

After laughing and joking with the other young ladies for a while, when she returned the Empress Dowager was enjoying the singing and dancing with relish.

Not so much the performance as the performers’ clothing and adornments.

Like An Ning’s current body, Lady Yu always loved pretty things and privately had a wide variety of boudoir garments. She admired the dancers’ costumes with gusto.

When her precious daughter came over she hurriedly shared in a low voice. Yang Xiao Di was nowhere to be seen.

He was probably catching up with his circle of friends.

Although Yang Xiao Di, like the original host, was not learned and had little martial skill, with his looks and an unparalleled knack for flattery, he got along much better among the rank-and-file young men.

From imperial clan members to respectable civil officials — everywhere he was popular. His social standing even surpassed Yang Da Ge at the Hanlin Academy.

When the banquet ended, Yang Xiao Di finally left satisfied, strolling back.

On the way home, perhaps because of earlier preferential treatment shown by the titled women present, Yang Wan’s face remained unhappy. Yang Lao Tai Tai stared at her granddaughter and then at her daughter-in-law with a puzzled look.

At last she sighed, unable to understand this world at her old age.

Not far from there, one of the Empress Dowager’s attendants approached.

He carried two small purple sandalwood boxes. One was handed to the bewildered Lady Yu.

Yang Lao Tai Tai: “???”

She was puzzled, but seeing her little granddaughter truly favored by the Empress Dowager relieved her deeply.

Even if her granddaughter wasn’t the most delightful, she was family — this grandmother would never wish her ill.

But just as she relaxed, a few days after the banquet the Duke of Cheng’en’s household suddenly sent people over.

“What? A marriage proposal?”

And it was for their Second Miss…

***

In the Yang family minister’s mansion, the vast reception room was full of people staring at one another, all wearing strained expressions.

No wonder: in the past decade the current court’s tendency had been obvious. The Duke of Cheng’en’s house had now effectively stepped both feet into the whirlpool of succession. One wrong move could spell not just ruined fortunes but dangerous trouble for relatives.

With Yang Yuanze’s shrewdness, he would not allow even an ordinary daughter to be so entangled if any oddity existed.

Besides, wealthy families in the capital always arranged marriages carefully; such a sudden proposal could be considered an affront.

Yang Father could never agree. From the visitor’s expression, Yang Yuanze’s brows furrowed — a perceptive man, he already had a bad feeling…

Indeed, the Duke of Cheng’en’s household had clearly prepared. The visitor smiled with a composed air and spoke evenly:

“Master Yang, please do not be angry. It is not our Duke of Cheng’en’s household’s intention to be abrupt. Master Yang may be unaware, but a few days ago near the capital’s largest jade and gold shop, your honorable daughter slipped and almost fell down the stairs. If our heir had not happened to be accompanying Third Miss at the time, perhaps—”

He paused, then smiled again:

“Although it was to save someone, in such a public place and with physical contact, our heir is of straightforward temperament and is willing to take full responsibility!”

His words carried an unmistakable air of condescension. Though brazen, he still insisted on making this proposal — their intent to marry into the family was no pretense…

Unless there was some greater benefit making the Duke of Cheng’en willing to gamble his heir’s marriage as a major bargaining chip…

Recalling the oddities surrounding the second daughter, Yang Yuanze’s pupils shifted. In a flash his teacup was set down:

“We are flattered by the Duke of Cheng’en’s favor, but you are mistaken. Our Second Miss caught a chill a few days ago and, unfortunately, passed away…”

***

Impressive. Seeing this from the system, even An Ning couldn’t help admiring her father’s decisiveness.

No wonder he’d survived the political scene for so long — he was truly ruthless.

It was not entirely unexpected for her.

In the front hall, after sending the visitors away, Yang Lao Tai Tai and the others still fretted about whether this action would offend the Empress’s faction and complicate future matters. But Yang Father, unmoved, immediately issued orders.

From that point on, the household would treat Yang Second Miss as if she no longer existed. Whether she insisted on marrying into that household or anything else — none of it concerned the Yang family…

Slap!

In the western courtyard, upon hearing she was being cast out, Yang Yuan’s teacup shattered at once and she swayed as if about to fall…

At the same time, in the spiritual sea, the system blurted:

“Host, are you really going to let that person marry that rotten system into the Duke of Cheng’en’s house…? Um?”

“Host, you…”

The system was still dazed when the host who had been lazily admiring flowers sprang into action. A massive spiritual awareness, interlaced with dozens of talismans, shot toward the other side…

At the same time, the crimson flower plant in An Ning’s hand fell with a clatter.

What a joke — after planning for so long.

If you don’t finish it off while it’s weak, fine.

Giving it time to grow? No way!

As for the bargain between that low-cost second sister and the Duke of Cheng’en’s household once the system was gone — what business was it of hers?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep