Chapter 68

Clearly, how could it be two women coming down from the Crown Prince’s procession?

Not all courtiers had seen Feng Yuexian in person; most had only heard her name.

As for the other person, she seemed unfamiliar, yet there was a sense of familiarity in her appearance.

“What’s going on?”

“One of them should be the Princess Consort, right?”

“I recognize her, the one on the right is the Princess Consort of the Feng Family— but she’s a female family member, she shouldn’t be here.”

Courtiers whispered to each other at the banquet, looking at Song Pianxian and Feng Yuexian.

The Emperor, holding a jade cup, looked at Song Pianxian’s eyes and brows from afar, suddenly realizing.

——She looked like his Eldest Princess?

This daughter had always lived a secluded life. If he remembered one day, he might ask why she hadn’t visited Ming Shou Palace in all these years. Looking at her now, it was difficult to recognize her.

When she and the Princess Consort walked side by side to the middle of the banquet, closer to him, the Emperor could see her more clearly.

Indeed, it was Pianxian.

The Emperor exerted his fatherly authority and sternly rebuked:

“You’re not supposed to be attending court banquets if you’re not residing in the palace. This is simply absurd.”

Then he turned to Feng Yuexian:

“Why are you accompanying her? Have you forgotten the rules?”

After scolding them in front of the courtiers and his brothers, he calmly asked:

“Where is the Crown Prince? Is he ill?”

King Chu, drinking half a cup of wine beside him, suppressed his surprise.

He exchanged a glance with Li Zi from afar, his gaze passing over Li Fang. When the Emperor mentioned this, he politely interjected:

“Brother Emperor, I have a matter—”

“No need, Uncle.”

Song Pianxian’s voice was calm and gentle, but it effectively silenced the remaining words of King Chu.

King Chu’s eyelids twitched nervously.

What did she mean by “no need”? Did Song Pianxian know what she was going to say? How was she planning to resolve this?

Immediately, he understood—

Standing amidst the banquet, Song Pianxian appeared even smaller in stature because of her dark clothes.

Her tone of speech was extremely plain, as if stating a fact:

“Father, the Crown Prince won’t be able to come.”

“He isn’t ill, but…” Song Pianxian’s red lips moved, and she uttered the following words, “he has long passed away.”

Her words were like stones dropped into a calm lake, causing a tumultuous stir of disbelief.

Song Pianxian truly dared!

Before the Emperor could react, King Chu immediately adopted an elder’s demeanor and said:

“At your young age, you show disrespect to your Elder Brother. The Crown Prince clearly resides well in the Eastern Palace. I was looking forward to sharing a drink with His Highness. Yet, you speak as if the Crown Prince has already passed away, leaving the Eastern Palace without a master?”

“If that’s the case, then who did the ministers see recently? Where is the real Crown Prince?”

King Chu’s face showed strong disapproval, but each sentence he uttered guided Song Pianxian to continue speaking.

When Song Pianxian made her revelation, he was initially thrown off balance, but then he immediately adapted his strategy.

Since Song Pianxian intended to reveal her identity, if he were to attack her further, he would lose his dignity. It was better to act as a caring uncle concerned about the Crown Prince.

King Chu’s questioning immediately resonated with the ministers.

“I saw the Crown Prince just yesterday, this can’t be true!”

“How could this happen?”

“Is the Princess playing a prank? Why is the Princess Consort following along—”

…

Of course, there were also astute individuals who remained silent until the situation became clearer, observing the expressions of the others discreetly.

Among them was Qi Zheng. He noticed that not far away, the Prince of Ceremony remained silent, his gaze fixed on Feng Yuexian.

Looking further, Left Minister, Deng Bo, Zhao Tiancheng, and several martial generals from the Feng Family, who were usually outspoken and unrestrained, today remained as quiet as house cats.

On the dais, the Emperor finally regained his composure.

The Emperor was obviously very angry. Regardless of whether what Song Pianxian said was true or false, daring to speak such matters at the banquet was a great challenge to his dignity.

Not to mention, if this lawless daughter happened to be telling the truth—

“Do you know what you’re saying!”

The Emperor glared angrily, while his daughter below raised her head defiantly and said loudly:

“Your child naturally knows.”

She turned her head, her clear eyes piercing through the air like frost:

“As for Uncle, do you not know the answer to your own question?”

Not to mention King Chu, even the Prince of Ceremony beside him, under her gaze, couldn’t help but feel a chill.

Alarm bells rang in King Chu’s mind.

Was she implying that she would expose his actions?

Though he considered himself careful not to leave too many traces, even the matter of desecrating the Crown Prince’s tomb could be excused by loyalty, but to have it exposed would be embarrassing.

King Chu tugged at the corner of his lips, forcing his expression to appear natural:

“Such absurdity, I—”

“If Uncle doesn’t know, then it’s fine.”

King Chu paused.

He looked at Song Pianxian, his gaze betraying a hint of astonishment.

Song Pianxian actually let him off so easily? Why didn’t she seize this opportunity to implicate him?

He couldn’t fathom the Prince of the Eastern Palace’s tactics at all!

At this point, King Chu became increasingly convinced that the Eastern Palace was in dire straits.

But Song Pianxian had already disregarded him.

At this moment, she was not confronting just a petty ambitious prince.

She was facing the father in the hall, Song Yuhuo, the one who had not fulfilled his duties as a father, and even more so, the Emperor of the world.

It was paternal authority, but also royal authority.

The Emperor was waiting for her response.

Song Pianxian composed herself, her heart steady. With a mix of true sorrow and feigned grief on her face, three parts genuine, seven parts false.

“On the day of the Eastern Palace’s grand wedding, Elder Brother lost his life. The Elder Brother during these days was all portrayed by me.”

“Simply audacious! Why would you deceive the Emperor!” The Emperor slammed his hand on the table in anger. “And the Princess Consort, do you know or not? You didn’t even inform me!”

Seeing the Emperor getting angry, the Prince of Ceremony glanced at Feng Yuexian, who had been standing by Song Pianxian’s side, and intervened:

“This matter may not be a joke. Brother Emperor, don’t be hasty. Why not have someone investigate?”

This was both a helpful suggestion and his genuine thought.

Could there really be seamless disguises in the world? Or is it cross-dressing?

Although they look alike, just looking at their figures, there’s a big difference, not to mention the Crown Prince’s abilities.

The courtiers couldn’t help but nod in agreement with the Prince of Ceremony. They still find it hard to believe that this woman… is that “Crown Prince” who is thoughtful, capable, and decisive in both civil and military matters?

Under the courtiers’ skeptical gazes, Song Pianxian bowed slightly towards the Emperor.

She was graceful, and this movement was as gentle as a reed swaying in the wind, extremely soft.

At the negotiation table, Song Pianxian had always balanced firmness with gentleness. If she was too firm, she would easily break. Now, facing the Emperor, she was the same, not letting go of any advantages she could use.

The advantage she held in this matter was the cause of the Crown Prince’s death, which had not been leaked.

—If King Chu’s men had examined the body, and he had pretended not to know, now he would be in a difficult situation.

Before Song Pianxian spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.

“Father, if I could tell you, as a mere woman, though I have read the classics and been taught by my Elder Brother, with you here, I wouldn’t dare make decisions on my own, let alone conceal such a big matter.”

“Moreover, now that Elder Brother is gone, how could I not want him to be buried in the imperial mausoleum and rest in peace?”

Every word from Song Pianxian was filled with extreme sorrow. Previously, she was unrivaled in her firmness, facing reprimands without backing down. Now, she softened her approach, truly leaving the old Emperor choked with emotion.

But as he thought about it, yes, Song Pianxian was just a Princess from the palace. How could she dare to do such a thing?

Was she being manipulated by someone else?

The Emperor immediately looked at Feng Yuexian, his gaze sharp.

“Is it you who instigated the Princess?”

It must be that Feng Yuexian, upon learning of the Crown Prince’s demise, manipulated her daughter behind the scenes, or deceived Pianxian into helping her accomplish this.

No wonder this fake Crown Prince also had great abilities.

If that’s the case, everything makes sense.

The Emperor looked coldly at Feng Yuexian. Indeed, the matter of the Crown Prince’s death could not be separated from Feng Yuexian!

The courtiers below, with ears perked, felt anxious. The Emperor almost scolded Song Pianxian for not knowing her priorities. At this moment, why bother looking at the moon?

But with a glance at the many people below, the Emperor remembered the remaining dignity of the Royal Family and reluctantly acquiesced.

Naturally, he was even more displeased with Song Pianxian. Knowing the situation now, why did she choose to speak here earlier, deliberately leaving him embarrassed?

Once the shock subsided, the Emperor’s anger at the challenge to his authority reignited.

Well, let’s wait until after this banquet to hear what Song Pianxian has to say, and then make a decision together.

However, for Feng Yuexian, who had also deceived the Emperor —

The Emperor waved his sleeve, “Princess Consort, this is not where you should be. Hong Chang, escort the Princess Consort out to rest.”

Although he said “rest,” his tone hinted at a brewing storm. It seemed like he was going to take out his anger on someone else.

The Prince of Ceremony immediately looked towards the martial experts from the Feng Family. Seeing a few tough-looking individuals clenching their fists, even Feng Chenyi’s gaze sharpened, he decisively suggested, “Later, the Princess Consort will attend our family banquet. Your Majesty, what do you think of this?”

Qi Zheng followed up quickly, “Princess Consort is in poor health. If she is taken care of by her side, His Highness might feel more at ease.”

The Emperor glared.

The Prince of Ceremony was his brother, merely offering advice for the sake of the Royal Family’s dignity.

But why was Qi Zheng also siding with Feng Yuexian?

Qi Zheng had always been a loyal subject to the Emperor, helping only the Emperor without siding with anyone else. The Emperor highly valued him. At this moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had acted too hastily.

“Forget it,” the Emperor curtly ended the discussion and ignored further remarks.

Settling scores could wait until later. Anyway, Feng Yuexian wouldn’t get away.

Qi Zheng sat back, wiping the faint sweat from his forehead without leaving a trace.

Although he spoke up for Feng Yuexian, there was also some consideration for the favor owed. However, this matter was unusual, and he had not intended to act rashly.

But in that instant, he keenly heard, along with the Prince of Ceremony’s voice, the faint sound of armor rubbing against armor.

He whispered softly, glanced up, and looked carefully.

Only then did he notice that, after the Emperor ordered action against Feng Yuexian, the first to react were the numerous palace guards.

When had so many silent palace guards been concealed in the shadows on both sides!

To prevent the situation from getting out of control, he took the risk of stepping forward to intervene.

The Emperor thought he was offering loyal advice, unaware that if he didn’t change his mind, it was highly likely —

Tonight’s bright moon would witness the change of dynasty.

He wondered if anyone besides him heard that faint yet deadly sound.

And if anyone else glimpsed the gleaming, icy light of the soft-armored swords hidden in the thick shadows of the trees.

Qi Zheng only knew that after this, no one dared to refute the Crown Prince’s position in the East Palace.

Even King Chu remained silent.

The musicians and dancers approached gracefully, the atmosphere at the banquet was lively yet cautious.

There was no seat for the Princess here. Song Pianxian and Feng Yuexian sat at the table of the East Palace.

The two women, dressed in splendid attire, sat side by side, conspicuously prominent yet integrated into the rows of men.

Their movements were exceptionally graceful.

Feng Yuexian sat at the table, beside Song Pianxian, the octagonal palace lanterns emitting a faint glow, imbuing the scene with a rich ambiance.

Amidst fluttering sleeves, her gaze intertwined with Song Pianxian’s.

Feng Yuexian smiled faintly, her eyes shimmering, her sleeves filled with the fragrance of wine as she toasted her.

Song Pianxian reciprocated with tea instead of wine, returning the gesture with a meaningful glance, then drinking it all in one gulp.

Everything was conveyed without words.

The first act of the play had come to an end.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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