Chapter 72

When Song Pianxian said this, everyone’s expressions were extremely vivid.

Not to mention the adults, even the slightly older children understood—

They couldn’t compare to a child still in swaddling clothes.

Especially Song Ziyi, Feng Yuexian’s attitude before not only gave several princesses the wrong impression but even he himself felt very confident.

Although he was humble and polite on the surface, in his heart, he had already begun to hope that Feng Yuexian would choose him, fiercely slap Princess Xin’s face, return to the mansion, and make his aunt burst into tears with joy.

Whether it was Prince Xin or the Dowager, they dared not underestimate him and his aunt anymore. Perhaps in the future, it would be him who would dictate the fate of the mansion.

However, all these fantasies and the eager expectations that made his blood boil, all turned into nothingness with Song Pianxian’s casual remark “pleasing to the eye”, and ceased to exist.

At this moment, Song Ziyi was still young. His mind was not fully mature, nor had he ever been exposed to the intoxicating power. He only knew that he had missed the chance to transform himself into someone superior. In this struggle for a reversal, he lost thoroughly.

Not to mention a reversal… Song Ziyi quietly looked towards Princess Xin. Seeing her stunned expression, he was first incredulous, then somewhat displeased, but quickly concealed it, and turned his sharp gaze towards himself, full of venom.

Song Ziyi’s back stiffened. This nominal mother would never let him and his aunt off the hook… And all of this was the fault of this Princess.

The scene quickly became lively, whether genuine or not, it had to be lively.

Standing behind the crowd, although Song Ziyi’s lips carried a smile, his eyes, filled with resentment, stared icyly at Song Pianxian.

Previously, he hadn’t dared to look directly at the noblewoman, but now he saw Song Pianxian’s face like a bright moon with a faint blush, her delicate beauty even more intense than his gentle aunt’s, but with an added grace.

Even though Song Ziyi, who was currently in high spirits, couldn’t say that this was an infuriating face, he quickly came to his senses. Indeed, the more beautiful a woman, the more ruthless she was.

Since he had looked at the Princess, he turned his gaze to the Princess Consort beside the Princess, who valued him.

If he could gain the Princess Consort’s favor with a few words, when he returned to the mansion and faced his father, it could also serve as a talisman.

Song Ziyi thought very calmly, a hint of disappointment appearing in the smile on his lips, and he gently turned his head.

But as he turned his head, he unexpectedly locked eyes with the Princess Consort!

Only then did Song Ziyi realize that the Princess Consort had been looking at him all this time.

These eyes were slightly narrow and long, with the corners of her eyes curving gracefully like ink, extremely charming. But at this moment, they were like a pair of cold and deep pools, reminding Song Ziyi of the eyes of a leopard caught by Prince Xin – icy and ruthless, yet with the pride and leisure of a big cat.

Song Ziyi immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Subconsciously, he buried his head, and the intention to perform in front of the Princess Consort disappeared completely. He even wanted to shrink himself and disappear from the Eastern Palace.

“What are you looking at?”

It was Song Pianxian asking herself. Feng Yuexian paused, withdrew her gaze, and looked at Song Pianxian, succinctly saying:

“Nothing.”

She licked her lips, concealing a trace of killing intent deep in her heart.

Just now, Song Ziyi dared to look at Song Pianxian with such eyes.

She was originally surprised by Song Pianxian’s choice, vaguely guessing that while Song Pianxian chose Song An, she also looked at Song Ziyi with a hint of regret.

Feng Yuexian knew that Song Ziyi was in a difficult situation. Since she intervened today and let Song Ziyi enter the palace, with Feng Yuexian’s character, she originally intended to take care of him properly, protect him from the Queen’s harassment.

Moreover, since she had developed an affection for his talent, she also intended to cultivate Song Ziyi for the future, perhaps to serve as a right-hand man for Song An.

Who would have thought that Song Ziyi would harbor resentment just because Song Pianxian didn’t choose him?

He was still young and could restrain himself in the face of setbacks. While his gaze was as cold as a snake, he could still maintain a smile as a disguise. If it weren’t for Feng Yuexian’s glance at him, no one would have noticed him standing at the back.

If he grew up like this, he would definitely become a big problem.

Feng Yuexian twiddled her fingers, her gaze gradually turning cold.

A small feast was prepared in the Eastern Palace. When Jin Lingzhi finished her lunch and returned to the mansion by carriage, the carriage was much lighter than when it left.

With fewer people, how could it not be lighter?

Prince Li had just woken up from his afternoon nap. Seeing Jin Lingzhi come in, he laughed heartily, saying:

“Where’s An? I brought back some little toys made by the carpenter for him, there are three or four tambourines…”

Jin Lingzhi sat down on the sandalwood chair, supporting her head, feeling complicated for a while, and said with a complicated expression:

“In the Eastern Palace.”

“…”

Prince Li was not stupid. If he couldn’t understand this, he wouldn’t be the King of the Northwest. But why?

Although Jin Lingzhi walked forward and said so, he didn’t truly think so in his heart. His thoughts were more direct—

With the Crown Prince gone, would the Princess stay far away? Raised together since infancy, although they were closer, if one failed, the Great Li Dynasty would be disrupted. They must pick someone older, who could be nurtured for a few years.

Thinking like this, there was only one reason.

“The Princess Consort controls the Eastern Palace,” Prince Li asserted, “Otherwise, why would she give this matter to our family?”

“Nonsense,” Jin Lingzhi stared at him, neither hard nor soft, “What do you men understand? From what I saw today, it was Yuexian who was firmly controlled by the Princess.”

“How do you know?” Prince Li asked humbly.

Jin Lingzhi shook her light silk fan and recounted the matter of the son of the Xin Kingdom.

At that time, she was anxious that her child would be snatched away by the Eastern Palace, and precisely because of this anxiety, she paid close attention to the expressions of the Princess and the Princess Consort, only to discover this.

At the time, she was also surprised. Although the young man looked disrespectful when he looked at the Princess, it could also be attributed to the fact that young people couldn’t withstand harassment.

But after being seen by Feng Yuexian, her anger was even greater than his. This subconscious detail couldn’t possibly be for the Princess’s benefit, right?

Truly, she defended the Princess to the extreme from the bottom of her heart.

After listening, Prince Li walked around with his hands behind his back, and after a long time, he said:

“Feng Yuexian is extremely capable, even if she claims sovereignty—she can still accomplish things.”

“You can’t say such things casually,” Jin Lingzhi said subconsciously, then thought for a moment and asked, “Is it really that exaggerated?”

Feng Yuexian was indeed very capable, unlike ordinary women in their boudoirs. She had a great perspective on court politics. But if it was said she could become a monarch…

Prince Li smiled and shook his head, but did not say what he meant. Instead, he continued:

“Therefore, if Feng Yuexian can make obeisance, I have the first sense of respect for this niece.”

“The Princess is indeed outstanding. You can tell from her days in court.”

Prince Li nodded.

“Counting the days, what happened in Sishui before was also arranged by her. Truly, she’s a natural talent.”

“Therefore, if An learns from her and gains her skills, and with Feng Yuexian’s help, I think, the future is limitless.”

Jin Lingzhi fell silent for a moment, understanding her husband’s meaning.

Actually, it wasn’t up to the Li Kingdom to refuse this matter. Haven’t you seen the envy in the eyes of the other two Kingdoms? This is a great thing, a grace.

But still reluctant to part with her son, Jin Lingzhi half retorted and half sighed:

“No need for you to say, with the status of the Crown Prince, our son will have a higher status than his father in the future.”

Prince Li laughed heartily, with a hint of arrogance:

“That’s also my seed. I’m happy about it. In the future, the Northwest will be his backing. With the Feng Family’s support, who can threaten my son’s power!”

After Prince Li finished happily, he remembered:

“What about Ruyan? The Crown Prince is studying, and our son is being raised in the Eastern Palace. All our money goes to buy jewelry and ponies for Ruyan. She must be happy.”

Jin Lingzhi exclaimed and said:

“Ruyan is also in the palace.”

Prince Li: ?

“Now our daughter is also being raised in the Eastern Palace.”

Prince Li’s face was full of “Are you speaking human words?” as he looked at Jin Lingzhi.

Jin Lingzhi was startled by his reaction, but she felt relieved in her heart and said leisurely:

“I also can’t bear to part with our daughter. An is still young, and you know how clingy he is to Ruyan—”

“Just let him change.” Prince Li sighed with regret, “I didn’t expect you to favor sons over daughters.”

“…” What is this old man talking about? Jin Lingzhi was both angry and amused, rolling her eyes in a disrespectful manner, “Don’t you think I’m considering Ruyan’s future?”

“What are you considering?”

“Of course, it’s her lifelong affair.” Jin Lingzhi explained at length and finally said, “We’re living too comfortably in the Northwest, yet Qinghe still has to remind me of these things.”

“Ruyan is being raised in the palace, with good relationships with both the Eastern Palace and the two Princesses. In the future, she will be higher than other county princesses and noble ladies.”

“Look at Qinghe, why is she the top among the noble ladies in the capital now? Isn’t it because she’s hand in glove with the Princess who holds great power? In the future, our Ruyan will definitely surpass her.”

Jin Lingzhi’s words were firm, after all, Qinghe’s relationship was just a friendship, but when Song An grows up, the status of Song Ruyan, as his Elder Sister, will be elevated.

With so many identities stacked up, in the future, all the eligible suitors in the city will be at Ruyan’s disposal.

Thinking of this, Jin Lingzhi, who was reluctant to part with her daughter, was willing to let go. She turned around and comforted Prince Li.

After listening, Prince Li felt like it made sense, but he couldn’t swallow the anger of both his son and daughter being given to the Eastern Palace. He grabbed the riding whip from the wall and walked out.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Prince Li’s voice grew fainter:

“I’m going to find the Prince of Pingjin! Ask him when he’ll marry Qinghe off, marry her far away, so she won’t be urging other girls to get married–“

After the banquet, in the Eastern Palace where outsiders had all left, Song Pianxian looked at Feng Yuexian below the window and asked:

“Aren’t you happy?”

“Hmm?” Feng Yuexian seemed to be pondering something, and responded with a delay of two beats.

Song Pianxian pointed to the dagger in her hand.

As long as Feng Yuexian played with the dagger, there must be something on her mind.

Feng Yuexian paused her movements.

Song Pianxian walked over and took the dagger from Feng Yuexian’s hand.

Feng Yuexian didn’t resist at all, and even could be said to have handed it over voluntarily.

Song Pianxian slid open the dagger and ran her fingertip over the words “Qing Lu.” She tilted her head slightly and looked at Feng Yuexian, the gold wings of the butterfly hairpin between her hair slightly moving:

“Don’t like Song An?”

“How could I?” Feng Yuexian pursed her lips. “You understand people better than I do.”

“Hmm?”

“Song Ziyi.”

The same name, but this time it had a different meaning.

Song Pianxian chuckled.

She just knew the standard answer.

“I just prefer to choose Song An.”

“Why?” Feng Yuexian asked quickly this time, her ink-colored eyes containing a hint of brightness, charming and captivating.

Was it because Song An’s mother was Jin Lingzhi, and Jin Lingzhi had some blood connection with her…?

Perhaps she was being fanciful, but other than that, Feng Yuexian couldn’t think of a better explanation.

Her previous understanding was the same as Prince Li’s. She also wanted someone older, although she hoped Song Pianxian would live a long life, her reason told her that in this dynasty, what was needed now was an heir who could see things clearly and establish themselves quickly, rather than a baby.

Feng Yuexian looked at Song Pianxian, focused and affectionate.

The dagger in Song Pianxian’s hand stopped moving silently.

Being looked at by Feng Yuexian like this, it was as if a peach blossom tree slowly blossomed, fluttering and rustling, exuding a brilliant and charming light.

Song Pianxian couldn’t give a reason because there was the help of 09 in it.

But the atmosphere at this moment seemed not to deserve any mood-killing reasons.

She held the dagger, extended her arm, and circled it around Feng Yuexian’s neck, then gently exerted force to pull her towards herself.

Gentle yet coercive.

Like a fragrant breeze blowing over, the sweet fragrance permeated Song Pianxian’s hair.

Song Pianxian gently kissed the peach blossom.

She nibbled on the soft and fragrant petals, extracting a little bit of juice.

Sweet.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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