Shen Zhaoli lowered her gaze to look at Xie Yuheng, unable to suppress the surge of anger rising in her heart.
When Su Qingxi had repeatedly provoked her before, Xie Yuheng had not stepped forward to say a single word.
Now that Su Qingxi had brought this upon herself, he came out to intervene.
Xie Yuheng was always like this—no matter the situation, he would go to great lengths to protect his childhood sweetheart.
Did he ever care about anyone else’s life or death?
In the past, she had cared about Xie Yuheng, willing to endure grievances herself just to ensure his smooth path.
But now she no longer cared. Did Xie Yuheng think such petty tricks could still control her?
Her phoenix eyes turned icy, and Shen Zhaoli’s clear, gentle voice carried a hint of indifference.
“Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as commoners. If I spare Miss Su today, won’t anyone be able to trample over me tomorrow?”
“If so, where would the dignity of the royal family lie?”
The crowd listened, somewhat surprised.
Had Princess Changle actually refused the Prime Minister?
Looking at Shen Zhaoli standing high on the platform, adorned in magnificent robes, her beauty breathtaking, simply standing there, her noble and majestic aura was impossible to ignore. It felt as though this was how it should be.
She was the eldest princess of Dajing.
A person of the highest honor and nobility, born to be showered with endless affection.
How could she be allowed to be slandered and humiliated like this?
Leaning against a stone pillar, Song Chen fixed his gaze on Xie Yuheng and sneered coldly.
“Prime Minister Xie truly speaks without feeling any discomfort.”
“A few days ago, a minor official from the Censorate impeached you in court. Within a few days, that official quietly resigned and returned home.”
“Prime Minister, you are so vengeful over the slightest grievance. How is it that when it comes to Princess Changle, you demand her to be magnanimous and tolerant?”
“Your standards are harder to control than a warhorse—one moment east, the next moment west, utterly unpredictable.”
Song Chen’s words made the crowd stifle their laughter, yet they dared not laugh aloud out of fear of Xie Yuheng’s authority.
Looking around, shoulders trembled everywhere.
Xie Yuheng turned to look at Song Chen, the cold glint in his eyes intensifying.
Among those present were many high-ranking officials and nobles. Xie Yuheng, despite his youth, had risen to the position of Prime Minister.
In the political arena, he had made many enemies.
Now, with Song Chen, this reckless man, taking the lead, they seized the opportunity to step in with a few remarks.
“General Song is right. Princess Changle has repeatedly given that Miss Su chances, but she did not cherish them. How can Prime Minister Xie distort right and wrong and blame Princess Changle instead?”
“Indeed, Prime Minister, you are deeply favored by His Majesty, yet you still trouble Princess Changle like this. It truly grieves His Majesty’s heart.”
Xie Yuheng’s expression darkened severely, his lowered eyes filled with sharpness.
When had the matters between him and Shen Zhaoli become fodder for these people’s gossip?
Clenching his fists tightly, Xie Yuheng looked deeply at Shen Zhaoli and knelt on one knee.
“I beg Your Highness to spare her life, considering Xi’er’s youth and frail health.”
Shen Zhaoli pursed her red lips slightly.
For the first time, Xie Yuheng had bowed and lowered himself before her.
Yet it was to plead for Su Qingxi.
Shen Zhaoli shook her head with a light laugh, thinking she might feel some ripple of emotion in her heart.
But seeing Xie Yuheng like this, she only found it laughable.
“Since Prime Minister insists on disregarding the law of the land to protect Miss Su, I am not an unreasonable person.”
“If you wish to take her punishment, then do so.”
Xie Yuheng looked up at Shen Zhaoli, the cold expression on his face cracking for a moment.
Did she truly intend to punish him?
Seeing Shen Zhaoli’s indifferent demeanor, Xie Yuheng felt a surge of anger in his heart, the veins on the back of his hand bulging beneath his wide sleeves.
“I thank Your Highness Princess Changle for your grace.”
“Qinggui Brother!”
In the brief span of conversation, Su Qingxi had already endured several lashes, her small face pale beyond recognition.
Xie Yuheng’s thoughts were abruptly pulled back, his expression shifting slightly.
Without even taking the time to bid farewell to Shen Shuangyu and Shen Zhaoli, he lifted the hem of his robe and rose, rushing down from the high platform.
Shen Shuangyu frowned slightly but paid no mind to Xie Yuheng, merely instructing attendants to bring the prizes from the poetry competition and present them to Shen Zhaoli.
Observing the items laid before her by the palace servants, Shen Zhaoli couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“If Auntie simply gives these things to me like this, I fear others may not be convinced.”
Shen Shuangyu’s eyes were filled with amusement as she pointed toward the area below the platform.
The crowd was fervently discussing the poem Shen Zhaoli had just composed, with many having already memorized it.
Noticing Shen Zhaoli’s gaze fall upon them, they immediately broke into smiles.
“Your Highness’s talent has been witnessed by all, and everyone is sincerely impressed. Please accept the prize with peace of mind.”
“Indeed, to receive a new work from Your Highness is already an immense honor for us.”
A warmth spread through Shen Zhaoli’s heart—these were the people of Dajing, her people.
Always so tolerant and affectionate toward her.
“How can there be a competition without judgment? This Phoenix Dance Silk Robe is a token of Auntie’s affection for me, and I will not refuse it.”
“However, I cannot let this disrupt everyone’s enjoyment. Once my hairpin has been offered as a prize, there is no reason to take it back.”
“As always, the winner shall claim it.”
Shen Zhaoli stood up on the high platform, looking down upon the crowd with a gentle smile gracing her flawless, jade-like face.
The crowd knelt in unison, bowing to Shen Zhaoli in gratitude.
A look of contentment also appeared on Shen Shuangyu’s face.
Though there had been minor disruptions, the poetry competition at this year’s Spring Radiance Banquet, inspired by Shen Zhaoli’s exceptional performance, spurred many talented scholars and beauties to surpass themselves.
As a result, the number of outstanding works produced far exceeded those of previous years.
Shen Zhaoli’s golden sparrow hairpin adorned with flowers was won by Lu Wenyuan, the eldest son of the Lu family and Director of the Imperial Academy.
…
While Yujing City was bustling with excitement due to the Spring Radiance Banquet, the official courier station at Dajing’s border town was enveloped in a tense and solemn atmosphere.
A woman dressed in a crimson brocade skirt embroidered with lotus blossoms wore her hair half-up, adorned with coral bead hair accessories that formed an elegant arc across her forehead, swaying gently with her movements.
“Fools! Although Beiliang and Dajing have reached a peace agreement, this is a border town. The people here harbor deep hatred for Beiliang, and we must exercise caution in every step!”
“Yet, what have you done? The King went ahead of the wedding procession to Yujing, and you didn’t even try to stop him. If anything happens to the King, how many of your heads would be enough for this Junzhu to cut off?!”
Everyone in the courier station lowered their heads in silence, not daring to meet Xiao Shiyun’s gaze.
A guard beside her, sweat beading on his forehead, cautiously spoke up, “Junzhu, the King left with his personal guards. He should be safe.”
“Moreover, given the King’s temperament and martial prowess, we subordinates could not have stopped him.”
Xiao Shiyun narrowed her beautiful eyes, a faint smile curling at the corners of her crimson lips, before backhanding the guard across the face.
“If you couldn’t stop him, you should have used your lives to try.”
Blood trickled from the guard’s mouth, but he paid it no mind, his gaze fixed on Xiao Shiyun with terror.
“Junzhu, spare my life! I spoke out of turn…”
Before he could finish, the guard collapsed to the ground.
Embedded in his chest was a jeweled curved dagger, its blade gleaming with a chilling light that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present, silencing them even further.
Xiao Shiyun leisurely took a handkerchief and wiped the blood from her face, leaving behind a faint red stain.
It accentuated her already stunning beauty, making her appear even more enchanting.
“If anything happens to the King, Beiliang will surely trample Dajing beneath its feet!”
Xiao Shiyun kept the news of the disappearance of the King of Beiliang, Chu Yunzheng, from the wedding procession tightly under wraps.
Within Yujing, no one knew that Chu Yunzheng had quietly slipped in.