Yet Rong Zhou felt no shame.
He pretended to wander idly around the prince’s mansion, showing off the brow flower his Princess Consort had painted for him to everyone he met, and only finally washed it off just before bed…
Yun Li learned of this from Lian Qiao.
Her pink lips pouted slightly. Though she looked utterly disdainful, her eyes held unconcealed sweetness.
“Rong the three-year-old…” she murmured softly.
This behavior was so childish it couldn’t belong to anyone over three!
The next day, news that the Princess Consort had painted a brow flower for His Highness the Regent Prince had spread almost throughout the entire capital.
Rong Zhou held his delicate, soft little Princess Consort in his arms.
He lowered his gaze, his crimson lips pressing lightly against her ear. As they moved, they brushed against the soft flesh of her ear, his warm breath tingling into it—
“Now that this prince’s mighty reputation has been utterly ruined, shouldn’t the Princess Consort take full responsibility?”
Yun Li shot him a coquettish sidelong glance.
Her fair cheeks puffed slightly. “It was clearly you who insisted on showing off. How could it possibly be this Princess Consort’s fault?”
A husky, seductive laugh rippled by her ear.
Rong Zhou indulged her with a low hum. “Alright. If my lady says it’s this prince’s fault, then it’s this prince’s fault.”
A touch of pride lifted Yun Li’s brows and eyes.
Sitting on the man’s lap, she charmingly wrapped her arms around his neck, her dangling feet swinging in the air. “I haven’t even blamed you for embarrassing me yet. The Empress Dowager has sent an invitation for me to attend the Spring Banquet. All the noble ladies will be there!”
Rong Zhou’s eyes indeed darkened instantly.
He held Yun Li even tighter. “If A’Li doesn’t wish to go, there’s no need. This prince can decide this matter.”
Even if the Empress Dowager’s decree could not be disobeyed.
But Rong Zhou had always been lawless and domineering. Such a small matter was still within his power to protect his little pear blossom.
Recalling the events of his past life…
He knew the Empress Dowager Wei Chunxi disliked Yun Li, and the noble daughters of the capital always liked to seize opportunities to mock and harass her. Rong Zhou did not want Yun Li to go alone to the palace and suffer such grievances.
“What is there to fear?” Yun Li proudly lifted her face. “I’m no longer the little pear blossom who let others pluck her at will. This Princess Consort will surely make a name for herself in the capital at this year’s Spring Banquet!”
In her past life, she knew nothing of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting and endured everyone’s ridicule…
But now it was different!
Having been reborn and experienced transmigration, she returned with a full set of skills honed in the modern era, all for the purpose of trampling underfoot Ning Xin’er, who had once bullied and humiliated her!
The capital’s top talented lady who won first place year after year at the Spring Banquet, the capital’s number one beauty who outshone all others—was that it?
It was just a pity that Yun Li had returned.
Whoever held those titles would have to step aside for her!
Rong Zhou could only indulge her to do as she wished, ordering the prince’s mansion to prepare the most beautiful clothes and jewelry. “Then this prince will await good news from little A’Li in the mansion.”
Yun Li confidently swung her dangling little feet.
Cool, slender fingers caressed her face. Rong Zhou’s voice lowered, turning colder. “If anyone dares to bully this prince’s Princess Consort at the Spring Banquet, send someone to report it. This prince will go to back you up.”
Yun Li smiled sweetly and leaned closer to Rong Zhou, affectionately pecking his lips. “Don’t worry. A’Li won’t embarrass our family’s Rong the three-year-old baby.”
Rong the three-year-old: ?
Three-year-old? Who was he calling childish?
He had clearly been of age for a full two years already!
…
In the blink of an eye, the Spring Banquet arrived.
Noble daughters from the capital gathered in the imperial palace’s royal gardens, each adorned with pearls and jade, wearing splendid robes and golden hairpins, chatting and laughing together in clusters, with Ning Xin’er being surrounded right in the center.”I heard the Princess Consort of the Regent’s Mansion is coming today!”
“You mean Yun Lanyue, the legitimate daughter of the General’s household? She’s nothing but a savage simpleton! Surely no one here is worried about being outshone by her?”
“How could that be! She’s utterly unaccomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She should have the decency to stay home and avoid embarrassing herself!”
“Staying home doesn’t necessarily prevent embarrassment. Haven’t you heard? That seductive consort who brings disaster to the kingdom even painted some flower on the Regent Prince’s forehead… Being so obsessed with romance is utterly shameful!”
These noble young ladies covered their lips with handkerchiefs as they laughed.
Ning Xin’er, dressed in a light pink satin gown embroidered with paired butterflies, overheard the others mentioning their affectionate relationship…
She couldn’t help but clutch her handkerchief tightly in jealousy.
Then she raised a smile and pretended to be gentle, saying, “Alright now, everyone, let’s not speak like this. Ah Li has actually been working hard to study.”
At that moment, a disdainful snort was heard.
Ning Yuewei said arrogantly, “Only someone as kind-hearted as you would say that, sister. I think she’s simply too stupid to learn anything. You’re the one with talent renowned throughout the capital, whose beauty outshines all others!”
This was Ning Xin’er’s half-sister from a concubine, low in status and foolish by nature. Ning Xin’er only tolerated her because she was brainless and easy to manipulate.
So Ning Xin’er feigned gentleness, “Not at all, actually Her Highness the Princess Consort is quite beautiful too.”
“How could that be?” Ning Yuewei dismissed it casually.
Her expression was full of mockery, “Although I haven’t seen this simpleton yet, I heard she grew up in the border wilderness. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s been mingling with men in the military camps so much that she’s grown big and rough!”
Chirping laughter erupted again.
Hearing all the noble young ladies speaking of her like this, Ning Xin’er couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased…
Just then, a sharp eunuch’s voice suddenly announced, “The Princess Consort has arrived!”
Almost instantly, everyone fell silent.
They looked up, eager to see what this wild girl raised in the northern frontier actually looked like…
But what they saw was a charming figure in watery red.
Her misty brocade dress, pure as a lotus flower, swayed gently with her lotus-like steps, accompanied by the lily-of-the-valley step-restraining pendant at her waist that produced clear, measured chimes with perfect rhythm and volume.
Then came the sweet, pleasant fragrance of pear blossoms.
Yun Li arrived surrounded by maids from the prince’s mansion. She lifted her pretty face slightly, and everyone stared intently—
Then suddenly froze, stunned by what they saw!
Where was the big, rough wild girl?
The young woman clearly had a complexion as crystalline as jade, skin like congealed cream, vermilion lips contrasting with snow-white skin. As she approached gracefully, her beautiful phoenix eyes shimmered like silk, her red lips curved slightly in a radiant smile…
Making all the flowers in the imperial garden pale in comparison!
The noble young ladies never expected the rumored savage simpleton to possess such extraordinary beauty.
They couldn’t help but be mesmerized, until Yun Li lightly raised her eyes, her clear and haughty gaze sweeping over them faintly.
Only then did everyone hurriedly say, “We pay our respects to Your Highness the Princess Consort.”
Ning Xin’er was also stunned for a moment. She had long known that Yun Li possessed devastating beauty that didn’t lose to her own, but previously Yun Li had always been too lazy to dress up…
Yet today’s magnificent attire and makeup were even more exquisite than that day at the Regent’s Mansion!
Ning Xin’er, who had just been praised, was instantly outshone.
She bit her lip somewhat unwillingly, but still curtsied and said, “May Your Highness be well.”
The beauties of all shapes and sizes bowed their heads and curtsied.
Before Yun Li could tell them to rise, a clear, loud slapping sound was heard first!
“Smack—”