“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived!”
A clear spark of delight lit up Ning Xin’er’s eyes.
Though her family background couldn’t compare to Yun Li’s, and now her rank was also suppressed by her, she had the Empress Dowager’s protection behind her – this was the trump card Yun Li could never match!
She was the first to curtsy, “Your daughter pays respects to Mother Empress. May Mother Empress enjoy boundless blessings and eternal peace.”
The other young ladies immediately followed her lead in paying respects.
Yun Li bowed slightly, “May Your Majesty the Empress Consort be at peace.”
The late emperor was Rong Zhou’s biological brother, so by seniority, she indeed should address the Empress Dowager as sister-in-law. As the Empress Dowager’s adopted daughter, Ning Xin’er should even call her aunt.
“Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Empress Dowager Wei arrived with dignified composure, having heard the dispute in the imperial garden from afar, “What was all the commotion just now?”
Ning Yuewei covered her swollen red cheek, not daring to speak.
Ning Xin’er hurriedly bowed, “Dare not deceive Mother Empress. It was my younger sister’s ignorance in offending the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort’s displeasure and punishment of her are justified. Your daughter also acknowledges her fault…”
She lowered her eyes, feigning grievance.
Wei Chunxi saw the swelling on Ning Yuewei’s face, then frowned, “You acknowledge fault? What does it have to do with you?”
Ning Xin’er bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
“The Princess Consort reproached your daughter for lax supervision…”
“It’s all your daughter’s fault for failing to discipline my younger sister and angering the Princess Consort. But Changning truly cannot understand – it was just joking among sisters, how could it make the Princess Consort so angry?”
Her voice carried a sob, tears about to fall as she quickly raised her handkerchief to gently wipe them away.
“Your daughter acknowledges her fault and will surely reflect carefully hereafter, be cautious in speech and action, and never displease the Princess Consort again, wuwu…”
Wei Chunxi had always cherished this adopted daughter.
Seeing her weeping pitifully before her, she felt heartache and angrily said, “Princess Consort.”
“Your subject is here.” Yun Li obediently bowed.
Wei Chunxi gave her a stern, dignified glance, “For such a trivial matter, the Princess Consort is rather petty.”
Ning Xin’er was already secretly rejoicing inside.
Last time at the Regent’s Mansion, Yun Li had the Prince backing her, and just now she used her rank to suppress her. But now with the Empress Dowager protecting her…
She wanted to see how Yun Li could possibly argue her way out!
“Sister-in-law’s admonishment is correct.”
Yun Li responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, “But your subject presumes to ask Your Majesty a question.”
Wei Chunxi had never much liked this girl.
The Yun family relied on their military power to act arrogantly, posing constant rebellion risks. She had long wanted to eliminate the Yun family to permanently remove the threat, so naturally she wouldn’t like anyone from the Yun clan!
“Ask.”
Yun Li slightly raised her lovely face, her voice clear and bright, “If today it weren’t your subject being slandered, but if Changning County Princess privately disparaged Your Majesty as aged and haggard, fat-headed and large-eared, worse than pigs or dogs, and You were furious enough to punish her, would that also count as pettiness?””
“You…” Wei Chunxi was enraged.
Ning Xin’er also looked up at her in sudden shock, hurriedly shaking her head at the Empress Dowager – how would she dare say such things…
Wei Chunxi’s brows clearly showed anger.
She truly wished to punish Yun Li, but upon second thought, if she really lost her temper now, wouldn’t she just be falling into the trap?
Wei Chunxi gritted her teeth, “What a silver-tongued girl!”
“Your Majesty flatters me.” Yun Li smiled charmingly.
Wei Chunxi: “…”
She hadn’t meant it as praise at all!
This topic clearly couldn’t continue. Ning Xin’er also knew that using the Empress Dowager to teach Yun Li a lesson today was impossible…Fortunately, the eunuch beside the Empress Dowager was perceptive. “Your Majesty, perhaps we should first grant the young ladies their seats? After all, the Four Arts Competition is today’s main event.”
The Four Arts Competition was a regular feature of the Spring Banquet.
It involved contests in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
All the young ladies attending the banquet would choose one skill they excelled in to showcase, competing for opportunities to gain favor before the nobility while building their reputations for future marriage prospects.
Wei Chunxi’s expression softened slightly.
She waved her hand as she took her seat. “Grant them seats.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The flustered young ladies, who had been anxiously navigating the power dynamics, finally settled their hearts temporarily and took their seats.
Ning Yuewei applied an ice pack to her swollen cheek.
Ning Xin’er and Yun Li, holding the highest ranks, sat on Wei Chunxi’s left and right respectively. The former elegantly sipped her tea with grace, while the latter immediately started devouring pastries the moment she sat down—
Plum blossom pudding, grape milk custard cake, osmanthus cake, steamed sugar cheese, green rice porridge, golden bird’s nest…
Only fools wouldn’t enjoy such delicious treats!
But just as Yun Li was happily indulging in her little pastries, some annoying individuals kept calling her name.
“Princess Consort.”
“Yes?”
“How has the Regent Prince been treating you since your marriage?”
“Very well.”
“Any difficulties adjusting?”
“None.”
Wei Chunxi: “…”
Her face showed anger. “Princess Consort! This sorrowful one is speaking to you. How improper to not even lift your head!”
So Yun Li picked up an osmanthus cake and looked up.
She blinked her eyes, taking small bites with each blink, occasionally darting her pink tongue to lick the crumbs from her lips.
“Please calm your anger, Mother.” Ning Xin’er hurriedly intervened. “After all, the Princess Consort isn’t versed in the four arts. She probably finds the competition rather dull. There’s no harm in her eating some pastries.”
Hearing this, Yun Li narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly.
She had intended to focus on eating, but if this “Changyanning Princess” actively sought trouble, she was more than ready to engage.
So Yun Li stuffed the entire osmanthus cake into her mouth, swallowing it hastily before saying, “The Princess guesses correctly.”
It really was quite boring…
After all, no one here could match her.
“Utterly lacking in propriety!” Wei Chunxi scolded. “Yun Lanyue, you are no longer just the eldest daughter of the General’s mansion but the legitimate Princess Consort of the Regent’s Mansion. You should set an example during the Four Arts Competition instead of muddling through!”
Yun Li nodded in full agreement.
Her gaze drifted absently as she secretly glanced at the plum blossom pudding—the perfect thing to cut through the richness…
Hurry up and finish talking so she could enjoy her plum treats!
Ning Xin’er smiled gently. “Mother, please don’t be too hard on the Princess Consort. The four arts are truly challenging for her. Why not let your daughter play a tune for you first?”
Her musical skills were considered the best in the capital, winning the competition every Spring Banquet and making her famous throughout the city…
While she might not be able to counter Yun Li’s sharp tongue, in this area, Yun Li should be the one conceding defeat!
“Xin’er is still the sensible one.” Wei Chunxi’s tone softened.
Just as Ning Xin’er was about to rise and play the zither, Ning Yuewei—having applied the ice pack long enough—began scheming again.
Although she had backed down from Yun Li earlier…
Now that the Princess had the Empress Dowager’s support, why should she fear that uncultured woman!
So Ning Yuewei couldn’t resist causing trouble again—
“Your Majesty, this subject has an idea that might make this year’s Four Arts Competition more exciting.”
“Speak.”
“Since the Princess is acclaimed as the top talented lady in the realm, and the Princess Consort is considered the most noble woman in the capital, why not have them compete against each other in one of the arts?”Upon hearing this, Ning Xin’er let out a soft laugh.
Her voice was gentle as she said, “Isn’t my sister making things difficult? I don’t mind—Her Highness may choose any of the Four Arts for me. But the Princess Consort is unskilled in all of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting…”
Ning Yuewei knew her sister would always be so kind-hearted!
She turned to Yun Li, “Sister, don’t you think we should ask the Princess Consort herself? Would Her Highness be willing to accept the challenge?”
Yun Li lifted her eyelids and glanced at Ning Yuewei.
She tightened her grip on the teacup beside her… In her past life, just before her death, it was Ning Yuewei who summoned eagles to peck at her flesh, leaving her without a whole corpse! Truly arrogant and unruly as ever—having just been slapped, she had already forgotten the pain so quickly!
The other young ladies murmured among themselves.
Yun Li’s lack of skill in the Four Arts was well-known in the capital, and no one thought she would dare to accept the challenge.
But then, her clear voice rang out in response—