The Crown Princess had yet to take up residence in the Eastern Palace, but the Crown Prince had already brought two concubines back to his manor.
This news quickly reached Shuangxue Courtyard—naturally, under Pei Ziyan’s instruction, it was not deliberately concealed.
Mingyue could not contain her anger. Was the Crown Prince deliberately trying to humiliate her lady?
Xiao Qingxue, upon hearing it, merely gave a careless laugh. “Such clumsy tricks—utterly devoid of originality.”
“Beyond the two concubines, Her Majesty the Empress intends to arrange another consort for His Highness the Crown Prince,” Nanny Zhou reported from before the desk. “His Highness said the Empress has yet to settle on a candidate. If Your Ladyship could assist in the selection, it would be ideal—choosing someone you find agreeable might increase the chance of harmony in the future.”
Xiao Qingxue gave a faint smile. “I am but a humble physician. What right or virtue do I have to choose consorts for the Crown Prince? That is Her Majesty’s affair, not mine.”
Nanny Zhou hesitated, then urged softly, “It is clear the Empress is doing this deliberately. Perhaps you should yield a little, otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?” Mingyue sneered. “My lady seeks only a divorce decree. He may marry as many as he pleases—what has that to do with us?”
But the problem was… divorce was impossible.
Nanny Zhou’s face clouded with worry. “If the Empress selects a beautiful and scheming woman as consort, then not only will you be suppressed by the Crown Princess, you will also have to contend with a restless rival for favor. How could you endure such days?”
Xiao Qingxue lowered her gaze, sipping her tea, unmoved.
“My Lady…” Nanny Zhou faltered. “I’ve heard the Empress even plans to send a governess here, to instruct you in the rules of a consort. You may not have witnessed the methods of such governesses…”
“Then it will be a fine chance for my lady to witness them,” Mingyue said with amusement. “I imagine it will be quite entertaining.”
“Nanny Zhou, I know your intentions are kind.” Xiao Qingxue smiled faintly. “But my resolve to divorce is firm. It is not meant as a threat. Whatever decisions the Empress and Crown Prince make have nothing to do with me. Whether he marries a Crown Princess, a consort, or eighteen concubines, you need not trouble yourself to tell me.”
“But, My Lady—”
“There is indeed no need to tell her.” A cold, furious voice suddenly cut in. Pei Ziyan stepped across the threshold, his face masked in frost. “I am the Crown Prince. I may marry as many as I wish. Even the Crown Princess cannot interfere—what right does a mere consort have to meddle?”
Nanny Zhou’s expression changed. She turned and bowed. “Your Highness.”
“Leave.”
Nanny Zhou cast a worried glance at Xiao Qingxue, still hoping she might relent. But Xiao Qingxue sat serenely upon the couch, calm as ever. Suppressing her unease, Nanny Zhou withdrew.
Pei Ziyan turned his cold gaze upon Mingyue. “You too—leave.”
Mingyue lifted her eyes to him, her look edged with defiance, as if to say: *In your dreams.*
Pei Ziyan’s fists clenched, his voice thunderous. “Again and again you defy your betters. Today you even dare to defy an imperial decree. Mingyue, do you truly believe I will tolerate you without limit?”
Mingyue said stiffly, “Your Highness need not tolerate me.”
“Get out.”
“No—”
“Mingyue.” Xiao Qingxue spoke slowly. “Step outside for a while.”
Mingyue fell silent, turned, and left, closing the door behind her.
Two guards stood on either side outside, their faces expressionless as they watched her. Mingyue met their gaze with equal indifference, then moved aside, listening intently for any sound from within.
Inside, only Pei Ziyan and Xiao Qingxue remained.
After a brief silence, Pei Ziyan walked slowly toward her, towering over her as he asked, “Qingxue, did you ever love me?”
Xiao Qingxue’s brows knit slightly. Her gaze held a subtle edge—half mocking, half amused. “To ask me that now—don’t you find it laughable?”
Pei Ziyan’s expression darkened. “I’ll ask you again. Did you ever love me?”
Xiao Qingxue thought carefully. “Most likely not.”
His face turned to ice in an instant. “If you never loved me, then why did you marry me?”
“Because it was you who begged for the imperial decree.” Xiao Qingxue arched a brow, as if finding him ridiculous. “Pei Ziyan, have you forgotten? You knelt for a day and a night to obtain that decree. Surely you don’t imagine I was desperate to marry you?”
Pei Ziyan’s anger flared. “So you never loved me?”
“At this point, speaking of love or not is hypocritical—utterly meaningless.” Her tone was cool and detached. “You claim to love me, yet it doesn’t stop you from demoting your wife to a mere consort, nor from marrying a Crown Princess.”
Pei Ziyan closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them, fixing her with a steady gaze. “You should know a woman’s duty is to obey her husband, to manage the household and raise children—” His words broke off at the sound of a sharp laugh.
His voice faltered, his cheek twitching. “So, you don’t agree.”
“Pei Ziyan, if you have something to say, speak plainly.” Xiao Qingxue leaned lazily against the couch, smiling with careless amusement. “No need for so much empty talk.”
“When there is no love, everything I say becomes empty talk?” Pei Ziyan sneered coldly. “In that case, I shall fulfill my duty as your husband.”
With that, he swept her up in his arms and turned toward the inner chamber. But before he reached the screen, his arms suddenly grew heavy—then empty. Xiao Qingxue had slipped free with practiced ease. The instant her feet touched the floor, she lashed out, driving a fierce kick into the back of his knee.
With a resounding *thud*, Pei Ziyan dropped to one knee, his kneecap slamming against the floor. Pain drained the color from his face; only by clenching his teeth did he keep from crying out.
“You…” He looked up in disbelief. “You know martial arts?”
Xiao Qingxue stood before him, her gaze cold and unyielding. Without warning, she struck him across the face, the crack of the slap sharp as winter ice. “Pei Ziyan, you are vile enough to be revolting.”
“Revolting?” He froze, blood draining from his cheeks as he stared at her in shock. “You think I’m revolting?”
“Yes. Utterly revolting.” Her eyes were icy, as though she were staring at a sewer rat. “If this is your true self, then I’m grateful I helped you secure the position of Crown Prince, grateful the Emperor chose a Crown Princess for you. Otherwise, I might still be trapped in your false tenderness, blind to your true face.”
Pei Ziyan’s fists clenched, his expression dark as spilled ink.
Xiao Qingxue’s voice was cutting. “Since you wish to show me what it means to be a husband, I’ll oblige you.” She stepped behind him and kicked, forcing him flat to the ground.
Pei Ziyan coughed violently. “Qingxue…”
She glanced at him, then picked up a belt. Binding one of his hands to the bedpost, she tied his legs together, forcing him to kneel.
He realized with shock how strong she was. He tried to struggle, to resist—but it was useless.
“If I hadn’t known martial arts, would you have tried to shame and force me tonight?” Her voice was cold as steel. “A man who can only humiliate women this way has lost both backbone and honor. You are no man—only a rat skulking in the gutter.”
“Mingyue knows martial arts, and you do too?” Pei Ziyan roared. “Xiao Qingxue, what else are you hiding from me? You speak of trust, yet if you trusted me, you wouldn’t have concealed this from me!”
Xiao Qingxue sat calmly on the bed, watching his humiliation. “Tenderness and affection are what most easily disarm a person. Precisely at such times, one must keep a card in reserve to protect oneself—otherwise, wouldn’t it be all too easy to fall into the abyss?”