Mingyue still showed respect toward Nanny Zhou. She said, “I will not go and apologize to that Yun Xueyao. Just report my words truthfully to His Highness. As for whether the Crown Princess will make things difficult for my lady once she takes charge of the Eastern Palace, Nanny Zhou need not worry about that.”
It wasn’t even certain whether Yun Xueyao would truly become Crown Princess. Even whether Pei Ziyan could successfully hold the grand ceremony to establish the Crown Prince was still unknown. Besides, her lady had no intention of remaining in Yong as a mere consort. Whatever tricks Yun Xueyao might have up her sleeve hardly mattered.
Nanny Zhou, helpless, could only leave once again.
When she returned to the front hall, she faithfully relayed Mingyue’s words and added, “Miss Mingyue said she was not in the wrong and does not wish to apologize.”
Yun Xiaoran and Yun Xueyao both looked grim.
“A mere maid dares to defy even the Crown Prince’s command,” Yun Xiaoran said coldly. “Such a wretched servant deserves to be beaten to death!”
“Your Highness,” Yun Xueyao’s eyes reddened with grievance, “all the Imperial Guards on duty at the palace gates saw it with their own eyes—Mingyue struck my maid. If the Crown Prince does not mete out punishment, then… then even if I enter the Eastern Palace as the future Crown Princess, I will only become the laughingstock of the court.”
Pei Ziyan’s expression darkened.
The State General was famed for his victories, but his temper was notoriously unruly, and he had always believed military power was the only true authority. Father and son were loyal, yes—but their loyalty was to the emperor on the dragon throne, not to a crown prince who could be replaced at any time.
A crown prince was, after all, only a “reserve king.” Until enthronement, uncertainty always lingered.
Yun Xiaoran’s reputation for shielding his sister was well known in the capital. Just last year, when a noble lady mocked Yun Xueyao for lacking refinement compared to the elegant daughters of great families, Yun Xiaoran impeached her family in court for scorning military men. At that time, with unrest on the western frontier and the empire needing the Yun family’s service, the emperor had no choice but to comply—he dismissed the girl’s father from office and expelled the entire family from the capital.
So today, since Yun Xiaoran had come in person, how could he possibly leave in humiliation?
Pei Ziyan lifted his teacup and said in a low voice, “Attend me!”
Two guards entered. “Your Highness.”
“Bring Mingyue here,” Pei Ziyan ordered, lowering his gaze to hide the flicker in his eyes. “If the princess consort tries to stop you, then…” His voice faltered for a moment, then hardened. “Execute Mingyue on the spot.”
Yun Xiaoran narrowed his eyes, satisfaction flickering across his face.
Yun Xueyao dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, wiping away nonexistent tears, her heart brimming with smugness. Xiao Qingxue, aren’t you arrogant? Don’t you indulge your insolent maid? Let’s see how you save her today. This is only a warning. Once I enter the Eastern Palace, hmph, I will never let you live in peace.
“Your Highness,” Yun Xueyao pressed her lips together, speaking with dissatisfaction, “I dislike anyone sharing the same character in their name as mine.”
Pei Ziyan’s grip on his teacup tightened. He slowly raised his eyes to her. “What did you say?”
“I don’t like that Xiao Qingxue’s name contains the character *xue* (‘snow’). I want her to change it.” Yun Xueyao spoke as if it were perfectly reasonable, clearly unaware of how outrageous her demand sounded.
She was the Crown Princess—how could a lowborn physician’s daughter presume to share the same character with her?
Suppressing his anger, Pei Ziyan said evenly, “A name is given by one’s parents or elders. Unless it is to avoid the emperor’s taboo, there is no reason to force someone to change it.”
“But I don’t want to share the same character with her,” Yun Xueyao continued petulantly, oblivious to his displeasure. “She’s just a physician’s daughter. Having the same character as her lowers my status.”
“Xueyao,” Yun Xiaoran finally spoke, “don’t trouble His Highness. Names are bestowed by parents. The Crown Prince has no grounds to demand such a change.”
Yun Xueyao bit her lip, clearly unhappy.
Forget it. Once she married the Crown Prince and formally became Crown Princess, she would find a way to make Xiao Qingxue willingly change her name.
When the guards arrived at Shuangxue Courtyard, Xiao Qingxue already knew this matter would not be settled so easily today. She set down her book, rose to her feet, and stepped outside, her face expressionless as she looked at the two guards.
“Princess Consort.” The guards bowed. “By order of His Highness, we are to escort Miss Mingyue to the front hall. If we offend in any way, we beg your pardon.”
Xiao Qingxue smiled faintly. “You will not take her away.”
The guards lowered their eyes. “His Highness said that if the Princess Consort obstructs us, we may execute Miss Mingyue on the spot.”
“How impressive His Highness is,” Mingyue sneered, clenching her fists at Xiao Qingxue’s side. “In that case, go ahead. I want to see who kills whom.”
A chill settled over Xiao Qingxue’s features. She gave a barely perceptible smile, one that never reached her eyes. “Mingyue, since he insists on tearing the mask away, you need not spare him any face.”
“Yes.” Mingyue stepped forward, her voice cold. “If you’re going to act, then hurry up. Don’t waste my time.”
The two guards exchanged a glance, then frowned at her. “If you are willing to come with us and apologize to Lady Yun in person, this matter can be resolved easily. There is no need for bloodshed.”
“Dream on!” Mingyue shot back without mercy. “If I truly went with you, I would curse that wretched Yun Xueyao until her head spun—and I’d drag your disgraceful Crown Prince into it too, stripping him of all dignity and authority!”
At her words, the guards knew persuasion was useless. “Forgive us,” they muttered, raising their hands to seize her.
But in the next instant, Mingyue caught one guard by the shoulder, lifted him as though she were a strongman, and hurled him aside. Then, springing upward, she lashed out with both feet, sending the other flying.
The guards stationed outside Shuangxue Courtyard heard the commotion and rushed in, startled.
Xiao Qingxue’s voice rang cold: “Until Pei Ziyan gives me a letter of divorce, I remain the Princess Consort here. Whoever dares raise a hand against me commits treason against their superior.”
At those words, the guards instinctively froze in place. They were not cowed by the Princess Consort’s words, but rather reminded of the affection Xiao Qingxue had shown the Crown Prince over the past two years, and of her usual kindness toward guards and servants alike.
Xiao Qingxue was a Princess Consort without airs. She possessed the compassion of a healer and the skill of a master physician. After curing the Crown Prince’s illness, she patiently treated the hidden ailments of noble ladies outside the palace, and within the residence she treated servants with equal regard. The flourishing state of Prince Jin’s household owed much to her. Not everyone was ungrateful. Even if they were guards of Prince Jin’s manor, bound to obey the Crown Prince’s orders, they could not forget the Princess Consort’s benevolence.
The guards exchanged glances and, as one, stepped back.
Xiao Qingxue, weary of endless entanglements, straightened her robes and, with Mingyue at her side, walked toward the front hall.
Pei Ziyan’s expression shifted when he saw her arrive in person. He rose unconsciously. “Why have you come?”
“You wished Mingyue to apologize to Lady Yun, did you not?” Xiao Qingxue gave a cool smile. “Rather than forcing Mingyue, why not let me, the Princess Consort, do it myself?”
Pei Ziyan’s face tightened. “That is not what I meant.”
“As long as Your Highness is willing to write a letter of divorce,” Xiao Qingxue said firmly, her gaze unwavering, “with that one letter, I will immediately apologize to Lady Yun.”