"What?! This… this isn't appropriate, is it?!"
Jing Liu's eyes flew wide open.
Taoye walked over and kicked him flat on the ground with one swift motion.
"If I tell you to get down, you get down. Why so much nonsense!"
Taoye had grown up by her mistress's side since childhood—quick-witted, diligent, and with a bit of martial arts skill to boot.
Jing Liu was sent sprawling to the ground on the spot.
Shen Ruoxi rested one hand on Taoye, stepped onto Jing Liu's back, and climbed into the carriage.
As she got on, she accidentally stepped on his head, making him yelp in pain.
Shen Ruoxi settled into the carriage and rode off without a backward glance.
Jing Liu scrambled to his feet, grimacing, and immediately ran back to the manor to tattle to Murong Yu.
Murong Yu was at Ning Lanxue's side at the moment, waiting for Shen Ruoxi to bring him his morning meal.
But instead of Shen Ruoxi, Jing Liu came running in.
Upon hearing Jing Liu's report, Murong Yu was both shocked and furious.
And more than a little uneasy.
Yesterday, Shen Ruoxi had angered him, and he'd planned to teach her a lesson—to make things difficult for her at breakfast this morning.
But he never expected that she hadn't prepared his morning meal at all!
Not only that, she'd gone into the palace alone.
Could it be that his remark yesterday about making Ning Lanxue the princess consort had been too much of a shock for her, and she truly intended to cut ties with him?
At that thought, Murong Yu could no longer sit still.
He immediately ordered Jing Liu to prepare—he was going to the palace as well.
He turned back to look at Ning Lanxue.
"Lanxue, if I don't enter the palace together with Shen Ruoxi, word might get out and reflect poorly on me. I'll head off first—I won't stay for breakfast with you."
"Take care, Your Highness."
Ning Lanxue's face showed consideration, but inwardly she was deeply displeased.
That fool Shen Ruoxi—she's learned to be clever now.
Instead of clinging desperately, she's switched tactics to playing hard to get?
After arriving at the palace, Shen Ruoxi was helped down by Taoye, and happened to see a six-horse carriage entering the imperial city.
The carriage was draped in expensive, exquisite silk on all sides, with windows inlaid with gold and jade—utterly magnificent.
Taoye lowered her voice.
"Who is this? Quite the grand display."
"It's Prince Ling."
Shen Ruoxi's voice was calm and indifferent.
Taoye turned her head: "Miss, how do you know?"
"Among the princes, who else but him could enjoy such treatment and dare to be so ostentatious?"
The current emperor, Murong Ting, was known as Emperor Renjing.
This sovereign had only four sons, and once they came of age, they were all enfeoffed as princes and left the palace.
They were the eldest prince, Murong Xiu; the fourth prince, Murong Yu; the eleventh prince, Murong Yao; and the ninth prince, Murong Heng.
Among them, Murong Heng was the most exceptional case.
In Emperor Renjing's harem, there had originally been only one empress—Su Wan'er. The two were deeply devoted to each other, living in perfect harmony.
Though the imperial couple's affection ran deep, Su Wan'er had been unable to conceive for many years.
To ensure the dynasty had an heir, Emperor Renjing took several consorts into the harem.
After that, several princes and princesses were born one after another.
But unexpectedly, Empress Su Wan'er became pregnant at the age of twenty-seven. Emperor Renjing was overjoyed and even granted a general amnesty across the realm.
After ten months of pregnancy, unfortunately, Su Wan'er encountered difficulties during childbirth. She gave her life to deliver Murong Heng, then passed away.
And Murong Heng had been frail and sickly since birth. As he grew older, all the imperial physicians concluded that not only would he not live long, but he would also struggle to produce heirs.
Emperor Renjing was deeply grieved.
He had originally intended to establish the legitimate son Murong Heng as heir apparent, but given the circumstances, those plans had to be set aside.
Over the years, though Murong Heng remained physically weak, his talents surpassed all others.
In external affairs, he could deploy troops and devise strategies with masterful foresight. In internal matters, he could govern the state and secure the realm—a brilliance unmatched by any.
Emperor Renjing doted on him greatly. Although he had not named an heir, everything from food to clothing was treated the same as the Crown Prince's. He often resided in the Eastern Palace, and the Emperor even tacitly allowed him to privately raise troops.
For this reason, many ministers at the time had submitted remonstrations, but Emperor Renjing remained unmoved.
Later, everyone came to accept it.
After all, Murong Heng did not have long to live. Even if he raised troops, he would not pose much of a threat.
So they stopped bringing it up.
The Emperor favored him, and coupled with the fact that this Prince Ling was naturally flamboyant and wielded thunderous authority,
over the years, Murong Heng's name had become renowned throughout the capital.
The carriage curtain embroidered with golden claw patterns was gently lifted, and under the sunlight, half of Murong Heng's profile was revealed.
Taoye said in a low voice,
"Miss, Prince Ling is actually this handsome?"
Everyone said the Ninth Prince was a sickly man, so she had assumed he would be skin and bones with a pallid, sickly look.
As if sensing something, Murong Heng suddenly turned his head and glanced in their direction.
His gaze met Shen Ruoxi's.
He looked at her for a moment, then slowly lowered the carriage curtain.
Shen Ruoxi suddenly recalled the incident at the teahouse earlier.
She could not connect it to the cold, noble man before her.
Taoye's eyes still held lingering admiration.
"They all say Prince Qi, Murong Yu, is gentle and handsome, a good match for you, Miss. But I think in terms of looks, Prince Ling is actually the better match for you."
"Taoye, don't speak nonsense."
Taoye stuck out her tongue.
What she said was the truth anyway.
That hypocrite Prince Qi, Murong Yu—it was all just empty reputation!
…
In the harem, Empress Su Liu'er was leading several consorts, preparing to show everyone the night-blooming cereus she had newly planted.
Fang Hui followed behind.
At that moment, a servant from her palace suddenly came to report that Prince Qi's consort, Shen Ruoxi, had arrived to pay her respects.
Su Liu'er noticed and casually asked,
"Consort Fang, is something the matter?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, Prince Qi and his consort are coming to pay their respects today. I'm afraid I must take my leave first."
Upon hearing this, Su Liu'er revealed a gentle smile.
"I've heard that Prince Qi's consort, Shen Ruoxi, is called the number one beauty of the capital, but I've never had a close look at her. Why not have her come over and let me see her as well?"
Hearing this, Fang Hui could only agree.
Noble Consort Qin Haitang, who was nearby, snorted.
"Number one beauty of the capital? I'm afraid she's all looks and no substance. They say she pestered Prince Qi for many years. At least she's the Di Daughter of the General's estate, yet she has not a shred of restraint!"
She was the Di Daughter of a marquis, a descendant of military officers.
She had heard a little about Shen Ruoxi's behavior and looked down on her from the bottom of her heart.
Making a fuss over a man, even willing to die for him.
A complete lovesick fool.
Utterly stupid!
Beside her, Consort Fang's expression grew somewhat awkward.
Although she did not care much for Shen Ruoxi either, Qin Haitang's words were undoubtedly a slap to her own face.
"Noble Consort, Yu'er and Ruoxi grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Their feelings for each other have been good since they were young, and after marriage they have been deeply devoted. The two of them are truly in love."
Qin Haitang smiled.
Clearly ignoring her.
She had also heard something about Murong Yu and a brothel woman.
Nothing comes without a source—there must be something to it.
What was she trying to cover up now?
Not long after Consort Fang finished speaking, a palace attendant was seen leading Shen Ruoxi over.
Compared to her usual plainness, Shen Ruoxi had clearly dressed up carefully today.
Dignified and graceful, radiant and striking.
As soon as she arrived, she paid her respects to everyone.
She swept her gaze over them without showing any emotion.
Emperor Renjing's harem was small in number, and she knew all the main consorts.
Empress Su Liu'er, Noble Consort Qin Haitang, her mother-in-law Consort Fang Fang Hui, and Concubine Nie Yulan.
There were also a few beauties, new faces.
The moment she arrived, the Empress couldn't help but praise her.
"They say the Prince Qi's consort is stunningly beautiful—truly, seeing her once is better than hearing about her a hundred times."
Shen Ruoxi bowed.
"Your Majesty flatters me. You are the one whose grace shines across the realm."
Su Liu'er was the younger sister of the late Empress Su Wan'er, kind and benevolent, and she was Murong Heng's aunt.
Murong Heng had no mother and had grown up under her care.
Shen Ruoxi, loving the man, extended her respect to Su Liu'er as well.
These words delighted Su Liu'er greatly.
She praised Shen Ruoxi a few more times.
Qin Haitang spoke up abruptly.
"Wasn't Prince Qi at the summer retreat not long ago? My daughter, Princess Minghua, was bored recently and also went to the summer retreat for a visit. She happened to catch sight of Prince Qi, and there was a woman by his side."
Qin Haitang turned her head. "Shen Ruoxi, from what Minghua said, the person beside Prince Qi wasn't you, was it?"
At this, Fang Hui's expression stiffened slightly.
Qin Haitang, relying on her prominent family, had always been arrogant in the palace.
And she had always looked down on Fang Hui, their relationship being quite poor.
If she found out that her son had again taken Ning Lanxue to the summer retreat, who knew how she would mock her.
With this in mind, Fang Hui immediately looked at Shen Ruoxi.
"Ruoxi, what's going on? Do tell."
She knew that Shen Ruoxi was deeply devoted to her son.
She would surely defend Murong Yu's reputation.
Shen Ruoxi immediately spoke up…