Xiao Ning’an exerted a subtle force, causing Yong Yishuang’s palm to scrape and bleed. Ning Huanyi caught a faint whiff of blood in the air and frowned slightly—an instinctive reaction that did not escape Xiao Ning’an’s notice.
Xiao Ning’an had long heard the words spoken, including the one that forced Ning Huanyi to lower her head. She curved her eyes into a smile, as gentle as a spring breeze, showing no trace of anger at Yong Yishuang’s earlier provocations. She merely approached Ning Huanyi, even speaking in a voice so soft it was almost timid.
“The sun is harsh here. Step inside.” Xiao Ning’an supported Ning Huanyi’s arm but dared not be too intimate, guiding her slowly away from where Yong Yishuang knelt. The scent of blood from Yong Yishuang’s bleeding palm would no longer trouble Ning Huanyi.
Only when Ning Huanyi was seated safely in the main seat of the small pavilion did Xiao Ning’an relax. “She is a princess, but you are the Princess Consort of the Regent. The seat of honor rightfully belongs to you.”
Xiao Ning’an then personally brought her pastries and tea, happily taking on tasks that should have been Qingdai’s duty. Glancing at the time and realizing lunch had yet to be served, Xiao Ning’an shot a displeased look at Yong Yishuang, who still knelt, not daring to rise.
Ning Huanyi was overwhelmed by the attention. Even yesterday, she hadn’t received such courtesy from Xiao Ning’an. Recalling the imperial edict earlier—had Xiao Ning’an really exchanged her illustrious military achievements for this marriage? A warmth spread through Ning Huanyi’s heart. She didn’t know why Xiao Ning’an was willing to marry her, but the current scene wasn’t bad at all.
At least in some moments, she wasn’t entirely powerless.
Thus, under the sheer authority of Xiao Ning’an alone, the banquet—originally scheduled to begin an hour later—was served early with dishes already prepared. Ning Huanyi sat in the seat of honor as Qingdai served her food, enjoying the meal thoroughly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ning’an, having already dined with the emperor at court, had no intention of eating again. After instructing Qingdai to take good care of the Princess Consort, she sat coldly before Yong Yishuang, silent, watching her bake under the sun.
Ning Huanyi observed Liu Jingming trembling beside Yong Yishuang and couldn’t help but find it amusing. When the wall crumbles, everyone pushes. The once lofty Liu Jingming now couldn’t even muster words to defend his own wife.
No doubt, Yong Yishuang’s immediate hostility toward her had been stoked by Liu Jingming’s whispers—spreading rumors, gossiping behind her back, and fanning the flames. These were the behaviors of petty street gossips, yet Liu Jingming embodied them perfectly.
Ning Huanyi was grateful the engagement had been called off. Otherwise, her future would have been unbearable.
Now, watching Xiao Ning’an’s slender yet powerful figure, Ning Huanyi felt a stirring in her heart. They were mere strangers—why was Xiao Ning’an treating her so well?
Ning Huanyi was both flustered and intoxicated by Xiao Ning’an’s kindness, fearing the day it might vanish. She longed to uncover the reason, to ensure that Xiao Ning’an would always treat her this way.
“Your Highness the Regent, the princess and I have realized our mistakes. Today is the celebratory banquet of the princess’s residence. Could you perhaps… forgive us?” Liu Jingming, unable to bear Yong Yishuang’s pleading gaze, steeled himself to speak up, feeling that as a man, he ought to say something.
Xiao Ning’an’s phoenix eyes swept over, and Liu Jingming immediately shivered, realizing how unwise his earlier words had been.
“Oh? But it seems I haven’t yet settled the matter of your son spreading rumors about the Regent Princess Consort the other day,” Xiao Ning’an said slowly, rising from the pearwood official’s chair and pacing around Liu Jingming. The exquisitely embroidered official boots swept back and forth within Liu Jingming’s line of sight, reminding him vividly of how Yong Yishuang’s hand had been crushed under them moments ago.
Thus, Liu Jingming’s cowardice surfaced, his earlier bravado vanishing as he hung his head, not daring to speak.
Though Yong Yishuang knew exactly who stood before her, the combination of her privileged upbringing, the bloodied hand that had been stepped on, and the haughty pride of being the eldest princess in the palace fueled her indignation. While the court strictly distinguished between legitimate and illegitimate children, the palace did not openly tolerate bullying—at least not on the surface—so Yong Yishuang had always maintained her lofty status as a princess.
Now, this Regent Princess had returned and immediately trampled her underfoot, and worse, it had happened in the princess’s own residence. How could such an affront be overlooked?
Yong Yishuang refused to back down. No longer staring at the ground, she lifted her head defiantly.
“Your Highness the Regent Princess, though I may have been at fault earlier, does your refusal to spare me any dignity now imply a disregard for the imperial family’s face?” Yong Yishuang recalled how, in the palace, she had often intimidated lower-ranking concubines by pinning grand accusations on them. While she couldn’t expect to frighten the formidable Regent Princess to that extent, Xiao Ning’an was still a woman, and surely her delicate sensibilities would weigh the implications of such words?
Yong Yishuang stared fixedly at Xiao Ning’an, hoping to catch even a flicker of hesitation or contemplation in her eyes—proof that her gamble had paid off. But Xiao Ning’an only shook her head.
“You are unworthy of using the imperial family to threaten me.” Others might not know, but Xiao Ning’an was well aware. Ever since spotting those suspicious figures at the Falling Star Tower the day before, she had deduced from their mannerisms that they were likely imperial agents.
Further investigation revealed they were under Yong Yishuang’s command. Initially sent to probe the affairs of Yongchang Marquis’s household, they had tailed Ning Huan and another woman, hoping to uncover something more. Though their efforts had come to nothing, it didn’t mean today’s banquet would treat Ning Huan kindly.
Thus, after court, Xiao Ning’an had intended to have the emperor announce the marriage decree. Unexpectedly, the emperor suggested it be proclaimed at the princess’s residence instead.
The reason? The emperor had long harbored disdain for Yong Yishuang. Her mother, an unpopular consort, had raised a child with an inflated sense of superiority, devoid of the imperial family’s magnanimity. The emperor was deeply annoyed but had never found the time to discipline Yong Yishuang over such trivial matters. Now that she had dared to meddle in Yongchang Marquis’s affairs, the emperor tacitly permitted Xiao Ning’an to teach her a lesson.
And so, today, Xiao Ning’an arrived without the slightest hesitation.
Stepping on Yong Yishuang’s hand was because Xiao Ning’an simply couldn’t stand the way she had been acting so self-important with borrowed authority earlier.
Her own soon-to-be-wedded princess consort hadn’t put on any airs, so this illegitimate princess was truly laughable.
“Your Highness…” Seeing that force didn’t work, Yong Yishuang suddenly thought that since Xiao Ning’an had sought Emperor’s permission to marry Ning Huanyi, she must favor women—so she decided to play the victim in hopes of softening Xiao Ning’an’s heart.