The Princess Royal's voice was cold and sharp: "Since you admit to lax discipline, Minister Jiang, then you should take her back and discipline her properly. If she cannot learn the rules of proper young ladies, then in the future, she need not leave the house at all!"
Jiang Wanxin rose slowly, filled with humiliation. Upon hearing these words, her body swayed violently, nearly losing her footing.
She was the legitimate daughter of Minister Jiang, the first noble lady in the capital to be personally bestowed such honor by the Empress Dowager, and the object of secret admiration from countless young men of prestigious families…
Yet in an instant, she had been publicly reprimanded by the Princess Royal, had her imperial gift revoked, and had been ordered into confinement to reflect on her mistakes!
And worst of all, all of this had unfolded before the Crown Prince's very eyes!
Jiang Wanxin shot a venomous glare at Yun Zhao: Who knew where this accursed star had sprung from—clearly born to be her ruin!
Just as everyone assumed the storm had passed, the Princess Royal spoke again, her clear voice carrying across the waterside pavilion:
"Of all the congratulatory gifts presented today, I am pleased with each and every one. However, for the prize of this spring gathering, I must choose the finest among them."
Including Jiang Wanxin, nearly everyone's gaze turned toward Song Baiyu, who sat quietly to the side.
With Jiang Wanxin's painting destroyed, among the remaining gifts, the one displaying the greatest talent and most favored by the Princess Royal was naturally Song Baiyu's "Hundred Longevity" painting.
Song Baiyu remained composed and dignified, betraying no emotion.
Unexpectedly, the Princess Royal beckoned to Yun Zhao: "Child, come here."
The entire hall fell silent—so quiet that a dropping needle could be heard.
"You repaired my feather hairpin and administered acupuncture treatment for me and Nanny Zhou. You are a good child of loyalty and courage, and I am fond of you."
With that, the Princess Royal placed a sheet of red-gold paper bearing the auspicious cloud pattern of Biyun Temple into Yun Zhao's hands—the very token for the first incense offering on Buddha's Birthday.
"Today's prize belongs to none other than you."
The Princess Royal's voice was gentle as she then dropped a thunderbolt of a statement: "Furthermore, I wish to take you as my adopted daughter. Would you be willing?"
Yun Zhao was momentarily taken aback.
Murmurs erupted all around, with voices of dissent rising one after another: "Your Highness, please reconsider!"
Jiang Heng, who had been kicked unconscious and spitting blood by Xiao Qi, had awakened not long ago. Seeing his father appear and finally salvage some of Jiang Wanxin's dignity, he had been silently enduring.
Upon hearing this, he could not help but speak out: "A bastard of unknown origins! How could she possibly be worthy!"
But his voice was hoarse, and his venomous curse was drowned out by the surrounding noise, drawing no one's attention.
Only Xiao Qi, seated alone in a corner, cast a dark, brooding gaze across the crowd, landing upon him.
Even the Crown Prince could not help but furrow his brows and speak: "Aunt, adopting a daughter is no trivial matter. This concerns the dignity of the imperial clan and requires careful consideration."
A very soft laugh cut through the silence of the hall.
Nearly everyone turned in near-shock to see Prince Qin seated calmly to the side, holding his wine cup, a faint smile curving at the corners of his lips: "Since Aunt favors her, then it is her fortune."
All the world knew that His Highness Prince Qin was peerlessly handsome, but cold in temperament and exceedingly difficult to please. Otherwise, despite his noble imperial birth, he would not have earned the nickname "Jade-Faced Yama."
These nobles and ladies present had known Prince Qin for over a decade—when had they ever seen him smile so easily because of a woman?
Like moonlight falling upon a clear pool, like spring rivers breaking through ice!
Many noble ladies present felt their hearts race suddenly at Prince Qin's faint smile, their cheeks flushing without warning.
"Crown Prince need not worry." The Princess Royal cast a smiling glance at Prince Qin, her own smile blooming softly:
"This matter, I already petitioned His Majesty before the New Year. His Majesty personally promised that as long as she pleases my heart, regardless of family background or birth, I may take her under my wing."
The Crown Prince said warmly, "I am not one to value pedigree, but," his gaze lightly swept across Yun Zhao's face, "since she is to enter the clan registry, it must still pass through the Ministry of Rites for verification to conform with protocol."
"Is Minister Jiang not right here?" Prince Qin added leisurely.
"Enough." The Crown Prince gave a helpless smile. "Since Aunt has made up her mind, and Cousin is pleased to see it come to pass, if I say more, I would only become the villain who spoils the occasion."
The Princess Royal seemed pleased, clapping her hands with a laugh: "Now this is my good nephew."
Prince Qin raised his cup slightly in the direction of the Princess Royal, his voice low and deep: "Congratulations."
Two simple words, yet they made Yun Zhao's heart skip a beat.
She instinctively lifted her eyes, only to collide directly with Xiao Qi's unfathomable gaze. His eyes were deep and dark, with a hint of a smile that was not quite a smile, fixed firmly upon her.
Yun Zhao could not discern who that "congratulations" was truly meant for, and for a moment felt she might be overthinking things.
Her thoughts slightly disturbed, she could only lower her eyelids and give an almost imperceptible nod of her chin as a response.
Nanny Zhou, standing nearby with a smile, directed the maidservants beside her to present a teacup: "Miss, offer the tea!"
Yun Zhao accepted it with both hands, knelt steadily, and raised the cup above her brow. Her voice was clear and respectful: "Yun Zhao pays respects to her adoptive mother."
Below the steps, Jiang Wanxin bit down hard on her lower lip, already tasting a hint of blood.
If not for the series of incidents today, all of this should have been hers!
The honor of the first incense at Biyun Temple, the Princess Royal's exclusive favor, and the joy of becoming her "adopted daughter"—all of this should have been within her grasp!
Not far away, Jiang Heng, standing among the crowd with one hand pressed to his chest, was likewise filled with hatred in his eyes.
He hated that he had been soft-hearted that day—seeing her struck down by the Cultivation-Dissolving Powder laced with Incantation Talismans, he had not stabbed her a few more times!
He hated that he had not insisted on going down the mountain to find her corpse and cast it into the wildfire spreading across the hills!
A single moment of misplaced mercy had left such a great calamity for himself and Xin'er today!
"Good child." The Princess Royal accepted Yun Zhao's tea with a smile, then asked gently: "Now that you are my adopted daughter, does my child have any wish? Today I am in high spirits—speak freely."
Yun Zhao rose, a dark glint flashing beneath her eyes, yet her voice feigned a slight tremor:
"Zhao'er dares not conceal anything. This journey to the capital was truly to seek out my family. But having been separated from my birth parents for sixteen years, I do not know… whether they would still be willing to acknowledge me as their daughter."
Seeing her shoulders tremble slightly, the Princess Royal took her for a girl full of fear and grievance, and her heart immediately swelled with pity:
"Silly child, since I am here to back you, who would dare not acknowledge you? Just say it!"
Among those present, someone fond of gossip asked: "Miss Yun says she came to the capital to seek family—that means this person must be in the capital. Are they an official or a merchant?"
Prince Qin also spoke at this moment, his tone indifferent: "The Little Medical Immortal has a refined and distinguished bearing—she looks as though she comes from a noble family. I wonder which of the civil and military officials in court is Miss Yun's birth father?"
On ordinary days, Prince Qin's temperament was cold and aloof, and he rarely directed his attention toward anyone. Yet today, for the sake of a woman, he had spoken three times in succession.
Could it be that an iron tree had truly blossomed?
Seeing this, those present all turned their gazes upon Yun Zhao.
Even the Crown Prince, who had maintained a distant demeanor toward Yun Zhao all along, cast a probing look her way.
Yun Zhao raised her head. There were no tears in her eyes, but hatred shone through them, clear and unmistakable.
She looked at the Princess Royal and said softly, "My father's surname is Jiang, and he is the Minister of Rites of the current court, Jiang Shian."