Those sharp words came from Princess Langhuan.
Lin Zhaoyang had also come to attend the polo gathering that day, followed by a large entourage. There were maids and attendants, as well as noblewomen and young ladies from various families. Wherever a princess went, she was surrounded like the moon among stars.
Zhuang Wanqing recognized Princess Langhuan and quickly knelt to pay respects.
But Lin Zhaoyang did not bid her rise. She passed her by and went straight to Dou Xueci, taking her hand. “It’s only been a few days, yet you look thinner again.”
“Do I? I don’t feel so,” Dou Xueci replied.
Lin Zhaoyang’s eyes lit up with joy because Dou Xueci had not said, “Thank you for worrying, Princess.”
Had she said that, Lin Zhaoyang was certain she would have been angry with her!
Out of the corner of her eye, Dou Xueci noticed Lou Yuanduo helping Zhuang Wanqing to stand, and Lin Zhaoyang saw it too.
“Impudent! When did this princess permit her to rise?”
Zhuang Wanqing trembled in fright and quickly knelt again.
In front of the crowd, the princess was clearly making things difficult for her. Zhuang Wanqing felt deeply wronged. She had done nothing — why was the princess punishing her? Was it simply because she was close to Dou Xueci, that others could humiliate her at will?
“What is this commotion? Such a disgrace!” At the sight of the newcomer, everyone bowed in greeting.
It was Crown Prince Lin Heyi.
Zhuang Wanqing seemed to have found her pillar of support at last. Her sense of grievance deepened, and she looked pitifully at Lin Heyi.
“Miss Zhuang, rise.”
“Many thanks, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Lin Zhaoyang’s face darkened. For the past three years, Madam Zou had taken Zhuang Wanqing everywhere, even to palace banquets, so naturally, the Crown Prince had seen her.
Moreover, there was a subtle, unspoken affection between them. Dou Xueci calculated the timing — at this point, they had not yet confessed their feelings, only exchanged glances.
“Royal Brother, Lou Yuanduo doesn’t know what this Miss Zhuang said, but he dared to speak rudely to Xueci!” Lin Zhaoyang complained.
Zhuang Wanqing began crying again. Dou Xueci wondered how she managed to shed tears at any time, in any place.
“Replying to Your Highness the Crown Prince, Wanqing truly said nothing. If Elder Sister is still angry, Wanqing will apologize immediately. Please, Elder Sister, don’t be upset because of me.” As she spoke, she moved to kneel, her tear‑stained face like a pear blossom in the rain, pitiful and stirring sympathy.
Dou Xueci looked toward Lin Heyi. He frowned, as though restraining himself, but still helped Zhuang Wanqing up. “Enough. In front of everyone, Xueci is not the sort to be unreasonable.”
Dou Xueci wanted to say that she *was* unreasonable. But she held back. In her past life, she had contradicted the Crown Prince over these very words and was publicly rebuked, losing face herself. So she smiled and said, “Miss Zhuang has the Young Prince and the Crown Prince to protect her. How could I dare make things difficult for her? Perhaps it should be I who apologize to Miss Zhuang. Just now, your eyes reddened slightly, and I was scolded thoroughly for it.”
Lou Yuanduo and the Crown Prince both frowned. Lou Yuanduo felt he had indeed been impulsive. The Crown Prince thought Dou Xueci’s words clearly showed defiance and impropriety. After three years apart, he had expected her to grow more sensible, but she was still the same.
Suddenly, Lin Zhaoyang’s eyes lit up. She stepped to Dou Xueci’s side, shielding her. “What does this have to do with you? If trouble arises, it will fall on us. Royal Brother, for your younger sister’s sake, don’t blame Xueci. We will simply avoid provoking Miss Zhuang, this great Buddha, from now on.”
Behind them, many noblewomen and young ladies looked at Zhuang Wanqing differently. Their gazes were no longer filled with awe or envy, but with disgust and resentment. They were all from families of hereditary nobility, or at least from scholarly, refined households.
But who was Zhuang Wanqing? Merely the adopted daughter of the Duke’s household. And yet even legitimate daughters and a princess had to yield to her. She even managed to have the Young Prince and the Crown Prince publicly defend her — what a sly enchantress!
Zhuang Wanqing herself sensed something was wrong. She wanted to explain that it wasn’t like that, but didn’t know how, so she cried again.
“Enough, Zhaoyang, you’re making trouble too!” The Crown Prince frowned, his voice sharper.
Lin Zhaoyang pouted, utterly unafraid, and lazily replied, “Fine, your sister is making trouble. I won’t annoy Royal Brother here anymore!” Then she turned and pulled Dou Xueci away with her.
Lin Heyi hesitated for a moment. It was his first time seeing Dou Xueci since her return to the capital, yet after this uproar, they hadn’t exchanged more than a few words. He felt her gaze was different from before — distant, detached.
Just as the scene dispersed, attendants from the Princess Consort Pingnan arrived with word: the polo match was beginning, and all the ladies were invited to watch.
When the match began, Dou Xueci sat beside Princess Langhuan, sharing her seat. The other Dou family young ladies and Second Madam sat together not far away.
But Zhuang Wanqing — not only did she not sit with the Dou family, she was placed at the very last table. On her table, there was only plain tea, no fruits or pastries. It was an obvious slight.
By rights, since the Pingnan household had sent her a separate invitation, it should not have been like this. Curiosity rose among the guests. Those who had witnessed the earlier commotion began explaining it to others.
Immediately, mocking and scornful gazes fell upon Zhuang Wanqing, cutting her down like blades, leaving her humiliated. In her heart, she blamed Dou Xueci and Princess Langhuan. She herself had done nothing wrong, yet because of them, she had become the target of all the noblewomen’s disdain. Her eyes turned toward the high platform above the crowd. Dou Xueci shone brilliantly there, radiant and honored. And herself? Simply because of her low birth, she could be humiliated at will? But it shouldn’t be like this — she too was her mother’s own daughter.
“I thought the Princess Consort Pingnan liked her so much,” Princess Langhuan sneered.
“Princess Consort Pingnan has always despised those who use seduction to beguile men.” Dou Xueci watched the field with interest as Lou Yuanduo scored a goal. Today’s victory would likely be his.
Lin Zhaoyang suddenly laughed. Just now, when she had played along with Dou Xueci, it was for this very reason.
Some matters might be hidden from outsiders, but not from them.
Years ago, Prince Pingnan had taken a favored concubine, doting on her excessively. It was said that afterward, the Princess Consort Pingnan had once conceived, but lost the child because of that concubine.
The Princess Consort made a great scene, yet the Prince refused to punish the woman. Later, news spread that the concubine had died of a grave illness. From then on, the relationship between the Prince and his consort grew cold. He rarely returned home, and when he did, he never stayed in her quarters. Even when they met in public, they did not bother to put on appearances. Thus, everyone in the capital knew the couple were estranged.
“Tell me, who do you think Lou Yuanduo will give the prize to?”
Lou Yuanduo scored another goal. At polo gatherings, it was customary that the winner did not keep the prize for himself but gifted it to a friend or beloved, as a token of affection.
Lin Zhaoyang looked at Dou Xueci with a smile, her eyes full of anticipation. If he gave it to Zhuang Wanqing, she might not be able to leave the grounds with dignity today.
The earlier commotion, the Princess Consort Pingnan surely knew of it — otherwise Zhuang Wanqing would not have been seated at the lowest table.
Dou Xueci glanced at the Princess Consort Pingnan seated nearby. With Princess Langhuan present, naturally, she could not sit at the head. So the high platform was divided into two sides: one for the Princess Consort Pingnan, the other for Princess Langhuan.
“Lou Yuanduo isn’t very bright. He’ll give it to Zhuang Wanqing.”
Lin Zhaoyang nearly burst out laughing. “Mischievous imp.”
The crowd erupted in cheers — Lou Yuanduo had won. His mind might be dull, but his martial skills were genuine; after all, he was a disciple personally trained by the Duke, the God of War.
“Miss Dou, the Princess Consort Pingnan invites you to join her for tea.”
Dou Xueci turned to look at the nanny who spoke, her eyes unreadable.