The night of the palace banquet arrived, and the garden lanterns were just beginning to glow.
The imperial garden was already full of fragrances and bustling figures, a lively scene as noble ladies gathered in small groups, chatting softly—but their eyes kept flicking toward the entrance.
Today marked the first palace banquet since the Crown Prince had returned to the capital.
Su Yun’er had dressed especially for the occasion in a pale pink flowing silk gown, delicate as willow branches swaying in the breeze. She lingered among a few of her close noble friends, but a subtle pride glimmered at the corners of her eyes.
“…Sisters, please don’t tease me. His Highness the Second Prince is merely giving me some extra attention out of respect for my father,” she said.
Li Yan, the daughter of the Minister of Rites, covered her mouth with a fan, laughing:
“Oh? Still shy? Who doesn’t know that the Second Prince even snubbed his own elder sister’s coming-of-age celebration for you? Yun’er, your gentle manners far surpass those of some women who hold the title of legitimate daughter yet have no sense of propriety.”
The other young ladies chimed in, all subtle barbs at Su Yaoyao while praising Su Yun’er.
Yun’er enjoyed the attention inwardly but put on a flustered expression:
“Sisters, please… don’t speak so. My elder sister… she’s just straightforward, not intentional. When I visited her the other day, she even scolded me for dressing too brightly, saying it was unbecoming of the Marquis residence.”
Miss Wang, from the Ministry of War, raised her brows:
“Considering her own solemn demeanor, she has the nerve to scold others?”
“Exactly!” Li Yan sneered. “The last time I saw her, she looked pale and thin, dressed in dull gray—like a nun running from some temple!”
Miss Wang mocked further: “In my opinion, Su Yaoyao is asking for trouble. The Second Prince clearly favors someone like Yun’er—cultured and graceful—yet she insists on pushing herself forward. Isn’t she just asking for humiliation?”
Su Yun’er feigned indignation:
“Don’t speak of my sister that way! She’s the legitimate daughter, the eldest… it’s proper for her to scold me…”
Before her words finished, a loud, assertive male voice interrupted:
“She dared to scold you?!”
Everyone looked up.
Xiao Qiming stood there in a deep blue brocade robe, his jade crown neatly in place, face full of anger.
“Su Yaoyao bullied you again?”
“My sister is the legitimate daughter… it’s proper for her to scold me,” Yun’er lowered her eyelids, looking plaintive. “She only said I didn’t know the rules, that I shouldn’t… shouldn’t get too close to His Highness.”
“What audacity!” Xiao Qiming’s anger flared.
“She doesn’t even know her own conduct! A foolish girl, always half-starving herself, dares to lecture you?!”
Seeing Yun’er’s tearful, delicate expression softened his heart. He took her hand.
“Don’t worry. Today, I will make her kneel and apologize to you!”
Yun’er inwardly beamed, outwardly still appearing pitiful.
“Your Highness… please, it’s alright. After all… she is betrothed to you… It’s fine if I suffer a little…”
The more she acted mature and understanding, the more Xiao Qiming both pitied Yun’er and resented Su Yaoyao.
“Betrothal?” He slung an arm around Yun’er’s shoulder.
“Yun’er, you’re the only one in my heart! Once I bring that… ugly creature into the household, I’ll immediately make you the equal wife. You will never be wronged!”
The words sounded absolute, as if already settled.
The crowd around fell silent for a moment.
Equal wife? That meant standing on the same level as the legitimate daughter? The Second Prince… gave Su Yaoyao no respect at all.
But Yun’er’s heart sank.
Equal wife?
She didn’t want to share a husband with Su Yaoyao. She wanted the position of the Second Prince’s consort and to see Su Yaoyao utterly destroyed!
“Your Highness…” Yun’er raised tearful eyes. “You hate my sister the most, why would you marry her?”
Xiao Qiming frowned, a hint of impatience in his voice:
“Mother insisted! Said the Grand Tutor’s students are all over the court, so I must marry her. Yun’er, you don’t know how disgusted I am by her sallow face! And her figure—completely shameless! Unlike you, naturally graceful and delicate—the true beauty!”
He spoke with clenched teeth, as if bearing a grievous injustice.
Yun’er clenched her fingers into her palm but kept her understanding, gentle smile intact.
Family background… again it’s always about family!
Just because her own mother had been a maid?
No. She would not accept fate!
She drew a deep breath, softening her tone:
“Your Highness, don’t be angry. Today is a palace banquet—enjoy yourself instead.”
In her heart, she already plotted to cut Su Yaoyao down to pieces.
Wait, Su Yaoyao. After today, I will ruin you, make the Second Prince turn away in disgust!
At that moment, a subtle commotion arose from the entrance.
It sounded like someone was approaching.
First, the startled gasp of maids, then the sharp clink of a dropped cup,
And finally… a rising, restrained chorus of awe and intake of breath.
Xiao Qiming frowned impatiently.
“What’s going on? All this noise—”
His words cut off abruptly.
All eyes turned toward the garden entrance.
In the moonlight mingling with lantern glow, a graceful figure slowly appeared.
She wore a red skirt and jacket embroidered with sparse magnolia blossoms in silver thread. With each step, the fabric seemed to shimmer, as if she were walking on moonlight.
Most striking was her figure.
A slim waist cinched with a matching brocade belt accentuated her curves like a willow.
Above, her form was breathtakingly full, neckline modestly open to reveal a section of pale neck—sensual yet restrained.
Her hair was half-up, half-down, pinned with a white jade hairpin, the rest cascading to her waist.
Her makeup was subtle, lips naturally red, brows unadorned, skin luminous under the lantern light.
Most captivating were her eyes—clear, bright, slightly upturned at the corners, carrying a casual yet irresistible allure.
She walked slowly, gracefully swaying, every step like a delicate touch to the heart.
Where she passed, the garden seemed to lose its color.
The pavilion fell completely silent.
Everyone was spellbound.
This… this was…
“The legitimate daughter of the Yongning Marquis, Su Yaoyao, arrives—”
The attendant’s high-pitched announcement rang out like a pebble thrown into a still lake.
“Ah—”
After the brief silence came an even louder stir.
“That’s… Su Yaoyao?!”
“My heavens, that figure… that look…”
“Wasn’t she said to be sallow and frail? This… this…”
Countless gazes fixed on her, a mixture of shock, admiration, jealousy, and disbelief.
Even Yun’er’s handkerchief trembled in her grasp.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the woman stepping closer, nails digging into her palm.
Impossible… this cannot be!
That useless girl… the one I had looked down on for years… how could she…
And Xiao Qiming—he was completely frozen.