Liu Xiyin spoke in a delicate, fragile tone, but anyone with eyes could see she was flaunting Lu Zhi’s favor toward her.
But what was there to flaunt?
When a woman married, even if she were as noble as an empress or princess, she was still expected to sew her own wedding gown to demonstrate her needlework skills.
Only women who were unskilled in needlework hired embroideresses to sew their wedding gowns.
Such a shameful matter—how could she have the nerve to broadcast it to the world?
This cousin of Lu Zhi’s clearly hadn’t read many books.
Meeting the amused, watchful gazes around her, Mu Yao lowered her head and let out a soft laugh.
“What status do I have, after all? The Mu family has only me left now. Times are tight, so I had to sew it myself.”
“Unlike you, little sister, who is so favored that even your marriage is conducted with the rites of Ba Cheng Zhi Li. I don’t even have eight carriages.”
Mu Yao pretended to sigh with regret, lowering her head in a display of dejection.
Seeing her so crestfallen, Liu Xiyin nearly laughed out loud with glee.
Lu Zhi’s show of force had worked—Mu Yao was actually bowing her head and yielding to her!
Liu Xiyin pressed her lips together, riding the wave of Mu Yao’s flattery and unable to resist showing off further.
“At the end of the day, my cousin and I share the bond of childhood sweethearts.”
“My cousin said he would give me the finest things in the world. If it were permitted, he would even give me twelve carriages!”
Liu Xiyin boasted, but the moment the words left her mouth, the garden fell into dead silence.
Nearly everyone’s eyes went wide, staring at Liu Xiyin in utter shock.
Even Mu Yao was stunned.
She had flattered Liu Xiyin only to make everyone aware that she herself had received only the rites of Liu Cheng Li.
But she never expected Liu Xiyin to dare utter such treasonous words.
Twelve carriages—that was the rite reserved for the Son of Heaven.
Was she worthy?
Liu Xiyin, who had been so smug moments before, finally sensed something amiss when she saw the strange looks around her.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Liu Xiyin panicked and whispered to Mu Yao.
She had only ever known hard labor and attending to Lu Zhi in his chambers; of these ceremonial matters, she knew absolutely nothing.
But a few days ago, Lu Zhi had indeed said those very words…
Before Mu Yao could respond, a man’s light, sighing chuckle came from behind the crowd.
“The Emperor bestowed upon me the rites of Tian Zi Li Zhi, with a twelve-carriage palanquin. I thought it was something rare and precious.”
“So any woman getting married can have twelve carriages? It seems His Majesty only gave me something common as dirt?”
A man in a python-embroidered robe with a jade belt stepped out from the crowd. His words seemed self-deprecating, but the sharp, elongated eyes beneath his brows held the unmistakable majesty of one who looked down upon all.
The man’s appearance gave the crowd a momentary pause.
Yan Xun rarely showed himself in public, so few recognized him.
But Mu Yao recognized him at a glance.
She immediately rose and bowed. “I pay my respects to the Prince of Chu.”
Hearing Mu Yao’s words, the others quickly followed suit, dropping to their knees.
Even the princess hosting today’s banquet had to pay respects to this prince of a different surname.
Liu Xiyin, flustered and at a loss, knelt beside Mu Yao but couldn’t get her posture right for the longest time. She bit her lip in grievance, her eyes reddening.
Why hadn’t Mu Yao taught her what to do?
She had made a fool of herself in front of everyone—she’d make her cousin deal with Mu Yao when they got back!
“Rise.”
Yan Xun flicked the jade belt at his waist and responded casually, appearing utterly nonchalant, yet the corner of his eye was sizing up Mu Yao.
As Mu Yao rose, her gaze inadvertently met Yan Xun’s for a brief moment before she quickly lowered her head.
Others hadn’t seen Yan Xun before, but she had.
Her parents had died governing the flood relief in Chu, and she had been enfeoffed as Chudi Xianzhu.
Chu had once been prosperous, but it was only overlooked because of the floods.
Once the floods were tamed, many enemy nations cast covetous eyes upon Chu.
It was Yan Xun who spent five years conquering Chu, expanding the territory, and the lands of Yun Guo grew day by day.
On the day Yan Xun returned victorious to the capital, Mu Yao had gone early to the city gate to watch.
She wanted to see who it was that had defended the land her parents had given their lives to govern.
From general to prince of a different surname, Yan Xun had taken only three years.
Later, when there was no higher honor left to bestow, the Emperor granted him the Tian Zi Yi Zhang, the privilege of twelve carriages, the right to walk rather than run in the imperial court, and to enter the hall with sword and shoes on.
To see Yan Xun was like being in the presence of His Majesty himself.
In all the realm, only the Emperor and Yan Xun were entitled to twelve carriages.
For Liu Xiyin to say such a thing in front of him—wasn’t she rushing to her own death?
Yan Xun’s gaze swept across the crowd and finally settled on Liu Xiyin.
His gaze carried an overwhelming force, like a thousand horses charging, pressing down on Liu Xiyin until she could barely breathe.
After a long moment, Yan Xun finally spoke. “Whose ill-bred creature is this? Take her away at once.”
His tone was light and seemingly careless, yet it sent chills down one’s spine.
This was the young prodigy who had slaughtered countless on the battlefield—who would dare offend him?
Lu Zhi had just received word that Liu Xiyin had caused trouble in front of Yan Xun. By the time he arrived, both his legs were trembling.
“Prince of Chu, please forgive me. My cousin is shallow in learning and spoke without thinking. I beg the Prince not to hold it against her.”
Lu Zhi knelt swiftly this time.
Seeing Lu Zhi, who usually held himself so high, now so cautious and servile, Liu Xiyin’s panic only deepened.
She had merely repeated what Lu Zhi had said—how had it led to such a grave offense?
Yan Xun cast a downward glance at Lu Zhi, then turned his gaze to Mu Yao standing nearby.
“So you’re the Shizi of the Marquis of Pingyang. A cousin with such poor upbringing—best not bring her out in public to embarrass yourself in the future.”
Lu Zhi had no time to dwell on the insult. Seeing that Yan Xun showed no intention of punishment, he hastily kowtowed in gratitude.
“Your subject will discipline her properly upon returning to the manor. I thank the Prince of Chu for his mercy in not holding this against us.”
With that, Lu Zhi rose, grabbed Liu Xiyin by the hand, and hurried away, as if afraid Yan Xun might change his mind and mete out punishment.
After the two had left, Mu Yao returned to her original seat.
Today, she had only intended to play the victim before others, to lay the groundwork for her plans.
But unexpectedly, Liu Xiyin had handed her such a wonderful gift—it had certainly vented her frustration.
With today’s business done, Mu Yao had no desire to linger. She took her leave of Zhang Gongzhu with Ningzhu and left the manor to head home.
But just as she stepped out of the princess’s residence, before she could board her carriage, two figures emerged from behind the building.
“Wait.”
Lu Zhi called out to her, his face dark and grim, his eyes filled with disgust and malice.
“I never thought you could be so vicious, setting a trap in public to lure Xiyin into misspeaking!”
Lu Zhi’s indignant accusation drew a cold laugh from Mu Yao.
“I set a trap? Wasn’t it her own inability to resist showing off?”
“Besides, weren’t those words about Shi Er Cheng spoken by your own lips?”
To be honest, Mu Yao did want to make the Lu family’s life difficult.
But today, she had absolutely not lured Liu Xiyin into her own downfall—she hadn’t known Liu Xiyin could be that stupid!
It was clearly Liu Xiyin who wanted to show off, and Lu Zhi who had spoken treasonous words in private!
Lu Zhi was momentarily struck speechless by her counter-question.
He had indeed said those words…
But that was pillow talk—words he had whispered to Liu Xiyin in the bedchamber. Who knew she would repeat them in public?
At the end of the day, it was still Mu Yao’s fault for bringing up the matter of the Bachengli wedding procession!
Lu Zhi saw no fault in himself and remained convinced that Mu Yao was simply jealous.
“The one who wants to give Xiyin the Bachengli rites is me. You have no need to take your anger out on her.”
“With such jealousy in your heart, I doubt you’d bring any peace to the household once you enter. I think you don’t even deserve the Liu Cheng Li.”
“Si Cheng is already more than enough honor for you!”
With that, Lu Zhi flicked his sleeve and stormed off with Liu Xiyin.
Si Cheng—a full half of what Liu Xiyin would receive.
Yet Mu Yao’s heart remained utterly undisturbed.
Even Ningzhu didn’t flare up this time.
What difference was there between Si Cheng and Liu Cheng?
Both were equally humiliating!