She didn’t notice either, instinctively grabbing his arm to steady herself.
Who told him to show no gentleness at all?
This grab nearly made Ye Feimo shake her off again, but as he slightly turned his head, he saw the woman pouting with a pitiful expression.
“Does the Prince truly dislike me this much? Everything I said is sincere. For your leg condition, I can recommend a physician…”
It wasn’t her pitiful expression that moved him, but the physician she mentioned that sparked his great interest.
He suppressed the urge to shake off her hand and pondered for a moment before saying, “Fine. If the physician you bring can cure my leg condition, I may consider trusting you.”
A glimmer of light flashed in Yun Qingge’s eyes, and her smile widened across her face.
But with the smile, the scars on half her face still bunched together.
“Then let me attend to the Prince’s rest…”
“Get out.”
Yun Qingge chuckled inwardly, knowing he had only used the pretense of her attending to him to test her.
She didn’t linger either, bowed, and withdrew.
This Great Villain’s temperament was truly not endearing.
Just as she stepped over the threshold, Qingxuan called out to her again.
“Princess Consort, there is the Empress Dowager’s flower-viewing banquet tomorrow. Please prepare and dress early to depart.”
“Oh—” Yun Qingge nodded and left without asking more.
Tomorrow’s Empress Dowager’s flower-viewing banquet… For Ye Tianjue and Yun Wanyue, it was a transition, but for the Great Villain, it was a small focal point.
…
The next day, upon entering the flower-viewing banquet, Yun Qingge finally met the Empress Dowager who existed in the book.
After marrying Ye Feimo, she had never seen the Empress Dowager, not even when entering the palace to serve tea.
It was said the Empress Dowager had returned to the palace yesterday, having been at Jingyin Temple praying for the royal family. The moment she returned, she arranged this flower-viewing banquet.
In the book, this banquet served two purposes: first, to announce the Crown Prince’s marriage, and second… to help the Crown Prince deal with Can Wang. After all, in the book, the newly married Princess Consort of Can Wang had just died, and Can Wang bore the accusation of killing his wife, coupled with the events at the banquet…
The Empress Dowager had always been partial to her grandsons, doting most on Ye Tianjue.
Yun Qingge’s thoughts were deep and restrained. Because she was constantly thinking about her own matters, her gaze kept falling on the Empress Dowager.
Beside the Empress Dowager sat Ye Tianjue and the Empress, all chatting merrily.
To outsiders, it seemed as though Yun Qingge was staring at Ye Tianjue the whole time.
Ye Feimo thought so too.
“What is the Princess Consort looking at?” Suddenly, a cold voice came, laced with warning.
Yun Qingge looked at Ye Feimo and saw him half-squinting at her. From the depths of his eyes, she could clearly read the word “displeased.”
“Nothing, I’m not looking at anything.” She secretly rolled her eyes, feigning innocence in her tone.
Ye Feimo let out a cold snort and withdrew his gaze.
“Fifth Brother has arrived.” From the other side, Ye Tianjue spotted them and spoke with a faint smile. He had changed into a plain elegant blue robe today, appearing even more ethereal and jade-like.
His single sentence instantly drew everyone’s attention to the couple.
The Empress Dowager also looked at Ye Feimo. Though her smile remained, it carried a sharper, colder edge than before.
“Take your seats.” The Empress Dowager averted her gaze and raised her sleeve to give the order.
There was no pleasantry, not even a lingering glance at Ye Feimo.
Yun Qingge, however, had her eyes sparkling as she looked at the various delicacies on the table. She hadn’t had breakfast today, and she was starving.
After sitting down, she lowered her head and ate on her own, as if the laughter and chatter around her had nothing to do with her.
Midway through her meal, she felt a burning gaze fixed on her. She quickly looked up and met Ye Feimo’s eyes directly.
“Does the Prince want some?” She blinked, crumbs of pastry at the corners of her mouth.
Ye Feimo’s gaze immediately locked onto the crumbs at the corner of her lips. For a brief moment, his hand twitched, struck by an impulse to wipe them away, but he forcibly suppressed it.
“Wipe it clean. Dirty.” He frowned in disdain and turned his gaze away.
Yun Qingge gave a soft “oh” and continued stuffing pastries into her mouth.
In the center of the hall stood flowers of all shapes and vibrant colors, while beauties dressed in dazzling attire danced gracefully with flowing sleeves. The royal family’s single flower-viewing banquet was elegant enough, and the dancers’ movements were exquisite without being vulgar.
Noble young ladies and gentlemen on the side chatted and commented on the flowers in the center of the hall.
She ate while calculating the plot that might unfold next.
In the book, after tea was served, Ye Feimo suddenly had an episode and went mad, even attacking the Empress Dowager…
She needed to keep a close watch on Ye Feimo.
Ye Feimo naturally noticed her constantly darting glances. His brows furrowed as he asked in a low voice, “What exactly are you looking at?”
“Uh, ah, the Prince is handsome.” She said something against her conscience.
Ye Feimo’s expression darkened.
After faking his disfigurement, she was the first to say he was handsome.
Yun Qingge smiled and lowered her head to continue battling the delicacies.
“Grandmother is in such high spirits today—why don’t we all compose a poem about this noble peony?” the little princess seated on the other side of the Empress Dowager said with a giggle. “Whoever can make Grandmother happy, I’ll give her a peony.”
This little princess was the current Emperor’s most beloved daughter, seventh in the imperial ranking, with a lively and endearing personality.
The young girl’s sudden outburst stirred murmurs among those nearby.
Yun Qingge, however, acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to eat and drink.
As she ate, she let out a soft snort under her breath: “Aren’t they just a few gaudy peonies? And they want poems for them?”
The man beside her heard her complaint and cast a subtle glance her way, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.
This woman… her table manners weren’t exactly atrocious, but this display was truly embarrassing.
Over there, a young lady from an official family had already risen on her own initiative and recited a few lines of verse, drawing applause from all around.
Yet the Empress Dowager seemed unsatisfied, her gaze landing directly on Ye Feimo’s seat.
“Fifth Princess-Consort, why don’t you offer a verse as well?”
Suddenly called upon, Yun Qingge was startled and instinctively looked at Ye Feimo. But the man merely raised an eyebrow at her, looking as if he were waiting to enjoy the spectacle of her making a fool of herself.
She had no choice but to slowly rise to her feet, saying with a smile, “In response to Taihou Niangniang, Qingge is shallow in learning and not very skilled at composing poetry.”
And at today’s flower-viewing banquet, the Houfu was naturally in attendance as well.
At the Houfu’s seat, Yun Wanyue glanced at her but said nothing.
It was the Sixth Young Lady beside her, Yun Miaoyin, who let out a mocking laugh: “That dimwit Yun Qingge, how could she know how to compose poetry? All she does is chase after the Crown Prince all day. Isn’t that right, Third Sister?”
Yun Wanyue said softly and gently, “Sixth Sister, do not speak nonsense.”
“Hmph, she can’t compose poetry?” The little princess let out a cold, disdainful snort. “If that’s the case, then dance instead.”
Her tone was arrogant and rude.