Liu Meizhao glanced into the mirror and asked softly, “Molan, what is it?”
“Crown Princess, this servant…” Molan hesitated, clearly troubled. “This servant saw His Highness coming out of Wutong Courtyard this morning.”
When Molan had gone out at dawn, she had accidentally caught sight of the Crown Prince leaving Wutong Courtyard, and the sight had shocked her.
The Crown Princess’s hand, holding a jade hairpin, froze. “What did you say?”
Wasn’t His Highness supposed to have been kept in Kunning Palace by the Empress last night?
“This servant truly saw His Highness coming out of Wutong Courtyard…” Molan bit her lip, feeling indignant on the Crown Princess’s behalf.
*Clatter!*
Liu Meizhao swept the jewelry from the dressing table. Her face betrayed her fury, her emotions slipping beyond control.
“Last night was my wedding night with His Highness, and you say he came from Wutong Courtyard? Are you telling me he spent the night with Xiao Liangdi?”
“But the Empress clearly said she would keep His Highness in Kunning Palace. Did Her Majesty deliberately deceive me?”
Liu Meizhao had always been proud since childhood, never once humiliated like this. Her face twisted with rage, her exquisite makeup unable to conceal her anger.
“Crown Princess, be cautious. One must never speak ill of the Empress.” Nanny Zhang, distressed for her, hurried forward to stop her. No one dared utter a word against the Empress.
“Nanny…” Liu Meizhao’s proud heart shattered. On the very first night of her marriage, she had suffered such cold neglect and humiliation. Her emotions surged violently.
“My lady, you are the Crown Princess. You have only just married His Highness. You must not be impatient—it will take time.” Nanny Zhang spoke gently to soothe her. “Liangdi Xiao can never surpass you. Tonight, His Highness will surely come to you. Once he sees your worth, he will forget all about Liangdi Xiao.”
“Right now, there is only one Liangdi. In the future, when His Highness has more concubines, how will you handle it?”
“You must seize his heart while the marriage is still new, and bear his child as soon as possible. Only then will your position be secure.”
“Don’t let every little stir throw you off balance. Soon, Liangdi Xiao will have to come pay her respects.”
Liu Meizhao’s eyes were red as she clenched her teeth. “Dress me.”
The joy of her wedding had been completely shattered, leaving only a trace of hostility in her gaze.
On the Crown Princess’s first day in the Eastern Palace, it was customary for those in the rear court to come and pay respects. At present, the Crown Prince had only one concubine—Xiao Hanyan.
Thus, Xiao Hanyan was summoned early to wash and dress.
“Liangdi, let’s go,” Qingdai said, supporting her as they left Wutong Courtyard.
“Mm.” Xiao Hanyan’s voice was still hoarse. The Crown Prince had kept her up late last night, and she was exhausted. For the sake of etiquette, she forced herself to go.
When they arrived at Xiwu Hall, Liu Meizhao was still at her dressing table. Xiao Hanyan glanced around—the furnishings were tasteful.
Only after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea did Liu Meizhao emerge, supported by Molan, and take her seat at the head. Her face bore no trace of a smile.
Xiao Hanyan bent her knees in salute. “This concubine greets the Crown Princess.”
Liu Meizhao looked down at her from above. She had intended to follow her mother’s advice and treat His Highness’s concubines with generosity. But she had not expected that on her wedding night, someone would steal her place. Outwardly, Liangdi Xiao seemed proper and obedient, yet secretly she had enticed His Highness to spend the night in Wutong Courtyard.
“Since I already saw you last night, I truly think it doesn’t matter whether you come to pay respects or not. But the ancestral rules are here, and so it puts Liangdi in a difficult position.” Seated upright, Liu Meizhao’s expression darkened as she looked at her.
Xiao Hanyan could clearly feel the Crown Princess’s hostility. Shen Qingchen had spent the night with her, and it seemed someone had witnessed it.
“This concubine greets the Crown Princess,” Xiao Hanyan repeated respectfully. “It is only what I ought to do.”
“I have prepared a small gift for my younger sister.”
As soon as Liu Meizhao spoke, Molan signaled for the maids of Xiwudian Hall to present the gift.
Xiao Hanyan accepted with courtesy. “Thank you, Crown Princess.” She gestured for Qingdai to take it.
Just as Qingdai reached out, the maid abruptly let go. The jade bracelet fell to the floor with a sharp crack, shattering loudly enough to startle everyone.
The maid immediately dropped to her knees in apology. “Forgive me, Crown Princess, forgive me, Liangdi. I had already handed it over, but somehow it slipped and fell.”
Qingdai nearly spoke out, but Xiao Hanyan’s glance stopped her. With a dark expression, Qingdai pressed her lips tightly shut.
Xiao Hanyan drew in a sharp breath. In the book, the Crown Princess was known for her jealousy. Since His Highness had spent the night with her, it was only natural that Liu Meizhao could not endure it. So now she was deliberately putting her in her place.
“It is my fault. I beg the Crown Princess’s pardon.” Xiao Hanyan slowly knelt, sincerely admitting her mistake once more.
“Replying to the Crown Princess—it was this servant’s clumsy hands. I failed to catch it. It is all my fault. If punishment is due, let it fall on me.” Qingdai knelt and knocked her head twice against the floor.
“You were not asked to speak. Where did you find the courage to be so insolent?” Liu Meizhao’s tone was cold. “Liangdi, if you cannot discipline your servants, this palace will gladly do it for you.”
“Please, Crown Princess, do not be angry. Qingdai did not mean it. I will speak to her properly.” Xiao Hanyan shook her head at Qingdai. Today, the Crown Princess’s ire was aimed at her alone.
Looking down at Liangdi Xiao kneeling below, Liu Meizhao sneered inwardly, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. She had to suppress her early. If she could not even keep Liangdi Xiao in check, her future standing would be unimaginable.
“Breaking an object is a small matter, but losing propriety cannot go unpunished.” Liu Meizhao spoke as though troubled. “Very well—Liangdi Xiao shall kneel here for one hour.”
Kneel for an hour? How could a delicate young woman endure such a punishment?
Liu Meizhao’s heart was truly ruthless.
Xiao Hanyan frowned slightly, weighing whether to speak again, when a voice rang out from outside: “His Highness arrives…”
Liu Meizhao’s expression faltered. Supported by Molan, she rose. “This consort greets His Highness.”
Before she could be lifted by him, she heard his cold voice: “What fault has Liangdi Xiao committed?”
The chill in Shen Qingchen’s tone made Xiao Hanyan’s heart jolt. She had already been kneeling for some time, her knees aching.
Liu Meizhao had hoped for tender words from her new husband, willing to let the matter drop if only he spoke kindly. But his first visit to Xiwu Hall was to defend Liangdi Xiao.
Liu Meizhao looked up at Shen Qingchen, then at Xiao Hanyan, her eyes frosted with resentment. “Liangdi Xiao dropped and broke the jade bracelet I bestowed. I know she has been favored by His Highness of late and may have forgotten her place. As Crown Princess, it is my duty to instruct her.”
Shen Qingchen stood with the light behind him, his gaze icy. His cold eyes swept over Liu Meizhao, lingering indifferently on her weary face. His voice was sharp. “A jade bracelet—broken and gone. Why must the Crown Princess go so far?”
Liu Meizhao froze, staring at him in disbelief. Her feelings now were worlds apart from last night. When she had seen the Crown Prince then, she had been full of joy and shy maidenly affection. But now, facing him again—even on their wedding day—she realized they were like strangers. There was no warmth at all.
In the Crown Prince’s eyes and heart, there was only Xiao Liangdi.