The emperor's gaze sharpened as he looked up at Shen Lixue. Her long, flowing black hair cascaded down her back without any unnecessary embellishment. Her dark, bright eyes, like polished lacquer, were set in her small, palm-sized face. Her pure white brocade robe was embroidered with subtle floral patterns, and the collar and cuffs were decorated with exquisite, intricate designs, making her appear like a fairy from a painting, ethereal and otherworldly, unlike any mortal.
During the chrysanthemum banquet, he thought she looked like a woman, but he never expected that she really was a woman: "Are you really the Princess Consort of Qingyan'an County?"
The Prince of Yan's gaze darkened, and he remained silent. At this moment, it was not appropriate for him to speak. He would observe the situation quietly and devise a plan in his mind.
Qingyan and Xiliang had a fairly good relationship, but the fact that Qingyan's Princess Consort disguised herself as a man and appeared silently in the Xiliang palace would surely arouse the emperor's suspicion. Ye Qianlong's clear eyes flashed with anxiety and worry, and his lips moved as he was about to speak when Shen Lixue hurriedly pulled him back.
"Your Majesty, Li Xue is indeed the Princess Consort of Qingyan An County!" Shen Li Xue smiled slightly, bowed, and her long black hair slowly fell down, stunning everyone's eyes.
Consort Shu revealed her identity simply to create conflict between her and the Emperor of Xiliang, so that the Emperor could punish her. She was indeed the Princess Consort of Qingyan Anjun. If she denied it, the Emperor of Xiliang would think she was guilty and would become even more suspicious of her, thus indirectly fulfilling Consort Shu's wish. It was better to admit it openly, and then the Emperor of Xiliang would have nothing to say.
"Why have you come to Xiliang?" The Emperor of Xiliang looked coldly at Shen Lixue, his gaze sharp as a knife.
Prince An is the God of War of the Azure Flame, who has made great achievements in battle. His arrival in Xiliang without warning must have an unusual purpose, and as the emperor of Xiliang, he must be on guard.
"Your Majesty, my husband, Prince An, and I are newly married and have come out to enjoy the scenery. We have just arrived in Xiliang!" Shen Lixue smiled sweetly, like a hundred flowers blooming.
Consort Shu raised an eyebrow: "The countries closest to Qingyan are Subei and Nanjiang. If Prince An and his wife want to travel and enjoy the scenery, those two countries would be the most suitable. Why did they take the long way to Xiliang?" Trying to fool them won't be so easy.
Shen Lixue smiled politely: "It's because..."
“I invited them!” Ye Qianlong suddenly spoke, his voice clear and bright: “In Qingyan, I received care from Prince An and his wife. They were newly married and wanted to travel around, so I suggested that they come to Xiliang to see the local customs and culture, and also to see my old friend!”
Shen Lixue was taken aback, but then she understood. No matter how perfect or appropriate her reason was, it couldn't compare to Ye Qianlong's words. He gave them a legitimate reason to come to Xiliang, and he also dispelled the doubts of the Xiliang emperor.
Consort Shu frowned and looked at Ye Qianlong: "Your Highness, the arrival of Prince Qingyan and Princess An in Xiliang is of great importance. For the safety of Xiliang, you must not act rashly."
Ye Qianlong's icy gaze, sharp as a sword, suddenly shot towards Consort Shu: "Does Consort Shu believe I am lying?"
The emperor narrowed his sharp eyes, his gaze towards Consort Shu filled with displeasure. Ye Qianlong was someone he had watched grow up; she was simple-minded, always spoke the truth, and never lied.
Consort Shu gritted her teeth in hatred. What did she mean by suspecting him of lying? He was lying outright, yet she smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. I was thinking of the safety of Xiliang..."
"Enough!" The Emperor glared at Consort Shu, that foolish and ignorant woman, then turned to Ye Qianlong and said coldly, "Prince Qingyan, your wife is a distinguished guest in Xiliang. Why didn't you tell me?"
Ye Qianlong lowered his head and whispered, "I've always considered them friends, I didn't think that much about it!"
The emperor raised an eyebrow at Ye Qianlong, who remained silent and simple-minded, unable to grasp the complexities of the situation—a trait quite in line with his personality.
Turning his gaze to Shen Lixue, the emperor said indifferently, "Since the Prince of An and his consort have come to Xiliang, I should do my duty as a host and host a banquet tonight to welcome them."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but Prince An is unwell and has been resting for the past few days. I'm afraid he won't be able to attend the welcoming banquet tonight!" Shen Lixue smiled and curtsied. She and Dongfang Heng had come to Xiliang together, but she had been entering and leaving the palace alone. She had to give the emperor a reasonable explanation, otherwise, he would definitely become suspicious.
"Prince An is ill? What is wrong? Should I send an imperial physician to examine him?" The Emperor of Xiliang asked sharply, subtly probing the question.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The Prince has only caught a slight cold and is fine. He will be alright after a few days of rest." Shen Lixue smiled politely, responding calmly and composedly.
The Emperor nodded knowingly, looking at Shen Lixue calmly: "Then, once Prince An has recovered, I will host a banquet for you two!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Shen Lixue smiled politely. The relationship between Xiliang and Qingyan had always been one of mutual respect and non-interference. Dongfang Heng had not done anything in Xiliang yet, so the Emperor of Xiliang would not make a big fuss. Otherwise, if a small matter escalated into a war between the two countries, they might fall into the trap of a villain.
The emperor's attitude softened, and his tone became polite and courteous, without the initial hidden hostility. Consort Shu gritted her teeth in hatred. As expected of the woman chosen by the God of War, Qingyan, she was quick-witted and eloquent. With just a few words, she dispelled the emperor's doubts. Her scheming was indeed deep.
"I remember Consort Shu was punished with six months of confinement, and only half a month has passed. How come she's out already?" It's only polite to retaliate. Consort Shu instigated the Emperor to deal with Shen Lixue, so of course she should also create some trouble for Consort Shu.
The emperor's cold gaze also fell on Consort Shu. Consort Shu's confinement order had not yet been lifted, and leaving the palace without permission was a violation of palace rules. She should be stripped of her title as a consort and banished to the Cold Palace.
"I wish to write a blessing for His Majesty's longevity, but I was unsure which font to use, so I came to the Wenyuan Pavilion to find a suitable calligraphic style." Having lived in the palace for over a decade and engaged in intrigue, Consort Shu had honed her adaptability to an extraordinary level. After a moment of furrowing her brow, she gave the most appropriate answer.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow at Consort Shu, a slight smile playing on her lips: "There are many palace maids in Chang Le Palace. Since Your Highness is confined to your quarters and should not leave the palace, you may order them to come and find the calligraphy!"
"The palace maids are ignorant and have no idea how to judge the quality of calligraphy. I have come to Wenyuan Pavilion in person because I want to write the best blessing for His Majesty!" Consort Shu looked at the smile on Shen Lixue's lips, feeling angry but her eyes were full of provocation. She was far from being able to compete with her.
Shen Lixue smiled. Consort Shu was indeed a cunning old fox in the palace intrigues. No wonder she had remained unscathed for decades: "Your Highness Consort Shu could have had the palace maids take all the calligraphy back to Chang Le Palace and choose at your leisure. Why did you insist on coming to Wen Yuan Pavilion in person? If all the ladies in the palace were like Your Highness, finding any excuse to leave the palace during their punishments, what would be the point of having palace rules?"
Consort Shu glared at Shen Lixue, her beautiful eyes almost spitting fire with anger: She really has a sharp tongue!
The Emperor frowned as he looked at Consort Shu, his gaze sharp as a sword: "I know my beloved consort's intentions, and what the Princess Consort of Anjun said is also true. A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Violating the rules should be punished!"
Consort Shu was startled and said urgently, "Your Majesty, I did this for Your Majesty..."
"Shut up!" The emperor interrupted Consort Shu sternly: "As a concubine of the imperial palace, you are a role model for the people. It is only right that you should be punished for your mistakes. If I let you off lightly, the people of Xiliang will think that the rules of Xiliang are just empty words and can be violated at will. Wouldn't the whole of Xiliang be in chaos then?"
Shen Lixue is the Princess Consort of Qingyan County. With her standing by to supervise, the Emperor, in order to demonstrate the strict governance of Xiliang, cannot easily let Consort Shu off the hook. Otherwise, the whole world will know that Xiliang is unruly and will be ridiculed by other countries.
"Your Majesty, I know my crime!" Consort Shu also realized the seriousness of the matter. Continuing to argue would only offend the Emperor and provoke his anger and dissatisfaction. She humbly admitted her mistake, her slender hands clenched into fists, trembling slightly.
The emperor's expression softened slightly, and he said coldly, "Return to Chang Le Palace to receive ten strokes of the cane and be confined to your quarters for six months. If you dare to violate the rules again and leave the palace without permission, I will not let you off lightly."
"Your Majesty, I obey!" Consort Shu thanked the emperor, and with the help of a palace maid, she stood up unsteadily. She had violated the palace rules first and was at a disadvantage. Shen Lixue also had the identity of the Princess Consort of Qingyan Anjun, so it was not advisable for her to confront Shen Lixue head-on for the time being.
Let's go back to Chang Le Palace first and discuss this further. She's sure she can come up with a good way to deal with Shen Lixue.
As the slender figure passed by the Prince of Yan, she suddenly sensed a familiar aura. Consort Shu was startled and turned her head sharply. The ordinary square face, the listless eyes, and the hard facial features were completely different from the person she remembered. So how could she sense a familiar aura?
With careful attention, she sensed that the Prince of Yan before her was a complete stranger, a world apart from anyone she knew. She rubbed her forehead with her slender hand, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and continued walking slowly. She was so lost in thought that she had actually mistaken the Prince of Yan for him; how ridiculous.
Watching Consort Shu's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Ten strokes of the cane and six months of confinement—the Emperor's punishment of Consort Shu was still somewhat lenient.
"It's almost lunchtime. I've prepared a banquet to welcome the Princess Consort." The Emperor's majestic and clear voice rang in her ears. Shen Lixue suddenly came back to her senses and smiled, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. The Prince is still ill, and I must hurry back to take care of him. I cannot stay any longer!"
"In that case..." The Emperor looked at the apologetic expression on Shen Lixue's lips and the worry in her eyes, which seemed genuine. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Since Prince An is unwell, I will not keep the Princess Consort any longer. I will host a banquet for you two after Prince An has fully recovered. Qianlong, see Princess Consort An off!"
"Yes!" The emperor's words were like a pardon, instantly putting Ye Qianlong's heart at ease. He breathed a sigh of relief; once he got past his father, Li Xue would be safe.
Looking up at the beautiful and ethereal woman, a faint smile curved his lips: "Li Xue, this way!"
"Your Majesty, Prince Yan, farewell!" Shen Lixue bowed to the Emperor and Prince Yan, and slowly walked out of Wenyuan Pavilion.