The Crown Princess, dressed in a deep purple embroidered long gown, possessed a slender figure. Two gold hairpins swayed on either side of her head, though the jade hairpins merely served to secure her hair. Her gentle and magnanimous demeanor made her instantly likable upon entering the house. The Crown Princess, on the other hand, was an exceptionally elegant and serene person. Compared to her, Mu Cuihuan seemed like a naturally alluring enchantress. In modern terms, Mu Cuihuan possessed a devilish figure. She wore a white blouse embroidered with blue flowers, tightly cinched at the waist with a deep blue jewel-encrusted belt. Her waist appeared so slender it seemed about to break. In contrast, Mu Cuihuan was full-figured, with a perfect hourglass shape. She swayed as she entered, making one wonder if her hips would break. Mu Cuihuan's single-eyelid eyes were slightly upturned, moist, and her full red lips pouted slightly, as if waiting to be plucked. Combined with her overall appearance, she exuded a captivating allure.
One elegant, the other sexy, these two consorts of the Crown Prince truly possess a unique charm that is far beyond the reach of ordinary men.
Baili Cheng laughed and said, "Your Highness pays respects to Your Highness. Your Highness rarely attends banquets, so it is quite unexpected that you would come to the Crown Prince's residence today. If there is anything I have done poorly in my hospitality, please forgive me, Your Highness, and I will correct it immediately." He then looked at Xuan Yuan Chaohua and Ouyang Yue, "Your Highness is also here today, which makes me very happy. Please don't be shy and just enjoy yourselves."
Xuanyuan Chaohua clasped his hands in a slight bow and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I will respectfully comply."
Ouyang Yue smiled and bowed to the Crown Prince and his principal and concubine consorts, saying with a serene smile, "Your Highness is too kind."
Baili Cheng's eyes flickered over Ouyang Yue, his gaze brightening noticeably. Ouyang Yue's attire today was simple, just a green dress, but somehow the fabric created a layered effect, transitioning from light green to dark green. The sheer fabric billowed, accentuating her graceful figure. Ouyang Yue's skin was very fair, a shade lighter than many others, and her eyes were a brilliant black, like alluring black pearls. When she gazed at you, it was impossible not to feel a yearning to see your own reflection reflected in her eyes. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, few could rival her. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, naturally dark, her eyes like sparkling stars, and her slightly upturned red lips were captivating. Baili Cheng had to admit that if it were a beauty pageant, Ouyang Yue would undoubtedly rank highly. She seemed to change every day, appearing even more beautiful than during the pageant itself.
Ouyang Yue is still growing up. She hasn't reached adulthood yet and hasn't fully matured. Baili Cheng, as expected of the Crown Prince, only paused for a moment before realizing what was happening. In that instant, Xuan Yue and Mu Cuihuan, who knew him very well, noticed Baili Cheng's unusual behavior. The two looked at Ouyang Yue at the same time, but their hearts skipped a beat.
Ouyang Yue turned her head and simply nodded slightly, her smile serene, leaving them unsure how to react.
“Grand Princess, everyone is waiting in the back garden for the banquet to begin. Why don’t we go take a look? The scenery in the Crown Prince’s garden is quite beautiful. Grand Princess, you shouldn’t miss it.” Baili Cheng introduced with a smile. Princess Shuangxia nodded, “Alright, let’s go to the back garden first. Crown Prince, please lead the way.”
"Grandmother, this way please."
Ouyang Yue carefully observed the environment of the Crown Prince's residence. It was not overly luxurious, but rather decorated in a very quiet and elegant manner, making her feel very comfortable. Her smile deepened. Mu Cuihuan couldn't help but laugh when she saw this: "Princess Mingyue seems to be very interested in the decorations in the residence."
Ouyang Yue turned her head. Given her relationship with Mu Cuiwei, she could be considered an enemy of Mu Cuihuan. However, at this moment, Mu Cuihuan was smiling at her, and Ouyang Yue did not find any dissatisfaction in her. Either she did not care at all, or she was hiding it too well. She smiled and said, "It's not bad, it feels very comfortable."
Mu Cuihuan said smugly, "Does Princess Mingyue know who ordered the construction of the decorations in the Crown Prince's residence?"
Ouyang Yue shook her head. The Crown Prince's residence was of great importance, so it was best to avoid contact if possible. Besides, it was just decoration, so who would care? Mu Cuihuan smiled and pointed, "Princess Mingyue, you didn't expect this, did you? The entire Crown Prince's residence was designed by the Crown Princess herself. She and the Crown Prince were childhood sweethearts and had a very good relationship. She was the chosen Crown Princess from the beginning. Moreover, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have been married for many years and have always been deeply in love. Their relationship is so good that it makes people envious."
Ouyang Yue pondered the meaning behind Mu Cuihuan's words. What did she mean? Was she telling her that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess had a good relationship, so good that they had been interacting since they were very young, and that the Crown Princess, as the mistress of the Crown Prince's residence, had first built it according to her own ideas, and then rightfully occupied the position of mistress? Or was Mu Cuihuan simply expressing her admiration and envy for the two of them? Ouyang Yue couldn't figure it out, but she felt that Mu Cuihuan was more scheming than Mu Cuiwei, and more unpredictable. If it were someone else, they might directly express their admiration or envy, or use this opportunity to flatter Mu Cuihuan, but either way, they would offend people. Ouyang Yue smiled faintly: "Oh, so that's the origin of this decoration." But she didn't continue the topic.
Mu Cuihuan was taken aback. She glanced at Ouyang Yue, but her smile remained unchanged. The Crown Princess, who had been somewhat displeased by what she had been told, laughed when she saw Ouyang Yue's reaction and said, "Consort, please stop talking about these things. You should tell us more about the fun places in the Crown Prince's residence. It's Princess Mingyue's first time visiting, so we must make sure she leaves satisfied."
Mu Cuihuan immediately responded, showing great respect to Xuan Yue.
Before long, they arrived at the back garden where the banquet was being held. There were already quite a few men and women there. The men and women were gathered in twos and threes. When they saw the Crown Prince and his entourage enter, they all bowed. The Crown Prince immediately went in to greet them. As he left, he smiled and said, "Crown Princess and Consort, please take good care of my great-aunt and cousin Yue'er."
"Yes, Your Highness," both of them replied in low voices.
However, once the Crown Prince left, Princess Shuangxia also found the back garden too noisy, so she asked Granny Shan and the others to take her to a quiet place to stay, and she would only come over when the banquet started.
"Yue'er, you've arrived." Li Rushuang, dressed in pink, flew over like a butterfly, calling out to her with a smile. Then she took Ouyang Yue's hand and whispered, "Sigh, I don't know most of the people here. It's really not very interesting. If you hadn't come, I would have wanted to find a chance to leave sooner."
Ouyang Yue glanced around and saw several familiar faces in the garden: Fu Meier, Mu Baiqian, Ning Xihe, Baili Nan, and others. Now that she was in a position of power, she didn't need to greet them. She simply glanced at them and said, "Ru Shuang, let's find a place to sit down first. There's still some time before the banquet ends."
Crown Princess Xuan Yue said, "That's right. Let's find a pavilion to sit in first. There's one over there. Let's go there." Xuan Yue smiled gently and pointed with Ouyang Yue's other arm. Ouyang Yue smiled and nodded, "Then I'll trouble you, Crown Princess."
Upon arriving at the pavilion, the noble ladies who were originally sitting there immediately rose and left. The servants of the Crown Prince's residence promptly served fresh tea and fruit, and the group finally sat down. However, as soon as they were seated, they were immediately greeted with bows. This was in accordance with custom. Although Fu Meier was extremely unwilling, she still walked over with the other ladies and bowed to the Crown Princess Ouyang Yue and the others. Then she stood aside and kept them company.
Mu Cuihuan suddenly said, "Princess Mingyue is quite talented, but I wonder how she learned it. Was her teacher a hermit master?"
Everyone was stunned, but couldn't help looking at Ouyang Yue. After all, Ouyang Yue was once known as the most ugly of the three in the capital, and no one had ever heard of her having any talent. Now, she had transformed into the most beautiful woman in Langya Continent, skilled in both literature and martial arts. This made everyone wonder and suspect that Ouyang Yue had been deliberately hiding her talents all along. Or perhaps she had some hidden master? If so, wouldn't everyone go crazy trying to become her disciple? Ouyang Yue's skills were undeniably impressive, even though most of the people present didn't like her personally. Her brilliance was something to be envied. Even Fu Meier couldn't help but turn her head, her eyes flickering with anticipation.
Ouyang Yue looked at Mu Cuihuan, only to see the latter's charming phoenix eyes slightly open. She asked with great curiosity, "What does the concubine think?"
Mu Cuihuan was taken aback: "Ah, I don't know, it's hard to guess."
Ouyang Yue said calmly, "Nothing in this world can be accomplished overnight. All of you ladies here are very talented. As long as you study diligently, you can achieve something in anything. Otherwise, having too much knowledge will only lead to more trouble and make things more complicated."
Upon hearing this, everyone thought about it and agreed that it made a lot of sense. They were all in their teens, and their skills and crafts had been decided since childhood. If they were to learn something random now, they would not only fail to master it but also waste their time. If they used this time to study what they were already familiar with, they might actually achieve something. Instantly, their hostility towards Ouyang Yue lessened.
“Princess Mingyue is right, it has given me a good reminder. However, I have always loved poetry and painting, and if there is an opportunity, I would still like to exchange skills with Princess Mingyue.” Mu Cuihuan said with a smile. Ouyang Yue smiled at her, neither nodding nor shaking her head.
Seeing this, the Crown Princess laughed and said, "Alright, alright, everyone, please sit down and have some tea and snacks. I heard that the Beauty Pavilion has recently launched a new rouge. The lip rouge has a fruity fragrance when applied to the lips, with a bright color and an enticing taste. It's quite nice."
"Yes, I've heard about it too. It's a pity I went too late. They only supply ten boxes of this lip balm a day. If you go too late, they're all gone. I had my maid order it right away, but the wait is already half a month."
"Yes, I've heard about it too, and everyone who's bought and used it says it's great. A few days ago I saw my cousin wearing pink lipstick. Her skin is fine, but the lip rouge made her skin look even whiter. I was so envious, I immediately asked my maid to put one in line for me."
"Lip finger technique? I've never heard of that before. Is it really that good?"
"Of course..."
“Speaking of which, Miss Fu, the color on your lips seems to be that lip rouge, doesn’t it?” A sharp-eyed young lady asked, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Fu.
Fu Meier smiled and said, "Yes, I just heard that Meiren Pavilion has a new lip balm, so I tried it out. The effect is pretty good."
It wasn't just okay, it was excellent! Today, Fu Meier was still wearing her usual red dress, with a black embroidered sash inlaid with rubies tied around her waist. Three gold ribbons swayed around her head, the tassels at the ends hanging down to her cheeks, making her face appear delicate. She was naturally very beautiful, but her eyes changed slightly, and her red lips weren't particularly bright red, but they made her complexion look very smooth and fair, appearing very appropriate and natural. Even the vulgarity of Fu Meier's overall jeweled attire was somewhat reduced, which amazed everyone.
Lin Baiqian looked at Fu Meier and sneered: "Oh, Miss Fu has been staying at home lately, yet she still has the leisure to go to the Beauty Pavilion to buy rouge. I really admire her."
Fu Meier's smug expression instantly changed, and she glared angrily at Mu Baiqian. The ladies present couldn't help but cover their mouths with their handkerchiefs to suppress their laughter. They hadn't planned to say anything if Mu Baiqian hadn't brought it up. Before, Fu Meier had tried to advance in a fancy way, which attracted so many swarms of bees. Whether these people participated in the beauty pageant or not, most of them had watched the competition where fifty were narrowed down to ten. Many of them were worried that Fu Meier's appearance at the time was so terrible that they were afraid she would be disfigured. They remembered that scene very clearly.
These are all old news now. What they're talking about most privately is Princess Mingyue and Li Rushuang's visit to Fu Meier at the Fu residence. Although no one witnessed it firsthand, they heard that after Princess Mingyue and Li Rushuang left, Fu Meier angrily smashed everything in the hall, and had bruises on her forehead, as if she'd been hit. Considering the scene at the Empress Dowager's banquet before the beauty pageant, they couldn't help but think of the bet between Ouyang Yue and Fu Meier. Could it be that Princess Mingyue and Li Rushuang went to collect their bet? No matter how they looked at it, this was the most likely explanation. That meant Fu Meier really did follow through. The notoriously ugly young lady of the capital, kneeling and kowtowing, crying "I was wrong!"—what a disgrace! And Fu Meier still has the nerve to show her face today, dressed so ostentatiously, as if afraid people won't know how pathetic she was before. And she still has the nerve to be so smug? What kind of person is she!
Upon hearing this, Fu Meier's face immediately darkened, her eyes glaring at Lin Baiqian as if she wanted to devour her. The latter, however, remained unfazed, merely sneering at her. Hearing the whispers around her, Fu Meier clenched her fists in anger, her hatred still burning. She abruptly turned her head and saw Ouyang Yue talking to the Crown Princess, completely ignoring her. Fu Meier's hatred intensified. If it weren't for Ouyang Yue, would she be sitting here being mocked by these people? These daughters of officials were all self-important fools. Despite their lack of ability, they always looked down on others, never considering their own worth.
She would never let Ouyang Yue get away with insulting her like that, but she also knew that it was unlikely she could do anything to Ouyang Yue if she wanted to.
"Why isn't Miss Fu saying anything?" A young lady next to her covered her mouth with her hand, looking at Fu Meier with a smile, but there was a clear hint of mockery in her eyes.
Fu Meier pursed her lips tightly and smiled, "What are you talking about? I almost ruined my face during the beauty pageant, so naturally I need to dress up even more now. Besides, the rouge and face powder from Meiren Pavilion are really good. This lip rouge makes my lips feel smoother and has a lingering fragrance. Meiren Pavilion actually has thirty-six kinds of lip rouge, each of which can be mixed and matched to suit any skin tone. Ladies, you can go and choose one. I really like this lip rouge, and I happened to have it with me today. If you don't mind, you can try it."
The other ladies were slightly taken aback. They had arrived rather late when they received the news, so they hadn't gotten a turn. They were more curious than determined to buy anything. It would be a waste if they couldn't buy it. Every item in the Beauty Pavilion was expensive, and Fu Meier was being so generous. They were indeed tempted, but they said, "No, no, how could we accept this? This was something Miss Fu went through a lot of trouble to buy. How could we take what she likes?"
"That's right, that's right."
Fu Meier was still smiling: "What does it matter? Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone. Besides, it's only a little bit to make all the ladies happy, which is a blessing."
At that moment, one of the young ladies laughed and said, "Now that Miss Fu has said that, wouldn't it be too disrespectful of us not to accept? Okay, I'll go first." As she spoke, she eagerly picked up the lip rouge box, applied it to her lips, and then took out her small bronze mirror to look at herself. She exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, it feels really comfortable on my lips, and the color is really nice. It makes my face look very white. Miss Fu has excellent taste; this lip rouge is really good."
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
"Give it to me, I want to try it too."
"Hmm, smells nice, it even seems to have a fruity scent."
"Good, good, as expected of something from the Beauty Pavilion. I must buy one later."
Fu Meier's initially gentle smile subtly changed. She had only intended to use this lip rouge to ease the awkward situation; the young ladies here were generally unfamiliar with it and naturally somewhat jealous, likely ready to mock her. She couldn't bear to accept it, so she reluctantly gave it up to make them forget what had just happened. But these young ladies were utterly shameless and lacked any sense of propriety. That small half-box of lip rouge had cost her three hundred taels of silver, and these women were applying it all at once, one after another. In no time, half of the lip rouge was gone. Even she was extremely careful with it, afraid of wasting a drop, yet these women had used so much at once. Fu Meier's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, but then she thought, since she had already taken it out, a little longer wouldn't make a difference. Otherwise, taking it back now would only invite more ridicule.
When she finally got the lip balm back, Fu Meier couldn't hide her frustration any longer. She'd only used it for the first time that day, and there was only a small layer left! Three hundred taels of silver gone just like that! Three hundred taels wasn't much for her; she could easily afford it. But the Beauty Pavilion wasn't an ordinary place. No matter your status, you had to queue to buy it. They'd said the queue was already half a month long. When would she get another box? That was what really hurt her. Fu Meier gritted her teeth in anger. The other young ladies, however, seemed a little guilty when they brought it back. Everyone loves beauty, and when they got such a nice item, they didn't think much of it. They just wanted to try it out and make themselves look beautiful. Who knew there would be so little left after using it? They had nothing to say.
Fu Meier forced a smile, but in the end, she withdrew her lipstick with a dark expression, her heart filled with resentment. Lately, she felt that everything was going wrong, and nothing ever went her way. Humph, but once her father's plan succeeded, she wouldn't need to bother with such a trivial matter anymore.
Fu Lin had previously told her that, based on customer traffic and pricing, the Beauty Pavilion's annual profit should be at least 20% of the Fu family's total profits—not just two shops, but 20% of the Fu family's assets. Those unaware of this might not understand, but the Fu family knew what 20% meant. And the Beauty Pavilion had only been open for a short time, yet it already generated such profits. If it continued to operate and its reputation grew, it would eventually surpass the Fu family's, something the Fu family could not accept. The Fu family had considered stealing the techniques before, but their agents were quickly discovered, and each one caught was sent directly to the authorities. Even their innermost agents couldn't get in. They even managed to obtain various rouges and face powders from the Beauty Pavilion and have masters smell, taste, and try them out. Either they couldn't identify two things in the rouge, or the proportions and mixing steps were wrong; the finished products couldn't compare to the Beauty Pavilion's. Stealing the techniques was probably impossible; there was only one other way.
Fu Meier clenched her fist. She could already imagine how these self-important young ladies would fawn over her.
Moreover… Fu Meier squinted at Ouyang Yue. Back when she was at Meiyi Pavilion, she clearly saw Ouyang Yue enter the interior, but she couldn’t find her later. Instead, she was extorted for more than 100,000 taels of silver by that masked man. Meiyi Pavilion and Meiren Pavilion are only one character different. Could the two places be related?
Fu Meier sneered. If there really was a connection, that would be a good thing. She wanted to see Ouyang Yue's miserable and painful state.
In the main seat of the pavilion, Crown Princess Xuan Yue and Ouyang Yue sat together. Xuan Yue watched the young ladies vying to try out the lipsticks, and simply smiled before turning her head to ask, "Ming Yue, how have you been settling in lately?" The Crown Princess's voice was very gentle. Compared to the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, who mainly taught martial arts, the Crown Prince's Grand Preceptor primarily taught how the Crown Prince should become the ruler of a country. This was arguably even more important. The Crown Prince's Grand Preceptor, Xuan Bin, was of commoner origin, but he was incredibly learned. He had caused quite a stir when he became the top scholar in the Great Zhou Dynasty. He then served in the court for ten years, becoming a veteran of two dynasties. Coincidentally, when the Crown Prince was chosen, Xuan Bin became the Crown Prince's tutor. Although Xuan Bin's background was not high, he was very prestigious in the court and was known for his integrity and incorruptibility. There were rarely any rumors that could be detrimental to him.
Xuan Yue, as Xuan Bin's daughter, seemed to have inherited his personality, but she was even more likable than Xuan Bin. Xuan Yue had an extraordinary temperament, gentle and elegant, and very dignified. Her soft and gentle tone made people like her. However, Xuan Yue was, after all, the Crown Princess, and she did not want to get involved in the princes' struggles, so she did not want to get close to her. But it is undeniable that if this relationship were set aside, if Xuan Yue was willing, she would think it would be good to get close to her. First impressions are very important. Some people become lifelong friends or lifelong enemies at first sight. That's just how people are.
"I'm sorry to have troubled the Crown Princess. My grandmother and brother are doing very well for me. I'm doing well."
Xuan Yue smiled, glanced up at the chattering young ladies from various families below, and said meaningfully, "Yes, you're not yet married, so you should be at the most carefree age. And you have such loving family; you should cherish it." As she finished speaking, she felt Ouyang Yue staring directly at her, and she couldn't help but smile awkwardly, "Princess Mingyue, please forgive my rudeness. What I meant was that after marriage, it's inconvenient to even visit your parents' home. You all are actually doing much better now; it's enviable."
Ouyang Yue paused for a moment. She had clearly seen a hint of sadness in Xuan Yue's eyes just now. Although Xuan Yue quickly concealed it, she trusted her eyes and was certain she hadn't misread it. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The higher one sits, the farther one stands; but the higher one climbs, the colder it gets. People love competition, they all want to be superior, but only those in that position know that it's probably not a happy place.
"Your Highness is overthinking it. Because of his position as the Crown Prince's tutor, Grand Tutor Xuan frequently visits the Crown Prince's residence, so you can still see him," Ouyang Yue said softly.
Xuan Yue smiled, gently took Ouyang Yue's hand, and a hint of gratitude flashed in her eyes: "You're right, but sometimes I can't help feeling lonely. I don't have anyone to talk to. If there's a chance, Mingyue, I hope you can come and keep me company often in the future."
Ouyang Yue smiled and simply said, "If I have the opportunity, I will."
Xuan Yue's eyes curved into a smile, and she said happily, "Oh, what are you and Princess Mingyue talking about so happily? Tell me too." At this moment, Mu Cuihuan chimed in with a smile, her phoenix eyes sparkling with an unknown light.
Xuan Yue smiled somewhat coldly and said, "It's nothing, we were just talking about Mingyue's recent life."
Mu Cuihuan smiled: "Yes, Princess Mingyue has just received the title of princess, and she probably needs some time to adapt. After all, a princess is one of the role models of a country, and her words and deeds are very important. Has Princess Mingyue been learning these things lately?"
Ouyang Yue looked at Mu Cuihuan indifferently and said, "No, that's not true. My grandmother dotes on me, so I haven't learned much yet. But being by my grandmother's side means I can learn a lot. If I can learn 80% of what my grandmother has to offer, then those etiquette skills will be no challenge for me at all. What do you say, Crown Prince's Consort?"
Mu Cuihuan nodded and said, "Princess Mingyue is right. Princess Shuangxia is the first princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Her speech and behavior are naturally the best among the princesses. No one can compare to her."
Ouyang Yue nodded: "But with one more person, there is one more force. Consort Mu's etiquette is quite remarkable. I just don't know who she learned it from. I would like to ask her teacher about etiquette when I have time."
Mu Cuihuan's ever-present gentle smile vanished as she looked at Ouyang Yue, who was calmly observing her. Her heart skipped a beat. Although she was the Crown Prince's concubine, she wasn't the primary wife. Ouyang Yue and the Crown Princess were technically sisters-in-law, though cousins, and both held higher social status. While it was clear the Crown Prince doted on Mu Cuihuan, her sudden interruption during their conversation was highly rude. Moreover, this wasn't the first time. Whenever Mu Cuihuan saw Ouyang Yue, she would intentionally or unintentionally try to embarrass her by provoking her. Although Ouyang Yue had always managed to evade her, Mu Cuihuan's behavior was still impolite. Of course, they both knew that Mu Cuiwei, with her crippled leg and ear, was a sworn enemy of Ouyang Yue. Mu Cuihuan's hostility was understandable, but if she caused the Crown Prince's family to lose face, the relationship would no longer be merely one of Mu Cuiwei and Ouyang Yue being enemies.
Everyone in the Crown Prince's residence probably knew how much he wanted to win over Ouyang Yue and Xuanyuan Chaohua. If Mu Cuihuan offended Ouyang Yue like this, she wouldn't fare well either. That's why she hadn't dared to be too aggressive in provoking Ouyang Yue at first. She was just angry, and since Ouyang Yue hadn't spoken before, Mu Cuihuan thought she must be feeling guilty. Who knew that Ouyang Yue would suddenly say something like that, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Crown Princess Xuan Yue smiled and said, "Ming Yue, don't say such things. You can ask the tutor anytime. The banquet will be held soon, let's go inside." Mu Cuihuan visibly breathed a sigh of relief, but Xuan Yue just looked at Mu Cuihuan coldly. If she didn't want to embarrass the Crown Prince's residence, why would Xuan Yue have tried to ease the awkwardness? Mu Cuihuan lowered her head and remained silent, her face pale.
Ouyang Yue glanced at them coldly, smiled and nodded. Although they were in the back garden, the back garden was quite large. The people chatting should be in the front garden, while the real place for the banquet was in the back garden.
As the hostess, Xuan Yue's suggestion was immediately followed by the young ladies. When they arrived at the back garden, they saw that many people were already seated. Most of the male guests who had come to the Crown Prince's residence sat here. Ouyang Yue glanced around and saw that Xuan Yuan Chaohua, Leng Caiwen, and Dai Yu were all there, sitting at one table. Almost all of the princes, including Baili Chen, were also present. The young ladies walked over and their eyes lit up. What a feast for the eyes! There were all kinds of men in this courtyard: the resolute, the dashing, the refined, the cute, and the noble. There was something for everyone. It was not easy to see so many handsome and noble princes and young masters all at once. Today, the Crown Prince was hosting a banquet, and these people had to give face and attend. Many of the young ladies covered their faces and looked over shyly.
The back garden was very large, with nearly a hundred tables set up. In the middle, there was a screen with an exquisite landscape painting. The left side was for men and women, and the right side was for women. The first table on the women's side was naturally for Princess Shuangxia, Ouyang Yue, the Crown Princess, and Consort Mu Cuiwai, as well as several officials of the first rank. After that, people sat according to their relationship with the Crown Prince or their rank. As soon as they sat down, the Crown Prince smiled and said loudly, "Thank you all for attending the banquet I am hosting. Please make yourselves at home."
Immediately, there were responses from below. As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, twenty or thirty beautiful maids brought out dishes on trays. These servants were very well-trained, and the dishes were placed on the table without making a sound, which made everyone present hold their breath. This was the Crown Prince's residence, and the rules were very strict, which made everyone a little nervous.
Ouyang Yue, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly raised her head. A maid was serving dishes in front of them. The maid had a pretty face and looked down respectfully, but Ouyang Yue couldn't help but frown when she looked at her. She sniffed slightly and a look of doubt flashed across her face.
Princess Shuangxia paid close attention to Ouyang Yue, and upon seeing this, she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Yue'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Ouyang Yue shook her head, feeling inexplicably agitated. "Grandmother is fine." Besides, it was just a feeling, and she couldn't explain it clearly. How could she tell Princess Shuangxia about it? If she did, it would only make Princess Shuangxia worry.
As the dishes were being served, Ouyang Yue carefully observed each servant, but she didn't sense anything amiss. The servants of the Crown Prince's residence were indeed very efficient. Before long, each table was filled with dishes, and the aroma that wafted out as soon as the lids were lifted was immediately noticeable. Then, each table had a person who tasted the food for poison. After everyone was satisfied, they left one after another. Ouyang Yue concealed the wrinkles on her brow.
"Grandmother, Mingyue, please try this Hundred Flower Soup. It's my favorite dish. It's smooth and delicate, leaving a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth," Crown Princess Xuanyue introduced with a smile. Immediately, servants served Princess Shuangxia and Ouyang Yue a small bowl. Princess Shuangxia paused for a moment, and Granny Shan immediately took it and placed some in another small bowl to taste herself first. Originally, since someone had already tested it for poison, there was no need for this, but Princess Shuangxia knew that Ouyang Yue's mood had been a bit off earlier, so she couldn't help but be more careful. After Granny Shan tasted it and found nothing wrong, she tested Ouyang Yue's as well. Only after waiting a while and finding nothing amiss did Princess Shuangxia and Ouyang Yue feel at ease to use it.
The people at the table didn't complain. Princess Shuangxia had lived in the palace since childhood. Compared to those of noble birth, she was subject to more rules and regulations and lived a more cautious life. They would consider it normal for her to test poisons five or ten times, let alone two.
Xuan Yue immediately called to the others, and each of them was given a bowl of Hundred Flower Soup. It must be said that the taste was really delicious. Even those First-Rank Officials who were usually reserved couldn't help but eat more. Although the chefs in the Crown Prince's Mansion could not compare to those in the Imperial Palace, their skills were far beyond those of ordinary people. Didn't they all have a signature dish?
Xuan Yue smiled faintly: "This Hundred Flower Soup is made from a secret blend of over a hundred kinds of precious flowers. Long-term consumption can also have beauty and skin-nourishing effects. If you all like it, I will have my servants send you a copy at the banquet."
The first-rank noblewomen immediately thanked them with smiles, but at this moment Ouyang Yue's eyes suddenly narrowed. Xuan Yue's originally smiling face suddenly changed. First, her brows furrowed, and then her face couldn't help but twist. She put her hand on her stomach and her expression changed drastically. The first to notice that something was wrong was the table. One of the noblewomen suddenly exclaimed, "Your Highness... Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? You look terrible."
Not just ugly, she was deathly pale. Just moments ago her face was rosy, but in an instant it changed drastically. Xuan Yue opened her mouth as if to say something, but before she could utter a word, she spat out something with a "poof," and a streak of crimson blood flew into the air, splashing everywhere. The noblewoman sitting opposite Xuan Yue was sprayed all over, and the young lady behind the table, turning her head in surprise, was also sprayed in the face. The young lady reached out and touched her face in a daze, finding her hand covered in blood. She screamed in shock, rolled her eyes, and fainted.
An eerie silence fell, followed by a deafening scream: "Ah! The Crown Princess is vomiting blood!"
At that moment, a palace maid beside the Crown Princess stepped forward, her hand trembling as she checked her nose. Then, she was so frightened that she fell to the ground with a thud, stammering, "The...Crown...Princess has...dead..."
"Ah, the Crown Princess is dead!" The entire back garden erupted in chaos. Ouyang Yue was shocked to see Xuan Yue's gruesome death. At that moment, the male guests, hearing the commotion, rushed over. The Crown Prince, dressed in noble attire, walked over and asked with a grim expression, "What happened!"
"The Crown Princess is dead!" someone shouted. The Crown Prince's face immediately changed, and he roared, "The Crown Princess is dead? What happened? Who did this?!"
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A hush fell over the garden, especially among the female guests, who were filled with fear and dread. They had no idea what had just happened; they only knew that the Crown Princess had suddenly coughed up blood, her face contorted in pain, and collapsed to the ground. It seemed like only a few breaths had passed, and when they looked at her again, she was already dead. The time had been far too short for them to figure out what had happened, so they could only stand there, pale-faced.