Ye Ziyu chuckled, and Ye Zirong also smiled faintly. Before leaving, Ye Xiaowei instructed her maids.
"Go and change Young Master Li's clothes!"
The palace maid obeyed, and Ye Xiaowei smiled as she walked out of the room with the other two.
Ye Xiaowei led the two to a side hall. Knowing the eldest princess Ye Ziyu's hobbies, she tactfully offered to let her watch handsome men dance as soon as they arrived.
Sure enough, when those scantily clad, gracefully dressed handsome men walked over, Ye Ziyu's eyes widened, his face flushed, and he immediately appeared to be in heat.
Her eyes were sparkling with pink starlight, and her mouth was wide open, almost drooling.
Ye Ziyu was so eager to pounce on the handsome men in the room who were showing off their dance moves, swaying their slender waists, and constantly flirting with her that she almost wanted to push them down on the spot.
☆、037 Male Beauty
Ye Ziyu was so captivated by the group of handsome men that she was completely disoriented and forgot all about herself, including her parents. Naturally, she also forgot about the important matter of the day.
Ye Zirong, standing to the side, remained expressionless, showing no other particular emotion.
However, it's understandable. This child is only twelve years old this year. She's practically grown up, so how could she have any other thoughts? I'm afraid that even if she wanted to do something, she wouldn't be able to.
Ye Xiaowei picked up her teacup, took a sip, and casually said, "Third Princess, you look so bored. Do you not like the dancers I arranged?"
Ye Zirong raised her eyes: "Your Highness is overthinking it. It's just that I'm still young and naturally have no interest in these handsome men. It's not that I don't like them!"
Not interested? You really aren't interested in these dancers, because right now, the person you're thinking about is none other than her future husband, Li Muyan.
You adulterous couple, you two are really good at acting. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that you, who usually act more virtuous than saints, would actually have an affair and do such a despicable thing.
Ye Xiaowei feigned sudden realization and then said no more. At this moment, the eldest princess was already completely captivated by the dancers in the room and no longer cared about Ye Xiaowei and the other girl.
A moment later, Qiu Mei led a group of palace maids up and served them tea and pastries. Princess Ye Ziyu also ordered a bottle of wine, saying that drinking fine wine and watching beautiful women dance was truly a great pleasure in the world.
Ye Xiaowei then asked Qiu Mei to bring her a pot of her collection of fine wines. Ye Ziyu didn't stand on ceremony and immediately drank several cups, praising it as truly excellent wine.
After several rounds of drinks, Ye Ziyu, emboldened by the alcohol, became increasingly excited, his cheeks flushed. When the mood struck him, he went down to dance with a group of dancers, naturally taking advantage of the situation by groping them, laughing uncontrollably and completely disregarding his image.
Ye Zirong remained completely oblivious to the world around her, sitting quietly. Occasionally, she would sip some hot tea or exchange a few words with Ye Xiaowei, but most of the time, she kept her mouth shut and stared at the dancers with a remarkably calm demeanor.
Ye Zirong appeared too calm, almost excessively so.
What puzzled Ye Xiaowei even more was that these two people had come all this way, could it really be just to chat with her, strengthen their bond, and watch the handsome man dance?
If that's the case, they could do so in their own palaces. Although they couldn't get married before the age of sixteen and couldn't marry a legitimate husband, they could still keep servants or male lovers in their own palaces.
As far as she knew, the eldest princess's family kept quite a few of them. At home, she could completely let loose, flirting and playing with those handsome men, and even doing some exercises that were good for her body and mind.
As for the third brother, he clearly had no interest in these things and seemed to have really taken a liking to Li Muyan, only being devoted to him.
What's even stranger is that neither the third brother's nor the eldest brother's personal maids have been around along the way, which is really strange.
The dancers in the arena used every trick in the book, twisting their bodies like boneless snakes, flaunting their allure.
Beneath that thin layer of white gauze, the red pockets were faintly visible, sparking endless fantasies and causing nosebleeds to flow uncontrollably.
Moreover, these dancers were not only beautiful with delicate features and fair, smooth skin like top-quality jade, but their figures were also exceptional. Indeed, the dancers in the Crown Princess's palace were no ordinary girls; they were truly top-class.
Ye Ziyu couldn't help but drool, his blood rushing to his head! Judging from his posture, he was really on the verge of losing control and needed to relieve some physiological needs.
Ye Zirong finally couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up.
"Eldest sister, you caught a cold a few days ago and you're not fully recovered yet. Don't forget the imperial physician's instructions, and remember not to get carried away!"
Ye Ziyu, who had been smiling broadly with stars in his eyes, had no choice but to lower his head and return to his seat after hearing Ye Zirong's seemingly indifferent yet intimidating words.
His face was long and his displeasure was plain to see; he pursed his lips.
"Thank you for your concern, Third Princess, for reminding me. Otherwise, I would have been reprimanded by Father and would not have known to repent!"
Ye Xiaowei smiled and said, half seriously and half jokingly:
"My eldest sister and my third sister are truly devoted to each other. My eldest sister is especially protective of my third sister and seems to listen to her in everything. I am so envious of the affection my eldest sister has for my third sister!"
Ye Ziyu opened her mouth as if to say something, but the third brother spoke first.
"If Your Highness the Crown Princess is willing, you can naturally do the same as my younger sister and eldest sister." After saying that, she deliberately sighed.
"However, Your Highness is the Crown Princess and the heir apparent, so your status is naturally not comparable to ours. Your Highness will inherit the throne in the future, while my younger sister and elder sister are at most princes of fiefdoms. Naturally, we cannot compare with you, let alone dare to presume to be on your level."
Ye Ziyu's face once again showed a hint of disdain and displeasure, but Ye Xiaowei laughed:
"No matter how high your status is, I am no different from you now. We all came from the same womb, we are all of the same bloodline of the Empress, we are just sisters. Third sister, you are really thinking too much."
Ye Zirong smiled, but did not back down in the slightest. Her confrontational tone was evident in every word, yet outsiders still thought that she was merely being tactful, humble, and sensible.
"Even so, the status is what it is. If Your Highness were the same as my sister and others, then what would be the difference between a Crown Princess and a princess?" After saying that, she shook her head, her smile containing a hint of self-deprecation.
"Your Highness's hospitality is too kind, but I am truly unable to comply!"
Such a cautious and meticulous person, who speaks so succinctly, is only a twelve-year-old girl. One can only imagine what a formidable figure she will become when she grows up. It's fortunate that in her past life, she was completely manipulated by her and ultimately forced to jump off the attic, losing her life.
Ye Ziyu was called back by the third brother and sat down again, having long lost interest. Being able to look but not eat was truly torturous.
At this moment, Ye Ziyu seemed rather uninterested. She pouted, propped her hands on the table, and darted her eyes around. If she had known this would happen, she would have preferred to enjoy herself with the handsome men in her own courtyard, where no one would have bothered her and she could have done whatever she wanted.
Suddenly, her eyes darted around mischievously, and an idea came to her. She smiled slyly and immediately perked up.
"Oh! I've heard that Her Highness's two attendants are both outstanding individuals, not only handsome but also proficient in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. One of them plays the zither exceptionally well, and the other dances wonderfully. If Your Highness is so kind as to invite them to come out and perform, so that we may broaden our horizons?"
☆、038 Sorcery
Ye Zirong was now filled with rage, wishing she could just kill the good-for-nothing in front of her. He really knew how to rub salt in the wound. How dare he have designs on the Crown Princess's man? He was asking for trouble.
Even if you have ideas, you should deal with Ye Xiaowei first before dividing them up. What an idiot! You can't even hide what you're thinking. And to make matters worse, you actually said it in front of so many people!
Ye Ziyu is really dreaming! She even dares to make a move on her man. She's really courting death!
Just as Ye Xiaowei was about to speak, she suddenly heard a commotion outside and frowned. Dongxue immediately understood and quickly walked to the door, shouting loudly outside:
"Who's making such a racket here? What kind of behavior is this? Don't you want to die?!"
It seems the real show is finally about to begin. After so much buildup and enough time for them to prepare, she wanted to see what kind of tricks the eldest and third brothers could pull off.
As soon as Dongxue finished speaking, she opened the door, and the eldest princess Ye Ziyu's attendant maid rushed in, looking flustered. The third prince immediately scolded her:
"Meilan, what kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disorderly? Don't you know this is the Eastern Palace? How many heads do you have to chop off?"
After Meilan rushed in, she knelt down on the floor with a thud, bowing her head low.
"This servant deserves to die! This servant was worried about the safety of the Imperial Noble Consort, so I was anxious and acted rashly. I hope Your Highness can forgive this servant's recklessness!"
Ye Ziyu, who had been feeling unwell and depressed because he couldn't touch or have any of those handsome men, suddenly stood up.
"What happened to my father?"
Mei Lan's face was full of sorrow, and she looked distressed, as if the one who was in trouble was not the Imperial Nobleman Jun Cangyuan, but rather her own biological parents.
Her hesitant expression only fueled Ye Ziyu's already fiery temper, making him even more anxious.
Ye Xiaowei coldly watched the master and servant, remaining silent, but the third brother couldn't help but speak up.
"Stop stammering! Just say what you have to say!"
Mei Lan prostrated herself on the ground: "The Imperial Noble Consort has been unwell lately, and her condition has suddenly worsened recently. She has been delirious and unconscious. The imperial physicians examined her but couldn't find anything wrong, only saying it was an acute illness. They prescribed some medicine for her, but her condition hasn't improved. Just now, Eunuch Hai from Yu Ning Palace came and told me to inform the mistress. I was so worried just now that I lost my composure..."
Ye Ziyu immediately tried to run out: "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and go to Yu Ning Palace to see my father!"
"My lord! Wait a moment, there's something I'm not sure if I should say..."
Ye Ziyu frowned and shouted angrily, "You blind fool, is this the time for you to keep me in suspense? Speak your mind!"
Ye Zirong frowned. How could the eldest princess of a country speak so tactlessly, especially in front of the crown princess and so many servants?
Ye Ziyu's roar startled Mei Lan, who fell to the ground again, trembling uncontrollably.
“This servant deserves to die… This servant heard from the nanny of Yu Ning Palace that perhaps it is due to witchcraft. The Imperial Noble Consort has been bewitched, which is why she suddenly fell so ill. Otherwise, the imperial physicians would not be unable to find the cause of her illness and would be helpless.”
"Witchcraft?" Ye Ziyu frowned, but his eyes turned to Ye Xiaowei sitting to the side.
He continued, "How could that be? Back in the late emperor's time, the palace had explicitly forbidden these crooked practices. The Empress Dowager even issued an imperial edict prohibiting these things from entering the palace and causing chaos!"
"But if that's not the case, then what about the Imperial Noble Consort's illness? Your Majesty, these words aren't entirely unfounded. Some things are better believed than not. If someone really wants to frame the Imperial Noble Consort, it's not impossible for them to have done all this..."
Ye Ziyu's eyes darted between Ye Zirong and Ye Xiaowei, feigning confusion.
"If that's the case, then who is secretly framing my father?"
Mei Lan lowered her eyes and remained silent, while Ye Zirong snorted coldly:
"Absurd! The late Emperor and the Empress Dowager have repeatedly forbidden the practice of witchcraft in the inner palace. Since it is already forbidden, who would dare to knowingly violate this law at the risk of being beheaded? Besides, what is this person's reason and purpose?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Ziyu lowered his head, looking deep in thought, while Ye Zirong calmly looked at Ye Xiaowei.
"Your Highness, do you agree with what I said?"
These two are indeed the type who never come to the temple without a reason; their arrival is always bound to cause trouble. They had already made all sorts of preparations, so Ye Xiaowei was completely prepared for what was to come.
Ye Zirong asked so many "whys" and threw the questions at her, seemingly out of respect and to ask for her opinion, but in reality, she was just trying to drag her into the trap that the two of them thought they had dug.
Since the two of them went to such lengths to dig a pit for her to fall into, it would seem a bit unfair not to cooperate with them.
Ye Xiaowei nodded: "What Third Princess said makes perfect sense. Even the most daring person wouldn't dare to openly disregard the orders of the late Emperor and the Empress..."
"That's not necessarily true. Some people can appear gentle and kind with a smile on their face, but who knows if they are malicious and ruthless inside? They might say one thing in front of others and another behind their backs. Those who seem gentle can be the most ruthless when they want to harm others!"
Ye Xiaowei smiled and said, "Hearing what you say, does it mean that you already have someone in mind?"
Just as Ye Ziyu was about to speak, his gaze suddenly met Ye Zirong's sharp and cold eyes, and the words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.
She could only open her mouth, then lowered her head resentfully: "I don't know!"
Do you really not know? If it weren't for the third brother's glare just now, the eldest brother, who is simple-minded and quick-tongued, would have almost blurted it out.