Chapter 16

All around was silent.

“Heh…”

A cold laugh came from the high seat.

“The Princess’s residence already has its principal consort. I have no intention of taking concubines.”

Li Qianqian abruptly sucked in a breath, and her expression instantly turned ugly.

Since childhood, she had lived in wealth and honor. The Minister’s residence had also devoted itself to cultivating her. She was skilled in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In the capital, who did not praise her as a woman with both talent and beauty?

A concubine…

No one had ever humiliated her like this before.

She clenched her palm, and her voice suddenly rose. “Enough, Rong Yang! What exactly do you want?”

Seeing her suddenly indignant and grief-stricken appearance, Rong Yang only felt delighted inside. She narrowed her eyes dangerously. Her tone was neither heavy nor light, yet each word struck Li Qianqian’s heart.

“You are being impudent, Li Qianqian.”

“First, you entered without bowing. ​stolen content​Second, you directly called me by name. Such great disrespect.”

“Considering our past relationship, I will not pursue it this time. But there will be no next time.”

“Since you intend to no longer have anything to do with me, then I also intend to cut ties with you completely.”

It was best to clean up all these women as early as possible. She had come here only for Su Yao. Besides, after Li Qianqian had ignored the original owner for two years, logically, heartbreak and a clean break should fit the persona, right?

“You… are you truly this heartless?” Li Qianqian knew she was in the wrong, so her words clearly lacked confidence.

Rong Yang looked at her expressionlessly.

Li Qianqian was full of unwillingness. “You were never like this before…”

Rong Yang was too lazy to watch her perform any longer. Just as she was about to tell her to leave, she heard—

“Greetings, Princess Consort.”

The voices of the maids outside bowing and offering greetings clearly fell into the ears of those inside the hall.

Su Yao stepped into the hall with lowered eyes, allowing Li Qianqian’s examining gaze to rest on her.

Rong Yang furrowed her brows slightly. Why had she come?

Su Yao walked step by step before her, passing Li Qianqian, whose eyes were red.

Rong Yang subconsciously stood and took two steps forward.

Su Yao stood in front of her. Her expression was calm in an unreadable way, her gaze resting on the sachet hanging from Rong Yang’s belt.

Only after seeing that Rong Yang really was wearing it did she feel reassured.

“Rong Yang, is it because of her that you want to sever so many years of affection between us?” Li Qianqian’s resentful voice came from below.

Rong Yang’s back stiffened.

What kind of strange thing was that to say!

Was this woman doing it on purpose?

Su Yao’s gaze turned cold, and she turned to leave.

Only then did Li Qianqian properly look at the woman walking toward her. Although she had seen many elegant, noble, naturally beautiful faces in the capital, the moment she saw Su Yao, she still felt surprised.

This was the first time she had seen the woman Rong Yang married.

That face was truly stunning…

Could Rong Yang have taken a liking to this face?

“Since that is the case, I will leave. Rong Yang, don’t regret this!”

Furious and humiliated, Li Qianqian took Qingluo with her and stepped out of Jinxiu Hall before Su Yao.

Rong Yang was left breaking into a cold sweat from those few sentences. How could she still care about Li Qianqian’s provoking words? She instinctively chased after Su Yao and stopped her.

She wanted to explain, only to realize that she could not speak again!

Her lips, unable to open, pressed down all the words Rong Yang wanted to say into her heart.

Explaining did not fit the persona. But if she did not explain, Su Yao would definitely misunderstand.

She could only speak harshly.

“Who are you showing that face to?”

Su Yao’s whole body radiated cold disgust. Her dark eyes looked at the woman before her, who had become angry for some unknown reason.

“Does the princess wish for me to happily watch you flirt with another woman?”

Rong Yang was so shocked she could not speak.

How was that flirting?

She had merely cut ties with that woman. The other party had simply used a scheme to sow discord. How much did Su Yao even know? Yet she actually thought of her as so lowly!

She grabbed Su Yao, who was about to leave, her eyes turning cold.

“What flirting? I didn’t even know she would come!”

A faint trace of mockery appeared on Su Yao’s face.

“There is no need to explain. Your affairs have nothing to do with me.”

“Have I given you too many good looks recently, making you dare speak to me like this?” Rong Yang’s tone was chilling.

Su Yao shook off her hand, her gaze cold and indifferent.

“Am I wrong? Wasn’t that woman here for you? Don’t the two of you have so many years of affection between you? And now you still want to act innocent in front of me?”

Rong Yang was rendered speechless. Asking herself honestly, what Su Yao said was not wrong…

The distance between them was very close, close enough that Rong Yang once again smelled that faint, sweet jasmine fragrance.

Her scent…

Because of the influence of the scent, Rong Yang’s heartbeat inexplicably quickened.

No. She could not provoke Su Yao any further.

“Su Yao, you seem to have forgotten your identity. Mother Empress’s birthday banquet is approaching, and I do not want any mistakes. During this period, you had better be obedient.”

After saying this in a low voice, she deliberately flung her sleeve and left.

Halfway through, she glanced back at Su Yao, who was walking in the direction of Fanghua Hall, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Qianqian had not expected that after waiting in the Princess’s residence for half a day, she would ultimately leave resentfully. At this moment, she sat in the carriage with her brows tightly furrowed. What should she do about her younger brother’s matter? In a place like the imperial prison, each extra day he stayed meant another day of suffering. And her father could not directly come forward…

Before leaving the residence, she had promised her father that she would think of a way to resolve it. Now she was returning without success. Her father would surely be deeply disappointed in her.

But in that situation just now, she absolutely could not bring herself to lower her head and beg Rong Yang…

I don’t believe that after pestering me for so many years, you, Rong Yang, can let go in the blink of an eye.

She would think of a way regarding this matter later. For now…

Distraught, she instructed Qingluo, “Change course to General Lin’s residence.”

Qingluo understood.

The stars shone brightly, and the evening breeze blew gently.

The large red lanterns hanging beneath the palace eaves swayed lightly with the wind.

Rong Yang stared blankly at the inkstone placed on the table. The candlelight in the room flickered slightly. Her long lashes trembled faintly, and she sighed.

“Chunxi.”

Chunxi came in response and said respectfully, “Princess.”

“Send this inkstone over to her.” Rong Yang pointed at the inkstone on the table.

Chunxi stepped forward, put the inkstone away inside a brocade box, and sighed. “Princess, are you really not going to deliver it yourself?”

“Why would I personally deliver it?” Rong Yang asked in return.

Chunxi fell silent. She turned around and discreetly looked at the brocade box in her hands. Clearly, the princess wanted to deliver it herself.

Inside Fanghua Hall.

Su Yao sat upright by the window, lowering her eyes as she read.

“Greetings, Princess Consort.”

Su Yao lifted her eyes and glanced at her, then continued reading.

“Princess Consort, this is something the princess won at auction for you today at Mingxuan Pavilion.” Chunxi placed the brocade box on the table in front of her.

“Although the princess’s attitude is cold and arrogant, she actually still keeps the princess consort in mind…”

“You don’t need to tell me these things.”

Before Chunxi could finish speaking, Su Yao coldly interrupted her.

“Yes. This servant will withdraw.”

No one knew how much time passed.

Su Yao opened the brocade box and froze for several seconds.

It was a fine Duan inkstone.

Her fingertips brushed over the surface of the inkstone. It felt slightly cool, smooth, and warm to the touch.