Wei Mengying carefully led the way, finally bringing the two princesses to the back hall - although Queen Dowager of Mount Heng did not personally come out to greet them, she also stood up when the princesses entered.

  Under the gaze of everyone, Princess Changxing didn't particularly target Song Yiliao. After yielding to the Empress Dowager and taking her seat, she represented the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and others in expressing their blessings to the Empress Dowager of Hengshan, and then individually paid respects to the higher-ranking ladies present.

  Her words and deeds are elegant and refined, friendly yet dignified, a true imperial princess.

  Yushan Princess, who gave most of the speaking opportunities to her elder sister, was basically smiling sweetly all the time, but occasionally spoke up at just the right moment, hitting the nail on the head.

  It's clear that no matter how much the royal family spoils their daughter, they still taught her what she needed to know.

  Song Yi Xiao let out a silent sigh of relief as she watched the scene unfold. Since these two princesses still wanted to save face, there must be some trick up their sleeves, and there was still a glimmer of hope.

  "If the two nobles don't mind, I have prepared some light wine in the main hall." Wei Mengying glanced at the time and saw that the princess had also finished her summons, so she suggested, "Why not move to a more private setting for a chat?"

  Changxing and Yushan readily agreed.

  "The princess asked me to tell you." Wei Mengying supported the queen, and together with everyone else, they escorted the two princesses to the main hall. Cui Chen squeezed through the crowd to remind Song Yixiao, "Don't forget what the princess just reminded you!"

  Song Yi smiled wryly and said in a low voice, "Third Master is a good person. Over the years, I've troubled him to speak for me many times, always making him worry, which isn't good."

  She thought and thought, and Wei Mengying let her lead the princess to a quiet place, which should be to teach Lu Guanlun a lesson - Lu Guanlun has always been helpful but not helpful to his relatives. Seeing the princess bullying people with her power, he will definitely not ignore it. If they are in a bustling place, and see the third son of the Wang family and the Princess Changxing facing each other, even if there is no one around who can mediate, the servants will quickly go to report the news.

  But in a secluded place, with no one to advise or stop them, the two of them would really have to bear a grudge against each other!

  This Empress originally designed Song Yiliao to help Lu Guanlun ascend to the throne, but as a result, she was ruined by her own grandson... It's imaginable how the Empress felt at that time!

  Song Yixiao admitted that this move was quite beautiful, but because the target was Lu Guanlun, she was very unwilling - repaying kindness with enmity wasn't something everyone could do.

  Helpless but clever, she heard her words and just smiled: "The slave will pass this on to the princess."

  She paused and advised in a subtle tone, "Miss, allow me to say something that may be overstepping: Miss already has an engagement, it can be said that this life's wealth, nobility, and joy are within reach! I hope Miss will be cautious in her actions, and not let outsiders ruin her lifelong happiness!"

  Song Yi smiled and bit her lip without saying a word, following the crowd into the main hall.

  According to their status, the two princesses naturally had to be let go first.

  But Princess Changxing said, "This palace and the imperial sister are both juniors, how can we surpass the edicts of the virtuous and respected elders? Besides, today is a birthday banquet, in this palace's opinion, it's better to arrange seats according to age."

  The empress, with a tacit understanding, led the way in praising the princess's "modesty and filial piety", then smoothly arranged for the two princesses to sit together with Lu Ke'er and others, saying "you sisters are of similar age, it's only right that you get along well" - of course, not forgetting to have Song Yixiao sit below the princess, convenient for the princess to give orders.

  The inside story of this arrangement is that many people in the guest house have already figured it out.

  But they didn't have much of a relationship with Song Yixiao either, and it was impossible for them to offend the princess for her sake. They just sighed inwardly and shifted their attention back to the banquet.

  "Isn't Elder Sister Yuan coming today?" In a place relatively far from Changxing and Yushan, the two princesses, several girls who had met Song Yixiao a few times before whispered to each other, "Look at how Princess Changxing is looking at Miss Song, her expression isn't very good. If Elder Sister Yuan were here, perhaps she could mediate. But now Miss Song can only go up herself, and it's unknown whether she'll be able to handle it."

  "You're really foolish, Song sister just received the imperial edict of marriage, today's birthday banquet, even if the princess didn't attend, there would still be many hidden dangers! " The companion shook his head and said, "The Marquis of Boling is not a fool, how could he let Yuan sister come to be her shield?"

  It's said that on the Empress Dowager's birthday, the absence of her nephew and niece is very inauspicious.

  But Yuan Xuepei being carried back to the capital had already spread throughout the court, he sent someone to say that his old wounds were not healed and new illnesses were added, even his sister was exhausted from serving him and fell ill, fearing that she would pass on her illness to the empress, so it's better to send gifts but not attend in person——neither the royal family nor outsiders could say anything about it.

  Some people used to believe that the Yuan siblings were indeed not in good health recently, but now seeing the Changxing Princess's attitude towards Song Yiliao, not many people believed it: most likely, Yuan Xuepei heard from somewhere that the princess was coming today and deliberately made an excuse to prevent her sister from coming, so as not to be dragged down.

  In the midst of the sound of silk and bamboo, although the crowd was drinking and chatting merrily, they all seemed somewhat distracted: they were all waiting for Princess Changxing to make her move, eager to see the commotion.

  It wasn't long before they had to wait, after a few dishes, the song and dance had only changed three rounds, when Princess Changxing's palace maid was changing cups for the princess, she "accidentally" poured half a plate of sauce on Song Yixiao's shoulder.

  "How careless can you be?" Princess Changxing scolded lightly, "If it weren't for Miss Song's good nature, I would have heavily punished you!"

  She said so, Song Yi Xiao could only help beg for mercy: "It was just a momentary lapse, please calm down, Your Highness!"

  "Clumsy!" Princess Changxing rolled her eyes at the palace maid, stood up and said, "Forget it, after all, it's always someone I brought who causes trouble. I'll go with you to change clothes!"

  Song Yi Xiao knew she couldn't decline after all, but still repeatedly said "I don't dare".

  Otherwise, it would be said that she is arrogant, but the princess offered to accompany her to change clothes, and she actually accepted directly!

  She waited until Princess Changxing insisted repeatedly, and then she apologized to the people around her before following the princess out of the hall.

  In short, we mustn't give others a chance to pick on us.

  As soon as the two of them left, the murmurs around them suddenly grew louder: "I thought His Highness would give that Song girl a good show in front of everyone, but instead he still gave her some face and will deal with her later?"

  "You fool! Lady Song has just been granted a marriage, and Your Highness makes a scene in front of people. She's lost face, but what about your reputation?"

  "Exactly! Isn't this also a slap in the face of Master Jian Gong?"

  Princess Yushan put down the golden basin, and coughed lightly - the people around her were startled, only then did they remember that although Princess Changxing had left, Princess Yushan was still here!

  Shut up quickly.

  Song Yixiao followed Princess Changxing out of the main hall and was supposed to go to the side chamber to change clothes.

  But Changxing Princess found a deserted flower hall nearby and walked in, Song Yishao had no choice but to follow.

  "You're quite bold!" After Princess Changxing sat down, she ordered the palace maid to guard the door and dragged Jin Xun out, leaving only Song Yixiao in front of her. She looked at her with a mixture of surprise and amusement, saying, "I thought you'd kneel down and beg for mercy as soon as you came in!"

  "Your Highness is joking." Song Yi smiled slightly, lowering her eyes to show respect, with a calm tone, "Firstly, my daughter has not committed any crimes, and she has a clear conscience. Under this vast sky, why would she need to worry about her life? Secondly, Your Highness appears to be a person of determination, once you've made up your mind, I'm afraid it's useless for me to plead with you."

  Changxing Princess snorted, narrowing her eyes: "You're quite clever, knowing that even though I'm a princess, I wouldn't dare do anything to you due to the imperial grandmother's edict."

  She suddenly got up, walked to Song Yixiao's side, raised her hand and reached out to touch Song Yixiao's face - judging from her previous movements, she should have wanted to pinch Song Yixiao's chin, but this movement would look more impressive if the person doing it was a bit taller.

  Changxing Princess was not short, but Song Yiliao's figure was slender and tall, and she was actually half a head taller than her.

  The princess stretched out her hand, only to realize it wasn't right, and could only regretfully change it to a gentle pat on her cheek, snickering, "However, since the palace allowed me to take this trip, it's clear they're also indulging me in venting my anger!"

  She smiled slightly and said, "Although I also know that this matter is not your fault. But I couldn't bear to blame Jian Gege, so I can only take it out on you!"

  Song Yi Xiao looked at her with a gentle smile: "Your Highness's body is precious, but whatever you do, don't get angry and hurt your body!"

  "Are you looking down on me?!" Princess Changxing couldn't help but hear the thick sarcasm beneath her seemingly concerned words.

  His hand rose suddenly, and he was about to slap Song Yixiao!

  Song Yi Xiao was not as obedient this time, and she allowed herself to be slapped on the face as a warning. Not only did she dodge quickly, but she also calmly threatened: "Just now, in front of everyone's eyes, Your Highness said that you would personally accompany me out to change clothes, but we're not even in the changing room right now! And I'm still wearing this dress stained with soy sauce on my body! Please think about it, Your Highness. If I were to scream loudly and attract people, making a big deal out of this, wouldn't all your efforts to secretly take me away from the banquet be wasted?"

  Changxing Princess sneered: "Don't forget that it was the Empress Dowager's intention to let you attend to me! Do you want to invite someone? Have you asked the Empress Dowager?"

  "The hostess of this house is the birth mother of my servant girl!" Song Yi smiled, "Today's birthday banquet, especially the matters in the back hall, which one was not handled by the hostess? Moreover, Gu'er, the princess, was too anxious and had already spoken out about the arrangement of the imperial concubine when she entered the palace with the princess. Did the princess think that the hostess would be unaware? My servant girl dares to guarantee that in some corner outside, there must be someone watching the flower hall, and as soon as something goes wrong, they will go shout for people!"

  Changxing Princess's face turned cold, she suddenly took two steps back, grabbed the teapot on the table and smashed it at her!

  Song Yi Xiao dodged to the side, and then heard the princess slap the table and coldly laugh: "Call people over, what's the use? I'll say you're rude and unreasonable, offending me! Does Wei Shi dare say not to let me teach you a lesson?! At that time, whether or not you can still be Jian Biao Ge's fiancée is unknown! What kind of thing dares to intimidate me, since you know you're just a subject's daughter, in front of me you should have the awareness to lower your head and obey!"

  "Does Your Highness still want to bring my daughter to the flower hall for what?" Song Yi sneered with a smile, becoming even more fearless, "Why don't you just find a secluded spot on the road and say whatever you want about my daughter? Wouldn't that be more credible and convenient?"

  She gazed calmly at the sullen-faced Princess Changxing and said leisurely, "Your Highness, why speak in riddles before honest people? Although you were allowed to come this time to vent your anger on my daughter, there must be a bottom line. At least, it can't affect my daughter's marriage, right?"

  Changxing Princess gazed at her with a gloomy expression for a long time before speaking in a low tone, "It seems that I have misjudged you! I heard that your life has been quite wandering, and I thought it was because of this that you had moved Sima Gong's heart to pity! Who would have thought that you were just pretending, even bullying me like this - it seems that I don't need to bother with you after all. Just return to the palace and report to the Empress Dowager, she will deal with you!"

  "Your Highness, this is truly laughable." Song Yi smiled, not intimidated by her threatening tone at all. Instead, she smiled and said, "Since Your Highness knows that I have a humble background, you should also know that my marriage prospects are quite difficult. To be able to enter the eyes of Lord Jian, I don't know how unexpected it is! Now that this engagement has been made public, everyone knows that I will be entering the Jian family in the future - what if something goes wrong? Your Highness, do you think I would still have a future?"

  She carelessly fiddled with the bangle on her wrist, and her eyes suddenly turned cold. "With no future ahead, it's meaningless to just barely survive. You said you've driven me to this point, how can I still respect you?"

  "Ants - still coveting life, Your Highness!"

  The horizontal is afraid of the stupid, and the stupid is afraid of being reckless - Princess Changxing was stunned for a while before she realized the meaning behind Song Yi's joke, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say to regain her composure.

  Just as the two men were at a stalemate, there was suddenly a sound of footsteps outside, followed by someone giving a low order: "Open the door!"