Song Yixiao took her seat at this banquet, with Changxing Princess sitting above her and a somewhat unfamiliar noblewoman below.

  She had a bad relationship with Princess Changxing, and Changxing was also in a bad mood, so she wouldn't go over to make things worse. She only let Jin Xun stay by her side: "I'll accompany Fifth Sister to change clothes, if anyone needs me, remember to tell them!"

  Bian got up with the moon lamp and accompanied Nie Wu Xing to a small door at the corner of the palace.

  It was also her first time in this garden pavilion, fortunately there were two rows of palace attendants standing outside the door, and after casually asking one of them where to change clothes, someone came out to guide her.

  After arriving at the warm pavilion where the ladies were to change and wash, Song Yi smiled and signaled to Yuetai to give a purse to that palace maid, then took Xiaojie inside.

  After a while, the two of them packed up and were on their way back when they passed by the Moon Gate. Nie Wu Xian suddenly stopped in her tracks and said, "Fourth Sister, it seems like there's the scent of plum blossoms?"

  "It's plum blossoms." Song Yi smiled and held her hand warmer closer, curiously asking, "Does Fifth Sister like plum blossoms?"

  "...I like it." Nian Wu Ying seemed to want to say something but didn't know how to express herself, hesitated for a moment before saying, "Can we go take a look?"

  If it were Song Yixiao, she would not have wandered around in an unfamiliar place, especially in the imperial palace. But this was Nie Wuyan's idea, and the girl had been a bit at a loss since that morning, looking rather pitiful. She couldn't help but soften: "The longevity banquet is being held in a nearby pavilion, and this is also a necessary route for people to come and go, so it should be fine to take a look around since no one has been assigned to guard the place?"

  She hesitated for a moment and then said: "Let's take a look around and see if there are any nearby."

  It's implied that if it's too far, we won't go.

  Nie Wu Yan heard the words and hastily nodded - after a moment, they found three winter plum trees growing in the corner of the palace wall more than a dozen steps away. The branches were quite old, with twisted trunks as black as jade, and flowers blooming profusely. Amidst the wind and snow, they had a kind of elegant and carefree air about them, as if laughing at the rolling clouds.

  "It's so beautiful." Nie Wu Xian walked under the tree, his gloomy expression finally opening up into a relieved smile, stretching out to gently touch the petals of the flower that held ice and snow, "It smells so good!"

  Song Yi smiled and looked at her for a while, seeing that she still didn't leave, so she said: "This plum blossom is really beautiful, if it weren't in the palace, I would have thought of picking two branches to bring back to my room."

  She said this to remind Nie Wu Xian that they had been here for a while and it was time to return to their seats.

  No sooner had he spoken than a cold snort came from behind him: "Can you also move the plum blossoms here?"

  Song Yi Xiao's smile froze as she heard the voice, and she turned her head to see that it was indeed Si Kong Yi Han. She looked a bit thinner, with her hair styled in a loose bun, wearing a purple fox fur coat, and not even bringing a maid with her. It was unclear when she had arrived, but she was now gazing over coldly, "The Empress Dowager dislikes people touching the flowers and trees in her palace, you'd best be careful!"

  As he said this, his eyes narrowed slightly and he finally recognized Song Yishiao, "Is that you?"

  "Princess Wang!" Song Yi smiled, originally thinking that her irate tone was directed at herself, only to realize now that she had misunderstood. As she paid her respects and asked after the princess's well-being, she secretly shook her head: "No wonder Sister Xie said this master can't even handle the true Yang Great Elder... Who can tolerate being scolded while trying to offer kind advice?"

  Although she still remembers Xiāo Kōng Yī Luó, the current Liáng Wáng Fēi is completely different from Xiāo Kōng Yī Luó in both appearance and temperament. So, she can't bring herself to interact with her, and after asking about her well-being, she said, "Thank you for reminding us, we'll take our leave now!"

  "Who is this?" Si Kong Yī Huā didn't seem to have any intention of letting him go, and instead raised her chin slightly towards Nie Wu Xing to ask.

  "This is my sworn sister Wu Yan, surname Nie." Song Yi smiled warmly, "She likes plum blossoms, and just smelled the fragrance, so she came over to take a look."

  Si Kong Yihua glanced at Nie Wuqian a few times, and sneered: "So it's the adopted daughter of Princess Chang, this timid appearance, I thought you were your mother's cousin's niece!"

  Nie Wu Yan's face changed upon hearing this - Song Yi Xiao secretly pinched her hand, and still spoke warmly: "You've already become the Wang Fei, why are you still calling me Eldest Princess? You should be calling me Aunt instead! As for Fifth Sister's delicate appearance, it's because you don't know that Fifth Sister is Mother's youngest child, naturally she's treasured like a precious gem. On this cold day, standing here watching the flowers and getting blown by the wind, how can she not appear weak? But girls should be gentle, if they're as robust as an ox then it's not interesting!"

  "If I were a cow, I would have charged at you and killed you all by now!"

  Song Yi smiled slightly and frowned: "What are you talking about, Princess Wang? I didn't say you're a cow, but let's just put it this way - today is the Empress Dowager's good day, so it's better if you don't say certain words!"

  She had heard Xie Yiren complain several times about how unreasonable and overbearing Shi Kong was, but she didn't want to get entangled with her any longer. So she said this one sentence, then pulled Nie Wu Xian and said, "It's cold and windy, Your Highness can take care of yourself, we sisters will leave first!"

  Three steps away, and two steps out of Si Kong Yee's line of sight, Song Yi Xiao was about to comfort Xiao Jie Zi when Nie Wu Yan couldn't help but sob: "I knew I wouldn't be able to hold my head up high with my humble background, so I didn't want to come. And indeed, none of them look down on me!"

  Song Yi Xiao hastily said: "Why are you listening to Princess Liang's words? This person has always spoken without any measure, your cousin Xu's fiancée Sister Xie is the clearest about this, don't believe me, next time I'll invite Sister Xie out and let her tell you all about this person's rudeness! Nowadays, neither inside nor outside do people put their trust in what she says, how can she represent everyone?"

  She also said, "You are the pearl on your mother's palm, just because of this, who dares to look down on you? Just now, Empress Dowager asked about you specially. Look at the people who came to celebrate Empress Dowager's birthday today, among the princesses, county masters and other officials, how many people have received such treatment?"

  After a long time of coaxing, Song Yixiao finally managed to calm down Nie Wuyan's tears. Seeing that the handkerchief in her hand was soaked with tears, he handed over his own handkerchief for her to wipe her face. Just as he was about to continue persuading her to join him at their seats, a group of people appeared from the corridor on the other side of the courtyard, which was seven or eight steps wide. The young man leading them seemed to be around Nie Wuyan's age, and when he passed by, he glanced over and saw Song Yixiao, giving him a elegant nod in greeting.

  But then I saw Nie Wu Xuan's calm and collected appearance, and couldn't help but feel surprised. After walking past him, I couldn't resist turning my head back - only to find that this time, I was caught staring by Nie Wu Xuan, who had just finished wiping his face and looked up!

  The girl was already immersed in self-pity, full of grievances. Seeing this situation, she thought he was making fun of her. In a fit of anger, she didn't care to think much and pointed at the young man, shouting: "What are you looking at?!"

  Song Yi smiled: "......"

  The little girl's personality is changing too fast, and I feel like I'm having trouble keeping up?

  That young man obviously didn't expect that his curiosity would cause trouble, and he was stunned for a moment before stopping in his tracks. His upbringing wasn't bad, as he immediately turned around, clasped his hands together, and said: "Just now I saw the young lady seemingly having some difficulties, and out of curiosity I took a glance back, but apparently I offended the young lady; I hope the young lady will forgive me!"

  “……” Ni Wu Yan was not a mean person, if it wasn't for being provoked by Si Kong Yi Han's humiliation and misunderstanding that the young man was mocking her, she would never have done something like questioning a stranger. Now that the young man had apologized so readily, she suddenly became flustered and hastily pulled on Song Yi Xiao's sleeve for help.

  Song Yi smiled: "......"

  Where is your vigor just now?

  She smiled wryly to herself and bowed slightly towards the young man, saying: "Your words are too serious, my younger sister is ignorant and immature, just now was also a momentary impulse, please don't take it to heart!"

  The young man smiled and said: "Madam is generous, this matter was originally due to my own improper behavior."

  He even said "Gu", Song Yi Xiao originally wanted to muddle through, but now had no choice but to say: "May I ask which prince is present? Minister's wife Jian Song..."

  She hadn't finished speaking when the young man interrupted with a smile: "So it's my sister-in-law? No need to be polite, I am the fourth prince, and Father has granted me Zhao as my fief."

  "Your Highness Zhao Wang!" Song Yi Xiao still gave him a national courtesy, before lightly smiling and saying, "This is my fifth sister, just now talking about some past matters, making you laugh!"

  Nie Wu Yan would have liked to hide completely behind her, where was his arrogance now?

  She was pulled by Song Yi Xiao for a few times before she timidly stuck out her head and said: "Your servant's daughter has lost her manners, please punish me, Your Highness!"

  "They're all relatives, Nie Mei's words are too serious." Zhao Wang looked at her and felt a bit amused - but considering Nie Mei's sensitivity, he kindly held back his smile and said, "The weather is cold, why don't you and Nie Mei go back to the palace first if you've already agreed on something?"

  Song Yixiao nodded repeatedly, taking the opportunity to pull Nie Wuyan into the palace and walk - all the way pressing her to sit on the seat next to Qingjiang County's main seat. Seeing that this little girl was not crying or making a fuss, she finally let out a sigh of relief, made an eye gesture for Qingjiang County's maid to follow herself to one side, and quietly instructed her about what had just happened: "... Fortunately, King Zhao's palace passed by and stirred things up, so my sister probably won't remember the sadness this time. But after all, it reduced the enthusiasm, and in case something else triggers her emotions again, please ask Sister to take care of it!"

  The maid thanked her gratefully and went back to find an opportunity to avenge Qingjiang Junzhu.

  Song Yi Xiao returned to her seat, just as the palace maid changed the dishes. She ate a few bites and looked around, only to see Princess Yu Shan had left the empress's side and was chatting with Princess Chang Xing.

  Although these two princesses have different mothers, they are close sisters and their ages are similar, so it's not strange that they get along well.

  Song Yi Xiao just took a glance and then withdrew her gaze, without thinking much of it.

  But after a while, Princess Changxing suddenly cried out in a low voice, angrily saying: "What are you doing? Your fingernails have dug into my flesh!"

  Princess Yushan didn't respond to her complaints, and with a tone of surprise, joy, urgency, and helplessness, she asked: "Who is the young man in green clothes over there?!"

  Song Yixiao glanced in the direction she was pointing, his mouth slightly curled: As expected of someone praised by his mother-in-law as "the most handsome young man of his generation, second only to Ah Xū", Su Shaoge, despite just being drunk and leaning on the table with his eyes closed, resting for a moment, made this ordinary action seem incredibly charming and outstanding, standing out from the crowd.

  No wonder Princess Yushan lost her composure at first sight and accidentally hurt her older sister.