Chapter 133: Your Majesty

Your Majesty's gracious arrival

Since that day she left the palace, Nie Jinxuan went straight back to her natal home, the Nie Residence.

In the past few days, regarding the rumors outside, Nie Jinxuan was naturally aware, yet she said nothing. She appeared completely detached. Even when the court publicly announced that it was Yin Fengzhan who had proactively initiated the separation, Nie Jinxuan did not refute it!

Thus, at this moment, seeing Nie Jinxuan's leisurely demeanor, Xiao Xiu, standing beside her, couldn't help whispering

"Prince... uh, miss, are you alright?"

Regarding the divorce, Xiao Xiu had always been opposed. But now it was already this way, so Xiao Xiu didn't feel she could say more. Yet after watching Nie Jinxuan remain silent for several days, Xiao Xiu finally couldn't hold back.

Xiao Xiu tentatively spoke, and upon hearing her, Nie Jinxuan, seated in the rocking chair, slightly raised an eyebrow and replied

"It's fine; what could be wrong with me? Isn't this rather good?"

Nie Jinxuan's voice was faint and light, and upon hearing this, Xiao Xiu, already worried, grew even more concerned, yet she couldn't directly press further, so after a brief thought she frowned and complained

"But miss, don't blame this servant for being outspoken. I truly can't make sense of it... At first, the divorce document was written by you, miss, so why now does everyone say that the Prince has abandoned you?! Isn't that outright bullying? Therefore, miss, I think you should step forward and clarify: it's not that His Highness Prince Chen has rejected you, but that you have rejected him!"

Pouting, Xiao Xiu rarely showed such an angry expression.

"If miss feels uneasy appearing publicly, let the Lord step forward to explain. That would be more effective..."

Xiao Xiu kept offering suggestions, but as soon as her words fell, Nie Jinxuan raised her hand and waved to stop her.

"Enough!"

She said softly, then Nie Jinxuan slowly opened her eyes, lifting her gaze to the vibrant, blossoming scenery before her.

"What are you saying? Is there any meaning? After all, whether it's a divorce or a separation, the result is the same. So what's the difference?!"

Indeed, in Nie Jinxuan's view, divorce and separation are indistinguishable. Yet since they are parting, how should one phrase it, and what does it achieve? Moreover, Emperor Shun Cheng, mindful of the royal family and Yin Fengzhan's reputation, is clear to her; therefore, why bother with such explanations?

And even if she explained, what would it achieve? If things escalated and angered Emperor Shun Cheng, it would be detrimental to her, possibly implicating the entire Nie family. Yet remaining silent now might cause the emperor to feel remorse, which could work in her favor!

The intricacies confused Xiao Xiu, and Nie Jinxuan didn't wish to explain them fully. So after a brief exchange, Nie Jinxuan closed her eyes again...

The surroundings fell quiet again. Just then, as Nie Jinxuan lowered her gaze, a voice came from the nearby Moon Gate.

"Ah, this courtyard is really nice~! So tranquil and elegant, truly a good place~!"

The speaker was a woman; though her voice was pleasant, it sounded a bit sharp and lacking resonance. Hearing it, Nie Jinxuan lifted her gaze toward the sound and involuntarily squinted slightly.

……

Clad in a light‑blue dress and wearing a dangling hairpin, the newcomer was a strikingly beautiful young woman; though she lacked Han Luoxue's painterly looks and watery gentleness, the hint of vigor in her brows added considerable charm.

Nie Jinxuan recognized her as the principal wife of Cloud King Yin Fengjin, the Princess Consort Chen Yan'er!

Seeing Chen Yan'er arrive, Nie Jinxuan's eyebrows twitched slightly; after all, in her memory she and Chen Yan'er were not familiar, having only met once at Zuixiashanzhuang. Moreover, Cloud King Yin Fengjin and Crown Prince Yin Fenghan were allies, while Yin Fenghan and Yin Fengzhan were rivals. Thus Nie Jinxuan naturally had no dealings with her!

So if they aren't acquainted, why is she here?!

Nie Jinxuan was puzzled, but at that moment a corner of her eye caught the person trailing behind Chen Yan'er, and she instantly understood!

The person behind Chen Yan'er was Crown Princess Zhen Xiao Lian.

Thus, seeing this, Nie Jinxuan, who had intended to rise from the rocking chair, leaned back again. Meanwhile, Chen Yan'er, now entered the courtyard, noticed Nie Jinxuan still seated, raised an eyebrow, and stepped forward, saying

"Yo~, isn't this Princess Consort of Prince Chen? Why so leisurely today, returning to your natal home?"

Standing before Nie Jinxuan, Cloud Princess Chen Yan'er smiled slightly as she glanced at Nie Jinxuan. Now that everyone in East Tomb knows Nie Jinxuan has separated from Yin Fengzhan, she is no longer Princess Consort of Prince Chen, so Chen Yan'er's meaning was obvious. Upon hearing this, even the usually timid Xiao Xiu beside her flushed with anger.

At that moment, hearing this, the still‑motionless Nie Jinxuan was neither hurried nor angry; she slightly shifted her gaze, then gracefully and contentedly tapped the armrest of the rocking chair.

"Princess Consort of the Cloud King, your gracious arrival honors me greatly. Yet now everyone in East Tomb knows I have been abandoned by His Highness Prince Chen, becoming a discarded secondary wife; why did you just speak so?!"

Xiao Xiu raised an eyebrow, and Nie Jinxuan instantly opened her eyes, looking at Chen Yan'er.

"What? Have you really not heard, Princess Consort of the Cloud King? That can't be right; even if others are unaware of my being abandoned by Prince Chen, the Crown Princess should know~! And you, Princess Consort, are so close with the Crown Princess… Oh~! Does that mean your relationship isn't as harmonious as it appears?!"

Nie Jinxuan spoke calmly; hearing this, Chen Yan'er was startled, then grew angry... Yet before she could speak, Crown Princess Zhen Xiao Lian stepped forward and said

"Hehe~ Prince... uh, Third Miss has misunderstood; Princess Consort of the Cloud King was merely joking with Third Miss, nothing else. Please don't take it too seriously~!"

Zhen Xiao Lian quickly smoothed things over; her watery eyes exuded an irresistible warmth. Upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan smiled faintly, withdrew the hand that had been lightly tapping the armrest, and rose.

"Fine, fine, I know the Cloud Princess was just joking, so I was merely returning the jest..."

Staring into Zhen Xiao Lian's eyes, Nie Jinxuan said with a smile, then continued

"However, today both the Crown Princess and the Cloud Princess have visited; is there any important matter? Could it be merely to joke with me? ~"

"Uh… Third Miss, what are you saying? Today this Princess and the Cloud Princess came mainly to see Third Miss… Ah, after all, we're all sisters‑in‑law, and this incident was unexpected. So we came especially to check on you…"

Zhen Xiao Lian, famed as East Tomb's most beautiful woman, possessed a stunning visage and watery tenderness that turned heads. Her soft voice made even men—and certainly women—reluctant to act. Yet observing all this, Nie Jinxuan remained expressionless, raised an eyebrow, and stepped forward to stand before her.

"Crown Princess, you're courteous. I accept your sentiment… However, hearing you say 'unexpected', it leaves me rather baffled~!"

Nie Jinxuan smiled faintly, and upon hearing this, Zhen Xiao Lian's eyes flashed, but before she could speak, a young maid hurried in from outside.

"Third Miss, someone from the palace has arrived, saying they have business for you."

The maid bowed respectfully, and upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan was slightly startled, then promptly replied

"Very well, I understand."

"Yes!"

She answered respectfully again, and the maid hurried away. Nie Jinxuan then turned her gaze back to Zhen Xiao Lian, curling her lips into a gentle smile

"Apologies, I have business and must excuse myself. But I'm truly delighted that the Crown Princess and the Cloud Princess could come today~"

Having said that, Nie Jinxuan bowed slightly, then without waiting for Zhen Xiao Lian to speak further, she led Xiao Xiu out. Yet as she passed Zhen Xiao Lian, she suddenly halted, and whispered softly into Zhen Xiao Lian's ear

"Zhen Xiao Lian, making jokes about people is a skillful art. So if you're not confident, don't misuse it, lest it backfire and lower your reputation~! Moreover, even when selecting a vanguard, choose someone shrewd, articulate, and clever; otherwise it will wear you out~!"

She paused briefly, then stepped forward to leave, but stopped again.

"Oh, right, one more thing I should remind you of. Zhen Xiao Lian, don't assume that because Yin Fengzhan and I have separated, you can pair up with him. As for why… Hehe, you know better than I do, don't you… Crown Princess~!"

She whispered again; as the words fell, Nie Jinxuan lifted her gaze to meet Zhen Xiao Lian's watery eyes, curled her lips in a smile, and strode away…

As she passed the Moon Gate, Nie Jinxuan, perhaps intentionally or not, suddenly raised her voice to Xiao Xiu, ordering

"Xiao Xiu, inform them that from now on the gate‑keeping retainers must enforce the rules! If they don't even report a single incident, what's the point of keeping them? The Nie Residence's gate isn't a city gate; not just anyone can enter!"