Chapter 253: At Ease

"The Princess has arrived!"

When the words fell, everyone bowed and knelt.

"May I have an audience with the Princess."

"Rise!" Mo Yunyan, clad in a golden feathered cloak and wearing an eight‑treasure golden hairpin, stepped over the crowd and sat beside Qin Yue xi, her brows and eyes smiling as she looked at her: "Little girl, why didn't you tell this palace when you came here? With your naïve look, you'll be easily gnawed to the bone outside."

Hearing this, Qin Yue xi smiled and said, "I heard elder sister has been very busy lately, I was afraid I'd disturb her affairs."

Qin Yue xi patted her little face, turned to look at the people standing there, saw they were a bit restrained, and said lightly, "Do whatever you need to do; today I'm not here for you to gaze at me."

As Daqi's Princess, she differs from other princesses; she can advise the state with literature and can mount a horse in battle to secure the realm, so the emperor greatly favors her.

Precisely because of this, she can protect the newly motherless and still young Mo Junyan within the vast harem.

Although Mo Junyan is still covered in scars, had it not been for her, Mo Junyan might have already died.

Therefore, to Mo Junyan, Mo Yunyan is more than just an elder sister.

The Meng Family's posts have indeed reached the palace, but Meng Qinghe did not expect the Princess would actually come.

Being granted the Princess's audience is a great honor for her.

She smoothed her clothes, just as she was about to step forward, she saw the Princess wave toward her direction: "Come."

Seeing this, Meng Qinghe's smile grew wider; feeling the envious gazes around, she lifted her chin and briskly walked toward Mo Yunyan.

"Princess."

"What are you doing here?" Mo Yunyan's handsome brows knit, she gave her a cold glance: "An eyesore—when did this palace ever call you?"

Meng Qinghe stood there pale, wasn't the Princess just waving for her to come? How…

At that moment, Mo Yuyan waved again at the person standing in the same direction as her; Meng Qinghe turned her head, and the blood in her veins seemed to freeze.

The person standing there… was only the Chi Family lady.

So… the one the Princess called earlier was her!

How could that be?

The Princess clearly came for her own appointment, how could…

Chi Nan Yi was also somewhat curious about the Princess.

On the opening day of Yunxiang Pavilion, the first customer was this Princess; even though the Li family had once been imperial merchants, she didn't think Miss Li could bring the Jade Face Cream to the Princess.

The only possibility was Mo Junyan.

It must have been he who told the Princess, so she backed Yunxiang Pavilion on the first day.

Thinking of this, Chi Nan Yi's face beneath the veil flushed slightly, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift.

Seeing the amusement in her eyes, Mo Yunyan knew she had guessed about seventy‑or‑eighty percent; without waiting for her to present a gift, Mo Yunyan grabbed her and pulled her to sit beside her.

"Why be so formal? We're all family; from now on, when you see elder sister you needn't bow." She whispered this to Chi Nan Yi's ear; only she could hear.

Chi Nan Yi's ears tinged pink, and she lightly nodded: "Yes."

Mo Yunyan, seeing her comply, looked at her with increasing satisfaction.

Mo Junyan can't do anything, but his eye for choosing a daughter‑in‑law is sharp.

This sister‑in‑law, he is very satisfied with.

The crowd, seeing the Princess so enthusiastic toward the Chi Family lady, were all stunned in place.

The Chi lady actually knows the Princess?

And so familiar.

This…

Meng Qinghe's complexion was beyond ugly.

She had just been slapped by someone surnamed Chi, hoping the Princess would restore some face, but—no—she was slapped again by the Princess!

Her face twisted as she watched the harmonious scene in the pavilion, fists clenched.

Those surnamed Chi—Chi Nan Yi, that scoundrel, and the one before me—none of them are good!

Just wait! Today I'll ruin her reputation! Then she'll see whether the Princess still treats her as she does now.

Mo Yunyan looked at Chi Nan Yi, lowered her voice and said, "Your Jade Face Cream is truly effective; besides those two items, do you have any other hidden goodies?"

"I have some. In a few days I'll have someone deliver them to you."

"No need. Send them directly to Mo Junyan; I'll just fetch them from him."

Mentioning Mo Junyan's name, Qin Yue xi's complexion froze, and her scrutinizing gaze kept appraising Chi Nan Yi.

Who is she? How does she know Prince Li?

The Princess asked her to deliver the items to Prince Li's residence, and she showed not a hint of hesitation.

Prince Li isn't fond of Sister Chi? This one surnamed Chi…

She also bears the surname Chi!

Could it be…

Qin Yue xi's eyes kept flickering on Chi Nan Yi, that scorching look making it hard for Chi Nan Yi to ignore.

She smiled with her brows and eyes toward Qin Yue xi.

"What's the matter?"

This time, Chi Nan Yi didn't deliberately alter her tone; the familiar voice entered his ears, and Qin Yue xi's eyes widened: "You… you are…"

"Shh…"

Chi Nan Yi whispered softly, "It's not time yet."

Qin Yue xi nodded, her eyes full of light.

It's Sister Chi! Truly Sister Chi!

Mo Yunyan looked at her laughing with Qin Yue xi, curled her lip and said, "I've helped you so much; why haven't you smiled at this palace even once?"

Chi Nan Yi, upon hearing it, deliberately pouted: "The Elder Princess pretending to be a flower lady to trick me—I have kept that in mind up to now."

"That's all because that stinky kid Mo Junyan made me do, it has nothing to do with this palace." Mo Yunyan looked at Chi Nan Yi, smiled, and said: "That kid truly cares about you; I've never seen him so attentive to anyone. If you really end up together with him, I only hope you won't let him down."

At that moment, Chi Nan Yi's expression stiffened, and she looked somewhat embarrassed toward Qin Yue xi standing aside.

She liked Mo Junyan; back then he had told her very clearly, and now that she has feelings for Mo Junyan, will she…

When she met Qin Yue xi's bright, sparkling eyes, Chi Nan Yi couldn't help but pause.

Qin Yue xi's face shows no loss of someone having their beloved taken; clearly she looks like a bystander watching the drama.

Qin Yue xi saw her look at her, picked up a piece of pastry, and laughed: "Chi sister, I no longer like that ice block—no, not an ice block, it's an ice hole. Whenever I try to get close to him, he blows cold air at me, scares me to death; I don't want to like him."

Seeing her speak so candidly, Chi Nan Yi felt relieved.

"Chi sister, don't you feel his cold aura when you get close to Prince Li?"

Chi Nan Yi shook her head, Qin Yue xi pursed her lips, and leaned her body against Mo Yunyan: "Alright sister, it seems we are being treated differently by Prince Li."

Mo Yunyan pushed her head aside: "Don't involve this palace; rather, it's you who are being treated differently by Prince Li. He wouldn't dare do that to me."

Qin Yue xi lay weakly on the table, murmuring: "You both hurt my heart too much."

Chi Nan Yi's lips curled with a smile; the matter that had hung in her heart all this time was finally let go.

Inside the pavilion, merriment filled the air; outside the hall, the gazes of the crowd, whether intentional or not, always fell on the three of them.

"What kind of background does this Chi Family girl have? The two Princesses are so kind to her; among so many of us, none can catch the Princess's eye, but she alone can earn such favor."