Chapter 575: First Volume, Chapter 575: The Bustle of the Wai Yuan

First Volume, Chapter 575: The Bustle of the Wai Yuan

At Qin Feng's table, there was no one else—he had the entire table of food and wine to himself.

This was also the qin girl's arrangement, meant to make everyone understand that although Qin Feng had come to the banquet, he was not the Second Prince's friend, but rather his enemy.

Though isolated, Qin Feng felt no boredom; instead, he relished the quiet.

Now that Xie Yun'er had arrived, she could sit with Qin Feng.

Xie Yun'er sat naturally beside Qin Feng, when suddenly the qin girl walked over.

Having been frightened into kneeling and apologizing before, suffering the disgrace, the qin girl longed to kill Qin Feng with her gaze.

But remembering the White Clothes' repeated warnings, today everything must serve the Second Prince's Great Plan.

The qin girl had no choice but to swallow this hatred.

"Miss Xie, your seat has already been arranged for you."

The qin girl raised her hand and pointed toward the Nei Yuan—Xie Yun'er's status and rank naturally required her to enter the Nei Yuan.

Xie Yun'er smiled and shook her head: "No need. I'll sit here; this table is empty anyway."

The qin girl forced patience and spoke softly: "All guests in the Wai Yuan are sons of officials below Seventh Rank."

"Miss Xie is the daughter of a Duke—how noble your status! How could you possibly sit here?"

Hearing this, Xie Yun'er found it amusing inside.

Was her own status noble, but Qin Feng's not?

Their wedding was imminent; soon they would be one family—she would go to the Nei Yuan, while Qin Feng remained in the Wai Yuan.

She wondered whether this arrangement was meant to target Qin Feng—or to slap her own face.

Though one does not strike a smiling face, seeing Qin Feng wronged, Xie Yun'er's mood instantly turned cold.

The temperament she had smoothed over during her long seclusion in the inner chambers suddenly sharpened.

As the saying goes: the mountains and rivers may change, but one's nature is hard to alter.

Xie Yun'er's smile vanished; her gaze turned hostile.

"Qin Feng is a Marquis of Ten Battalion Commander, personally appointed by the Sage, and a hero of Shedynasty—when did he become inferior to even a Seventh Rank official?!"

"Who ordered him seated in the Wai Yuan—the Second Prince's will, or your own arbitrary decision?"

Seeing Xie Yun'er's sudden change of expression, the qin girl's demeanor also grew uneasy.

Though she had anticipated Xie Yun'er would side with Qin Feng, she had not expected her to publicly rebuke her.

This was clearly an open break with the Second Prince.

If so, the qin girl had no reason to hesitate further.

"If Miss Xie wishes to sit here, then by all means, do so!"

Just as the qin girl turned to leave, another shout came from the Gate.

"The Princess of Qiyang Commandery arrives!"

The courtyard, which had just calmed, erupted once more.

Compared to Xie Yun'er, those present remained relatively composed, but at the sight of the Princess of Qiyang Commandery, everyone rose to greet her.

Their eyes held reverence and anticipation.

After all, she was Imperial Relatives—how could anyone dare slight her?

Even the usually arrogant qin girl halted immediately, her face filled with awe.

Not even she, a Maid, could afford disrespect—let alone the Second Prince, who must yield three paces out of respect for Chang Princess.

Accompanied by four members of the Imperial Guard, the Princess of Qiyang Commandery appeared before them.

Since she was attending her brother's Birthday Banquet, the Princess of Qiyang Commandery had shed her usual casualness and dressed in full regalia.

She wore a noble black-gold embroidered phoenix robe, dignified, imposing, and extravagantly ornate.

Her jet-black hair was coiled high into a high-spirited bun, adorned with a single jade dangling hairpin.

Combined with her beauty, rivaling Xie Yun'er's, her arrival sparked a commotion.

"The Princess of Qiyang Commandery—it's truly her!"

"Wow, no wonder she's the daughter of Chang Princess—'beauty that topples cities and nations' still falls short."

"To have seen the Princess of Qiyang Commandery, I would die content."

"The Princess of Qiyang Commandery is of marriageable age—whoever has cultivated three lifetimes of fortune will win her hand."

"Heh, the Princess of Qiyang Commandery is a noble phoenix—only a Heavenly Dragon could match her."

For guests in the Wai Yuan, how often did they get to see Imperial Relatives in person?

Even attending the Second Prince's Birthday Banquet, they were confined to the Wai Yuan, unable to behold her in person.

Had the Princess of Qiyang Commandery not arrived late, those present might never have had such a sight in their lives.

Though dressed in splendor and radiating royal authority, the Princess of Qiyang Commandery's expression remained as casual and unrestrained as ever.

She had intended to proceed directly to the Nei Yuan to congratulate her brother, but her gaze swept idly—and caught Qin Feng and Xie Yun'er sitting in the corner.

The Princess of Qiyang Commandery paused slightly, about to walk over and greet them, when the qin girl stepped forward to block her path.

The qin girl, no longer the haughty woman of before, bowed deeply, as humble as she could be.

"Maid greets the Princess—please, Your Highness, proceed to the Nei Yuan."

"You may also go directly to see the Second Prince."

The Princess of Qiyang Commandery gave a slight nod: "I understand. Step aside."

The qin girl quickly stepped aside, gesturing with a respectful bow to welcome the Princess.

But the Princess of Qiyang Commandery ignored the Nei Yuan entirely and walked straight toward Qin Feng and Xie Yun'er.

The qin girl's brows twitched slightly.

"Princess, what are you...?"

Before the harp girl could finish, Princess Qiyang impatiently cut her off.

"A lowly slave dares to gossip about me? Too much trouble—get out of my sight!"

Others feared the Second Prince behind the harp girl, but Princess Qiyang didn't care.

A servant is a servant—even with the strongest backing, still a servant!

Not even the Second Prince, but even the Imperial Household Director Zhang Xiuye by the Emperor's side, when meeting Princess Qiyang, must behave properly.

The dignity of the Li Imperial Clan cannot be challenged!

The harp girl's face turned pale; she immediately bowed her head, daring not to utter another word.

The guests present were chilled to the bone by Princess Qiyang's aura, none daring to breathe loudly.

Princess Qiyang made no pretense of politeness; she sat directly beside Xie Yun'er.

Her gloomy little face instantly cleared, the earlier hostility vanished, and she smiled lightly: "Yun'er, why are you sitting here?"

"As the daughter of the Marquis of Ning, you belong in the Nei Yuan."

Xie Yun'er returned the smile and replied softly: "Where Qin Feng is, I am."

At these words, Princess Qiyang's gaze involuntarily fell upon Qin Feng.

She saw Qin Feng leaning back in his chair, his eyes wandering everywhere, utterly ignoring her.

Princess Qiyang felt a surge of anger, but out of respect for Xie Yun'er, she swallowed it down.

She spoke with hidden meaning: "A man changes in three days—look at him anew. The former Young Master Qin has become Lord Qin now."

"Heh, how goes that saying? Even a toad can soar to the heavens."

Xie Yun'er knew Princess Qiyang spoke bluntly and was not truly evil; her constant targeting of Qin Feng stemmed only from old grudges.

"Qiyang, don't talk like that."

Princess Qiyang leaned back too, arms crossed, her face brimming with pride: "I'm not picking a fight—it's some people who lack manners."

"They don't even greet me when they see me!"