" Lady Yang Ning, You look so beautiful in this dress. A beauty like you does not need sparkling gems to elevate your ethereal beauty. Your inner beauty is what matters."
" Yes. As the Future Crown Princess, you were only being thoughtful of the suffering of the people yet some irrelevant people dare to question your intentions. I am feeling so sad that you had to go through all of that."
" I heard that you have been sick for the past two days. How are you feeling now? It must be hard on you to attend the Banquet in such a weak state."
" You attended the Banquet despite being unwell. Yet some people had the audacity to accuse you of cursing the Crown Prince on his birthday. You must be feeling downhearted."
" There is a reason why His Majesty chose you as the Future Crown Princess of the Zheng Empire. The title of Crown Princess holds a great amount of responsibility and today you have shown the credibility to fulfill that responsibility to everyone. His Majesty must be so proud of you."
" Ah. Thank you for your kind words." Yang Ning pursed her lips and smiled stiffly at the sweet-honey dripping, fake compliments of the ladies who have gathered around her as if she is a flower and they are a group of honeybees.
They are the same people who were looking down on her and were glaring at her with their loathing gazes a while ago.
However, she was not even surprised to see the sudden change in their attitudes and the hypocrisy of these people.
After His Majesty appreciated her actions and complimented her in front of everyone, suddenly everyone was coming up to her to sing praises for her intention to wear the simple dress to the Banquet, meanwhile, indirectly throwing shade at Princess Liu who has already left the Palace in shame and embarrassment.
She accused her in front of everyone with the intention to humiliate her and prove to everyone that she is not fit to marry the Crown Prince.
However, not only did her plan to humiliate Yang Ning fail miserably, His Majesty's words caused everyone to see Yang Ning differently and made Princess Liu a national villain, who tried to embarrass the Future Crown Princess of the Empire.
After all of this, how can she still stay in the palace and attend the Banquet until the end? Leaving early on was the best option she could have opted for at the moment.
__
Yang Ning glanced at Xiaowei who was standing a few steps behind her and murmured while looking at her with a pitiful gaze, ' SAVE ME. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.'
Her ears were getting roasted upon hearing the fake compliments of these people. Because fake compliments are way more torturing than hateful yet straightforward comments.
At least she does not need to display her fake smile in that situation.
Xiaowei noticed her distressed expressions and sighed heavily before stepping forward and saying, "My Lady, Your health has not recovered yet. Lord has asked you to return to the Household early to take some rest."
Yang Ning was amused at her quick thinking. This girl never amazes her with her swift actions.
With Xiaowei's help, Yang Ning apologized to the ladies to excuse her and find the right opportunity to leave the Banquet without upsetting anyone.
Sometimes being sick is also a blessing.
__
" Argh! I feel like dying." Yang Ning groaned tiredly as the exhaustion took over her. Earlier, she was so excited to be at the royal palace that she did not care about her health and was roaming around the palace as if she was perfectly fine and healthy.
As soon as she reached Yang Household, she immediately removed the other layers of her heavy yet simple dress and was now lying on the bed, in her white, fully covered undergarments.
' This world's undergarments would qualify as full-fledged clothes in her world.' She snickered at the thought of it.
" I should not have gone to the Banquet. Seems like I am having a fever again." Yang Ning moaned as she placed the back of her hand over her forehead to check the temperature.
Xiaowei was alarmed to see the pale and weak complexion of Yang Ning and got worried that she might get sick again like last night.
Since she was not fully recovered yet and despite her weak health condition, she went to the Banquet where she had to go through so many things which caused her stress.
" Miss, do you feel sick?"
" Does your head still hurt?"
Do you want me to call the physician for you?" Xiaowei panicked as she hurriedly walked over to massage Yang Ning's head gently and asked worriedly.
" Ermm…I do feel sick and feel nauseating. My body is also aching, especially my head. However, it's not as bad as last night." Yang Ning vaguely explained her condition one by one, wondering if it is severe enough to call the physician or not.
She might be in Yang Ning's body but she is still not familiar with it. It's only been a day since she found herself in this novel world and in Yang Ning's body.
Before she could get the time to understand the things of this world or understand more about Yang Ning and get adjusted to her body, she had to attend the Royal Banquet which was one of the most stressful Banquets she had ever attended.
At the Banquet, she not only had to worry about the so-called manners and etiquette of a lady but also deal with annoying people who keep bothering her for no reason when she only wanted to eat and leave.
" Then…should I go and call the physician to check on you? Yesterday, he said that you will need a few more acupuncture sessions to recuperate your energy." Xiaowei asked in concern.
~THUD~
Yang Ning pursed her lips and before she could make a decision, the door of the chamber was pushed open with a force, making a loud noise.
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