"Your servant greets the Emperor."
With graceful steps and a fragrant breeze, every movement and smile exuded countless charms and seductive allure, as if her voice could penetrate the bones and tug at the heartstrings.
Li Hanyue walked over to Xianyue's side, respectfully bowing, then raised her head, her phoenix-like eyes locking directly onto Feng Xuanling, conveying deep feelings of longing. She smiled slightly, her lips curving up just enough to be enchanting.
She was a brilliantly beautiful woman, exuding confidence and pride as if it were innate.
The officials on both sides of the hall stared at Li Hanyue for a few seconds, admiration blossoming in their hearts. How could such a stunning and graceful daughter come from a rough man like Li Wei'an? No wonder the general doted on her so much.
Feng Xuanling sat on the dragon throne, his hands resting on either side. He merely nodded slightly at the smiling Li Hanyue, his expression calm, showing no signs of disturbance.
In front of the assembled officials, the smile on Li Hanyue's face suddenly stiffened.
"I don't know why Your Majesty summoned me."
Her demeanor was submissive, but Xianyue, who stood closest to her, could clearly sense her dissatisfaction.
Such a confident, even arrogant, unparalleled beauty must have thought that after the late Empress's passing, with her looks and talents, she could certainly replace the late Empress in the Emperor's heart. Yet, all along, the Emperor had only held the late Empress in his heart, not allowing any other consorts to bear his children.
He must have felt that taking in other women as consorts would be a betrayal to that woman named Sang Xiao. But in the end, under pressure from the ministers, he reluctantly had to consider having children with other women, fearing that one day, he would have to face that beloved woman in the afterlife without any face to show.
"Princess, you have quite the audacity to pretend to convey the Emperor's orders."
Li Wei'an shouted, pointing at Xianyue. His rough voice roared like a lion, showing no signs of having just been injured.
"Who doesn't know that Li Guifei has a high and mighty demeanor? If it weren't for the Emperor, how could a neglected child like me possibly invite her here? Such a bad temper must have been spoiled by the general."
Liu Xinyou, skilled in martial arts, was naturally fearless.
Li Wei'an came from a prestigious family and had a few concubines, with the first lady and several others giving birth to sons. Others might envy him for this, but Li Wei'an particularly wanted a daughter. He claimed that any wife who bore him a daughter would be raised to the status of a wife. In the end, however, it was the general who had a fleeting romance in the pleasure quarters that resulted in Li Hanyue's birth.
While others would consider the daughter of a courtesan a shame, the general held Li Hanyue as his prized jewel, allowing the woman from the pleasure district to become a concubine, and even having the first lady raise this daughter, indulging her from childhood.
These were things Xianyue had learned from her brother after the incident at the Qi Xiang Garden, warning her to be wary of Li Hanyue.
"I don't know what business the princess has in pretending to convey the Emperor's orders?"
Li Hanyue turned, her phoenix eyes fixated on Xianyue. Though others couldn't see, Xianyue clearly recognized the malice hidden within.
"Guifei, the princess claims that the prince's recent fall into the water was your design to harm them."
Xianyue couldn't understand how Li Wei'an could become a general. He was completely a brute, and while she had been right about the first sentence, the second was merely stirring trouble. What benefit could it bring him or his daughter?
Or perhaps Li Hanyue was more composed. If it were Li Wei'an, he would find it difficult to conceal his contempt for someone he despised.
Li Hanyue's smile momentarily froze upon hearing this, but then she laughed. If she were merely a four-year-old child, no one would notice such a change in her smile.
The little palace maid following Li Hanyue immediately lowered her head in panic upon hearing Li Wei'an's words.
"Even if the princess harbors some dissatisfaction toward me, she shouldn't jest in front of all the officials."
Li Hanyue squatted down, reaching out to pat Xianyue's head, but Xianyue dodged away.
This woman was indeed much cleverer than her father. With her innocent words, she was just a four-year-old child; how could the ministers easily believe what she said? Her friendliness and approachability would surely make them think she was simply causing a ruckus.
"Xianyue, have you had your fun? Step down."
Feng Xuanling's gaze fixated on Xianyue, his expression growing increasingly grim.
"Please, Father Emperor and all the ministers, wait a moment."
The ministers on both sides of the hall were in chaos, some gathering together to quietly discuss something regarding Xianyue and Li Hanyue. Xianyue held Liu Xinyou's hand, stepping aside to watch the palace gate as if waiting for something.
"Princess."
Everyone was guessing what kind of trick this four-year-old child was playing, when Ningxiang led a few guards, who were escorting Zhang Mama, directly to Xianyue's side.
"Princess!"
As soon as Zhang Mama entered, she broke free from the guards holding her and rushed toward Xianyue, crying out.
"Zhang Mama."
Xianyue took a few steps forward, her tender voice carrying a hint of chill. Zhang Mama recalled the earlier events and felt a wave of guilt wash over her, instantly forgetting her crying.
"Do you know her?"
Xianyue approached Zhang Mama and pointed to Li Hanyue.
Zhang Mama looked in the direction Xianyue was pointing, unable to suppress a shiver. Her heart tightened and raced as she turned to glare at Xianyue, trying to suppress the fear and panic inside her.
The princess was only four; she must have just been asking casually.
"Do you know her?"
Xianyue tilted her head and asked again.
"The noble lady is a master in the palace; I have seen her a few times."
Xianyue replied with a soft "Oh," and nodded.
"Does the noble consort know Zhang Mama?"
She looked at Li Hanyue with her large, innocent, black eyes.
"I am only focused on serving the Emperor well; how could I know a servant?"
Her words sounded more melodic than a song, but both women were skilled in speech.
"Then what about her? You should know her, right?"
Xianyue deliberately emphasized the word "should," pointing at the palace maid behind Li Hanyue.
Zhang Mama looked down at Xianyue's delicate face. The princess seemed to be hinting at something; could she really know something? All the gazes in the hall were focused on her, and Zhang Mama felt her mind go blank, instinctively denying, "I don't know her."
As she spoke, Zhang Mama grasped Xianyue's hand and knelt down, trembling violently.
"For all these years, this old servant has devoted herself to serving the princess, never harboring any other thoughts. The princess hasn't had breakfast yet, so I will go prepare it right away."
"For all these years, my brother and I have treated you well, haven't we? What are you dissatisfied with?"
Without thinking, Xianyue forcefully waved Zhang Mama's hand away. Zhang Mama was unprepared for Xianyue's action, and her hands flew back, slapping her own face with two sharp sounds.
"Princess, Zhang Mama raised you since you were little; how could you treat her this way?"
Li Hanyue looked surprised, scolding Xianyue for being uncivilized, "The Crown Prince truly has spoiled you."
Feng Xuanling frowned and cast an unhappy glance at Li Hanyue.
"It's precisely because my brother spoils me that I won't let go of anyone who harms him."
Xianyue's gaze flickered between Li Hanyue and Zhang Mama, filled with determination.
"Zhang Mama, where were you last night? Who did you meet?"
As Zhang Mama knelt on the ground, the moment she looked up, her gaze met Xianyue's.
"Old—old servant—"
Zhang Mama stuttered, her face pale.
"You said you don't know her, so who was the person you met last night?"
Xianyue pointed at the palace maid behind Li Hanyue, smiling as she asked. But that smile sent a chill down Zhang Mama's spine, causing her to break out in a cold sweat.
"She also gave you a package, didn't she?"
After hesitating for a while, Zhang Mama replied, "The servant recently ate too much and had an uncomfortable stomach. I happened to meet Miss Qiuxin, who was worried that I wouldn't be able to take care of the princess, so she gave me medicine. The princess has always had a prejudice against the noble consort, so I didn't tell you."
"Is that so? No wonder you're being so secretive."
Xianyue turned to glance at the silent Qiuxin, her fists clenched tightly, yet she couldn't suppress her trembling.
"Princess, Zhang Mama is lying."
Ningxiang stepped forward, kneeling on the ground, pointing at Zhang Mama, "She is not ill at all. The package she received from Miss Qiuxin was meant to be given to the unconscious prince."
As soon as Ningxiang finished speaking, a guard approached Xianyue, holding a jade bowl.
Xianyue carefully took it, bringing it in front of Liu Xinyou. "Master."
Liu Xinyou placed her finger on the medicinal soup, nodded, and brought it to her lips to taste: "This is Zhi Fei San; in severe cases, it can cause the unconscious to die without knowing."
The other officials began to stir, and Feng Xuanling exchanged shocked glances with Li Dequan. Xianyue's face darkened as she instructed someone to bring the jade bowl to Feng Xuanling.
"If Father Emperor doesn't believe it, have the royal physician come to test it."
Xianyue was filled with confidence. Although Feng Xuanling had neglected her, how could he not know that she would never harm Feng Jiulan, but she also wouldn't allow false accusations.
"Princess, spare me; I truly—don't know what Zhi Fei San is."
Zhang Mama was in tears, her face streaked with tears as she looked at Xianyue, crawling toward her, but Xianyue forcefully waved her away.
"Xianyue, you don't need to worry; I will have someone investigate this."
Who cared who would investigate? She was about to leave, and before she did, it was necessary to warn those people, to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, so that those who dared to act recklessly would think twice. Leaving it to others, she couldn't wait, so she could only resolve it in her own way.
"Master, break her hands for me."
Xianyue pointed at Zhang Mama on the ground and turned to Liu Xinyou, speaking every word with clear determination.