The Duke's Daughter is Reborn

At one o'clock in the morning, the morning mist dissipated quietly like a veil, and tiny golden spots floated in front of the white marble steps.

Song Yangqi stood quietly at the steps, the hem of her light green palace dress with lotus pattern swaying in the morning breeze, and the brocade cape with silver thread embroidered with phoenix pattern shining coldly in the sunlight.

The red gold filigree hairpin inlaid with oriental pearls in her hair swayed gently as she raised her hands to adjust her clothes, casting a string of tiny streams of light in the morning light, as if the Milky Way was pouring down.

The oriental pearls on her hairpin were round and full, shining with a warm luster in the sun. As she moved, they made tiny clash sounds, like the natural sound of pearls and jade hitting each other.

Today's palace dress and hair accessories were all prepared by the Queen, which made Yang Qi look even more charming and elegant.

"Aunt Rong Pei, the third Miss Song." The young eunuch came forward quickly, holding the corner of his crimson robe. Beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, reflecting tiny lights in the sunlight.

As he bowed, the copper palace badge on his waist jingled: "The ladies of the various palaces have arrived at the palace gate. Would you like to lead them into the palace?"

Rong Pei was holding a scroll of bamboo slips in a rosewood box, her fingertips pressing on the location of the cinnabar annotations.

She was wearing a dark blue palace dress, with the twined branches embroidered with silver thread around her waist faintly visible in the morning light. She stood on the white marble steps as tall and straight as a pine or bamboo.

Hearing the question, she nodded slightly: "According to the list of the Ministry of Rites, first lead the ladies of the third rank and above to the East Hall to change clothes."

Suddenly, the sound of rings and pendants jingled could be heard from the palace road. When Princess Heshou and Princess Cheng'an, along with their personal maids, arrived at the palace gate, they saw Song Yangqi and Aunt Rong Pei standing side by side.

The tassels on Yang Qi's hair bun swayed gently in the breeze, making her eyebrows and eyes look picturesque and as beautiful as peach and plum.

"Princess Heshou, Princess Cheng'an." Yang Qi bowed to the nobles. Two palace maids stood behind him with their hands hanging down, holding a gilded list. The queen's golden seal on the list shone brightly in the sun. "Please move to the east hall to change your clothes."

Princess Cheng'an had originally promised her mother on the carriage that she would ignore Yang Qi, but seeing Yang Qi's graceful and generous attitude as the host, she completely forgot about the previous agreement.

The fingers holding the gilded round fan suddenly tightened, and the fan bones made a clattering sound. Princess Cheng An said, "I know the etiquette, why should I..."

Before she could finish her words, Princess Heshou glanced at her. There seemed to be cold stars flashing in her phoenix eyes, cutting off her words.

"Where is the East Palace?" Princess Heshou asked in a cold voice, and the hem of her skirt embroidered with golden phoenixes made a rustling sound as it dragged on the bluestone slabs.

Rong Pei handed over the bamboo slips, her voice as cold as frost: "Princess Heshou, Princess Cheng'an, please."

At the same time, the old lady, supported by Mother Rong, and Song Hongwen slowly stepped onto the white marble steps.

When Yang Qi saw Song Hongwen and the old lady arrive, he immediately turned around and told Rong Pei beside him: "Aunt Rong Pei, my father and grandmother are here."

Even though Song Hongwen and the old lady were usually lukewarm towards her, she had to be polite and speak politely at a family dinner like today.

Rong Pei nodded slightly to Yang Qi: "Miss Yang Qi, go quickly."

Yang Qi then stepped forward to support the old lady: "Father, grandmother, you must be tired this morning, right? The lounge in the East Palace is ready. I have asked someone to prepare your favorite refreshments. A palace maid will take you there later.

If you have any further questions, please let Mother Rong contact me at any time and I will do my best to arrange it."

The old lady patted Yang Qi's hand lovingly, her eyes lingering on her palace dress and hair accessories, and nodded with satisfaction: "You have been prudent since you were young, you have worked hard these days.

Help the Queen today. Your father and I will take good care of ourselves. Don't worry."

Song Hongwen also nodded and said, "Your grandmother is right. Today is a state banquet. We must not be careless. We must think carefully about everything."

Yang Qi nodded and was about to ask the maid to take the old lady and Song Hongwen to rest first, when she suddenly heard a sharp announcement from the back: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived--"

The sound of the announcement echoed on the palace walls, with the lingering sound.

In an instant, the crowd on the palace road parted like a tide, making way for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Yang Qi was stunned. His Highness arrived quite early today. Normally, people like His Highness would only show up when the banquet was about to start.

Yuan Ruiyuan walked up the stairs with steady steps. The scales and claws of the five-clawed golden python on his black brocade robe with python pattern were clearly visible in the sunlight, and each scale seemed to be coated with a layer of flowing golden light.

Under his high nose bridge, his thin lips were pursed into a sharp arc, and his whole body was like a sword drawn from its sheath, noble and imposing yet making people dare not look directly at him.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wore a mutton-fat jade pendant around his waist, which swayed gently with his steps, emitting a warm luster in the sunlight.

Princess Cheng'an, who was taking a nap in the East Palace, heard the announcement. She didn't care about the gilded bronze mirror in front of the dressing table, and also forgot her mother's previous instructions. She rushed out with her skirt lifted up.

She stood at the palace gate, looking at the tall figure, her breathing involuntarily quickened.

His Highness is so beautiful that people dare not look directly at him, but they can't help but want to get closer.

Princess Cheng'an's fingers twisted the handkerchief unconsciously, and the gold embroidery on the handkerchief became wrinkled.

After taking a deep breath, Princess Cheng An was about to step forward to speak, but the next moment, she saw the Crown Prince stopped in front of Song Yangqi.

"Everything went well today?" Yuan Ruiyuan's voice was low and gentle, creating ripples in the sunlight and instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the audience.

Yang Qi was slightly startled, then bowed and saluted: "Don't worry, Your Highness, everything is under arrangement."

Yuan Ruiyuan's gaze lingered on her slightly thin face for a moment, and a barely perceptible pity flashed in his eyes: "Thank you for your hard work."

Although there were only a few words, others could hear some special meaning in them.

The old lady watched this scene, and the smile lines at the corners of her eyes deepened. Although the Crown Prince had a great reputation in recent years, he had never been seen to treat any girl differently.

Now it seems that Yang Qi is favored by not only the Empress and Empress Yuan Yi, but also the Crown Prince...

Come to think of it, the plans that I have been making with the Duke these days are not just the unilateral ideas of the Duke Song’s Mansion.

Princess Cheng'an's knuckles turned white as she held the round fan, her eyes blazing with jealousy. The pearl hairpins, step-shaking ornaments, rouge and powder she had carefully prepared all became ridiculous foils at this moment.

The dark figure was clearly very close, but he didn't even give her a glance.

Princess Cheng'an bit her lower lip, and a sinister look flashed across her eyes.

In the tree outside the palace, a few magpies were chirping, as if foreshadowing something.

The breeze brought bursts of floral fragrance, mixed with the scent of ambergris wafting from the palace walls, forming a unique palace picture.