You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Lin Qing was also among the seat, which was quite rare.

She has never liked attending these kinds of banquets, but the fact that she was sitting with Wu Xuanyi today was something that even her father, Minister Lin, hadn't expected.

Lin Qing tilted her head and looked at Xie Wanru in the high seat, shaking her head with considerable disdain.

"I never thought Wanwan could be so coquettish. It's weird... disgusting."

As she spoke, she shivered.

Wu Xuanyi covered her mouth and chuckled. She wasn't familiar with Xie Wanru before, but she knew that Xie Wanru and the Empress had a good relationship, so she didn't find it strange.

"It seems your best friend doesn't know Wanwan well enough. She's quite the charmer."

"Hehe, that's because I don't know enough."

However, Lin Qing really didn't know that Xie Wanru had this side to her. Today, she witnessed another side of Xie Wanru.

Because Xie Wanru was practically nestled in the Empress's arms right now, she had never been this close to her mother, it was almost unbearable to watch.

The Emperor only had eyes for the Empress's smiling face; if the Empress was happy, he was happy.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you so happy. Why don't you let Wanwan move out of the princess's mansion and live in the palace instead?"

The Emperor said, half-jokingly.

Xie Wanru's smile almost froze. To others, being able to serve the Empress might seem like a blessing from their ancestors, but for Xie Wanru, it was practically no different from being imprisoned.

"You silly girl, are you really that unwilling to live in the palace?"

Emperor Qinyong was not displeased to see Xie Wanru's reluctant expression. He would have found it strange if this girl had agreed to live in the palace.

"Your Majesty, please stop teasing Wanwan. If I were to live in the palace, I fear the Empress would find me uninteresting."

Xie Wanru smiled again. She really didn't want to live in the palace; she felt uncomfortable doing anything there.

"You! You!"

Emperor Qinyong gestured with his hand as if tapping someone's head in the air. "Come here, I have something else to ask you."

"Aunt Rou, I don't want to get hit on the head."

Xie Wanru hid beside the Empress, but her body still obediently moved closer to the Emperor.

Emperor Qinyong raised his hand and gently flicked Xie Wanru's forehead, tilting his head slightly. "I heard that Prince Rui has been visiting your princess residence frequently lately. Has that boy... taken a fancy to you?"

After asking the question, he glanced at the person to his right.

Who else could that person be but Prince Rui?

Prince Rui, who is never allowed to attend banquets, actually showed up today.

Xie Wanru almost chuckled out loud. She genuinely thought the Emperor was quite gossipy. Prince Rui didn't actually like her; he was testing whether she was on the side of the Crown Prince or Xiao Yan.

Moreover, Prince Rui may appear innocent and naive, but his heart is unknowingly dark.

"Your Majesty is joking. I can count the number of times I have met with Prince Rui on one hand. Moreover, I have just divorced the Shen family and have no intention of getting married again for the time being. Please do not insult Prince Rui; it is inappropriate."

Xie Wanru's smile seemed somewhat forced.

It's unclear whether Prince Rui heard something, but his hand holding the cup paused in mid-air for a moment before resuming its rhythm.

Emperor Qinyong laughed heartily, seemingly unsurprised by Xie Wanru's answer.

"Haha, you think he's too old? Haha, that must be it."

Emperor Qinyong didn't care whether Xie Wanru meant it or not; that's just how he thought it was.

After he finished laughing, he ignored Xie Wanru and called Xie Yanting over to talk to her. Xie Wanru could only force a smile and return to the Empress's side.

She and Prince Rui are not even close to being together. I don't know what the Emperor is thinking all day. Is this all there is to a man and woman getting together?

Not necessarily!

Of course, these are all Xie Wanru's own thoughts, since most people believe that there is no such thing as a purely platonic relationship between men and women.

Seeing that Xie Wanru was not only related to the Empress, but also acted so recklessly in front of the Emperor, Shen Nianqing clenched her fists tighter and tighter.

If Xie Wanru is so favored and allowed to continue to gain power, where will she find a place to live in the future?

The scandals that the Shen family has been experiencing lately might be the work of Xie Wanru. She cannot be outdone by Xie Wanru, this abandoned woman; she absolutely cannot.

Shen Nianqing's gaze searched the banquet hall and finally landed on the Third Princess Lou Yao, who stood in a corner with an indifferent expression.

A thought struck her: perhaps she could find a breakthrough by talking to the Third Imperial Concubine.

The Third Prince was not born to the Empress, but he was the best candidate to compete with the Crown Prince for the throne. Using him to deal with Xie Wanru should not be a problem.

So, taking advantage of everyone's inattention, Shen Nianqing quietly left her seat and walked gracefully towards where the Third Imperial Consort Lou Yao was.

She greeted Lou Yao in a soft voice, and then kept mentioning Xie Wanru in her words, trying to provoke the Crown Prince's displeasure. However, Lou Yao just smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned about Xie Wanru's affairs.

Although Lou Yao wasn't very smart, she wasn't familiar with Shen Nianqing, and she wasn't foolish enough to reveal her thoughts in front of a stranger.

Shen Nianqing's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Lou Yao to be so reserved in revealing her feelings, but she wasn't discouraged and continued to probe, "Third Imperial Consort, Xie Wanru is currently in power. Aren't you afraid she'll threaten your position in the future? She's relying on your mother right now."

Lou Yao's eyes flickered slightly. She looked at Shen Nianqing, a playful smile playing on her lips: "Oh? Then what do you think I should do?"

Lou Yao knew that Shen Nianqing had once been Xie Wanru's sister-in-law and was probably unhappy with Xie Wanru's current power, so she wanted to make things difficult for Xie Wanru. She didn't mind listening to Shen Nianqing's suggestion; what if it was a good idea?

After all, what Shen Nianqing wants to do is beyond her control; she could easily use Shen Nianqing to deal with Xie Wanru.

And she only needs to wait and watch the show.

Shen Nianqing was overjoyed, thinking that Lou Yao had finally shown interest, and quickly said, "If the Third Princess needs it, I can keep an eye on Xie Wanru for her. She has been in the Shen family for two years, and I know her very well. Naturally, I have plenty of ways to deal with her."

Lou Yao simply smiled and did not answer.

Shen Nianqing's suggestion lacked focus and failed to find any fault with Xie Wanru; it was just boasting, and she wasn't about to fall for it.

"Third Imperial Consort, Xie Wanru has been in my Shen family for two years, yet she has not given birth to a single child. If I were to make this public, the world... would all come to laugh at her."

Seeing that Lou Yao still looked somewhat hesitant, Shen Nianqing quickly added fuel to the fire.

She knew all too well that in this patriarchal era, a woman's reputation was closely linked to her fertility, especially for women from wealthy and powerful families.

Otherwise, how could Fu Rou, an illegitimate child, have entered the Shen family? She only succeeded because she gave birth to a son.