After the mind-reading and gossip-eating incident, officials in the imperial city were demoted one a

Meeting the gaze of the Prince of Jing, Yao Yao suddenly realized what she had said, as if waking from a dream.

"Which young lady is so bold as to make such a racket at the palace banquet?"

The empress's voice was authoritative, and her gaze swept coldly downwards.

Ye Mian was filled with fear and trepidation, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He quickly stood up, bowed, and begged for forgiveness.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. My daughter is new to the palace and does not know the rules. Please forgive her."

Liu Yunshu respectfully curtsied.

"Your Majesty, my daughter has been frail and sickly since childhood and knows very few people."

Prince Jing possesses an otherworldly appearance. Upon first seeing you, I was momentarily stunned. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

"Yaoyao was just speaking unintentionally. In my opinion, Your Majesty should forgive her this time," Liu Lingchuan pleaded.

"Your subject, Ye Yaoyao, knows her mistake." Ye Yaoyao stood up, bowed her head, and admitted her mistake, secretly cursing in her heart.

[All you said was "handsome man." Prince Jing is indeed handsome, so why can't we say that? Is the Empress suffering from a sore throat from eating too much chili, or is she on her period?]

Liu Yunshu glanced helplessly at her daughter, who had suddenly become the center of attention. It was exactly what she feared.

Consort Mei smiled and looked at the Empress, "In my opinion, the young lady is straightforward and spoke the truth."

Her Majesty the Empress is always very strict in her conduct. This is not the inner palace; it would be best if you, sister, act more casually.

"Your Highness, you are mistaken. To criticize the royal princes is such an unruly act, utterly lacking in manners. They should be properly disciplined."

Granny Zhuang has served in the palace for over thirty years and has trained countless palace servants. In my opinion, she should be entrusted with instructing the servants in etiquette for a month.

The speaker was Princess Qin Yunshang, whose sharp gaze was fixed on Ye Yaoyao.

Upon seeing Ye Yaoyao's face clearly, she clenched her fists, her body trembled slightly, and her eyes held a destructive hatred that seemed to want to burn Ye Yaoyao to ashes.

Seeing this, Mu Ningyan looked at her mother in surprise, completely baffled as to why her mother had such a strong reaction.

What kind of hatred is this that warrants me being tortured for a month?

Ye Yaoyao looked at the eldest princess and quickly asked the system to check her.

[System, the Grand Princess is looking at me like she wants to kill me. Quickly find out why.]

She looks at you like someone.

"Do I resemble someone? Are you referring to my mother, or someone else?"

[Host, I am not your mother.] The host only bears a slight resemblance to Liu Yunshu.

[If it's not my mother, then which of my uncles is it? My second uncle?]

[Why did you think of going to your uncle's place?] The system thought the host was an idiot.

[A nephew is like an uncle!] Her second uncle and aunt are also... no, they're not related.

Find the answer yourself. That makes sense, but it's not...

[System, what's wrong with you? Why didn't you just tell me?]

The system will no longer respond.

Ye Yaoyao felt that something was wrong with the system. The princess hated her mother and her because of one person. Who was this person?

Liu Yunshu had not known before that her daughter said the eldest princess hated her, but now she understood that the eldest princess had someone else she loved.

Ye Li'an thought to herself, "Another hidden danger has been added."

Those who heard Ye Yaoyao's inner thoughts were confused.

“What the Princess says is very true. My daughter has been frail since childhood, and I have spoiled her too much. She should be disciplined.”

Ye Mian was most pleased when Ye Yaoyao was poked and touched, while Liu Yunshu and the triplets glared at him angrily.

[You scumbag dad, you really know how to take advantage of every opportunity.]

Prince Jing gave Qin Yunshang a cold, sidelong glance.

"Elder sister, I do find this little girl quite interesting, but it's just a compliment, so there's no need for you to be so critical."

Wow! The handsome man and Consort Mei are such good people.

“Ninth brother, I am not being harsh. Our imperial family is of noble birth, and which noble lady has not been taught court etiquette?”

“Yunshang is right, Your Majesty. Miss Ye is new to the palace and does not know etiquette. I think it would be appropriate to find a nanny to teach her.”

The Empress echoed Qin Yunshang and looked at the Emperor to ask.

The Empress and the Eldest Princess are in cahoots; they're doing this to avenge Mu Ningyan!

“Your Majesty, Miss Ye has offended me. I will have Granny Li go and teach her for a few days tomorrow.”

The emperor spoke calmly: "Today's banquet is meant to be a time for the emperor and his subjects to enjoy themselves together. Let's not let these trivial matters spoil the mood."

"Since His Majesty and Ninth Prince have said so, then so be it."

The eldest princess was dissatisfied, and her fingernails scratched her hand, so she dared not say another word.

[The old woman sent by Prince Jing, is she on my side?]

Ye Mian's voice of gratitude rang in her ears, and Ye Yaoyao followed suit.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and Prince Jing."

Ye Mian thanked the most distinguished guests, sat back down, and breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't been punished. He then glared at Ye Yaoyao and growled.

"Just be quiet."

"I'm well-behaved, but others won't give me the chance to be well-behaved," Ye Yaoyao muttered to herself.

"You...you...shouldn't have brought you along."

Ye Mian forgot that it was the Emperor himself who said he wanted to bring Ye Yaoyao along.

I'm so hungry! Can I eat now?

"Your Majesty, I'm sure the ministers are all hungry. Shall we begin the banquet?"

Prince Jing glanced at Ye Yaoyao staring at the dishes on the table and complaining of being hungry, and cursed her inwardly as a heartless little devil.

The Emperor nodded. "Today's banquet is to welcome the Ninth Prince back home and to celebrate his return. I hope that all of you will enjoy yourselves to the fullest. Let the banquet begin!"

The moment the Emperor announced the start of the banquet, the tense and solemn atmosphere in the hall vanished instantly, and the entire palace was filled with the sounds of ministers toasting and laughing.

The musicians began to play, and the dancers took the stage and began to sway their graceful figures.

Ye Yaoyao ate the imperial meal with gusto, glancing at Prince Jing from time to time.

[System, can you find information about Prince Jing now?]

【Hold on. 】

The system was puzzled; it still couldn't see the information about Prince Jing and had to go through the guards beside him.

[Prince Jing's name is Qin Jingyu. He is twenty-two years old and was the late emperor's son. Eighteen years ago, when the late emperor passed away, the princes rebelled and rose up in rebellion. He was protected by the late emperor's confidants and sent to his fiefdom.]

Five years ago, the Northern Lan Kingdom sent spies to assassinate him. Prince Jing led ten secret guards and stormed into the emperor's palace.

Wow! Isn't this Long Aotian? No wonder he acts like he's in his own backyard when he enters the palace.

Despite his young age, the princes still addressed him as Ninth Imperial Uncle, truly making him second only to the emperor and above all others.

"Hmm! Qin Jingyu, this name sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

System: They already told you, but you just forgot.

Ye Yaoyao's relatives kept glancing at Prince Jing. Did the two know each other?

Prince Jing picked up his wine and took a sip, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. He had indeed forgotten the man's name.

The handsome man is none other than the unlucky Ninth Prince. No, it should be said that the Ninth Prince is unlucky enough to be taken a liking to by his own elder sister, who wants to become her brother's mother-in-law.

He just helped me; I should tell him about the Grand Princess's despicable intentions.

Ye Yaoyao looked at Prince Jing, [Huh! Why does Prince Jing seem unhappy?]

Liu Lingchuan almost spat out the wine he had just taken a sip of, and looked at Qin Yunshang in disbelief.

The eldest princess is truly insane; everyone who heard Ye Yaoyao's inner thoughts unanimously agreed.