Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

The morning sunlight streamed onto the quaint college paths as Xiao Lan and Wu Yuyu, best friends, ran and skipped towards the lecture hall. Their footsteps, like cheerful drumbeats, broke the tranquil atmosphere of the campus.

As the two were hurrying along, they suddenly noticed the Master approaching with steady steps not far ahead. Xiao Lan and Wu Yuyu quickly stopped and respectfully greeted the Master. The Master nodded slightly in response and then continued walking.

After receiving the teacher's permission, the two exchanged a smile, quickened their pace, and rushed into the lecture hall ahead of everyone else. Just as they stepped inside, before they could even catch their breath, Xiao Lan felt a gentle pat on her shoulder. Turning her head, she saw Yan Nanhui smiling at her, holding a small paper package in his hand.

Xiao Lan curiously took the paper package and gently opened it. An enticing aroma wafted out. Inside were two steaming, plump, white steamed buns! Seeing these two delicious buns, Xiao Lan's eyes lit up, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

Just then, Yan Nanhui's gentle voice rang in her ears: "I know you definitely don't have time to go to the dining hall for breakfast, so I specially brought you these two buns. Eat them while they're hot, don't go to class on an empty stomach." After saying that, he winked at Xiao Lan, looking both kind and cute.

Yan Nan smiled and spoke softly to Xiao Lan, gently stroking her silky hair. Xiao Lan's gaze was drawn to the enormous steamed bun in front of her. Thinking of sharing this delicious treat with her friend, she turned around, called out Wu Yuyu's name, and prepared to hand her one of the buns to try.

However, just as Xiao Lan raised her hand, Yan Nanhui reacted quickly. He hurriedly reached out to stop Xiao Lan's movement and said in a light tone, "Don't rush, I brought two sets!" As soon as he finished speaking, he magically pulled out another paper package from his pocket and carefully handed it to Wu Yuyu.

Upon seeing this, Wu Yuyu's face immediately lit up with a bright smile. She happily accepted the paper package and sweetly thanked him, "Thank you, brother-in-law!" Then, she couldn't wait to turn around and begin to savor the steaming, fragrant buns.

But no one expected that at that moment, Wu Yuyu's clear and loud "Brother-in-law" was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing a huge uproar. In the entire lecture hall, at least three people's expressions changed visibly because of those two words.

Sitting beside him, Ye Lanyi keenly noticed Yan Linfeng's unusual behavior. Although Yan Linfeng appeared calm and unaffected on the surface, Ye Lanyi's keen observation revealed something amiss—Yan Linfeng's right hand had silently slipped under the desk, clenched into a fist, the knuckles slightly white from the exertion. This seemingly calm yet suppressed anger was familiar to Ye Lanyi; she had witnessed Yan Linfeng's restrained expression more than once before.

Since childhood, despite her uncle-in-law, the current Emperor Yan Zhen, doting on her aunt, even her third son, Yan Linfeng, had received favor due to this affection. However, Yan Linfeng was not the Crown Prince, and although Empress Lin was known for her virtue and competence, she was not an easy person to deal with. Therefore, Yan Linfeng's path was far from smooth and unobstructed as rumored. Furthermore, being neither the legitimate son nor the heir apparent, he naturally faced suppression from Yan Jingtian in many ways. Ye Lanyi was well aware of all this; she knew that Yan Linfeng had been silently enduring. But what could have caused him to be so angry at this moment, and why was he continuing to suppress his anger? Could it really be because of that despicable woman? Thinking of this, Ye Lanyi couldn't help but turn her gaze to Xiao Lan beside her, a deep hatred flashing in her eyes. Just then, Xiao Lan suddenly turned her head. Caught off guard, Ye Lanyi's pent-up hatred was laid bare before her. Xiao Lan sneered, staring intently at Ye Lanyi, and mocked, "Oh ho, Ye Xueyou, why are you glaring at me like that? Perhaps you were trying to get some information from my cousin yesterday but failed, and are now furious?"

Ye Lanyi was shocked and thought to herself: Yesterday, she had been extremely careful and cautious in parting ways with Wu Yuyu in the dining hall! She hadn't expected that even with such precautions, she still couldn't escape Xiao Lan's discerning eyes. However, now that Xiao Lan had revealed this matter in front of everyone, she absolutely could not admit it easily.

Ye Lanyi slowly stood up and, trying to remain calm, said, "Miss Xiao, you seem to be being a little too sensitive. I only spoke to Sister Wu because I felt sorry for her being alone here. I had absolutely no intention of trying to find out anything about you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan sneered, her face showing disdain, and said sarcastically, "Miss Ye, neither of us are pushovers, so why are you putting on airs with me? We're all seasoned foxes, so why are you pretending to be a ghost story?"

Just then, Yan Jingtian, who had been silent all along, suddenly asked, "Miss Xiao, what exactly is this 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'?"

Upon hearing his question, Xiao Lan suddenly realized, as if waking from a dream, that the so-called "Liaozhai" did not exist in the Great Xia Kingdom at all. But since the matter had already been brought up, she had to find a way to justify herself. After a moment's thought, Xiao Lan hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, you may not know, but 'Liaozhai' is simply a book that compiles many strange and wonderful stories about spirits and monsters."

Yan Jingtian nodded slightly, his eyes deep, as if he were deep in thought. After a moment, he slowly spoke, "Does your statement imply that some people are inherently bad, but pretend to be kind?" His voice was deep and magnetic, as if it contained an invisible power.

Standing to the side, Xiao Lan looked puzzled, staring at Yan Jingtian with confusion. She wondered why this incomparably noble Crown Prince would speak up for her at this moment. However, a thought quickly crossed her mind, and she remembered that Ye Lanyi was affiliated with Consort Ye and Yan Linfeng. She figured that making Ye Lanyi disgusted would be a way to give Consort Ye's faction a warning. Having understood this, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Lan's face, and she readily agreed, "Your Highness is wise and insightful; what you say is absolutely right. That is precisely what I meant."

At this moment, Ye Lanyi, standing on the other side, was already trembling with rage, her face ashen, yet she couldn't utter a single word. She knew all too well that the man before her was the current emperor's eldest son—His Highness the Crown Prince, whose status was extremely exalted and whom she could not easily offend. Xiao Lan, standing beside her, was merely the daughter of a fifth-rank official, but because her grandfather was a marquis and she had already been betrothed to a prince by the emperor, she was about to become a true prince's consort. In comparison, she herself was just a concubine's daughter born to the second wife of a merchant family. If it weren't for the Imperial Concubine's mercy, who had taken her into the palace and raised her with great care since childhood, she would probably be in a worse situation than even the only daughter of an ordinary family in her hometown of Xiwu Prefecture.

Just then, everyone's attention was focused on Ye Lanyi. She lowered her head slightly, as if she were feeling guilty and dared not look directly at others. Then, she secretly reached her right hand to her lower back and twisted it a little. This twist was not light; a sharp pain immediately spread throughout her body, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

After a while, Ye Lanyi slowly raised her head. Her once beautiful face was now blurred with tears, making her look pitiful. She looked at Xiao Lan and Yan Jingtian through her tears, her voice trembling as she said, "I don't know... what I did wrong to offend you both so much. I only wanted to get along well with everyone and build good relationships, but I never expected to end up being humiliated like this." At this point, she could no longer suppress her grievances, and tears streamed down her face like a burst dam.

Seeing this, Xiao Lan was even more furious, so angry that she could barely speak. She glared at Ye Lanyi and gritted her teeth, saying directly, "Hmph! Trying to get along with us? What kind of relationship? Is it like the relationship your Ye family had with the Imperial Concubine?" Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.

Xiao Lan's words were like a thunderclap in everyone's ears! Ye Lanyi's face instantly turned ashen, her delicate body trembling slightly, as if she had suffered a tremendous blow. The others present were also dumbfounded, their faces filled with astonishment. Who could have imagined that the Ye family would deceive Consort Ye? They had never heard of such a thing before!

Surprisingly, the princes seemed to have heard about this matter. It was common knowledge that Consort Ye had doted on her niece, Ye Lanyi, since childhood, a affection no less than that shown towards her own son, Yan Linfeng. Now, Xiao Lan openly claimed that the Ye family had deceived Consort Ye—what was the reason? Immediately, the princes, driven by curiosity, turned around, their gazes shifting between Ye Lanyi and Xiao Lan. Even Lin Yuxuan and Wu Yuyu, standing nearby, couldn't help but cast curious glances, looking every bit like a group of onlookers waiting for a good show.

Faced with Xiao Lan's questioning, Ye Lanyi was momentarily speechless, as if something was blocking her throat, and she couldn't speak for a long time. She clearly felt Yan Linfeng staring intently at her, his sharp gaze making her feel uneasy. Helpless, Ye Lanyi had no choice but to steel herself and lower her voice to defend her family, saying, "Miss Xiao, please don't speak nonsense. My Ye family has always been upright and honest, and has never deceived my aunt." However, her slightly flustered expression and somewhat unconvinced words only made people suspect that there was more to the story.

Since learning of her arranged marriage, Xiao Lan felt much more at ease. Knowing that Yan Nan was her protector, she gradually forgot about their supposed engagement. At the same time, when she faced Ye Lanyi again, those past memories flooded back like a tide.

Back then, she was a proud and upright transmigrated woman! How could she have been driven to suicide by this heartless, hypocritical, and manipulative woman? Ye Lanyi before her was still the same repulsive figure. New and old grudges combined instantly caused Xiao Lan to lose her temper. She could no longer contain her anger and bluntly said, "Hmph! I only mentioned the second branch of your Ye family, not the entire Ye family. You should think about it carefully. If Consort Ye knew that your true identity was a lie, how would she take back all the favor she had bestowed upon you? Perhaps only in this way could she quell her hatred!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xiao Lan stared intently at Ye Lanyi's increasingly pale face, a surge of vengeful pleasure welling up within her. However, at that moment, she suddenly remembered Jiang Nihuang's earlier warning—never to reveal her true identity. So, she quickly composed herself and continued, "I warned you long ago not to provoke me, but you stubbornly refused to listen. If you don't want your identity to be exposed in public and your reputation ruined, then you'd better behave yourself. Remember, this is the second time I've warned you. As the saying goes, 'third time's the charm.' If there's a next time, don't blame me for not showing mercy; then you'll truly be courting death!"

After Xiao Lan finished speaking hastily, she didn't even raise her head, let alone look at the expressions of the people around her. At this moment, everyone looked like they were enjoying the show, their faces filled with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. But Xiao Lan seemed oblivious, as if she hadn't heard anything, and went straight back to her seat and sat down calmly.