cold clothes

At 3:45 PM, Wang Yuqing followed her mother to Renming Palace. Renming Palace was holding a grand banquet to entertain them and the families of various prominent families. The palace maids were all busy with smiles, like birds welcoming spring flitting about in the garden.

After the nanny announced their arrival, she led the mother and daughter into the palace. Wang Yuqing casually prepared to greet her aunt, the Empress, but her gaze inadvertently swept around. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she seemed to catch an unusual figure.

Red Calyx...? She's actually here.

At this moment, Hong'e was chatting with a group of young ladies from prominent families. She was wearing a wide-sleeved brocade top with a crimson plum and orchid pattern, and a gamboge skirt with a floral and bird pattern. Her black hair was tied into a low bun and adorned with filigree and beaded flowers. Her skin was as white as snow and her lips were as red as cinnabar. She was a vivid and delicate young lady from a prominent family.

Many people, upon seeing her, would secretly wonder whose daughter she was, given her unfamiliar face, which attracted quite a few people.

A friendly young lady asked her identity: "I am Li Minghui, my father is the Minister of Rites. Which family do you belong to? I have never seen you before."

Hong'e slightly raised her chin and smiled, "My name is Hong'e, and I am a distant relative of Her Majesty the Empress."

"Oh, so you're the young lady who serves the Empress. This is the first time I've seen you at a banquet."

"Am I that famous?" Hong'e felt a little proud when she heard that others had heard of her.

"Since you are a distant relative of the Empress, you must be a member of the Wang family. Hey, look, Miss Wang is here." Someone noticed Wang Yuqing not far away, and as soon as these words were spoken, they all turned to look at Wang Yuqing. Wang Yuqing then met Hong'e's gaze.

Hong'e appeared nonchalant, but Wang Yuqing's gaze subtly revealed ill intent.

She wasn't a member of the Wang family at all; this identity was fabricated by her aunt, the Empress. Wang Yuqing pursed her lips in dissatisfaction and secretly clenched her fists.

"Miss Yuqing, you've arrived."

"Miss Yuqing looks beautiful today."

"Miss Wang, seeing is believing. Oh, you might not remember me, I am..."

As soon as Wang Yuqing appeared, she attracted the attention of most people. Whether they were sincere or not, they all crowded around her. She dealt with them one by one, and before she knew it, Hong'e had disappeared from her sight.

Her eyebrows furrowed deeply, then relaxed suddenly. It's alright, she'll explain everything to her aunt, the Empress.

During the banquet, Wang Yuqing couldn't find Hong'e anywhere. Was Hong'e avoiding her? Wang Yuqing couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Empress Wang noticed that Wang Yuqing was restless, so she patted her hand.

Startled by this, Wang Yuqing blinked and asked, "What's wrong, Aunt Empress?"

"I should be asking you that," Empress Wang said kindly, patting Wang Yuqing's hand gently again. "Let's talk after the banquet; it's been months since we've had a private chat."

Seeing Empress Wang's gentle demeanor, Wang Yuqing felt much more at ease and gave a soft "hmm" with a slight smile.

Just as the banquet ended, Wang Yuqing informed her mother and, on her way from the garden to the side hall, she accidentally saw a man and a woman under the eaves of the East Corner Hall. Upon closer inspection, she recognized them as the Third Prince Zhao Qun and Hong'e.

Wang Yuqing instinctively hid to observe them.

Hong'e was looking up at Zhao Qun and saying something. After a while, she tried to take Zhao Qun's arm, but Zhao Qun politely declined.

Wang Yuqing was dumbfounded. The intimate behavior of the man and woman meeting in private was truly shameless.

What would Hong'e say to the Third Prince? Wang Yuqing couldn't help but lower her head and wring her handkerchief in deep thought.

"Cousin, you're actually a spy?"

"?!"

Wang Yuqing suddenly came to her senses and looked up to see Zhao Qun standing in front of her. She was so frightened that she took five or six steps back.