After being divorced, she overturned the capital and seized the empress's position!

When they returned to Yuehua Pavilion, Xiushu pulled her aside and said, "Miss, the princess is talking to the Duke. Please wait a while before going in."

Song Yue frowned. It's been almost two hours, and they're still not done talking?

After a moment's thought, he got up and went to find Song Huan.

The school was closed today, and Madam Tao was about to take Song Huan out to visit someone when she saw Song Yue arrive. She immediately beamed and pulled Song Yue to her side, saying, "Sister Yue is here."

"Second Aunt, Father and Mother are talking about something. I want to go out for a stroll with Fourth Sister." After Song Yue explained the reason, Madam Tao nodded in agreement without saying a word, generously gave Song Huan a silver note, and instructed her: "Take good care of your Third Sister. Buy whatever you like, and bring some back for your Third Sister as well, okay?"

Song Huan stared wide-eyed at the silver note. When had her mother ever been so generous to her?

Taken aback, she asked again, "Didn't Mother promise to take me to my aunt's house as a guest?"

Tao waved her hand dismissively: "Your aunt and I have something to discuss. Bringing you along would only be a burden. You should go out with your third sister to relax."

Song Huan nodded like a chick pecking at rice. Watching Tao leave happily, she turned to Song Yue and said, "With Third Sister around, Mother has never lost her temper."

More than that, in Tao's eyes now, the matter of Yuehua Pavilion is of paramount importance, and everything else has to take a backseat.

It's no wonder the Tao family values ​​Yuehua Pavilion so much; Princess Jiahua has given them so many benefits, extending to their own family and the entire Tao clan as a result.

For example, Tao's elder brother had been stagnant for many years, but was suddenly promoted a few days ago. Both of Tao's elder brother's sons were arranged to enter the cabinet, with bright futures ahead. Tao's sister-in-law was also extremely grateful to Tao and sent her many gifts.

Tao was finally able to hold her head high in her maternal home, and her back was straightened with pride.

If things continue like this, how could the second wife not have a chance to rise in status?

Therefore, Madam Tao would often give the second branch of the family a stern talking-to, especially her own children, repeatedly warning them not to upset Song Yue.

Anything that Song Yue sets her sights on, her children from the second wife must hand over.

Song Huan was tired of hearing this.

Song Yue chuckled: "Second Aunt looks much younger than when she first came back."

"People are in high spirits when they have good news," Song Huan shrugged, then asked with concern, "By the way, is the injury on your face any better?"

Song Yue was still wearing a veil, but the scars had faded considerably after using the Honey Snow Cream, and pink scabs had formed. She estimated that they would be fully healed in less than three months.

"Don't worry, it won't leave a scar."

Song Huan patted his chest: "That's good."

She then pointed to two unfamiliar maids behind her: "These are two maids who know martial arts, sent by my aunt. My mother said that we should take them with us whenever we go out."

Song Yue raised an eyebrow and smiled.

The two sisters went out together. Song Yue was thinking about the hidden pearl, so she sent someone to the Eighth Prince's mansion to ask him about some things in person.

"Miss, the Eighth Prince will be waiting for you at Ningxiang Pavilion in an hour."

Ningxiang Pavilion, as the name suggests, is a place that sells spices; it's the largest spice shop in the entire capital. Song Yue nodded.

While we still had some time, Song Huan and I bought some food on the street and then went to listen to a shadow puppet show.

"Third Sister!"

A gentle voice called out in my ear.

Song Yue didn't even need to open her eyes to know who the other person was. She frowned and sighed inwardly at how unlucky she was to have run into Pei Zhao!

Pei Zhao was overjoyed, never expecting to run into Song Yue on the street. He excitedly stepped forward, and seeing the veil on her face, a look of regret appeared in his eyes. He asked, "How is Third Miss's injury?"

"How can it be good if everyone is wearing veils? Prince Pei is already engaged, so stop bothering my third sister, lest gossip spread and cause us trouble!"

Song Huan suddenly stepped in front of Song Yue, hands on her hips, looking like a mother hen protecting her chicks, her head tilted back warily as she stared at the other woman.

Pei Zhao was taken aback, took two steps back awkwardly, and kept his gaze on Song Yue: "I, I was just worried about Third Miss's injury."

"You don't need to worry about me!" Song Huan continued to retort, not giving Pei Zhao a chance to get close to Song Yue at all. After a few words, Pei Zhao's face turned ugly, and he had no choice but to stand aside and say a simple goodbye.

"Third sister, let's go!" Song Huan acted as if she had seen a plague god and quickly pulled Song Yue away. Song Yue was amused and obediently followed Song Huan towards Ningxiang Pavilion.

Song Yue didn't take Pei Zhao seriously at all.

He thought himself to be virtuous and compassionate towards the weak, but in reality, he was a womanizer, fickle, and easily swayed. He was not a reliable person at all and was a complete hypocrite!

"Young Master, we can't afford to offend the Duke of Jing's daughter. We'd better leave quickly," the servant said.

Pei Zhao stared at the departing figures of the two for a long time, unable to come back to his senses. He felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, even though Song Yue was clearly his real fiancée.

But why is she so determined to break off the engagement?

If she marries him, he will definitely treat her well.

"Young Master, let's go. Miss is still waiting for you," the servant said.

Pei Zhao's brows furrowed so deeply that they could trap a fly, and the disgust in his eyes was undisguised. But remembering his mother's instructions, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and head to the Prince Qing's residence.

Just as he stood at the entrance of Prince Qing's mansion, he saw the steward rushing out and almost bumped into him. The steward stopped in time and his eyes lit up when he saw Pei Zhao: "Young Master Pei!"

Pei Zhao's eyelids twitched.

The steward grabbed his sleeve: "The young lady is ill and is insisting on seeing you. You should go and take a look."

They dragged and pulled, fearing that a moment's delay would lead to serious consequences. When they reached the gate of the courtyard, they heard heart-wrenching screams.

"You slut, secretly applying rouge behind my back, who are you trying to seduce?"

Immediately following was the sound of begging for mercy and crying.

Pei Zhao frowned.

The sharp-eyed maid guarding the door spotted Pei Zhao and quickly slipped into the room. In just a moment, the insults and cries stopped abruptly.

The atmosphere was so quiet it was as if what had just happened was a hallucination.

"Cousin Zhao." Zhao Qingyan, dressed in a simple white dress, walked out gracefully. Upon seeing the person, she quickened her pace and bumped into his arms, sobbing softly.

Pei Zhao awkwardly raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder.

Zhao Qingyan tilted her head back and said, "I heard that you're also going to marry the youngest daughter of the Duke of Jingguo?"

"It means the elders in the family."

"So, you and she weren't childhood sweethearts?" Zhao Qingyan's expression softened.

Pei Zhao remained silent. He and Song Yao were childhood sweethearts, and his mother had privately mentioned that she would take Song Yao into the household in the future and make her the official wife after she gave birth to a child.

Zhao Qingyan frowned, then suddenly shoved Pei Zhao away, a sinister glint flashing across her face: "So, you have feelings for her?"

Pushed, Pei Zhao came to his senses and shook his head: "How could that be? My relationship with Miss Song is completely innocent."

Zhao Qingyan stared intently into the other person's eyes for a long time before she finally believed him. She then pulled Pei Zhao to the garden and said, "A new twin lotus has bloomed in the manor. Mother says it's a good omen. Let's go and share in the joy."

Perhaps she was walking too fast, because the wind suddenly blew up Zhao Qingyan's veil, revealing a dark brown scar that looked like a caterpillar spreading across her fair and flawless cheek.

Pei Zhao was suddenly taken aback.

Suddenly, I remembered seeing Song Yue earlier. She was also wearing a mask. Could it be that the scars on her face are the same as those on Zhao Qingyan's face?

When Zhao Qingyan saw him staring at her face, she quickly covered her face, feeling both ashamed and angry: "If it weren't for Song Yue, I wouldn't be like this. I swear I will never let her get away with this!"

After saying that, Zhao Qingyan lost interest in strolling in the garden, stomped her feet, covered her face, and ran away.

"Young Master, Young Master, you must hurry and chase after the girl!" the maid urged.

Pei Zhao's steps felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and it took him a long time to catch up.

...

"What are you looking at?" Song Yue glanced at Zhao Zhiyan, who had just entered the room and was staring at her veil, with an annoyed look.

Seeing that she always acted like a hedgehog with its fur standing on end, Zhao Zhiyan smiled helplessly and took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, placing it on the table: "Skin-regenerating ointment, try applying it."

The words "Muscle Regenerating Cream" instantly perked Song Yue up. The famous Muscle Regenerating Cream, worth ten thousand taels of silver, was nothing more than a tiny bit of it.

The other party actually brought her a bottle!

"This..." Song Yue smiled and put it away, then generously thanked Zhao Zhiyan: "Thank you, Eighth Imperial Uncle."

Zhao Zhiyan sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation; he was only six years older than her.

As if remembering something, Zhao Zhiyan glanced at Song Huan, who was standing quietly to the side. Song Huan trembled and said, "I... I'll go downstairs and take a look."

"Fourth sister?"

"Don't worry, I won't wander off. I'll be back in a bit." Song Huan swallowed hard.

Zhao Zhiyan said, "You don't need to hide it, it's nothing serious."

Upon hearing this, Song Huan quickly sat back down, behaving as obediently as a quail without saying a word. Zhao Zhiyan said, "Do you know that someone has reported that they want to marry you?"

A single sentence struck Song Yue like a thunderbolt, leaving her stunned.

"It is the Prince of Guangjia."

Prince Guangjia?

He is the nephew of the Northern Chu Emperor, and also has another identity: the eldest son of the late emperor and the former crown prince.

"Before the late Emperor passed away, His Majesty promised that Prince Guangjia would grant him a favor. Prince Guangjia asked several highly respected ministers in the court to personally plead with His Majesty, insisting on marrying you as his concubine." Zhao Zhiyan watched as Song Yue's face turned pale inch by inch, and tried to soften his tone as much as possible: "A-Yue, aside from his status, Prince Guangjia is a decent person, virtuous and talented, and a trustworthy person."