They were in charge of being beautiful, and she was in charge of taking the hits.

Looking out from the carriage, the road leading to the palace seemed incredibly long, with its red walls and green tiles concealing countless heartbroken people and power struggles.

Wu Ziyan squeezed Sima Lingchuan's hand again, and Sima Lingchuan said, "Ziyan, you don't need to worry about me. I'm used to how my mother treats me."

"I was just nervous." Wu Ziyan was telling the truth, after all, this was the first time "she" had met him, her nominal mother and family member.

"The Empress has always treated you very well. You used to love going to the palace." Sima Lingchuan recalled the happy scene when the Empress summoned Wu Ziyan to the palace.

Wu Ziyan smiled. Things are different now. She is not the same Wu Ziyan as before. She can only make plans after they meet.

The banquet was already set, and everyone who was supposed to be there had taken their seats. She was the last to arrive, besides the Empress. As soon as she stepped into the palace, a sarcastic voice rang out: "Fourth Sister, you have such a leisurely life! Even your attendance at the banquet is so slow and hesitant!"

The speaker was none other than the Third Princess, Wu Chengling. [Wu Ziyan is retrieving data from the character list.] The Third Princess is 17 years old, born to the Imperial Noble Consort.

Wu Ziyan stepped forward and bowed, appearing slightly uneasy, but not wanting them to notice anything amiss: "Third Sister, what are you saying? I just happened to run into Prime Minister Sima on the way and we talked for a bit, which is why I'm late."

Looking around, [Wu Chengji: Eldest Princess, Protector General, 20 years old, born to the Emperor]

[Wu Chengye: The Second Princess, 19 years old, born to a concubine of the Wu family.]

[Wu Zixuan: Fifth Prince, 10 years old]

Wu Ziyan bowed again, saying, "Eldest sister, second sister."

"Fourth Sister, Brother Lingchuan, come and sit down." Wu Zixuan couldn't understand the subtle tension between them; he simply felt that his fourth sister treated him the best, and Sima Lingchuan was his teacher.

"Fourth Sister, have you learned how to drink?" Wu Chengji asked her jokingly with a kind face.

Princess Wu Chengye, however, drank a cup of wine in silence, her eyes filled with resentment as she stared at Sima Lingchuan. Then, her gaze turned to Wu Ziyan with a chilling light, her eyes filled with undisguised hatred, and she did not speak to her.

At that moment, an announcement came from the doorway: "The Empress has arrived."

Everyone stood up and bowed. The Empress's expression revealed her majesty, but also some fatigue, perhaps due to the argument she had with Sima Zongcheng earlier.

But since it was a family dinner, he forced a smile and waved for everyone to sit down: "It's a family dinner today, everyone sit down, don't be shy."

"Mother, you're late. You'll have to drink a cup of wine as punishment." The eldest princess, Wu Chengji, spoke heartily, as if there was no sense of constraint between her and the empress. The empress smiled knowingly and actually drank the cup.

Wu Ziyan was distracted, stealing glances at the Empress. Her imposing face, deep eyes, and the wrinkles etched by hard work... she thought to herself, 'This mother looks formidable. I hope she doesn't choose me!'

Just as she thought of this, she heard the Empress calling her: "Ziyan, why aren't you saying anything?" The Empress actually quite liked her fourth daughter. In the past, she would talk a lot when she saw her and was very close to her. Why was she acting like a silent gourd today? So she turned her head and asked her with a kind smile.

This sudden question left Wu Ziyan somewhat at a loss. She couldn't find any records of how she had interacted with her relatives in the past, so she stammered, "Ah, I, um... Mother, I was just thinking about whether you would like the gift I gave you, so I got distracted."

She felt uneasy, thinking, "Is this considered a smooth way of things going?"

The Empress narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly. Her fourth daughter, who was usually idle and mediocre, never really held back her thoughts in front of her. But after not seeing her for a long time, she had suddenly started to play the game of social etiquette.

"Fourth Sister, did Zixuan get a gift?" The Fifth Prince looked at her, his eyes innocent and bright.

"Yes, yes, yes. It's been a long time since I've had a meal with my family. I prepared some gifts for my sisters, Mother, and Xiao Zixuan." She herself quite likes children, and seeing Wu Zixuan was as if he really was her own younger brother.

Wu Ziyan glanced at Sima Lingchuan, who immediately understood and instructed his attendants to deliver the gifts to the distinguished guests.

Sima Lingchuan selected gifts of equal value from the storeroom, so the Wu sisters received ordinary trinkets, while the Empress received a seven-colored glass cup. When the Empress took it out of the brocade box, everyone couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!"

The Empress smiled. This item was indeed a rare find in their Wu Dynasty, but then she thought that her fourth daughter didn't usually go out to do diplomacy, so where did she get these items? She asked, "Ziyan, this is not an item from the Wu Dynasty. Where did it come from?"

"Does Mother Empress like it?" Wu Ziyan had no idea about the intricacies of the situation, thinking that the system probably wouldn't harm her.

"I like it." Seeing that Wu Ziyan did not answer directly, but asked her if she liked it, she could only answer that she did like it.

"This was something Ziyan obtained by chance," Wu Ziyan replied indirectly, answering the question from before.

At this moment, the Second Princess Wu Chengye suddenly put down her wine cup and smiled gloomily: "Fourth sister, I have heard that this glass cup is only produced in Beirong Kingdom. You have been in the capital for many years. How did you manage to obtain it by chance? If you say that I obtained it by chance, I can believe it. After all, I have been fighting on the battlefield for many years."

[Huh? There's such a thing? Damn system!] But she couldn't panic on the surface. She kept smiling and looked at her older sister.

Wu Chengye's words were sharp and intimidating. The eldest princess looked at Wu Ziyan with narrowed eyes, filled with doubt. She had never liked scheming and intrigue, but she knew what Wu Chengye was thinking. Seeing her so aggressive, she wouldn't tolerate it.

Wu Ziyan was frantically searching her mind for information about the Northern Rong Kingdom, trying to figure out how to explain. Wu Chengji then spoke up to help her out: "Second sister was right. Fourth sister got it from me. Speaking of which, it's not very kind of you, Fourth sister, to borrow it and give it to someone without telling me."

Wu Ziyan was grateful for Wu Chengji's clever intervention. Seeing that Wu Chengji had actually spoken up for her, she realized that he was on her side. She took the opportunity to joke, "Oh, big sister, since you have so many things sitting idle in your storeroom, I'd like to pick out a few more later."

Wu Chengji almost choked on his wine, his eyes wide as he stared at the little girl, thinking that she wasn't like this before. She had saved her life, so how could she turn around and cheat him?

The Empress watched their heated exchange, and when it was about to end, she intervened. During the banquet, Wu Chengye repeatedly challenged Wu Ziyan's limits, causing Wu Ziyan to clench her fists.

[Fine, fine, so I'm really disliked, huh? I'll definitely turn the tables!]

Unfortunately, she doesn't have the power to confront her directly, so she can only complain in her heart and swallow her anger.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Wu Ziyan deliberately leaned towards Wu Chengji to see what she was really thinking. Logically speaking, this should be an NPC arranged by the system to advance the plot, such as helping her ascend to the throne in the future.

As everyone ate and drank, the banquet drew to a close, and people prepared to leave and return home. But then the Empress spoke up: "Sima Houfu, please stay."

Wu Ziyan's heart skipped a beat. This was not a good omen. After all, she had just entered the palace when she encountered Prime Minister Sima, who came out of the palace with a dark face. The Empress and the Prime Minister had always disagreed on political matters. Was he going to settle scores with her son now?

But upon reflection, how could the Empress make things difficult for a man over such trivial matters?

Just as Wu Ziyan was about to speak up and take Sima Lingchuan away, Wu Chengji looked into her eyes, shook his head at her, and invited, "Oh, Fourth Sister, you had a good time at the family banquet today. Why don't you come with me back to the manor's storeroom and pick whatever you like? It's been so long since we last met! I've missed you so much!"

"This..." Wu Ziyan glanced at Sima Lingchuan with some unease. [I mustn't let the goodwill I've built up drop!]

Sima Lingchuan smiled slightly and nodded to her, and she said somewhat awkwardly, "Alright then, eldest sister, I've missed you a lot too."

As Wu Ziyan walked out of the main hall, he didn't look back, mainly because he was a little hesitant. Given the situation at today's family banquet, he was afraid he would have to make do with Sima Lingchuan.

Wu Chengye walked behind them, and Wu Chengling, who was walking with her, said, "Third sister, you should go back first. I still have some things to report to Mother."

She simply wanted to hear what Sima Linchuan had said about being summoned alone.

Wu Chengling nodded knowingly. She had always been a fence-sitter, and now, subservient to Wu Chengye, she was still thinking, "Why can't we say this in court? Why do we have to say it now?"

On the other side, Wu Chengji sat leisurely in the carriage, surrounded by beauties on both sides. When she saw Wu Ziyan's furrowed brows, she gave a wink to the beauties beside her, who immediately hugged Wu Ziyan and said, "Oh dear, Fourth Princess, please don't frown. It breaks our hearts to see you like this."

"Yes, yes."

"Big Sister!" Wu Ziyan glared at her, slightly angry.

"Oh dear, little Yan, are you still angry with me? Are you just feeling sorry for your husband?" Wu Chengji laughed heartily.

"I saw Sima Zongcheng come out of the palace with a dark face today, and the Empress Dowager must be in no better shape either." Wu Ziyan recounted her encounter with Sima Zongcheng to Wu Chengji.

"I advise you not to interfere, and you can't control it anyway. Besides, you've never liked Sima Houfu. This act is too convincing in front of your elder sister." Wu Chengji's expression returned to normal at this moment, and there was even a hint of coldness between his brows.

"Big sister, why do you say it's just an act?" Wu Ziyan asked sincerely. After all, to win someone over, she had to be genuine! People are very sensitive when it comes to feelings.

"Judging from your expression, you're really in love with your husband? You're not interested in the title of princess, so you should just be a carefree marquis. Why bother with so many court affairs? I envy you, you don't have to deal with those hypocritical people."

"If I were to say that I want to fight for it now, would you be on my side, elder sister?" In order to survive, she had to take a gamble, so she thought she should test Wu Chengji's bottom line first.

These words seemed like a joke, but Wu Chengji immediately became alert, covering Wu Ziyan's mouth with his hand. He even lifted the sedan curtain and looked around, then shook his head at her. Seeing Wu Chengji's serious expression, Wu Ziyan slowly placed her hand on Wu Chengji's hand and patted it.

"You can't talk like that in front of outsiders. If someone with ulterior motives hears it, it will cause a lot of trouble!" Wu Chengji really didn't know if his fourth sister was doing it on purpose or accidentally, but she dared to say such things in public.

"What's going on right now is only between you and me." She turned her head again, her sharp eyes looking at the group of beauties. Those who could serve by the side of the eldest princess were all very tight-lipped.

Wu Ziyan thought for a moment and then immediately changed the subject: "Then, eldest sister, please take me back to the palace now, because second sister is walking behind us. She's been thinking about my husband all along!"

[If something were to happen to Sima Lingchuan in the palace, I'd be in big trouble too! No, no!]

Wu Chengji stared at Wu Ziyan as if he didn't recognize her. It didn't seem like it had been long since they last met. How come her silly little sister, who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, also wanted to wade into the muddy waters of power struggle?

But she found it increasingly interesting, and then had the coachman take Wu Ziyan back to the palace gate. When she got out of the carriage, Wu Ziyan stared into Wu Chengji's eyes and said, "Big sister, I can choose whatever I want from the storeroom. And next time, I want to hear the answer."

Looking at the short man from the carriage, she saw a determined glint in his eyes. Wu Chengji smiled and said, "Go find your husband, you little rascal!"

Once he saw Lu Ziyan walk away, his gaze turned icy and cold as he stared at the beauties who had overheard their conversation: "Keep your mouth shut and you'll live; leak even half a word, and you'll die!"

The beauties immediately lowered their heads, prostrated themselves at Wu Chengji's feet, trembling, and nodded repeatedly, promising that they would not say anything out of line.

In the garden pavilion on the other side, the Empress sat leaning against a chair, while Sima Lingchuan stood respectfully there. The Empress did not look at him, but looked at the calm water and said, "Sima Houfu, I heard that your relationship with Ziyan has improved."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Sima Lingchuan replied humbly, his eyes still revealing tenderness.

"Have you gone back to see your mother?" The empress raised her eyes, her gaze half-closed, seemingly very tired.

"No." Sima Lingchuan shook his head.

"Well, it's been so long, it's time to go back and visit. Alright, then you just stay and take good care of Ziyan." It really sounded like a mother caring about her daughter's household affairs.

"Yes, Your Majesty." He kept his head bowed, maintaining a perfect sense of propriety.

"Oh, you are such a respectful child. You must have been very scared to be asked to stay today, right?" At this moment, she put on a kind and gentle smile, just like an ordinary elder.

Sima Lingchuan did not answer, but a smile remained on his face. He must never lose his dignity and composure. Seeing that he did not speak, the Empress pointed to the water.

Sima Lingchuan looked at the water, and the Empress said again, "It seems calm, but inside it is turbulent, with fish chasing shrimp, and only the fittest surviving."

"Lingchuan understands Your Majesty's meaning." His mother and the Empress had always had many disputes in court, and although he had lived in the inner quarters for a long time, he had heard about them.

"Alright, I'm tired too, you can go back now." After saying this, a female official sat down in the bedroom to see the guest off.

"Lingchuan takes his leave." He bowed and slowly withdrew from the pavilion.

After leaving the pavilion, as I walked along the road, I was still carefully pondering the Empress's words, which carried a somewhat threatening tone.

He knew that his marriage to Wu Ziyan was all arranged from the beginning. A useless princess, powerless and brainless, and the eldest son of the prime minister, a man once favored by the second princess. Tying the two of them together would obviously not lead to harmony.

With the Empress's arrangement, his mother lost one of her pawns. She had only just learned that there was some easing between him and Wu Ziyan when she gave him a subtle warning. He was truly in a difficult position.

"Oh, who is this beauty admiring the flowers here? But I think you are much more beautiful than the flowers!" The speaker was Wu Chengye, and her eyes were full of flirtatiousness as she looked at Sima Lingchuan.

Sima Lingchuan looked up at Wu Chengye and his body trembled. He then calmly bowed and said, "Second Prince."

Wu Chengye walked over from a distance, approaching step by step, while Sima Lingchuan retreated step by step until Sima Lingchuan leaned against a pillar. Wu Chengye rested one hand on the pillar, staring intently at Sima Lingchuan, took a deep breath, and exhaled, his cheeks flushed and reeking of alcohol.

"Second Prince!" His voice was slightly angry, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Wu Chengye saw Sima Lingchuan's fear clearly, but she couldn't understand why he was afraid of her. She clearly liked him so much!

But the corners of her mouth slowly turned up. The more afraid he was of her, the closer she became, and then she whispered in Sima Lingchuan's ear, "There are very few people in the Imperial Garden at this time of day. Do you think no one would know if I did anything to you?"

Sima Lingchuan's legs went weak upon hearing this, and he sat down on a chair by the railing. The delicate and slender outline of his collarbone was imprinted in Wu Chengye's eyes. Sima Lingchuan's breathing became rapid and heaving, and both of his hands were clenched tightly.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. If he shouted, she was, after all, a princess, and his reputation would be damaged. Besides, the outside world's opinion of Wu Ziyan was not good to begin with.

If this incident happens, the reputation of the Qingxian Marquis's mansion will be truly ruined. If the Second Princess turns the tables and pins a charge of seduction on him, he will be unable to clear his name even if he jumps into a lotus pond.

Seeing that Sima Lingchuan wasn't even looking at her, Wu Chengye felt a surge of anger and glared at him furiously.

"What, scared? It's just the two of us here. I've always liked you, but you ended up with that good-for-nothing Wu Ziyan! Your relationship has been terrible all these years. I bet you're still chaste!"

As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed Sima Lingchuan's arm, but Wu Chengye's hand suddenly clenched. There was no vermilion red mark as she had imagined. It turned out that his virginity mark was gone, leaving only his fair skin, which was dazzlingly bright: "How could it be! How could it be!"

Wu Chengye took two steps back, tears welling in her eyes. Then she exhaled deeply, "Even so! It doesn't matter, I don't care, because all I want is you!"

Sima Lingchuan, his eyes blazing with anger, shouted, "Second Prince! Please have some self-respect!"