After deceiving the villain, I was forced to love him.

After their playful banter, He Yao took the imperial token and the gifts that had been piling up in Chen Yue Pavilion for months and left the palace to offer birthday greetings.

Hearing that He Yao was coming, He Shoufeng opened the door wide early in the morning and waited. Every half incense stick's time, he would ask Consort Xuan if she was almost there.

People who don't know him might think he adores his daughter.

I really like He Yao, who became Consort Xuan and brought glory to the entire He family, and who was also very "obedient and sensible".

Another 45 minutes passed—

"They're here, sir! Consort Xuan is here!"

"Quickly, go and greet them!"

"You, and you go light the firecrackers."

The crackling sounds echoed along the entire avenue where the He residence was located, drawing residents and passersby to gather in front of the residence to watch the spectacle.

He Yao didn't really want to make such a fuss, but He Shoufeng was afraid that others wouldn't know that he had a daughter who had become a concubine and was coming to celebrate his birthday.

Even from a distance, you could hear him repeatedly confirming with He Shouzhen, "Have you prepared all the incense for Consort Xuan's favorite silver thread pastry?"

"Don't worry, everything is ready."

"Also, there shouldn't be any fresh flowers in the room, and..."

"Oh, brother, you can rest assured. Everything has been prepared according to your instructions, there won't be any mistakes."

"Shh, we're here, we're here, stop talking."

Before getting off the carriage, He Yao gave herself a good mental pep talk.

Thinking that no matter what, she couldn't afford to fall out with the He family at this time.

But when she saw He Shoufeng leading a large group of relatives and friends to pay their respects to her, and deliberately getting close to her in front of everyone, He Yao couldn't help but clench her hands in her sleeves.

"Your Majesty, please come into the mansion!" He Shoufeng was so happy to receive the imperial gift that he almost flew away.

He looked at everyone with an air of superiority, completely oblivious to, or rather, utterly indifferent to, how obvious the disgust in He Yao's eyes was.

"Hmm," she said, suppressing her discomfort, and gently placed her hand on He Shoufeng's arm as they entered the mansion. The red marks and bruises along the way made He Yao recall some past events more clearly.

Before meeting Lu Jian, she had never actually eaten any silver thread pastry.

I've never used incense before, and I've long forgotten that celebrating an elder's birthday is a time for decorations and a grand feast.

"Your Highness Consort Xuan is truly peerless in beauty and grace. I even held you when you were little, do you remember?" As soon as He Yao sat down, someone came to try and get close to her.

He Shoufeng introduced without any politeness, "Oh, this is your third uncle's family. This year, their son has also reached the age to take the imperial examination. He is quite talented. Your Highness should help him out."

"Yes, yes, my child is also grateful and will never forget His Majesty in the future."

He Yao twitched the corners of her mouth, her smile full of disdain, "Is your son disabled?"

"Uh...this..." Madam He's face turned red and then pale with each word.

He Shoufeng quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Your Majesty is joking. Your cousin is in good health and is very handsome. He has no disability whatsoever."

"Since he is not disabled, why doesn't he participate in the imperial examination? Is my cousin's 'quite talented' just a lie to deceive me?"

Madam He quickly explained, "How...how could that be? It's just that this year..."

“Since you’ve missed it, then participate in next year’s competition. His Majesty selects talents without being bound by convention. If your son is truly talented, he will not be overlooked.”

"Uh...hehe, Consort Xuan is right, she is right." Seeing that He Yao wasn't very convinced, the woman wisely shut her mouth.

Seeing this, others who wanted to say something or establish some kind of relationship stopped trying to get close.

After several rounds of drinks, seeing that He Yao, though not particularly fond of other relatives, still respected him, her father, He Shoufeng respectfully invited her to a side courtyard.

Upon entering the side courtyard, He Yao's smile instantly became genuine.

Her whole demeanor became gentle and tender, perfectly embodying the image of a well-behaved daughter.

"Yao'er?" Upon hearing the familiar footsteps, Qiu Niang immediately stopped what she was doing.

"It's me, Mother."

Even though He Yao knew that as long as she was around, He Shoufeng would never dare to mistreat her mother again, it was still not as good as seeing Qiu Niang safe and sound with her own eyes.

This is the only advantage she has in maintaining a superficial relationship with the He family.

......

He Yao was happy keeping her mother company in the side courtyard, while He Shoufeng was pleased to be flattered in the front hall. The birthday banquet went by peacefully.

"Big brother..." After they had drunk enough, He Shouzhen bypassed the group of relatives and friends and whispered something in He Shoufeng's ear.

Upon hearing this, He Shoufeng's smugness intensified. "Keep a close eye on them."

"Yes." Actually, He Shouzhen knew what to do without being told, but if he didn't inform the head of the family, the head of the family would inevitably cause him trouble later.

He Shoufeng raised his glass again in a toast, saying, "Everyone, please enjoy yourselves."

“good good”

"please"

"please"

......

After several drinks, He Shoufeng started to feel tipsy again.

And since everyone present was a relative or friend, there was no need for any formalities or etiquette.

His eyes darted around, and he stared at the little girl at the end of the table, saying, "Fourth girl, your mother seems to be drunk. Help her down to rest."

He Xi had just come of age and had been raised in her hometown since childhood. She was shy and timid, and this was her first time accompanying Madam He to the capital. She didn't like this kind of occasion.

But living under someone else's roof, she had long been accustomed to being submissive and weak, and she was afraid of offending He Shoufeng, so how could she not come?

Upon hearing He Shoufeng's words, she, who hadn't wanted to stay there in the first place, didn't think much of it and quickly stood up to help the Third Madam He.

"Ouch..." Madam He, who had already discussed it with He Shoufeng, immediately rubbed her forehead and pretended to faint.

"Thank you for your understanding, sir... Well then, I'll take my leave now. Please enjoy your meal..."

Stumbling and staggering, Madam He became increasingly "drunk," and it was only after He Xi helped her back to her room that she began to lose her senses.

“Mother…Mother? Mother…” He Xi was exhausted, but dared not let go, so she could only do her best to support Madam He, who was leaning against her.

After exhausting herself, Madam He rubbed her forehead and slowly sat up. "Hmm...go fetch some water for me to wash my face."

"But you're all alone..."

"It's okay, just go and come back quickly. My head is throbbing, washing my face will make me feel better."

"Yes." He Xi was the daughter of a concubine, and her mother died early. She was used to being ordered around since she was a child, so she was naturally obedient and well-behaved. As soon as Madam He San spoke, she went.

But when she returned after fetching water, Madam He, who had been leaning back in her chair, was nowhere to be found.

"Mother?" He Xi put down the basin and called out to the inner room.

Seeing no response, he went to the inner bedroom to see if Madam He was there, but was suddenly grabbed from behind and hugged. "Ah!"

"Woo..."

Before she could even cry for help, someone covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief soaked in medicine.

"Bang!" The door slammed shut from the outside.

Soon, He Xi felt his consciousness fading and his whole body becoming weak.

"Hehe, little beauty, if you behave, I'll take good care of you." As he spoke, Xie Yunxiang's other hand began to wander.

"Ah!" But the next moment, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his hand.

"You, you..." Xie Yunxiang stumbled back a few steps, clutching his pierced left hand.

Never having experienced such pain before, he immediately turned ferocious and cursed, "You little bitch! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!"

He Xi panicked and fell to the ground, kicking her feet as she retreated to the wall, "You, don't, don't come any closer..."

"If you push me too far, I'll make sure your whole family pays the price!"

Seeing Xie Yunxiang staring at him fiercely, He Xi, who was terrified, no longer felt dizzy at all. He tightly gripped the bloodstained hairpin and pointed it at Xie Yunxiang.

Xie Yunxiang gritted his teeth, wanting to take it a step further.

"You...you stay away!" He Xi, in a state of extreme fright, thrust the hairpin forward.

"..." Xie Yunxiang was stunned and took a step back.

And I was extremely unwilling to accept that I had suffered such a huge loss...

After thinking for a moment, he came up with an even more wicked idea. "Okay!"

"You just wait!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!!" After tearing a piece of cloth to wrap around her bloodied left hand, Xie Yunxiang kicked open the door several times and stormed out...