Chapter Eleven: Turning the Tables

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“Your Highness, after the Prince learned that Concubine Qian is pregnant, he was very pleased and ordered a family banquet to be held in the front hall tonight. All the ladies from each household in the rear courtyard must attend! Will you be going?”

As the sun set in the west, the lingering glow of the evening clouds bathed the courtyard at the heart of the He Garden. A figure clad in water-blue lay languidly on a soft couch, her ink-black hair cascading messily down her back. Hearing the concerned words from Green Willow, she lazily turned over, muttering softly before drifting back to sleep.

Green Willow’s anxiety deepened the longer she looked. Since the last time when the Princess was jointly bullied and punished by several concubines, locked away in the wood storage shed, she seemed transformed. Not only had her attitude toward the young master turned a complete 180 degrees, but her entire temperament had undergone a radical change. Yet, this change brought them hope and a glimmer of light.

“Your Highness, I’ve never understood why you want everyone to know about Concubine Qian’s pregnancy. The Prince originally doesn’t favor the young master much; now that this is known...” Green Willow trailed off, knowing the Princess understood the implication.

Every man for himself, or face ruin!

Green Willow had entered the General’s Mansion at age seven and had witnessed countless schemes among the ladies of the rear courtyard. Each fought fiercely for status, often poisoning the offspring of others. She had seen far too much.

Upon hearing this, Yan Ziyu slowly opened her eyes. Her plain face lit up with eyes that sparkled like stars, bringing her entire countenance to life like the final brushstroke on a masterpiece. “Green Willow, what impression does Concubine Qian leave you? Compared to Consort Yu, who is more cunning?”

“Concubine Qian is arrogant, overbearing, and spoiled by favor, but lacks scheming. She can’t compare to Consort Yu; otherwise, she wouldn’t be the current consort,” Green Willow replied after a moment’s thought.

“Is that so?” Yan Ziyu smiled faintly, a sharp gleam flashing in her eyes. “Some things aren’t what they seem. A true master uses their mind, not their hands. The bird that sticks its head out gets shot. Tell me, who wants to be that bird?”

Green Willow was no fool. Her eyes lit up with joy as she said excitedly, “Your Highness means the news of Concubine Qian’s pregnancy was deliberately spread by you to avoid being the one who sticks out her neck. Let Consort Yu and the others fight among themselves while we watch the tiger fight from the mountain!”

The Princess was truly clever. This way, the stir caused by the palace banquet would instantly be overshadowed by the news of Concubine Qian’s pregnancy. After all, a disgraced, unloved princess was far less significant than a favored concubine carrying a child. Any wise person would know which was weightier!

“Promising indeed! Green Willow, come here. Later, you will...” Yan Ziyu called Green Willow over and whispered a few words in her ear, eyes gleaming with mischievous delight.

Green Willow’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She smiled in agreement and happily ran off to prepare for the Princess’s instructions.

“Mother—Mother—”

Before the person arrived, the voice was already heard!

Ruier ran, sweat pouring from his brow. Behind him was a dull-faced adult man with an exceedingly ordinary appearance. The man’s dull eyes instantly brightened upon seeing the figure on the soft couch, revealing a rare smile as he hurried over and joyfully called out:

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“Xiaoyu—”

“Huh? Who are you? Oh... Ali, it’s you!”

She nearly forgot. Worried that Ali’s face was too strikingly handsome, she had asked Qiuhé to find Bai Yaojun at the Curious Goods Shop to buy the plainest human-skin mask. Not quite used to it yet, she was startled herself—a comical misunderstanding indeed.

“Mother doesn’t love Ruier anymore, wuwu... Ruier is so pitiful, no one cares for or loves him...” Naughty Ali, stealing her mother away! Ruier pouted, secretly glaring at Ali, pretending to cry out of spite.

“Ruier, are you asking for a beating? Look at you, all sweaty from running. Go wash up quickly or you’ll catch a cold. And no more fake crying, or no boiled fish for you later!” A few days ago, she had made boiled fish out of boredom. Ruier became addicted, constantly craving it. Worried that too much spicy food was bad for his young body, she hadn’t made it again, which made him miserable.

“Wow—Mother is so kind! Ruier loves Mother the most, haha...” Hearing about his favorite boiled fish, Ruier dashed back to his room to wash, leaving Ali alone with his beloved mother in the courtyard.

“Ali, do you like it here?” Yan Ziyu suddenly asked Ali.

Ali nodded firmly and said with determination, “Ali... likes... Xiaoyu. Wherever Xiaoyu goes, Ali follows!”

At that moment, a strange warmth flooded her heart. Looking into Ali’s clear, flawless eyes and recalling how he had risked himself to shield her last night, she silently vowed to protect him from now on, just as she did Ruier.

“Mm, Xiaoyu likes Ali too. Ali, go wash your face and get ready for dinner!” Yan Ziyu nodded with a gentle smile. At that moment, her heart was warm.

“All right, Ali will go wash up.” The words “Xiaoyu likes Ali too!” inexplicably lifted Ali’s spirits. Obediently, he went back to his room to wash.

Ali’s room was in the western courtyard near the lotus pond. Just as he passed the artificial rock near the pond, suddenly—two dark shadows sprang from behind the rocks. They knocked him unconscious in an instant, carried him swiftly through the western courtyard to the main house in the eastern courtyard, threw him onto the bed, undressed him, then quickly left.

“Qiuhé, prepare the bathing water for me.” The time was nearly right; she too should attend this so-called “family banquet.” Without her stirring the pot, the evening would be dull indeed.

Fifteen minutes later—

“Your Highness, the water is ready. You may bathe now!”

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“Mm, help me change my clothes!”

In the outer chamber of the main house in the eastern courtyard, a tub of warm water steamed faintly. Rose petals floated on the surface, emitting a delicate fragrance that filled the air.

As she spoke, Yan Ziyu, attended by Qiuhé, shed her layers of clothing, revealing skin as white and tender as morning dew. Her graceful, sensual figure was perfectly displayed before Qiuhé’s eyes—skin pure as snow, ebony hair gently lifted by a breeze, like a flawless work of art.

“All right, you may leave now. I can manage on my own!” Yan Ziyu dismissed Qiuhé, then sat quietly in the wooden tub, enjoying the soothing warmth. The relaxation enveloped her so completely she didn’t even notice the additional presence in the room.

Mm...

Ali, lying soundly asleep on the bed, grumbled in his sleep a few times, then resumed dreaming, a glistening bead of drool at the corner of his mouth. He was having a wonderful dream.

In the dream, before him lay many large, plump chicken legs. He and Xiaoyu sat together, feasting heartily—such bliss!

“Chicken legs... Xiaoyu... delicious...” he mumbled, turned over, and continued sleeping.

Someone—

Yan Ziyu’s eyes suddenly darkened. She leapt up, quickly dressing. When she saw Ali sleeping soundly on her bed, bare-chested and utterly at ease, her expression changed. A murderous glint appeared between her brows.

Such cold calculation, such scheming!

If anyone burst in now and saw Ali half-naked on her bed, coupled with her own disheveled state, no matter how much she protested, she would be branded guilty of adultery. The shame would be unbearable for the royal family. Forget being Princess; survival itself would be in question.

Very well, if they want to play games, she would play along.

Her eyes darkened further, flashing with ruthless intent. She walked to the dressing table, took a hairpin, and approached the bed...