Chapter 97: Simply a Sick Joke
"Greetings, Princess Xuanyang." Whether they were willing or not, the proper courtesies had to be observed.
"You may rise."
The room was pleasantly warm. Hong Yue and Lan Yue stepped forward to help Xiao Li remove her fox-fur cloak. In that moment, it was as if all the light in the room converged upon her.
For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Princess, with your otherworldly beauty and divine grace, the rest of us pale in comparison."
"I have long heard of Princess Xuanyang’s renown. It is my great fortune to finally meet you today."
"Your gown is absolutely stunning, Princess, but even it cannot outshine your dazzling beauty."
"..."
Insincere or not, the flattery had to come first.
’They were uncomfortable, and so was she. But navigating the world was all about social niceties. Besides, their praise was merely a little insincere; it wasn’t as if they had truly offended her. She couldn’t just lash out for no reason.’
’Since I’m here, I might as well endure it.’
"Old Madam Wang."
Xiao Li greeted Old Madam Wang, who occupied the seat of honor. Queen Wang was the old madam’s youngest daughter. Xiao Li addressed the Empress as Imperial Sister-in-law, so she naturally had to show a measure of respect to her mother.
Old Madam Wang rose to welcome her, beaming. "Princess, you are an honored guest. Please, sit down."
Xiao Li sat beside Old Madam Wang, with Second Madam Wang on her other side. The other ladies kept their distance, but the atmosphere was still utterly suffocating.
After forcing a few pleasantries, Xiao Li was unwilling to say more, having resolved to play the part of the cold, aloof princess.
Logically speaking, since the Wang family had invited her with a scheme in mind, everything should have been perfectly arranged. They would have briefed their guests to avoid any awkwardness for her, which would in turn embarrass the Wangs. But unexpectedly, someone still couldn’t hold back a resentful comment.
"I don’t know where those rumors came from—the ones about the Princess being heartbroken over the Prince Consort’s death, so grief-stricken she was a haggard mess. From what I see today, you look rather radiant and full of life."
Her words were dripping with sarcasm, her ill intent obvious. But this played right into Xiao Li’s hands.
’If you want to talk about *that*,’ she thought, ’then I’m wide awake.’
"The imperial edict for our divorce has already been issued. This princess does not have a Prince Consort."
"Heartbroken? Hardly. He was a useless man. Dead is dead."
A young woman covered her mouth to hide a giggle, thinking herself very clever. "We understand. You’re just saying the opposite of what you truly feel, Princess."
’So what kind of person says one thing and means another to the point of killing her ex-husband first, only to feel sad about it later?’
’What a sick joke.’
Madam Wang quickly tried to smooth things over. "Today’s refreshments are all made with fresh flowers. Please have some, Princess. Everyone, please, help yourselves."
Even though it was a winter banquet, they wouldn’t just have guests sit around idly chatting.
The underfloor heating was more than sufficient, so it didn’t feel cold even with the curtains drawn open, revealing the figures of the male guests in the pavilion across the way.
Games like Pai Gow, pitch-pot, and dart-throwing were set up in the central pavilion and the garden below. Guests were free to join in, and there were even prizes to be won.
More scholarly pastimes were also available, such as a game of passing a flower to the beat of a drum, a competitive poetry game, and another where guests plucked floating wine cups from a winding stream. In short, there was no danger of anyone getting bored.
Perhaps finding it too suffocating to sit with Xiao Li, the "husband-killing" princess, the crowd of women quickly dispersed to join the games, leaving only Old Madam Wang and Second Madam Wang to keep her company.
Second Madam Wang grew anxious, afraid Xiao Li would feel awkward, and began forcing small talk.
But when people fail to connect, even a few words are too many.
When Second Madam Wang finally ran out of things to say, her mind short-circuited, and she asked Xiao Li what kind of man she liked.
’Even though I already know what the Wang family is planning, it’s still pretty audacious of her to ask that directly.’
’The Wang family seems to dote on Wang Shiqi. Why would they dare try to set him up with me, a supposed husband-killer? Or... is there another angle to this?’
"I’m not considering it at the moment."
Even as a polite refusal, she couldn’t let anyone think she was willing to remarry. That was no joking matter.
Second Madam Wang said, crestfallen, "Still, it’s always better for a woman to have someone to rely on..."
Old Madam Wang silenced her with a sharp glance. Listening to the increasingly lively sounds from outside, she smiled and suggested, "Princess, perhaps you should go and see. You young people will have more fun together. It’s a waste of your time to sit with an old woman like me."
Second Madam Wang quickly called over her niece from the main branch. "Wanqing, you must accompany the Princess and see to her needs. Show her the utmost courtesy."
Wang Wanqing was a cool and aloof young woman with a scholarly air. Reserved and quiet, she had been standing there for some time, yet Xiao Li had barely noticed her.
Summoned, she now stepped forward and gave a perfectly proper curtsy. "Princess, please come with me."
Xiao Li did not refuse. She rose and followed her out.
In the covered walkway to the left, a group of young ladies was playing pitch-pot. A few in the center were in the midst of a heated match, and the atmosphere was lively.
Those not playing stood on the sidelines, watching or linking arms with close companions to chat. As they grew more animated, their voices would rise without them noticing.
A woman in a yellow gown tilted her chin up, her voice sharp and mean. "Hah! What’s she so proud of? She’s a venomous viper who killed her own husband. Mr. Lu was such a wonderful man, but she didn’t cherish him. Instead, she murdered him. Her crime is monstrous."
"All that talk about him being ’useless’ and ’dead is dead’... If you ask me, she’s just being stubborn and refusing to admit the truth. Why else would she have been in a coma for a month?"
"But I think she’s just a heartless monster. How long has it been since Mr. Lu died? And she’s already dressed so provocatively. I wonder who she’s trying to hook now."
The person beside her nudged her. "Keep your voice down! What if someone hears you?"
The woman in yellow snorted, unconcerned. "So what if they hear? Who here doesn’t already know? Everyone only fawns over her because she’s a princess. Tell me, do you see anyone here who actually respects her?"
The woman in yellow spoke with growing confidence, as if she held the gavel of judgment, standing on the moral high ground.
Even someone as cool-headed as Wang Wanqing could tell things were about to go wrong. She was about to rush forward and put a stop to it, but Xiao Li held up a hand to stop her.
Xiao Li brought a finger to her lips, a wicked grin playing on her face. "Shh," she whispered. "Not yet."
Wang Wanqing’s heart leaped. There was something truly dangerous in Princess Xuanyang’s expression that sent a shiver through her, and she froze on the spot.
She glanced down, pressing a hand to her chest, momentarily unable to place the strange feeling. Involuntarily, her gaze lifted back to the princess. Xiao Li was staring at the gossiping pair, listening intently. The curve of her profile was exquisitely graceful, and a faint, inscrutable smile played at the corner of her lips.
Everyone might say the princess was vicious, but her beauty was beyond dispute.
The two up ahead grew more and more outrageous, calling her a lunatic, a black widow, cruel, and cold-blooded. To use such words to describe a princess... they truly had some nerve.
Then, Xiao Li suddenly stepped forward, bringing her gorgeous, captivating face right up to the woman’s. "What was that you were saying? Could this princess listen in?"
"AAAAGH..." Caught completely off guard, the woman in yellow let out a terrified shriek.
Her companion was no better, nearly jumping out of her skin in fright. "P-Princess..."
Everyone playing pitch-pot looked over.
Xiao Li did nothing more than tilt up the woman’s chin, offering an enchanting smile. "Next time you bad-mouth someone, try not to open your mouth so wide. It shows the piece of vegetable stuck in your teeth."
She then gently patted the woman’s cheek, her expression still a warm, indulgent smile. Her tone was like that used to coax a disobedient puppy.
With that, she turned and walked away, her movements full of grace, leaving a trail of perfume in her wake.
The crowd stared, stunned. When they finally snapped out of it, all eyes turned to the woman in yellow, focusing on her mouth as if they wanted to pry it open and see if there really was a piece of vegetable.
"Ugh..." The woman in yellow covered her mouth and ran off, humiliated and furious.
"Pfft." Wang Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She had expected the Princess to deliver a domineering rebuke. Instead, she had deftly turned the tables. She hadn’t said a single harsh word—in fact, she had smiled so beautifully—yet the blow was utterly devastating, leaving that Miss Meng utterly humiliated.