Chapter 133: Scum Who Can’t Afford to Lose
"Princess, Young Master Feng is here to see you."
Feng Yin had said he would come, so Xiao Li wasn’t surprised. "Is he alone?"
Hong Yue nodded. "Yes, just him."
Xiao Li couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Hong Yue, in a rare moment of curiosity, asked, "Princess, what’s so funny?"
Xiao Li didn’t answer, simply saying, "Let him in."
’Whether man or woman, willingly coming to visit someone alone right after they’ve openly flirted with you... isn’t that like a lamb walking into a lion’s den?’
’She believed Feng Yin was an innocent, well-behaved boy, a blank slate. But no matter how well-behaved, he was a man of nearly twenty. Plenty of men were already fathers at his age.’
"Princess." Feng Yin entered, personally carrying a thank-you gift. He spoke formally, "Thank you for your help yesterday, Princess. Feng Yin has come on behalf of my mother to express our gratitude."
Today, he wore a gold and violet robe trimmed in white. It made him look a bit more substantial than usual and complemented his fair face, with its red lips and white teeth.
Xiao Li’s expression was indifferent. "It was nothing. Madam Feng is too kind."
Feng Yin handed the gift to Hong Yue, only then daring to let his gaze fall on Xiao Li’s hand.
"I didn’t know you were injured yesterday, Princess. I’m sorry for disturbing your rest. Please forgive me."
He took a separate box from his sleeve. His expression instantly tensed, and he presented it with a somewhat stiff movement.
Xiao Li raised an eyebrow. ’A separate gift, is it?’
"Why are you standing so far away? Come here."
Feng Yin slowly took two steps forward, extending the box until it was within Xiao Li’s reach.
Xiao Li reached out, but not for the box. Her hand moved toward his, and just as her snow-white fingertips were about to land on his palm—less than an inch away—they suddenly swerved and snatched the box from his grasp.
Feng Yin jerked his head up to look at her, his expression a mixture of surprise and disappointment.
CLICK. The box opened, revealing an Ink Jade Peony hairpin nestled inside.
It was a pure, deep black, yet it possessed the translucent, lustrous quality of jade. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the texture of the petals clear, and the flower itself was breathtakingly lifelike.
’This hairpin looks incredibly valuable. It’s the finest quality ink jade.’
"You’re... giving me a hairpin?"
Xiao Li watched him, a half-smile playing on her lips.
Feng Yin’s face was a taut mask, his entire body as rigid as if it were frozen in ice. But the sight of his ears, so red they looked ready to bleed, betrayed the fiery intensity of his feelings.
’Tokens of affection... pouches, handkerchiefs, jade pendants... and for something more intimate, a comb or a hairpin.’
’To tie up her dark hair, to grow old together.’
’A lock of hair, a bond of love.’
’She understood all of this. How could this "little stick-in-the-mud," born and raised in this era, not understand it too?’
Feng Yin squeezed his eyes shut in ’despair,’ lowering his head, not daring to look at her. "I just happened to see it and thought it would suit you perfectly, Princess. There’s... there’s no other meaning."
’He "happened to see it" and bought it because he thought it would suit her. That means he’s had it for a while now, just waiting for the right opportunity to give it to her.’
Xiao Li smiled, closed the lid, and handed the box to Hong Yue to put away.
’Teasing this little stick-in-the-mud is only fun in moderation. If I push it too far and this innocent boy gets serious, I won’t be able to handle it.’
"I accept your apology. Sit and have some tea."
Feng Yin seemed to struggle with himself for a moment before declining. "Please rest well, Princess. I won’t disturb you any further. I will visit again another day."
He had come in a hurry and now left in a hurry, looking for all the world like he was fleeing in disarray.
’What a sensible little blockhead.’
Hong Yue and Lan Yue exchanged a look. ’What in the world...?’
’Eunuch Lou Yan is a eunuch, and Young Master Feng is a man, but from the way the Princess teases him, it doesn’t seem like she has romantic intentions.’
They were completely baffled.
But this was not the kind of thing they dared to ask about.
On New Year’s Eve, for the reunion banquet, Xiao Li had no desire to go. She was planning to use her injury as an excuse, but the Emperor, upon hearing it was only her hand, ordered her to attend.
Xiao Li: "..." ’Damn it all!’
Xiao Li had a full few days, including getting injured, but things in the palace had been far from quiet.
Thanks to Lou Yan’s deliberate leak, Prince Yanping learned about Princess Consort Hui being drugged even before the Emperor did. To avenge their mother, the prince and his sister invoked the late Emperor’s name to pressure the current Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
Princess Consort Hui was, after all, one of the late Emperor’s concubines. For Chen Pingting—a concubine not even worthy of being called a daughter-in-law—to dare use such a vile drug on a Consort was an insult not just to them, but to the late Emperor himself.
They demanded that Chen Pingting be severely punished. And while the Empress Dowager was furious at Chen Pingting’s actions, she still had to protect her.
The Empress Dowager offered compensation for the harm done to Princess Consort Hui, but Prince Yanping refused. He only demanded that Chen Pingting be punished, and he threatened to take Princess Consort Hui out of the palace.
For once, the Emperor had a moment of clarity and refused his demand.
Setting aside the matter of Chen Pingting, if Princess Consort Hui were to leave the palace, would Consort Qin have to leave as well?
Without the Consorts in the palace, those two would likely become even more unrestrained.
Xiao Li couldn’t be bothered with the struggles between the brothers right now. She was injured. As long as no one provoked her, all was well.
Her carriage had just entered the palace gates when she saw a palanquin waiting for her.
The one leading the attendants by the palanquin was Mu Bai. Xiao Li didn’t recognize him, but it was enough that he recognized her.
’The boss’ personally instructed him to come and attend to her, so he couldn’t afford to be neglectful.
"Careful, Princess."
He held the curtain open for Xiao Li to get in. Only after making sure she was seated securely did he signal for the carriers to lift the palanquin.
Xiao Li was already running late, so the palanquin carried her directly to the banquet hall.
Just as Hong Yue reached out to help Xiao Li, Mu Bai stepped forward. "Princess, allow me. I’m strong and sure-footed."
Hong Yue: ’Why is this eunuch trying to do my job?’
She quickly looked to Xiao Li, awaiting her instructions.
Xiao Li glanced at him. The little eunuch showed no ill will; in fact, there was a particular kind of reverence in his manner.
She didn’t actually need help, but his goal didn’t seem to be about providing support either. She lifted her hand and rested it lightly on his elbow. "Thank you."
Mu Bai beamed. "You honor me, Princess."
The New Year’s Eve feast was a reunion banquet, but it was different from the last one. This time, it wasn’t just for the Emperor’s brothers and high-ranking concubines. All the concubines of the harem were allowed to attend. Furthermore, even the young princes and little princesses, who were rarely seen, were also present.
Of course, being the Emperor, he also had to extend his grace to the princes, dukes, and ministers of the court during the New Year’s banquet.
Several of the older Princes came with their families, as did various dukes, marquises, and other nobles, along with all the ministers of the court.
As the most important festival of the year, it had to be a grand affair to showcase the majesty of the Royal Family and the boundless grace of the Emperor.
The banquet area was bustling with people, a lively scene of Palace Attendants hurrying to and fro as they made final preparations.
Mu Bai leaned his body forward slightly, shielding her. Though the Palace Attendants wouldn’t dare disrespect the Princess, he had to be on guard, just in case someone wasn’t paying attention.
"Xuanyang!"
’Speak of the devil.’
Jia Ruo stormed over, holding up her skirts, her eyes so fierce they looked like they could devour someone.
"Was it you? Did you harm my mother and my brother?"
Chen Pingting had said her drug was intended for Xuanyang, but in the end, it was Jia Ruo’s mother who had taken it. Meanwhile, the drug Jia Ruo herself had intended for Xuanyang was taken by her brother instead.
Why was everyone targeting Xuanyang, yet her mother and brother were the ones who ended up suffering?
She didn’t believe there wasn’t something more to this. Xuanyang must have found out and deliberately retaliated.
Xiao Li narrowed her eyes. ’So, they were the ones who tried to harm me first, and now they’re upset about the consequences of their own failed plots? How dare they come and question the intended victim?’
’Sore losers. Utter trash!’