Chapter 161: Gossip Continues

"Because the Prime Minister's daughter was disfigured by the Eleventh Princess. To preserve the Princess's reputation, however, the Prime Minister claimed publicly that his daughter was suffering from an ailment and required quiet recuperation."

Upon hearing this, Lian Yue’s disgust for Qiao Yu deepened. Even arrogance and tyranny had their limits; Qiao Yu’s behavior could only be described as psychopathic. Being infatuated with her own uncle was already beyond the pale, but to commit such a heinous act was truly inexcusable.

Lian Yue, though young, understood all too well what appearance meant to a woman. The marriage proposal for the Prime Minister’s daughter had failed, and Qiao Zhi had refused the union; that Qiao Yu would still resort to such extreme measures made Lian Yue feel that the kick An Ming had dealt her earlier was far too lenient.

"Did the Prime Minister willingly accept this just because his daughter was disfigured? Did the Emperor offer him no compensation?" Lian Yue understood the cycle of punishment and reward; Lian Yu had once explained the current Emperor’s methods of governance to her.

"Of course there was compensation. But the Emperor’s compensation was to bring the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter—who was already betrothed—directly into the palace, showering her with every favor. Do you see the second table down? As soon as she entered the palace, she was promoted to the rank of Consort and bestowed the title 'Jin'."

Consort Jin. Lian Yue had seen her at the Cining Palace and knew her to be a pampered favorite, but she had never imagined this was how she had entered the palace. The current Emperor’s methods were truly unfathomable. To have his daughter disfigure the Prime Minister’s second daughter and then take the eldest daughter into the palace—the relationships within the royal family were chaos itself. Even if the Emperor were foolish, this approach seemed highly improper and was bound to invite criticism.

"The Prime Minister must have been the one to propose Consort Jin’s entry into the palace, right?" Lian Yue voiced her thoughts.

Chai Mengqing’s elegant, willow-leaf eyebrows arched even higher. This Miss Yue was indeed clever; she grasped the implication with only a hint. Since they were both intelligent, there was no need for further pretense. "Otherwise, how could the Prime Minister, who stands below one man but above ten thousand, holding half the empire's power, ever let such a matter rest?"

"What do you think of today’s royal betrothal? As far as I know, the Empress Dowager intended to use her niece to forge alliances with the other seven major factions. Don't you want to know whom she had in mind?" Chai Mengqing watched Lian Yue and Yao Yao with a playful smile.

This gaze made Yao Yao jump, and she exclaimed, "It couldn't be Senior Brother Chu Chen, could it? It must be! Senior Brother Chu Chen is so outstanding. Oh my, the Empress Dowager must have realized how adorable I am and dropped the idea! Yes, that must be it! The Empress Dowager is truly discerning."

Chai Mengqing, who was drinking water, had nerves of steel, but she still struggled to withstand Yao Yao’s torrential outburst. She turned a questioning look toward Lian Yue.

Although Lian Yue was accustomed to Yao Yao’s eccentric behavior, having her say such things in front of Chai Mengqing made Lian Yue feel quite embarrassed.

Lian Yue reached out to cover Yao Yao’s mouth, preventing her from uttering any more shocking remarks.

Lian Yue truly did not know what Chai Mengqing was referring to. She swept her gaze over the representatives of the major factions sitting opposite them, but she could not discern the Empress Dowager’s intentions. Finally, she asked the now-composed Chai Mengqing, "Who was it?"

"I don't know that either!" Chai Mengqing’s answer was so matter-of-fact that it left Lian Yue speechless. To say so much without knowing the answer was purely teasing.

"However, I do know that if the Empress Dowager hadn't already learned that your brother and Sect Master Meng had already set their hearts on others during this journey, it likely would have been one of them."

Lian Yue had to admit that Chai Mengqing’s analysis was sharp. She began to recall every detail of the time she had spent with the Empress Dowager since entering the palace. The Empress Dowager had indeed been acting unusually, treating Yao Yao and Sister Lan with two extremes of behavior. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager had no such plans, as neither of those two would be as easily swayed as Qiao Zhi.

At this moment, Lian Yue felt a pang of sympathy for Qiao Zhi. She could not help but glance at him. Qiao Zhi, usually so vibrant and spirited, was now listlessly downing cup after cup of wine. His friend, Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao), was drinking with him, the pair consuming the liquor as if it were tasteless water. A trace of concern flickered across Lian Yue’s brow.

"You had best not look at him with such concerned eyes right now. A man drinking is prone to misunderstandings," a voice echoed in her heart, guiding her to hide the concern from her expression.

But she was a step too late; even for a fleeting moment, the look had been caught by Qiao Zhi. He realized he no longer had the right—not even the right to protect her.

Those who drink often find their minds growing heated. He looked at Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao) beside him and asked with unprecedented gravity, "Yuwen, what are your true feelings for Yue’er? If you don't really love her, let her go. She already has someone she likes."

Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao) was moved by Qiao Zhi’s intense gaze. His sister-in-law belonged to his older brother, and he was merely a substitute. In Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao)’s heart, he would try to like everything his brother liked, except for Lian Yue; he never dared to entertain such thoughts regarding her.

Therefore, even though he paid close attention to his sister-in-law, he maintained his distance. Fortunately, after tonight, his brother would regain his identity as Yuwen Lingxi. He wondered how his brother would win her heart under a new identity.

"I will not abandon this betrothal. You know I am not good with words, but I truly like Yue’er. Give me some time; if she still has no feelings for me, I will consider your suggestion."

Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao) could only say this for now, acting as a buffer for his brother.

Qiao Zhi drained his cup once more and called out to An Ming with forced bravado, "Come, let us have a drink! Although you were the cause of the suffering Sister Yue’er endured, you are not a bad person. I toast you."

"Your Highness, please!" An Ming was the true Yuwen Lingxi and naturally had ties to Qiao Zhi. He had been drinking every cup alongside the brothers. He, too, disapproved of this marriage, but royal rules were royal rules. The retired Emperor’s actions were intended to ensure Qiao Zhi’s future safety.

He knew that Qiao Zhi was only drinking with him because of Yue’er. This friend was truly worth having. Although he liked Lian Yue, he knew the royal family was no place for her, so he had never allowed himself to harbor grand illusions.

The reason he hadn't refused the marriage today was likely to find a reason to give up.

The contrast between these two groups naturally caught the attention of those at the head table, but no one dared to disturb them. If one looked closely, the retired Emperor’s occasional gaze toward Qiao Zhi was filled with heartache and guilt.

No one noticed Han Luyan’s expression. Although she had resigned herself to this betrothal, Qiao Zhi was handsome and a prince with a prosperous territory; upon reflection, she decided the match was not bad.

Her gaze frequently turned to Qiao Zhi, only to find that her fiancé never once looked her way. Qiao Zhi’s voice was unmistakable, and a woman’s intuition is terrifying.

She didn't care that her fiancé didn't love her; Qiao Zhi had a reputation as a playboy, and while he flirted with many, she had never heard of him being truly attached to anyone. But hearing him repeat "Yue’er" over and over, she knew exactly where his heart lay.

And looking at Lian Yue, whom everyone protected, yielded to, and doted upon—compared to the princesses in the palace, this Miss Yue was the true princess.

Lian Yue appeared to be chatting and laughing with Chai Mengqing, but she was actually communicating with Meng Chu Chen. Seeing An Ming being pulled into the drinking by Qiao Zhi, her urgency grew. "Second Brother, please, tell them to stop. If they keep drinking like this, they’ll surely get drunk."

"Which one are you concerned about? And which one should I persuade?" Meng Chu Chen looked at Lian Yue with a faint, enigmatic smile, showing no intention of intervening.