Phoenix Cries Return to Court

Everyone was startled by the sound and hurriedly stood up to greet him, bowing respectfully in unison.

Then a woman wearing a purple embroidered silk skirt with gold trim and a moon-white light gauze draped over it slowly walked over. Her long black hair was all tied up, and she wore a red gold filigree phoenix hairpin with pearls and jade ornaments swaying gently, exuding elegance to the bone.

The visitor was none other than Princess Rui'an. She was the late emperor's most trusted elder sister, who had never coveted power and was known for her capricious and eccentric nature. Her only close bond was with the late Empress Dowager. Since the Empress Dowager's passing, she had lived a secluded life, rarely engaging in social activities.

The reason I've set foot here today is simply because I'm acting on the Emperor's orders. With the Empress Dowager passing away, such a momentous occasion requires someone to take charge.

"What a lively day." The eldest princess looked at the mess on the ground, her phoenix eyes slightly raised, exuding an air of authority without anger.

Looking at the familiar old friend in front of her, Lin Xihe felt a surge of warmth in her heart and almost teared up.

She suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, staring intently at her with her clear, deer-like eyes, her eyes bright and unblinking.

All the guests in the courtyard bowed their heads and held their breath, not daring to make a sound. Only Lin Xihe stood upright with a bright gaze, standing out in the crowd. This made the Grand Princess glance at her a few more times.

Ryan was initially captivated by the woman's aloof and ethereal aura, but when he met her eyes, he was startled by her intense gaze.

She thought to herself, "This woman looks so aloof, but why is she staring at me like she's been starving for three days and is now seeing meat? Could it be... that she's taken a liking to me?"

"We beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for Ding'an."

Tao Qingqing took in the strange look between the Grand Princess of Ruian and Lin Xihe, her heart sank, and she hurriedly stepped forward, tears welling in her eyes, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice.

The Grand Princess looked at the person before her who was on the verge of tears, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she spoke in a cold voice, "So you are Ding'an? Women should not cry like this. Tell me your grievances directly."

"Your Majesty, please understand. Ding'an has only recently married into the Ministry of War's household, becoming a co-wife with Sister Wen. Since entering the household, I have never been arrogant or presumptuous because of my princess status. On the contrary, I have always put Sister Wen first and have always been mindful of harmony within the household. I have never dared to have the slightest disagreement with anyone. Yet, in the end, Sister Wen's heart cannot accept me!"

As she spoke, she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, glanced at the noble ladies and wives of officials watching around her, and then looked timidly at the Princess, continuing with a sob.

"There have been constant rumors in the city that my sister and I are at odds. Ding'an has been feeling uneasy. Today, on the day of the Flower Festival, I am determined to clear up the misunderstanding in front of all the distinguished guests, apologize to my sister, and resolve the past grudges."

"But who knew that when I kindly went up to my sister, wanting to say something from the bottom of my heart and beg her not to be angry with me because of those rumors, she not only refused to accept my kindness, but also publicly accused me of being hypocritical and said that I was deliberately pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy."

Tao Qingqing's shoulders trembled slightly, and two lines of tears slid down her face. She looked weak and helpless. "My sister didn't want to hear my explanation and turned to leave. In my haste, I went forward to try to stop her and beg her to let me finish what I had to say. But she looked impatient, and I lost my footing and fell, disturbing all the noble ladies and making such a mess on the ground."

"Now I am subjected to this unwarranted misunderstanding, and I cannot even get a word of justice. Such disrespect and criticism are truly damaging to the dignity of the royal family. I beg my royal aunt to do me justice!"

After saying this, Tao Qingqing couldn't help but feel a little smug. She was certain that the Grand Princess, who valued the hierarchy within the inner palace and the dignity of the royal family, would favor her, the "weaker" party.

The Grand Princess raised her phoenix eyes slightly, her gaze sweeping lightly over Tao Qingqing, who was crying her eyes out, before turning to look at Lin Xihe, who stood tall and straight, still staring intently at her. For some reason, her cheeks flushed.

She then coughed lightly to cover up her unease. "If we only listen to your side of the story, it would be biased. It is said that even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes, but since the women present have been involved, I will judge the right and wrong of this matter."

"So, what's the truth of this matter?"

Lin Xihe composed herself, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully to the Grand Princess, saying, "Your Highness, what Princess Ding'an said just now was a misinterpretation of the truth."

"At today's banquet, the princess took the initiative to speak to me, and immediately brought up the rumors in the manor. Every word she uttered involved my husband's future in the court. It seemed like she was seeking peace, but in fact, every word she said implied that I, as the elder sister, was narrow-minded and could not tolerate the sisters in the manor, which caused the rumors to spread."

"I didn't scold my sister. I just said a few words to clarify things. Then she came up to me. I've never liked being too close to people, so I just stepped aside. I didn't push or scold her at all. It was an accident that she fell. But to put all the blame on me and say that I deliberately made things difficult for her is something I find hard to accept."

She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and open, her tone respectful yet each word forceful: "My sister just said that such misunderstandings and disrespect would damage the dignity of the royal family. I believe that the dignity of the royal family is never found in crying and arguing, or in slandering others to gain sympathy, but in upright words and deeds, open and honest actions, and consideration for the greater good."

"At today's banquet, under the watchful eyes of everyone, all of you have seen the truth of the matter. I have a clear conscience and do not wish to argue any further. I only hope that this matter can be settled here, so as to preserve the dignity of Princess Ding'an and not disturb today's elegant atmosphere."

Princess Rui'an looked at the woman in front of her, who was so considerate of the overall situation and composed. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she felt a surge of goodwill towards her.

"That's not how it is! It's clearly..." Tao Qingqing's face flushed red as she immediately tried to argue.

"Enough!" Ryan glanced coldly at Tao Qingqing, whose face was deathly pale, his tone suddenly turning stern. "Everyone here saw what happened today. As a royal grandmaster, your conduct should be exemplary for a noble lady. Instead, you're resorting to tears and framing, trying to confuse the public and disturb the guests. Where is the dignity of a royal princess? Today is the Flower Festival, not your Ministry of War's courtroom. Leave now!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Tao Qingqing froze on the spot, her face instantly turning pale, tears clinging to her eyelashes, but she dared not utter another word.

The Grand Princess swept her gaze across the room indifferently, leaving no room for argument, "Today is a joyous festival of flowers, there's no need to let these trivial matters of the inner quarters spoil the mood."

She glanced indifferently at the disheveled and embarrassed noble ladies. "Guards, lead these young ladies to the inner courtyard, change them into clean clothes, and make sure they are properly dressed. The rest of you, please return to your seats. The banquet will continue."

After a brief pause, the music resumed, and the laughter and chatter gradually returned. However, a subtle, indescribable tension lingered in the air.

The storm subsided, and Lin Xihe stood in the crowd, looking at the lively atmosphere of clinking glasses and laughter, feeling increasingly listless.

She then looked at the Grand Princess and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I am feeling unwell from sitting for so long. I would like to leave my seat and go outside for a short walk to get some fresh air."

Seeing her weary expression and a faint melancholy between her brows, the Grand Princess nodded gently. "Go ahead. The scenery in the garden is still quite nice. Just make sure the people at the pine banquet don't cause any disturbance."

Lin Xihe curtsied, then slowly withdrew from the room and walked out of the courtyard.

Just as I walked past the covered corridor and turned past a carved screen wall, I heard a lively discussion coming from the direction of the pine banquet not far away...