As the carriage slowly stopped, Su Li and Jun Mo, lowering their heads, disguised as a maid and stable boy, followed behind Princess Shaowen and her daughter.
At this time, County Princess Yuzhu had changed her appearance, becoming Princess Shaowen's niece, named Liu Feixu.
She was helping Princess Shaowen slowly enter the Xi Chen Imperial Palace.
The Xi Chen Imperial Palace was extremely luxurious, with white jade steps, golden pillars, and glazed tiles. Upon entering, one felt as if they had fallen into a nest of wealth.
Xi Chen was indeed richer than Tianqi!
If not for their servant identities, Su Li would have loved to take a closer look at the Xi Chen Imperial Palace.
From these details, one could tell what kind of person the Purple Emperor was. Otherwise, she wouldn't have required all lower-ranking officials to send birthday gifts, traveling thousands of miles to offer congratulations.
Palace maids led Princess Shaowen's party directly to the banquet hall.
Su Li and Jun Mo stood behind them with downcast eyes, trying their best to minimize their presence.
As Princess Shaowen took her seat, people came forward to exchange pleasantries with her.
Princess Shaowen also, at an opportune moment, introduced her niece who sat beside her.
Just then, a notice came from outside the hall, "Princess Ziyue arrives!"
A woman in red came in gracefully.
Su Li secretly raised her eyes and glanced at the legendary Princess Ziyue.
She wore a flamboyant red gown, which fluttered as she walked, and her ink-black long hair swayed in the wind.
A red butterfly seemed to spread its wings between her brows, and her eyebrows, long and slender, added a touch of allure, yet also a hint of sharpness.
She gave off such a contradictory and complex feeling. Mindful of their current identities, Su Li dared not look longer and quickly lowered her head.
Princess Ziyue walked straight towards them.
"Ziyue greets Aunt. How have you been recently, Aunt?" Ziyue looked at Princess Shaowen and asked.
"I am well. Ziyue grows more beautiful each day."
"Where? How can Ziyue compare to younger sister Yuzhu? Hmm? Younger sister Yuzhu isn't here. Who is this?" Ziyue asked, looking at the woman beside Princess Shaowen, feigning innocence.
Who in Xi Chen didn't know that County Princess Yuzhu was still unconscious? Was Princess Ziyue really not doing this on purpose?
Princess Shaowen stopped smiling and said indifferently, "This is my niece. I brought her today to see the world."
Ziyue chuckled softly. "Ziyue has other matters to attend to. I'll be busy now. Aunt, please make yourself comfortable." After speaking, she flew out of the hall like a red butterfly.
Su Li had seen two women besides herself wearing red: one was Wanyan Xue, and the other was this Princess Ziyue.
But these two gave completely different impressions.
Wanyan Xue could wear a red dress with a fiery passion and an innocent charm. This Ziyue, in her red dress, exuded a seductive, flamboyant beauty, extremely aggressive.
After the person left, Princess Shaowen looked at her daughter, silently questioning.
County Princess Yuzhu shook her head slightly, indicating it was not Ziyue.
At this moment, two columns of people entered from outside the door, clearly divided into two factions.
Among them were also Su Li's acquaintances, none other than Bai Ran and Zhu Anan.
The two women walking at the very front were likely the heads of the Bai and Zhu families.
These two groups, looking at each other with dislike, snorted and took their seats on opposite sides.
Seeing that most of the guests had arrived, Princess Shaowen made her move.
Princess Shaowen, who usually had a cold expression, changed her demeanor. She smiled, took her niece, and circled the hall, exchanging pleasantries with others.
Everyone found it strange, but soon understood.
It seemed that neutrality was not a long-term solution; she intended to forge a marriage alliance for her niece with another family.
Princess Shaowen didn't care about these people's thoughts; she was solely focused on finding the person who dared to cast a Gu on her daughter.
Returning to her seat, Princess Shaowen asked in a low voice, "Is there anything unusual?"
County Princess Yuzhu shook her head.
Princess Shaowen frowned. Almost everyone had arrived, except for her two imperial sisters.
The Purple Emperor and Princess Lan Jun!
Could it truly be these two who acted?
To control herself?
"Your Majesty arrives!"
"May Your Majesty live forever, forever and ever!" Everyone immediately knelt and saluted.
After a moment, a cold, majestic voice came: "You may rise, dispense with the formalities!"
"Thank Your Majesty!"
After everyone was seated, Su Li secretly glanced at the rumored Empress.
Su Li was a little disappointed. She was no different from an ordinary woman. The only difference was the occasional sharpness that flashed in her eyes.
However, having been in a high position for many years, her overall aura was still different from that of an ordinary person.
Perhaps sensing someone's gaze, the Purple Emperor suddenly looked up.
Su Li quickly retracted her gaze and lowered her head.
As expected of the Purple Emperor. Su Li retracted her earlier hasty judgment.
The Purple Emperor looked at Princess Shaowen and said, "Shaowen."
Princess Shaowen nodded slightly, "Your Majesty."
The Purple Emperor frowned, "Didn't you always call me Imperial Sister before? Why have you become so distant after only a few days apart?"
Princess Shaowen was startled. With suspicions in her heart, she naturally didn't want to call her Imperial Sister anymore.
But afraid of alarming the snake or wrongly accusing someone, she said, "Imperial Sister."
The Purple Emperor gave a satisfied "hmph." "Has Yuzhu's poison been cured?"
Princess Shaowen sighed and shook her head, saying, "No."
At this moment, the head of the Zhu family spoke, "I heard my Anan say that a formidable person, skilled in both medicine and poison, went to the Princess's residence a few days ago? What? That person couldn't do anything either?"
Princess Shaowen still shook her head and sighed, looking troubled as if she didn't want to talk more about it.
Just then, another announcement came from outside the door, "Princess Lan Jun arrives!"
Everyone looked towards the main hall entrance.
A person dressed in a simple, moon-white gown slowly entered.
Seeing her attire, everyone instantly held their breath, secretly glancing at the Purple Emperor's expression.
Indeed, there was no hint of a smile on the Purple Emperor's face; she looked at her expressionlessly.
Everyone dared not make a sound, but inwardly, they exclaimed that Princess Lan Jun was truly bold.
On the Purple Emperor's birthday, she actually wore white, and even the hairpin on her head was a white lotus.
Wasn't this secretly cursing the Purple Emperor? Xi Chen would never find another person so audacious.
"Oh, imperial sister, I'm late again. Please don't blame me." Lan Jun stepped forward, lightly tossed out a sentence, and then sat down in her seat.
The Purple Emperor smiled without humor, "For Imperial Sister to come, it is already giving me face."
Lan Jun snorted coldly in her heart and said, "Imperial Sister is truly generous. Imperial Sister, what do you think of me wearing this lotus hairpin today?"
The Purple Emperor's personal palace maid's face had already turned pale.
Lotus, was the Purple Emperor's most disliked flower.
The Moon Empress's given name was Zilian (Purple Lotus), and she loved lotus flowers the most.
Ever since the Purple Emperor ascended the throne, all lotus flowers in the palace had disappeared. Even palace maids whose names contained "lotus" either changed their names or were sent out of the palace.
Before the Purple Emperor could reply, Lan Jun continued, "Imperial Sister remembers that Imperial Sister Lotus loved lotus flowers the most. Imperial Sister also thinks that lotus flowers are truly beautiful, much more beautiful than the so-called peonies."
Others might not understand the meaning behind Lan Jun's words, but Princess Shaowen understood.
The Purple Emperor liked peonies. Imperial Sister Lotus liked lotus flowers. Saying peonies couldn't compare to lotus flowers was actually talking about people.
The Purple Emperor hated nothing more than being told she couldn't compare to that person!
"You!" The Purple Emperor was about to speak, but was interrupted by Princess Shaowen.
"My two imperial sisters, every flower has its own beauty. Why bother with more words? Of our nine sisters from the past, only three of us remain. Today is Imperial Sister's birthday. Why bother?"
Su Li was enjoying the show immensely. Xi Chen was indeed chaotic.
The Purple Emperor and Lan Jun were bickering. The two great families, Bai and Zhu, were glaring at each other like fighting cocks. The officials below were secretly competing, and there was also Princess Shaowen, the peacemaker.
Now, this peacemaker was suspecting these two imperial sisters. She feared that the balance of Xi Chen would not last long.
Su Li's heart pounded with excitement. The muddier these waters became, the more advantageous it was for them.
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