Chapter 9

Chapter 9

It was Kangle’s Birthday Banquet.

Wei Zhao and I arrived late.

Wei Zhao had been so furious that he’d messed up his hair, forcing him to redo his grooming, which delayed us quite a bit.

In short, the more one tries to be solemn, the more flustered things become in the end.

As soon as Wei Zhao arrived, he was immediately pulled away to the men’s side.

I presented my gift to Kangle, then took my seat among the ladies to eat quietly by myself.

I wasn’t acquainted with any of the noble ladies in the capital, and I didn’t care to force myself to be. If you don’t fit into a circle, there’s no point in trying to squeeze in.

Evidently, they had no intention of letting me in, either.

A group of them surrounded Kangle, taking turns coming up with creative ways to compliment her outfit today, praising her from the strands of her hair down to the embroidery on her shoes.

But Kangle was clearly distracted, listening with visible boredom.

Her entire attention was focused on Wei Zhao over in the men’s section, and Wei Zhao was doing the exact same thing.

The two of them were exchanging flirtatious glances, gazing at each other with deep affection.

I sat between them like a Yama guarding a temple, blocking their path.

Several noble ladies exchanged looks, then approached me with smiles, offering toasts and pestering me with conversation.

“Princess, we heard you were cultivating at Yunchu Temple before. May we ask what path you followed?”

“The Path of Slaughter.”

“Oh, the Princess surely jokes. I’ve heard that monks and nuns are always the most kind-hearted and would never kill. Surely the Princess is the same.”

“So, because you see me as kind-hearted, you plan to bully me?”

I looked up, meeting their eyes with a bright smile.

I watched as the smiles on their faces crumbled, replaced by a flash of panic before they quickly donned their masks of politeness again.

This process was truly entertaining.

“How could the Princess say such a thing? We respect you more than we can say. How could we possibly bully you?”

“Exactly! You are a Princess, after all!”

“Move.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kangle and Wei Zhao take advantage of the crowd surrounding me to slip away into a small grove of trees.

How could I tolerate this?

I stood up, glaring coldly at the noble ladies in front of me.

They stood up awkwardly but showed no intention of stepping aside.

Of course…

It wasn’t just the palace maids and eunuchs who knew who was truly favored; these noble ladies, who grew up in the capital and were as sharp as monkeys, knew it too.

The sealing of the Princess Manor was a signal, telling them plainly: I, this Princess, didn’t amount to much in the eyes of my Imperial Father!

Seeing a green hat about to be placed firmly on my head, I kicked two of the noble ladies out of my way.

Tables, chairs, and plates crashed to the ground.

The crowd scrambled away in a panic as I strode toward the grove.

I saw Kangle, her eyes misty with tears, wilting into Wei Zhao’s arms. Their lips were just about to touch.

I picked up a pebble and flicked it right at their mouths.

“Ah!”

Wei Zhao clutched his mouth as the pebble flew inside. He spat it out, coughing and sputtering several times, before glaring furiously in my direction.

Once he realized it was me, he unhesitatingly shielded the pale and frightened Kangle behind him.

What a fool.

I walked over unhurriedly and said calmly, “What did you promise me before we left the house?”

Wei Zhao’s face flushed, leaving him speechless.

I turned my gaze to Kangle. “Does Empress Mother know about this?”

Kangle turned pale, her teeth lightly biting her lower lip in a pitiful display.

I looked at Wei Zhao. “If you don’t want to keep embarrassing yourself, come with me.”

Wei Zhao gnashed his teeth in frustration but was helpless. He knew my combat strength all too well.

He turned to Kangle and said solemnly and tenderly, “Yun’er, my heart is not a stone that can be turned. Before, I was worried about my family and didn’t dare refuse the marriage. During this time, I’ve realized the truth. I will beg His Majesty to allow a divorce. Whether His Majesty wants to beat me or punish me, I will accept it. In this life, I only recognize you.”

Kangle’s eyes lit up with sudden joy. “Good! I will go beg Empress Mother. If she doesn’t agree, I’ll… I’ll go on a hunger strike and use my life to force her. I don’t believe Empress Mother won’t be moved.”

She looked at me with a triumphant, flaunting expression.

Indeed…

Even Kangle knew perfectly well that she was the one Empress Mother doted on most.

I felt a pang of hurt for only a brief moment before I smiled.

Favor and doting are not the same thing.

To Kangle, being doted on meant having every request granted and everything going her way.

But Empress Mother’s way of doting was to prioritize safety and ensure one was well-provided for; personal romance and happiness came last.

I didn’t care about them, but to discuss how to deal with me right to my face…

Do they really think I’m dead?

I said flatly, “What a sin the Wei Family committed to produce a disaster like you. Do you think the Emperor’s daughter is a head of cabbage on the street that you can pick and choose? Kangle, do you really think Empress Mother won’t pry your mouth open and force-feed you herself?”