Chapter 18: Sister Empress, Let's Go

Cheng Xueyang felt utterly confused, unable to distinguish reality from illusion. Voices echoed relentlessly in her mind—her royal sister’s, Lin Xuan’s, Feng Mobing’s, the second madam’s, and that one other voice—all bursting forth like a cacophony of sinister sounds.

“Ah, Royal Sister, why are you sitting here?”

Suddenly, someone placed their hands on her shoulders, and Cheng Xueyang jolted awake.

Behind her was a man’s voice—the Crown Prince’s voice.

“Come on, let’s go, sister and brother, to the main table. Last time you saved me from the hands of the mother concubine when you entered the palace; I haven’t properly thanked you yet.”

The Crown Prince took Cheng Xueyang’s hand and led her toward the main table, holding a cup of wine in his other hand, sipping as he walked.

Feng Mobing and her sister-in-law were stunned—had the opportunity slipped through their fingers? After all their efforts, was it all for nothing?

But that was the Crown Prince; who dared to defy him?

Everyone present noticed the Crown Prince leading Cheng Xueyang to the main table, all surprised and whispering among themselves.

When did the Crown Prince and Princess Xuanyun become so close?

The Crown Prince seated Cheng Xueyang and poured her a drink. “Royal Sister, have a drink.”

There was only one vacant seat at the main table, reserved for the Yunxiang Princess who had left early. Now Cheng Xueyang occupied it, which felt somewhat awkward.

The Crown Princess beside them stopped the Crown Prince from forcing her to drink. "Your Highness, drinking on an empty stomach harms your health."

Only then did the Crown Prince realize and hurriedly offer Cheng Xueyang some food. “Royal Sister, these Four Happiness Meatballs are delicious. Have one.”

Unable to refuse, Cheng Xueyang took a few bites.

The Prince of Longevity at the table showed no change in expression and ate as usual, while his wife seemed displeased that Cheng Xueyang sat nearby. However, no one dared to speak up against the Crown Prince’s choice of seat.

Grand Tutor Lin lowered his head to eat, seemingly unaware of Cheng Xueyang’s presence.

Nearby, Prince Jing and Wugexi exchanged glances, puzzled by the Crown Prince’s sudden enthusiasm, but admiring the beauty that could whet one’s appetite.

Gu Mo noticed the slight redness at the corner of Cheng Xueyang’s eyes—a sign of suppressed anger or frustration, something he had seen before.

Earlier, Cheng Xueyang had been seated near the Lin family side; Gu Anyu had failed to pull her to He Xuan’s side.

The Lin family, huh?

Gu Mo’s cold gaze swept toward Grand Tutor Lin; it was time to investigate the Lin family.

Feeling Gu Mo’s gaze, Grand Tutor Lin shivered, feeling innocent but apprehensive. He had done nothing recently—just wanted to finish his honorable retirement and leave the capital with his family.

With age, he had grown indifferent—power and wealth meant nothing compared to having his family together.

He hoped the dark secrets of his past would remain forever buried.

Cheng Xueyang was fed generously by the Crown Prince, who filled her up completely. The Crown Princess’s jealousy was almost suffocating, yet the Crown Prince remained oblivious, continuing to pile food onto Cheng Xueyang’s plate rather than his wife’s.

Throughout the meal, Cheng Xueyang observed everyone’s expressions. Prince Jing was displeased with the Crown Prince’s closeness to her.

Wugexi was a difficult man to control; only beauty could tame him. Naturally, he didn’t want many people near Cheng Xueyang, especially not the Crown Prince, his rival.

Prince Jing had initially wanted Cheng Xueyang to sit closer to please Wugexi, but after a disturbance caused by Yunxiang Princess, it was not the Prince Jing’s residence, so he dared not be too conspicuous.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince saw Cheng Xueyang seated below and simply walked over to bring her up.

He was completely unaware of Prince Jing’s hostility, occasionally placing pieces of meat into Prince Jing’s bowl with a beaming smile. “Royal Brother, eat more. There’s plenty for you. Just don’t run around being greedy.”

Prince Jing’s expression soured.

His main dislike for the Crown Prince was that the latter always brought up past events.

Fifteen years ago, while accompanying the mother concubine on a provincial visit, Prince Jing was captivated by street food and, out of curiosity, sneaked away to buy some. Unfortunately, he was abducted by traffickers and sold abroad, living a miserable life for over a month before being rescued.

That was his darkest secret.

He did not allow anyone to mention it in his presence—it was a constant reminder of his foolishness.

Yet the Crown Prince loved to bring it up.

One day, he vowed to pin that bastard down and make him beg for mercy.

No one responded to the Crown Prince’s words; all saw Prince Jing’s displeasure. The Crown Princess secretly pinched the Crown Prince’s thigh. “Even with food, you can’t keep your mouth shut.”

The Crown Prince looked innocent. “I didn’t say anything.”

Then he turned to the Prince of Longevity, offering more food. “Royal Uncle, eat more.”

The Crown Prince genuinely enjoyed serving others. Most at the table had been offered food except the Crown Princess and the Prince of Longevity’s wife.

The oleander flowers adorning the Prince of Longevity’s wife’s hair were gone. She had intended to wear them to the banquet, but the prince had thrown a tantrum, so she discarded them.

The Prince and his wife had been married for decades, their heir grown. Their relationship was neither passionate nor cold—just like any ordinary married couple.

At least, that was what Cheng Xueyang observed at the banquet.

The oleander incident seemed never to have happened; no one mentioned or asked about it.

Apart from some initial minor incidents, the birthday banquet concluded successfully.

Guests gradually took their leave.

Cheng Xueyang boarded the carriage back to the princess residence.

The coachman, Song Hui, had fully recovered from his injuries, and Cheng Xueyang asked him to continue the service.

Having been given several cups of wine by the Crown Prince, Cheng Xueyang’s tolerance was decent, but after eating and drinking her fill, she grew drowsy. Leaning against the soft pillow, she dozed off.

She did not hear the Crown Prince of Longevity’s wife’s roaring in her courtyard.

“Who! Who! Who destroyed my oleanders? Bring them out! I will have them torn apart!”

The courtyard’s oleander pots were now bare—no flowers, no branches, not even a root left. Everything had vanished without a trace.

Yet the servants guarding the courtyard saw no one. Despite having someone on duty, no explanation could be found.

Furious, the Prince of Longevity’s wife punished the servants and insisted it had to be the side concubine who did this in her absence, demanding an explanation.

When the Prince of Longevity learned of this, his face turned green.

---

“Xiao Xue, wake up.”

The small Cheng Xueyang was roused from sleep by a gentle shake. The bedchamber was still dark, no lights lit, and the night maid on watch was silent. By the dim bed stood a familiar figure with a familiar voice.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Cheng Xueyang asked groggily, “Royal Sister? Are you here to sleep with me?”

Before she could fully register, she was pulled from the quilt and hurriedly rushed out.

The night breeze fully awakened her. Shocked, she realized her elder sister was dragging her on a frantic run through the night, constantly avoiding patrolling guards.

“Royal Sister? What’s going on now?”

Her royal sister’s voice was usually gentle and calm but tonight was urgent and uneven. “Xiao Xue, I have no time to explain. I must leave the palace now. I know you always find a way to sneak out without being caught. Take me—your secret passage.”