"A true benefactor, never to be left to freeze in the wind and snow!
Xi Wu, Miss Lu is actually worried about her fiancé. Why are you making her stand there?"
A crisp female voice rang out. Everyone immediately knelt down, "Greetings, Imperial Consort. May Your Ladyship have ten thousand blessings and everlasting peace!"
Lu Qing Wan knelt along with them, her curiosity piqued as she stole glances at the only woman who dared to address Feng Xi Wu by name.
To her surprise, the owner of the voice walked directly in front of her. "Get up quickly. You must be Lord Lu's treasured daughter, aren't you?
You are truly as peerless in beauty as your mother.
It's a shame to marry Xi Wu, this blockhead. If he bullies you in the future, just come to the palace to find me. I'll stand up for you!"
Lu Qing Wan felt a bead of sweat roll down her temple. This Imperial Consort was probably the first person to call her peerless in beauty. This flattery was truly over the top.
"Your Ladyship is too kind. This humble daughter is unworthy of such praise."
As Lu Qing Wan spoke, she cautiously raised her head. The moment she did, her eyes widened in astonishment.
Indeed, she was the favored consort of the six palaces. Her face, her skin, her eyes… no wonder, despite having no children, she had risen from a commoner's daughter to the rank of Imperial Consort, outranking the four consorts and six concubines, her position almost equivalent to that of the Empress.
If Emperor Jing You hadn't been resolute in not establishing an Empress to balance the court, she would have been worthy of the central palace position herself!
"Wake up, you're about to drool!"
Feng Xi Wu's face darkened. He had long known this woman was shallow and only cared about appearances, but he hadn't expected her to be captivated by other women too.
Lu Qing Wan instinctively wiped her lips. There was nothing there.
Chi Yao Yao and Imperial Consort Ye, along with the maids behind them, couldn't help but stifle their laughter.
Lu Qing Wan said awkwardly, "Imperial Consort Ye is naturally beautiful. This humble daughter truly couldn't resist. I beg your Ladyship's forgiveness!"
After speaking, she glared fiercely at Feng Xi Wu. This dog man, she thought, really shouldn't be treated too well. Just after praising him, he made her lose face!
Imperial Consort Ye laughed heartily. "Xi Wu, your little fiancée is quite amusing. Lend her to me for a while!"
Feng Xi Wu smiled. "As long as Imperial Consort Ye likes her, feel free to borrow her. Just remember to return her."
Lu Qing Wan glared at him again. Return? She wasn't an object.
Hmph, something didn't feel quite right about that!
"Come, Wan Wan, come to my side."
Imperial Consort Ye extended her hand to Lu Qing Wan, who had no choice but to comply.
Imperial Consort Ye took her hand, seemingly reluctant to let go. "Everyone is clear on the procedures for the Qixi Banquet. Wan Wan is already the Regent King's fiancée, so she won't be participating.
As usual, young scholars and ladies will take turns showcasing their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Whoever you think is most talented will receive a flower.
The one who receives the most flowers will be the champion of this year's Qixi. I will personally ask the Emperor to arrange a good marriage for her."
The flow of the Qixi Banquet was about as Lu Qing Wan had imagined. However, she suddenly understood the reason Imperial Consort Ye had brought her to her side.
The reputation of the original owner as a good-for-nothing was deeply ingrained. Imperial Consort Ye didn't want her to be embarrassed, did she?
She had no relation to Imperial Consort Ye, so why was she being so considerate? Was it because of Feng Xi Wu?
Her gaze involuntarily drifted towards that dog-like man. He happened to be looking at her. Their eyes met. The dog-like man's expression was indifferent, but his eyes held a playful glint, and he winked.
"Ugh!"
Lu Qing Wan made a gagging gesture.
Feng Xi Wu chuckled softly, the smile now reaching his eyes.
Imperial Consort Ye coughed lightly. "Regent King, perhaps I should return your little fiancée to you?"
Lu Qing Wan, startled, quickly sat up straight.
Feng Xi Wu, however, shamelessly replied, "Thank you, Imperial Consort!"
Thus, Lu Qing Wan was packed up by Imperial Consort Ye's head maid and delivered back to Feng Xi Wu's side.
Since she was here, she might as well make the best of it.
Lu Qing Wan quietly asked Feng Xi Wu, "Did you ask Imperial Consort Ye to help me?"
In the original owner's memories, Feng Xi Wu's birth mother, Consort Wen, had inexplicably been cultivating Buddhist practices in the palace for some reason. Feng Xi Wu had been raised by Imperial Consort Ye.
Although Feng Xi Wu and Emperor Jing You were brothers, they were half-brothers with a significant age gap.
Emperor Jing You trusted Imperial Consort Ye and doted on Feng Xi Wu, so he had asked Imperial Consort Ye to raise her younger brother. Imperial Consort Ye truly treated Feng Xi Wu like a mother.
If Feng Xi Wu hadn't warned her beforehand, Lu Qing Wan wouldn't have understood why Imperial Consort Ye was being so attentive.
Feng Xi Wu didn't commit. "Are you touched?
If you are, then say those words you said to that woman to me again."
Lu Qing Wan:…
"I suddenly don't want to know."
This dog man actually enjoyed hearing flattery. What a peculiar habit!
Since she didn't say anything, Feng Xi Wu didn't pester her. They temporarily ceased hostilities and shifted their attention to the talented scholars and ladies competing in the center of the hall.
If nothing else, at least after several rounds of selection, these scholars and ladies were all good-looking. Today, they were all elaborately dressed for the palace banquet, making them a pleasure to behold.
Feng Xi Wu watched as Lu Qing Wan's eyes seemed glued to those people, especially when Chi Jing Chuan was dancing with his sword, her hands turning red from clapping.
Feng Xi Wu's immediate thought was to whisk her away on the spot. However, soon it was Lu Si Wan's turn, and the atmosphere took a drastic turn.
Her performance involved dancing with long, flowing sleeves while also painting. She was performing and painting beautifully. Lu Qing Wan was almost about to give her a thumbs-up.
Before she could even raise her thumb, the ink basin placed on Lu Qing Wan's side was suddenly swept by a sleeve.
With a splash, the entire basin of ink was thrown towards Lu Qing Wan.
In a split second, as the ink was thrown, Lu Qing Wan could have dodged it. But if she dodged, Feng Xi Wu would be in danger.
This dog man was the Emperor's brother; if he had an accident, she wouldn't fare well either.
In that instant, Lu Qing Wan thought of the ten most gruesome tortures of the late Qing Dynasty. Gritting her teeth, she spread her arms and threw herself onto Feng Xi Wu.
Splash! More than half the ink landed on her back.
Her beautiful flying fish attire was stained messily by the ink. Her dry, yellow hair was also splattered with ink, dripping down her hair and onto Feng Xi Wu's neck.
Everyone was terrified and knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe, "Regent King, please do not be angry!"
But at this moment, a young palace maid cried out loudly, "Ghost, ghost! There's a ghost on her!"
Everyone looked over and saw an eerie green light emanating from Lu Qing Wan's body.
The ink had covered the butterfly she had painted with gold powder, revealing horrifying toxic spots. It looked truly terrifying.
The noble ladies around them recoiled in horror.
Lu Si Wan knelt on the ground and screamed, "Regent King, stay away from her! She's not my elder sister, she's a ghost!"
"What demon artifice, reveal yourself at once!"
A middle-aged man in a special official uniform brazenly entered Chong Hua Palace, drawing a peach wood sword and lunging at Lu Qing Wan.
"Scram!"
Feng Xi Wu struck the man in the chest with his palm and slowly helped Lu Qing Wan up.
"It's fine. That's not human blood, just black dog blood. Have someone take you to wash up. Leave this to me."
Lu Qing Wan then realized that the ink basin in Lu Si Wan's hand contained black dog blood. No wonder her eyes were stinging.
"Yue'er."
Lu Qing Wan reached out, but Chi Yao Yao ran over. "I'm familiar with the palace. I'll take you to wash up."
Saying this, Chi Yao Yao bravely added, "Regent King, please have someone find a set of clothes for Miss Lu."
"Li Yang, go find clothes. Follow her, and return after she has washed and changed."
Lu Qing Wan did not refuse the help from Feng Xi Wu and Chi Yao Yao. After all, in her current state, it was not the time to be stubborn.
She needed to get cleaned up as quickly as possible and prove her innocence.
In this era, being branded as an evil spirit or demon was no trivial matter.