The gazes of everyone in the hall fell upon Song Chaoyu. Song Chaoyu raised her head, her eyelids still lowered, not looking at the Empress or Consort Xian seated above.
"Hmm, a beauty in the making."
Consort Xian smiled slightly, her tone gentle, "Though not as striking as your eldest daughter, she will surely blossom into a renowned lady of the capital. Madam Song is truly blessed, with all her daughters so well-behaved and obedient."
Song Chaoyu breathed a sigh of relief.
Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that Consort Xian seemed curious about her, and perhaps knew a little about her situation.
That was why, while praising her, she also praised Song Yanjiao. This was to prevent Song Yanjiao from feeling too outshone.
Consort Xian did not keep them for long. Song Chaoyu followed Song Yanjiao out of the shop. Song Yanjiao waved her hand, "Go and enjoy yourself. Since you've just returned to the capital, you should meet more people. But always remember, don't make any mistakes, especially when the banquet officially begins later. Don't wander off!"
Song Chaoyu knew that the ladies Song Yanjiao associated with were all legitimate daughters of prominent families in the capital. They looked down on her, a daughter of a concubine, and she did not wish to mingle with them.
Xunlü followed by Song Chaoyu's side, seeing Song Chaoyu heading towards a deserted corridor, she was puzzled, "Young lady, aren't you going to make some friends? This corridor is empty. You'll be bored sitting here alone."
Song Chaoyu shook her head, "It's alright. Sitting in the corridor for a while is also peaceful."
She found a quiet spot and entertained herself.
From here, she could see the entire pond of the Dengque Hall. She had already seen the Crown Princess speaking with other noble ladies. Palace maids and eunuchs bustled about, and there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary.
"Who is it? Sitting here so quietly, you gave me quite a scare!"
A voice suddenly sounded from behind Song Chaoyu. She quickly stood up and saw a woman of her age, dressed in a rose-red palace gown, followed by a group of maids, appearing behind her.
The woman's appearance was not dazzling, but her demeanor was exceptionally noble.
Song Chaoyu recognized her and quickly curtsied, "Song family's illegitimate daughter, Song Chaoyu, greets Princess Anyang. May Your Highness be well."
Princess Anyang was the legitimate daughter of Prince Anyang, the Emperor's only younger brother. She grew up in the palace. Even some of the less favored princesses in the palace were not as doted upon by the Emperor and Empress as Princess Anyang.
This had also contributed to Princess Anyang's arrogant and willful nature. Not only outside the palace, but even some of the lower-ranked consorts within the palace treated her with courtesy.
Furthermore, Princess Anyang was a close friend of Song Yanjiao.
Thus, as she stood before Song Chaoyu, she scrutinized her, "It's commendable that you know my identity. You must be the sister from the concubine's household that Jiao Jiao told me about? What day is it today, that someone of your status can also enter the palace?"
It was clear she had ill intentions.
And their difference in status was vast. Princess Anyang did not tell Song Chaoyu to rise, so Song Chaoyu could only remain in her curtsying posture, "We entered the palace this time upon the invitation of Consort Xian to the family's matriarch, who brought us along. If Your Highness has any doubts, we are merely following orders. Your Highness may inquire with Consort Xian to understand why we were allowed into the palace."
The other party was a princess. Although Song Chaoyu could not afford to offend her, she could not lose the dignity of the Song family while in the palace.
Song Chaoyu's composed attitude was something Princess Anyang did not expect, "You are indeed as sharp-tongued as Jiao Jiao described! Don't try to intimidate me with Consort Xian! Consort Xian dotes on me the most. How can you, a mere daughter of a concubine, be so ungrateful?"
"Guards!"
Princess Anyang said sternly, "She has slandered me. Give her ten slaps and teach her a lesson!"
The old women and maids behind Princess Anyang knew her to be willful and exchanged glances, hesitant to step forward.
Song Chaoyu looked up. While still maintaining her礼, her eyes stubbornly stared at Princess Anyang, "Your Highness may punish me as you wish, but if you tarnish the Song family's reputation, I fear that even as a princess, you will have difficulty explaining yourself to the Emperor. May I ask Your Highness, how did I slander you? Is it simply because I do not know why Consort Xian invited us illegitimate daughters to enter the palace together that Your Highness intends to punish me?"
"You—"
Princess Anyang looked at Song Chaoyu, her eyes growing angrier.
She glared back at the motionless old women and maids, then walked forward herself, rolling up her sleeves, "Fine! If they dare not hit you, I will do it myself! Let me see what you can do if I insist on hitting you today?!"
Song Chaoyu sighed.
There was truly nothing she could do.
If she were to receive these two slaps from Princess Anyang, her face would likely be unrecognizable today.
It would be better to... retreat for now and voluntarily withdraw from this palace banquet. Although this might not resolve the Crown Princess's predicament, she had to protect herself first.
With this thought, Song Chaoyu lowered her head further.
"Your Highness!"
But before she could speak, a young eunuch suddenly appeared from behind Princess Anyang, hurrying over, "Your Highness, Princess Anyang, so you are here! The servant has been looking for you!"
Princess Anyang then withdrew her hand and turned to the young eunuch, "Oh? Aren't you Xiao Rui Zi, by Prince Chang's side? Why are you here? Does Prince Chang have something?"
The young eunuch nodded, looking flustered, "Indeed! Prince Chang is making his first appearance at a palace banquet today, so naturally, he must wear the golden crown with the coiled dragon and golden finial personally bestowed by the Emperor. But it's nowhere to be found. We heard that Your Highness saw the crown earlier and hoped you could help find it!"
"Prince Chang is really something. I just placed it on the table for him."
Princess Anyang followed the young eunuch's footsteps and hurried away, "The banquet is about to begin. Today is a big day for Prince Chang, and we mustn't delay..."
Princess Anyang's voice gradually faded, eventually disappearing at the end of the long corridor.
Song Chaoyu was finally able to straighten her body, feeling a slight ache in her knees.
Speaking of which, she had to thank Prince Chang.
At such a critical juncture, he had indeed helped her.
—
At this moment, in a side hall of the Dengque Hall, Prince Chang, seated in a wheelchair, was fiddling with the golden crown with the coiled dragon and golden finial. He said to another young eunuch beside him, "After the Princess Anyang arrives, tell her that I have found it and she need not come in. This side hall of my mother's consort is only for me to change clothes temporarily. Her coming here would be inconvenient."
The young eunuch beside him responded, "I knew Miss Song would be troubled when she entered the palace today. Your Highness has put in much effort!"
Prince Chang waved his hand and smiled faintly, "In this capital, she walks on thin ice, and so do I. We are merely fellow travelers."