Chapter 247: Schemes at the Birthday Banquet (Part Three)

Chapter 247: Schemes at the Birthday Banquet (Part Three)

"A couple as one?"

Su RAO let out a direct laugh.

"According to this princess's knowledge, you are merely a secondary consort!"

A secondary consort, in a more polite sense, is half a wife, after all, she can be recorded in the imperial genealogy and recognized by the royal family. However, in a less flattering light, she is just a concubine.

"SU RAO, you..."

Even the most patient person would find it hard to endure such repeated jabs at their heart, such humiliation.

"What is it?"

SU RAO laughed even more frivolously.

"Is what this princess said incorrect?"

She then put on an innocent face.

Taking a step closer, she whispered:

"ZHAO Lianxin, you are only a secondary consort. The position of the main consort for Prince Yi ZHAN is still vacant!"

The frivolous smile disappeared from her face.

"As long as this princess wishes, tomorrow morning there will be an imperial decree for a marriage alliance, making this princess the main consort of Prince Yi ZHAN. This princess will always be above you, so you'd better hide that disgusting face of yours."

After saying this, she added:

"Don't think this princess is just threatening you; I'll show you now."

Turning her head, she looked at Prince Yi ZHAN, who showed no reaction to her words. SU RAO then tiptoed, almost touching his earlobe with her lips.

"Prince Yi ZHAN, this is a small punishment from this princess. Eavesdropping is not good at all."

In other words, humiliating ZHAO Lianxin was humiliating Prince Yi ZHAN, whose secondary consort still harbored thoughts for another man.

Any man would find such a thing unacceptable!

Having said this, SU RAO entered the palace with a mischievous demeanor.

Regardless of the impact her words might have on Prince Yi ZHAN, he once again turned grim due to SU RAO, though only for a brief moment.

But ZHAO Lianxin saw clearly the crease in his brow, and her hand clenched tightly under her flowing sleeves. Her beautiful eyes darkened again.

"Hide any thoughts you have, or this prince does not mind sending you back to Yunlang."

With these cold and ruthless words, Prince Yi ZHAN strode into the palace without even glancing at ZHAO Lianxin. He knew she had thoughts, but he did not care, as long as she remained obedient and caused no trouble.

"Secondary Consort, the time is late. If you miss the Emperor's birthday banquet..."

MO Yan raised his hand to invite her.

ZHAO Lianxin reined in all the darkness in her eyes and followed, regaining her elegant demeanor like a fragrant orchid.

Graceful and refined.

Yet, the handkerchief under her rose-colored sleeve was ruined once more.

Today, ZHAO Lianxin could accompany Prince Yi into the palace because Empress RONG had spoken up. In the past, when Prince Yi had no female companion, it was fine, but now that he had one, especially Princess Xinyi of Yunlang, how could she not attend the Emperor's thirtieth birthday banquet?

The incident at the palace gate spread within moments to the inner palace.

At this moment, inside the inner palace, besides Empress RONG and her attendant RONGGU, there was also a middle-aged man wearing the official attire of Danliang, seemingly a messenger from Danliang.

"Go back and tell my sister-in-law that I will send the SU girl over, but I need her right now. She should wait a bit longer! After all, she hasn't found out who has been opposing her all these years. A little delay shouldn't matter."

Waving her hand, she dismissed the Danliang messenger.

"Princess, your actions... How can I explain this to the empress?"

Originally, they could have taken the SU girl directly to Danliang themselves, but to prevent her from being rescued en route, they came to Zhu Xian to have Empress RONG deliver her.

Along the way to Danliang, after the SU girl was captured, a group of black-clad men would appear to confuse the situation.

But now, the SU girl wasn't rescued by their feared opponents; instead, she was saved by Prince Yi of Zhu Xian. That was bad enough, but now...

"Princess Rongyu, with your actions, I..."

The Danliang messenger wanted to say more, but he met Empress RONG's cold gaze, and his words stuck in his throat, unable to continue.

"I haven't blamed my sister-in-law for involving me in this situation, considering our years of familial ties."

Her cold gaze grew even colder.

"If my sister-in-law thinks I am holding her back, she can take the SU girl away now. But don't forget, if my brother the Emperor learns about what happened back then and how she ascended to the throne..."

A cold laugh:

"If Yunlang finds out that the current queen of Danliang, the sickly one who never leaves her chambers..."

Empress Rong's two remarks caused the messenger from Tanliang to completely change his expression, losing all his arrogance.

"Get out of here."

Without room for argument.

"The subordinate... will take my leave."

In the end, he could only utter these words before slinking away.

Ronggu also sneered.

She thought that since the princess had been married for years, she dared to be so disrespectful.

Pouring Empress Rong a cup of tea, Ronggu then spoke:

"Your Majesty, do you also suspect that the woman in red who appeared beside Prince Yi in Border State is Lady Ronghua, and that Prince Yi treats her differently?"

Ronggu directly stated why Empress Rong said she needed Su Rao as well.

From the incident at the palace gate that she just learned about, to the news from Border State over these days.

Ronggu was certain.

However, Empress Rong neither nodded nor shook her head to deny Ronggu's words.

Whether it was true or not, they would find out by testing it.

"Ronggu, has Xian Yi Chishao secretly made contact with the mysterious person who has opposed your sister-in-law for so many years? Is he trying to obtain the formula from your sister-in-law? Have I underestimated him again?"

Since Xian Yi Chishao sent Empress Rong the grand gift from Huajian Fang, on that day, she had Ronggu investigate the person impersonating Xian Yi Chishao. However, there had been no news for these past few days, not even a trace.

Until half an hour ago, when the messenger from Tanliang arrived.

He once again urged Empress Rong to quickly capture Su Rao and have the secret guards take her away, otherwise, he would have trouble explaining when he returned.

He also mentioned that Flower Valley had been destroyed, leaving them without this powerful force to assist them, making the situation difficult for Her Majesty. They must quickly use Su Rao to lure out the mysterious person.

The mysterious person comes and goes without a trace, having already impersonated officials from various states and counties in Tanliang several times, causing chaos.

A casual remark from the Tanliang messenger suddenly made Empress Rong realize something.

The only one capable of such convincing impersonation might be the mysterious force that appeared in Tanliang five years ago.

"Ronggu, go and check if any other people from Tanliang have entered Prince Yi's residence recently. Do it quickly."

With this order, her demeanor turned solemn.

"Yes, this servant will go and check right away."

Ronggu responded and hurriedly left.

"Xian Yi Chishao, I have let you act recklessly, but not to repeatedly challenge me. It seems I need to teach you a lesson."

With this muttered remark, Empress Rong rose and smoothed her phoenix robe.

It was time to see her Emperor.