Chapter 6: A Major Incident at the Crown Prince's Grand Birthday

At that moment, both Yu Nanfeng and Le Linglong turned their gaze toward her. Yu Nanfeng, upon seeing Le Qianxue, instinctively stepped back. "Le Qianxue! You just won't let me be! The moment I return to the capital, you haunt me like a ghost, following me everywhere!"

Le Qianxue paused, her eyes a little confused. What was he talking about?

In the past, Le Qianxue had been infatuated with Fourth Prince Yu Nanfeng, always chasing after him and causing quite a few laughable incidents. But three months ago, when the Fourth Prince left the capital on business, Le Qianxue finally quieted down for a while. Today, by chance, the Fourth Prince returned and escorted Le Linglong back to her residence, only to run into Le Qianxue—such rotten luck!

Le Qianxue searched her memories and recalled those incidents, feeling a headache coming on. Many people probably still believed she liked Yu Nanfeng, but after living here for three months, she could barely remember him—not even his face.

"Are you..." Le Qianxue pondered, "Are you the Third Prince or the Fourth Prince?"

Yu Nanfeng was stunned. Was Le Qianxue doing this on purpose?

Hua Tao, worried Yu Nanfeng might get angry, quickly whispered to Le Qianxue, "Miss, this is the Fourth Prince."

Le Qianxue suddenly remembered and nodded, bowing properly as etiquette demanded.

"Greetings, Fourth Prince. Please attend to your business; I’ll take my leave." She finished her words in one breath, not giving Yu Nanfeng any chance to respond.

Seeing Le Qianxue turn and leave, Yu Nanfeng was bewildered. Why did Le Qianxue seem like a completely different person this time?

Le Linglong hurriedly said, "Sister, please don’t be angry."

"What?" Le Qianxue hadn't seen Le Linglong in days—what was she up to?

Le Linglong’s eyes filled with tears. "Sister, the Fourth Prince escorted me home. You must be upset, but… but… it’s all my fault. Please don’t be angry with me, okay?"

Le Qianxue was taken aback. She hadn’t said a word, nor was she showing any sign of anger.

Yu Nanfeng, seeing the beauty in tears, felt his heart break. "Linglong, why plead with her? I insisted on escorting you home—this isn’t your fault. She’s always been the one clinging to me."

Le Linglong insisted, "But Sister obviously likes you. I shouldn’t have—"

"What shouldn’t you have done? I like you, and I will marry you! If she’s jealous, that’s her own problem!" Yu Nanfeng glared at Le Qianxue.

Every encounter with Le Qianxue seemed to bring trouble.

Le Qianxue’s gaze was cold as she glanced at Le Linglong. What a performance—she could take it to the stage.

Hua Tao nearly couldn’t hold back. Her lady hadn’t said a word, yet the Fourth Prince was already hurling insults—how unfair!

But Le Qianxue stopped Hua Tao and said, "If the Fourth Prince is to marry my sister, that is most fortunate. My sister excels in every way, and such a union is a great happiness. Allow me to congratulate you both in advance."

"Sister..." Le Linglong was stunned. Why wasn’t Le Qianxue angry or upset? In the past, she would have made a scene.

But today’s Le Qianxue...

Neither of them could react before Le Qianxue had already left.

Yu Nanfeng stroked his chin, finally coming to a conclusion: Le Qianxue must be playing hard to get! She had once caused a commotion before his father, asking for a marriage decree for them both!

---

"Linglong, don’t worry about your sister. In a few days, it will be Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. We’ll see each other then," Yu Nanfeng said.

Le Linglong nodded. After Yu Nanfeng left, she returned to her own courtyard.

On the way, Madame Xu approached, glancing at the departing Fourth Prince and shooting Le Linglong a glare.

Le Linglong shrank back. "Mother..."

"How many times have I told you? Don’t get so close to the Fourth Prince."

"Mother, the Fourth Prince insisted on escorting me. It wasn’t my—" Le Linglong feigned grievance.

"I know the Fourth Prince is devoted to you, but he will only ever be a prince. The Crown Prince is different. He will inherit the throne and become emperor!" Madame Xu said, "You are already a concubine’s daughter in the general’s mansion. Do you really want to marry another concubine’s son?"

Le Linglong shook her head. She always aspired to ascend, to become the best.

It was all Le Qianxue’s fault! Had that useless fool not occupied the position of legitimate daughter, Le Linglong wouldn’t have had to work so hard.

She nodded, "Mother, I understand."

"The Crown Prince has only one secondary consort. The position of main consort is still vacant. He will soon turn twenty and choose his bride. That day, you must shine! Make the Crown Prince notice you."

Le Linglong said helplessly, "But… Father has already arranged for Le Qianxue to perform at the birthday banquet, to pave the way for her to find a husband."

Le Yongcheng was notoriously partial, always planning for Le Qianxue.

Madame Xu snorted, "The old man is biased, always favoring Le Qianxue. Don’t worry, Mother has a way."

A flash of malice crossed Madame Xu’s eyes. On that day, Le Qianxue must not attend the banquet!

A few days later, it was Crown Prince Yu Guhan’s grand birthday.

The banquet was held in the Crown Prince’s palace, with the Office of Internal Affairs arranging everything. Though the Emperor was away on his southern tour, the Crown Prince’s twentieth birthday was celebrated in grand style. Many ministers attended with their families, making it a lively scene.

Even Zhan Lianjing, rarely seen in public, was present, sitting beside Yu Guhan and chatting occasionally.

The other officials observed; the rumors must be true—Zhan Lianjing intended to support Yu Guhan’s ascension, consolidating his position.

At that moment, Le Yongcheng arrived with Madame Xu and Le Linglong, immediately attracting much attention.

Firstly, Le Yongcheng was a prominent general, wielding significant influence.

Secondly, Le Linglong was renowned for her talent and beauty, the dream of many young men in the capital.

"Greetings, King Zhan! Greetings, Your Highness!"

The three bowed together.

The Crown Prince and the Third Prince were both born of the former Empress. Yu Guhan had been named Crown Prince at birth, and his position had never been challenged.

But recently, the Second Prince was gaining influence, and Yu Guhan felt pressure, so he began courting Zhan Lianjing to become his ally.

However, Yu Guhan lacked both looks and talent, especially seated next to Zhan Lianjing, who—even in a wheelchair—outshone him in every way.

Yu Guhan glanced around and asked, "Where is General Le’s eldest daughter?"

Zhan Lianjing, hearing this, also looked at Le Yongcheng.

Le Yongcheng sighed and replied, "Qianxue happens to be unwell today and is resting at home, so she did not come."

---

Yu Guhan raised an eyebrow. "What happened? I haven’t seen her in ages and wanted to."

Originally, Le Qianxue was to attend lessons in the palace, but her temperament proved impossible to tame, so those plans were abandoned.

"Qianxue was truly vomiting and ill this morning, so she couldn’t come to pay respects to Your Highness. No need to worry— the physician said a few days’ rest will suffice," Le Yongcheng said helplessly.

He wasn’t sure what had caused it, but the physician confirmed Le Qianxue had eaten something wrong and needed to recuperate.

Madame Xu and Le Linglong exchanged a glance and smiled slightly. No one knew that Madame Xu had secretly drugged Le Qianxue’s breakfast, preventing her from attending.

Yu Nanfeng, upon learning Le Qianxue wouldn’t be coming, was delighted. "Crown Prince, it’s fine if she’s absent—better, even, so she won’t come here to pester me."

Yu Guhan’s eyes flashed, and he smiled lightly, saying nothing more.

Meanwhile, Le Qianxue, supposedly at home resting, was actually in a gambling house. Madame Xu’s tricks were nothing to her; she simply played along, avoiding the birthday banquet.

The gambling house was bustling, and Le Qianxue had won quite a bit of silver. But it was stuffy, so she stepped out into the backyard for some air.

To her surprise, she spotted two suspicious figures entering a room.

The first man looked familiar, but she couldn’t place him.

Slowing her steps, she pressed herself against the door to listen.

"The Crown Prince’s palace is all arranged," a man said. "That mongrel prince always carries the Tiger Tally. Kill him and seize it!"

"But there are many Imperial Guards in the Crown Prince’s palace."

"We have insiders there, and once trouble starts, the guards will protect the princes, not that mongrel prince. He only has Hao Yue with him. Stick to the plan, and we’ll take his head!"

Hearing this, Le Qianxue recognized the voice—it was the deputy general under Zhan Lianjing. She had accompanied Le Yongcheng to the Western Army camp before and met him there.

Hearing footsteps approaching, she quickly hid in the shadows.

Once the men left, she emerged.

"Assassinate Zhan Lianjing?" she murmured. "He really is troublesome. With so many attempts on his life, it’s a wonder he’s survived this long."

Le Qianxue hadn’t wanted to get involved, but remembering that Le Yongcheng was also at the banquet, she feared he might be injured.

She finally had a family in this life; she didn’t want to become an orphan.

Gritting her teeth, she headed toward the Crown Prince’s palace.

---

The Crown Prince’s palace.

At that moment, Le Linglong was performing on the zither. From childhood, she had been celebrated as a talented woman. Her slender fingers plucked the strings, producing clear, melodious notes that captured everyone’s attention.

Many young men in the capital admired Le Linglong. Her performance drew countless gazes.