Chapter 228 Gaze

Even though she was completely ignored by the Crown Prince, Bai Mingluan showed no resentment. Instead, as she watched the Crown Prince interact with the two girls beside him, a naive smile slowly appeared on her face.

“I think the jade hairpin in Princess Chang Le’s hair is quite unique. I wonder which jewelry shop in the capital she bought it from? I’d like to go and have a look.”

Qi Yuxuan looked up at her, her expression indifferent: "The jade hairpin was a gift from a friend. I don't know which shop made it. I'm sorry."

"That's a real pity... I thought the capital was so unrestricted that even ordinary girls could wear phoenix hairpins. I wanted to go and see for myself."

After muttering to herself, she seemed to realize that what she had said was somewhat impolite, and hurriedly covered her mouth. "Hey, Princess Chang Le, don't misunderstand. I didn't mean to target you. I can't keep things to myself, so I just say what's on my mind. You won't be angry, will you?"

Qi Yuxuan smiled, her eyes bright and clear, in a good mood.

"No, even if Miss Bai is being malicious and spouting insults, the one who should be bothered is the person who gave me the jade hairpin. Why should I, the one who received the gift, be angry? Your Highness, don't you agree?"

Bai Mingluan's heart skipped a beat when she heard her call him the Crown Prince.

It couldn't be such a coincidence. She just couldn't stand that Princess Chang Le and Princess Min Ying had to attract the Crown Prince's attention even when they were having tea. She wanted to tease Princess Chang Le for wearing a phoenix hairpin to the palace banquet without knowing any better. That's when she called for the Crown Prince. Could that jade hairpin have been given to her by the Emperor, Empress or the Crown Prince?

However, when she looked into the distance, the jade hairpin was hidden in her hair. At most, she could tell that it was shaped like a phoenix head and that the jade was of excellent quality. She couldn't tell at all whether it was a style made by imperial decree.

Bai Mingluan clenched her fists under the table.

No, her aunt has already promised her.

The position of Crown Princess might be a bit of a stretch for her, but the position of Consort is definitely hers.

Moreover, everyone at this table today is a member of the Crown Prince's clan in the capital. Not to mention that she is his only legitimate cousin, even if there were other suitable girls, the Crown Prince is already nineteen and has not shown any interest in marriage. There is certainly no one at the table who is to his liking.

After much thought, she heard the Crown Prince speak: "Is it that the dishes at the palace banquet don't suit Miss Bai's taste?"

Bai Mingluan's eyes blinked, her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately put on an innocent smile:

"No, how could that be? My cousin, the Crown Prince, is still as gentle and considerate as he was when we were children... I just have a smaller appetite and eat less than before. It's not that I don't like the food, so you don't need to worry."

The crown prince withdrew his gaze and said in a flat tone, "Well, then eat more and don't talk."

Qi You, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, almost lost his composure because of this sentence. He could only pick up the bowl and stuff a mouthful of rice into his mouth.

"Oh dear, Seventh Prince, please eat slowly!"

The maids and servants were startled and patted his back and poured him water, which drew everyone's attention.

Bai Mingluan was about to speak, but then she awkwardly shut her mouth, afraid that she was too lively and would make the Crown Prince think that she did not follow the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping.

This was Qi Yuxuan's first time having New Year's Eve dinner in the palace. After dinner, it was time to stay up all night. The eldest princess told her to go play in Minying Palace and not to accompany her.

Tonight is a night for family reunions. The palace is decorated with colorful paper and red lanterns. Every palace servant who passes by is beaming with joy and speaks a string of auspicious words.

Qi Yuxuan and Qi Minying played with the palace servants in the palace for a while. When they got tired, they each lay down on the daybed for a nap. Suddenly, they were awakened by the firecrackers and fireworks outside and realized that it was already midnight.

The two little girls rubbed their eyes, sat up, and smiled at each other:

"May it always be like this, with the seasons changing every year."

"Then...may every year bring you joy and good fortune."

An hour ago, in the Empress's palace.

The Empress had a smooth and successful life for half her life. Except when Consort Zou was feeling proud, she was slightly annoyed. But a concubine was still a concubine and could not affect her status as Empress. None of those stupid princes could compare to her Jun'er.

But today, when she saw the phoenix-headed jade hairpin on Qi Yuxuan's head, she felt a real sense of annoyance.

The palace servants were all dismissed and kept far away, leaving only the Empress and the Crown Prince speaking in the hall.

The Empress, holding onto the armrest, sat on the soft couch, looking at her son kneeling upright before her, and for the first time experienced the helplessness of her son's disobedience and unfilial behavior.

"How could I have given birth to such a love-struck fool like you? What's so good about that Qi Yuxuan? She doesn't cultivate female virtues and spends her days showing her face in public, doing things that girls shouldn't do. She's just trying to gain fame and attention. All she has is a pretty face. What, are you thinking of marrying her into the Eastern Palace so she can handle state affairs with you?"

Qi Jun frowned deeply when he heard his mother belittle and slander the person he admired.

"Mother, you may blame your son, but please do not humiliate Chang Le. The things she did that you see as showing off were all for the sake of Qi and its people, not for seeking fame and fortune as you claim."

The Empress could not bear to see her son, whom she had raised with such care and who was so handsome, and her impeccable son, the Crown Prince, so protective of others in front of her. Her tone was extremely displeased:

"Hmph, you don't need to make excuses for her. You know the real reason why the Empress Dowager opposes it."

Qi Jun repeated what he had already said:

"Mother, Chang Le and I are only cousins ​​in name, and there is no blood relation between us. It will not affect our offspring."

The Empress was exasperated: "Yes, everyone in the capital knows this now, but if the Crown Prince and Crown Princess share the same surname and clan, those who know will say you are not related by blood, but those who don't know, even those thousands of miles away, will only think you are siblings, which would disrupt the natural order! Or are you planning to send people to explain one by one to silence the gossip when rumors spread?"

"Have you ever thought about why people with the same surname have been forbidden from marrying since ancient times? If you, as the crown prince, set this precedent, how many people will think that even if they share the same clan and surname, it will not prevent their offspring from marrying indiscriminately, leading to the decline of the people."

"Not to mention the pens of those historians and officials, who write the historical truth where you can see it, but distort it wantonly where you can't see it, just to satisfy the curiosity of those onlookers. How can you possibly defend against that?"

The Empress stood up and placed her hands tightly on Qi Jun's shoulders. "My son, you were supposed to be a wise and benevolent ruler who would shoulder the responsibility for the entire Qi Kingdom. Do you really want to ruin your illustrious reputation with the hands of a wife?"

She spoke from the bottom of her heart, almost telling her son all her troubles.

"Even if you really like her so much, you can secretly change her name and bring her into the palace after you ascend the throne. She will be happy to serve you. But your crown princess and future empress must never be her!"

After the Empress finished speaking, she looked closely at her son's exquisitely handsome face.

But all she saw was a calm, profound indifference.

"Mother, but I am unwilling."

"You've forgotten that I don't care about worldly opinions or future generations' wisdom. If I hold the power of the world in my hands, I will only need to look at others, and I will never be looked at by others."