Xiao Yanzi and Ziwei hadn't experienced such a scene, so they naturally couldn't truly understand Hanxiang's feelings. Hanxiang didn't expect those who hadn't experienced it to understand, but being slandered was still painful for her.

When Xiao Yanzi and Ziwei saw Hanxiang say such things, they didn't know how to reprimand or comfort her.

"I'm sorry, I lost my composure," Hanxiang said, her eyes snapping open again. "It's really not appropriate to discuss these things with you. Jinlingzi, see Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei out." Hanxiang took a deep breath.

It was as if a fish had just leaped out of the water to breathe. Ziwei looked at Hanxiang's state and was somewhat worried. Seeing that Xiaoyanzi seemed to want to say something more, she quickly pulled Xiaoyanzi aside, bowed respectfully to Hanxiang, and took her leave.

"Ziwei, why did you stop me just now? Why didn't you let me ask the question?" After the two left Baoyue Tower, Xiaoyanzi asked Ziwei without any restraint.

“Little Swallow, we’ve never lived among the Hui people, let alone know how miserable they are now. But judging from Hanxiang’s expression, things must not be good for them,” Ziwei said, her brows furrowed, a hint of worry lingering between her brows.

“Perhaps Princess Yong’an was right back then. Not all the ladies in the palace are pitiful.” Ziwei thought of what An Ke had told her back then and smiled self-deprecatingly. “Some are only after wealth and glory. Such people are not worthy of our sympathy. They might even think we are in their way.”

"Some, like Consort Ling, naturally try their best to win the Emperor's favor for the sake of their family's honor and prosperity. Others, like Hanxiang, are forced to be offered as gifts to the Emperor for the sake of their hometown and their people, so that they will no longer suffer such bullying. However, love will be something she can never hope for in her entire life." Ziwei, after hearing Hanxiang's insights, also felt deeply moved and empathized with her.

In truth, which woman in this world is not pitiful? The innkeeper I met on my journey, Cailian who sold herself to bury her father—aren't they all the same now?

Xiao Yanzi scratched her head, not quite understanding what Ziwei was saying. Ziwei looked at Xiao Yanzi's blank expression and shook her head, "Never mind, it would be quite a miracle if Xiao Yanzi could understand these things."

Although Xiao Yanzi was a little confused, she still quietly accompanied Ziwei back to Shufangzhai.

As soon as I returned to Shufangzhai, I saw the eunuchs from the Emperor's Qianqing Palace coming over.

Ziwei asked with some confusion, "You are a eunuch by Father Emperor's side. What brings you to Shufangzhai?" Ziwei thought that Father Emperor wanted to see her, and a sense of joy welled up in her heart.

However, the eunuch shattered Ziwei's illusions. "This servant is here on His Majesty's orders to inform Princess Ziwei to attend a family banquet at the Hall of Supreme Harmony tonight," the eunuch said, neither humble nor arrogant.

Ziwei's eyes, which had just lit up, were extinguished like a candle in a storm. She said dejectedly, "Oh, okay, I understand."

The eunuch had already informed Princess Ziwei that his task was complete. He bowed respectfully to Ziwei and then left, as he still had others to inform!

Looking at the already chilly sky and the gradually withering leaves in Shufangzhai, Ziwei felt a wave of sadness wash over her, and then a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

Xiao Yanzi was still happy for Ziwei and didn't see Ziwei's dejected look at all. She moved closer to Ziwei and chattered, "Ziwei, I knew the Emperor had feelings for you. That's why he specially invited you to the family banquet."

Seeing Xiao Yanzi's carefree attitude, Ziwei felt a pang of impatience with Xiao Yanzi's personality for the first time. But Ziwei quickly recovered, "Yes, Xiao Yanzi."

Jin Suo grew up with Ziwei and supported her as she came to the capital. She can be said to be the person who understands Ziwei the most.

Seeing the bitter smile on Ziwei's lips just now, Jin Suo instantly understood what Ziwei was thinking. Looking at her princess with heartache in her eyes, Jin Suo secretly glared at Xiao Yanzi after hearing her words.

It's all Xiao Yanzi's fault. If the Emperor hadn't mistaken her for a princess, then Miss wouldn't have had to be mistaken for a princess despite the Emperor's dislike for her.

It must be Xiao Yanzi. Her mischievous nature back then completely exhausted the Emperor's guilt towards his wife. And now, the Emperor's real daughter, Miss Ziwei, has not received the slightest bit of favor from the Emperor.

Greed knows no bounds! Although the Emperor said that not bringing Ziwei along was not a great thing, and that he didn't show her much favoritism, it was still much better than the other unfavored princesses in the palace.

Furthermore, the reason she wasn't as favored as Xiao Yanzi was because she was different from the other princesses in the palace. Although she felt guilty towards Xia Yuhe, Xiao Yanzi's favor was something she stumbled upon by accident, and she just happened to hit the emperor's heart.

The Emperor was momentarily intrigued and it's understandable that he showed her some favoritism. As for Ziwei, it can only be said that she lacked all the necessary conditions: opportune timing, favorable location, and popular support.

At that opportune moment, she didn't climb the mountain, missing the chance to reunite with the Emperor and her father. Later, during his inspection tour, she showered him with attention, causing the Emperor to pay more attention to her. However, he then discovered that the person he had feelings for was actually his own biological daughter. It's not an exaggeration to say that Xiao Yanzi's willfulness completely erased any lingering guilt the Emperor felt towards Xia Yuhe.

Why did the Emperor have to be so prejudiced? He transferred all his guilt towards Xia Yuhe onto Xiao Yanzi, showering her with affection and pampering. Then, another person suddenly appeared, claiming to be his and Xia Yuhe's daughter. Isn't this a blatant slap in the face? He can even mistake his own daughter!

Ziwei's status as a princess constantly reminded the Emperor that he had mistaken his daughter for someone else. In addition, Ziwei's behavior during the tour displeased him, so he did not feel much joy after learning that she was his and Xia Yuhe's daughter.

Instead, he felt a surge of anger, furious that the emperor, despite being the son of heaven, was being manipulated by his own children. He didn't hold a grudge against Ziwei, which was already out of consideration for Xia Yuhe.

"Princess, let me help you with your hair and makeup." Jin Suo stepped forward with a pained expression, nudged Xiao Yanzi with her elbow to push her aside, and helped her own princess up.

Ziwei didn't pay much attention to what was happening around her and could only let Jinsuo lead her to her bedchamber to do her hair and makeup. Xiaoyanzi was also oblivious and didn't realize that Jinsuo had done it on purpose.

She was still sitting happily on the swing outside, feeling that Ziwei had finally gained the Emperor's approval.

*

As the weather cools down, it gets dark earlier than in the height of summer, and night quietly descends.

Ziwei timed her arrival perfectly, appearing at the family banquet at just the right moment. She took her seat according to her rank. Beside her were Consort Ling's seventh and ninth daughters.

The remaining Ziwei had not interacted with them before and were not very familiar with them, but they all nodded in greeting.

After Xiao Yanzi came in, she looked left and right, trying to see if there was anyone she knew.

The unfavored princesses in the palace also wanted to know what the once famous and legendary Princess Huanzhu looked like.

Little Swallow had a particularly slow reaction time; it was only now that she realized what was happening. Many strangers at the banquet were frequently glancing at her. Little Swallow was no longer the Princess Huanzhu; now, she could only rely on Ziwei. Little Swallow quietly moved closer to Ziwei and whispered, "Ziwei, why do I feel like so many people are looking at me?"

Ziwei had already noticed the gazes directed at them, but she couldn't say anything. She had no personal relationship with these princesses in the palace and didn't know who the ladies-in-waiting behind them were, so she naturally couldn't rashly speak up and offend them.

Ziwei could only try her best to comfort Xiaoyanzi, "Maybe they're just curious about you. It's alright, Xiaoyanzi."

Whether it was Ziwei's comforting words that worked or Xiaoyanzi's inner strength, Xiaoyanzi even waved to the princesses who had just been watching her.

Meanwhile, the princesses who already looked down on them began to whisper amongst themselves.

"So this is the adopted daughter Father Emperor once recognized?" A young-looking princess, whose words were already quite sarcastic, spoke up, her eyes practically overflowing with disdain, clearly looking down on them.

"Yes, sister, I heard that Father Emperor dotes on her a lot." Another younger girl said to the princess, her eyes reflecting a playful glint.

She was particularly looking forward to seeing her nominal sworn sister and her proud older sister fight each other, and then seeing whose side the Emperor would take. Wouldn't that be interesting?

A dignified and virtuous princess glanced at the two of them, coughed lightly, and instantly attracted their attention.

However, when the two women saw her, they respectfully addressed her as "elder sister." "You two are making such a racket at the family banquet. What will others think of you if you're not sisters?" As expected of an elder sister who could keep the princesses in check, her words instantly extinguished the anger that had just ignited in the two women.

"Behave yourselves. If you don't want Father to see you like this, you'd better behave yourselves." Managing these little ones is quite a headache.

Both of them pursed their lips, and although they were very dissatisfied, they respectfully replied "yes" on the surface.

After all, although this was supposed to be a family banquet, quite a few important officials were also present. Just as my sister said, there was no need for them to lose their composure and dignity for the sake of these two unremarkable adopted daughters, lest they become a laughingstock for the ministers.

Seeing that the two had stopped, the slightly older princess finally felt relieved and nodded to Ziwei in the distance.

Although she didn't quite understand why her father disliked his dignified daughters who grew up according to palace rules, she knew that he certainly didn't like people gossiping behind her back.

She is now the eldest of the Emperor's daughters and is approaching the age for betrothal. She is secretly anxious, and her mother is a woman who has been forgotten by the Emperor in the deep palace.

She was extremely cautious in every situation, afraid of making a mistake that would disappoint her father. Therefore, when facing the daughter whom her father had once favored, this princess wanted to see what good qualities the other woman possessed, hoping to make them her own.

Unfortunately, all her hopes and dreams were ultimately dashed.

At that moment, a loud announcement rang out in the main hall.

"The Emperor has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived! Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! Princess Yong'an has arrived! Princess Qing has arrived!" Xiao Luzi announced loudly.

In an instant, the Hall of Supreme Harmony fell silent, except for the rustling of clothes as people stood up.

After everyone bowed and greeted the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager sat down comfortably, the Emperor raised his hand and said with a smile, "No need for formalities, please sit down. This is a family banquet, so please be relaxed."

But who would dare to take the Emperor's words seriously and treat this place as if it were their own family banquet? But that didn't stop them from putting on an act, each one seemingly expressing genuine gratitude to the Emperor.

Anke: This palace is truly full of hidden talents! If these people were in modern times, they would all be Oscar-worthy actors and actresses!

The ministers said, "We didn't want to either, but we're being forced into this situation. What can we do? Are we really going to follow the Emperor and become his sworn brothers? We wouldn't dare even if you gave us ten more heads!"

Then came the exact same routine again—the singers and dancers from the Vocal Music Department performed with all their might in the middle of the hall.

Although everyone in the Vocal Department is a beauty, you can't watch them dance all the time. After looking at them for a long time, Anke felt that she was getting tired of the aesthetics.

Since everyone already knew what they were going to dance, Anke focused all her attention on the food in front of her. She would try this one moment and that the next.

Princess Rui looked down at her daughter, her eyes filled with undisguised doting affection. When she saw her daughter eating her favorite food, her eyes lit up instantly, and a smile appeared on the princess's face as well.

Prince Rui, meanwhile, was watching over his wife and occasionally glancing at his daughter.

Some ministers' wives looked at Prince Rui's family with envy. It's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy. Looking at the prince, a model husband and father, and then at their own husbands, there was simply no comparison.

It really proves the saying: without comparison, there is no harm.

Having enjoyed the music and the dance, it was now the Emperor's turn to give a summary.

As An Ke had expected, the Emperor raised his wine cup and addressed the Guan Bao family below, saying, "I want to toast Guan Bao and his family with this cup. I am very pleased to see you all working so hard and wholeheartedly for the Qing Dynasty."

The Guanbao family was also very frightened. They hurriedly picked up their wine cups and said a few words in response to the emperor.

The Empress Dowager naturally knew what her son was thinking, and with a smile in her eyes, she beckoned for Guan Baojia's daughter, Xinrong, to come forward.

Xinrong walked to the Empress Dowager's side with neither arrogance nor servility.

The Empress Dowager looked at the well-dressed Xinrong, held her hands, and praised her endlessly.

The Guanbao couple exchanged a glance, and both saw relief in each other's eyes.