Shen Wan was thinking of going to the river to eat a whole fish feast on her next day off, but plans don't always go as expected. Princess Nanyi was arrested and imprisoned in the city patrol office and fell ill for a few days. The welcoming banquet that the court had prepared for Xiliang and Donglie had to be postponed. This postponement happened to fall on her day off, so Shen Wan's plan to go out to eat the whole fish feast had to be postponed as well.

On the day of the welcoming banquet, after breakfast, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan went to the palace.

On the way to the Imperial Garden, Shen Wan saw a butterfly kite flying in the sky above the Imperial Garden. It was very exquisite and flew very high.

However, the kite didn't stay in the air for long. As soon as Shen Wan entered the Imperial Garden, the kite that had been flying high suddenly plummeted down as if it had lost its air, and it was heading in her direction.

The kite fell very fast, landing just a few steps in front of Shen Wan. If Shen Wan hadn't stopped, the kite would most likely have hit her. Princess Shouchun was chasing after them, followed by several young ladies from prominent families.

Upon seeing Shen Wan, Princess Shouchun's expression darkened. "What bad luck!"

This bad luck refers not only to the kite falling, but also to encountering a stagnant woman.

Shen Wan knew perfectly well what was going on, and the other young ladies from prominent families who had come with Princess Shouchun also knew, and immediately regretted coming along.

However, Princess Shouchun didn't say it explicitly, and Shen Wan wouldn't be so foolish as to assume it was her. At this moment, Princess Qinghe walked over and said happily to Shen Wan, "I was just wondering if you would come to the palace today, and here you are."

Shen Wan smiled and said, "Of course I'll come. Today is the day Princess Shouchun and Princess Nanyi have their dance competition. Wouldn't it be a pity to miss it?"

As she spoke, Shen Wan looked at Princess Shouchun and said, "Princess Shouchun, when you fly a kite, don't just look at the sky, watch your step too, or you might twist your ankle again."

Shen Wan returned the favor with a subtle barb, Princess Shouchun clenching her fist beneath her sleeves, "Don't worry, Princess Ling, this princess doesn't twist her ankle so easily!"

"Then this princess will wait to see Princess Shouchun display her dancing skills."

Shen Wan's expectation was written all over her face.

Princess Shouchun wanted nothing more than to tear Shen Wan's face off. "Then just you wait!"

After uttering a few words, Princess Shouchun turned and left.

Do you want to see her embarrass herself by dancing with Princess Nanyi?

Forget about it in this lifetime.

Maybe in the next life!

Thinking of the grand gift her mother had prepared for Princess Ling, Princess Shouchun felt a little impatient.

As Shen Wan watched Princess Shouchun walk away, a sense of unease inexplicably flashed through her heart.

She knew that Empress Song wouldn't just stand by and watch Princess Shouchun embarrass herself, and would definitely do something. But the path of spraining her ankle had already been blocked by her. Princess Shouchun had no excuse not to compete with Princess Nanyi, but Princess Shouchun's words just now clearly meant that she couldn't wait any longer.

As Shen Wan pondered this matter, Princess Qinghe, unaware that she was lost in thought, pointed to a spot not far away and said, "Let's go over there to admire the flowers."

Shen Wan suppressed the slight unease in her heart, and the two went over there to admire the flowers.

The Imperial Garden was vast, and today there were even more young ladies from noble families entering the palace. Everywhere was crowded with people. The young ladies were chasing butterflies, playing pitch-pot, kicking shuttlecocks, flying kites, and playing tag blindfolded... Their laughter and chatter carried far and wide.

Shen Wan didn't join in the fun. Princess Qinghe stayed with her the whole time. The two stood by the lake enjoying the breeze. Soon Cheng Yao arrived, as did Miss Xu and Miss Tang. Everyone chatted and laughed.

Thinking that today was supposed to be a day for a whole fish feast by the river, I couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

They'd attended too many palace banquets; they were all pretty much the same and not very interesting. But going to the river to catch and eat fish—just thinking about it made them excited.

Princess Qinghe said, "The next day's holiday will be on the 15th, and the Yun family will be holding their wedding banquet, so I definitely won't be able to attend."

Shen Wan said, "We'll make it eventually. Actually, it's better to go a little later, when it won't be so hot."

However, despite saying this, the urgency in everyone's hearts could not be suppressed much.

Shen Wan stood by the lake for a while, enjoying the breeze. Thinking that the banquet was about to begin, she and Princess Qinghe had not yet paid their respects to Empress Song, which would give rise to gossip. So the two of them walked towards the pavilion.

Normally, when Empress Song saw Shen Wan, her eyes would turn cold and her face would show displeasure. But today, when Shen Wan stepped forward to pay her respects, the smile on Empress Song's face not only did not disappear, but deepened even more.

Shen Wan's unease deepened.

She incited Princess Nanyi and Princess Shouchun to compete; Empress Song should have wanted to devour her, so how could she possibly laugh at her...?

Shen Wan found a seat and sat down. At that moment, a young eunuch entered the pavilion and said, "Your Majesty, the banquet will begin in a quarter of an hour. You may take your seats..."

The young eunuch had barely finished speaking when a palace maid came running over, shouting from afar, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Princess Nanyi has fallen into the water!"

Empress Song's smile froze instantly, and her voice suddenly rose, "Fell into the water?!"

"How could Princess Nanyi have fallen into the water?!"

The noble ladies in the pavilion looked at each other in bewilderment.

Shen Wan frowned. She had underestimated Empress Song and Xie Jingyin. She thought that by blocking the possibility of Princess Shouchun spraining her ankle to avoid the competition, they would be helpless. She did not expect that they would dare to target Princess Nanyi. Shen Wan did not believe that Princess Nanyi falling into the water was just an accident. These people were too bold.

Shen Wan was convinced that Princess Nanyi's drowning was the work of Empress Song, but even so, she still underestimated Empress Song's methods.

The palace maid said, "Princess Nanyi was on her way to see her brother, the Crown Prince of Xiliang. When she was crossing the White Jade Bridge, she suddenly fell forward for some reason. At that moment, Prince Ling was coming from the other side of the bridge. Princess Nanyi rushed towards him, but Prince Ling not only didn't help her up, he also stepped aside. Princess Nanyi fell onto the bridge, lost her balance, and then fell into the lotus pond..."

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