Song Tangxue stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what she was seeing. Something was wrong; there should be an extremely ugly face under that veil.

But now it was completely different from what she had expected; the person under the veil was as beautiful as a fairy from a legendary painting.

With a face like a silver plate, eyes like water apricots, lips red without lipstick, and eyebrows green without makeup, Song Tangxue's makeup was not heavy, but it amplified the advantages of her facial features.

She smiled faintly, coughed lightly, and her delicate figure trembled, making one want to hold her in their arms with pity.

Xie Qianzhong twirled his fingertips, his eyes deep and unfathomable, and silently drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. For a moment, he brazenly stared at Song Tangli, using the glass as a cover.

That moment was fleeting and swift, but Song Tangxue managed to capture it. The two briefly locked eyes, and that smile seemed to bloom specifically for him…

Xie Qianzhong gripped the wine cup tightly in his hand, and the eunuch beside him immediately filled it with wine. The clear, crisp liquid carried a strong aroma of wine.

But this wine is nowhere near as intoxicating as the girl's smile.

With her pure and beautiful appearance, even though her wedding dress was just a simple red skirt, Song Tangli, who was dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe next to her, had long been relegated to a mere backdrop.

Wasn't she already disfigured? Why...?

Song Tangli didn't know why, and she was extremely unwilling. She knew that her choice had plunged her into a quagmire.

Now everyone's attention is drawn to Song Tangxue, so she needs to come up with a solution quickly.

"Sigh, if this is the color of disfigurement, then I'd rather be disfigured a few more times!" The woman who came with her laughed and joked, glancing at Song Tangli from head to toe.

In the ensuing silence, the woman was the first to exclaim in surprise.

"Please don't be offended, Your Highness. I'm just a straightforward person, and my words may not be pleasant. I didn't mean it." The woman smiled slightly. Her grandfather was a founding father and hated women who would stop at nothing.

"Since the Crown Princess says so, she must be a celestial beauty." The woman's sarcastic remarks immediately pushed Song Tangli into a quagmire.

She had dug this quagmire herself and buried herself in it. Song Tangli rubbed her cheeks, wondering what to do!

Song Tangli felt uneasy. The gazes of those around her were like knives, appearing and disappearing but omnipresent. The whispers made Song Tangli hide behind Li Zhaoxian.

She still has the Crown Prince's unconditional favoritism. No matter how beautiful Song Tangxue is, she will never win Li Zhaoxian's true heart.

The Empress Dowager loathed the Crown Princess. Seeing her clumsy performance exposed, she didn't want to help her out. Instead, she silently patted Song Tangxue's hand.

These upper-class women are never short of clever and quick-witted people, and everyone understood the Empress Dowager's meaning immediately.

Song Tangli lost face and money; she lost both her wife and her army.

That magnificent wedding dress became a joke, serving as a foil to Song Tangxue; like a green leaf against a red flower, she was the green leaf.

Even the steadfast Lee So-hyeon began to lose focus. Although he still held her in his arms, the gentle comfort and soothing touch of his palm were no longer present.

Those eyes were secretly watching Song Tangxue, no longer wholeheartedly caring about her childhood sweetheart. Song Tangli felt unwilling and helpless.

If it comes to looks, she is indeed no match for Song Tangxue. Song Tangxue's face is the kind of face that any woman would envy.

She used to be timid and cowardly, always keeping her head down, so no one saw her, which allowed her to always outshine her.

Anyway, Song Tangxue never dared to make eye contact with anyone, let alone interact with anyone. She was ridiculed in the capital. Apart from Madam Song, no one knew that this eldest daughter of the Song family had an extremely beautiful face.

When did it all begin? Everything she had was taken away by Song Tangxue, and even the things she managed to snatch back were marked with Song Tangxue's name, such as the position of Crown Princess. It was like a persistent ghost.

It's Song Tangxue again. Does she have to take everything away from me before she's satisfied?

"If you're not feeling well, sister, you should go back and rest. You must be tired today." Song Tangli had only one thought in her mind: to send those who were better than her away so that she could remain the only one standing out.

All eyes will still be on her.

"I'm much better now, and it's getting late. I want to stay with... Your Highness." Song Tangxue was actually reluctant to part with Xie Qianzhong, and she wanted to take advantage of the banquet to see him a few more times.

Even though she was just one of many women looking up to him, Xie Qianzhong held a high position and great power, and many people in the court wanted to marry him.

Xie Qianzhong treated her differently all the time, and the Ninth Prince was somewhat out of control today.

In this short time, she had already drunk three cups of wine. This was not the calm and composed Ninth Prince. Song Tangxue was overjoyed, feeling a sense of exhilaration as if a god had been brought down from his pedestal.

Song Tangli had shot herself in the foot, biting her lower lip and clenching her fists in anger: "Sister is the Crown Princess, it's inappropriate for her to appear in the front courtyard no matter what. I'm only doing this for your own good, sister, so that if people gossip about you in the future..."

This is a desperate situation where they're resorting to using etiquette and law to intimidate others.

"I want Tangxue to accompany me. Do you have any objections?" The Empress Dowager's domineering words interrupted Song Tangli's honeyed words and daggers, making her increasingly annoyed.

Even the sight of the brainless, protective crown prince was irritating. Li Zhaoxian was truly foolish, being led by the nose by this woman without even realizing it.

"Tang Xue, let's go." The circle around the Empress Dowager is a completely different matter from that around the Crown Prince. The Empress Dowager is now openly showing her favoritism towards the Crown Princess, and she doesn't intend to put on any pretense.

Song Tangxue responded softly, glancing back slightly reluctantly, knowing that she wouldn't be able to see Xie Qianzhong again once she left this place.

With a slight upturn at the corner of his eye, hinting at endless emotions, Li Zhaoxian stood right in front of Xie Qianzhong's seat.

Just one glance was enough to throw Li Zhaoxian off balance for a moment. That fleeting glimpse was imprinted in his mind, and he kept ruminating on it after Song Tangxue left.

"Crown Prince..." Song Tangli called out unwillingly. Li Zhaoxian suddenly came to his senses and smiled gently: "What's wrong with you today, A-Li?"

Song Tangli knew that her actions just now were somewhat abnormal. If it were disfigurement, it would be fine, but Song Tangxue was clearly stunning: "Ali was just worried and confused. It's hot and humid today, and you've been wearing that veil the whole time. If you're really sad on your face, it will get worse."

"I heard from the servants this morning that my sister has an injury on her face. I was worried because my sister has been following us and performing the rites all day. No Crown Princess has ever received such treatment before," Song Tangli complained, half-jokingly.

Song Tangli leaned on Li Zhaoxian's arm coquettishly and timidly lowered her head to answer, "Sister's favor is unprecedented."

"It's kind of you to have such a kind heart; your sister probably won't blame you." Li Zhaoxian patted the back of her hand to comfort her, "No matter what, there's only Ah Li in my heart!"