Everyone nodded, before they could say anything.

The person who stepped off the carriage the next second stunned everyone.

She wore a soft, emerald-green silk skirt adorned with floral patterns, draped over a flowing white gossamer veil embroidered with plum blossoms. Her waist was slender as a willow, her shoulders delicately sculpted, her smile enchanting, and her eyes sparkling with beauty.

The beautiful flowers that were in full bloom in the courtyard have lost their color; the person is more beautiful than the flower.

Not to mention the demure and charming Song Tangli in front of us, who completely outshone everyone else.

When everyone saw Song Tangxue's beauty for the first time, it was a radiance more dazzling than the sun, a kind of amazement that people could not ignore.

Normally, Song Tangxue would always stand to the side with her head down, never competing or vying for anything, becoming just a background figure for Song Tangli.

Hearing the exclamations and whispers of others, Song Tangli knew she had done all the work for others. She clenched her fists and chuckled softly, her eyes fixed on Song Tangxue with feigned amazement: "Sister is so beautiful."

A cool sensation ran through her fingers, and Song Tangli pulled Song Tangxue back: "Sister, you really make me pale in comparison."

Isn't this a veiled criticism that Song Tangxue deliberately wore heavy makeup in order to suppress her younger sister?

Song Tangxue was too lazy to argue with her, and whispered in her ear, "Even without makeup, I am a thousand times more beautiful than you."

Suppressing her jealousy, Song Tangli gently shook Song Tangxue's hand, just like any ordinary sister.

Song Tangxue lowered her eyes and looked at the hand with disdain. Song Tangli was completely unaware: "When the Crown Prince asked me before who was the most beautiful in the world, I always said it must be my sister. My sister is gentle, virtuous, kind and honest. The Crown Prince agreed too."

The way these words were spoken made it seem as if Song Tangxue had to go through Song Tangli's mouth before she could say anything, and that the title of Crown Princess was just a few words that floated by lightly.

The young ladies' expressions changed. They had long heard that the Crown Prince and Song Tangli were a loving couple. If it weren't for the sudden return of the eldest daughter of the Song family, Song Tangli would be the Crown Princess now.

Song Tangli pulled Song Tangxue into the courtyard, smiling sweetly: "Last time, my brother the Crown Prince took me to go boating on the lake. The scenery there was beautiful, and the lotus flowers are almost in bloom. Let's find a day to go see them together, sister."

Song Tangxue looked at her coldly. Song Tangli must think that her current persona is that of a beautiful and kind-hearted woman with deep sisterly affection.

Reaching the door, Song Tangxue subtly pushed her hand away: "I know you and His Highness the Crown Prince are deeply in love. Even though I am engaged to the Crown Prince, I still cannot sever this bond. You are my half-sister, and I certainly will not make things difficult for you."

"Therefore, I will elevate you to the position of Crown Princess, and we will serve the imperial family together."

Song Tangxue's tolerant and generous words subtly opened people's hearts.

Yes, so what if they've been friends since childhood? She's already engaged to her own sister, yet she shamelessly tries to seduce her brother-in-law.

Most of the people present had strict family rules and a strong sense of hierarchy between legitimate and illegitimate children. Even the Crown Princess was still a concubine. She was an illegitimate daughter in the Song family and remained a concubine after entering the main household.

Especially the legitimate daughters, their gazes toward Song Tangli were anything but friendly. There has always been a custom of illegitimate daughters accompanying their husbands in their dowries. If these illegitimate daughters were to rise above the legitimate daughters, they would certainly be in deep trouble.

Song Tangli's expression froze, and the two walked into Emerald Manor in silence.

Song Tangxue was too lazy to waste words with her, while Song Tangli was at a loss for words for a moment.

The moment they entered, the noise at the table paused for a moment before resuming, and some of the whispers and murmurs still reached my ears.

"How can Miss Song be so shameless?"

"Who can argue with that? Stealing her own brother-in-law—is that something a young lady from a prestigious family would do?"

"I don't know how her parents raised her."

"..."

Song Tangli clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and stared fiercely at the ground, but Song Tangxue's figure did not stop because of this.

Those people's gazes felt like they were slowly tearing pieces of flesh from her body.

Why can Song Tangxue be so nonchalant? Song Tangli looked at Song Tangxue with a deep gaze, thinking that she wanted to be just like her!

With a smile, Song Tangli moved closer to Song Tangxue. Song Tangxue was a little surprised. This person was really a tenacious little cockroach. Even in this situation, she still came to her side.

When Song Tangli and Song Tangxue walked side by side, the contrast in their appearances became even more striking.

Many young ladies felt they had been blind before, actually thinking that Miss Song the Second was prettier than Song Tangxue.

Some young ladies even avoided Song Tangli with disgust. If someone like her dared to steal her own sister's husband, they, as outsiders, would probably have no reason to care.

Looking at these people, Song Tangxue realized that many of them had stood by Song Tangli's side in her past life, but now they treated her with cold indifference.

She increasingly felt that she had made the right choice by attending this banquet. Although she did not want to engage in superficial pleasantries with these people and establish so-called relationships, she could still look for her own connections.

In case it comes in handy in the future, it's a good idea to be prepared.

Several young ladies greeted her, and what was originally just a banquet to annoy Song Tangli became a more important occasion in her mind.

Song Tangli watched as Song Tangxue chatted amiably with others, her graceful demeanor astonishing the young ladies.

Blinded by jealousy, Song Tangli secretly stretched out her leg as Song Tangxue left, using the table as cover, hoping to trip Song Tangxue as she passed by.

She'll fall flat on her face, and then we'll see how she'll stand at the banquet in such a panic!

Song Tangxue coldly stared at the leg, then stepped over it. Song Tangli was startled and instinctively tried to chase after her, but the leg tripped on the table leg, and she fell flat on her face.

A faint chuckle came from all around. Song Tangli lay on the ground, her ears automatically amplifying these sounds. Her hands were on the ground, her posture was awkward, her pink dress was covered in mud, and her hair fell to the ground.

Humiliation and ridicule welled up in her heart, and for a moment Song Tangli dared not look up at everything around her.

Why should I be the one who should feel embarrassed, instead of Song Tangxue?

Song Tangxue turned around and smiled, then slowly walked up to her and stretched out a hand looking down at her: "Sister-in-law, you'd better be careful."

Deep within her eyes lay indifference and detachment. Just like Song Tangli in her past life, she stood in the spotlight, looking down at her own lowly existence, and bestowing upon her a few glances.

Apart from Song Tangxue, no one came to help her. Song Tangli clenched her sleeves, bit her lip, and stood up by supporting herself on her knees, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace: "Thank you for your kindness, sister."

Song Tangxue watched her fleeing figure and curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

Perhaps her experience was indeed tragic, but wasn't it her own fault? You reap what you sow.

Song Tangxue watched with a leisurely air. She would see how Song Tangli would follow in her footsteps in this life, and let everything be turned upside down.