His face clearly darkened at the thought that someone would interfere. He was the Crown Prince, and his family affairs were matters of the imperial family. Who was so audacious as to dare to meddle in the imperial family's affairs?

When he turned around, all his anger vanished. It was simply because he couldn't afford to offend this man: "Lord Xie, are you also accompanying the Empress Dowager's entourage today? Isn't Lord Xie the one who least believes in these superstitious beliefs?"

Xie Qianzhong did not respond to him, but glanced lightly at Song Tangxue: "His Highness the Crown Prince has not yet replied. What is this family matter?"

Faced with Xie Qianzhong's questioning, Li Zhaoxian's expression turned displeased: "When I discipline the Crown Princess, family rules are also a matter for the imperial family. Does Lord Xie, an outsider, have to interfere in such a major imperial family matter?"

"As a subject, isn't Lord Xie overstepping his bounds?"

Xie Qianzhong's outer garment seemed to be covered with spring dew, icy cold: "Since it is a matter of the imperial family, it is a matter of the state. As the crown prince, your every move is being watched by countless people."

"Do you handle state affairs based on personal relationships, without distinguishing right from wrong?"

"Most of the people in this world have nothing to do with His Majesty, yet His Majesty cares deeply for them. With His Highness the Crown Prince's character and conduct, how can we entrust the world to you with peace of mind?"

In just a few words, a trivial matter was elevated to the national level, and Li Zhaoxian was unable to refute it, so he could only awkwardly make a few excuses: "There are only the two of them here, did Ali fall down on her own?"

"Who knows? Did you see Miss Song push her half-sister with your own eyes?" Xie Qianzhong's eyes were deep, and Song Tangli didn't dare to meet his gaze at all.

Not to mention lying again. In Xie Qianzhong's eyes, all his little schemes were like filth that had nowhere to hide.

Li Zhaoxian looked displeased and let go of Song Tangli's hand. He and Xie Qianzhong couldn't agree on anything. Couldn't he discipline Song Tangxue?

Li Zhaoxian, clearly seething with anger, turned and grabbed Song Tangxue beside him. Song Tangxue frowned and tried to shake off his hand: "Your Highness, please have some self-respect!"

His tone became more serious, subtly conveying a sense of vigilance.

Li Zhaoxian curled his lips into a cold smile, his eyes glancing sideways at her: "You are my Crown Princess, is there any part of you that I cannot touch?"

His thuggish behavior was utterly disgusting. His lack of manners made Song Tangxue feel ashamed to call him the crown prince.

"Let go!" Song Tangxue's face darkened, and she tightened her grip even more. Li Zhaoxian didn't care about her strength at all and dragged her up the mountain.

Song Tangxue stumbled from the tug, barely managing to regain her balance before Li Zhaozhao dragged her up the mountain.

Xie Qianzhong took a quick step forward, but forced himself to stop at the next step. He was Lord Xie, and Song Tangxue was the Crown Princess. He could not overstep his bounds in any way.

Otherwise, it would bring her trouble. Thinking this, Xie Qianzhong's expression grew colder and colder. His eyelids drooped, and he looked at Li Zhaoxian with eyes like a wolf.

After a moment's thought, he followed closely behind the two, glancing at Li Zhaoxian's tightly gripped hand, his own hand clenching tighter.

With a somber expression, he followed closely behind the two. The Crown Prince was always accompanied by a large entourage, and with the addition of the high-ranking and powerful Lord Xie, their imposing entourage quickly disappeared into the forest.

As the farce ended, the masters and servants slowly withdrew, leaving Song Tangli alone in the same spot.

Song Tangli bit her lower lip, glaring angrily at the deserted mountain pass.

Once again, Song Tangxue took everything that originally belonged to her. With a stomp of her foot, Song Tangli held back the tears welling up in her eyes.

Just wait and see. There's a long road ahead. How long can this moment of triumph last?

Everything Song Tangxue has will eventually come back to her. Song Tangli took a deep breath and made a fierce determination to make Song Tangxue pay back a hundredfold or a thousandfold!

Song Tangli's eyes were gloomy, and a fierce look flashed across her face. The maid next to her lowered her head and dared not speak.

"Oh, isn't this Miss Song the Second? What are you doing here?" A woman's voice came from the bottom of the stone steps.

Song Tangli was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice Princess Tingyu's carriage had arrived. She looked up in a panic when she heard the noise.

Princess Tingyu, supported by her maid, looked at her coldly, as if she were looking at an ant: "You don't even pay your respects to this princess?" Her voice carried the majesty of someone in a superior position, and her gaze swept critically over Song Tangli.

Song Tangli was startled and hurriedly bowed, saying, "This humble woman greets the Princess."

“Heh.” Princess Tingyu adjusted the golden hairpin in her hair. The golden hue amidst the blue sea seemed to gather the brilliance of heaven and earth, bright and clear.

"Do I really need to remind you of this? Does Miss Song not care about me, or do you think I'm not worthy of your respect?" Princess Tingyu stepped forward slowly on the stone steps.

Each step felt like trampling on Song Tangli's heart, and Song Tangli's body bent more and more over: "This subject dares not be disrespectful to the princess."

"Miss Song has been waiting here so eagerly, has she finally gotten what she deserves?" When she got out of the carriage, Princess Tingyu saw Song Tangxue's resentment and knew in her heart that she had been humiliated and was still indignant.

Hearing Princess Tingyu's sarcasm, Song Tangli felt even worse: "I was not waiting for anything here, Princess, you must have misunderstood."

"One should be honest. Have you been abandoned?" Princess Tingyu continued to provoke her: "Like that Waiting-for-Husband Stone, I remember Miss Song has no engagement. Who is she waiting for?"

"I told you I didn't, aren't you being too nosy?" Already feeling resentful, Princess Tingyu kept stabbing her in the heart, causing Song Tangli to forget her status for a moment and speak rudely.

Princess Tingyu raised an eyebrow: "Is this how you treat me? Does this mean that if His Majesty asks a few questions in the future, you'll also argue with him?"

"I am the daughter of the eldest princess, a county princess personally appointed by His Majesty. I represent the face of the imperial family. How dare you not only fail to bow to me, but also act so arrogantly and domineeringly!"

"Isn't this showing a lack of consideration for me and the imperial family?"

"Today you will kneel down on these stone steps and apologize to me and to the imperial family!" Princess Tingyu said coldly, then turned and left.

The maidservant beside her thoughtfully stayed behind, gesturing to Song Tangli, whose face was pale, "Miss Song, please."

Song Tangli dared not disobey, secretly annoyed at her own carelessness. It was all Song Tangxue's fault; if she hadn't been influenced by her, how could she have done such a stupid thing!

Under the watchful eyes of her maid, Song Tangli could only kneel on the ground in frustration. The cold stone slab felt like a knife piercing her bone marrow, tearing at her flesh.

Passersby stared at her in astonishment. The maid noticed her slow movements and said, "Miss Song, you'd better hurry up. The princess is waiting."