Song Tangxue pretended to be unaware and happily replied, "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."

This statement was tantamount to a promise from the Empress Dowager, but Song Tangxue didn't like it at all.

He turned his head away, his expression indifferent as he toyed with the small wine glass in his hand, which contained a clear, refreshing fruit wine.

A short while later, Li Zhaoxian led Song Tangli into the house. The ladies and young women automatically fell silent and unconsciously sized up the two of them.

Li Zhaoxian was clearly protecting Song Tangli.

Song Tangli stood behind Li Zhaoxian, revealing half of her pale face. It seemed she had feigned illness to gain Li Zhaoxian's pity.

The two bowed, and the Empress Dowager pulled Song Tangxue to sit on the high seat: "Crown Prince, please rise first."

Song Tangli trembled, her face turning even paler. Li Zhaoxian, feeling a pang of pity, instinctively pleaded, "Grandmother..."

"If you're not happy, you can kneel down too." The Empress Dowager leisurely picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea, and her majestic aura spread out.

The people inside slowed their breathing, and some looked at Song Tangli with schadenfreude.

Song Tangli's body trembled uncontrollably, her lips quivering. Li Zhaoxian glanced around at the ladies and young women in the room, then stood up.

"I remember I didn't want you to come to this banquet, but you've come all the way here, sticking close to the Crown Prince?" The Empress Dowager's words floated to the ground.

"It was I who brought her here. If Your Majesty wishes to punish me, then punish me." Li Zhaoxian couldn't bear to stand next to Song Tangli again.

"A man and a woman alone together, aren't you afraid of what others will say about your close relationship?" The Empress Dowager knew what Li Zhaoxian cared about most.

He has no rights, he's nothing.

He has recently displeased his father and is currently being impeached by civil officials.

"And you, with impure thoughts, you are not welcome at my banquet." The Empress Dowager scolded Song Tangli: "I haven't even settled the score with you for what happened last time. You may leave on your own."

Song Tangli dared not argue in front of the Empress Dowager. As she left, tears streaming down her face, Li Zhaoxian followed her out.

The banquet naturally ended unhappily, and Song Tangxue feigned embarrassment: "Your Majesty, I have matters to attend to at Chunxin Hall, so I will take my leave now."

The Empress Dowager kindly released her, then turned back and looked coldly toward the doorway.

This Song Tangli is like a vixen; she bewitched the Crown Prince, causing him to do many wrong things. She's a real menace.

"Send someone to the Song residence to keep an eye on Song Tangli."

As soon as they left the banquet, Song Tangxue's expression changed instantly, and she looked relieved.

Thanks to Li Zhaoxian and Song Tangli's commotion, the banquet ended early, and she no longer had to pretend to be polite.

As they passed through the alley, a familiar blue carriage was parked there listlessly. The coachman, not expecting Song Tangxue to come out so early, was propping himself up and counting clouds.

Caught off guard, he met Song Tangxue's gaze, blinked, silently pulled his leg back, and whispered a few words inside the carriage.

A pair of hands with distinct knuckles rest on the sandalwood carriage frame, creating a striking contrast in aesthetic appeal.

The sunlight shone on it, as if giving Yudu a layer of light.

Song Tangxue guessed who was inside, and her heart involuntarily quickened; it was Xie Qianzhong.

Then she couldn't help but wonder what Xie Qianzhong was doing here. Almost instantly, Song Tangxue guessed the most unbelievable idea.

All the ladies and young women at today's banquet know about it, and Xie Qianzhong certainly does too.

Song Tangxue walked over. Although the alley was rarely visited, she was afraid that some ladies and young women might take a shortcut and bump into her.

Xie Qianzhong withdrew his outstretched hand. Song Tangxue boarded the carriage, and Xie Qianzhong's gaze fell heavily on her.

A chill hung over his brow.

Song Tangxue's mood brightened considerably, and the suppressed anger from the banquet subsided: "Lord Xie is waiting for me here."

Xie Qianzhong's eyes twitched uncomfortably. He had heard that the Empress Dowager was going to hold a banquet to help the Crown Prince and Crown Princess get along.

"No, I just happened to be here to take care of some business." Xie Qianzhong lied without batting an eye. Fortunately, he was the Ninth Prince, and people wouldn't doubt his words normally.

Song Tangxue didn't expose him, but instead, she disobeyed him by reaching out and touching his slightly red earlobe. She leaned in, and her soft lips met another soft spot.

Immersed in it, I never tire of it.

After a long while, the temperature in the carriage gradually rose. Her long, raven-feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly, and Song Tangxue opened her eyes, smiling brightly: "Thank you for your concern, Master Xie."

The two were enjoying their sweet time together, but ultimately they were still outside. Song Tangxue reluctantly entered the Song residence, watching the blue carriage sway and disappear from sight.

Another void has appeared in my heart.

The next morning, when Song Tangxue was getting ready to go to Chunxin Hall, Song Tangli stopped her: "Sister, going to study medicine every day and showing your face in public has become common knowledge in the capital. Aren't you afraid that His Highness the Crown Prince will look down on you?"

"So what if Chunxintang has such a beautiful and ethereal female healer? She's nothing special," Song Tangli said, giving her a vicious glare.

Song Tangxue was dressed in white today, pure and flawless, truly worthy of being called a banished immortal: "If you care about him so much, then go and pester him. Why are you bothering me?"

"Sister, you're not still upset about yesterday's banquet, are you? I was sick yesterday, and my brother, the Crown Prince, took care of me. He was worried about me being alone, so he brought me along," Song Tangli explained somewhat awkwardly.

Song Tangxue raised an eyebrow indifferently: "If you're stopping me just to say these pointless things, then I'm sorry, I'm too busy to keep you company."

"You don't have the chance to be Xie Lingyi's apprentice anymore, I already am." Song Tangxue deliberately pierced Song Tangli's heart.

Now everyone in Kyoto knows that Miss Song was expelled from Chunxin Pavilion because of her moral failings.

Watching the figure strut away, Song Tangli clenched her fists. What's with the arrogance? I'll make you kneel down and beg me sooner or later.

Unexpectedly, the conflict at the gate was relayed to the Empress Dowager by those who were secretly observing, and she put down the white rice she was feeding the birds.

The old woman next to her immediately handed over a handkerchief soaked in warm water.

She felt at yesterday's banquet that this person was very cunning, and that such a person should never be by the Crown Prince's side.

"Is the wedding date of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess approaching?" The Empress Dowager wiped her hands, and the nanny took the handkerchief from her and handed it to a young palace maid, while she helped the Empress Dowager into the inner room.

"yes."

"It's time to send a head maid to teach the Crown Princess the rules of the palace."

The next day, the head maid arrived at the Song residence with the Empress Dowager's decree. Song Tangli's face was contorted with jealousy.

He immediately went to plead with Song's mother: "Mother, I will also marry into the Crown Prince's residence in the future, why don't you teach me as well?"

The idea of ​​elevating Song Tangli to the position of Crown Princess was just a private discussion, and everything depended on Song Tangxue's decision.

How could this be said openly? As for the matter of changing the sedan chair that the old lady mentioned, the old lady specifically instructed Song Tangli that the fewer people who knew about this matter, the safer it would be.