Several maids followed behind Mo Yu. She walked quickly and kept turning back to see if Song Yaozhu was following.

Song Yaozhu walked at a leisurely pace, and soon she had distanced herself from Mo Yu.

"Your Highness, it's hot. Please hurry, lest the Imperial Concubine wait impatiently."

Song Yaozhu suddenly stopped. Mo Yu took a few steps forward, and when she heard no movement behind her, she turned around to look at Song Yaozhu.

Song Yaozhu stood tall and graceful, slowly waving a silk fan in her hand, her expression full of mockery. The two maids behind her also looked unfriendly.

Mo Yu knew that she had upset Song Yaozhu with her words, but she didn't think Song Yaozhu would dare to make things difficult for her because of it.

Although she was a palace maid, she was also the head maidservant of the Imperial Concubine. Even when beating a dog, one must consider the master; Song Yaozhu, though a princess, was merely the wife of a idle prince.

A prince without any real power is not as good as a fifth-rank official with real power!

"Why isn't the princess leaving?"

“Auntie is right. It’s so hot, I don’t want to move.” She said, and sat down under the eaves. Caijin and Caiyin stood behind her to shield her from the sun.

She casually crossed her legs, looking at the scenery in the yard with a contented expression.

"Your Highness, are you refusing the Imperial Concubine's invitation?" Mo Yu's tone turned serious as she spoke.

Few of the women in the court dared to disrespect the Imperial Concubine.

"Hmm?" Song Yaozhu looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about? When did the Imperial Concubine invite me?"

Mo Yu was taken aback, not understanding what Song Yaozhu was thinking. Did she think she could escape reprimand by pretending to be crazy? That was wishful thinking!

"Since the Princess Consort is unwilling to accept the invitation, then this servant will go back and report!" Mo Yu didn't say anything more, curtsied, and left on her own.

She wasn't afraid that the Imperial Concubine would reprimand her for her lack of ability. Clearly, this carefree Princess was being ungrateful. Since that was the case, the Imperial Concubine could decide how to deal with her later without any consideration for appearances.

"Your Highness, wouldn't it be bad for you to just let her go back and complain?" Caijin asked with concern.

"I'm not afraid." Song Yaozhu got up and walked in another direction. "Let's go find my dear sister."

As she walked, she thought to herself that Song Wenyue was able to rise to the rank of Zhaoyi in just a few months by relying on the Noble Consort. It would be quite interesting to see these two women fight each other.

Making these two women turn against each other is actually quite simple. After all, there has never been any trust between them; there has only been mutual exploitation.

Upon arriving at Song Wenyue's residence, a palace maid said, "Consort Zhao is dining with the Emperor inside. Your Highness, please wait a moment."

Not long after she finished speaking, another eunuch came out and said, "Please, Your Highness."

Song Yaozhu entered the courtyard with ease.

Song Wenyue was very puzzled. Hadn't they just had a falling out? Why was she coming to see her again? Did she have some ulterior motive?

She glanced at Yuwen Wuji sitting beside her, and alarm bells rang in her mind.

Could it be that Song Yaozhu really wants to seduce Yuwen Wuji in order to step on her?

"Your Majesty, I suppose my sister misses me."

"I know you sisters are very close." He patted her hand, but his heart was racing. If Song Wenyue were a sensible person, she would have helped him fulfill his wish today.

Seeing the somewhat hesitant look in Song Wenyue's eyes, Yuwen Wuji knew that she was wary of Song Yaozhu and was afraid that she wouldn't be able to help him get what he wanted.

In matters like this, the Imperial Concubine was more to his liking.

"Alright, you two sisters can talk. I'll go to the front now."

Song Wenyue escorted Yuwen Wuji to the door and bumped into Song Yaozhu. The three of them met eyes, and Song Yaozhu bowed to Yuwen Wuji.

Because of Song Yaozhu's previous words, Song Wenyue had been paying attention to the Emperor's expression after seeing Song Yaozhu. She never expected that he would stare at Song Yaozhu without any restraint, treating her as if she were something in the palm of his hand.

She clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her hatred for Song Yaozhu growing even stronger.

Why is it that Song Yaozhu can get what she couldn't get even after scheming so hard?

"Why did my sister come to see me?"

After the Emperor left, the two sisters spoke without any restraint. Song Yaozhu looked at her and said, "Sister, I haven't eaten yet, so I came here to mooch a bite from my younger sister."

Song Wenyue sneered, "I'm afraid my sister wouldn't dare to eat anything from here!"

She was puzzled. When they parted ways at the opera house, hadn't the Imperial Concubine invited Song Yaozhu to her place? Compared to currying favor with the Emperor, the Imperial Concubine was far more ruthless than her.

"Compared to what my sister has, I would dare not eat the food from the Imperial Concubine's place."

Song Wenyue's eyes widened; she hadn't expected Song Yaozhu to know their purpose.

"Hmph, you think you can escape?" That's the Emperor, the entire Great Chen Dynasty belongs to him. He just wants a woman, what can't he get?

“That’s why I need my sister’s help.” Song Yaozhu’s tone was gentle, but it revealed a ruthless edge that brooked no refusal from Song Wenyue. “Otherwise, the first thing I’ll do after I gain favor is kill you.”

Song Wenyue trembled. She had finally managed to sit in the position of Zhaoyi, and naturally she was unwilling to let go, especially after being pulled down by Song Yaozhu.

After taking a few deep breaths, she looked at Song Yaozhu and asked, "What do you want me to do? Let me tell you, I can't openly stand with you against Consort Gao."

"I don't need you to stand with me. You just need to tell me when the time is right how Consort Gao plans to deal with me."

Song Wenyue bit her lower lip and looked at Song Yaozhu, as if she had made up her mind, and said, "The Qixi Festival is coming soon. The Imperial Concubine will hold a Qixi Banquet on this day. You can decide what to do yourself."

Song Yaozhu had also guessed that this special day would be a good opportunity to make her move, since there would be many people around and eyes would be on her. Even if something went wrong, it would be understandable.

"Okay, thank you, little sister."

After seeing Song Yaozhu off, Song Wenyue felt only bad luck.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Concubine learned that Song Yaozhu had gone to see Song Wenyue and chuckled softly.

"I'm afraid Consort Song will have to disappoint Princess Xiaoyao's sisterly affection." She summoned Mo Yu and asked her to start arranging various matters for the Qixi Festival.

Mo Yu accepted the order and left. She also wanted to see how the arrogant and carefree Princess Consort would be controlled by her own Noble Consort.

Song Yaozhu went back to her room and ate, then sent someone to fetch Yongle. Yongle had been riding a horse all morning and was covered in sweat, arriving at her place without tidying himself up at all.

Song Yaozhu looked at her with extremely serious eyes, which made Yongle's scalp tingle.

"What's wrong?" she asked cautiously.

You seem to have lost weight.

Yongle grinned and said, "Right! I also think I've lost a lot of weight, but my mother insists I look better when I'm chubby. I think I look good even when I'm thin! By the way, why did you call me here?"

Song Yaozhu dismissed everyone, leaving only her and Yongle in the room. Yongle saw her pull out a palm-sized dagger from her sleeve. The handle was made of ebony, and the wood seemed to have been handled by its owner often, hence its gleaming appearance.

“Yongle, you once said that I was vicious and you were unruly, but we are good sisters from past lives and this life.”

Yongle's chubby body trembled. Looking into Song Yaozhu's sinister eyes, she hiccuped in fright.

"I'm going to kill someone."

Yongle's lips were slightly agape, and his almond-shaped eyes bulged out, clearly showing signs of being startled.

She blurted out, "Don't kill me!"