Bai Lu stared intently at Lin Shuang's hand as she pulled it out of the water, her gaze somewhat unfamiliar: Was this still the gentle and polite Lin Shuang she knew?

Bai Lu didn't consider herself very smart, but recently she could easily sense that her older sister Lin Shuang, who was always smarter than her and Xi Que, was full of resentment.

Bai Lu recalled the indistinct male voice she heard in the backyard that night:

Could it be that Sister Lin Shuang's change is because of him?

Lin Shuang straightened up and saw Bai Lu staring at her strangely. She realized that she had lost her composure in her anger. She quickly put on a gentle smile and casually instructed, "Bai Lu, you stay here and serve her. I will go and prepare clean clothes for the Princess in advance. Tomorrow, the Princess will attend the welcoming banquet for the Di Kingdom delegation with the Prince. Her attire should be elegant and she should not lose face."

"Okay, sure," Bai Lu nodded repeatedly, looking at Lin Shuang's usual smile and expression, wondering if she was overthinking things.

Perhaps Sister Lin Shuang was just in a hurry to find clothes, so she was a little hasty in testing the water?

Meanwhile, at Dianxiang Pavilion...

Ever since the last banquet held by the Thirteenth Prince in April, Princess Zhaoping threw a tantrum and returned to her residence halfway through.

That very night, the Empress Dowager sent someone out of the palace to specifically instruct Zheng Mama to discipline her properly.

Granny Zheng was a master at "training" people.

To help Princess Zhaoping "control" her emotions, Zheng Mama would have Simeng or Siyi impersonate Ji Fengyao or some other woman who admired Shang Xiye every day, and slap and ridicule her. If she couldn't help but cry, she would not get any food.

Princess Zhaoping was by nature meek and mild-mannered. In addition, she was disciplined by Zheng Mama, Simeng, and Siyi in the name of the Empress Dowager. She lived in misery every day and dared not resist in the slightest.

A princess, in all her glory, sometimes couldn't even get a single meal a day.

A table laden with sumptuous dishes was served, but instead of the master of the house, an old woman and two maids sat at the table enjoying their meal, while the mistress could only stand to the side with a bowl of water on her head and drink a bowl of lukewarm leftover soup.

Princess Zhaoping was so afraid of hunger that she actually learned to hold back her tears.

So when she went to the palace to attend the welcoming banquet for the Di Kingdom delegation, even though Shang Xiye still only had Ji Fengyao in his eyes and there was still no place for her beside them, Princess Zhaoping did not have any red eyes or shed a single tear.

The welcoming banquet was held at the Royal Horse Ranch on the outskirts of the city.

The venue was surrounded by a white brocade cloth about two meters high.

The surrounding area was adorned with jade trees and flowers, and colorful banners.

A gentle spring breeze caresses the air, the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers, and colorful flags flutter in the wind.

The lush meadows in the distance, connecting to the vast mountains and forests further away, create a truly delightful scene.

To demonstrate the importance that the Great Zhao Dynasty attached to the Di Kingdom delegation, Shang Xiche ordered all officials of the third rank and above in the capital, as well as their wives and concubines, to attend. The event was very grand and lively.

When Shang Xiye arrived with Ji Fengyao, the banquet hall was almost full; only the emperor and empress at the head table, and Di Lijunyi and Di Lirong at the guest table, had not yet taken their seats.

Not long after Shang Xiye took his seat, the Emperor and Empress led Di Lijunyi, Di Lirong, and other envoys from the Di Kingdom into the hall and took their seats.

The seats of the Ninth Prince's Mansion, along with those of Dili Junyi and Dili Ronghe, were almost directly opposite each other, one on the left and one on the right.

This was because Shang Xiye was the only prince of the Great Zhao Dynasty, holding a prestigious position. The seat in the Ninth Prince's Mansion should rightfully belong there, so Ji Fengyao didn't pay it any mind.