"I am not worthy of being the Crown Princess, are you?"

As soon as this pleasant voice sounded, the scene that was originally full of chatter and laughter suddenly became quiet.

The girls turned their heads stiffly, and when they saw the figure in the goose yellow skirt, the smiles on their faces became even stiffer.

Especially Tao Si Niang, who said that Tao Ti was only fit to carry shoes for the prince, her fair little face turned blue with fright. She didn't know whether to sit or stand, and looked at a loss.

Tao Ti felt embarrassed for her because she was caught gossiping about someone behind their back.

After calming down a bit, Tao Ti strode forward with a kind smile on her face, "I didn't expect the sisters to be so elegant. It's true, this beautiful spring day is the best time to chat."

Tao Si Niang smiled awkwardly and said, "Wu Niang, weren't you here to talk to my aunt? Why did you come out so soon?"

Tao Ti narrowed her bright eyes slightly and said in a coquettish voice, "Maybe I feel that my sisters are concerned about me, and I suddenly want to go out for a walk."

She emphasized the word "concerned" on purpose, and everyone present felt a little uneasy.

Tao Si Niang was no exception. The smile on her lips froze, but she felt strange in her heart. Tao Ti had always been a soft persimmon that could be easily manipulated by others. Even the concubines of the eldest house looked down on her weak and cowardly character in private! Why should she be afraid of her?

Thinking of this, Tao Si Niang straightened her back, showed her usual demeanor, and said loudly, "Wu Niang, what the sisters just said was just a joke, please don't misunderstand it, lest it hurt the harmony between us sisters."

"Friendly?" Tao Ti smiled lightly, but her tone was full of undisguised sarcasm, "Fourth Lady, you are always so sensible, in the past and now."

"W-What do you mean?!"

"What I mean is, you are not good at anything and you are the best at passing the buck." Tao Ti said calmly, "It was you who were gossiping behind my back and I caught you, but now you are turning the tables on me so that I won't hurt your relationship."

There were many disputes in the deep courtyard. The original owner had the title of the eldest daughter of the eldest house, but her character was soft and gullible. She had suffered a lot from these sisters in the past. Especially this cousin Tao Si Niang, she had played countless tricks on the original owner, both openly and covertly.

The original owner swallowed the humiliation and didn't break up with them, but Tao Ti wouldn't stand for it - we're all human beings for the first time, why should I let you step on my nose and face?

Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming tense, someone immediately stepped out to smooth things over.

"Okay, Si Niang said something wrong, but today is your first time back home, Wu Niang. It's a great day, don't let a few words ruin your mood."

"That's right, we are just sisters joking. Wu Niang, if you take it seriously, then it will be too much."

Although he was trying to smooth things over, his real intention was to ask Tao Ti to take a step back.

Tao Si Niang immediately took advantage of the situation and pressed her eyes with a handkerchief, wiping away the tears that didn't exist at all. She said aggrievedly, "Wu Niang, you are now the Crown Princess and you are so powerful. As soon as you come back, you put on airs in front of your sisters. It's just a few words now, why are you so fussy about it..."

As she pretended to cry, someone came forward to comfort her.

For a moment, it seemed as if Tao Ti was bullying others by taking advantage of her power.

Facing those complaining looks, Tao Tijian couldn't help but applaud Tao Si Niang. What a brilliant move! It was a good move of retreating to advance!

Since they all think she is bullying others by taking advantage of her power, she might as well just stick to this character setting.

She has power to rely on, why doesn't she use it?

Tao Ti stood up straight, her red lips slightly raised. If she didn't say anything, she looked dignified and gentle. But as soon as she opened her mouth, her aura changed. "I am the Crown Princess married into the Eastern Palace by the royal family. His Majesty and the Empress have not said whether I am worthy or not. When is it your turn to say? Or do you think your vision is better than His Majesty's?"

Tao Si Niang was just a lady from a noble family, and usually played tricks in the inner house. When she saw Tao Ti bring up the emperor and empress, her expression immediately changed, and she said with a gleam in her eyes, "I, I didn't mean that..."

Tao Ti insisted, "What do you mean?"

Tao Si Niang panicked and stammered, unable to speak.

"You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want." Tao Ti walked closer to her, tilted his head, and looked at her with a smile, "Do you still think I'm the Tao Ti you used to be and could bully me at will?"

Not to mention Tao Si Niang, even the other girls subconsciously retracted their necks, feeling a chill on their backs.

Tao Si Niang's smile was uglier than crying, and her voice sounded like a duck with its neck pinched, "Wu Niang, oh no, Crown Princess, I was wrong, I was too outspoken, please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart..."

"This apology is quite appropriate."

Tao Ti raised his eyebrows slightly, and suddenly raised his hand to pat Tao Si Niang's face, but his eyes calmly swept over everyone present, "I know what you are thinking, you can think if you want, after all, I can't control your thoughts. But before you open your mouth, you'd better weigh your own identity and see if you are qualified to speak."

Her fingers were a little cold, and when she slapped them on her face, Tao Si Niang felt the coolness spreading from her cheeks to her entire body, making her stiff and unable to move.

Tao Ti took her hand back and stepped aside, slowly playing with the jade bracelet on her wrist, and said with a smile, "If you continue to gossip like you did today, and I find out, I will punish you one by one, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Seeing the fearless indifference in her eyes, everyone's heart sank and they all lowered their eyes.

Tao Ti tucked her skirt contentedly and was about to run away after showing off, but as soon as she turned around, she saw a slender moon-white figure slowly walking out from behind the rockery.

Tao Ti was stunned, "!!!"

Why is the little angel Pei Yan here? When did he come? So he saw the whole process of pretending just now?

Suddenly, she seemed to hear some sound...

Oh, it's her well-behaved and gentle personality that is collapsing.

Tao Ti tried hard to control her expression. Her thick eyelashes trembled slightly as she forced out a smile, "Your Highness, what a coincidence..."

Pei Yan walked up to her step by step, like the breeze and bright moon, and nodded slightly, "Yeah."

Tao Ti didn't dare to look at him for a moment. Her little head was in a mess as she considered how to explain it to him.

That scene of taking advantage of the power and bullying others just now was definitely not her intention!

Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder, and before she could react, she leaned gently into a cool and pleasant smelling embrace.

Then Pei Yanping's calm and steady voice echoed above her head, "I think what the Crown Princess said is right."

Taoti, “……!”

The four girls were all startled.

Pei Yan continued, "As daughters of the Marquis' Mansion, you should be well-educated, open-minded and gentle. How can you learn to be a gossipy woman? Moreover, the Crown Princess married into the East Palace and became a member of the royal family. What is the crime for making irresponsible remarks about the royal family? If you don't understand, I can let the Marquis of Yongwei explain it to you."

As soon as these words came out, the girls' faces changed drastically. They hung their heads in shame and replied in a low voice, "Your Highness is right. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

If Tao Ti felt a little guilty at first because she was pretending to be powerful, now that a real tiger has come out to support her, this little fox is so happy!

Pei Yan lowered his eyes slightly and caught a glimpse of her trying to hold back a laugh, and inexplicably found it funny.

"Shall we go?" he said.

"Yeah." Tao Ti became obedient in a second.

Pei Yan put his arm around her shoulders and left the back garden affectionately.

After they walked away, the girls raised their heads. Their pretty and tender little faces were red and white, showing resentment, depression, anger, but more of it was shame!

The prince actually compared them to gossips! If this gets out, how can they face people?

No one knew who started it, but everyone started talking at the same time, and in the end, they all directed their criticism at Tao Si Niang, "It was you who brought up the question of whether they were suitable or not. Now you've upset the Crown Princess, offended the Crown Prince, and brought shame upon us as well!"

"Yes, it's all your fault. Why did you argue with her? If the prince really told uncle about this, we would be in trouble..."

Facing the accusations from everyone, Tao Si Niang's eyes were actually filled with tears. She glared back at them in anger, "Didn't you just say bad things about her? How dare you blame me now!"

But she alone could not handle so many mouths, and in the end she had to run away in shame amid complaints.

That figure looked very much like the way Langxiong left when Tao Ti was ridiculed and laughed at by everyone.

——

On the other side, after walking some distance, Pei Yan let go of Tao Ti's shoulders.

Thinking of how he had just stood up for her, Tao Ti raised her head, her eyebrows curved, the corners of her lips curled up, and her dark and bright eyes looked at him gratefully, "Your Highness, thank you for helping me just now."

Pei Yanqian smiled and said, "You don't have to be so polite. I said I would protect you outside."

In the midday sun, mottled light and shadows cast on his fair and handsome face. This beautiful scene, like a picture, made Tao Ti's heart beat a little faster.

She can kill people with her face, but she is so gentle. Who can stand this?

She quickly looked away, choking off the chaotic thoughts in her head, staring straight at the gravel road in front of her, and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, weren't you in the front hall? Why are you here?"

"We were almost done chatting in the front hall, and it was almost time for lunch, so I thought of coming to look for you. In fact, I saw you in the corridor in front, but you seemed to be thinking about something, so you didn't see me, so I followed you to the back garden."

Tao Ti was stunned, so they just took a few steps forward.

"Did you hear what I said to them?"

"Yeah, about the same."

“…”

Oh no, the character collapsed.

Tao Ti was like a deflated ball, with her head drooping. She stopped and tried to explain, "Actually, I'm not usually that fierce, nor do I like to quarrel so much... I really don't like to cause trouble at all, but today's situation is special..."

Pei Yan also stopped and looked at her hairy little head. He inexplicably felt the urge to reach out and rub it.

He put his hands behind his back, pursed his lips, and said softly, "I know they were the first to speak rudely today. You are right."

Hearing this, Tao Ti raised her eyes to look at him, her black grape-like eyes sparkling, and asked tentatively, "Your Highness, do you really think so?"

Pei Yan saw her silly look and chuckled, "Yes."

His affirmative answer made Tao Ti's worries disappear in an instant. She smiled with sweet and sincere eyes, "I knew that Your Highness is the one who can distinguish right from wrong."

Pei Yan raised his eyebrows at her straightforward compliment. After a moment, he glanced at the bright sun and said softly, "We should go to the restaurant. I guess my father-in-law and mother-in-law are waiting for us."

"Okay, I've been busy all morning and I'm hungry too."

Tao Ti nodded and followed him to the restaurant.

——

This meal was not very good.

The dishes were undoubtedly extremely sumptuous, but with a group of unfamiliar relatives sitting around the round table having an awkward conversation, Tao Ti didn't dare to eat more than one bite, for fear of being impolite by accident.

Pei Yan didn't eat much to begin with, so he just ate a little today.

Sometimes Tao Ti even wondered if he was a god who survived by drinking dew. Otherwise, how could a man who was 1.85 meters tall survive by eating so little every day?

After lunch, they sat down and drank a cup of tea, then Pei Yan took Tao Ti and left.

When they came, the carriage was loaded with various gifts, and when they left, the carriage was not empty either, as the return gifts from the Yongwei Marquis' Mansion were even more generous.

As soon as she sat in the carriage, Tao Ti couldn't help but relax.

When Pei Yan leaned over and walked in, he saw her rubbing her cheeks with her two little hands. Her cheeks were round and plump, with a little baby fat, white and tender with a natural and healthy pink, just like a plump and sweet peach in early summer.

Tao Ti didn't know when she began to feel an inexplicable trust in Pei Yansheng. When she was in front of him, she didn't have to be restrained and could show her natural side.

Seeing him looking at her, she gave a wry smile and explained, "My face is frozen."

Pei Yan sat down leisurely and asked, "You don't like crowds?"

"It's not that I don't like the hustle and bustle, I just don't like this kind of hustle and bustle... I'm still happy to play with friends I'm familiar with." Tao Ti answered seriously.

Pei Yan moved the ashes of the incense burner on the small table gracefully and said softly, "If you feel bored in the palace, you can also invite friends to play together."

Tao Ti pursed her lips and thought for a while. Most of the original owner's friends were just fake sisters. But there was a chubby little girl named Xu Wenchan who seemed to be getting along well with her?

While he was thinking, the carriage started to move slowly.

Tao Ti asked Pei Yan, "Your Highness, are you full just now?"

Pei Yan asked with a smile, "Aren't you full?"

Tao Ti was startled and a little embarrassed, but she still nodded honestly and whispered, "There are so many people at the table, I can't eat too much. But I see you didn't eat much, why don't you..."

She paused, observed Pei Yan's expression, and asked, "Shall we eat outside?"

As she came here, she found that there were many restaurants and bars on the street. Her heart as a foodie was already eager to go. Nowadays, there are many food bloggers who specialize in studying ancient food. Now that she has personally returned to ancient times, if she doesn't taste the food in the ancient restaurants, it would be a waste of her trip.

Pei Yan did not refuse or agree immediately. He just opened the curtain and looked outside at the weather. "It looks like it's going to rain soon."

Tao Ti moved closer to him and stretched her neck to look, only to see that the sky in the distance was dark and there was a hint of rain.

"Ah, it was fine at the beginning, how come it suddenly turned cloudy?" She muttered in disappointment.

This posture brought the two of them very close. Pei Yan could smell her faint fragrance and see the soft, fine hairs on her snow-white skin.

His eyelashes drooped slightly, covering the dark color in his eyes. He was silent for a moment, and suddenly said inexplicably, "Maybe another day."

After he finished speaking, he felt a little strange in his heart. He could have chosen to remain silent. After all, going to the restaurant to eat together was not a necessary behavior.

He and she just need to maintain superficial harmony, but they are not really husband and wife.

Tao Ti sat up straight, looked at Pei Yan with her beautiful eyes, and confirmed, "Your Highness, can you take me out some other day?"

Those black eyes were like stars in the night sky, shining with clear light, which was the foodie's desire for delicious food.

Pei Yan met her expectant gaze and said in a slow and gentle voice, "Well, let's go out for a walk some other day. There are indeed a few restaurants in the city that serve good food."

Tao Ti smiled widely, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

This smile was so brilliant and bright as a flower that a hint of surprise flashed across Pei Yan's eyes.

There were many women who admired him, but she was the first one to smile at him like this.

He clenched his fingers calmly and pursed his thin lips.