Song Tangxue looked up pitifully and said, "Sister, why did you push me? I was just trying to be kind and asked you to come over."
Song Tangxue once again became the target of everyone's criticism. Just as the situation was gradually reaching a stalemate, a voice rose from behind the crowd.
"I wonder what has happened, it's quite a lively scene. I'd like to come and see for myself." It was Xie Qianzhong, dressed in black, with a handsome face. He appeared before the crowd, and his already striking appearance made him seem even more peerless in front of Li Zhaoxian.
Li Zhaoxian realized he was being overshadowed and said in an annoyed tone, "Isn't this the Left Prime Minister? You've always been late, and this year is no exception. You really have quite the airs. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the Emperor."
An atmosphere of tension filled the air between the two, making everyone around them afraid to speak.
"Your Highness, what you have said is the truth. The majesty of the Emperor is beyond the reach of a lowly person like me. As the Left Chancellor, I have many official duties to attend to. I only rushed here after I had finished reading the memorials. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Xie Qianzhong's few words once again drew attention to Li Zhaoxian. Unbeknownst to them, a cold glint flashed in Xie Qianzhong's eyes, especially when he noticed Song Tangxue being bullied.
"I just rushed here and heard that something happened. Could you tell me what happened?"
"It's not my sister's fault. Maybe I was unsteady on my feet and I felt someone push me. It couldn't have been her; it was just my carelessness."
Anyone who saw Song Tangli's appearance would feel pity, but Xie Qianzhong's gaze was only on Song Tangxue from beginning to end. However, the latter did not notice. His heart was full of Li Zhaoxian. Why did he not believe him and only believe the one-sided words of others?
He would believe anything Song Tangxue said and would never listen to his explanations, even though he and Song Tangxue were the closest when they were young.
Song Tangxue felt as if her heart was being torn apart, but she still had to stand calmly in the crowd.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
A eunuch's shrill voice rang out, and a carriage appeared before everyone. The emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, sat in the main seat, his majestic gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"My beloved subjects, rise."
The Emperor seems to be in a bad mood lately. What is he saying while sitting on his throne? The hunting party has officially begun, and young men from all families are participating, except for Xie Qianzhong, who remains in Weidong.
"The Left Chancellor doesn't give me any face; he hasn't participated in the hunting in previous years."
Xie Qianzhong bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, I am merely a civil official, so there is no need for me to participate in the hunt. Even if I did, it would only be a disgrace."
Xie Qianzhong concealed his martial arts skills in order to have the power to rise up in rebellion in his lifetime. The more power he had, the more advantageous it would be for him.
The hunting competition lasted for a long time and ended with Li Zhaoxian's victory.
Song Tangxue couldn't wait to leave this place; staying even a moment longer meant being watched by others.
After the hunting party, there was an exhibition where the daughters of officials brought out their best dishes. Only Song Tangxue sat in her seat without saying a word. Song Tangli naturally did not want to miss an opportunity to humiliate her.
"I wonder if my elder sister would be willing to compose a poem? I have heard that you have been well-versed in poetry and literature for many years, which I rely on greatly. In previous years, I could not compare to you. However, I have recently started to read a little bit myself. I wonder how I compare to you, elder sister."
Now that things have come to this point, if Song Tangxue refuses again, she might give others cause for gossip.
"Since my sister has said so, then I will respectfully comply."
Song Tangli stood up first: "Since the scenery is so beautiful and it also has the auspicious meaning of a hunting party, why don't I compose a poem on this theme: Spring River Moonlit Banquet, Beauty Stirring Under Flowers."
The poem quickly gained recognition, and even the Empress Dowager expressed her admiration for Song Tangli. When Song Tangxue opened her mouth to compose a poem as well, she saw Li Zhaoxian's mocking gaze, as if to say that no matter how hard she tried, she could never compare to A-Li.
Song Tangxue went blank for a moment, forgetting what she originally wanted to say. Amidst everyone's disdain, she ended the analysis conference, and her reputation was now infamous.
Numbly, Song Tangxue followed the Crown Prince's carriage back to her residence and locked herself in her room. She didn't want to see anyone now; just seeing them reminded her of their true colors.
...
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"
Song Tangli came to her senses. Those scenes were just her imagination. Now she had been reborn, and the situation was very different from her previous life.
"I need to go to the palace."
The Empress has been restless these days, and Li Zhaoyun is also disappointing, failing to complete the lessons assigned to him by his tutor. If this continues, Li Zhaoxian's position as Crown Prince will be unshakeable.
Li Zhaoyun hasn't had a proper rest these past few days. Whenever he has free time, he sits at his desk studying policy essays diligently. Even so, he still doesn't quite understand some of the current policy essays.
Li Zhaoyun was a pawn in her game. As long as he became the crown prince, her own status would rise accordingly, and she would become the empress dowager in the future. However, although the emperor had always admired Yun'er, he was unwilling to pass on the position of crown prince to him.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has arrived."
As soon as Song Tangxue stepped into the hall, the Empress pulled her to a seat. Judging from her anxious appearance, it was clear that she had encountered a difficult situation.
Sure enough: "Miss Song, you've come at the right time. This is Yun'er's homework, which has always been poor and has been criticized by the teacher many times. Do you have any other ideas?"
The dark circles under Li Zhaoyun's eyes proved that she hadn't rested properly in the past few days, and she wouldn't be able to get good results reading the booklet in such a mental state.
"I see that Your Highness is exhausted. Why not let Your Highness get a good night's sleep, and then you can study the policy essays later?" Policy essays are very long, and you will not be able to learn the contents if you do not study them attentively.
"Yun'er's studies are causing me a lot of anxiety; I haven't been able to rest for the past few days!"
Li Zhaoyun had no choice but to continue looking at the booklet in her hand, but she didn't turn to the next page for a long time. She knew the words, but she couldn't understand them when they were placed together. She didn't dare to ask her teacher, for fear that her teacher would think she was ignorant.
"Your Majesty, since you wish for your daughter-in-law to teach His Highness the lessons, then please listen to what your daughter-in-law has to say."
The Empress still refused to budge. The time spent burning incense and wearing light clothes was a waste for the accessories, and they couldn't afford to waste any more time on other things.
Seeing that the Empress was still stubborn, Song Tangxue stopped talking and silently lit an incense stick for Li Zhaoyun, wondering whether having such an Empress was a blessing or a curse.
"I have come here with a request. I have heard that His Majesty is about to send an envoy to Lingfeng Kingdom, and I would like to go with him!"
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