Princess Yu might be stubborn.
Few women would consent to having to share a husband with other women, after all.
Especially a beauty like Princess Yu, who must have been extremely unwilling, at this moment.
Princess Ming Yue stared at Lin Mengya with a deep hatred, but she calmed down soon after.
In recent days, her primary focus was to please Concubine De. Her ploy worked.
Concubine De had personally promised her that Prince Yu would definitely marry her.
It did not matter whether Lin Mengya agreed or not. Concubine De was the decision maker.
Princess Ming Yue was not worried about that now. Instead she was intent on playing the role of a poor girl, who had been wronged.
Although she did not make an impression like Lin Mengya, it was better to gain sympathy from others.
The vice Princess Dugu could sense very clearly, the subtle hostile atmosphere between the two of them. She gave a meaningful smile, then turned to mingle with the other guests.
Baizhi, who was behind Lin Mengya, sneered and said,
"Such a bad girl. How dare she pretend she is being bullied! She makes Master seem like a virago."
Lin Mengya picked up the teacup containing the fragrant tea on the table, sipped daintily, then said,
"Only in this way, will others feel sympathetic towards her. But I like the word "Virago". It sounds very powerful."
Baizhi and Baisu looked at each other in surprise.
Lin Mengya had not used her Lin-style quotes, since Yue Ting went away.
It seemed that Lin Mengya was back to her normal form, today.
A good sign!
"The Crown Prince is here—Prince Yu has arrived—"
The eunuch announced that the top two subjects for gossip in the Capital City, had shown up.
The scandal about the run-away Crown Prince had not died down yet, while the subject for the gossip mongers—Long Tianyu, showed up at this moment.
Both of them were well known, having been the main topics of gossip, in the Capital City.
However, both of them looked very uneasy now.
The Crown Prince looked concerned. Lin Mengya saw at a glance, that he must have been scolded by the Empress many times, recently.
Otherwise, his dissatisfaction would not have shown on his face.
Long Tianyu looked his usual indifferent self.
But it was rare for both of them to show up at the same time.
"As your eldest brother, I advise you to think carefully, third brother. Few people can get such a good chance, after all."
The Crown Prince lowered his voice and said a little angrily.
"Thank you, thank the Empress. But only our father can make the final decision."
Long Tianyu did not give way. Early in the morning, the Empress had summoned him to the palace.
She said it was about the banquet in Mid-Autumn Festival. But in fact, she wanted to talk to him about marrying Princess Ming Yue.
Long Tianyu"s direct refusal made the Crown Prince and the Empress look extraordinarily awkward.
"Don"t act on impulse. I know you love your wife very much. But Ming Yue loves you too."
If Ming Yue had not insisted on marrying Long Tianyu, the Crown Prince would have taken her as his vice princess.
To some extent, joint marriages were a reliable way of forming alliances.
However, Long Tianyu had let them down.
"Don"t worry, brother. I know what I have to do."
Long Tianyu cast a look at the figure clad in light purple, sitting at one side.
His heart quivered slightly. After finishing his battle of words with the Crown Prince, Long Tianyu strode over to the female guest area.
Ming Yue felt as if she was walking on air.
In recent days, Concubine De had always asked Long Tianyu to talk with Ming Yue at Art Courtyard, in order to create an opportunity for her and Long Tianyu.
She believed that her beautiful smiles must have made a deep impression on Long Tianyu.
Compared with Lin Mengya, who had been keeping to herself in her room, even Concubine De had felt somewhat dissatisfied with her. Surely, Long Tianyu would pay more attention to her, now?
Princess Ming Yue was looking forward to have Long Tianyu stop by, with a smile or a h.e.l.lo.
However, just as she thought he was making his way toward her, the slim, handsome figure suddenly made a turn.
He did not even glance in her direction, let alone say h.e.l.lo.
Long Tianyu went straight to Lin Mengya, who was drinking her tea, with her head lowered. Long Tianyu was unusually gentle as he looked at Lin Mengya.
"How are you bearing up? Do you need to go back first?"
Long Tianyu gently asked her, in a low voice, as if there were no one else around them. Everyone was extremely shocked.
"I"m fine, your highness."
Lin Mengya lifted her head and smiled at the Prince. Instantly, all the people stopped gossiping about Prince Yu.
Princess Ming Yue was no one, while the real Princess was the one who smiled so happily.
Long Tianyu returned to the male guest area, after every guest had arrived.
No one knew whether it was deliberate or not, but Long Tianyu chose to sit directly opposite Princess Ming Yue.
Lin Mengya silently sneered. "Do you think both of them can fall in love in that way?"
"It"s too absurd!"
Long Tianyu did not make any eye contact with Princess Ming Yue, at any time.
And what made it worse, was the sight of Princess Ming Yue casting longing looks at Long Tianyu, who did not seem to care at all.
On the contrary, his eyes were focused on Lin Mengya.
He did not talk to the others, until he was really sure that Lin Mengya was alright.
"I know that the Prince loves our master the most."
Baizhi stated this proudly. She had completely forgotten how she had complained about Long Tianyu, previously.
"Alright, don"t talk nonsense. "Baisu, do me a favor. Let"s take a rest in the yard."
No matter what, Lin Mengya had just recovered.
She felt a bit stifled in there, even though it was very s.p.a.cious.
Two of her maids led Lin Mengya outside.
Long Tianyu felt anxious when he noticed that Lin Mengya had left.
The Crown Prince grabbed hold of his shoulders, just as Long Tianyu was about to follow her.
"Third brother, let us have a drink. It"s all my fault before. Please forgive me."
The Crown Prince held up his gla.s.s and said this with a smile.
Long Tianyu was clearly reluctant, but had to continue to drink with the Crown Prince.
"It will be fine. Lin Mengya has Baizhi and Baisu with her."
The yard in the Crown Prince"s mansion was secluded and beautiful. The Imperial Palace was even more magnificent.
Every gra.s.s and stone had been specially designed by superior craftsmen, so it looked very exquisite.
The cool night wind blew away her feeling of being stifled. Lin Mengya wandered around the yard.
Some maids in charge of serving food, pa.s.sed by Lin Mengya hurriedly, carrying some hampers.
All of a sudden, Lin Mengya stopped one of them, and casually asked,
"What"s in there?"
The maid, who didn"t know who she was, responded politely,
"Your highness, it"s Yulu soup."
"Oh, I see. No wonder it smells delicious."
Lin Mengya said this with a smile. Then the maid left.
"Master, would you like to have some soup?"
Baizhi"s eyes shone. Master rarely requested for any food. She must grasp this chance, since master showed an interest in the Yulu Soup.
"No. Let"s go over there."
Lin Mengya still felt a little strange, but she didn"t want to appear nosey.
There was a row of rooms prepared for guests, who had too much to drink at the banquet hall.
Lin Mengya noticed a strange smell in the air, when she walked into the crossroads.
"Master, why don"t we rest in the room?"
Baizhi suggested this to Lin Mengya, who nodded and went into one of the guest rooms, with her maids.
"No need to turn the light on. I will just take a rest."
Lin Mengya sat on the bed, in the dark and Baisu, who had excellent hearing, stayed by her side.
Baizhi, who had been thinking about Yulu Soup, made an excuse to go to the kitchen to ask for it, secretly.
The room was peaceful and quiet. The sounds of music and noise from the hall could be heard, faintly.
Lin Mengya did not close her eyes. Instead, she opened them wide and looked out of the window.
"Master, is there anything wrong with that Yulu soup?"
Baisu, who had been very attentive, found there was something unusual about the soup.
Lin Mengya nodded. She was just making a guess.
In a short while, several servants, holding on to a person, came over.
That person seemed to be drunk and he leaned heavily on the servants.
They took him into the room diagonally across from the room where Lin Mengya was resting, in the dark. Then, they left quietly, after leaving the drunk man on the bed.
"Who could that man be?" Lin Mengya was curious, as she and Baisu, left the room silently.
That room was locked, which made Lin Mengya even more suspicious.
After looking around and making sure that no one was nearby, Lin Mengya pulled out her hair clip, to try and secretly pick the lock.
"Master—"
"Hush!"
It was so difficult to pick the ancient lock. It had not been unlocked for a long time.
"Master—"
"Hush, be quiet."
"Why did it not open, even after several tries?"
Lin Mengya thought to herself that what happened in costume dramas, were all a lie.
"Master—"
"Hush! What if the others hear us?"
Lin Mengya was annoyed and raised her hand to cover Baisu"s mouth.
"This little girl was usually so quiet. Why is she so talkative today?"
"Master, I want to say that what you are doing is wrong!"
Baisu, who struggled to remove Lin Mengya"s hand, said this hastily.
Lin Mengya turned around to look at her maid"s expression, not sure if she was crying or laughing. She smiled awkwardly and put her hair clip back.
"It should be like this. Stand up first."
Lin Mengya automatically stepped back. Baisu pulled a ring off her finger.
There was a small gear inside the ring, the material which was unknown to Lin Mengya. Once she clicked the gear, the ring turned into an iron needle, as thick as a toothpick.
Baisu quickly unlocked the door.
"Wow! Baisu! I have never expected you to be so amazing!"