Song Minghui looked at the blazing Eastern Palace with envy, a hint of jealousy in her heart. If only she could marry the Crown Prince. Even if not the Crown Princess, a side consort to the Crown Prince was still a position of supreme status. It was a pity, however, that she hailed from a merchant family, and neither her father nor her mother were from merchant backgrounds. She had a cousin who was the Prime Minister, but unfortunately, he could offer her no assistance, as they were not siblings.
"Miss, Bai Yu from the Prime Minister's retinue is looking for you on a matter," Qin Erniang whispered.
Xue Xingyue nodded, "Alright."
"Fifth Miss, the Third Young Master has something to discuss with me. What do you think..."
"Then go quickly!" Song Minghui had no time to attend to her at this moment, so she didn't press for details, her entire heart fixated on the Eastern Palace.
Xue Xingyue followed Qin Erniang out of the Ming Tai Yuan. At the entrance, Bai Yu was dressed in the attire of a guard.
"Miss," Bai Yu stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"What is it?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Bai Yu replied, "Actually, it is not my master who is looking for you."
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes, gazing at Bai Yu as she asked, "Then who is it?"
Seeing this, Bai Yu hesitated, seeming to want to speak but holding back. At this moment, Qin Erniang spoke up, "Just say who it is! How will the Miss know if you don't tell her? Besides, who has such great status that they can enlist your services?"
Though Qin Erniang's words were somewhat harsh, they were the truth. Anyone who could enlist the services of Song Xiuyuan's shadow guard was by no means an insignificant person.
Could it be? A thought suddenly flashed through her mind. She looked at Bai Yu and spoke slowly, "It's the Crown Princess, isn't it!"
Bai Yu's body trembled, but the expression on her face already indicated that her guess was correct.
"I am merely the daughter of a butcher. I don't know how to dress up, nor do I understand the customs of new marriages. The Crown Princess must have thought too highly of me."
"Miss, I..."
"However, since the Crown Princess has sent for me, I cannot very well refuse, can I? Lead the way!" Xue Xingyue glanced at Bai Yu. She didn't know what Zhao Xiuzhu's intentions were, but if she didn't go, she would never find out. For now, she would just see what scheme Zhao Xiuzhu was up to.
"Thank you, Miss." Bai Yu seemed relieved.
Bai Yu appeared very familiar with the palace, leading her through secluded paths. They encountered very few palace maids or eunuchs along the way, making it even less likely to encounter any noble figures. This made Xue Xingyue suspicious. It seemed Song Xiuyuan was also very knowledgeable about the palace. But why would a Prime Minister be so familiar with the inner workings of the palace? It was indeed baffling, but these were not matters for her to inquire about.
A carriage was conspicuously parked at the palace entrance. Xue Xingyue watched as Bai Yu did not step onto the carriage. Bai Yu lowered her head. Xue Xingyue gave a cold laugh, "It seems you knew I would definitely come?"
Bai Yu remained silent, recalling the instructions of her young lady. If Xue Xingyue refused to come, she was only to mention Song Xiuyuan, and she would certainly come. However, that remark proved unnecessary.
The carriage soon arrived at the Zhao residence, but it stopped at a small side gate at the back wall of the manor. Clearly, Zhao Xiuzhu wanted her to come secretly.
The Zhao residence was already decorated festively. Xue Xingyue alighted from the carriage and followed Bai Yu through the small gate.
Along the way, they did not encounter any of the Zhao residence's maids or servants. It was evident that they had been instructed beforehand.
They arrived at a room. Bai Yu said to Xue Xingyue, "Please enter, Miss. The Eldest Miss is waiting inside."
Xue Xingyue nodded. Qin Erniang stepped forward to open the door but was stopped by Bai Yu. "You cannot enter."
"Why can't I enter?" Qin Erniang asked Bai Yu.
"Qin Erniang, you wait outside. I'll be out shortly." Xue Xingyue wanted to see what Zhao Xiuzhu intended to do.
"Miss, you must not." Qin Erniang shook her head.
"It's nothing," Xue Xingyue reassured Qin Erniang with a smile and pushed the door open.
Qin Erniang looked at Bai Yu coldly, "If anything happens to Miss, I will not let you off. I believe your master will not let you off either."
Bai Yu maintained her icy demeanor, showing no change in her expression despite Qin Erniang's words.
The room was somewhat dim, but Xue Xingyue immediately spotted Zhao Xiuzhu sitting by the bed. However, Zhao Xiuzhu's face was pale, and there was no trace of the joy one would expect from someone about to become the Crown Princess.
"You've come?" Zhao Xiuzhu raised her head. Her pear blossom-like face was tear-streaked, her eyes red and swollen, clearly from crying.
"Yes, but I do not know why Miss Zhao has asked me here?"
Zhao Xiuzhu looked at her, and Xue Xingyue could clearly feel the jealousy radiating from her gaze.
"You actually dared to come," Zhao Xiuzhu smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
"Miss Zhao, your words are rather baffling. Why would I not dare to come?"
Zhao Xiuzhu stood up, looking at her, and slowly said, "Aren't you afraid I might do something to you?"
"What do you want to do? Miss Zhao? Or should I call you Crown Princess?" Zhao Xiuzhu's gaze suddenly turned icy. "I hate those three words."
"Miss Zhao, aren't you afraid I'll reveal what you just said?"
Zhao Xiuzhu sneered, "Say it, but will they believe you?"
Xue Xingyue narrowed her eyes and said to Zhao Xiuzhu, "It seems Miss Zhao has nothing else to discuss. I shall take my leave!"
As she spoke, she moved to leave.
From behind her, Zhao Xiuzhu's cold and sinister voice rang out, "Want to leave? That depends on whether I agree."
In an instant, several figures in black appeared in Zhao Xiuzhu's room. Xue Xingyue would never forget one of them, for it was Yu Yun.
She had previously heard Feng Qing mention that Yu Yun had gone missing and felt a pang of guilt, believing it was her fault that Yu Yun had left the shadow guards. Although Feng Qing had said Yu Yun brought it upon herself, Xue Xingyue had still detected Feng Qing's unspoken reluctance from her veiled words. She understood Feng Qing completely; after all, they had grown up together. Moreover, Yu Yun had not done anything to harm them or their master. It was only due to Yu Yun's jealousy that she could no longer remain among the shadow guards. Seeing Yu Yun here now, Xue Xingyue didn't know how she felt, but the last shred of guilt in her heart had vanished.
Because she didn't deserve it.
"It's been a long time, Yu Yun!" she said coldly to Yu Yun.
Hearing this, Yu Yun's eyes blazed with a frosty light. "It has indeed been a long time. I wish I could devour you alive." If it weren't for this woman, she wouldn't have been expelled from the shadow guards by her master. If it weren't for this woman, she wouldn't have fallen to this state.