The Grand Princess swallowed her rage, her face turning ashen. Seeing this, Yao Ran's smile widened, "I won't chat with the Grand Princess any longer. Farewell."
The Grand Princess watched Yao Ran's retreating back, her beautiful eyes seemingly about to drip poison. If not for the people around, she might have shot two poisoned darts at Yao Ran!
"Your Highness."
"Let's go, back."
"Eldest Sister," the Fourth Princess trailed behind, "you've finished your talk with Prime Minister Yao. How did it go?"
The Grand Princess shot a sharp, cold glance at the Fourth Princess and couldn't help but sneer, "Fourth Sister, we are both in the same boat. Why pretend to be so indifferent?"
The Fourth Princess's hidden thoughts were exposed, but she wasn't angry. "Yes, my Eldest Sister and I have been competing for so many years, and yet the position of Imperial Daughter has fallen to someone else. All these years, we've been like a joke."
The Grand Princess's peripheral vision caught sight of Xiao Man approaching, and she immediately composed herself, waiting for Xiao Man to arrive.
The Fourth Princess turned and looked at Xiao Man's composed demeanor, her brow furrowing. In her eyes, Xiao Man at this moment was like a victorious rooster, her proud posture incredibly irritating.
"Congratulations on becoming the Imperial Daughter," the Fourth Princess said with a sour tone.
Xiao Man smiled, "What is there to congratulate? I am already an Imperial Daughter, not just becoming one today."
The smile on the Fourth Princess's face could no longer be maintained and it instantly fell. Xiao Man's natural tone and arrogant demeanor, her disdain for the thing they could not obtain, had thoroughly provoked them.
"The Imperial Daughter seems to hold the title of Imperial Daughter in disdain?"
"It's just a title," Xiao Man said coldly, "It has no meaning. Even if I have the title of Imperial Daughter, so what? I am merely an Imperial Daughter in name only. I am no better than you princesses who wield real power. To put it nicely, I am the Imperial Daughter. To put it bluntly, I am nothing but a puppet."
The Grand Princess and the Fourth Princess felt much more balanced. Yes, even though Xiao Man had become the Imperial Daughter, she held no real power, and was just a puppet in name only. They still had a chance.
"Do you think that because I am a puppet, you still have a chance?" Xiao Man asked indifferently.
The Grand Princess and the Fourth Princess gritted their teeth but said nothing. They realized that in front of Xiao Man, they seemed to have no secrets, as if she could see through them clearly.
"I am a puppet, but you are just pawns. Do you think a pawn has a chance?" Xiao Man's words were soft, barely audible to anyone but them. "For a pawn to turn the tables, they must become the player."
"What do you mean?"
"The ministers will not accept someone with no royal blood becoming the future emperor of Blue Moon. And the Empress will not allow me to inherit the throne, otherwise, what she painstakingly snatched from my mother will be returned with both hands. She cannot stomach that. But she needs us. What does she need me for?"
The Grand Princess, with her sharp mind, quickly understood the reason. Several princesses had grown up and each possessed their own faction, especially her and the Fourth Princess. Having resided in the Imperial Capital for many years, their influence was not to be underestimated, posing a threat to the Empress's position. And Yao Ran was the Empress's right-hand man, a loyal minister. How could he inexplicably pledge allegiance to an Imperial Daughter who had been living in exile?
Yao Ran was ordered to bring Xiao Man back. As for the purpose, it was to have Xiao Man distract them, making them fight amongst themselves and thus depleting their strength!
Seeing the Grand Princess's face change drastically, Xiao Man knew she had figured out the scheme. As for the Fourth Princess, being able to contend with the Grand Princess, she was certainly not foolish and would likely understand the situation soon.
"I'll take my leave."
"Xiao Man, what exactly do you want?"
Xiao Man turned back and smiled, "I just want to remind you that pawns cannot decide their own destiny. But it's different for the player. And for a pawn to break free from their fate, they must become a player."
A uninvited guest arrived at the Third Princess's mansion. This was the first visitor to the Third Princess's residence in Bianjing since her return, aside from Xiao Man.
The Third Princess looked at the uninvited guest with some surprise, "What a rare visitor. Eldest Sister actually came to my desolate Third Princess's mansion."
The visitor was none other than the Grand Princess.
The Grand Princess set down her teacup, "We are sisters, after all. A few days ago, I was busy and didn't have a chance to visit you. Third Sister, you won't hold it against me, will you?"
"I wouldn't dare," the Third Princess said with a smile, "I am but a fallen princess who barely escaped with her life. I am now walking on eggshells, how could I possibly be angry with Eldest Sister? Eldest Sister is now at the peak of her power. I am worried I might do something wrong and displease Eldest Sister, leading to my mysterious death."
"What are you saying? We are sisters. Why would I harm you?"
"Wasn't it Eldest Sister who sent people to assassinate me?" the Third Princess asked in astonishment.
"You were attacked?"
"Yes. Mother Emperor ordered me to hide in the General's mansion and report Xiao Man's every move. But after Xiao Man saw through my identity and I failed to obtain the Imperial Seal from her, someone came to assassinate me. I nearly lost my life several times," the Third Princess said, patting her chest with residual fear. "I always thought Eldest Sister, upon learning of my failed mission, sent people to kill me, fearing I would return and threaten Eldest Sister."
"I didn't!"
"If not you, then perhaps Fourth Sister?"
"It shouldn't be her."
"Speaking of which, something is very strange," Lan Qin said with a puzzled look. "When Prime Minister Yao went on a diplomatic mission to Yusheng, he actually wanted me to marry him as a princess. And the groom was the Prince of Qin of Yusheng. Does Eldest Sister know the Prince of Qin of Yusheng?"
"Of course, I do. The God of War of Yusheng, undefeated and victorious. The Grand Princess knew of the Prince of Qin, after all, his reputation was immense, almost on par with the young Empress of Yunqi. It's just a pity that the young Empress of Yunqi trusted men too much and ended up dying at their hands."
"Does Eldest Sister know that the Prince of Qin does not associate with women?" Lan Qin said slowly. "So far, the only woman who has been able to get close to him is one. And now, they are at loggerheads."
"Xiao Man?"
Lan Qin nodded, "At that time, fearing death at the hands of the Prince of Qin, I chose Prince Chu, Nangong Yan. But that very night, someone tried to kill me, and they were killers from our Blue Moon."
The Grand Princess lowered her gaze, a sense of unease stirring within her. She was almost certain that the Empress was the one who sent people to kill Lan Qin. Merely because Lan Qin failed her mission, she was to be eliminated. What were they to the Empress? Adopted daughters, or pawns?