Upon returning to Huayang Palace, Wang Qingyao was met with a sea of expectant gazes.
"I heard the Princess of Ding'an went to Ruihui Palace," Consort Wei said plaintively. "It must be that my Huayang Palace did not entertain her properly, and thus the Princess of Ding'an could not be kept..."
"Your Majesty misunderstands," Wang Qingyao explained unhurriedly. "His Highness had a small trinket he wished me to deliver to the Seventh Prince..."
Wang Qingyao was meticulous in her actions. Since she had stated this, she was not afraid of Consort Wei investigating. When she had left Ruihui Palace earlier, she had indeed given Consort Chen a delicate bow and arrow, which was a gift from Xiao Yun to the Seventh Prince.
Upon hearing Wang Qingyao's explanation, Consort Wei's expression finally improved.
Then, as if just noticing the two princesses of the Xia Dynasty, Wang Qingyao exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, the two princesses are here too. Did Noble Consort invite you?"
Her tone was far from polite, and anyone could discern the strong dissatisfaction in her words. She even cast a resentful glance at Consort Wei.
Consort Wei immediately retorted, "It was not I who invited them. His Majesty is truly… letting anyone into the palace. Is my Huayang Palace a marketplace?"
In a certain sense, Consort Wei was somewhat similar to Wang Qingyao.
That is, they showed no leniency towards those with whom they had grievances.
Although Consort Wei had never met Princess Jinyang before, she had long heard of Princess Jinyang's boastful pronouncements. How could she possibly show them any pleasantries?
She was Consort Wei, the Consort Wei who dared to act petulantly even towards the Emperor.
Wang Qingyao and Consort Wei exchanged knowing glances. Princess Jinyang and Princess Yinyue did not show any displeasure. Princess Jinyang even adopted a humble posture and apologized, "We sisters came uninvited and have disturbed Noble Consort."
Her command of Han literature was quite good, not only using idioms but also employing the word "disturb."
Wang Qingyao observed Princess Jinyang with interest.
Consort Wei said lazily, "Didn't Princess Yinyue say she wanted to compete with the Princess of Ding'an? The Princess of Ding'an is here now. Tell me, what do you wish to compete with her in?"
Princess Yinyue looked at Wang Qingyao and said proudly and arrogantly, "Last time, I was careless in the Rubik's Cube competition. The Princess pretended it was her first time seeing a Rubik's Cube, deliberately trying to lull me into a false sense of security, which caused me to underestimate her, and thus I lost."
Wang Qingyao had only mentioned her past experience with Rubik's Cubes in Huayang Palace today, and before she had even left the imperial palace, Princess Yinyue had miraculously found out.
Heh, there were indeed many strange characters in this palace.
"That's right, that's right," Wang Qingyao said indifferently. "Princess, it would be best to choose something you have played before and I have not, so that the victory is fair and square!"
Someone couldn't help but laugh out loud, pointing at Princess Yinyue.
Princess Yinyue's face flushed crimson. She pointed at Wang Qingyao and gritted her teeth, saying, "Today, I will make you lose convincingly! You choose what we will compete in!"
Wang Qingyao found it truly strange how Princess Yinyue could be so confident. Was she the so-called "overconfident woman"?
Later, she would learn that Princess Yinyue was not only confident in herself but also had little faith in Wang Qingyao.
She was a dignified princess, educated from childhood. How could an orphan like Wang Qingyao possibly defeat her?
Wang Qingyao was not one to indulge Princess Yinyue. If she was to choose, she would naturally pick something that was advantageous to her.
"Princess is a guest, how could I trouble a guest? Let us compete in the simplest game of dice, guessing high or low."
Princess Yinyue was stunned, then a look of disdain and wild joy welled up in her eyes.
The disdain stemmed from the fact that this Princess of Ding'an was indeed a simpleton. The information she had gathered stated that the Princess of Ding'an's parents were deceased, her maternal family was unwilling to care for her, and she had grown up fending for herself, having learned nothing of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting.
Even after marrying and becoming the Princess of Ding'an, she could not escape her past ignorance.
How could a dignified princess suggest a game as childish as guessing high or low, a game that even children found tedious?
The wild joy arose because, despite being a princess, Princess Yinyue often frequented the common folk to win their favor and improve her reputation. She had a natural talent for rolling dice. She could achieve combinations like "leopard," "straight," or "single pillar reaching the sky," let alone the child's play of guessing high or low.
"Agreed, as the Princess of Ding'an suggests."
"Where there is a bet, there must be stakes. How about this: if Princess Yinyue loses, Princess Jinyang will no longer be able to force His Majesty to take her as a consort..."
Princess Jinyang's words to the Emperor in the Southern Imperial Garden yesterday were fueled by sheer bravery. Today, that bravery had waned, and upon hearing Wang Qingyao's words, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Consort Wei slightly curved her lips.
Princess Yinyue said displeasedly, "I am competing with you, why should I involve others as stakes?"
Wang Qingyao looked at her with innocent eyes, "Because Princess Yinyue, you have nothing left to bet with me!"
Princess Yinyue was momentarily speechless. Yesterday, she had lost to Wang Qingyao in the Rubik's Cube competition and could no longer bring up the matter of marrying Prince Ding'an.
However, her competition with Wang Qingyao today was not for the sake of marrying Prince Ding'an. In a few days, Prince Ding'an would have no choice but to marry her anyway, so there was no need for her to engage in a war of words with Wang Qingyao here.
"As the Princess of Ding'an says," Princess Jinyang said, striving to maintain her graceful and gentle demeanor.