Xia Yuhang remained seated upstairs. The screen blocked only his vision, but not the noise. He heard Lanning's frank words clearly, as well as Cheng Yu's apology. His face turned pale with anger and resentment.He didn't expect to fail at generating rumors about Ning Xueyan's affair with another man in this rare meeting. That meant that he wouldn't be able to justify her disappearance as an elopement after kidnapping her. Moreover, he wasn't the only one involved in this scheme. Madam Wu Yao was in on it, too.He planned to have everyone witness Ning Xueyan and Cheng Yu's ambiguous relationship in public. A maid running into Cheng Yu with a handkerchief in hand could be explained as Ning Xueyan ordering her maid to send the handkerchief to Cheng Yu, evidence that the two had known each other for a long time.Thus, if Ning Xueyan were to disappear one day, the reason that he had cooked up would be a serious attack on Ao Chenyi. It might even rui

Ning Xueyan's carriage continued moving toward the zither store at a steady pace. It didn't take them long to reach because it was so close. The carriage stopped and Ning Xueyan and Heng Yuqing got down one after another.A cold smile appeared on Ning Xueyan's face when she looked up at the sparkling store signboard. Since those people had put so much effort into luring her here, she would play along and find out what they were up to.Her thoughts were hidden from Heng Yuqing, who was pointing to the zither store and saying enthusiastically, "Look, this is the store. Just look at the storefront. This must be the property of a top-tier noble family. I wonder which family managed to run it so well. There are many zither lovers in the capital, but all of them approve of this store."Suddenly, a surprised voice resounded behind them. "Huh? Isn't this the Crown Princess? Did you come to pick out a zither in preparation for Madam Wu Yao's banquet?" N

Ning Xueyan turned her head and saw a slim, graceful young woman walking up the stairs. Several maids surrounded her like stars crowding around the moon. Upon closer inspection, Ning Xueyan realized that she recognized that elegant, pure face. It was Commandery Princess Muling."Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess." Commandery Princess Muling seemed surprised to her there. A conflicted look crossed her eyes. She was no longer Commandery Princess Muling of yesteryears and Ning Xueyan was also no longer Prince Yi's consort or the Lord Protector's daughter that she looked down on."You're too polite, Commandery Princess Muling," Ning Xueyan said softly with a smile.Commandery Princess Muling wasn't just a commandery princess, but Ao Mingyu's soon-to-be princess as well. Even though Ning Xueyan's status was higher than hers, it wouldn't do Ning Xueyan any favors to offend her now.The court was in a precarious state. Ao Chenyi

The zither was placed on the shelf. From its color and luster, down to its other details, it was indeed a good zither that suited the well-known legend.It was the real Mark of the Moon without an ounce of forgery. Heng Yuqing had made sure of that when she took Ning Xueyan to a zither appraisal expert on their way home.The handful of well-known zither players in the capital came to the same conclusion.In other words, this antique zither wasn't a fake. It was the real thing.The zither was sitting inside Ning Xueyan's room at the moment, right beside the incomplete zither piece. One could hardly find the book containing the zither piece in the market anymore, and the remedied zither piece was as good as a complete one. Most importantly, the zither piece wasn't difficult to play.With these two advantages in hand, anyone with even the slightest zither proficiency would have leaped at the chance to perform. Madam Wu Ya

Madam Wu Yao was speaking to a man in a wide-sleeved long robe when she saw Ning Xueyan arriving at the banquet. She quickly ended the conversation and walked toward Ning Xueyan.It went without saying that Ning Xueyan had the high status out of everyone present. Even if Wu Yao belonged to the politically neutral faction, she must show an attitude befitting of a host."Is this the Crown Princess? Please, come this way." Wu Yao went up to Ning Xueyan with a bright smile.Ning Xueyan glanced at Wu Yao with a smile, concealing the trace of coldness in her beautiful eyes.Even though she had taken notice of Wu Yao in her present life, this was still her first time meeting her. It had been a few years but Wu Yao hadn't changed much. She was still the same kind and gentle motherly figure. Perhaps, in her mother's opinion, Wu Yao was her good-tempered but unfortunate close friend.It was a pity that Wu Yao was so wicked.