The banquet had started. Unlike regular banquets, the guests were served fresh fruits, light dishes, and sweet fruit wine. Everything was meant to be mild-tasting.A maid presented a small tube filled with many polished bamboo sticks. The sticks were beautiful because of their careful engravings of all sorts of flowers.It went without saying that the tube of bamboo sticks was taken to Ning Xueyan first. The maid knelt respectfully in front of her, held the tube high, and waited for her to pick a stick. This meant that whether or not she wanted to perform, whether or not she was ready to perform, she would have to show the guests something after drawing a lot.On the surface, this was a show of respect. In reality, they were forcing her to perform.Ning Xueyan knew that Wu Yao wouldn't give her a chance to reject performing. She could guess as much after experiencing their little scheme with the zither.Thus, she smile

Ning Xueyan stood up slowly. She wasn't tall, shorter than Ya Moqin even. Yet, when her face darkened and her beautiful eyes turned fierce, Ya Moqin felt a stab of uncertainty. Even the famous scholars were looking around. They were beginning to question their criticism of the poem. If the Crown Princess had truly written the poem, was it right for them to criticize her like this?Their fear was largely derived from the Crown Prince's ruthless reputation. Even if they were determined to become righteous scholars, they had to worry for the lives of their families."Eldest Young Lady Ya, you're just a daughter of the Grand Tutor Ya's Manor. You have no right to discipline my maid." Ning Xueyan looked at Ya Moqin with a grim expression. "Since when do you have the right to discipline someone from the Crown Prince's Manor?"Ning Xueyan was so frank that she sounded like she was reprimanding Ya Moqin. However, no matter how one looked at it, Ya Moqi

Ning Xueyan took the stage with two of her maids. It was her privilege as the Crown Princess. No one could criticize her even if she brought twenty maids, let alone two.Lanning took out the antique zither called Mark of the Moon and carefully put it down.Immediately, shocked whispers resounded. "Mark of the Moon?" someone said. "It's really the Mark of the Moon!" another said. Comments and laments abounded.The women's stunned whispers alarmed the men as well. When the famous scholars heard that it was the Mark of the Moon, a few couldn't help standing up and craning their necks for a better look.The Mark of the Moon was so famous that everyone couldn't help but focus on it."Is this really the Mark of the Moon?" a scholar asked the scholar beside him."It must be. The Crown Princess wouldn't use a fake." The other scholar nodded while staring at the zither on the stage. However, the stage was so far aw

Ning Xueyan had committed the crime of trying to assassinate the Emperor. One careless mistake, and even Ao Chenyi might be implicated. Everyone knew that they must steer clear of her at this time.The situation was finally under control. No one dared to run after seeing the noble young lady lay dead on the floor without knowing why. They were afraid that the blood-thirsty troops from Prince Yi's Manor would kill them too. These people had killed the lady without asking questions. That was enough to prove how bold they were.Even though most people at the banquet were educated people, they knew they couldn't do anything about the armed guards in front of them.A more courageous scholar tidied his robe and stepped forward to talk to the first batch of guards. "Sir, the Crown Princess performed the Song of the Witch to curse the Emperor. We tried to run away because we didn't dare to stay behind. We wanted to report the matter."Afte

"Master, I have asked around. Even though most people aren't very clear about it, I still learned a clue or two. It seemed that the Empress was involved in Prince Xiang's attempted assassination of the Emperor. That was why the Emperor died so easily. Honored Consort Shu happened to be guarding the door that night, so she discovered this and exposed the matter.""Prince Xiang's men didn't manage to get out in time. When they were detained, the Empress was still inside the Emperor's room. Then, Prince Xiang's men accused the Empress of killing the Emperor and vice versa. Both sides turned on each other to no avail. Prince Xiang and the Empress are currently imprisoned to be punished after the Emperor's funeral," Lanning said.Ning Xueyan's shapely eyebrows wrinkled as she sank into contemplation. The Empress' intention to kill the Emperor was apparent from the moment she summoned Commandery Princess Xianyun to the palace. It was Ao Mingyu's assassination of