Proofread by Men Shunde

Nangong Chengde chuckles at her words, and then he puts down the soup bowl, loosens his grip of Li Wanrou's hand, stands up, straightens his clothes, and gently dusts his collar with his right hand.

"In that case, the carriage may not be needed. Let's play the scene together in front of the dignitaries, who are carousing now at the Palace Banquet. A wonderful scene played without a good actress like you would be boring."

"Let's go now. I have not been in public for a long time," says Nangong Chengde.

Li Wanrou looks at Nangong Chengde as if in a trance. As he stands up, there seems to be a fire in his eyes. It is the fire of anger, and also the fire with the coldest chillness.

Huh. What good allies they are! A washed-up crown prince and a lady whose mother is a concubine.

After drinking the ginger decoction, Li Wanrou feels much more comfortable. She smooths her hair and says with a charming smile, "Then I should go first."

Led by a maid servant, Li Wanrou walks gently and gets out of the crown prince's palace.

Coming out, Li Wanrou unexpectedly meets with the frozen chillness of the night breeze, which makes her abruptly think of the bed in the crown prince's palace. She bites the tip of her tongue to calm herself down.

How disgraceful it is to think of the comfortable life even before starting to take revenge! She exclaims to herself.

The coming days would be colder and crueler, of course, for her enemies.

Before long, Li Wanrou arrives at the imperial garden, where she sees Li Shifu looking around and Madam Zhao with a gloomy face far away.

Seeing Li Wanrou return to her seat, Madam Zhao frowns, asking, "Where have you been? The Royal Palace is not our own backyard. There are more rules and it is strictly guarded. You must be well-behaved and do not make me worry about you."

But in her heart, Madam Zhao says to herself that, if she violates the rules or offends the Emperor, she must be dead, which is not important, for her life is as inferior as her mother's, as long as she would not disgrace the family of Prime Minister Li.

Li Wanrou knows clearly what Madam Zhao is thinking of. She sneers in her heart while saying with a trace of apology on her face, "I just went out to sober up because I drank some wine. I didn't expect you would have worried about me. And I will not do it again. Please forgive me, mother.''

Madam Zhao glances sidelong at her and nods, "Well, you had better know that."

"Decent ladies would not have wandered around at the Palace Banquet. They have all learned the rules,"says Shunjing loudly, who is eating a red fruit of tribute while shaking her head.

Shunjing has never been a loser in the arguments before, but early today Li Wanrou won her over. Therefore, as expected, she will naturally try to find an opportunity to win back and give vent to the resentment in her heart.

Her voice is so loud that it instantly attracts the attention of some noble ladies around her, who turn their eyes to look at Li Wanrou, whispering.

Li Wanrou smiles gently and deliberately takes no notice of her.

Li Wanrou knows that Shunjing's deliberate harassment is directed by Li Shifu and it is a waste of energy for her to argue with Shunjing, the daughter of the family of the Minister of War, for she is not only sarcastic but ignorant.

Li Wanrou notices that Li Shifu, who keeps glancing at her not far away, is talking happily with Nangong Rongji. Li Shifu's laughter becomes louder when she notices that there are few people with Li Wanrou.

"The crown prince arrives!''

A little eunuch's shrill voice stretches a little longer.

Hearing the voice, everyone present is a little surprised, lost in their own thoughts. It is not the latest news for them that the crown prince is confined to bed because of his illness. In the past few years, he has done nothing and seldom come into the public attention, which gives rise to the opportunities for the other princes.

But why does he suddenly come to the Palace Banquet in the imperial garden today?

Under the gaze of all the people present, a handsome man steps in slowly, who is dressed in a black brocade robe, on which a golden python lies with an imposing manner. But when they see his pretty and awesome face, they seem to understand something.

The delicate face is pale and bloodless, with sweat on his forehead. He seems so weak as if he has difficulty in walking.

The crown prince wouldn't live long, which is the impression that everyone has at the moment.

This guy is really a good actor! Nobody else could know the truth other than Li Wanrou, who once took his pulse.

Though he is poisoned by the Powder of Five Minerals, he should not have been so weak as he looks now.

Although he is a little surprised to see the crown prince come here, the Emperor, as the head of the State, soon calms down, asking, "How are you feeling today, my son? How come that you are in such high spirits as to come to the imperial garden?

"Thank you for your concern, my father. I am feeling fine. It is difficult for me to fall asleep tonight, so I come out to take a walk and happen to encounter a young lady with gentle gesture and noble elegance. In order to get to know the lady, I follow her to come here." Nangong Chengde looks around at the young ladies present as he speaks. Finally, his eyes rest on Li Wanrou.

"Oh? I would also like to see whose daughter of my ministers would have such attraction for my loving son." The Emperor laughs and follows the eyes of Nangong Chengde, which triggers the curiosity of others. They all turn their eyes to the lady.

It is Li Wanrou, a lady whose mother is a concubine of Prime Minister Li.

"You are the daughter of Prime Minister Li, aren't you?" asks the Emperor, with his finger pointing to her.

Prime Minister Li and Madam Zhao are about to answer on behalf of their daughter when Li Wanrou stands out and curtsies gently.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I am the daughter of Prime Minister Li."

"Good! She is elegant indeed! Prime Minister, it is lucky for you to have such a good daughter as she is!" says the Emperor.

Li Wanrou's natural attitude and decent behavior before the Emperor has won her the compliments from the dignitaries present including the Emperor himself.

The young ladies who whispered about Li Wanrou just now all turn their heads and throw a contemptuous glance at Shunjing, whose delicate face becomes red with shame.

Li Shifu keeps a stiff smile on her face, with her hand tearing her gorgeous robe, which is almost torn into pieces and her eyes burst with the sparks of jealousy.

A bitch she is! How dare she seduce the crown prince!

Hum, does she want to be superior by relying on the crown prince?

The focus of attention at this Palace Banquet should be on me! On Me!