Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Taking Action Five days later, when Ling Jiayue rose in the morning, Lingxue brought her the usual rose-scented water, wrung out a cloth, and handed it to her. Ling Jiayue took the cloth and asked, “How did it go? Did Lingxin agree?” Lingxue replied, “To answer you, Miss, Lingxin agreed.” “Oh? She actually agreed?” “Yes. The last time she was caught, Ling Zixue not only failed to save her but even wanted her put to death. That had already broken her heart. This time, thinking of her parents, she was willing to cooperate.” “Very well. Have her dress as a maid and enter the palace with us. Don’t make her too conspicuous,” Ling Jiayue instructed. After receiving Ling Jiayue’s orders, Lingxue went down to make the arrangements. Lingzhu brought out the gorgeous clothes Madam Liu had specially prepared for Ling Jiayue. The moment Ling Jiayue saw them, her brows furrowed. “These clothes are far too gaudy. I’m not used to wearing things like this. Bring me something plainer instead.” At that moment, Madam Liu happened to push open the door and enter. “How are they gaudy? What’s wrong with a young girl wearing something bright? Besides, it wouldn’t suit someone my age anymore. You’re just the right age for them now. Yue’er, put them on and try them first.” Unable to win against Madam Liu’s insistence, Ling Jiayue put on the clothes Madam Liu had specially prepared for her. Ling Jiayue had fair skin, and the vivid red made her bearing even more striking. Once she put on the ruby headpiece, she appeared dignified and splendid. After all, in her previous life, Ling Jiayue had been an Empress, and the majesty and poise she had cultivated still remained. Dressed in such luxurious garments, she left Madam Liu and the others unable to look away. “Yue’er, you look wonderful in this outfit. I knew it would suit you. My daughter is truly beautiful,” Madam Liu said. However, Ling Jiayue looked at herself in the mirror and frowned. “Mother, this outfit is too bright. I’m not used to it. I should change into something else.” Madam Liu stubbornly refused, but Ling Jiayue still felt that the clothes were too flamboyant. Madam Liu then instructed Lingzhu to bring a plain silk gauze shawl and drape it over the outfit. With that, it no longer looked quite so gaudy. Only then did Ling Jiayue reluctantly agree to wear it out. Ling Jiayue followed Madam Liu to the main gate, preparing to ride to the palace in a carriage. At that moment, Lingxue returned to Ling Jiayue’s side with a maid. Lingxue nodded toward her, and Ling Jiayue immediately knew that the maid she had brought was Lingxin. Madam Wan, who had been waiting at the gate, finally saw Ling Jiayue and her mother arrive. Since the principal wife and legitimate daughter had not come out, the others could not board the carriages first. When Madam Wan and the others saw Ling Jiayue, they were stunned as well. Madam Wan sighed, “Miss usually dresses so simply that I never realized how beautiful she would look dressed up. Truly, whether lightly or heavily made up, she is lovely either way.” Ling Jiayue smiled faintly. “You flatter me, Concubine. Let’s enter the palace first. It wouldn’t be good if we arrived late.” Only then did everyone board the carriages. Before Ling Zixue climbed in, she shot Ling Jiayue a resentful look. But soon, a smile appeared at the corners of her lips, as though Ling Jiayue would be dead the very next moment. Ling Zixue assumed that Ling Jiayue was unaware of her secret schemes and believed that her identity had not been exposed. However, Ling Jiayue had already learned from Lingxin that Ling Zixue was also a traitor within the Ling Residence. This time, she intended to eliminate her as well. Ling Jiayue and Ling Zixue boarded the carriage with their own thoughts in mind. At the steward’s cry of “Set off,” the procession proceeded toward the imperial palace in grand fashion. Since the Empress Dowager had specially arranged the plum-blossom banquet today, all the princes and princesses were required to attend. Thus, the Seventh Prince Mu Yuheng and the Third Prince Mu Yuyang had both entered the palace, and Mu Yuyang had even brought Ling Ziqi with him. It was clear how much Mu Yuyang favored Ling Ziqi. Ling Jiayue’s group arrived at the banquet first. Ling Jiayue followed Madam Liu to the women’s seats, while Ling Jiaxuan brought Ling Pingzhang to the men’s seats. It was only then that Mu Yuheng arrived at the banquet. The moment he entered, Mu Yuheng saw Ling Jiayue dressed in a vivid color unlike her usual simple attire, and his heart skipped a beat. Ling Jiayue normally looked elegant and refined in plain clothing, but he had never expected such brilliant colors to complement her noble and magnificent bearing even more. Seeing his master staring blankly at Ling Jiayue, Feng Yan could not help sighing. He whispered, “Your Highness, are you regretting not wearing something more colorful today? You and Miss Ling don’t match at all.” Mu Yuheng immediately lowered his head and examined his own clothes. His dark outfit was close-fitting, with a dragon roundel embroidered in gold thread across it, making him look even more tall and handsome. “What do you know? I wear black, and Miss Ling wears red. That is the most suitable combination.” “Yes, yes, whatever you say goes,” Feng Yan replied. At that moment, Mu Yuyang entered with Ling Ziqi. Ling Ziqi remained fairly calm when she saw Ling Jiayue, but when Mu Yuyang saw her, he looked as though he wanted to tear her apart and devour her alive. Mu Yuheng noticed this and signaled to Feng Yan with his eyes. Feng Yan quietly flicked out a small stone, which struck Mu Yuyang directly in the knee. Mu Yuyang was caught off balance and nearly fell. Mu Yuheng, however, said, “Oh, Third Brother, what happened? Have you forgotten how to walk? Do you need your younger brother to help you?” Furious, Mu Yuyang flung his sleeve and walked away. Ling Jiayue happened to witness the scene and covered her mouth, laughing. Ling Ziqi accompanied Mu Yuyang to his seat. When Ling Zixue saw Ling Ziqi arrive, she secretly signaled to her with her eyes. Ling Ziqi understood immediately and excused herself from the table. Ling Zixue rose and followed her. Ling Jiayue took in the sisters’ interaction from beginning to end and smiled faintly. The opportunity had come. Ling Jiayue gave Lingxue a look, and Lingxue understood at once. Before long, Ling Ziqi and Ling Zixue returned one after the other. The sisters’ faces were full of smiles, while Ling Jiayue sneered inwardly. Not long afterward, the Empress Dowager arrived, and everyone rose to pay their respects. “Enough. I only summoned you here to have some fun. There’s no need to be so restrained. Relax, all of you. Pay no mind to this old woman,” the Empress Dowager said. “Thank you, Empress Dowager,” everyone said as they kowtowed. The Empress Dowager happened to notice Ling Jiayue and asked, “Are you the girl who broke off her engagement with Mu Yuyang that day?” “To answer the Empress Dowager, that is indeed me,” Ling Jiayue replied. “You’re quite lovely. It truly is a pity that the engagement was broken off so hastily.” “I know that I was not worthy of the Third Prince, but I also understand that the fact he was once willing to become betrothed to me was an enormous blessing. Now that our engagement has been broken off, I have failed to be a suitable match for him. I would therefore like to offer the Third Prince a cup of wine as an apology.” “That is acceptable. You know your place. Go.” Having received the Empress Dowager’s permission, Ling Jiayue gave Lingxue a look. Lingxue then had Lingxin pour wine for the Third Prince. Afraid that Ling Ziqi would recognize her, Lingxin deliberately kept her head lowered as she approached the Third Prince. She poured him a cup of wine and presented it to him with both hands. Ling Jiayue also raised her wine cup from afar. Seeing that the Empress Dowager had spoken and that Ling Jiayue had taken the initiative to raise her cup, the Third Prince could not refuse without losing face, so he raised his own cup as well. Ling Jiayue and the Third Prince both lifted their cups and drained them in one gulp. The Third Prince had only just set down his wine cup when he collapsed without warning. “Ling Jiayue, what are you plotting?!” the Empress Dowager shouted angrily at Ling Jiayue after Mu Yuyang fainted. Ling Jiayue pretended to look frightened, but the corners of her lips curved upward.