After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

Before the palace banquet began, each family presented their New Year's gifts one by one. On the surface, there was no distinction between the superior and inferior gifts, but in reality, it was a matter of who could better please the two powerful figures.

The General's Mansion prepared a jade Buddha statue, precisely because the Empress Dowager worshipped Buddha, thus catering to her preferences.

The jade Buddha, pure white with a slight emerald hue at the edges, was acquired by the Jiang family at great expense, and it was also the source of the Jiang family's confidence.

The old lady, dressed in the robes of a second-rank noblewoman, gradually stiffened her smile as she stood to the side.

She didn't want to see Jiang Shi in the limelight, but it was also an undeniable fact that Jiang Shi and the General's Mansion were inextricably linked by fortune and misfortune.

While drinking, Shen Lingyi glanced around the table and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

Following her gaze, Wei Chengrui slammed down his wine cup, looked up and met her eyes, and immediately sneered, his eyes filled with a cruel, eager look.

Shen Lingyi's heart skipped a beat; she had a bad feeling.

The next moment, her premonition came true. The unruly and strikingly handsome young general rose and asked for instructions:

"On such a grand occasion as the New Year, it would be too boring to just eat and drink all the time. Your Majesty, I have a way to amuse the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty."

The Wei family was almost entirely wiped out back then, and everyone knows the reasons and the injustices involved.

Since Wei Chengrui returned to court, the Empress Dowager had been thinking of ways to show her favor and make amends. Upon hearing this, she immediately smiled and said, "What good ideas does the young master have? Tell me quickly."

"This banquet is the same every year, and I'm really tired of it."

Wei Chengrui smiled, asked his deputy for a bow, and then picked up a piece of fruit from the table.

His actions left many people baffled, wondering what kind of trouble Prince Huaizhen was up to.

Only Shen Lingyi vaguely guessed what he wanted to do.

"This humble subject has no particular skills, except for archery, which is not bad and can at least bring a smile to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's face."

Shen Lingyi tapped her fingertip on the cup and smirked.

Wei Chengrui's words were far too modest. If his unparalleled archery skills in the capital could be considered bad, then there would be no divine archers in the world.

While everyone's attention was focused on Wei Chengrui and Shen Lingyi wasn't looking this way, Shen Tingjiao quietly pulled the hairpin off, revealing that the bead at the top was hollow and filled with fine powder.

She poured all the powder into a wine pot next to her, and soon the palace maids passed the wine pot to Shen Lingyi.

Shen Tingjiao casually put the hairpin back in, her movements discreet and swift, attracting no attention from anyone.

She felt secretly smug. Last time, Shen Lingyi had escaped, forcing her to personally eliminate Linlang, who had been by her side for many years.

Thinking of this, Shen Tingjiao's smile vanished, and she became ruthless again.

This time, Shen Lingyi will surely be utterly disgraced.

She refused to believe that after Shen Lingyi publicly flaunted her lust and made a fool of herself, the upright and virtuous Xu Yanqing would still look favorably upon her disgraced younger sister.

Wei Chengrui then continued, "...I am willing to give a performance, but I need someone to cooperate."

Pei Heng spoke up, his gaze lazily sweeping over Shen Lingyi, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

He asked with a knowing look, "I wonder who the Crown Prince of Wei has taken a fancy to?"

Wei Chengrui stared at her for two seconds, then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, looked at Shen Lingyi and said in a bright but provocative voice, "I wonder if Miss Shen has the guts to come up and try?"

He paused, then added, "You beat me in archery at the academy last time, so you probably don't care about such trivial tricks."

The Empress Dowager frowned, and Rong Xin leaned down and whispered a few words in her ear.

She nodded repeatedly: "Oh right, I forgot about their past..."

"Alas, what a tragic fate. I fear that the Crown Prince Wei's sudden proposal to perform is also for Shen Lingyi's sake."

Rong Xin said, "Now it all depends on whether Miss Shen can break this deadlock."

The Empress Dowager's response was premature; her words were not to be changed. At this moment, she looked at Pei Heng, who remained silent, and began to have doubts again.

The emperor used to be very protective of this girl, so why isn't he protecting her now?

No one knows what Pei Heng is thinking; the mind of an emperor has always been unfathomable.

Shen Lingyi had no time to guess what their emperor was thinking. She stood up straight from her seat, raised an eyebrow, and agreed, "Very well, how could I refuse such a sincere invitation from Prince Wei?"

"I only hope that what the young master said just now was just modesty, and that he won't hurt my beautiful face later."

Wei Chengrui stared at her. "Don't worry, if I hurt you, I'll take responsibility for the rest of your life."

Xu Yanqing frowned instantly, a hint of displeasure appearing on his face.

That Wei family son is truly barbaric; he can say anything.

Wei Chengrui's few words stirred up a commotion among the guests at the banquet, each with their own thoughts.

However, no matter how much war there is, it won't reach Shen Lingyi for the time being. What she is about to face is a cold arrow that is clearly visible.

The young general drew his bowstring taut. In the past three years, his features had changed drastically, and his temperament had become much more ruthless. He would kill anyone who betrayed him.

The cold arrow was aimed at the fruit on Shen Lingyi's head, and then slowly moved down, aiming at that fair and tender neck.

During the banquet, Xu Yanqing almost stood up.

Not far from him, Shen Tingjiao clung tightly to his arm, her eyes too terrified to open. "Your Highness, I'm so scared..."

Normally, Xu Yanqing would definitely coax her gently, because his darling is timid and weak, and even a little fright could cause serious harm.

At this moment, he didn't want to be distracted at all; all his anxiety was focused on that one person, and he also had some attention devoted to the emperor at the very top.

He clenched his fists tightly, completely baffled as to what Pei Heng was doing.

Doesn't he care about Shen Lingyi?

Seeing that his attention was completely elsewhere, Shen Tingjiao bit her cheek, and in doing so, blood seeped out.

Her worst fears came true; Xu Yanqing's heart had gradually drifted away from Shen Lingyi.

She must die here today!

Even if she doesn't die, she will have to be disgraced by Xu Yanqing's own eyes, otherwise her position as Crown Princess will vanish.

Shen Lingyi looked at the cold glint in her eyes. Even at this point, she still had the mind to joke.

"I heard that Sister Xu returned home a few days ago. Congratulations on finding your family. I am very sorry for what happened back then. Now that I am returning Sister Xu to you, can you forgive me even a little bit?"

"You don't deserve to be forgiven." Wei Chengrui exhaled coldly, his mind filled with her icy words from that day.

He thought she would have regrets, that this woman was different from before, but it turned out she was still a complete liar!

She even had an affair with His Majesty!

Wei Chengrui was like a fool, completely fooled by Shen Lingyi.

His tongue bled from being bitten, but several breaths passed and there was no sign of him releasing the arrow; instead, his tiger's mouth was stretched so tight by the bowstring that it bled.

Wei Chengrui suddenly felt his hand go limp, his eyes widened in shock, and the arrow, already released from the bowstring, shot out with murderous intent!