The mad princess forces love upon him, and the aloof imperial advisor trembles every night.

Chu Qingyao staggered to the ground, her hair disheveled, and her jewels scattered everywhere. Suppressed gasps filled the room, and countless gazes pierced her like needles. She covered her burning cheek, looking up in disbelief—this vile woman dared to slap her in public at a palace banquet?!

Chu Qingyue approached step by step, her embroidered gold python skirt flowing like a tide of blood across the jade floor. She bent down, her icy fingers lifting Chu Qingyao's chin, her nails digging into the flesh, drawing crescent-shaped beads of blood.

"What are you afraid of, Fifth Princess?" Her voice was so gentle it sent chills down your spine. "I won't eat you—at most, I'll gouge out your eyes, cut off your tongue, turn you into a human pig, keep you in a jar, and feed you the Poria cocos cake you hate the most every day."

Chu Qingyao trembled all over in pain, but could not make a sound—fear choked her.

Chu Qingyue laughed, a laugh as alluring as a flower blooming on the other side of the Yellow Springs: "Imperial sister, you're not saying anything, is it because you don't like this way of playing? Then let's try something more fun. The people of Beiming have a punishment called 'Bone Blossoming'."

Her fingertips lightly traced Chu Qingyao's arm, her voice as soft as a lover's whisper: "Break the bones of a person's limbs inch by inch, without damaging the skin and flesh. Then pour in a special medicine, and the broken bones will regrow in the flesh—growing crookedly and jaggedly, finally piercing the skin and blooming into flowers of white bones."

Her fingertips stopped at Chu Qingyao's fingertips:

"Let's start with the fingers. The ten fingers are connected to the heart; the sound of the finger bones breaking is crisp, like jade striking each other. As the bone fragments pierce through the fingertips, it's like ten tiny bone flowers blooming. Then it's the arms, legs, ribs... until all the bones in the body have blossomed, and the person is still alive, still able to open their eyes and look at themselves—a body full of blooming white bones, gleaming like pearls in the moonlight. Isn't it beautiful?"

Chu Qingyao was trembling like a leaf, her makeup was smeared with cold sweat, and her lips were as white as paper. She wanted to scream and run away, but her body was like nailed to the spot, and she could only watch helplessly as the bloodshot color surged in Chu Qingyue's eyes.

Chu Qingyue suddenly seemed to remember something, and said in a light tone, "Oh right, didn't my royal sister bring a tiger into the palace? Coincidentally, tigers love to lick the flowers that bloom on bones. The physician said it's because the medicine has a sweet smell."

She released her grip, letting Chu Qingyao slump to the ground like a pile of boneless mud.

"Don't be afraid, Your Majesty." Chu Qingyue straightened up, took out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and slowly wiped the bloodstains from her fingertips. "I'm in a good mood today, so I won't treat you like this."

She turned around, her crimson dress tracing a sharp arc in the air.

"You can also... go and complain to Father and Mother. But before you do, you'd better think about it—if I'm unhappy, I might expose 'those things' you've hidden under the peonies and at the bottom of the lotus pond..."

She didn't continue. Because there was no need to say anything more.

Chu Qingyao's pupils suddenly contracted, and she even stopped breathing for a moment.

How could she know?! Those sins buried deep beneath the palace walls, those secrets rotting with the corpses—how could this vile woman know?!

Chu Qingyue turned around, her crimson robes trailing a blood-flame-like afterimage in the candlelight.

She walked to her seat with each step graceful and composed, as if the demon who had just tormented people with his words was merely an illusion.

Chu Qingyao collapsed to the ground, only managing to regain a sliver of strength when a maidservant cautiously came to help her up.

She frantically tried to reassure herself: "It's okay, it's okay... this bitch will die soon. The tiger has arrived, the trap is set, she won't live past tonight. Just bear with it for now, and things will calm down."

Chu Qingyao took a deep breath, staggered to her feet with the help of her maid, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace:

"Ninth Princess, don't be angry... It was my fault for speaking inappropriately. I apologize."

She admitted defeat very quickly. Because she was scared. Really scared. Yet, there are always those who fail to see the undercurrents beneath the surface.

"Chu Qingyue—you actually bullied Sister Yao'er in public?! How can you be so domineering?!" A shrill female voice suddenly rang out.

Pei Jiaojiao, dressed in a pale yellow gauze dress, was beautiful and was glaring angrily at Chu Qingyue.

Standing beside her was Pei Yu, the eldest son of the Prime Minister's family—his tall and handsome figure was accentuated by his dark brocade robe, and he was hailed as the most handsome young man in the capital. At this moment, his brows were slightly furrowed, but he did not speak immediately.

Chu Qingyue slowly turned around, her gaze falling on Pei Jiaojiao. Her gaze was so cold that Pei Jiaojiao instinctively took a half-step back.

"Since I'm going to hit her, she has no choice but to accept it obediently."

Chu Qingyue's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, penetrating every corner of the banquet hall: "Miss Pei, instead of worrying about others, you should worry about yourself."

She approached step by step.

"Upon seeing me, they neither bowed nor offered greetings. Instead, they acted arrogantly and addressed me by my given name."

She stopped three steps in front of Pei Jiaojiao, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"Is this the family tradition of the Prime Minister's residence? What? Is it that my title as the Princess Who Protects the Nation is beneath your Pei family's notice? Or is it that your Pei family—"

She paused, then said, word by word, "More noble than me?"

As the last four words fell, the temperature in the banquet hall plummeted.

Pei Yu's expression changed drastically. He strode forward, bowed deeply, and his posture was impeccably respectful: "Pei Yu greets the Princess Zhenguo. My younger sister was unruly and ignorant, and offended Your Highness's carriage. Please forgive her."

Pei Jiaojiao wanted to argue, but Pei Yu stopped her with a look.

The warning in his eyes was so cold that it sent a shiver down her spine. Finally, she reluctantly curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness. I was impetuous; I hope Your Highness will forgive me..."

Chu Qingyue didn't even glance at her, her gaze fixed on Pei Yu. This number one young master of the capital was indeed a clever man.

"I can't forgive her at all." Her voice was indifferent. "I received her apology. But it wasn't sincere, and I don't want to... forgive her."

She raised her eyes and looked directly at Pei Yu. "Young Master Pei, what do you say?"

Pei Yu looked up and met her gaze. In that instant, he saw the unfathomable, blood-red pool in her eyes, and at the bottom of that pool, a kind of almost broken madness. This woman was as beautiful as a poisoned poppy, and as dangerous as the wind on the edge of a cliff.

"My younger sister was rude first, and her apology was not sincere enough. It is only right that the princess does not forgive her." Pei Yu lowered his eyes and spoke calmly, "When I return, I will punish her by making her copy the 'Admonitions for Women' a hundred times and confining her to her quarters for three days, as a warning to others."

"Big brother!" Pei Jiaojiao stomped her foot.

"I'll say it again: go home immediately." Pei Yu's voice turned cold. "From now on, you don't need to attend any palace banquets."

Pei Jiaojiao bit her lip tightly, daring not to make a sound.

Chu Qingyue finally revealed a genuine smile—a faint smile, yet one that seemed more real than any of her previous cold laughs.

She turned and waved her sleeve, saying, "Step back."

Just then— "The Emperor has arrived!!!" "The Empress has arrived!!!" "The Imperial Advisor has arrived!!!"