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

Midway through the banquet, several princes began to walk around and offer toasts.

Crown Prince Chu Xuanche, holding a wine cup and surrounded by a crowd of supporters, approached Chu Qingyue with a radiant face. His brocade robe, embroidered with four-clawed python patterns, swayed with his steps, as if the creatures were about to leap into motion.

"Ninth Princess, I'm sorry you had to go through this today."

He feigned concern, his voice booming loud enough for the surrounding tables to hear clearly. But beneath his eyes lay a cold, calculating glint, like a venomous snake sizing up its prey.

"That girl from the Pei family is ignorant and arrogant. Your brother will definitely 'take good care' of her for you." He spoke the word "take good care" with a heavy heart, his words carrying a cruel promise.

Chu Qingyue picked up her cup and stood up, a smile spreading across her lips, as beautiful as a peach blossom, yet as cold as a deep pool.

"You're so kind, Eldest Brother." She leaned slightly forward, her voice sharp and piercing, uttered in a tone only the two of them could hear.

"However—Brother, you should take care of yourself first. Those severed heads by your bedside last night... they're still watching you. Have you thought of a way to deal with them?"

Chu Xuanche's expression changed drastically, all color drained from his face, and he nearly dropped the wine cup from his hand.

His Adam's apple bobbed violently as he suppressed the shock and rage welling up inside him, forcing out a twisted, almost ferocious smile: "Royal sister...you're joking..."

"Whether it's a joke or not, Your Majesty knows perfectly well." Chu Qingyue took a half step back, her voice regaining its cool tone, yet clear enough for those around her to hear clearly.

"By the way, the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven is approaching, Your Majesty must take good care of yourself. If something were to happen to His Highness the Crown Prince, who is 'destined by Heaven,' in front of everyone... then the auspicious divination that the Imperial Advisor painstakingly prepared would be in vain."

As she spoke, her eyes seemed to casually glance at Chu Xuanjing, who was drinking alone not far away.

Chu Xuanche followed her gaze, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes. He gritted his teeth and practically forced out the words, "No need for my sister to trouble herself!"

He turned and left, his back stiff as a stone.

The officials surrounding him exchanged bewildered glances. When they looked at Chu Qingyue again, their eyes held not only awe but also a deep-seated fear—this ninth princess, who had returned from the Northern Sea of ​​Blood, knew far more and was far more dangerous than they had imagined.

The Third Prince, Chu Xuanjing, walked slowly towards them. He was alone, without any attendants. His moon-white brocade robe accentuated his slender figure, and his demeanor was as relaxed as if he were strolling in his own courtyard, a stark contrast to the arrogance of the First Prince earlier.

"Ninth Princess." He raised his cup, his smile gentle and warm, his eyes reflecting the lamplight, exuding a dignified and refined air. "Your brilliance today is truly captivating."

Chu Qingyue quietly observed him. This third prince, on the surface, was gentle and refined, and unambitious, and was recognized in the court as the "idle prince".

But only she knew that beneath that flawless, gentle mask lay the deepest, most unfathomable cunning and ruthlessness of all the princes. The blood stained on his hands hidden in his sleeves was perhaps no less than anyone else's.

"You flatter me, Third Brother," she replied casually, her fingertips tracing the cool rim of the cup.

"Compared to my elder brother's ability to strategize and kill without leaving a trace, Qingyue's method of publicly tearing off the mask is nothing more than childish childish pranks."

Chu Xuanjing's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, his smile deepening, becoming even more insincere:

"Why be modest, Your Highness? To uproot the Blood Blade Sect overnight, turn the tables on your brother, not only escape unscathed but also cause him to suffer heavy losses and lose face... Such courage and strategy, let alone in the court, how many people in the world can match them?"

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke with genuine concern.

"But... the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. My sister is now too sharp and has become a target of everyone's criticism. As her brother, I am truly worried."

"Oh?" Chu Qingyue raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. "Then, in your opinion, Your Majesty, how should Qingyue conduct herself?"

"Conceal your abilities and bide your time, temporarily avoid the limelight." Chu Xuanjing looked at her, his eyes so sincere they were almost overflowing with tears.

"You have just returned to the capital, and your position is not yet secure. Although the military power of Beiming is significant, it is also a hot potato. Why not... voluntarily relinquish some of your military power to show that you have no intention of vying for power, thereby gaining a respite and reassuring Father. Your elder brother is willing to mediate and contact several upright and experienced officials, who will surely ensure your safety."

Chu Qingyue laughed. At first, it was a soft laugh, but then she laughed so hard that she trembled with laughter, and even a few physiological tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, sparkling like broken diamonds under the lamplight.

But those eyes were cold and lifeless, devoid of any smile.

"Relinquish military power? Hide your strength and bide your time?" She repeated these two words as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, her laughter filled with crazed sarcasm.

"Third brother, those spies you planted on the border of the Northern Underworld, over the years... has anyone ever repaid you? What was the first thing I learned in that bitterly cold land?"

A slight crack finally appeared on Chu Xuanjing's gentle mask. His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, curled slightly.

Chu Qingyue moved closer to him, her breath like a viper's hiss, cold yet carrying a faint fragrance:

"You must grip the knife tightly, never letting go even in death. Because once you let go, the next second, the knife will be on your own neck. Brother, don't you understand this principle?"

She took a step back, her voice regaining its calmness, yet each word was like a knife, clearly echoing through the gradually quieting banquet:

"I appreciate your kindness, Your Majesty. But I will walk my own path. Whoever tries to take my sword—"

She raised her eyes, first glancing at Chu Xuanche, who was forcing himself to talk with an old minister in the distance, then slowly looking back at Chu Xuanjing, whose face was slightly stiff. She smiled sweetly, a smile as alluring as a datura blooming on a corpse:

"—I used this knife to cut off his claws first."

The gentle mask on Chu Xuanjing's face finally shattered, revealing a moment of cold gloom.

He stared at Chu Qingyue for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing, and slowly nodded. His voice remained steady, but it had lost its warmth: "Since my sister has made up her mind, I... will wait and see."

He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, then turned and left. His back view remained relaxed, but the knuckles of his fingers gripping the glass were white from the force, betraying the murderous intent surging within him.

Chu Qingyue watched his retreating figure, then finished the last drop of wine in her cup. The strong liquor burned her cold chest as it went down her throat. They're all plotting against me. My father, mother, eldest brother, third brother… they all want to use me as a convenient tool, a compliant pawn, a solid stepping stone.

Very well. Let's see whose blood will ultimately quench whose power.

---————

She looked up and saw Chu Xuanjing in the distance. She turned her head slightly and whispered something to her personal guard, Zhuifeng.

Chu Qingyue's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, a silent sneer in her heart: "Here it comes... Chu Xuanjing's method of using someone else to do his dirty work is finally about to be revealed."

Sure enough, about an incense stick later...

"Roar—!!!" A deafening, wild tiger's roar suddenly came from the depths of the garden outside the Water Pavilion! The sound waves rolled, startling countless birds into flight, and even the candlelight inside the hall flickered.