Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Her voice was very low, yet it sounded exceptionally sharp in the empty bedchamber.

"Now they've actually given him such a high-ranking official position and so much power!"

A palace maid knelt tremblingly on the ground and whispered her advice:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."

"Calm down about what? How can you calm down?"

Consort Zhao gave a cold laugh, then suddenly stopped.

She slowly raised her eyes and looked at herself in the bronze mirror, a sinister light appearing in her eyes.

"Didn't he marry that infamous Yun Shuyao?"

The palace maid, not understanding what was going on, simply lowered her head and dared not respond.

Consort Zhao's lips slowly curved into a cold smile.

She can't touch Xiao Fang, but she can always take her anger out on his Crown Princess, right?

"Pass down the order."

Consort Zhao tidied her hair, and her voice regained its usual elegance.

"I'm sending out invitations to all the noble ladies of the noble families. I'm going to host a flower-viewing banquet."

She looked at her own eyes in the bronze mirror, chewing over each word slowly and deliberately.

"Xiao, let go!"

Flower Viewing Banquet

Consort Zhao's flower-viewing banquet was held at the Hibiscus Pavilion in the Imperial Garden.

While ostensibly admiring the flowers, the ladies of noble families throughout the capital were well aware of the true purpose of the occasion.

In recent years, Consort Zhao has been the most favored concubine in the palace, and Prince Yi has been enjoying great influence in the court.

This so-called flower-viewing banquet was nothing more than a rehearsal by Consort Zhao to demonstrate her authority to everyone.

So once the post was published, no one dared not to come.

On this clear and bright day, the famous flowers around the Hibiscus Pavilion were in full bloom, and the air was filled with the fragrance of clothes and the elegance of hairpins.

Consort Zhao sat regally in the main seat, her bright red palace dress embroidered with golden phoenixes dazzlingly beautiful.

Surrounded by a group of noblewomen, she seemed to be the true mistress of the harem.

She was already seated in the most honored position before the Empress even arrived.

Everyone was used to it and no one dared to say a word.

"Your Highness looks absolutely stunning in your attire today."

The wife of a vice minister flattered him obsequiously.

"This bright red color is probably only something the Empress could pull off in the entire capital."

Consort Zhao held her teacup, took a small sip, her lips curved slightly, but she did not reply.

But the smugness in that smile was impossible to hide.

Before long, the Empress and the Crown Princess arrived.

Today, the Empress is wearing a dark blue palace gown embroidered with dark gold phoenix patterns, looking dignified and composed.

However, compared to Consort Zhao's dazzling bright red attire, it appeared somewhat too plain.

The Crown Princess didn't need to come; the Crown Prince was frail, and she always stayed by his side.

However, Consort Zhao's invitation was sent to the Eastern Palace, specifically inviting her to the banquet.

To avoid giving others cause for criticism, the Empress agreed on behalf of the Crown Princess.

Today, the Crown Princess wore only a moon-white dress and sat quietly below the Empress, like an orchid blooming in a corner, neither vying for attention nor competing for anything.

Yun Shuyao was also present.

She sat to the left of the Crown Princess, dressed in a bright red gown, maintaining a respectful distance from the surrounding elegantly dressed noblewomen.

Ever since Xiao Fang obtained that imperial decree from the Imperial Study, she has attracted attention wherever she goes, with all sorts of gazes coming her way.

There was exploration, apprehension, and a fleeting hint of jealousy.

Halfway through the banquet, several female scholars and scribes employed by Consort Zhao began to take turns reciting poems to add to the merriment.

A female historian with a pointed face and thin eyebrows was the first to rise and give a graceful bow to Consort Zhao.

He then bowed to the Empress from afar, and then recited a poem about crabapple blossoms in a loud voice.

The poem compares the crabapple to Consort Zhao and the peony to the Empress.

The last two lines mean that although the crabapple is not the orthodox peony, it blooms more profusely, more beautifully, and more pleasingly than the peony.

As soon as the poem was finished, the entire room fell silent for a moment.

The Empress sat upright at the head of the table, her expression indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Meanwhile, the ladies below, who were adept at reading the political winds, began to applaud and praise.

"What a beautiful poem! What a beautiful poem!"

"Isn't the Imperial Concubine just like a begonia, surpassing all others in beauty?"

"Yes, yes, this poem couldn't be more fitting..."

The several old princesses sitting in the corner exchanged glances and silently lowered their heads.

The Empress was so publicly overshadowed that no one dared to refute her, indicating that the political climate in the harem had long since shifted.

Consort Zhao listened to the flattery and smiled even more brightly.

Her gaze swept around the room, and finally landed squarely on Yun Shuyao.

Yun Shuyao was drinking tea with her head down, and didn't say a single word in response from beginning to end.

"The Crown Princess of Zhenbei".

Consort Zhao suddenly spoke, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, yet it silenced the entire room.

"I've heard that the Crown Princess comes from a Duke's family; she must have been well-versed in literature and possess exceptional talent from a young age, right?"

Yun Shuyao put down her teacup and nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I am merely rudimentary in literature."

"Oh?"

Consort Zhao laughed, a laugh filled with blatant mockery.

"That's strange! I've heard quite a bit about your reputation."

However, it wasn't a reputation for talent, but rather some other kind of fame.

Those reputations are surely familiar to everyone here, aren't they?

A few low chuckles came from the room.

Everyone knows that Yun Shuyao was treated like trash and publicly abandoned during the marriage arranged by the Marquis of Yong'an.

Then, Xiao Fang married her in such a domineering way.

In the eyes of these aristocratic ladies, her reputation had long been shattered in that scandal.

Consort Zhao continued:

"I've only ever heard that you like to revolve around men, but I've never heard that you've participated in any poetry gatherings or left behind any works."

"It's a rare occasion to have so many beautiful women here today. Why don't you compose a poem and let everyone see your talent?"

The words have been spoken to this extent; it's already a blatant insult.

All eyes turned to Yun Shuyao.

There was sympathy, schadenfreude, and some who secretly shook their heads.

When Chun Tao saw her young mistress being targeted so maliciously by Consort Zhao, her eyes instantly reddened.

The Crown Princess frowned slightly and glanced at her with concern.

The Empress paused, holding her teacup, but said nothing. She simply raised her eyes and looked quietly at Yun Shuyao.

Yun Shuyao stood up with composure, patted Qin Shi's hand, and then bowed slightly to the head of the table.

Her gaze swept calmly across the courtyard, past the few crabapple trees in full bloom, before settling back on the peony bushes whose sunlight was partially blocked by the crabapple blossoms, and she spoke.

"This humble woman is of limited talent and learning, and dares not make a fool of herself before Your Majesty."

However, since Her Majesty has given the order, this humble woman will daring to undertake it.

She hesitated for a moment, then slowly began to recite:

"The crabapple blossoms reveal their enchanting beauty."

No flower can compare to the peony, truly a national beauty.

From time immemorial, a riot of colors

They only bow to the east wind, the true lineage.

The poem was completed, and the entire room fell silent.

The meaning of this statement couldn't be clearer.

No matter how enchanting the crabapple blossoms may be, they cannot rival the peony's unparalleled beauty.

All the myriad colors of the world ultimately turn towards the east wind to pay homage to the legitimate heir.

Even a three-year-old child can tell who is the crabapple, who is the peony, and who is the legitimate heir.

The smile on Consort Zhao's face gradually disappeared.

Her fingers, holding the teacup, slowly tightened, her knuckles turning white.

Since she gained favor, no one has ever dared to slap her in the face in public like this.

"presumptuous!"

Consort Zhao slammed the teacup down on the table, making a crisp sound.

"What are you implying?"

I was trying to be kind and give you a chance, and you dare to offend the Imperial Concubine in public.

"Guards, slap me!"

Several palace maids stepped forward in response.