After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

Liu Yuansheng had never been praised like this before. The words she had heard most often were "femme fatale" and "vixen". She was stunned by the imperial concubine's praise and did not know how to respond.

"Your Highness, you can praise her if you want, but what's the meaning of putting me down?"

Seeing that Liu Yuansheng was at a loss, Xiao Jinghan walked towards Xiao Ruowei and said.

Xiao Ruowei smiled at Xiao Jinghan, "Are you saying this because you're guilty?" She asked Liu Yuansheng, "Tell me boldly, has he ever bullied you? Don't worry, I can stand up for you."

Liu Yuansheng glanced at Xiao Jinghan, then at Xiao Ruowei, and gently shook her head.

"No?" Xiao Ruowei scoffed. "I don't believe you."

"Your Highness, rest assured, they are getting along very well. They have never had any conflicts since they got married," Xie Qinghe interjected.

Xiao Jingzhuo also stepped forward to testify for the two, "That's right! Your Highness, Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law are so good! When Third Brother was punished to kneel by Grandmother, Third Sister-in-law brought him food every day, all kinds of food and drink, and even a cold handkerchief to wipe his sweat. I was so envious of her."

"Yes, yes, even Grandmother said that Yuansheng was the only one who dared to bring food to Third Brother while he was kneeling in the ancestral hall. That shows how much Third Brother meant to her!" Xie Qinghe said.

Liu Yuansheng was stunned when she heard this. She didn't understand why her secret actions had become known to everyone. Besides, wasn't it Xiao Jinghan who asked her to bring him food?

Liu Yuansheng was confused, but Xiao Ruowei laughed happily after hearing it. She glared at Xiao Jinghan with feigned anger and said, "You went to kneel in the ancestral hall again. You are so filial."

After saying that, she reached out her hand to the palace maid beside her, stood up and said, "Alright, I won't keep you talking here anymore. The Hundred Flowers Banquet has begun, go and join in the fun."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The group bowed to Xiao Ruowei, left the main hall, and went to the palace garden.

Within the palace gardens, spacious pavilions and towers were set up with banquets, and long tables made of carved sandalwood stretched along the winding stream. Peonies, peonies, magnolias, and crabapples were planted all around, with various famous flowers layered up and blooming in a staggered pattern, like clouds and rosy clouds.

Colorful palace lanterns hung under the eaves, and gilded bronze vases filled the tables. Each table was adorned with the most precious seasonal flowers. When the wind blew, the fragrance of the flowers mixed with the scent of agarwood from the imperial incense burner filled the entire hall. At a glance, the scene was one of splendor and beauty.

The elegant ladies and matriarchs of prominent families who came to attend the Hundred Flowers Banquet took their seats in turn. When they saw Liu Yuansheng and the others come out, they all stopped laughing and talking and looked at them.

Liu Yuansheng was very uncomfortable in this kind of situation.

This discomfort intensifies, especially when she sees people pointing at her or whispering.

In those people's eyes, there was envy, jealousy, and disdain. There were cold glances harboring hidden hostility, and feigned indifference; in short, no one liked her.

Because she was the Prime Minister's long-lost daughter, because of the rumors surrounding her, and even more so because she schemed against Xiao Jinghan, the most dazzling and prominent young master of the capital, at the Princess's residence, and successfully married him using this despicable means.

How can anyone not be angry?

Surrounded by malice, Liu Yuansheng instinctively wanted to leave, but Xie Qinghe suddenly grabbed her hand and pointed to Sun Zhiyao, the granddaughter of Minister Sun, saying, "Yuansheng, look, that's Sun Zhiyao. Doesn't she look good with Fourth Brother?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng gave Sun Zhiyao a closer look. Before she could even offer her opinion, Xiao Jingzhuo, who had overheard their entire conversation, blushed. "Oh dear, sisters-in-law, what are you two doing?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Do you want to scare the girl?" Xie Qinghe offered Xiao Jingzhuo some advice. "See? There's an empty seat next to Miss Sun. Go over there and ask her if you can sit next to her. Be generous, don't be shy."

Xiao Jingzhuo blushed deeply, "My dear sister-in-law..."

Liu Yuansheng couldn't help but chuckle, but before the smile could fully spread across her lips, she saw Su Tinglan walking over with Liu Nianxi.

Liu Nianxi wore a light pink floral soft silk ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a pale yellow sheer short jacket over it. Her black hair was loosely styled into a double-looped bun, with a small silver-gilt peach blossom hairpin on each side of her temples. She looked very charming.

Upon seeing Liu Yuansheng, he completely changed his previous arrogant and domineering demeanor, politely bowing to her and calling her "sister."

Then, she gracefully bowed to Xiao Jinghan and sweetly called him "brother-in-law."

Xiao Jingzhuo shuddered and ran away in a flash. Xie Qinghe rolled her eyes silently and tightened her grip on Liu Yuansheng's hand.

Liu Yuansheng stared blankly at Liu Nianxi. Receiving no response from Xiao Jinghan, Liu Nianxi stood up, looked up at him with a shy expression, and said, "Brother-in-law and sister, aren't you here for the Hundred Flowers Banquet? Why haven't you taken your seats?"

"His Majesty is hosting a banquet for Muketaiji at the Deer Garden. I'll go take a look." Xiao Jinghan ignored Liu Nianxi, turned to Liu Yuansheng and Xie Qinghe, and said, "It's hot. If you feel stuffy here, go back early. Don't get heatstroke."

"I understand." Xie Qinghe tossed the handkerchief in her hand at Xiao Jinghan and said, "Go ahead, I'll stay with Yuansheng, don't worry."

Xiao Jinghan smiled slightly at Liu Yuansheng, then turned and left.

As soon as he left, all the gazes that had been silently following him fell back on Liu Yuansheng. One woman even got up and left her seat, stamping her foot before leaving and glaring fiercely at Liu Yuansheng.

"Sister, look how much everyone hates you! Some people can't even stay here anymore because of you."

Liu Nianxi quietly leaned closer to Liu Yuansheng and whispered in her ear, "You're unworthy of your position; you'll get your comeuppance sooner or later!"

"What were you whispering about with Yuansheng?"

Seeing Liu Nianxi approaching Liu Yuansheng with ill intentions, Xie Qinghe frowned and said, "Yuansheng, let's go, don't pay any attention to her!"

After saying that, she pulled Liu Yuansheng toward Sun Zhiyao, but Liu Yuansheng gently broke free from Xie Qinghe's hand and gestured that she wanted to go back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Xie Qinghe stared wide-eyed, not understanding Liu Yuansheng's meaning, but Liu Nianxi understood. "Liu Yuansheng, are you mute? Hahahaha, I told you you'd get your comeuppance!"

She rushed to Liu Yuansheng's side and said, "Don't leave yet. Your old flame asked me to tell you that he wants to meet you. Aren't you going to see him?"

"Your old flame says she wants to rekindle your old flame!"