Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 60

The palace banquet was not over yet, and she could not leave the palace for the time being. So after talking to the Empress Dowager, Yun Zishu returned to the side hall again.

As she stepped through the doorway, the gazes of all the noble young ladies inside immediately turned towards her.

“No wonder you denied it so vehemently. It turns out you’ve found someone more noble to rely on.” Yun Zirou sat at the table, looking at her with a cold gaze. “Do you really think that by clinging onto the Empress Dowager, it will elevate your status?”

“Whether my status gets elevated or not isn’t important. I just suddenly wondered what would happen if the dignified Eighth Princess were to be slapped in the face right here.” Yun Zishu walked over and sat down, looking at Yun Zirou with cold eyes. “Shall we test it and see if the Empress Dowager will truly be my backer?”

“…What did you say?” It took Yun Zirou a moment to process her words, after which she erupted in furious laughter. “I don’t believe you’d dare!”

Yun Zishu said coldly, “Leng Shuang, Leng Yue.”

“Here!”

“I just wish to stay here quietly, enjoy a meal and drink some tea, then leave the palace after the banquet is over. I don’t want to be disturbed by those who are blind and ignorant.” Yun Zishu’s voice was calm. “Regardless of who it is—if anyone dares to mock and provoke me again, don’t pay attention to their status—slap them twenty times directly.”

“Yes!”

The faces of princesses and noble ladies in the side hall went pale when they heard this sentence. The temperature in the air dropped sharply, and the atmosphere became tense again.

Yun Zirou’s delicate face was flushed with anger, and she stared at Yun Zishu as if she wanted to tear her into pieces. However, no matter how angry she was, she clenched her teeth and her face turned ashen, but she didn’t dare to say anything more.

Damn Yun Zishu! She embarrassed her in front of so many people and made her unable to step down. She would never let this slide.

Yun Zirou swore in her heart that she would make Yun Zishu pay the price.

Sitting on the other side, Princess Baozhu bit her lip and glared at Yun Zishu. She muttered “bully relying on someone else’s power” under her breath and lowered her head to eat.

The others looked away as if nothing had happened, some sipping their tea, others turning to look out the window. Not a single person dared to test Yun Zishu’s decree.

Yun Zishu finally enjoyed a moment of peace.

In the end, they were all afraid of death, weren’t they? She sneered inwardly. The louder someone’s bluster, the more they were afraid of death—an eternal truth.

Outside, the actors were still singing on the stage.

Yun Zishu ate her meal unhurriedly, ignoring the subtle glances that were occasionally cast her way. When she was about seventy percent full, she put down her chopsticks and poured herself a cup of tea.

Several glances that had been secretly cast her way were hastily withdrawn, and the people pretended they hadn’t been peeking at her.

Yun Zishu also pretended not to notice.

Another hour passed, and the Empress Dowager excused herself on account of fatigue. The emperor and the concubines got up to see her off. Seeing that the Empress Dowager had departed, Consort Wu, whose mood had soured considerably, followed suit and asked to leave. The emperor took the opportunity to accompany her back to the palace.

Although the palace banquet was not completely over, with the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the concubines of the harem gone, only the ministers remained at the tables drinking and chatting. The noble ladies naturally had no reason to stay any longer.

Yun Zishu was about to get up and leave when a burst of footsteps suddenly came from the stairs. Princess Jinning and Madam Xiao came up surrounded by many maids.

The noble ladies immediately curtsied.

“Zishu.” Princess Jinning’s expression was stern, her gaze bypassing everyone else to fix coldly and angrily at Yun Zishu. “Today is the birthday of the Noble Consort. Why didn’t you prepare any gift?”

Her accusatory tone right from the start stunned the noble ladies present. Everyone secretly glanced at Yun Zishu and couldn’t help but think to themselves, was Princess Jinning speaking out for Noble Consort Wu, or was she deliberately taking the opportunity to find fault with Yun Zishu?

Yun Zishu said with a cold gaze and indifferent expression, “I know nothing about Consort Wu’s preferences, and I don’t know what she likes.”

Princess Jinning frowned. “Is that a reason?”

“If you prefer a more direct answer, I can give you one,” Yun Zishu said lightly. “I simply have no interest in giving her gifts.”

“How dare you!” Princess Jinning was enraged. “Do you still have the Emperor in your eyes? Do you still have any respect for your elders?”

Yun Zishu sneered.

She would have liked to show respect to these so-called elders, yet when they schemed against her one after another, not a single one of them had treated her as a daughter or a relative.

Seeing that she did not speak, Princess Jinning assumed that she was guilty and pressed on. “Weren’t you supposed to come with Yunheng? Where is he?”

“The person who sent the message to me to bring Xiao Yunheng into the palace was Consort Wu. I have already replied to the nanny beside Consort Wu that Xiao Yunheng was injured and could not enter the palace.” Yun Zishu’s expression was aloof. “It seems that you are not well-informed, Aunt.”

“It’s been so many days; surely he can walk by now?” Princess Jinning’s face was grim, a hint of suspicion in her narrowed eyes. “Or is it that you haven’t taken good care of him at all?”

“Is Aunt interrogating me?” Yun Zishu found it laughable, and indeed she smiled—a cold, deeply mocking smile. “How I care for Xiao Yunheng is none of your concern, is it?”

Princess Jinning’s face turned cold. “Is that how you speak to me?”

“How should I speak to you, Aunt?” Yun Zishu sneered. “Should I kneel three times and kowtow nine times?”

“How dare you!” Princess Jinning’s face was ashen, and she couldn’t help but point her finger at Yun Zishu. “You’re simply lawless!”

Yun Zishu lowered her gaze and leisurely brushed her sleeves.

“I want to go see Yunheng,” Madam Xiao suddenly spoke up, her voice as calm as if she were informing someone. “I wonder when it would be convenient for Your Highness?”

“You want to see Xiao Yunheng?” Yun Zishu looked up at her, a faint smile on her lips. “Madam Xiao, you should know the proper rules for requesting an audience.”

Mrs. Xiao suppressed her emotions and said, “I just want to see my son.”

“You can submit a request first, and I will reply when I have time.” Yun Zishu’s voice was indifferent. Then, as if remembering something, she added, “However, since I have encountered you today, Madam Xiao, there is a matter I intend to settle.”

Madam Xiao remained composed. “What is it?”

“The dowry I brought to the Xiao family before, I plan to take it all back today.”

What?

The young noble ladies looked at each other in astonishment.

They did not expect Yun Zishu to not only hold her ground against Princess Jinning but also to adopt such an unfriendly attitude towards Madam Xiao, her former mother-in-law.

Was her decision to divorce her husband a well-thought-out plan or a calculated move?

“What does Your Highness mean by this?” Madam Xiao’s face changed abruptly; her tone was icy and filled with suppressed anger. “The matter of divorcing my son has been dropped. The princess and Yunheng are still husband and wife. Since that is the case, what justification is there for retrieving your dowry?”

“I’m living in the princess’s mansion now, and I need money for food, clothing, and other expenses.” Yun Zishu’s voice was clear and cold. “Isn’t it natural to take back my dowry?”

Madam Xiao gritted her teeth and couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Princess Jinning.

“Madam Xiao doesn’t need to look at anyone. I will definitely do what I have decided.” As she spoke, Yun Zishu raised her foot and walked past Madam Xiao, casually adding, “How Xiao Yunheng is treated in the Princess’s Mansion depends on whether my dowry can be successfully retrieved. I hope Madam Xiao understands that clearly.”

“Yun Zishu!” Princess Jinning was so angry that her face turned green. “You are simply unreasonable!”