After accepting Qin Yiyao's invitation, Mu Qingge had never felt that there was any necessary connection between hunting and flower appreciation.

  Until the agreed day arrived, she brought Shao Pangzi and Bai Taoyue to follow Qin Yiyao into the royal hunting ground, only then did she understand why these two things that had nothing to do with each other could be tangled together.

  It turned out that inside the royal hunting grounds, there was a courtyard of the imperial traveling palace.

  At this time, it is a good day when the flowers in the palace are blooming and competing with each other.

  Every year, the Qin state would hold such a hunting flower festival. The invited noblewomen and ladies stayed in the temporary palace to appreciate the flowers, while the imperial men and young masters of the aristocratic families competed on the hunting grounds.

  The Mu family had long since declined and was now on the verge of extinction.

  The only woman was Mu Lianrong, the eldest miss of Yongning Public House.

  But how could she, with her proud and heroic bearing, attend such a dull gathering where people would be gossiping about others' family affairs and inner courtyard scandals?

  But Mu Qingge, the heir to the title, was a spoiled and incompetent cultivator. The competition on the hunting grounds would undoubtedly be humiliating for her, so no one had ever invited her before, and she never attended such gatherings.

  This time, the hunting ceremony in Huaying Palace was originally hosted by the favored Concubine Jiang, but due to her involvement with Prince Rui's case, it was changed to Empress Zheng. On the other hand, the host of the hunting ground was none other than Crown Prince Qin Jiyu.

  Mù Qīng Gē didn't know that Jiāng Guì Fēi had torn to shreds countless handkerchiefs in the depths of the palace, but after entering the hunting grounds, she only saw a scene that was extremely lively.

  "We'll go see the empress first, and then you can decide whether to stay or leave." Qin Yiyao suddenly said before entering the palace.

  Mo Qingge raised an eyebrow, her eyes scanning the people behind her without leaving any trace, and landed on Qin Yiyao: "Today I'm just accompanying you to go through the motions?"

  Qin Yiyao's face flashed a hint of embarrassment, and Mu Qingge's straightforwardness made her somewhat unable to parry. "I'm not too fond of this kind of gathering either, even if you decline the invitation, I'll just make an excuse and look for an opportunity to leave."

  "If so, why bother insisting on me coming here?" Mu Qingge stopped in her tracks.

  Qin Yiyao smiled bitterly and looked at her with a hint of resentment: "Don't you understand yet?"

  What's going on?

  Mu Qingge was stunned.

  She suddenly realized that she really understood. Not to mention the purpose of Qin Yiyao's call, there might also be pressure from the Empress Dowager.

  Moreover, it is said that the Empress and Concubine Jiang have been openly at odds with each other in secret. As Qin Yiyao is Concubine Jiang's biological daughter, she would inevitably face some difficulties with the Empress.

  Such a gathering, she is a woman to be married, if she goes in and out alone, it's likely to cause gossip. Moreover, Qin Yiyao was born with a beautiful appearance, her temperament is cold and proud, like an iceberg, rejecting people from afar. Such a woman is a temptation for many men, extremely attractive. Admirers will not be few, if some bold ones confess to her, even if she rejects them, if it spreads to the empress, it's likely to become a behavior that damages her virtue.

  What if Qin Yiyao has talent again?

  As long as she is not the Queen's own daughter, she is also an object of oppression, and the East Palace sees her as a pawn to strike at Concubine Jiang and King Rui.

  And at this gathering, as a princess, Qin Yiyao couldn't not come.

  Because this is a traditional gathering hosted by the Queen Mother. Not coming would be impolite to the Queen Mother.

  So, after some thought, it's probably best to call her fiancé, Mu Qingge, the emperor's chosen husband-to-be, to calm things down and avoid trouble.

  Ling'er nodded in understanding and Mu Qingge didn't say anything more.

  A few people walked a few more steps forward, Qin Yiyao suddenly stopped and turned around to look at the two behind her. She said to Mu Qingge: "Shaogongzi doesn't need to go anymore. Anyway, there are many people in this hunting flower meeting, and the empress and the crown prince won't remember each one."

  When he heard that he didn't have to go and pay his respects to the empress, Shao Pingzi's pig face was instantly filled with joy. That kind of formal occasion really wasn't very suitable for him.

  So he automatically said: "Thank you, Princess. Eldest brother, I'll wait for you at the hunting ground and see if there's anything fun to do first."

  After finishing speaking, he vanished into thin air in front of everyone.

  After Shao Pangzi left, Qin Yiyao looked at Bai Tuyet again. The latter showed a timid and weak appearance under her gaze, which made her slightly frown and say in a cold tone: "Originally, you didn't have to attend the Empress Dowager's banquet either. After all, you weren't on the invitation list. But since you're a female relative, you need to stay in the temporary palace, so it's better to follow us to see the Empress Dowager to avoid trouble. However, remember that if your words and actions are improper and offend the Empress Dowager, I won't be able to save you."

  The words with a hint of warning made Bai Taixue's shoulders tremble slightly, and her head bowed even lower. That pitiful appearance was like that of a weak little white rabbit.

  Seeing her like this, Qin Yiyao said again: "Of course, if you want to leave now, I will send someone to take you back to the Mu residence."

  As soon as the words came out, Bai Suoyue immediately lifted her lowered face, and her eyes quickly filled with tears of grievance. She looked at Mu Qingge uneasily and said in a low voice: "Mu brother, did I cause trouble for you and the princess?"

  Mu Qingge sneered inwardly and looked at Qin Yiyao, saying: "Princess, you can leave."

  Qin Yiyao nodded slightly and walked side by side with Mu Qingge, leaving Bai Xueyue alone behind them, neither walking nor standing.

  She watched as the two of them walked away, and finally gritted her teeth and followed after them.

  Feeling someone following behind her, Qin Yiyao calmly said: "This white girl does have some skills."

  Mù Qīng gē xiào le: "Ruò shì méi yǒu diǎn yǐn rěn gōng fū, tā dào bù néng ràng gōng zhǔ guān zhù le."

  Translation:

  Mu Qing smiled and said, "If she didn't have some hidden strength, she wouldn't be worthy of the princess's attention either."

  Qin Yiyao gave her a glance with a hint of profound meaning, then withdrew her gaze.

  ……

  When Mu Qing saw the empress, she was surrounded by a group of ladies-in-waiting. A smile on her face, seemingly because in this round of struggle, she had won one game.

  The exquisite carvings and jade decorations in the imperial palace are so luxurious and grand that they dazzle the eyes of Bai Suoyue.

  However, with Qin Yiyao's warning beforehand, she didn't dare to look around recklessly and could only follow closely behind the two.

  Each of the women present was more noble and dignified than she.

  This made her both jealous and envious, and the longing in her heart grew more intense.

  "Yi Yao pays respects to her mother-in-law, and her mother-in-law says 'thousand years, thousand years, ten thousand years'."

  "Mu Qingsong pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress, may Her Majesty live for a thousand years, a thousand years, and ten thousand years."

  They came before the Queen and both bowed.

  However, Mu Qing Ge still did not kneel.

  The queen who was speaking raised her eyelids and glanced at them, saying lightly: "You are all excused from the formalities."

  At this time, a noblewoman standing beside the empress spoke up: "Mu Xiao, you saw the empress but didn't pay your respects with a kneel, isn't that somewhat improper? If it gets out, others will think that Yongning Duke's manor lacks discipline."

  As soon as the sarcastic tone came out, the noblewomen around covered their lips and smiled lightly, with a look of disdain in their eyes that seemed to despise Mu Qingge's lack of manners.

  Qin Yiyao stood silently, and at this moment, if she spoke up, things would only get worse.

  Mu Qing smiled calmly and looked at the noblewoman who had spoken: "This lady is kind, caring about the education of my Mu family. Could it be that you think your current husband's house is not good, and want to switch to my Mu family, to be a concubine for my grandfather?"

  Hmph!

  The sound of laughter came faintly, and even Qin Yiyao's icy face had a hint of a smile.

  "You!" The noblewoman who was counterattacked pointed her red and swollen fingernails at Mu Qingge.

  "Alright." The queen slowly spoke up: "If Murong Xiao doesn't even need to kneel in front of the empress dowager, why would he need to do so in front of me?" These words seemed to be explaining things for Murong Qingge. But in reality, they only further revealed her arrogance and overbearing nature.

  She wouldn't even kneel in front of the empress dowager, let alone take this queen seriously.

  What is arrogance if this isn't it?

  Digression

  Thanks to Tianxuanlan's five-minute votes, Baomuluocheng's drilling and flower flowers, muah!

  Dad said: "If you don't keep the money I gave you, I'll hit you!"