Upon hearing this, Chu Lian's mouth curled up into a mocking smile. She could put on a fake smile when facing Xū Róng, let alone Shī Yùyīn. However, in this life, she was certainly not as easy to bully as she had been in her previous one.

  The two fell silent again.

  Chu Lian could clearly feel Xi Yang's coldness towards her, which was a stark contrast to the Xi Yang she first met. Although he wasn't passionate back then, he wasn't this aloof either. Moreover, the previous Xi Yang always had a gentle smile on his face, but now that smile had turned into a tired expression.

  Just as Chu Lian Ruo was feeling a bit anxious about the atmosphere in the carriage, she heard Xū Yáng say: "We've arrived."

  Chu Lian glanced out of the carriage and indeed they had already arrived at the main palace gate. Since she was following Xun Yang, there was no need to enter through the side door anymore.

  Xu Yang got down from the carriage, ready to leave, but his figure paused for a moment. He turned around and helped Chu Lianruo down from the carriage. The palace maid who had originally intended to help Chu Lianruo stretched out her hand, but it froze in mid-air.

  Chu Lianruo got out of the carriage, smoothed her skirt and followed Xuyang under the guidance of the palace staff towards the depths of the imperial palace. Today's banquet was set in the Diligent Government Hall, so the palace staff took Chu Lianruo and Xuyang there directly.

  As soon as he entered the Diligent Governance Hall, Chu Lian saw that several people were already seated. He took a quick glance and recognized them as other princes. The previous emperor had few sons, only a handful of imperial princes, but only two of them were worthy: Xu Rong and Xu Yang. Because the previous emperor doted on Meng Taigui Fei, he originally wanted to make Xu Yang the crown prince, but then rumors came out that Xu Yang was involved in an illicit affair with another man, so the previous emperor had no choice but to change his mind and make Xu Rong, who was supported by the prime minister and others, the crown prince instead.

  Seeing Xunyang bring in a beautiful woman, a fat-headed and big-eared king laughed and said: "Wangye is so lucky to have married such a beautiful concubine. It's really enviable for us." His tone was sarcastic, and since it had been rumored that Wangye had a fondness for men, the other kings also burst out laughing when they heard his words.

  Xu Yang's footsteps paused for a moment, but unlike before, he didn't smile and respond with a few words. Instead, he glanced back at the king with a faint look and sat down under the guidance of the palace staff.

  Just as the atmosphere was slightly awkward, a sharp and delicate voice of a palace maid came: "The Emperor has arrived."

  Chu Lianruo turned her head and saw a figure in bright yellow clothes, Xū Róng, walking in surrounded by several women. At a glance, Chu Lianruo recognized the woman walking on Xū Róng's left as none other than Imperial Consort Shī Yùyīn.

  Today, Shi Yu Yin was obviously dressed up, wearing a red palace dress with golden threads embroidered with large peonies. As she moved, the peonies swayed with her skirt, looking elegant and majestic. Her black hair was tied into a bun, secured with a gold-inlaid jade pin. The tip of the pin hung down a string of pearls on her temple, making her oval face shine with a soft and charming glow.

  Almond-shaped Danfeng eyes, with a glance, the light of the pupils flows, revealing a romantic charm, plump red lips, making people want to kiss them.

  Chu Lian clenched her fists, her fingernails digging deep into her palms. Shi Yuyin was still as beautiful as she had been in the past, but perhaps she had long forgotten the image of herself crying and kneeling down at the General's Manor after the downfall of their family.

  What also caught Chu Lian's attention was a beautiful woman walking on Xi Rong's other side.

  The last time the emperor chose a woman, not only did he select several young masters from among the daughters of the group of officials, but one was directly appointed as the Butterfly Noble Consort. The Butterfly Noble Consort was the daughter of Prime Minister Yuan Hongliang, named Yuan Mengdie, born with a slender and elegant figure. As early as when she was in her mother's womb, she had already been promised to the emperor by the Empress Dowager, until Yuan Mengdie grew up and became an adult, then she entered the palace and immediately became the Butterfly Noble Consort.