Chapter 10: 010奕王

This banquet had become very unpleasant due to the reasons involving Bai Yuchen and Yan Ruyu.

Seeing the exhaustion on the Grand Empress Dowager's face, Xiahou Shangle paused, and Bai Yuxuan also stopped drinking, giving Xiahou Shangle a meaningful look.

"Imperial Grandmother, Le'er sees that you aren't feeling well. How about... you go rest early?"

Because of what had just happened, the Grand Empress Dowager's good mood had been completely ruined. Looking at the table full of dishes, she had lost her appetite entirely. Hearing Xiahou Shangle's considerate words, she reached out and took her hand with a face full of concern.

"Le'er, Imperial Grandmother truly apologizes to you. I have let you suffer grievances!"

"Imperial Grandmother, please don't say that. Le'er understands everything. Besides, the Emperor was just drunk; Le'er doesn't feel aggrieved at all!"

Hearing the Grand Empress Dowager say this, Xiahou Shangle felt a warmth in her heart and immediately spoke to comfort her.

*Have I suffered grievances?*

*Hadn't I already prepared myself to suffer grievances from the day I was married into this family?* Xiahou Shangle gave a grateful smile.

"Moyuan, attend to the Grand Empress Dowager so she can rest!"

After giving the command, Xiahou Shangle supported the Grand Empress Dowager as they walked toward the sleeping quarters. Bai Yuxuan followed along, continuously speaking to try and cheer the Grand Empress Dowager up.

"Alright, I am fine now. You all should head back! Xuan'er, since you are back this time, stay for a few more days. Don't go a whole year without visiting your Imperial Grandmother a few times!"

"Very well, then Imperial Grandmother, please rest well! Your grandson takes his leave!"

Xiahou Shangle and Bai Yuxuan left Ci Ning Palace together. As they stepped out, Bai Yuxuan looked at Xiahou Shangle with a meaningful smile.

"You are truly special!"

Xiahou Shangle, who was preparing to return to Fengqi Palace, stopped in her tracks at Bai Yuxuan's words. She looked at him calmly, her eyes devoid of both surprise and doubt.

"Prince Yi overpraises me!"

"Oh? When did I ever praise you?"

Bai Yuxuan felt that this woman was unlike any of the women he had seen before. Not only was she elegant and ethereal, but she was also exceptionally intelligent. She possessed none of the typical aggressiveness of a princess; the temperament she radiated was as refined as a banished immortal.

"Has Prince Yi forgotten that you just praised me for being special?"

Xiahou Shangle spoke quietly, as if she were discussing something that had nothing to do with her. Bai Yuxuan was momentarily stunned, then curled his lips into a smile.

He possessed a face no inferior to Bai Yuchen's; in fact, one could say the two brothers looked very similar. However, he possessed a certain laziness and tranquility that Bai Yuchen lacked, appearing more like the son of an ordinary official, without any of the arrogant arrogance typically found in princes.

As Bai Yuxuan smiled, Xiahou Shangle simply stood there watching. After a long while, seeing that he showed no sign of stopping, she said nothing and turned to walk toward Fengqi Palace.

"Imperial Sister-in-law..."

"Is something the matter?"

"Regarding Imperial Brother and you..."

Xiahou Shangle turned around and looked at Bai Yuxuan quietly for a moment, revealing a helpless smile.

"He loathes me! Because I am the shame of his reign as Emperor!"

Bai Yuxuan withdrew his smile and frowned. Indeed, several years ago, a war had broken out between the Yue Dynasty and the Mu Dynasty. It was during that war that their Imperial Father passed away, and the Mu Dynasty lost its Crown Prince.

Because of this incident, the two nations had once been as hostile as fire and water. The tense situation only eased when the Imperial Brother entered a political marriage with Princess Yuefeng of the Mu Dynasty.

Perhaps it was because of this that the Imperial Brother felt Princess Yuefeng was a stain upon him. How could someone as proud as Bai Yuchen tolerate the idea that his empire's stability relied on a woman?

However, Bai Yuxuan greatly admired Xiahou Shangle. Marrying his brother was not her fault; she must have had no choice. After all, being in the Imperial Family meant many things were beyond one's control. If she had a choice, perhaps Xiahou Shangle would never have been willing to travel thousands of miles for a political marriage, only to endure such scrutiny and humiliation.

She had to endure all these humiliations because she was not just a princess. In the Yue Dynasty, she was the symbol of the Mu Dynasty. She had to become an Empress who governed the world with grace; only then would it fit her status as a princess and allow the millions of people of the Mu Dynasty to live in peace and prosperity!

"Perhaps... Imperial Brother is simply dissatisfied with the manner of this marriage. Given time, his view of you will surely change! He... is actually quite kind-hearted. It's just that being in the Imperial Family, I think you will eventually understand many things, Sister-in-law!"

Setting aside the struggle for the throne, Bai Yuxuan was undoubtedly the person in this world who understood Bai Yuchen best, because they were so similar—equally excellent, equally proud.

Fortunately, Bai Yuxuan did not feel as much helplessness. Perhaps that coveted throne was not as easy to hold as it seemed!

"They say that in the past, the Seventh Prince and the Emperor fought for the throne to the point of mutual incompatibility. I didn't expect you to speak up for the Emperor today. You, too, are just as special!"

Xiahou Shangle chuckled, the corners of her mouth curving into a beautiful arc. Under the candlelight, her deep red robes appeared even more vivid and brilliant. Yet, such an intense color complemented her delicate and elegant beauty perfectly; the more brilliant the red, the more it accentuated her ethereal countenance!

"There is a saying: the person who understands you best in this world is not your friend, but your enemy! I wonder, Sister-in-law, what are your thoughts on such a saying?"

Although he had lost the throne, he had lost it with full conviction. Especially after seeing how the Yue Dynasty grew stronger day by day under Bai Yuchen's rule, Bai Yuxuan had contentedly assisted him, having long since ceased to care about the throne!

As long as he could preserve the Bai family's empire and allow the people of the world to live in peace, it didn't matter to him who sat on the throne!

"Indeed, only your enemy can see all your strengths and weaknesses clearly, because in order to defeat you, they must fully understand you to find a way to overcome you. Does Prince Yi still..."

"Sister-in-law overthinks, and speaks too deeply. It would be best for you to return and rest early. This subject takes his leave!"

Bai Yuxuan gave a formal salute and walked out of the palace. Xiahou Shangle watched his retreating figure, thinking about what he had said. *Bai Yuchen is kind-hearted?*

She truly hadn't noticed. Forget it, what did it matter to her whether he was kind or not?

As long as she could live peacefully within the inner palace, she had no desire to pry into other matters.

However, thinking about her confrontation with him today, she feared that living peacefully in the future might be somewhat difficult. Xiahou Shangle sighed and walked briskly toward Fengqi Palace.

Once her figure disappeared, a flash of bright yellow fabric flickered from behind a rockery. *Hmph, actually chatting and laughing with another man... it seems life over the past half-month has been far too leisurely!*

Bai Yuxuan stepped out from the shadows. Watching that flash of bright yellow disappear, he couldn't help but feel a sense of worry. She... might be in some kind of danger!