Chapter 168: Chapter 168

Although it was winter, the Big Flower Hall of Pingyang Princess Mansion was warm like spring, surrounded by huge charcoal stoves, dispelling the cold of winter.

Yu Linglong was dressed in a dark lilac flower and cloud brocade dress, with a bun on her head, and a purple and gold hairpin. She looked flirtatious and precious, graceful but stylish. At this moment, she was sitting with Lord Xu. In the case in front of them, there were all the delicacies of the mountains and seas for two people to eat. They didn’t eat too much. Most of the time, the two of them were laughing and talking in low voices, looking very intimate.

In such a place, it was impossible for the two of them to be unobtrusive. Although Prince Qi and Princess Qi sitting on their right side were also in the same position, they were sitting straight up, which was in sharp contrast with Lord Xu and his wife.

Princess Qi had always been tricky and mean. At the moment, she was watching the little couple next to her that was so tender and sweet. The more she looked, the angrier she became, and she couldn’t help but sneer: “You can’t be like this!”

The voice she used was not loud, but it was enough to be heard by the people around the tables. Princess Ding and Princess Lu and the others cast their inquisitive gazes, but no one spoke.

Princess Xu’s hot temper was notorious, but no one was foolish like Princess Qi, who was always uncomfortable.

Yu Linglong raised her head and glanced around, just in time for Princess Qi’s deliberate glare.

Yu Linglong looked away faintly. This Princess Qi was really a straight-headed person. She said whatever she thought and never concealed it. She didn’t know how her temper survived in the intriguing royal family.

Taking a sip of the wine from the jade glass, Yu Linglong raised her head and looked at Princess Qi with a smile: “The air is dry and you are irritable. Princess Qi should take care of her health, or she will get overheated, and it will affect her mood.”

Seeing her taking the opportunity, Princess Qi snorted heavily: “What overheating, I’m fine!”

Yu Linglong gently shook her head. Her speech was full of a comparative tone, and she said she was not angry?

Putting down her wine glass, the smile on Yu Linglong’s face did not change, and she continued: “Yes, now the family of the Qi Palace is prosperous. Princess, how come you get overheated when you are so blessed?”

Princess Qi’s face immediately sunk: “What do you mean by this? What kind of blessing? You are mocking me—”

She stopped speaking, but her eyes with thick black lines seemed to be spitting fire. She was staring at Yu Linglong as if she wanted to burn Yu Linglong to death.

Who didn’t know that she had been married to Prince Qi for many years, but only had one daughter? This was always her sore point. But Yu Linglong actually said that the Qi family was blessed. Wasn’t that ironic that they didn’t have any sons?

Yu Linglong looked at her with a slightly surprised expression, and said, “Where did I mock Princess Qi? I heard people say that the Qi mansion was bringing in more people and bought a lot of maids, all of whom were rare figures from a hundred miles. Princess Qi, do you think it’s a prosperous family?”

Princess Qi couldn’t give birth to a son. Prince Qi used this as an excuse to buy maids. The Prince Qi mansion was even more lively than the harem. This was a well-known thing, but because of Princess Qi’s face, it was fine to mock her behind her back, but Yu Linglong was the first one to say it in person.

As if she didn’t see Princess Qi’s stern face, Yu Linglong leisurely picked up a honeyed peanut and smiled: “I also heard that there is a saying in the shops: ‘If you enter the Qi Palace, you will enjoy the blessings of a thousand people.’ I am young, I don’t understand the meaning of this sentence. Princess Qi, does this mean that the population of the Qi palace is large?”

When Lord Xu heard Yu Linglong’s violent words, Princess Qi blushed but was so silenced that she couldn’t say a word, and she couldn’t help but smile.

This little woman really refused to suffer any loss.

Princess Qi wouldn’t speak to Yu Linglong, but when she saw Lord Xu silently beside her, she just smiled faintly, and couldn’t help being even angrier. She immediately said to Lord Xu: “Brother Nine, how do you like her? At the time, you were begging Father to marry her. I really don’t know what you like about her? Her virtue is tolerable, but her words are shop. What does she account for? How could such a woman be worthy of you!”

Besides Yu Linglong, the other eight princesses were from famous families, and they were considered to be the top daughters in the capital, while the most favored Lord Xu had married a concubine from a small family as his first wife. This was seen by Princess Qi and others as incredible.

The quarrel between the talented Yu Linglong and Princess Qi had already attracted everyone’s attention. Seeing Princess Qi pointing her finger at Lord Xu this time, everyone kept looking at Lord Xu’s expression, secretly guessing how he would respond.

With a smile on the corner of Lord Xu’s mouth, he naturally took Yu Linglong’s hand and said lightly: “On virtue, she loves and hates clearly. Compared to those who hide behind a smile but hate everyone, she is much more real; she speaks every word, which sounds much better than those who are full of empty words; she manages the family well, manages the affairs of the house in an orderly manner, and the business is booming. I really can’t think of any shortcomings in her.”

After a pause, he continued, “I won’t say more about this argument. Everyone has his own heart, and I won’t be interested in your face, Princess Qi.”

Just after saying this, someone on the side table couldn’t help laughing out loud. Princess Qi was furious and stood up from her seat. She pointed at Lord Xu and Yu Linglong, her voice trembling with anger. : “You, you two—”

Prince Qi, who had been by her side, finally gritted his teeth and opened his mouth: “Sit down for me! Isn’t it embarrassing enough?”

Princess Qi stomped bitterly, and said, “You won’t help me either!”

She saw that Lord Xu loved his wife a lot, but how could her husband help outsiders so much!?

Prince Qi said angrily: “How can you help? If you don’t provoke others, how can they provoke you? Sit down!”

Princess Qi was ashamed and angry, with tears in her eyes, and said, “I, I...”

Seeing the various gazes from all around, Princess Qi could not sit down no matter what. Before she could even speak, she turned around abruptly and fled.

And here at the banquet, Lord Xu and Yu Linglong continued sipping wine and chatting, as if nothing had happened just now.

Soon, the fact that Princess Qi was so angry that she left the table was forgotten.

After three rounds of drinking, Princess Pingyang, who was sitting at the head, had slightly rosy cheeks. She seemed to be a little bit drunk. She was obviously very happy. She even left the table and held a bottle to toast everyone.

Princess Pingyang had a distinguished status. Although all the princes and princesses were present here, she did not dare to neglect anyone. She said thanks to everyone. For a while, there was a lot of laughter, turning the banquet to another kind.

Lord Xu was the youngest, and after Princess Pingyang turned around, it was Lord Xu and Yu Linglong’s turn at last.

After pouring a round of wine, Princess Pingyang was obviously already drunk. Her face was getting redder, and her drunken eyes dimly stared at Lord Xu: “Ninth Brother, oh Ninth Brother, I treat you kindly, but you refuse me several times. How will you apologize to me this time?”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

Yu Linglong’s pretty face sank. Even though she knew that Princess Pingyang was drunk, she still couldn’t help her anger. What did it mean to treat him kindly? That your elder sister also had “good intentions” to see if you were happy or not!?

Perhaps Princess Pingyang was really drunk, and she didn’t even notice Yu Linglong’s unpleasant expression. She stepped forward and smiled at her: “Ninth Sister, you are a heroine, a hero of the woman. I’m your elder sister, I want to have a good drink with you—”

While talking, she had already grabbed the wine glass in front of Yu Linglong and poured her wine in a staggering manner.

Yu Linglong was about to speak, but her gaze suddenly fell on the flask held by Princess Pingyang. When she saw it, she suddenly remembered something.

Why was this hip flask so familiar? It seemed that she had seen it somewhere.

Yu Linglong was very sure that she hadn’t seen this jug in ancient times, so she should have seen it before, but where had she seen this beautifully crafted jug with ancient patterns?

Here, seeing that Princess Pingyang was really drunk and not as good as she looked, Lord Xu frowned slightly and stretched out his hand to block her.

“Linglong is not good at drinking. I will drink for her.”

Princess Pingyang pushed Lord Xu away, groaning with her drunkenness: “What’s the hurry? I will drink with you soon, I will drink with Ninth Sister first!”

After that, she looked at Yu Linglong provocatively: “Why, is my status as a magnificent princess not worthy of drinking with you?”

Seeing that Princess Pingyang was clearly embarrassing Yu Linglong for an excuse, Lord Xu certainly refused to agree. He stretched out his hand and snatched the glass from Princess Pingyang: “I’ll drink it for her, and it’s the same.”

Seeing that Lord Xu’s wine glass was raised to his lips, Yu Linglong, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly reached out and stopped him: “Wait.”

Lord Xu was taken aback. Even Princess Pingyang was a little dazed, and then immediately said, “You are willing to drink, that is the best. Can I just say, how can someone with a personality like yours have your husband drink for you?”

Yu Linglong smiled slightly. Did she want to make a radical move? Or was she really a fool?

Ignoring Princess Pingyang’s words, Yu Linglong raised her finger to the hip flask in her hand, and said in a quiet but very clear voice: “Princess, where did your hip flask come from?”

Hearing her serious tone, Lord Xu immediately understood that something was wrong. He put down the wine glass and turned his eyes to Princess Pingyang.

A touch of surprise flashed in Princess Pingyang’s eyes, but she suddenly regained her dim drunkenness: “Where did it come from? A hip flask is a hip flask. Could it be that a bastard daughter from a fourth-rank general’s mansion has never seen a hip flask??”

She was ridiculing Yu Linglong’s humble background. Lord Xu’s face sank and he said coldly: “Princess, please respect yourself!”

Yu Linglong didn’t see any anger on her face. Her beautiful eyes were cold, and she asked again without letting up, “Where did this hip flask come from!?”

Hearing Yu Linglong’s aggravated tone, Princess Pingyang’s expression changed, and she said angrily: “What do you mean? I’m toasting you with a kind heart. Are you afraid that I will poison you?”

As she spoke, she raised her head angrily, took a big sip of the wine in the flask in an exaggerated manner, and said angrily: “Now do you believe it!?”

Yu Linglong looked at this scene coldly. Princess Pingyang was already red because she drank too eagerly, and her breathing was a lot quicker, but she took the initiative to prove her innocence in front of Yu Linglong’s eyes, and it was different from wanting to cover up.

She just asked where the hip flask came from. Princess Pingyang was so nervous. Even if she was really drunk, her vigilance was really suspicious.

If it was said that she was somewhat sure before, now she was certain.

With a slight smile, Yu Linglong said: “Princess, don’t you really know the secret of this hip flask?”

After saying this, everyone was shocked.

Everyone had just drunk the wine poured from this jug, and Yu Linglong’s words obviously had a sensational effect.

Even Princess Ding, who had always been calm, couldn’t sit still, and she couldn’t wait to ask: “Ninth Sister, what is the meaning of this hip flask?”

The princesses and princes on the side asked one after another: “Yes, Ninth Sister, just say it!”

As if Yu Linglong was mute, she just stared at Princess Pingyang. She didn’t believe that Princess Pingyang would poison them in front of so many people, but the facts lay before her eyes. Princess Pingyang’s hip flask hid great secrets.

If she hadn’t seen it before, she would probably only have one way to go.

What was more terrifying was that Princess Pingyang obviously didn’t come for her alone...

The drunken remarks made by Princess Pingyang just now sounded like she was angry with Yu Linglong because of the two previous singers and Liu Mei. This was why she wanted to embarrass Yu Linglong in public. But if she really wanted to embarrass Yu Linglong, why did she want it to be in front of Lord Xu? Those words seemed to be directed at Yu Linglong, but they seemed to be accurate. The wine that Princess Pingyang poured on Yu Linglong was taken away by Lord Xu.

This incident seems common, but after careful consideration, it really made people suspicious.

After so many battles, Yu Linglong already possessed a keen sense of smell. With this calculation, Princess Pingyang probably couldn’t do it alone, so only...

Yu Linglong thought and said nothing, but Princess Pingyang couldn’t bear it anymore. She shouted: “Yu Linglong, what do you mean? Just now all the children of the emperor have drunk it, isn’t it nothing? Are you going to push even more? If you dare not drink, then say you dare not drink. What do you mean?”

This was heard by everyone, and everyone relaxed. After drinking for a long time, if something really happened, it would have happened. How would they be safe until now?

Yu Linglong did not speak. She reached out and took the flask from her. Princess Pingyang’s face changed drastically, and she said angrily: “What are you doing!?”

While talking, Princess Pingyang immediately wanted to take back the flask, but she was Yu Linglong’s opponent, not to mention there was Lord Xu next to her.

Lord Xu stretched out his hand to stop Princess Pingyang at all costs, and said in a low voice: “Princess, Linglong must have her reason to do this.”

Princess Pingyang stomped her feet with anger and cursed in spite of her image: “What’s the point? I think you are really stunned by this woman. Do you not even care about me?”

Before Princess Pingyang could finish her scolding, Yu Linglong had already pulled out her dagger and cut the flask in half with a single swipe!

Princess Pingyang jumped into thunder with anger, and screamed: “Yu Linglong! You quickly return the flask to me, or I will—”

Ignoring her yelling, Yu Linglong picked up half of the flask and held it high in the air, motioning everyone to look.

After seeing the jug clearly, everyone opened their mouths in surprise.

Lord Ding lowered his face first and roared angrily: “Yu Qiuyun, what’s going on!?”