The polite exchanges between the emperor and his officials came to a halt because of her words. Only the music and the tinkling of bells echoed through the hall. Everyone knew that the Third Princess’s prince consort was a fool, so such remarks were nothing more than mockery.
Nangong Rong had gained the advantage and was still playing the innocent, her words growing more outrageous by the moment.
“But this county princess’s county consort passed the imperial examinations as a jinshi. He’s as learned as they come and excels in both civil and martial pursuits. No wonder Third Cousin Sister is so envious.”
Yinghong couldn’t bear to listen any longer. She was just about to step forward when Nangong Yunshang stopped her with a glance, forcing her to swallow her anger.
“Cousin Sister is right. The county consort is indeed remarkable.”
Nangong Rong immediately puffed out her chest and lifted her chin. “Of course he is. I chose my county consort myself—how could he not be? But some people shouldn’t covet others’ husbands just because their own is a failure.”
“Rongrong.” Prince Ning gave her a mild rebuke. “Mind your manners before the emperor.”
Just then, the Second Princess spoke up with a sweet smile. “Rongrong is just too honest and straightforward, like a child speaking without a filter. Uncle, please don’t blame her.”
Tao Chuyi had barely understood any of their back-and-forth, but her eyes darted about wildly.
She turned back to Nangong Yunshang, whose expression had soured. Those nasty people must have been badmouthing Fairy Sister.
“That’s right—my county consort is one in a million. It’s only natural that someone might covet him. Still, she should stick to the virtues of a proper wife and not act like some faithless flirt, making a fool of herself in public.”
Nangong Rong shook her head smugly. Her words rang out clear as day for everyone present, but no one dared to respond.
Nangong Yunshang paid her no mind. She had long been aware of the woman’s flaws and simply concluded that she was beyond hope.
Egged on by Nangong Rong, the county consort stepped forward to perform a sword dance to the music right before the emperor, drawing widespread praise.
“Well done, County Consort!” Nangong Rong raised her chin even higher. “I wonder what talents the Third Princess Consort has to share? Why not give us a demonstration?”
All eyes turned to Tao Chuyi. Nangong Yunshang gripped her silver chopsticks so tightly that they creaked.
She had put up with this fool for far too long.
Just as Nangong Yunshang was about to speak, Tao Chuyi beat her to it. “I have a talent.”
“Eh?”
Nangong Yunshang’s outstretched hand fell empty. That little troublemaker had already bounded up to the front of the hall.
Tao Chuyi scratched the back of her head. “I can toss noodles.”
Everyone stifled their laughter out of deference to the Third Princess, holding it back from bursting out loud.
Even the emperor chuckled at her. “Very well, then. Toss us some noodles.”
Tao Chuyi accepted the imperial decree with exaggerated solemnity and kowtowed in thanks. Then she picked up two steaming bowls of mushroom chicken noodle soup. She spun in a few circles around the hall before coming to a stop in front of Nangong Rong. Before anyone could react, she let out a mischievous “heh heh,” and with both hands working in tandem, dumped the two bowls of soup and noodles squarely onto the heads of Nangong Rong and her county consort.
“Ah! You—!”
Nangong Rong shrieked, jumping to her feet along with the county consort as the hot soup scalded them into frantic spins.
The incident had happened so suddenly that no one had time to respond. Prince Ning was the first to react, slamming his palm on the table and rising to his feet.
“You dare!”
“Uncle.”
Nangong Yunshang rose calmly and walked over to pull Tao Chuyi back. “Chuyi has the heart of a child—honest and impulsive, speaking and acting without restraint or decorum. I hope Uncle can overlook it.”
“You!”
Prince Ning’s face flushed red, then drained pale. With the emperor above him and the assembled officials below, he raised his hand but ultimately let it drop.
Nangong Rong and her county consort were a complete mess, their scalps burning with pain from the hot soup. Nangong Rong had even burst into scalded tears, her makeup running in comical streaks.
Tao Chuyi stuck out her tongue and pulled a silly face at her. “Eat more. Talk less.”
In a fury, Nangong Rong slapped the table and jabbed a finger at her. But the throbbing pain in her head forced her to yelp and withdraw it almost immediately. Servants hurried to support her as she stormed out of the hall.
With the county princess and her consort gone, Prince Ning tamped down his rage and returned to his seat, downing two full cups of wine in quick succession.
“Enough. This is the Mid-Autumn family banquet—what kind of decorum is this?” The emperor spoke gravely. No one laid blame, and the matter was swept under the rug.
The music resumed, and the officials continued drinking and enjoying the dances as if nothing had happened.
Tao Chuyi returned to her seat, still puffing out her cheeks in indignation.
“Eat your food.”
Nangong Yunshang pressed the silver chopsticks into her hand.
Tao Siqing had not attended the banquet due to Dali Temple business. Any real trouble would have been difficult to handle.
“Don’t do anything like that again.”
Tao Chuyi hung her head and mumbled an acknowledgment.
Nangong Yunshang let out a sigh. “I’ll let this one slide—and thank you for it, too. Dumping soup and noodles on someone’s head? Only you could come up with something like that.”
At those words, Tao Chuyi snapped her gaze up, her eyes reigniting with sparkle. Fairy Sister was thanking her!
“In the future, I’ll protect you.”
Nangong Yunshang dismissed it as childish prattle and smiled. “All right, then. I’ll leave it to our prince consort.”
Tao Chuyi nodded with all the gravity of a solemn oath and gnawed on a chicken leg to settle her nerves.
After the banquet, Tao Siqing—busy with his investigation—personally visited the Princess Mansion to report on the case and check on his foolish child.
He brought the latest developments: Before vanishing, most of the missing people fell into one of two categories. Some had met a man, fallen in love, and disappeared while eloping. Others had sought work, introduced to positions as maids in embroidery shops or wealthy households. They had traveled great distances for a livelihood, only to go missing without a trace.
“For now, this minister has ordered his subordinates to track down eyewitnesses and sketch a portrait of the suspect. With a portrait in hand, the search will be much easier.”
Nangong Yunshang nodded. “Thank you for your efforts, Temple Minister. This case must be solved—it falls under my jurisdiction, and I won’t allow it to go unresolved.”
Tao Siqing bowed his head at once. “Yes, this minister understands.”
At the same time, he couldn’t help sighing inwardly. After these past days of interaction, it was clear the Third Princess was nothing like the timid pushover people claimed. He and his son had likely been drawn into an unavoidable conflict.
Oblivious to it all, Tao Chuyi sat cross-legged on a grand armchair, shaking her rattle drum. When she noticed Tao Siqing looking her way, she shook it vigorously for him to see.
Tao Siqing beamed with fatherly pride. “Chuyi is such a good girl.”
Tao Chuyi shook her head happily and dove right back into her rattle drum.
“My foolish son has caused Your Highness the Princess no end of trouble.”
Tao Siqing hurried to say a few kind words, hoping to smooth things over for his child.
Nangong Yunshang curved her lips in a smile. “Nonsense, Temple Minister. He’s my prince consort now—it’s only natural for me to look after him. Our prince consort… he’s quite something.”
True, she always stirred up trouble, but her nature was pure—far better than those who fancied themselves clever.
After a few casual instructions, Tao Siqing took his leave from the Princess Mansion.
The moment he was gone, Tao Chuyi tossed aside the rattle drum and sidled over stealthily. She leaned on the armrest and sniffed with exaggerated gusto.
“Your Highness the Princess, you smell so good. So nice.”
Nangong Yunshang turned her head away to put some distance between them and pulled the incense sachet from her waist to hand over.
“It’s probably the spices in here.”
Tao Chuyi sniffed the sachet, immediately wrinkled her nose, and flung it aside.
When Nangong Yunshang dodged, she just leaned in closer, determined to smell the scent of her body.
