Emperor Hong was the first to break the silence. "Good, very good. You didn't disappoint me," he asserted, his laughter filling the air.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ruyi said, beaming with pride.
"Tell me, what do you want?" Emperor Hong asked.
"I want nothing, Your Majesty. I only performed to make you happy."
"Alright, good child," Emperor Hong responded in delight.
"You didn't disappoint me either; you keep surprising me everyday," Consort Yao also commented.
"I'm happy I could meet your expectations, Your Grace," Ruyi responded.
Sun Jun looked at her, his eyes glued on her figure. "Why is Mu Hou ( Queen Mother) and Fu Wang (King Father) so interested in her? Who is she?"
He thought to himself, gulping his wine in a go, his eyes never leaving her.
Sun Jingxuan's eyes landed on Sun Jun, and he followed his gaze. He shook his head and sighed heavily before murmuring, "Ruyi, Ruyi, you sure have a way of inviting trouble."
"First brother, did you say something?" Sun Zhao asked, clearly unbothered by the whole situation.
"No," Sun Jingxuan replied hastily. "Eat!" he added.
Sun Zhao shrugged and dug into his food.
"Ruyi, is it because you're not accustomed to the crowd that you're wearing a veil?" Consort Yao inquired.
"No, it was part of my costume for the dance," Ruyi answered. She took off her veil, and her face, bright as a star, was revealed. She immediately became the center of attention for all the guests.
"Whao, she's so beautiful."
"I didn't expect the daughter of the Xu family to be so captivating."
Sun Jun stopped what he was doing, completely mesmerized. "Beautiful," he breathed, lost in her beauty as Ruyi smiled and chatted with Consort Yao and Emperor Hong.
"How can someone be this beautiful?" Sun Zhao whispered to Sun Jingxuan
"She's not that good-looking," Sun Jingxuan grumbled, taking a swing of his wine.
"Your Highness, I think you're wrong," Liu Yi remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. "Everyone knows how stunning Miss Ruyi is."
"Oh? First brother, you know her?" Sun Jun asked.
"I don't know her," Sun Jingxuan snapped, clearly annoyed.
Liu Yi gave a small, knowing smile, clearly enjoying Sun Jingxuan's discomfort.
Later that evening, Ruyi strolled along the pond area. She moved closer to the pond, admiring the beautiful goldfishes swimming around. Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her and quickly turned.
"What are you trying to do?" Ruyi asked, her voice sharp.
Shen Chun froze, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "Nothing… nothing," she managed, her gaze flitting nervously from side to side.
Ruyi raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Were you going to push me into the pond?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief and a hint of steel. "Because if you were, you'd be making a huge mistake."
"What nonsense are you spewing?" Shen Chun retorted, "why would I push you into the pond?"
"Indeed, Miss Xu, maybe you saw it wrong, my Lady would never do such," Shen Chen's maid, Cui Hua intervened.
Ruyi smirked, then suddenly landed Cui Hua a slap, "I'm talking, who asked you to jump into the conversation?"
Cui Hua quickly sank to her kneels, begging for mercy, "Miss Xu, forgive me, I spoke out of turn."
Shen Chun grabbed her by the hand, attempting to pull her up. "Stand up, what are you doing?"
"Princess Shen Chun, it's actually quite obvious you don't know the rules. You may be a princess, but I'm also the daughter of a noble family. How dare a mere maid interfere in our conversation? We can go to Her Grace right now for this matter to be judged. Tell me, who do you think will suffer?" Ruyi asked rhetorically.
"You—" Shen Chun yelled, pointing a finger at Ruyi.
"You are really something, Ruyi. You think I don't see the way you're trying to make His Majesty see you? I don't know what you did to get him to like you, but you're playing with fire."
Ruyi let a small smile grace her lips before responding. "So? If I'm trying to make His Majesty see me, that means I have what it takes, what now? You're jealous? Or… you're scared I might one day become the Empress and get square with you? If you want the attention that I'm getting, why don't you try it? I promise, it'll work."
Shen Chun's anger reached a boiling point as she raised her voice in anger, "I don't care about anything you do, just stay away from brother Jingxuan. He's been through enough to associate with people like you. Thinking of climbing into royalty? In your dreams!"
"Now I get it, I can tell you like your brother Jingxuan," Ruyi revealed, "else why would you be overprotective of him?"
"Shut up! You're speaking nonsense. Brother Jingxuan is like a brother to me, how is it possible that I like him?" Shen Chun defended.
"Yes yes, tell yourself that," Ruyi teased mockingly.
Liu Yi sighted them from afar while sending Sun Jingxuan back to his chambers. "Your Highness, isn't that Princess Shen Chun and Miss Ruyi?" He gestured towards them with his head.
Sun Jingxuan followed his direction but appeared less concerned. "Let's go," he announced.
"Why?" Liu Yi asked. "We both know Miss Ruyi is going to get bullied, why are we not helping her?"
Sun Jingxuan beckoned Liu Yi to move closer and smacked his head playfully, "Does she look like someone who can be easily bullied?"
As if realizing, Liu Yi nodded, his hand rising to his head.
Suddenly, a scream sliced through the air.
"Someone fell into the water!" a maid shrieked.
Without hesitation, Sun Jun plunged into the pond. He resurfaced moments later, carrying Ruyi's lifeless body in his arms. He looked at Shen Chun angrily. "You'll have to explain this," he said, his voice dripping with threat.
Shen Chun stood frozen, confusion and fear carved on her face. Her breath hitched and she staggered back, but Cui Hua quickly supported her.
"Your Highness?" Liu Yi called softly, concern in his voice.
Sun Jingxuan sighed, shaking his head. "Let's go."
Moments later, Shen Chun knelt before Sun Jingxuan, fear in her eyes.
"I didn't push her into the water, I didn't!" she protested.
"Shut up!" Sun Jingxuan snapped, "haven't you caused enough trouble already?"
"Brother Jingxuan, how could you be so cruel to me? I didn't push her; you have to help me," Shen Chun pleaded.
Liu Yi dashed into the room. "Your Highness, the guards are here to take Princess Shen Chun away."
"No, brother Jingxuan, I didn't do it," Shen Chun cried out.
But her plea fell on deaf ears. "Let them in!" Sun Jingxuan declared.
"Save me, brother Jingxuan, I didn't do it!" Shen Chun cried, but Sun Jingxuan remained unmoved, his back a cold rejection as the guards dragged her away.
"Your Highness, why didn't you help her? You know how Her Grace is; she's definitely going to punish her," Liu Yi commented. "I know that Princess Shen Chun can be too much sometimes, but I'm sure she didn't mean to push Miss Ruyi into the pond."
"She didn't push her," Sun Jingxuan revealed.
"What did you say? Princess Shen Chun didn't push her?" Liu Yi repeated.
"Yes, Ruyi jumped into the pond herself. I didn't expect her to be so calculating," Sun Jingxuan stated.
"Since you knew Princess Shen Chun didn't push her, why didn't you speak up then?" Liu Yi probed.
"Because she's been getting too cocky. I decided to let her get punished this time; I'm sure this would soften her up," Sun Jingxuan said, pouring himself a cup of tea.
"I understand," Liu Yi nodded and bowed before leaving the room.
"Ruyi, what exactly are you up to?" Sun Jingxuan murmured before drinking his tea.
Xiao Lan stayed by Ruyi's side, the recent event having shaken everyone, especially her parents. Emperor Hong had sent the Imperial physician to examine her, and Consort Yao had ensured a supply of medicinal herbs. Ruyi's eyes fluttered open, scanning the room until they landed on Xiao Lan, and she relaxed.
"Miss Ruyi, you're awake!" Xiao Lan rushed forward, her voice thick with concern. " How are you feeling?"
Ruyi pushed herself upright, the duvet falling away. "I'm alright."
"How could Princess Shen Chun do that to you? Next time I see her, I'll make sure to settle the score with her," Xiao Lan vowed, her voice tight with fury.
Ruyi smirked, her thoughts flashing back to the incident.
"Xu Ruyi, you slut!" Shen Chun bellowed, her voice cracking with rage. "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do."
Sun Jun approached, his path intersecting with theirs, servants and maids following him behind.
Ruyi's gaze landed on him, and a devious plan began to formulate in her mind.
"I'm warning you, Ruyi," Shen Chun hissed, "stay away from brother Jingxuan, or…" her threat hung unfinished.
"Or what?" Ruyi countered, her eyes locking with Shen Chun's. "Didn't you just try to push me into the water?"
"I… I didn't!" Shen Chun barked back.
"Then, I'll need your help," Ruyi said as Sun Jun walked closer. With a sly grin, she grabbed Shen Chun's hand, feigning a desperate grasp, and threw herself into the pond, letting out a piercing scream.