When Chen Yi faced Empress An directly, he had already anticipated that the long-restrained female crown would rise in retaliation.

The reason he had given her the golden hairpin was precisely because he had prepared for this moment.

As the female crown finished her statement, it was like a proclamation; the undercurrents at the banquet abruptly shifted, as though a storm was brewing. Not to mention the attendees at the table, even the palace maids serving nearby couldn't help but steal glances and raise their eyes.

The expressions of the women varied.

Chen Yi observed every subtle change in their expressions and then turned to look at the Empress Dowager seated at the head of the table.

Gazing at Empress An, some of Chen Yi's suspicions were thoroughly confirmed.

Empress An must have known about his marriage proposal at the Jing Prince Mansion long before.

Every seemingly casual arrangement since his arrival at the palace was deliberate, serving to substantiate this fact.

This private banquet, it seemed, was far more than just an effort to pair him with Miss Donggong.

It was, in fact, a calculated effort to force him to take a side.

In the split second that his thoughts raced, Chen Yi made his decision.

Considering loyalty and affection, Little Yin had been by his side for so long—compared to Dong Gong Ruoshu and Lin Wanxiao, she was the one he couldn't bear to let down...

Therefore…

Just as Chen Yi was about to clasp his hands and speak, preemptively aligning himself to dissolve this potential battleground before it could escalate,

he saw Empress An lift her hand slightly. The female official, Suxin, slowly approached and presented him with a small slip of paper.

Chen Yi saw the wild, flowing cursive script on the note, and his expression abruptly changed.

Looking up at Empress An once more, the mother of the nation returned his gaze, studying his face with an ambiguous smile.

Chen Yi remained silent and resumed his seat at the banquet.

The note was brief, containing no more than three or four lines,

but the contents rendered his strategy of dissolving conflicts by taking a side completely futile.

It concerned leaving the capital, an imperial marriage decree, and… the Tushan Clan.

At the table, Yin Weiyin raised her wine cup high, tipped her head back, and drained it in one elegant motion. Her movements were smooth and unrestrained; a few drops of wine spilled as she flourished her sleeve and stood up.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, may this humble servant girl wear this golden hairpin?"

The female crown clasped her hands together as she posed the question.

Without a change in expression, Empress An replied, "You may."

Yin Weiyin picked up the golden hairpin and inserted it into the tips of her hair. A palace maid nearby held up a mirror for her.

Lin Wanxiao, Dong Gong Ruoshu, and Yin Tingxue all cast varying glances toward her.

The little fox was indifferent, understanding Sister Weiyin's temperament all too well—there was no bitterness for her this time. But it was a different matter for Dong Gong Ruoshu and Lin Wanxiao.

Dong Gong Ruoshu had already half-resigned herself to the idea of marriage, accepting her fate, but now the hairpin meant for her had fallen into Yin Weiyin's hands. The latter's tone seemed to subtly target her; naturally, Miss Donggong harbored some resentment. She pressed her lips together tightly, fixing her gaze on the girl holding the hairpin.

As for Lin Wanxiao, she ground her silver teeth in frustration. Having had a quarrel with Yin Weiyin not long ago, and now being openly and subtly mocked, her naturally fragile nature gave rise to anger.

The copper mirror shone brightly, reflecting Yin Weiyin's unparalleled beauty. She gazed into its reflection, only to sigh deeply.

Dong Guifei, as the presiding official, asked, "Miss Jing Wang, why do you sigh?"

Yin Weiyin slowly removed the golden hairpin and replied with a sigh:

"The golden hairpin is exquisite and no ordinary object. But as someone who has cultivated the Tao for over ten years, I regard treasures of gold and jade as no different from rubble. This beautiful object does not suit me. Rather than wasting it, it is better to gift it to Miss Donggong."

As she spoke, the female crown removed the golden hairpin, brushed her sleeve lightly, as though wielding a horsetail whisk, displaying an air of detachment.

She held the golden hairpin and walked over to Dong Gong Ruoshu, speaking gently:

"I have no need for this golden hairpin; don't let it go to waste, Miss Donggong."

"You!"

Dong Gong Ruoshu's face turned a shade that was either flush with anger or embarrassment.

"Casting aside something you don't want and giving it to me..."

If it were simply receiving the gift of a hairpin, Dong Gong Ruoshu, despite her displeasure, wouldn't have had much to say given her straightforward personality. But the female crown just had to add that final line, making it clear she was seeking confrontation.

Why should I endure such humiliation for nothing?

I, Chen Ruoshu, hail from Jin Country's Chen Family—just on lineage alone, I may not lose to you!

Changing her expression, Dong Gong Ruoshu accepted the golden hairpin and, altering her tone, said:

"I understand Immortal Yin's intention in gifting this. It must be to acknowledge the Empress Dowager's edict of marriage, and the Jing Prince Mansion's desire to evade it by seeking to annul the engagement.

Immortal Yin, how magnanimous you are.

Indeed, you possess the altruistic spirit of ancient sages. I imagine losing a partner on the path of matrimony won't hinder your pursuit of the Tao!"

"….."

Yin Weiyin's expression froze slightly.

These words struck exactly where it hurt.

The Prince Mansion wished to take in a son-in-law, while the Heavenly Family desired to decree a marriage. The two interests clashing was not without precedent in history.

Blessings and calamities alike were both divine favors—virtually every time, the imperial decree was not to be defied.

The Jing Prince Mansion, even at its peak, would not defy the palace over such matters—let alone now, when the Jing Prince Mansion was showing signs of being strong in appearance but weak in reality.

Not far away, Lin Wanxiao chimed in with a remark:

"Even if one union brings together Yao and Shun and accommodates two wives, I imagine it ought to remain harmonious. But I wonder… who would take precedence?

Ah, but since Immortal Yin is detached from worldly desires, surely you wouldn't care about rank or status. Alas, forgive me for measuring the heart of a noblewoman with the thoughts of a petty person."

Another line, piercing directly into Yin Weiyin's core.

The two women had formed an unspoken alliance, joining forces against her.

The female crown bit her lip, uncertain of how to respond.

Her fury burned even hotter.

It was Chen Yi who had first proposed marriage to her—by all rights, she should have entered the house as the principal wife.

Who would have expected Dong Gong Ruoshu to appear first, followed by the widow from the Lin Family? Each one leveraging the Empress Dowager's support—was this not outright bullying?

The female crown clenched her fists, her thoughts racing. Suddenly, in her anger, she laughed coldly and said:

"Very well, Miss Donggong. I only hope that after you marry into the household, you don't find the door deserted, left to guard an empty chamber alone."

Dong Gong Ruoshu and Lin Wanxiao's expressions changed yet again. This single comment targeted them both. For the former, the implication was plain, but for the Lin Family Young Lady, her chest ached faintly—"a deserted door, guarding an empty chamber alone"—just who was this aimed at?

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