The Scene

Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng attended the banquet at the Crown Prince's Residence together, and this time they also brought Qi Zaijun with them.

"Crown Prince Consort."

Lin Yunwan and Qi Zaijun arrived at the inner courtyard, they saw that the banquet hall was bustling with activity.

The Crown Prince Consort and her head Stewardess greeted the guests together.

"Little sister, you've come?"

The Crown Prince Consort stepped forward enthusiastically. She had never been so enthusiastic before, but this time she took Lin Yunwan's hand and looked her over.

Lin Yunwan smiled slightly, seemingly unaware.

"Please sit down, little sister."

Lin Yunwan then entered the banquet and sat in the seat closest to the head table.

Of all the guests in the Crown Prince's Residence's residence, besides the Crown Prince Consort, she was the one with the most distinguished status.

"Jun'er, come here."

Lin Yunwan took Qi Zaijun with her, and the maids from the Crown Prince's Residence's residence immediately brought them an extra set of chopsticks and a bowl.

Guests arrived one after another, and then Madam Chen from the Duke Xingguo's Residence arrived.

The Crown Prince Consort's expression subtly changed upon her arrival.

Madam Chen stepped forward to congratulate the Crown Prince on his birthday. The Crown Prince Consort's expression was calm and gentle. "Thank you, Madam Chen."

Madam Chen nodded, and the maid led her to sit down next to Lin Yunwan.

This is going to be quite a show for everyone.

"Who doesn't know that Prince Huan Consort was offended at the Duke Xingguo's Residence? The Crown Prince Consort actually arranged for the two of them to be together."

"This... I don't know what the Crown Prince Consort was thinking!"

The Crown Prince Consort pretended not to hear.

The seating arrangement at the banquet was not her arrangement, but the Crown Prince's idea.

"Your Crown Prince Consort, the Old Madam of the Wuding Marquis Residence has arrived."

A guest exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't the Old Madam the Wuding Marquis Residence suffer a stroke?"

"We haven't seen anyone from the Wuding Marquis Residence for many years, how did you manage to invite her here?"

Lin Yunwan looked toward the entrance to the banquet hall.

Cuiqin also looked up.

These days, she's heard quite a bit about the Wuding Marquis Residence and her Princess Consort...

"Your Princess Consort, should I inform the Prince?"

She whispered.

Lin Yunwan said, "No need."

Qi Zaijun, though young, was quite shrewd and noticed something amiss. He moved closer to Lin Yunwan and asked in a low voice, "Mother Consort, what is the background of the Wuding Marquis Residence?"

He was born into royalty and had been familiar with the various princes and nobles since childhood, but he had never heard of this family.

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "They're not from any respectable family."

But today's banquet is clearly aimed at her.

Those who had heard rumors were already sensing something was amiss and began exchanging knowing glances.

If the fact that the Duchess Xingguo and the Prince Huan Consort sat together was merely an unintentional act by the Crown Prince's Residence, then inviting the Old Madam of the Wuding Marquis Residence was surely not an accident!

The Matron of the Wuding Marquis Residence carried Old Madam Lu's wheelchair into the house.

She had dressed up elaborately today, her hair neatly combed, but due to her age, it had thinned to almost nothing, and she couldn't even hold up a wig. So, only an old jade hairpin held her hair in place.

"T- Crown Prince Consort..."

Old Madam Lu's wheelchair crossed the threshold and came to the Crown Prince Consort.

The Crown Prince Consort said gently, "You don't need to bow anymore."

"Yes..."

Old Madam Lu tremblingly agreed, and was about to sit down, but the moment she saw Lin Yunwan, she shouted at the Matron, "Stop! Stop!"

The Crown Prince Consort looked over, puzzled.

The Old Madam stared intently at the spot where Lin Yunwan was sitting, her withered arm outstretched, wailing, "Yun Wan! Yun Wan! Yun Wan! You're not dead!"

She pushed the wheelchair forward herself.

Cuiqin immediately rushed forward anxiously and scolded the other person, "Don't be rude!"

Having learned from what happened at the Duke Xingguo's Residence, she immediately said to the Crown Prince Consort, "Crown Prince Consort, this person has offended the Princess Consort. Please ask her to leave!"

Old Madam Lu looked aggrieved.

Her body was frail, and her voice was weak. "Yun Wan, Yun Wan, Yun Wan..."

Duchess Xingguo, standing nearby, asked, "How does Old Madam Lu know the Princess Consort's given name?"

"What? The Princess Consort's given name is also Yun Wan?"

"What a coincidence!"

Some people don't understand. "How is that a coincidence?"

"You don't know? The Di Daughter of the Lin Family, the former mistress of the Wuding Marquis Residence, is also named Yun Wan. Lin Yunwan. She and our Prince Huan Consort are only one surname apart."

"Ah? I seem to recall hearing that Prince Huan Consort is from the Wuding Marquis Residence..."

"Shh."

Amidst the murmurs around her, Lin Yunwan coldly told Old Madam Lu, "You've mistaken me for someone else. I am Prince Huan Consort, and my surname is Lin."

"No, I won't admit my mistake! Yun Wan, I was wrong, our entire Wuding Marquis Residence was wrong!"

"Yun Wan, come back! The Lu family can't live without you, please come back... That bitch, she ruined me, she ruined our whole family... You're the only one who's truly good to me, the only one who's genuinely good to the Lu family."

Old Madam Lu wept bitterly.

Now that things have come to this, she has lost all dignity and shame.

Tears streamed down her face as she hoped that a sincere apology would win back Lin Yunwan, the former matriarch of the Lu family.

Lady Madam Chen the Duke Xingguo, stared at Lin Yunwan's face, trying to find a flaw in her expression.

However, Lin Yunwan remained unmoved, not even flinching.

Lin Yunwan looked coldly at the Crown Prince Consort and asked unhappily, "What does the Crown Prince Consort mean by this?"

Qi Zaijun also frowned.

Even if she's his Eldest Aunt, she shouldn't bully his mother.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince Consort Princess, you..."

Before he could speak, someone announced, "The Crown Prince has arrived."

The Crown Prince, wearing a thick cloak lined with brocade satin, slowly strolled in.

The women rose and said, "Greetings, Your Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince Crown Prince Consort. As long as he lives, he will be the Crown Prince of the dynasty.

The Crown Prince coughed twice and said softly, "Rise, all of you."

The Crown Prince Consort rose and stepped forward, very worried. "Your Highness, please sit down!" She instructed her maid to quickly close the banquet hall doors, "The Crown Prince cannot withstand the Wind-Cold."

It's already winter in the Capital, and the Crown Prince is most afraid of the cold.

The maid brought over a chair, covered with a soft cushion and a fur coat.

After the Crown Prince sat down, he said to Qi Zaijun in a gentle tone, "Zaijun, don't be angry with your Eldest Aunt. Your Eldest Aunt and I are just curious about your Mother Consort's affairs. If your Mother Consort is innocent, these people and these things cannot harm Mother Consort."

This means they're going to interrogate her.

Lin Yunwan hugged Qi Zaijun and said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, Jun'er young, you don't need to tell him these things."

The Crown Prince coughed and smiled slightly, "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. With me here, I will never wrong you."

He glanced at the maid Cuiqin; though her gaze was as frail as his body, it was nonetheless imposing.

Cuiqin had only ever seen that look in her eyes from her own Prince!

She looked at Lin Yunwan with concern.

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "You may leave."

"Yes."

Cuiqin knelt to one side, thinking to herself, "Where has the Prince gone?"

Just then, A Fu shouted loudly from outside, "Prince Huan has arrived!"

"This... Prince Huan has come too!"

This is a very big problem.

The Crown Prince smiled faintly and said in a weak voice, "Please come in."

The Crown Prince Consort nodded and sent someone to invite them.