Chapter 32: Enemies Meet, Eyes Red with Anger

The carriage soon arrived at the gate of the Left Prime Minister’s Residence.

Shen Ning alighted from the carriage and saw that two elegant carriages were already parked outside. Two people who had disembarked from one of the carriages looked familiar—they were none other than Princess Jiahe and Princess Jiayu, her enemies.

When enemies meet, their eyes turn red with anger.

The moment Princess Jiahe saw Shen Ning, her expression turned grim, her eyes filled with loathing, “Shen Ning, you dare to come here?”

“If Princess Jiahe dares to come, why wouldn’t I?” Shen Ning’s face was as cold as ice, “I am here today as a guest and do not wish to cause conflict. I hope Princess Jiahe will behave herself and not seek trouble.”

With that, she walked straight to the gate.

Shi Qin politely presented the invitation, and the waiting servants respectfully invited Shen Ning and Gu Yanran inside.

“You!” Princess Jiahe trembled, pointing at Shen Ning’s back, gritting her teeth, “Just you wait! This princess will make you pay one day.”

A servant cautiously looked at her, “May the two princesses present their invitations?”

“Are you blind? Don’t you know who this princess is? How dare you ask me for an invitation?” Princess Jiahe raised her chin, looking haughtily at the gatekeeper of the Left Prime Minister’s Residence, “This princess has come uninvited to add luster to Miss Yan’s event. Who dares to block my way?”

The two servants looked at each other, ultimately wary of Princess Jiahe’s identity, and could only bow, “Please enter, Princess.”

Princess Jiahe snorted coldly and walked in with an air of righteousness.

Princess Jiayu followed half a step behind, looking at Gu Yanran, who had come with Shen Ning but did not accompany her, and spoke indifferently, “You are a young lady from the Regent’s Estate?”

Gu Yanran paused slightly and nodded humbly, “Yes, I am Gu Yanran, the Regent’s cousin.”

“You’re more sensible than Shen Ning.” Princess Jiayu snorted coldly, “How long have you been living in the Regent’s Estate?”

“Five years.”

Princess Jiayu pondered, “So, you’ve been the Regent’s person for a long time?”

Gu Yanran stiffened, then her face slowly turned red, “In response to the princess, I am still pure.”

“Is that so?” Princess Jiayu looked her up and down, “You’re quite attractive, though not as stunning as Shen Ning, but surely enough to stir a man’s heart?”

Gu Yanran’s face turned stiff and pale, a sense of humiliation welling up within her, “Princess…”

“You know nothing.” Princess Jiahe sneered coldly, “The Regent is not a normal man. Haven’t you heard the rumors that he has a preference for men?”

A preference for men?

Gu Yanran was taken aback.

“Who knows if it’s true or not.” Princess Jiayu no longer paid attention to Gu Yanran and walked side by side with Princess Jiahe towards the garden where the flower viewing banquet was held.

Upon entering the flower hall, Shen Ning realized that there were not many guests present today, and almost all of them were acquaintances.

Besides the uninvited Jiahe and Jiayu princesses, there was also Shen Yan, who had arrived a step earlier. After several days without seeing her, the marks left by the slap on her face had healed, leaving almost no visible trace.

When Shen Yan saw Shen Ning, a shadow quickly flashed across her eyes, and she obediently stood up to greet her, “Elder Sister.”

Besides her, there was also Qin Zhilan, the eldest daughter of the Qin family—Qin Yanshu’s sister.

Including Shen Ning and Gu Yanran, there were a total of six people.

The Left Prime Minister’s residence was not particularly large, nor could it be described as grand. It was a common three-courtyard house, and the garden was also small.

Compared to the estates of families that had been prominent for generations, their garden was rather humble, so much so that Princess Jiahe couldn’t help but sneer upon entering, “A flower viewing banquet? With just a few chrysanthemums, is it really worth the special invitation?”

Yan Zheng was a young girl of the same age as Shen Ning, with bright eyes and white teeth, and a petite figure. Today’s flower viewing banquet was arranged at the behest of her brother, specifically to invite the Regent’s Princess Consort over as a guest. Since she was still unclear about the Princess’s temperament, she only invited the Regent’s cousin and Shen Ning’s sister, Shen Yan. Even Qin Zhilan was invited by Shen Yan.

Her brother served as the Left Prime Minister in the court, and while it was uncertain how powerful he was, his tenure was still short, and the Minister’s Residence could not yet compare with those families that had been established for centuries.

The residence was not large, and its heritage was not deep, so the rules could not be considered strict.

She had prepared for several days in advance and only managed to secure some slightly more expensive tea and snacks. Having heard that the Regent’s Princess Consort had a bland personality and had conflicts with Princess Jiahe, she hadn’t dared to invite the two princesses.

In fact, she hadn’t dared to invite many women from influential families.

Unexpectedly, there were still those who came uninvited.

But since they were already there, Yan Zheng could only explain gently, “The Minister’s Residence cannot compare to the spaciousness and luxury of the Princess’s Manor. We do not have precious flowers or rare trees, so I did not dare to presume to invite the princesses—”

“Impudence!” Princess Jiahe glared at her coldly, “Are you implying that Princess Jiayu and I are shameless for coming uninvited? You invited the Regent’s Princess Consort but not me, do you look down on me?”

Yan Zheng quickly shook her head, “The princess has misunderstood, I did not mean that.”

Shen Ning stared coldly at Princess Jiahe, “Are you here specifically to cause trouble?”

“Shen Ning, you’re being insolent!”

“You’re the one being insolent.” Shen Ning’s face was like a frost, her expression as cold as ice, “As your elder, according to the rules, you should kneel and pay your respects to me, not shout at me here.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Princess Jiahe involuntarily thought of the humiliation of being forced to kneel on the night of her wedding, and her heart was filled with hatred. She wished she could tear Shen Ning’s beautiful face apart, “You’re dreaming! Shen Ning, you rely on the Regent’s power and influence to act arrogantly here. This princess can’t stand people like you.”

Shen Ning’s tone was indifferent, “Isn’t Princess Jiahe also relying on her royal status to bully others here?”

“You…”

“Regent’s Princess, Princess Jiahe, please calm your anger.” Gu Yanran interjected at the right moment, her voice gentle and warm like a spring breeze, “Today is the flower viewing banquet hosted by Miss Yan. Although it may seem humble, Minister Yan is known for his integrity and clean governance. Given his short tenure in office, it’s normal for things to be a bit humble. I’m sure Princess Jiahe can understand.”

Her words seemed to be a way out, but each sentence echoed Princess Jiahe’s words, pointing out that the Yan family’s garden was indeed humble, and the phrase “short tenure in office” was even more intriguing, clearly implying that Minister Yan’s position as Minister was undeserved, and even hinting at a possible backdoor connection.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, a malicious smile appeared on Princess Jiahe’s lips, “Yan Zheng, is your brother one of the Regent’s close associates?”

Yan Zheng’s expression changed dramatically, “Princess Jiahe, please watch your words!”

“Who doesn’t know that the Regent prefers men? Among the young ministers who have risen to high positions in the court, which one doesn’t have an unspeakable relationship with the Regent?” Princess Jiahe said, looking at Shen Ning with ridicule, “Our Regent’s Princess doesn’t know yet, does she? Do you really think the Regent wanted to marry you sincerely? He just wanted to marry a wife to cover up his preference for men.”

Shen Ning did not seem annoyed by these words, she simply ordered calmly, “Shi Qin, return to the Regent’s Estate immediately and invite your Lord Regent here. I want to ask him in person if he truly have a ‘broken sleeve’.”

“Yes.” Shi Qin accepted the order and left.

Princess Jiahe’s expression changed, and she instinctively pointed at Shi Qin, “Stop her!”

Several servants swarmed to block Shi Qin’s path.

“Shen Ning, are you only capable of tattling?” Princess Jiahe looked at Shen Ning furiously, “I only said a few words, and you’re going to tell the Regent. You’re doing this on purpose—”

“This isn’t tattling, it’s just calling the Regent here to verify.” Shen Ning looked at her expressionlessly, “If the Regent truly is what you say he is, and the Left and Right Prime Ministers are indeed his close associates, then Princess Jiahe is innocent. Otherwise, if you’re falsely accusing an official of the court, even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor may not be able to save you.”