Chapter 003: Ferocious Dogs Ahead

She and Huo Yunhua were, at most, acquaintances who nodded in passing—there was certainly no enmity between them—so she truly hadn’t expected such a thing to be aimed at her.

Huo Yunhua collapsed to her knees, weeping bitterly.

With so many eyes on her, Wu Tan found herself momentarily at a loss.

A girl close to Wu Qingqiong gave a sidelong glance and timely tugged at Wu Qingqiong’s sleeve, her voice neither loud nor soft, “Qiong’er, wasn’t it your second sister walking behind Sister Yunhua just now?”

Huo Yunhua seemed startled, turning slowly toward Wu Tan in disbelief.

In her gaze lingered both grievance and resentment.

Wu Tan almost wanted to laugh at being stared at like this—

Truly, she must not have checked the almanac before leaving home this morning—what a wretched mess!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yun had clearly taken Huo Yunhua’s side from the start. His expression was angry and sharp, his voice cold as he pressed, “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

This Crown Prince was only three months older than Wu Tan—both were twelve this year.

It was said that the founder of the imperial Xiao clan, the first emperor of Dayin, was a man of rare beauty, and the concubines chosen for the palace were all exceptional in appearance. Thus, after generations, the royal family’s men and women alike were all striking. The Crown Prince Xiao Yun had especially fine features, and with his noble upbringing since childhood, he already exuded a distinguished air that set him apart despite his youth.

This was Wu Tan’s first direct encounter with him, but the icy aura he projected was indeed unpleasant. She felt no hint of awe or excitement at being noticed by him.

Taking a silent breath, she knelt, composed herself, and first bowed her head to the Empress Jiang and the Crown Prince, then looked up at them, her words steady and firm: “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I do indeed admit I was walking behind Miss Huo, but I am not acquainted with her, nor do I hold any grudge. I did not so much as lay a finger on her!”

Her demeanor was calm, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.

The Empress seemed surprised, at first taken aback, then a faint smile appeared in her eyes.

But before she could speak, Huo Yunhua’s maid had already raised her voice indignantly, “Miss Wu herself admits she has no quarrel with my mistress. On such a cold day, would my mistress really harm herself just to slander you?”

Wu Tan turned to glance at Huo Yunhua. “That, you’d best ask your mistress yourself!”

It was utterly baffling! When had she ever provoked this woman? Truly, it had come out of nowhere, and she had swallowed the loss with no warning.

“You—” Huo Yunhua clearly hadn’t expected Wu Tan to face such accusations without a trace of fear, and her shock and outrage only grew. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I did not falsely accuse Miss Wu. As she said, we barely know each other—I didn’t even realize it was her behind me…”

It was all words without proof, just creating a scene. Still, Wu Tan’s bold attitude suited Huo Yunhua’s purpose.

Huo Yunhua’s performance was nothing if not heartfelt.

As the auspicious hour for the ceremony approached, the princess of Lin’an’s attendant whispered urgently in Consort Xian’s ear.

Consort Xian, not wanting petty matters to delay her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony, walked over to the Empress with a smile and said, “Your Majesty, there were quite a few people in that corridor just now. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding—why not—”

Before she could finish, Xiao Yun, unsatisfied, swept the crowd with a sharp gaze. “Who among you was walking behind the Huo and Wu girls? Did anyone see what happened?”

At this, all eyes turned to Wu Qingqiong and her companion.

The girl beside her, seeing the Crown Prince questioning directly, quietly shrank back to avoid trouble.

With everyone watching, Wu Qingqiong’s face flushed scarlet. Only when Mu Jin tugged at her did she realize she should kneel, lowering her head in panic, her gaze darting over the marble floor. “I… I…”

She simply didn’t have Wu Tan’s composure or mental fortitude. Her mind was already in turmoil, and in a rash moment, she summoned the courage she usually reserved for competing with Wu Tan at home: “I think—my second sister didn’t do it on purpose!”

The sisters never got along, and to step on her at such a moment was Wu Qingqiong’s instinctive reaction.

With these words, Wu Tan’s guilt was all but confirmed.

“Oh! Who would’ve thought such a thing really happened…”

“No wonder, when the incident occurred, Miss Wu was nearest but didn’t call for help!”

“But why would she…”

To commit violence in the palace was no small matter. Even with the Empress and consorts present, the young ladies could not help but whisper and point.

Perhaps because his beloved had been wronged, Xiao Yun’s face darkened further. He glared at Wu Tan, his eyes nearly spitting knives. “Now it’s your own sister accusing you—do you have anything to say?”

Cheng Cheng, kneeling behind, grew angry and wanted to crawl forward to argue with Wu Qingqiong, but was halted by a look from Wu Tan.

Wu Tan herself felt a lump in her throat, but forced herself to retort calmly, “Is my own sister’s word ironclad evidence?”

Xiao Yun nearly erupted: “Then give me a reason—being sisters by blood, why would she help an outsider to frame you?”

Why? Merely the petty schemes and rivalries of women in the inner chambers.

Besides—

They weren’t born of the same mother—what kind of sisters were they, really?

But Wu Tan could hardly argue such matters with the heir to the throne. In the end, her only recourse was to stand tall and reply, “Everyone has their own motives! But I did not do it, and I ask Your Highness to judge fairly!”

“Excuses!” Xiao Yun had already decided upon her guilt. Still young, he wouldn’t let it go, and his gaze landed on Huo Yunhao. “Huo Yunhao, you were closest to your sister at the time—what did you see?”

“I was walking ahead of my sister…” Huo Yunhao knelt upright, eyes downcast.

Now that it was clear she wasn’t the target, she answered calmly, simply and directly, though there was a hint of something left unsaid.

No one present cared enough to probe deeper.

Did this second Miss Huo know something? Wu Tan couldn’t help but glance at her from the corner of her eye.

Xiao Yun, unable to extract a second witness, grew impatient.

At that moment, Princess Linchuan, dressed for the occasion, burst out, complaining from the doorway, “Mother, it’s nearly past the auspicious hour—what are you all doing? If they can’t behave, just throw them out of the palace…”

She stepped out, skirts in hand, face full of displeasure.

Consort Xian, terrified her daughter would lose face, rushed to her side to calm her down.

Seeing Xiao Yun growing ever more stubborn, Empress Jiang could not remain silent. She stepped forward, saying, “Enough, enough, today is Lin’an’s coming-of-age ceremony—a joyous occasion. Let’s leave it at that! Girls squabble; what’s worth fussing over?”

“Mother!” Xiao Yun, seeing her partiality, grew even more furious.

“The Dingyuan Marquis’s family has served loyally for generations—I know their household’s character. I also trust the Wu family’s daughters. Wu girl, you may rise,” said the Empress, her tone measured but carrying authority.

By mentioning the Wu family, she was warning Xiao Yun.

He clenched his fingers, forced himself to be silent, then shot Wu Tan a look of contempt before storming into Huayang Palace alone.

The Empress sighed inwardly and signaled with her eyes. Aunt Fang, at her side, stepped forward and helped Wu Tan up.

This was an unmistakable public show of support for the Wu girl!

The young ladies present, surprised, grew envious—some even to the point of tears.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!” Wu Tan knelt in thanks, though her heart was uneasy—

She was not naïve; she knew there was no such thing as kindness without reason. Even if her family was a pillar of the court, Huo Yunhua’s father was the Crown Prince’s tutor and venerated by scholars across the land…

From Huo Yunhua’s scheming, to the Empress and Crown Prince’s differing stances… nothing about today sat right…

Wu Tan dropped her gaze, slipped back into the crowd. Huo Yunhua and her companions also struggled to their feet.

Empress Jiang surveyed the assembly, her gaze solemn. “What happened in the corridor was a mere accident and misunderstanding. Miss Huo was overly anxious and slipped into the water. Spreading rumors is not the conduct of noble daughters—do you all understand?”

“Yes! We will remember Your Majesty’s teachings!” the girls answered in unison, and the matter was put to rest.

The Empress turned and entered the doors of Huayang Palace. She meant to snub Huo Yunhua, but for the sake of the Crown Prince’s tutor, Consort Xian had to offer her a way out, so she had Huo Yunhua escorted to a side hall to change.

The rest of Princess Lin’an’s coming-of-age ceremony proceeded smoothly, except for Xiao Yun, who remained sullen throughout.

After the ceremony, Consort Xian hosted a banquet for her daughter in Huayang Palace, but Xiao Yun, already impatient, left at the first opportunity.

To avoid outshining mother and daughter, the Empress did not attend the luncheon.

It being the princess’s coming-of-age, the Emperor was delighted and bestowed many gifts—the banquet was lavish. Afterward, the princess had planned to host tea and games, but the weather turned suddenly gloomy, and the gathering dispersed early.

The guests were escorted out as before.

Halfway through, a fine drizzle began to fall. The girls, rarely together, chatted and laughed despite the rain, hurrying to leave the palace without waiting for umbrellas. They were nearly through the imperial gardens when, quite unexpectedly, they saw Crown Prince Xiao Yun waiting ahead at the palace gate.

After such a splendid celebration, the earlier incident with Huo Yunhua had been all but forgotten—yet the Crown Prince’s appearance now was like summoning up old memories for all…

The crowd fell abruptly silent, everyone halting, not daring to move.

Xiao Yun strode forward, a young eunuch holding an umbrella behind him.

His expression was even gloomier than the overcast sky.

Wu Tan was suddenly struck by a thought—

Disaster! A fierce dog blocks the road ahead!

– – – Extra Scene – – –

[Little Theater]

Her: [utterly despondent] Disaster! A fierce dog blocks the road ahead!

Crown Prince: [furious] Did you just call me a dog?

Her: [twitching at the corners of her mouth, resigned] So what if I did?

Crown Prince: [utterly dejected] I’ll bite you…

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