Chapter 50 Murong Qing

Tang Chaochao cared nothing for Murong Bo's pretense.

She unhooked the jade token from her waist.

"Vice Minister Liu has truly raised a fine daughter. Since Concubine Liu has chosen to pin such a grave accusation on the General's Estate, I shall most certainly take this up with His Majesty to have a proper discussion. As for the matter of bowing, I behave precisely the same way before His Majesty himself, and His Majesty has never once found fault with it. Such magnificent imperial prestige the concubine possesses!"

Reminded by the Crown Prince, Liu Rulan realized she had spoken out of turn.

Hearing Tang Chaochao say this, a trace of panic gripped her heart.

Yet, hearing Tang Chaochao utter such wild arrogance—claiming she did not even need to bow before the Emperor—she seemed to regain her confidence and retorted,

"Tang Chaochao, I see the arrogant and brazen one is you. What nonsense is this about not needing to bow before His Majesty? Who do you think you are?"

In truth, her mindset was hardly surprising.

In this realm, the only person exempt from bowing to the Emperor was the Empress Dowager, who, advanced in years, no longer concerned herself with worldly affairs.

What on earth made Tang Chaochao think she was anything special?

Tang Chaochao fingered the jade token in her palm, letting out a faint, cynical sigh.

"Is that so? Then does the concubine recognize this jade token in my hand?"

At these words, everyone cast their gazes upon the token in Tang Chaochao's grip.

Liu Rulan had never laid eyes on such a token before and simply assumed Tang Chaochao was putting on a bluff.

"It is merely a worthless piece of junk, nothing worth looking at!"

Tang Chaochao's lips curled into a smile.

"Ever since Miss Liu became a concubine, not only has her arrogance grown, but her tongue has become bolder as well. An object personally bestowed by the late Emperor has become a worthless piece of junk in the concubine's mouth. I wonder if your father, Vice Minister Liu, would still manage to keep the official's hat upon his head should he catch wind of this?"

How could Liu Rulan possibly believe Tang Chaochao's words?

Even if it were an item bestowed by the late Emperor, how could General Tang ever entrust something of such monumental importance to Tang Chaochao?

Besides, she had always seen Tang Chaochao wear this very jade token hanging from her waist.

If it truly belonged to the late Emperor, would she not fear losing or chipping it?

"Tang Chaochao, do you really think that by spouting such words, everyone will swallow your wild fabrications? You even dare to speak recklessly and threaten to strip my father of his official post. Are you not afraid that once His Majesty finds out, he will charge you with the crime of showing contempt for the imperial court?"

Tang Chaochao looked at Liu Rulan with a half-smile.

True to form, the woman had been driven so furious that she had lost all capacity for rational judgment.

If this jade token of hers were counterfeit, would she dare to brandish it before so many people?

Naturally, there were those present who recognized the token.

That person was none other than the Crown Prince, Murong Bo.

As the late Emperor's eldest imperial grandson, Crown Prince Murong Bo had also been deeply favored by his imperial grandfather.

Precisely because of this, the reigning Emperor held a much deeper affection for Crown Prince Murong Bo.

Without warning, Crown Prince Murong Bo sharply rebuked Liu Rulan.

"Silence!"

Liu Rulan was beside herself with rage. Though she did not love the Crown Prince, she had, after all, become his woman now.

Yet, for the sake of an outsider, he repeatedly caused her to lose face.

Clenching her lower lip tightly, she spat,

"For Your Highness to defend Tang Chaochao to this extent—could it be that you have taken a fancy to her?"

Had she kept silent, matters might have rested; but the moment she spoke, it was like igniting a powder keg.

The first to raise her voice was Xie Tingyao.

"Cease your wild slander!"

Seeing this, Liu Rulan suddenly hooked the corners of her lips into a smile.

Who in the capital was unaware that the Crown Prince had once been betrothed to Tang Chaochao's elder sister?

Although Tang Mumu was dead, Tang Chaochao possessed a face nearly identical to Tang Mumu's.

Moreover, the Crown Prince had always cared deeply about that matrimonial alliance.

Now that the elder sister was gone, taking the younger sister as bride was by no means out of the question.

Such a simple logic was clear to Liu Rulan; how could Xie Tingyao fail to see it?

All this time, Xie Tingyao had secretly rejoiced at Tang Mumu's death, believing that with her gone, Crown Prince Brother would never marry another.

Never had she imagined that a Tang Chaochao would suddenly emerge from the shadows.

Crown Prince Murong Bo made no response to Xie Tingyao's wounded and accusatory gaze.

Instead, he sternly rebuked Liu Rulan,

"The object in the Second Miss Tang's hand was indeed bestowed upon the Tang family by my imperial grandfather. Concubine Liu has spoken out of turn; apologize to Second Miss Tang."

Liu Rulan had never expected that the jade token in Tang Chaochao's hand was genuine.

Faced with the Crown Prince's command to issue an apology, she was consumed by fury.

No matter what, she was now a Crown Prince's concubine; how could she possibly lower her head in apology to the daughter of a mere official?

It was clear the Crown Prince was utterly determined to shield Tang Chaochao.

Standing to the side and watching the spectacle, Zhao Mengyue stared with bright, gleaming eyes at the jade token in Tang Chaochao's hand.

If only she had such a life-saving talisman in her possession.

With this thought, her desire for her mother to marry into the General's Estate grew even stronger.

Old Madam Tang had long harbored the intention of taking a concubine for Tang Wu.

Consequently, she had sent word back to her maiden family to inquire if there were any suitable candidates.

Zhao Mengyue's father had passed away long ago.

Upon learning of this news, she suggested to her still-charming mother that she should marry into the family.

In this way, not only could she latch onto the towering branch of the General's Estate, but she could also select a wealthy and powerful husband for herself.

Such a cheated, soaring life made her pulse race with excitement.

Besides, the State of Kang was not overly conservative regarding the affairs of men and women; women remarrying was a common occurrence.

Her mother was blessed with a flower-like appearance; capturing Tang Wu's heart would only be a matter of time.

As for Song Rongzhi, though handsome, he was far too rigid and coldly aloof—altogether as devoid of interest as his daughter Tang Chaochao when dealing with others.

Zhao Mengyue entertained the most pleasant of daydreams.

Once she became Tang Wu's stepdaughter, perhaps she too could make use of the jade token in Tang Chaochao's hand.

At this moment, Liu Rulan had already dragged her feet over to stand before Tang Chaochao.

Crown Prince Murong Bo merely watched with cold eyes, waiting for her to bow her head in apology.

Tang Chaochao lifted her chin slightly, her clear, freezing gaze fixed upon her.

In Liu Rulan's eyes, this looked precisely like Tang Chaochao reveling in her triumph.

How could Liu Rulan ever bring herself to bow her head to the person who had utterly ruined her lifelong happiness?

With a sudden, violent pivot, she dropped directly to her knees before Crown Prince Murong Bo.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, all the misfortune between you and me was brought upon us by Tang Chaochao! Today, Your Highness must render justice for me!"

This abrupt reversal caused Tang Chaochao to raise an eyebrow in amusement.

Given how fiercely Liu Rulan undoubtedly wished to swallow her alive, how could she ever be expected to offer a docile apology?

Just at that moment, the thunder of hooves echoed from not far away.

Two spirited steeds came galloping forward.

At the head of the pair was a young man whom Tang Chaochao had once crossed paths with: Murong Qing.

The youth possessed an air of refined elegance that caused all the noble ladies present to blush crimson.

Even Zhao Mengyue stood frozen, utterly entranced.

What set this youth apart was not merely his extraordinary visage, but rather an ineffable, ethereal aura about him.

He looked as though an immortal from a painting had stepped down into the mortal realm.

"Crown Prince Brother has come to ice-skating as well?"

Following closely behind, Ah Xin asked with a hint of puzzlement,

"Your Highness, did you not say this place was too crowded, which is why you chose to come here for ice-skating?"

Hearing this, Murong Qing showed not a shred of awkwardness; instead, he offered a faint smile.

"Because it is lively here! With only the two of us—master and servant—ice-skating would be dreadfully dull!"

Upon seeing his fifth younger brother, Crown Prince Murong Bo's expression softened somewhat.

"Why is the Fifth Brother still so fond of play? You are no longer a child; it is time you occupied yourself with proper duties."

Toward this particular brother, the Crown Prince was considerably more amicable than he was toward his other scheming siblings.

Murong Qing merely smiled.

"There is no rush."

He vaulted down from his horse and cast his gaze upon the kneeling Liu Rulan.

"What is Crown Prince Brother doing here?"

The Crown Prince's eyes fell upon Liu Rulan once more, and his countenance immediately darkened again.

"If you continue to make a scene today, you shall not set foot outside the Eastern Palace henceforth. I cannot afford to lose face in such a manner."

As for the affair with Liu Rulan, Crown Prince Murong Bo was well aware that someone had plotted against him in the dark.

Yet he was unwilling to implicate Tang Chaochao on that account, especially since he still harbored desires of making her his wife.

If this scandal dragged on and made a mockery of them all, how could he ever muster the face to propose marriage in the future?