"Nonsense! Look at what you're saying now!" Luo Qing Luan feigned anger.

Even though after she returned from the Fifth Prince's Mansion last time, she didn't go out much to avoid Luo Cheng and Wang Xue Ru finding trouble with her everyday, so she was too bored. However, Dai Yue went out once in a while, so she still found out about the news that circulated outside.

Presently, the crown prince, Nangong Qing, had already reached a marriageable age and the current empress was preparing a Flower Bestowment Feast for him. She reckoned that it wouldn't be much longer before those noble-born young ladies would be invited to visit the imperial palace's back garden. Naturally, this was merely a way to select the best crown prince's consort in disguise, that's all.

Nangong Qing's birth mother is actually not the current empress, but Empress Yao, who had already passed away. However, the current empress was actually his maternal aunt, and was also Empress Yao's female cousin. The current empress was equally concerned about him and pampered him. For the sake of Nangong Qing's marriage, she naturally demonstrated even more concern.

Not to mention that Luo Qing Luan had never met the crown prince before. Even if she really met him before, she still wouldn't just casually like him. Moreover, Nangong Qing was the crown prince and the future emperor of Western Chu. He's bound to have a harem with numerous imperial concubines. How could she possibly marry this kind of man?

"News has already spread that the empress is helping the crown prince chose a consort, but do you think that Father's Concubine will allow me to enter the palace to strive for this kind of opportunity?" Luo Qing Luan didn't say what she was thinking, but analyzed the circumstances instead. "Elder Sister married Fifth Prince with great difficulty. If I truly attended the Flower Bestowment Feast, can it be that Father's Concubine isn't afraid that I might really be favored by the empress and become the crown prince consort? Wouldn't that be the same as stepping on Elder Sister's head?"

"Oh. What My Lady said makes sense."

Dai Yue's voice softened as she curled her lips. "The Side Madam dislikes you so much, she certainly won't allow you to go."

In Luo Qing Luan's opinion, this matter will most likely just pass, but she absolutely never expected that because someone said a few words before His Majesty, she who originally never had a chance to attend the banquet, discovered before two days came to pass that Luo Cheng received an imperial decree directly from the empress.

Wang Xue Ru was nearly angered to death when she looked at that golden yellow imperial decree in her hand, wishing that she could tear it to pieces, yet did not dare to. She could only twist her face and said in a strange voice. "Master, what do you think is going on? His Majesty already cancelled Qing Luan and Fifth Prince's engagement, yet now, the empress actually personally issued a decree to have her take part in the Flower Bestowment Feast. Can it be......the empress intends to make Qing Luan the Crown Prince's Consort?"

If it was truly like that, then she would truly be angered to death!

Her daughter had barely become the Fifth Prince's side consort with difficulty. Luo Qing Luan, this loathsome girl, was actually fancied by the empress? When did she enter Her Royal Highness, the empress' field of view?

Luo Cheng also couldn't figure it out. Originally, he was also feeling ill when Luo Qing Luan was separated from Nangong Chen. After all, it could be considered a scandal within his General's Mansion. Now if it was true that Her Highness the empress fancied Luo Qing Luan, then it could also be considered a happy matter to be able to cling onto the crown prince, and his Luo family would take another step towards genuinely becoming relatives with the emperor.

He thought about it even further. If Luo Qing Luan gave birth to a little highness in the future and the crown prince became the emperor, then wouldn't he become the emperor's father-in-law? Now that would indeed be a supreme honor!

Thinking to this point, he smiled a rare smile. "Then that's good. After a few days, you should just bring Qing Luan there. Remember to remind her to maintain good etiquette and don't lose face in front of Her Highness the empress. Grasp this opportunity properly."

Wang Xue Ru heard this and hate grew in her heart. Each of her fingers twisted, but she couldn't go against Luo Cheng's wishes and even more so, couldn't disobey the imperial decree. On the day of the Flower Bestowment Feast, she finally brought Luo Qing Luan into the palace to attend the banquet.

"Qing Luan, we're probably headed towards the location of the imperial harem today. The empress will also be there. You absolutely can't be like you were last time and casually point out people's faults. Did you hear that?"

Her tone of voice was incomparably serious and even carried a trace of hypocritical concern. "Have you remembered what Father's Concubine just told you about paying attention to proper etiquette? You can't make any mistake by any means. Otherwise, it'll be cause for a beheading."

How could she not know that Wang Xue Ru wanted to scare her on purpose, so that when she entered the palace, she'd be nervous and anxious and make a fool out of herself instead? However, Luo Qing Luan originally had no interest in this Flower Bestowment Feast anyway. If it wasn't for the imperial decree, she would rather go play at Heavenly Dream Tower.

After their carriage arrived at the gate to the palace, Luo Qing Luan and Wang Xue Ru were escorted by a palace maid. The walkways were lined with luxuriant flowers like the best brocade in brilliant purples and brilliant reds. There were endless gold and jade pavilions and kiosks in glorious splendor, yet were peaceful and dignified, similar to an imposing, tranquil national painting.

Following along the walls were white jade reliefs, then a lake whose surface rippled like blue jade, Luo Qing Luan finally entered the central area of the imperial harem, precisely the place where the Flower Bestowment Feast will be held this time—-Thousand Springs Garden.

It's just that Luo Qing Luan never thought that the moment she came, she would see Luo Qing Shuang, who was already married. She was chatting and laughing with another young lady. Once the two of them turned their heads, they already saw her. Merely dazed for a short moment, Luo Qing Shuang's lips turned into a smile as she walked towards Luo Qing Luan.