In the imperial family, Prince Yuling, Xi Zhuoyu held a special position. His father, General Xi, was stationed at the bitter cold frontier for years, commanding an army of several hundred thousand in the Sixteen Provinces.

Xi Zhuoyu himself was also deeply favored by his uncle, the Emperor. As he was not a prince, there was no need for him to fight for the throne, and his status was secure. Countless people in the capital wanted to befriend him, but he treated everyone with a distant politeness, as if there was always a barrier between them.

After suffering from a serious illness as a child, he became somewhat eccentric. Although he had some friends, none were close confidants. Almost everyone's impression of him was his incomparably beautiful face, his quirky love for dogs, and his good temper, being kind to everyone. This kindness could also be interpreted as courtesy. Displaying anger to defend someone like this was truly unprecedented.

Yes, everyone could see that the amiable and tactful Prince Yuling was indeed angry. Realizing this, everyone present was shocked, even Prince Yu was very surprised.

However, his expression quickly turned ugly. What did Prince Yuling mean by this? Why did he have to refute him in public to defend Xiao Jinyue? Was he secretly allied with one of his brothers to deal with him? Or was there a problem with the Emperor?

As his birth mother was only a palace maid, Prince Yu had the lowest status among the princes. He took great pride in reaching his current position through years of hard work. He especially valued his dignity, so being rebuked in front of everyone like this was something he could not tolerate.

Under the surprised and suspicious gazes of others, he had already calmed down and sneered at Xi Zhuoyu, "Why does Prince Yuling want to defend Xiao Jinyue? Could it be that my princess consort has such heavenly skills that she can even win over Prince Yuling?"

His malice was obvious. Before Xi Zhuoyu could move, the docile large dog lying at his feet suddenly stood up and let out a fierce threatening sound at Prince Yu.

The crowd recognized this dog. In their impression, it was an especially gentle and obedient large dog that never barked randomly. Although it was large in size, it did not seem dangerous. So in private, many people mocked Prince Yuling, saying that the master had no temper, so the dog he raised also couldn't bark.

But at this moment, seeing the ferocious look in the dog's eyes, everyone swallowed hard, recalling an old saying - a dog that bites doesn't bark. They now had no doubt that with a single command from Prince Yuling, this huge dog would pounce and tear out Prince Yu's throat.

Xi Zhuoyu patted the large dog to calm it down. He said to the wary-looking Prince Yu, "I know Lady Xiao's elder brother and have also met Lady Xiao. Appearance is not the standard to judge a woman, and rumors should not become weapons to harm an innocent lady. After all, you were once husband and wife, so why must Prince Yu be so harsh?"

Although he was sitting, his aura was not inferior to the tall Prince Yu standing there. Prince Yu's face had turned black as the bottom of a pot. As soon as Prince Yuling said these words, the others present couldn't help whispering, "Prince Yu is indeed going a bit too far", "I heard Lady Xiao had a good reputation before". Hearing this, Prince Yu's eyes turned red with anger.

He despised Xiao Jinyue, she was just a used shoe he didn't want anymore. What was the point of these people judging him for saying a few words about her?

And this Prince Yuling, usually putting on an aloof and amiable air, with a sanctimonious appearance, today he was so considerate of Xiao Jinyue, maybe he had hooked up with that cheap woman. Thinking this way, Prince Yu suddenly felt as if there was a green light on his head.

He laughed angrily, "I didn't expect Prince Yuling to care so much about Xiao Jinyue, but Xiao Jinyue is my wife. It's my natural right to say anything about her. Whatever I say she is, that's what she is. Outsiders had better not question it, lest you lose face in the end for being mistaken."

Xi Zhuoyu stroked the dog's head and smiled faintly, "Wife? Lady Xiao is no longer your wife now, Prince Yu."

...

The Emperor and Empress were talking about Xi Zhuoyu at this time. The Empress said, "Zhuoyu is so old but still hasn't chosen a princess consort, it's really improper. Your Majesty can't always let him be. Continuing the family line is his duty, he can't just spend his life with those, those dogs, right?"

The Emperor was also troubled, "Empress, you make a good point. But Zhuoyu is not keen about this. I've talked to him many times, and he always says to discuss it again in a few years."

Empress: "No matter what, as his elders, we should decide this lifelong matter for him."

"Hmm." The Emperor asked, "Do you have a candidate in mind?"

The Empress smiled, "How about Princess Chunxi? This child is lovely and lively. Although her temperament is a bit domineering, Zhuoyu is gentle, so they can complement each other. Besides, Chunxi is not afraid of the dogs in Zhuoyu's residence, isn't that perfect?"

The Emperor pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to agree, he heard a commotion outside, as if a woman was screaming shrilly.

"What's happening outside? Why is it so noisy?"

The palace maid beside the Empress looked frightened and came in to bow, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, Princess Chunxi and Minister Xiao's third daughter are quarreling. Princess Chunxi said that Lady Xiao was disrespectful to her and wants to bring her here for the Empress to punish Lady Xiao."

The Emperor and Empress frowned upon hearing this. The Empress said, "Lady Xiao, isn't that Prince Yu's former princess consort? How did she get into an argument with Chunxi?"

The palace maid lowered her head, "This, it seems to be because of Prince Yuling."

"How improper!" the Empress said angrily. Two women were arguing over a man, and even brought the matter to her.

Just then, a eunuch ran over to report to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Prince Yuling and Prince Yu are arguing in the East Tower."

Emperor: "...Prince Yu and who?"

Eunuch: "And Prince Yuling."

Realizing he hadn't misheard, the Emperor was shocked, "Zhuoyu would get angry and argue with someone? He hasn't argued with anyone since he was a few years old. What did Prince Yu do to provoke Zhuoyu, who has such a good temper, to have an unpleasant quarrel with him?"

The eunuch replied, "Prince Yu was talking to someone and insulted Minister Xiao's third daughter with his words. Prince Yuling then spoke up to stop him, and that's how the conflict started."

Emperor: "..."

The Empress, who also heard this: "..."

Just after the incident where Xiao Jinyue argued with Princess Chunxi over Prince Yuling, Prince Yuling also had a fight with Prince Yu in order to defend Xiao Jinyue. What's going on with these two???

"Ah!" The Empress suddenly seemed to realize something, showing an enlightened expression.

Seeing her unusual expression, the Emperor asked, "What is it, did you think of something?"

The Empress waved for the others to leave, then hesitantly said to the Emperor, "Earlier when Lady Xiao came to pay her respects, I found the fabric of her clothes familiar, but couldn't recall where I had seen it. I just suddenly remembered, it was pearl brocade and purple cloud gauze, two types of fabric from this year's tribute. Initially, after keeping some for myself that I haven't used yet, you had me send the rest to Zhuoyu, saying to let him occasionally wear some plain clothes too."

With the Empress saying this, the Emperor also fell into an eerie silence. The fabric gifted to Prince Yuling was now made into a dress worn by Xiao Jinyue. Prince Yuling, who never quarreled with others, argued with someone for the sake of this woman.

What was this? He didn't even need to think to understand why.

"Sigh, this child, why did he have to take a liking to her," the Emperor sighed.

The Empress also didn't expect this. "These two seem to have feelings for each other, but Prince Yu... Could it be that Zhuoyu didn't say anything because of Prince Yu?"

The previous matters between Xiao Jinyue and Prince Yu had been a huge scandal, so the Emperor and Empress naturally knew about it. Now they didn't know what to do. Finally, the Emperor could only say, "Since it's like this, let's wait on Zhuoyu's marriage for now."

The Empress was still unwilling to give up. She simply decided, "Summon Prince Yuling here, we'll ask him ourselves. Maybe it's a misunderstanding."

The palace servant went to invite Prince Yuling. Princess Chunxi dragged Jiang Yuchao with her as they were also brought before the Emperor and Empress.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, you must support me!" Princess Chunxi cried out aggrievedly as soon as she entered.

She originally thought the Empress, who had always been kind to her, would stand on her side. But she didn't expect the Empress to scold her this time, "What kind of talk is that! Chunxi, where have you thrown your manners? Making a fuss over some trivial matters, shouting and making a scene, is this how your mother taught you?"

Princess Chunxi was stunned for a moment, feeling something was off. She also started to feel a bit afraid, stammering and not knowing what to say.

Jiang Yuchao was also stunned. She wasn't afraid at all. In any case, they wouldn't kill someone over such a small matter. She had already thought of how to play the white lotus to set off the princess's unreasonableness, but who knew the Empress's attitude would be so strange.

"Jinyue, come here." The Empress smiled and beckoned to Jiang Yuchao, "Chunxi is still young and doesn't understand things, don't take it to heart with her."

Princess Chunxi: "???"

Until they were sent back to the previous Linshui Palace by the Empress's people, Princess Chunxi still hadn't recovered. Why was she scolded, and why did Xiao Jinyue instead receive the Empress's kind treatment?

Jiang Yuchao and Princess Chunxi had just left when the palace servant brought Xi Zhuoyu.

Xi Zhuoyu originally thought the Emperor and Empress summoned him alone because of the argument with Prince Yu. He didn't expect that after the Empress exchanged a few pleasantries with him, she suddenly asked, "Zhuoyu, you're not young anymore. It's time to consider marriage. I'm thinking of suggesting Princess Chunxi for you, what do you think?"

Xi Zhuoyu was stunned for a moment before remembering who this was. Recalling seeing that little girl when he was very young, he slightly frowned and shook his head.

The Empress asked, "Why not? Do you have someone else in mind?"

Xi Zhuoyu answered truthfully, "No, I just don't like Princess Chunxi."

The Emperor couldn't help interjecting, "Why don't you like Chunxi?"

Xi Zhuoyu: "When she was young, she had a dog but didn't treat it well, often beating and abusing it. I tried to stop her many times back then but to no avail. I don't like this kind of woman."

The Emperor: "..." Who are you trying to fool? Remembering a dog from childhood until now, and rejecting a cute princess for it? Obviously he has that Xiao Jinyue in his heart but can't say it, so he's just making up an excuse to brush it off.

"Forget it, forget it, you may go," the Emperor sent him away. After he left, he said to the Empress, "This child's heart is indeed set on that Xiao Jinyue."

This time, the Empress had to believe it too. "Then what should we do now? That Xiao Jinyue was previously Prince Yu's princess consort after all. It's not appropriate for us to arrange a marriage for Zhuoyu now."

The Emperor: "Forget it, let's not mind them for now. Let's wait and see. When that little Zhuoyu comes begging, we'll talk then."

Minister Xiao finally learned about this quarrel between the two princes. Regarding Prince Yu's undisguised loathing, he was also angry in his heart. Back when his power wasn't strong and he asked him for a favor, he agreed to marry his daughter.

Now that he's formidable, he wants to abandon her after achieving his goal, what kind of thing is he, does he really think Xiao Pingsha is just a clay figurine who only knows how to smooth things over?

As for Prince Yuling suddenly standing up for his daughter, what was the reason? Was it really just because he was close with his son? But he had never cared so much about other friends before, even going so far as to look after their family members.

Jiang Yuchao and Princess Chunxi returned to the Linshui Palace, where an opera had already started. However, most people's minds weren't on watching the play, but whispering about something.

Jiang Yuchao initially didn't pay attention to their topic at all, but Princess Chunxi was surrounded by people. Hearing them talk about what happened, she immediately jumped up and shouted in disbelief, "How can that be, how could Brother Zhuoyu defend that abandoned woman!"

Hmm, it's related to Shaoyuan Hubby? Jiang Yuchao immediately went to find out what happened.

Her idol had just argued with that cancerous straight man Prince Yu to defend her reputation. Oh my god, what a divine idol! My brother is the best in the world!

The always calm Jiang Yuchao was instantly immersed in a sea of joy, her heart filled with being moved and comforted. She couldn't sit still anymore and slipped outside to get some air and calm down.

With unpleasant things happening from the start of today's Double Ninth Festival banquet, Xi Zhuoyu, who didn't like eating crab, came out from the Emperor and Empress's place. He simply didn't go sit with everyone in the previous hall either. He took his big dog for a walk in the nearby imperial garden. Walking to a row of cotton-rose hibiscus flowers, he bent down and picked up a pink blossom that had just fallen.