The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 45

Ning Siyao only felt the stinging pain on her face and didn't hear what the girl in red said. Just when she was about to strike back, she heard the sound of everyone formally bowing.

Confused as to what was happening, she wanted to open her mouth, but discovered she was already pushed onto the ground by someone.

"To still not kneel after seeing the Grand Princess." The young girl in red look to Ning Siyao with a look of disdain, "If I were to tell Royal Uncle that you didn't pay your respects to the Imperial Great Aunt, how do you think you'll end up?!"

"Min'er, don't be so rude, you are still a princess* after all. How can you act so rashly?" Listening to the girl in red, Chunyuan replied with a smile, "Why did you think of coming to see me today?" She walk up to the girl in red and warmly spoke, completely disregarding Ning Siyao and the crowd that were still kneeling on the ground.

(*TN: To clarify because english does not have the distinctions, she's technically the current Emperor's niece, in Chinese the title is Junzhu)

"Royal great aunt, I heard that big brother Jingxuan met an impressive girl, so I wanted to come see." Mu Zhimin spoke as she intentionally set her gaze towards Qingyan.

"Oh, a girl that could catch Jingxuan's interest? When the time comes I too want to get a good look at her." Chunyuan also liked Murong Jingxuan very much, especially after she learned that he was also the eldest son of Qilian Qingyan's best friend. Thus, whenever he encountered any troubles in Diqiu, she would also reach out to help him.

"That's right, I also want to meet her." Mu Zhimin saw Qingyan lowering her head and grinned, immediately adding, "Upon meeting her now, it seems brother Jingxuan's eyes are not bad, to think that she could get royal great aunt to come to the talent conference."

As soon as Mu Zhimin spoke, Chunyuan turned to Qingyan with a gentle look in her eyes. She'd not thought that the one Murong Jingxuan was interested in was actually this girl before her.

"Are you saying Xuan'er is interested in this girl next to me?" Chunyuan asked Mu Zhimin with a look of disbelief, "Are you positive?"

Upon hearing Chunyuan's words, Mu Zhimin laughed as she wrapped her arms around Chunyuan's, "That's right! Brother Jingxuan has been highly praising this lady nonstop." As she said this she lightly chuckled, covering her mouth.

This was Su Qingyan's first time meeting such a carefree girl. As soon as she heard Chunyuan call her Min'er, she knew that this girl before her was most likely Pingchang* King's posthumous child--Lexia Princess.

(*TN: This is his honorary name and he is given the title of 'king' since he is the Emperor's brother, on that note the Emperor's sons are usually also granted the title of 'king'.)

Lexia Princess, Mu Zhimin's, father died in the line of duty during a military campaign more than ten years ago. Her mother, shortly after giving birth to her, followed after him in death, only leaving the infant Mu Zhimin behind. Hongjia Emperor took pity on her, and seeing that she was Pingchang King's child, he granted her the title of Lexia Princess and had her raised under the imperial consort's care.

"This child is the one he has been going on about?" Chunyuan spoke as she pulled Mu Zhimin before Qingyan and introduced her with a smile, "Yan'er, this is my granddaughter, Min'er. You'll definitely become very good friends in the future."

Qingyan look to Mu Zhimin and greeted her with a bow, "Nice to meet you, Lexia Princess."

"Ah, though I should be the one calling you sister-in-law, no need to be so formal." Mu Zhimin spoke pretty vaguely, "Someone brother Jingxuan is interested in sure is different." She laughed as she teased Qingyan.

Qingyan look to Mu Zhimin and softly spoke, "Princess don't be ridiculous, Qingyan has yet to reach marriageable age, how could you treat Qingyan as such."

Mu Zhimin nodded in satisfaction as she looked at Qingyan, "No bad, as expected of someone brother Jingxuan is interested in. I like you."

"Thank you for your affections." Qingyan replied still smiling.

Ning Siyao initially wanted to see Su Qingyan embarrass herself, which was why she acted out like that, but who would have thought that she'd end up becoming someone else's laughing stock. And that so and so Princess was letting them kneel this whole time; she'd never suffered this kind of humiliation before.

She was the Jingguo Marquis's legitimate daughter, to think that she would have this kind of fate.

When she thought of this, her gaze towards Su Qingyan instantaneously grew violent. She absolutely cant't let this little wench continue to act so freely like this anymore. Just wait, one day she will surely let her have a taste suffering.

Following a sharp voice, various princes arrived at the main hall one after another. Seeing Chunyuan sitting at the main seat, they all successively greeted her with a bow.

The man leading them was clad in a bright yellow attire with dragon patterns on it. With one look, one could tell this was the Crown Prince, Xuanyuan Yuze. According to reliable sources, Xuanyuan Yuze was weak with many aliments. Although he was well versed in politics, his body is unable to support him. Ever since he was small, he'd been dependent on medicine. However, since the founding of Donghe, there's been the custom of the throne being passed down the to the eldest legitimate* child. Thus, even if his body is unwell, he is still undoubtedly deserving of being called the Crown Prince.

(*TN: Any non concubine born children; hence in the case of the imperial family, only children of the Empress would be considered 'legitimate' in this context)

Closely following behind the Crown Prince was a man dressed in blue. He had very high cheek bones, and at a glance, you could tell he was the type that was very ambitious. His gaze towards the Crown Prince was filled with malice. This person is most likely the Second Prince, Xuanyuan Yufan. He was extremely ambitious, wholeheartedly wanting to rid and replace the Crown Prince.

The one following behind Xuanyuan Yufan was a man clad in purple, his gaze was cold and detached. The jade ring on his finger already explained his identity. He was the son the imperial consort Qilian Yuran, the Fourth Prince Xuanyuan Yuzhen.

As for the two following behind Xuanyuan Yuzhen, they must be respectively the Sixth Prince Xuanyuan Yukai and the Seventh Princess Xuanyuan Yuning. They'd both been raised by the imperial consort, which was why they were extremely close to Xuanyuan Yuzhen. And Yuzhen treated them as if they were his full siblings.

The last one to appear was naturally Murong Jingxuan. Today's Murong Jingxuan wore a red attire, carrying a stem of foxtail grass in his mouth. That appearance of his looked as frivolous as those playboys that frequent brothels.

"Great aunt, who upset you this time? To think you'd have all these people still kneeling here as punishment." Murong Jingxuan look to the crowd as his playful voice sounded. He glanced to the the incense burner, "The time for the talent conference is about to start. Great aunt, why trouble these beautiful ladies."

"Brother Jingxuan, you don't understand, this woman was rude to the Imperial Great Aunt, that's why she's kneeling here as punishment." When Mu Zhimin looked to Murong Jingxuan, she grinned and even pointed her finger at Ning Siyao.

Murong Jingxuan didn't follow along the direction where Mu Zhimin pointed towards Ning Siyao, but instead respectfully look to Chunyuan, "Great aunt, since the talent conference is about to start, why bother troubling these people."

Chunyuan turned to Murong Jingxuan and nodded her head with a smile. She looked to the crowd and waved her hand, "You're excused. If there's a second time, I won't be easily forgiving you like this."

After everyone thanked Chunyuan with a bow, they all took their daughters and sat in their assigned seats. And after seeing everyone get up, Qingyan had also planned to go to her own seat, but was stopped by Chunyuan as she pulled her hand, "Yan'er, why don't you sit with me today, those people wouldn't dare to bully you."