Chapter 48: The Peculiar Countenance

In the twelfth month of winter, snow continued to drift through the air.

The Crown Prince married Liu Rulan as his secondary consort.

No grand wedding banquet was held; instead, just a single festive sedan chair was sent to carry her into the Eastern Palace, hastily concluding the matter.

Crown Prince Murong Bo had no wish to marry her, but he could not defy Emperor Kangjian’s imperial decree.

Liu Rulan harbored a venomous hatred for Tang Zhaozhao. Clearly, it was she who should have suffered such humiliation.

Yet why had it turned out to be herself instead? No matter how hard Liu Rulan racked her brain, she could only arrive at one conclusion.

Tang Zhaozhao must have discovered something beforehand.

However, everything was already too late.

Tang Zhaozhao stepped out of Prince Lin’s residence, declining the offer of a carriage.

She walked upon the thick layer of accumulated snow, her thoughts drifting into the distance.

A child sprinted past her, tripped over something, and tumbled to the ground, bursting into tears immediately.

In the quiet corner of the sparsely populated street, the crying sounded exceptionally piercing.

Tang Zhaozhao raised her eyes to look.

A youth dressed in green suddenly appeared, holding a sugar figurine in his hand.

With a gentle curve at the corners of his lips, he crouched down before the child.

"Stop crying. This is for you."

Seeing the offered sugar figurine, the child sniffled and asked, "Really?"

The youth smiled like the spring breeze and nodded lightly. "Really."

The child took the sugar figurine and turned tears into laughter.

At that moment, a woman hurried over and helped the child up.

The child held up the sugar figurine to show the woman.

The woman repeatedly thanked the youth before leaving with the child.

Only after watching them walk far away did the youth stand up.

When he turned around, he happened to see Tang Zhaozhao standing opposite, watching the entire scene.

Though the youth did not possess Prince Lin’s peerless beauty, he nonetheless exuded an extraordinary grace.

His features were clean, and his gaze was crystal clear.

The moment he saw Tang Zhaozhao’s face, a momentary daze washed over him.

Then, he nodded gently toward her.

Just then, another youth hurried over.

"Your Highness, why are you wandering off again?"

Accustomed to the complaining tone, the youth merely offered a soft smile.

"A-Xin, let's go!"

"Oh!"

Seeing that his master had turned around, the youth in black quickly followed.

Your Highness?

Tang Zhaozhao frowned slightly. Could this possibly be the Fifth Prince, Murong Qing?

"It is truly identical."

Murong Qing stood in a spot where Tang Zhaozhao could no longer see him, his gaze lingering steadfastly on the figure of the woman clad in Taoist robes.

A-Xin puffed out his cheeks. "Your Highness, were you talking about that female Taoist just now?"

Murong Qing did not answer; he simply watched Tang Zhaozhao’s receding figure.

In his mind, another face surfaced—one that was similar, yet much more tender and youthful.

Scarcely had Tang Zhaozhao returned to the General's Estate when she was summoned by the Dowager Madam Tang.

Initially, she had no intention of going, but upon hearing that her mother was also there, she changed her direction and headed toward the Shou'an Courtyard.

As she stepped into the courtyard, she heard the sound of Dowager Madam Tang's laughter drifting from inside.

This was something that had never once occurred since Tang Zhaozhao had returned to the capital.

Entering the courtyard, the first thing she saw was her mother sitting off to the side with a cold expression.

Then came Dowager Madam Tang in the seat of honor, beside whom stood an unfamiliar young maiden of about fifteen or sixteen.

The young woman possessed delicate features, her face adorned with a radiant smile.

Seeing Tang Zhaozhao enter, the smile on her face paused only for a brief moment.

Tang Zhaozhao felt the gloating gaze directed at her from Tang Yuntao nearby.

Ignoring it entirely, she walked straight over and sat down beside her mother.

Seeing her behave with such a lack of manners, Dowager Madam Tang’s beaming face instantly darkened, and a reprimand followed closely behind.

"You unruly creature!"

Pretending not to hear, Tang Zhaozhao took hold of her mother's hand, using her eyes to ask what was going on.

Song Rongzhi shook her head slightly in response.

Noticing that she was being ignored, Dowager Madam Tang was just about to flare up when the young maiden at her side spoke up.

"Great-aunt, is this younger uncle's youngest daughter, Zhaozhao?"

Dowager Madam Tang grunted an acknowledgement, looking at Tang Zhaozhao with a cold expression.

"This is your cousin, Zhao Mengyue. Why haven't you come over to pay your respects and greet her!"

Tang Zhaozhao remained motionless, an action that once again provoked Dowager Madam Tang's displeasure.

"I am speaking to you! Are you deaf?"

Only then did Tang Zhaozhao turn her gaze toward Dowager Madam Tang.

"Grandmother, have you forgotten? I am a princess of the commandery. If anyone is to pay respects, it should be her greeting me."

Seeing that Dowager Madam Tang was about to fly into a rage again, Zhao Mengyue quickly chimed in with a smile.

"Zhaozhao is right; it is indeed I who should pay respects to you."

She offered a respectful curtsy to Tang Zhaozhao.

"Cousin Zhaozhao, I am older than you by a month. You may address me as Cousin or simply Zhao Mengyue."

Although the young woman appeared respectful and gentle, an inexplicable aversion toward her arose within Tang Zhaozhao.

While she was not entirely proficient in the old Taoist priest's esoteric arts, she had nonetheless learned a thing or two about basic physiognomy.

For instance, one could deduce a person's character from their facial features, or infer whether someone was hypocritical through their words and actions.

Yet, the physiognomy of the Zhao Mengyue before her was extraordinarily complex, as if veiled by a layer of fog.

This person was exceedingly bizarre.

The mention of physiognomy reminded Tang Zhaozhao of the Fifth Prince, Murong Qing, whom she had encountered earlier.

That person possessed the cleanest facial features Tang Zhaozhao had ever laid eyes upon.

The reason she called it clean was because from that face, Tang Zhaozhao could discern absolutely nothing.

It was as if he harbored no desires or cravings; how could such a person exist in this world?

Even Prince Lin’s physiognomy carried the vibrant vitality that ordinary people ought to possess.

Catching sight of two such bizarre physiognomies in a single day left Tang Zhaozhao in a rather poor mood.

If only the old Taoist priest were here; that old man would surely have been able to tell something.

Sensing her daughter's unusual demeanor, Song Rongzhi gently squeezed Tang Zhaozhao's hand.

"Is something the matter with your health?"

Recovering her wits, Tang Zhaozhao shook her head.

At that moment, the Dowager Madam spoke up.

"Mengyue will be staying at the estate from now on to keep this old woman company for a while. I called you all here today simply to inform you."

Leaving the Dowager's quarters, Tang Zhaozhao turned back to cast another glance at the courtyard doors behind her.

Zhao Mengyue, standing beside the Dowager Madam, wore a smile in her eyes that deepened after Tang Zhaozhao departed.

The news that an additional cousin had arrived at the estate quickly spread.

The servants were all adept at reading people's expressions.

Knowing that the Dowager Madam held this cousin in exceptionally high regard, they took meticulous care of her in every aspect of daily life, from food to clothing.

Meanwhile, Zhao Mengyue, having returned to her own room alone, stood by the window watching the drifting snow outside, her eyes brimming with a sense of triumphant ambition.

The next day.

Tang Zhaozhao received an invitation card.

To her utter surprise, the person who had sent the invitation was none other than Xie Tingyao.

Driven by curiosity, Tang Zhaozhao accepted.

When the Dowager Madam learned that she was going to meet the Prime Minister's daughter, she instructed her to bring Zhao Mengyue along as well.

She claimed that since Zhao Mengyue was new to the capital, she needed to become acquainted with the young noblewomen of the city.

Looking at Zhao Mengyue, who was smiling beamingly, Tang Zhaozhao curved her lips.

"Since Grandmother has said so, of course I agree."

Dowager Madam Tang had originally anticipated having to waste her breath in argument, never expecting Tang Zhaozhao to agree so readily this time.

The words of reprimand poised on the tip of her tongue were thus swallowed back.

Nonetheless, she still offered a parting instruction.

"Mengyue has never been to the capital before and knows nothing of the temperaments of the young ladies here. Remember to always take good care of her."

Tang Yuntao actually wanted to go as well.

However, the Dowager Madam made not a single mention of letting her tag along.

A feeling of displeasure stirred in her heart.

Ever since this Zhao Mengyue had arrived, Grandmother no longer doted on her as before.

Worse still, all of her attention had shifted to Zhao Mengyue.

Every single day, the sounds of laughter could be heard echoing from the Shou'an Courtyard.

It had to be admitted that this Zhao Mengyue was exceptionally skilled at winning the Dowager Madam's favor.