Yu Qingwu's expression froze.

She knew that Xie Jin Yan would definitely appoint a first wife, but when it was about to happen, she couldn't help but lose control.

Her slender jade hands hidden in her sleeves clenched her embroidered handkerchief, but she tried to suppress her emotions, slowly raised her head, and tentatively looked at the man, smiling as she asked, "So what does Your Highness think?"

When she asked this, Yu Qingwu was extremely uneasy.

She was very afraid that Xie Jin Yan would agree to make Qiu Shiyi Niang the Crown Princess, and that Xie Jin Yan would collude with the Qiu family in the future.

At that time, let alone revenge...

Once he was tired of her, perhaps... she wouldn't even be able to save her life.

Thinking of this, Yu Qingwu's heart couldn't help but feel half cold, her amorous peach blossom eyes fixedly gazing at the man in front of her, with a bit of fear, and she asked him again, "Your Highness, will you listen to the Empress' arrangement?"

"I won't..."

"That Qiu Shiyi Niang is nothing but an undeserved reputation, a fake propped up by money."

"Besides, she is already Xie Qiyun's person, and I won't marry a slut who recommends herself for my bed."

Xie Jin Yan sneered, his words full of contempt...

However, his answer made Yu Qingwu stunned again.

What did he mean? Did Qiu Shiyi Niang and Xie Jin Yan's eldest brother, Xie Qiyun, already have an affair?

If so, then... why did the Empress still want to match him with Qiu Shiyi Niang?

Yu Qingwu suddenly felt that her brain was not working well enough, and deeply suspected that she might die in these intricate power struggles before she could even take revenge.

Taking a deep breath, Qingwu turned her head and stared at Xie Jin Yan, puzzled, "Your Highness, the Empress is as clear as a mirror. She should be aware of the relationship between Qiu Shiyi Niang and Xie Qiyun, right? If so, why does she still want to match you with Qiu Shiyi Niang?"

Why?

A haze appeared in Xie Jin Yan's eyes, and he smiled bitterly, "Why else? Naturally, she wants to use Qiu Shiyi Niang's hand to get rid of A Yue. Once A Yue is dead, the Empress Dowager will probably expose the relationship between Xie Qiyun and that Qiu woman..."

"Forget it, let's not talk about this. In short, when we arrive at the palace today, we must be careful in everything. As for the rest, I have my own ways."

Xie Jin Yan sighed, and as he spoke, he put Qingwu in his arms again.

His large hand gently stroked her shoulder, as if seeking a trace of comfort in this way.

Seeing that he didn't want to continue talking, Yu Qingwu didn't ask any more questions, but silently looked at the carriage wall, her thoughts gradually drifting away in the sound of horses' hooves.

Not knowing how long had passed, the winter sun was at its peak.

With a dazzling light, the carriage stopped outside the Fengzao Palace.

When Xie Jin Yan and Yu Qingwu entered the door, the main hall was already full of people.

In addition to the Sixth Princess, Xie Ruizhi, there were also several princes and princesses and some children of royal relatives.

The one with the lowest status among them was Qiu Shiyi Niang, the direct daughter of a marquis.

However, after Yu Qingwu arrived, Qiu Shiyi Niang was no longer the "phoenix tail" (the best among the ordinary). Seeing Yu Qingwu enter the door, Qiu Shiyi Niang couldn't help but raise a smug look in her eyes.

She hurriedly stepped forward and gave Xie Jin Yan a delicate salute, "This humble woman has seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"This concubine has seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."

In the room, including the Eldest Prince's wife, a group of female relatives all came to salute Xie Jin Yan.

But it seemed intentional, directly ignoring Yu Qingwu.

Only the Sixth Princess, Xie Ruizhi, saw Qingwu, she walked up to her with a smile and took her arm, smiling and calling her, "Sister-in-law, you look so beautiful today."

"You look beautiful today too." Yu Qingwu curled her lips and smiled gently at Xie Ruizhi.

Then, she took out a brocade box from her sleeve and handed it to Xie Ruizhi, "Sixth Princess, this is for you..."

"For me? Sister-in-law even prepared a New Year's gift for me?" Xie Ruizhi's eyes lit up, and she excitedly took the brocade box, then carefully opened it, and what came into view was an extremely delicate, small, circular wooden box.

On the box, the two characters "Rui Zhi" were engraved, and the surrounding area was decorated with plum blossom carvings, which looked like it was prepared with care.

Opening the box again, it was rouge, the texture was very different from what was bought on the market, the cream was more moisturizing, and there were three colors. In the Wei Dynasty, rouge had always only had one color, and it was not natural enough to apply.

But the box that Yu Qingwu sent was not only rich in color, but also natural and bright.

For a moment, all the female relatives were attracted, and the other princesses rushed up to join in.

"Imperial sister, this...rouge actually has three colors?" The Fourth Princess widened her eyes, and as she spoke, she reached out to take it from Xie Ruizhi's hand.

Seeing this, Xie Ruizhi suddenly took it back, glanced at the Fourth Princess unhappily, and said, "This was given to me by my imperial sister-in-law. If Fourth Sister wants it, go buy it yourself."

Hearing her words, the Fourth Princess immediately looked at Yu Qingwu.

In her eyes, there was no longer the disdain she had before, and she came up and took her hand and asked, "Imperial sister-in-law, where did you buy this rouge? How come there are so many colors?"

Hearing her question, the other female relatives also looked at Yu Qingwu, one by one staring intently, including Qiu Shiyi Niang.

Although she deliberately provoked everyone to exclude Yu Qingwu, she was still a girl after all, and naturally she was also interested in these things.

Looking at the girls' burning gazes, Yu Qingwu knew that her first step had been successful.

She smiled faintly, waved her hand lightly, and replied to the Fourth Princess in a gentle voice, "Fourth Sister, I made this rouge myself, you can't buy it outside."

"Ah! You...you made it yourself?" The Fourth Princess was startled, and then her face was full of disappointment.

When the other female relatives heard that the rouge could not be bought, they all showed disappointment.

Yu Qingwu smiled, and then took out a dozen or so extremely small circular paper boxes from her sleeve, took one out and handed it to the Fourth Princess.

"I... I have one too?" The Fourth Princess's eyes, which had been lonely a moment ago, instantly became radiant, and she quickly opened the box, which also contained rouge, but only one color.

But this already made her very satisfied, after all, such a color was not common on the market.

Seeing that the Fourth Princess had also received rouge, the other princesses also swarmed up, and finally a dozen boxes of different colors of rouge were swept away in just a moment.

Seven princesses and two county princesses, as well as several prince consorts each took one.

Only Qiu Shiyi Niang stared eagerly at everyone trying each other out, feeling a little lost in her heart, and hating it to the extreme.

It was clear that just now, through her provocation, these princesses and prince consorts were already extremely disgusted with Yu Qingwu, but how could it be... in the blink of an eye, they were all bought off with a box of rouge.

No! She must not let Yu's win over the people's hearts like this.

She gritted her teeth and glanced at Yu Qingwu unwillingly, a flash of resentment flashed in her eyes.

"Yu Liangdi, did...did you not prepare one for me?" Just when everyone was discussing rouge, a soft and pitiful voice suddenly came from the corner. The tone was as if Yu Qingwu had deliberately not prepared one for her, deliberately isolating her.