Although disagreements between sisters-in-law are common, Yanshu never expected that at the imperial family banquet in the palace, two such noble ladies as Princess Shou'an and the Princess Consort of Ruyang would quarrel so openly.

For a moment, not just her, but everyone in the hall stopped eating and drinking, all turning to look at the two in-laws.

As soon as the Princess Consort of Ruyang spoke, Princess Shou'an immediately glared at her and retorted, "What? I drove her back to her maiden home? Why don't you mention how she tried to harm me? She poisoned my Jie's wet nurse, wasn't that an attempt to kill my poor child? For such a vicious act, I didn't kill her on the spot - that was already giving enough face to her husband and her maiden family!"

"Her returning to her maiden home was because she was too ashamed to stay in the prince's mansion after her plot was exposed! What does that have to do with me? What do you know to be throwing mud at me here!"

As the words fell, the Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess, mother and daughter, both silently clicked their tongues -

So such an incident had actually occurred in the Mu Prince's Mansion?

Tsk, they had heard that the Nanzhao Kingdom practiced monogamy, with men never taking concubines, and thought this would lead to fewer issues in the inner quarters, but who knew there would still be so many problems between sisters-in-law.

Come to think of it, this Princess Consort of Mu inherited her husband's princely title from his elder brother, yet instead of being grateful, she tried to poison her young nephew who had just lost his father. It seems her intentions were truly malicious.

Apparently overcome with anger, Princess Shou'an continued, snorting at her sister-in-law the Princess Consort of Ruyang, "Sister-in-law, rather than concerning yourself with me from a thousand miles away, why don't you mind your own family members! Your family knew your niece had an overbearing personality and would be disciplined by her mother-in-law if she married into a high-ranking family, so they specifically chose a lower-status family for her. What sin did the Xu family commit? Wouldn't it have been better to marry a virtuous daughter-in-law? But they had to marry your niece! After she married in, she wouldn't pay respects to her parents-in-law, controlled the family's finances, ate and dressed well herself while everyone else came second to her!"

"When her sister-in-law finally became engaged to the Heir of the Marquis of Ning'an, she worried that once the sister-in-law entered a high-ranking family she would come back to deal with her. So she actually went to the Marquis of Ning'an's family and said the sister-in-law had broken off two previous engagements! When this was exposed, it finally angered the Xu family enough to divorce her! Such a poisonous woman, and she still wants to marry Mr. Qi? Keep dreaming!"

As these words fell, the crowd in the hall couldn't help but click their tongues again -

What? She even spread rumors about her own sister-in-law?

Hearing this, it seems the Princess Consort of Ruyang's niece was indeed quite vicious.

However, before they could finish their disapproval, the Princess Consort of Ruyang became furious again and snorted, "You're one to talk! You had an ambiguous relationship with the Young Master Wang of Pingzhou but wouldn't marry him, causing that well-known local talent to become dull and stupid. And Young Master Sun, Governor Sun's only son, studied hard for ten years and finally achieved the rank of tanhua in the imperial examinations. So many good young ladies in the capital had their eyes on him, but you - your husband hadn't even been dead for a year, and instead of properly observing widowhood, you went and got entangled with him!"

"You entangled with him but wouldn't marry him, ruining his reputation and causing him to only marry at 25. His parents, Governor Sun and his wife, were angered to death! They just didn't dare curse you because of your status as a princess! And you call others poisonous women? In my opinion, you're the rotten apple of the Yuwen Family, who knows how much you've tarnished the imperial family's good name!"

What?

At these words, the others once again widened their eyes -

There were actually such matters?!

However, before they could investigate further, Princess Shou'an became angry again and said, "I'm a single widow, and Sun Liang was also an unmarried single man, why couldn't we be mutually fond of each other? You think I didn't originally want to marry him? It was because of his old-fashioned parents... They looked down on me for being a widow!"

She then retorted, "Sister-in-law says I've tarnished the Yuwen Family's name, but you should mind your own business! As a daughter-in-law of the Yuwen Family, have you properly fulfilled your responsibilities? Among the children in the household, you only hire good tutors for your own son, and won't even let the other sons sit in on lessons! You won't lay a finger on your own son, but how many beatings have you given the other sons? That year when my brother's concubine and favorite concubine stabbed each other and both miscarried, who was sitting back reaping the benefits? Do you dare say you had nothing to do with all this?"

As these words fell, Yanshu was stunned again -

What? King Ruyang's concubine and favorite concubine had both miscarried that year?

Could the Princess Consort of Ruyang have been behind it?

She saw that not far away, the Grand Princess also seemed to recall this incident from the past, and hurriedly exchanged a glance with the Empress Dowager.

However, immediately after, the Princess Consort of Ruyang became angry again, slapping the table and saying, "They were stupid themselves, what does that have to do with me? As the proper mistress of a prince's household, am I not allowed to discipline the children? Is this something you have any right to criticize?"

She then snorted and laughed, "No matter what I've done, I'm still better than some people, who have thrown their son to their younger brother to raise all these years, while they themselves spend all day sightseeing and traveling. Someone who hasn't fulfilled even half their responsibilities as a mother has the nerve to criticize others!"

...

Perhaps because they had both had some alcohol earlier, the emotions of these two in-laws were particularly intense at this moment. As they spoke, they had even stood up.

It looked like if they continued arguing, they might come to blows.

Seeing this situation, the Empress Dowager finally spoke up, "Alright, alright, why are family members fighting?"

- Tsk, seeing that even the palace servants attending the banquet had forgotten to pour tea and wine, if these two were allowed to continue, it would truly become a laughingstock -

As she finished speaking, the Grand Princess also hurriedly chimed in, "That's right, that's right, you two are still aunt and niece, what's the point of exposing each other's shortcomings here? Stop talking now."

In comparison, the Ankang county lord and Yanshu were the younger generation, so they could only nod along, not daring to speak carelessly.

But in her heart, Yanshu thought, [Keep spilling more! This is getting exciting!]

However, under these circumstances, Princess Shou'an had no choice but to calm down a bit, and addressed the Empress Dowager and Grand Princess, "I've made the Empress and elder sister laugh. I'm very grateful for the Empress Dowager's welcome banquet for me today, it's just that some people are like toads trying to eat swan meat, coming out to make fools of themselves."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Princess Consort of Ruyang immediately glared and said, "Who are you calling a toad!"

Princess Shou'an tilted her head back and snorted, "Whoever answers is whoever it is!"

"You..."

Before the Princess Consort of Ruyang could finish, she quickly said to the Empress Dowager, "I've had too much to drink today, I've made the Empress laugh. I'll take my leave first and go sober up."

What else could the Empress Dowager say? She nodded and said, "Be careful on your way back."

Princess Shou'an responded affirmatively, then bowed to the Grand Princess and Yanshu before leaving her seat and exiting the hall.

However, the Princess Consort of Ruyang was still full of anger, and complained to everyone again, "Look how arrogant she's become! I was just trying to find a good match for my niece, is that wrong? Yet she mocks me like this, it's really infuriating!"

As she finished speaking, Yanshu silently thought to herself, there's nothing wrong with looking out for your niece, but don't go harming innocent people.

Also, no one is allowed to snatch away her idol Headmaster Qi, hmph!

Just then, she heard the Grand Princess speak up, "You're not wrong, but your niece sounds quite young, while Headmaster Qi seems to be in his forties already. Moreover, his position isn't one of great wealth or status, I'm afraid he might not be suitable for your niece. Why not find her someone younger and from a better family?"

- Tsk, after all, this young woman sounds like she can really cause trouble, who from an ordinary family could keep her in check...

The Princess Consort of Ruyang could hear the meaning behind these words, and was momentarily embarrassed, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

Then the Empress Dowager said to her, "To be honest with you, I can't help with this matter either. Just yesterday, His Majesty specifically issued an order at the gates of Songhe Academy not to disturb him, so I can't easily meet with the Headmaster either."

At these words, Yanshu quickly spoke up to corroborate, "I was there yesterday too, His Majesty did indeed say this."

Hearing this, the Princess Consort of Ruyang could only acquiesce.

But in her heart, she couldn't help cursing her sister-in-law Princess Shou'an again -

Hmph, if she's married then she's married, why does she have to come back every few years to bring bad luck!

What rotten luck!

After watching this lively scene in the Hall of Gentle Ceremony, Yanshu returned to Ganlu Palace.

Recalling the exciting scene from earlier, she felt too thrilled to take an afternoon nap and decided to review the juicy gossip the two sisters-in-law had just shared about each other.

Well, who knows, maybe one day it could be used as material for a story.

Of course, those two had been talking so fast earlier that it was impossible to catch all the details, so she quickly called upon the system for help.

[System, tell me quickly, what was all that gossip about today? Is the niece of Princess Consort of Ruyang really like what Princess Shou'an described?]

The system replied, [More or less. The Princess Consort of Ruyang comes from a noble family herself, and with her status as a princess consort, she's always been very domineering. Most of what was said about her niece is true. The Xu family eventually couldn't stand it anymore and divorced her. Now that woman's reputation is ruined and most people don't dare to get involved with her.]

Yanshu: [I see.]

Tsk tsk, it's a good thing she blocked the Princess Consort of Ruyang's advances today. To think such a person would dare to have designs on her idol! It seems Princess Shou'an's final comment about her was quite apt!

She then asked, [What about Princess Shou'an's gossip? Is it true about the Young Master Wang of Pingzhou and the grandson of the Governor of Jin'an?]

The system said, [That's mostly accurate too. The Wang family is a prominent clan in Pingzhou, and that young master is considered one of the top elite bachelors there, known for being quite aloof. One year when Princess Shou'an was passing through Pingzhou, she stayed at their home. Seeing that the young master was good-looking, she casually flirted with him and then left. But the young master, experiencing his first love, became quite infatuated and couldn't get over her for several years, almost going mad for a while.]

Yanshu: [...]

Tsk tsk, isn't that just cruel!

The system continued, [The incident with the grandson of the Governor of Jin'an is actually quite similar to what happened the other day. At the time, he was a newly successful candidate in the imperial examinations, parading through the streets on horseback. Princess Shou'an, just like yesterday, threw a flower at him. That young master, being naive and easily swayed, saw how beautiful she was and fell for her. However, Princess Shou'an actually did have some genuine feelings at the time and wanted to discuss marriage, but his parents were firmly against it, so nothing came of it in the end.]

Yanshu: [...]

So she's a habitual offender! No wonder she was so accurate in throwing that flower the other day, tsk.

But in that case, if Princess Shou'an had genuine feelings for that Young Master Sun back then, and still flirted with her idol, it clearly wasn't true love!

She then continued to ask, [So what's the deal with Princess Shou'an's sister-in-law, the Princess Consort of Mu? Why did she drug the wet nurse to harm her son?]

The system replied, [Well, the Princess Consort of Mu is certainly wicked, but there's another main reason. Princess Shou'an's brother-in-law, the current Prince Mu Zhengping, has long harbored a secret love for Princess Shou'an. When Princess Shou'an first married into the Nanzhao Kingdom, Mu Zhengping was captivated by her beauty, but since she was his sister-in-law, he kept his feelings hidden. One day, his future wife, the Princess Consort of Mu, found out about this and naturally became jealous, harboring resentment for many years. Attempting to poison Princess Shou'an's son was just one of her schemes. Before that, this woman... had tried various other tactics against Princess Shou'an, such as putting drugs in her food, falsely accusing her of adultery, and so on.]

Yanshu: [...]

It seems things are quite chaotic in the Mu Prince's Mansion, tsk.

But come to think of it, Princess Shou'an doesn't seem like a pushover. If her sister-in-law tried to harm her so many times, didn't she retaliate at all?

The system replied, [Of course she did. After being falsely accused of adultery, Princess Shou'an was so enraged that she went ahead and slept with her brother-in-law.]

Yanshu: "???"