The stories of the Dou, Qi, and Yao ladies were most remembered for the three women vying for the same top scholar.
It was expected they would compete and oppose each other, but unexpectedly, they were willing to help one another at the critical moment, even offending the extremely capable Noble Consort Ju.
"Ah!" Qi Yue waved her hands with a flushed face. "Girls should help each other."
"Everyone appreciates Sir Zhu's top scholar talents, but appreciation doesn't mean becoming competitors," Dou Jingyi also spoke softly. "Appreciation is appreciation, helping is helping."
"Right," Qi Yue nodded in agreement. "Help first, then continue competing."
Dou Jingyi could no longer remain serious and turned her head to chuckle.
The two had completely opposite personalities, yet now standing together, there was an inexplicable harmony.
Even Yao Siqing couldn't help teasing, "We can be considered comrades in adversity now."
The spring breeze flowed in the side hall. The five girls each had their own beauty, blossoming radiantly while spreading kindness, finally attracting those of similar or opposite qualities.
When Jiang Chengyu finally searched her entire body but couldn't find a single jade pendant or hairpin, she knew where the problem was. "It must have been the palace maid who secretly took the jade pendant when we bumped into each other."
They were too nervous changing clothes and didn't notice anything amiss, which allowed Noble Consort Ju to discover their weakness.
"It's all my fault, I almost harmed Sister Dou's family." Jiang Chengyu hit her own forehead again, regretting endlessly.
"Don't blame yourself." Dou Jingyi was still so quietly gentle. "Others plotted against us, we couldn't have avoided it no matter what."
It was the courageous and resourceful Jiang sisters who saved them from fire and water in the quickest time.
"In my opinion, none of this is important," Yao Siqing said smiling. "What's most important is what to do with this prince."
The girls' chattering quieted down.
The Eldest Prince on the ground had a bruised nose and swollen face. Fortunately, he was still unconscious without any signs of waking.
If they just left him there, Noble Consort Ju would surely investigate once she discovered him.
But they had no reason to explain if they carried him out.
What to do was truly a dilemma.
Just as the few were at a loss, there was sudden movement outside the side hall.
Jiang Sheng looked up to see it was the Second Prince who had disappeared long ago.
He was still so restrained and taciturn. Seeing the girls, he didn't approach but only cupped his fists from afar, "If the ladies trust me, please let me take Eldest Imperial Brother away and settle him."
The girls all pressed their lips without speaking.
Who dared to talk? The Second Prince and Eldest Prince's struggle for power was known to all. If the Second Prince took this chance to kill the Eldest Prince, then blamed it on the girls, it would truly be mud splattered on their pants—even if it wasn't shit, it was still shit.
"Don't worry, maidens. Although Chang Yu desires the throne, he won't take advantage of others' misfortune, and doesn't want to threaten the maidens' reputation as a gamble." He stood straight, speaking evenly, "In my eyes, those who force maidens to yield with their innocence are worthless cowards."
"I simply can't bear to watch. If the maidens are suspicious, just pretend I was never here."
After the Second Prince spoke, he bowed courteously again and withdrew.
Jiang Sheng and Yao Siqing exchanged glances, Qi Yue and Dou Jingyi exchanged glances, Jiang Chengyu rolled her eyes.
This was deep in the palace. Other than Noble Consort Ju purposefully clearing out the side hall, there were guards everywhere outside, one every three steps and sentry posts every five.
No matter how bold the Second Prince was, he wouldn't dare kill the Eldest Prince, not to mention there were five of them who could testify for each other.
Compared to the princes harming each other, his actions seemed more like courting the maidens and currying favor with the families behind them to expand his connections.
After obtaining agreement from the others, Yao Siqing spoke as representative, "Please wait, Your Highness. Since you're willing to help, we sisters won't decline your kindness. Please accept our thanks for now."
"Thank you, Your Highness," the girls said in unison with a bow.
The Second Prince's face flushed slightly as he bent down to support the unconscious Eldest Prince, like helping a drunk person. He left with heavy and light steps.
Jiang Chengyu silently followed to confirm he only threw the Eldest Prince onto the grass. He sincerely began shouting and displayed anxiety and helplessness to the utmost.
As the palace maids and eunuchs also gathered around, the few girls finally relaxed and returned to the banquet hall hand in hand.
The singing and dancing was over halfway done. The banquet table was full of food and the tired noble ladies who played in the imperial garden gradually returned.
Madam Jiang scanned her three daughters, her gaze tranquil.
The Empress glanced at her sister on the high seat and lightly let out a breath.
After another half hour, almost everyone who was outside playing had returned, but there was still no sign of the Eldest and Second Princes.
Noble Consort Ju used a smile to conceal her anxiety, sweeping over Dou Jingyi several times but forcing herself to restrain.
Until a palace maid hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, Noble Consort, the Eldest Prince and Second Prince started fighting..."
The entire banquet hall quieted down. Everyone silently set down their bowls and chopsticks, their gazes moving to the center.
Noble Consort Ju's face alternated between green and purple. The Imperial Court also frowned, hesitatingly asking, "Is there a specific reason?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, the Second Prince happened to come across the Eldest Prince lying in the grass. After kindly waking up the Eldest Prince, he was accused of being the attacker by the Eldest Prince, and they started fighting." The palace maid's words were meaningful.
On the surface she was reporting the princes fighting, but in reality she was proclaiming the Second Prince's innocence.
Now who could remain seated? With the Imperial Court and Noble Consort Ju taking the lead, everyone hurriedly went outside to stop the two princes rolling in the grass fighting.
Calling it mutual harming, it was actually more like the Second Prince unilaterally taking a beating.
On the contrary, the Eldest Prince looked more battered, making people click their tongues in wonder.
"My son," Noble Consort Ju cried mournfully when she saw the Eldest Prince's appearance, "Who dares harm my son, who!"
The crowd was silent. Jiang Chengyu subconsciously hid behind Jiang Sheng.
"Mother Noble Consort, it was this bastard who beat me. I opened my eyes to see him pretending to be a victim." The Eldest Prince gritted his teeth, becoming even more vicious as he recalled his foiled scheme.
Seeing the Second Prince's mouth leak blood, the Imperial Court finally couldn't hold back. He angrily shouted, "Zhu Changhong, stop!"
The Eldest Prince froze. Realizing this was in public, he awkwardly stood up and pleaded at his mother with his eyes.
"Your Majesty," Noble Consort Ju immediately responded. "Who bullied our Hong'er into this state? Not taking the imperial family seriously or not taking Your Majesty seriously?"
"Father, I'm in pain," the Eldest Prince choked back sobs holding his face.
It's said a child doted on will act coquettishly. Jiang Sheng saw with her own eyes how the mother and son's duet caused the Imperial Court's expression to change from anger to appeasement, and he hesitated more.
On the contrary, the blood-stained Second Prince crawled up without a word and stood in the corner.
His figure was so frail, his scheming so puzzling.
