A single slip of the tongue, a curse word of "beast," made the ears of Changsun Qinghua on the side buzz and his face turn from red to white, then from white to black.
Even Du Chun, standing beside him, was not faring any better. Her hands, painted with bright red nail polish, clenched the brocade handkerchief so tightly that her venomous eyes wished they could kill Zhao Jiaqi on the spot.
Du Chun gritted her teeth and said angrily, "What does Your Royal Highness mean by insulting this Crown Princess? Is this how Yun Nation treats its guests?"
Zhao Jiaqi sneered, "This is called returning the favor. You should be glad I'm being lenient!"
"And remember, no matter which country's Crown Princess you are, this is Yun Nation, and you have no right to be arrogant. We in Yun Nation understand hospitality, but that depends on whether the other party is worthy of respect!"
She still wanted to use her status to control her. A mere Crown Princess acting so presumptuously on someone else's territory, did this person's brain leak water, or did she just want to feel important in front of her?
Changsun Qinghua chuckled and took over Zhao Jiaqi's words, "The Zhenwu King's Consort is indeed formidable. The rumors outside are true; I am truly enlightened!"
This Royal Highness?
So, he was the Crown Prince. Zhao Jiaqi raised an eyebrow subtly. "Which country's Crown Prince? Your logic is so sound!"
When the Zhenwu King's Consort inquired about his identity, he subconsciously straightened his back, feeling his status was worth showing off.
He cleared his throat with a proud smile and said, "I am Changsun Qinghua, the Crown Prince of Jin Nation. This is Crown Princess Du Chun."
Zhao Jiaqi chuckled. So, it was Jin Nation. A former defeated foe, and he dared to flaunt himself here.
"So you're the Crown Prince of Jin Nation. I'm truly sorry, my husband was too careless. Not only did he defeat you, but he also occupied a city and had the prisoners do a lot of work for me for free. Thank you for training so many obedient soldiers for me."
Zhao Jiaqi's barbed words stung Changsun Qinghua. She watched his expression change rapidly, which greatly pleased her.
Finally, she couldn't resist rubbing salt in the wound. "But don't worry, I'll talk to him when I get back. How could he treat you like this? It's unacceptable! He should have at least taken two more cities to show his might."
"However, I advise you, Crown Prince Changsun, to think carefully next time you go to war. Don't end up losing the wife and the soldiers, and letting that brat Zong Han extort another piece of land from you. You must be at a loss!"
Changsun Qinghua's lips trembled with rage. He admitted that for the first time in his life, he, who was being ridiculed, could not retort.
Because everything the Zhenwu King's Consort said was the truth.
"Your Royal Highness's words are truly cutting. I merely felt displeased seeing the King gain another city, which is why I went to Jin Nation to demand a piece of land. If Crown Prince Changsun blames someone, blame the Zhenwu King, for he won!"
Zong Han, with his hands behind his back, led A Shi and strolled leisurely from behind the rockery, speaking casually. However, to Changsun Qinghua's ears, it was even more infuriating.
He would never have imagined that Zong Sheng Nation would attack Jin Nation simply because Yun Nation's Zhenwu King had acquired another city.
At that moment, a腥甜 (sweetness tinged with blood) surged in Changsun Qinghua's throat. If his self-control were any weaker, he would have spat out a mouthful of blood.
Zhao Jiaqi listened to Zong Han's twisted reasoning and immediately retorted, "How can it be my husband's fault for winning? If anyone is to blame, it's Jin Nation. Why did they have to go to war? If there was no war, could my husband have won?"
This back-and-forth conversation led back to Changsun Qinghua.
So, he lost the battle, lost land, lost face, and was even to blame for it?
Changsun Qinghua looked at Zhao Jiaqi and Zong Han. They were singing in harmony, completely disregarding his presence.
It was as if they didn't even consider him a Crown Prince, let alone a person.
"I didn't expect the Emperor of Zong Sheng Nation and the Zhenwu King's Consort of Yun Nation to have such a close relationship. It would surely shock everyone if this were to get out!"
Zhao Jiaqi and Zong Han exchanged glances and chuckled.
Their families' close relationship was no secret. Did Changsun Qinghua still think he could threaten them with this?
"Changsun Qinghua, I can tell you directly, you can provoke anyone else, but if you dare to touch the Zhenwu King and his Consort, I guarantee that Jin Nation will disappear from this continent henceforth."
Zong Han's domineering declaration truly startled Changsun Qinghua.
To utter such words in public showed the unshakeable bond between these two families.
Yu Meng and Tian Tian tugged at Zong Han to play, while Zhao Jiaqi glanced at the displeased Du Chun and said with a smile, "It's better to know your place. Don't try to mock others and end up being mocked yourself; that would be truly embarrassing."
The small interlude ended, but their words, every single one, reached Huangfu Yifan's ears.
That evening, a palace banquet.
In the grand hall, song and dance filled the air, and ministers toasted each other, creating a lively atmosphere.
As everyone was in high spirits, Du Chun, the Crown Princess of Jin Nation, at the instigation of Crown Prince Changsun Qinghua, intended to give Zhao Jiaqi, the arrogant and domineering King's Consort, a hard time.
She wanted to humiliate her in front of everyone, to avenge the ridicule she had suffered in the palace that afternoon.
"I heard that the Zhenwu King's Consort is not only exceptionally beautiful but also accomplished in both civil and military arts. I wonder if she could perform a piece today to celebrate His Majesty!"
A voice as pleasant as a lark's resounded through the hall. All eyes turned to Du Chun, then to Zhao Jiaqi.
Half of the people present were there to watch the spectacle, and only a small portion were genuinely angered.
The identities of Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi were known not only to everyone in Yun Nation but also to foreign envoys.
How could the Crown Princess of Jin Nation utter such blatant falsehoods, claiming the Zhenwu King's Consort was accomplished in both civil and military arts and exceptionally beautiful?
Huangfu Yifan, seated at the head, his handsome face showing a slight flutter of his eyelashes, did not refuse Du Chun's proposal. He looked at the person chatting with Yu Meng.
"Zhenwu King's Consort, the Crown Princess of Jin Nation wishes to see your talent. Do you have anything to say!"
Zhao Jiaqi glanced sideways at the person not far away, her face smiling innocently, but her heart was as dark as a rat in a sewer, utterly disgusting.
Asking her opinion again?
Can't they change their tone?
She picked up a handkerchief and wiped the child's mouth, then said with a smile, "I am not a performer or a singer, why should I entertain others? Furthermore, a defeated nation's Crown Princess, where does she get the courage to ask me to display my talent? Is she implying that the King didn't defeat you enough?"
Zhao Jiaqi shifted her gaze from Du Chun to Huangfu Yifan and chuckled, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
She turned the tables, directly throwing the question back, catching Huangfu Yifan off guard.
This caused both Changsun Qinghua and Huangfu Yifan to blush deeply; the former from shame, the latter from being questioned.