Starting in Exile: Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Lucky Little Wife

Chapter 93 The Clash of Titans at the Flower Viewing Party

On this day, Li Shuhan was dressed in a moon-white brocade dress and sat alone in front of her dressing table in her boudoir. The bronze mirror coldly reflected her beautiful but resentful face.

Thinking of Gu Liuli marrying the emperor's son and defeating a foreign power, and then thinking of her own elder sister, who had entered the inner palace with unparalleled glory and become an enviable concubine, Yun Shu felt as if a thousand needles were piercing her heart. A bitter, jealous, and resentful feeling surged within her. Why? It was just good luck! In terms of talent and beauty, in what way did she lose to them! She gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force. The twin lotus blossoms embroidered on the handkerchief now seemed to cruelly mock her hatred!

Li Shuhan's fingernails were almost digging into her palms. She took a deep breath. She wouldn't let this go!

At the corner of the most bustling street in the capital, there stood a renowned restaurant, its carved beams and painted rafters gleaming, its doors always thronged with customers. On this particular day, Xiao Jingchuan and several friends, including Mu Zetian, had arranged to meet there. They sat around a table by the window, clinking glasses and exchanging laughter.

Li Shuhan was accompanying her maid to shop when she inadvertently caught sight of Xiao Jingchuan as they passed a restaurant. In an instant, she stopped in her tracks, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes – resentment, bitterness, and a hint of resolute determination.

"Miss, why aren't we leaving?" the maid asked, puzzled.

Li Shuhan did not respond, but stared intently at Xiao Jingchuan, secretly making plans in her heart.

A moment later, a cold smile appeared on her lips as she pulled out a delicate little porcelain bottle from her sleeve, containing the medicinal powder she had carefully prepared.

"Miss, what is this...?" The maid looked at the small porcelain bottle and a bad feeling welled up in her heart.

"Shh, don't make a sound," Li Shuhan warned in a low voice. "Today is his unlucky day." With that, she straightened her clothes and walked towards the restaurant.

When Xiao Jingchuan saw Li Shuhan, he merely raised his eyes slightly without any further reaction, his expression indifferent, as if Li Shuhan were nothing more than an unimportant passerby. Seeing this, Li Shuhan felt a pang of pain in her heart, but she still forced a smile, politely bowed, and then left.

Back home, Li Shuhan threw herself onto the bed as soon as she entered her room, her heart surging with resentment and anger. She stared at the bed curtains, her mind frantically trying to figure out how to drug her.

At this moment, she remembered what her father had said: many women from ministerial families looked down on Gu Liuli. Originally, he planned to hold a poetry competition to embarrass her, but when foreign powers attacked, Gu Liuli's abilities proved that she was not useless. So the plan was changed to a flower appreciation banquet.

Li Shuhan's eyes suddenly lit up, and a wicked thought sprouted in her mind: Why not put this medicine on Gu Liuli? Once she has an affair with another man, how could Crown Prince Xiao Jingchuan still want her!

Thinking of this, Li Shuhan jumped out of bed, took out the precious medicine powder, examined it repeatedly, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth. To ensure that the plan would go perfectly, she began to plan carefully, studying the process and layout of the flower viewing banquet, inquiring about Gu Liuli's preferences and habits, and even investigating all the maids and servants around her.

Two days later, "Ding! System task triggered—Agree to participate in the flower viewing party! Reward for completing the task: sweet potato seeds!" The familiar mechanical voice rang in Gu Liuli's mind. Gu Liuli paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly. She was already used to this system that would pop up and issue strange tasks from time to time. However, sweet potato seeds? This piqued her curiosity, and she decided to follow the system's instructions and participate in the flower viewing party.

On the other side, Li Shuhan was already prepared. She had carefully chosen a pink silk dress embroidered with peonies, and her makeup was light and elegant, yet subtly scheming. She had hidden the medicinal powder in a delicate sachet, concealed in her sleeve, waiting only for the opportunity to attend the flower-viewing banquet.

Finally, the day of the flower viewing banquet arrived.

The garden was a riot of color, its fragrance filling the air, and the ladies, dressed in their finest attire, chatted and laughed.

Gu Liuli wore a light green dress, looking fresh and refined, like a fairy descending to earth.

When Li Shuhan saw her, a hint of jealousy flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her gentle smile.

At the banquet, everyone enjoyed the beautiful scenery and refreshments. Li Shuhan seized the opportunity, casually approaching Gu Liuli and striking up a conversation. "Miss Gu, look at that peony, it's so beautiful," Li Shuhan said, pointing to a peony not far away.

Gu Liuli looked in the direction she pointed and nodded in agreement. Just then, Li Shuhan quietly poured the medicinal powder hidden in the sachet into the teacup in front of Gu Liuli. Her movements were skillful and discreet, and no one noticed her little trick.

Li Shuhan was secretly pleased, thinking that it wouldn't be long before Gu Liuli would be ruined.

Unbeknownst to her, Gu Liuli's system suddenly issued a warning: "Ding! Host, be careful, someone has drugged you and is trying to frame you!"

At this moment, a noblewoman dressed in pale yellow silk and satin, holding a silk handkerchief embroidered with mandarin ducks, covered her mouth and chuckled softly, saying in a sarcastic tone, "The Crown Princess's attire today is quite refreshing, but this flower appreciation banquet is not just about pleasing to the eye; one must also possess genuine talent and knowledge. I wonder how many historical allusions the Crown Princess can recount about these flowers in the garden?" Her words, seemingly discussing flower appreciation, were actually a veiled criticism that Gu Liuli was all show and no substance.

Another woman, dressed in a bright red brocade dress with peony patterns, immediately chimed in, "That's right, that's right. I heard that the Crown Princess showed off her skills in front of foreigners before. I wonder if it's true or not. Maybe she's just exaggerating to gain a good reputation." As she spoke, she glanced at Gu Liuli with disdain in her eyes.

Faced with these overt and covert attacks, Gu Liuli remained calm and was about to respond when suddenly a cheerful voice came from the crowd: "You all act so respectful to the Crown Princess on the surface, yet you're so sharp-tongued and mean behind her back. Don't you find that ridiculous?" Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman in a light blue brocade dress striding over. Her eyebrows were raised, her almond eyes were wide open, and her face was full of anger and disdain.

This woman was none other than Su Yao, the daughter of General Zhenyuan. She was always outspoken and couldn't stand people gossiping behind her back. Su Yao walked to Gu Liuli's side, and after standing still, her gaze swept over the women who were targeting Gu Liuli. She sneered, "The Crown Princess's abilities have been witnessed by foreigners. Yet you are here questioning her without reason. Do you think you are more capable than foreigners, or are you simply jealous of the Crown Princess?"

After being rebuked by Su Yao, the women's faces turned pale and then red. The noble lady in the pale yellow silk dress who had spoken earlier couldn't save face and argued, "Miss Su, we were just discussing something. Why are you so agitated? Do you have some special relationship with the Crown Princess to be defending her like this?"

Su Yao scoffed, "I protect the Crown Princess because she deserves it, unlike you, who only dare to gossip behind her back. If you have the guts, try saying the same thing to the Crown Prince's face!" Su Yao's words were firm and resounding, leaving the women speechless and not daring to utter another sound.

Gu Liuli looked at Su Yao, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes, and said softly, "Thank you for speaking up for me, Miss Su." Su Yao waved her hand and said casually, "Your Highness, you don't need to be so polite. These people just can't stand seeing others do well. Please don't take it to heart."

Hiding to the side, Li Shuhan witnessed this scene, her anger burning fiercely. She had thought everything was under control, but Su Yao had unexpectedly appeared and ruined her chance to see Gu Liuli make a fool of herself. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, cursing Su Yao inwardly while pondering how to put Gu Liuli in a desperate situation next.

Seeing that everyone was speechless after Su Yao's retort, Gu Liuli was grateful for Su Yao's righteousness, but she also knew that this farce could not be allowed to end so easily. She had to make these people completely put away their contempt. She gently flicked her sleeves, took a step forward with graceful bearing, and slowly swept her gaze across the crowd with a gentle yet undeniable air of authority.

"It is a pity that our gathering today, which was meant to be a refined occasion to appreciate the spring, has almost been ruined by a few unfounded speculations."

Gu Liuli’s voice was clear and crisp, each word echoing in the garden, “Take flower appreciation for example. Different flowers bloom at different times of the year, each with its own unique charm, just like women in the world, each with their own strengths and values.”

The peony, with its graceful and luxurious appearance, is the darling of spring; while the orchid in the corner, though unassuming, exudes a delicate fragrance that soothes the soul. My sisters, born into a distinguished family and well-versed in literature from a young age, surely understand the meaning behind this.

At this point, Gu Liuli paused slightly, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally falling on the noble ladies who had mocked her. Seeing their somewhat unnatural expressions, she continued, "As for my experiences in foreign lands, those were matters of great importance concerning the safety of our nation. They were not solely my achievement, but the result of the united efforts and concerted efforts of the entire Chen Kingdom. Every soldier involved risked their lives, and I merely fulfilled my duty. If you are truly interested, you should focus your attention on how to contribute to our country, rather than questioning others."

She paused briefly, then softened her tone: "The spring scenery here today is a gift from nature. We should cherish this beautiful time, make friends through flowers, and appreciate the elegance of poetry together. Wouldn't that be wonderful? If we harbor resentment because of some misunderstanding, it would be a laughing stock for others and would also be unbecoming of a noble lady from the Nanzhao Kingdom."

After she finished speaking, everyone looked thoughtful, and those noble ladies who had mocked Gu Liuli lowered their heads in shame. Gu Liuli's words not only cleverly dispelled the doubts but also subtly advised everyone to be careful with their words and actions and to consider the overall situation.

Li Shuhan suppressed her anger, put on a fake smile again, and slowly walked to the front of the crowd.