I died tragically in my previous life, and I want to be an empress in my next life

eldest princess mansion

In the capital, it was a midsummer dusk. The golden sunlight shone on the gorgeous courtyard walls, coating the glazed tile roof with a layer of dazzling light. In this splendor, the eldest princess and Xuanyuan Si sat opposite each other, and the atmosphere between them was tense yet also subtly harmonious.

Xuanyuan Si smiled slightly, as if a spring breeze was blowing on his face, his eyes flashing with confidence and cunning, as if everything was under control. He said, "Aunt, now the direction of the rumors in the capital has been completely implemented according to our plan."

The eldest princess picked up the exquisite teacup and took a sip. The bitterness and sweetness of the tea intertwined on the tip of her tongue, just like her mood at the moment.

She put down the teacup and spoke slowly, "Princess Galan would refuse the marriage, which is beyond everyone's expectations, but it can be regarded as helping us."

After hearing this, Xuanyuan Si smiled faintly, "Yes, it is precisely because she refused the marriage that the things between the three of them are even more unpredictable."

"Now the Third and Sixth Imperial Brothers have no choice but to distance themselves from each other in order to avoid suspicion."

"We need to pay more attention to the affairs of the court." The princess said, "Xuanyuan Ping still has the support of the General's Mansion and Prime Minister Pei."

"Yes, aunt."

In the Meiyuan Garden, Xuanyuan Ping walked in with a gloomy face.

Recently, rumors about Xuanyuan Che and Pei Zhiyan in the capital city spread like wildfire, not only giving him a headache, but also making him feel an unprecedented pressure.

The courtiers who usually treated him with great respect now looked at him with eyes filled with inquiry and speculation, and that bit of sarcasm pierced his heart like needles.

When Xuanyuan Ping thought of Xuanyuan Che and Pei Zhiyan, a complex emotion surged in his heart.

The two of them, one is his younger brother, the other is his princess, the relationship between them seems to have always been so plain, never had any waves. He really couldn't understand why there would be such rumors.

But thinking back on it, he couldn't help but feel a little skeptical. These rumors were probably nonsense. Perhaps they were spread intentionally by his political enemies, such as his second brother, in order to discredit Prince Jing's Mansion.

After all, his growing prestige in the court had already caused them to feel uneasy.

"Yan'er, there are rumors about you and the Sixth Prince everywhere in the capital. What is going on?" Xuanyuan Ping asked directly.

Pei Zhiyan's eyes flashed with panic when she heard this, but she immediately regained her composure. She gently lowered her eyelids to hide the turmoil in her heart, and said softly, "My Lord, how can you believe these nonsense?"

Xuanyuan Ping stared at Pei Zhiyan, trying to find the truth from her eyes. He said slowly, "Yan'er, I am not a gullible person, but this rumor is flying everywhere, and I have to ask for clarification."

Pei Zhiyan raised her head and looked at Xuanyuan Ping. There was a firm light in her eyes, as if she had made up her mind to tell the truth. She took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Your Highness, I have no private feelings for my Sixth Brother. This is all a misunderstanding."

Xuanyuan Ping frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer. He asked, "Misunderstanding? Then why is the rumor so prevalent?"

Pei Zhiyan was displeased and her expression changed, "It seems that the prince really doesn't trust me!"

Seeing Pei Zhiyan's unhappy expression, Xuanyuan Ping softened again, "Yan'er, I naturally believe you. But this rumor is too prevalent, and I am afraid that it will ruin your reputation."

Pei Zhiyan sneered in her heart, haha, maybe she is afraid of ruining the reputation of you, Prince Jing, and Prince Jing’s Mansion.

"Your Highness, the affairs of the court are often complicated and difficult to understand." Pei Zhiyan spoke slowly, with a hint of helplessness in her voice, "What happened between me and my sixth brother was purely accidental, but it was maliciously speculated by others. It is really chilling."

Xuanyuan Ping stared at Pei Zhiyan, with a complex emotion in his eyes. He knew Pei Zhiyan's character very well and believed her words. However, in this court, trust is often the most fragile thing, and it can be betrayed if you are not careful.

"Your Highness, do you know who is behind all this?" Pei Zhiyan suddenly asked, with a sharp look in her eyes.

Xuanyuan Ping looked at Pei Zhiyan in confusion, "Who?"

"It's the second brother." Pei Zhiyan's voice revealed a hint of indifference, "He has been secretly controlling all this."

Xuanyuan Ping took a deep breath. He knew what Pei Zhiyan said was true. He had known about the Second Brother's ambition for a long time, but he didn't expect that he would be so unscrupulous as to attack Pei Zhiyan.

Pei Zhiyan continued, "My second brother has always coveted the throne. He wants to take this opportunity to sow discord between me and the prince in order to weaken our power. But he made a wrong calculation. How could we be easily manipulated by him?"

"Your Majesty, I feel that we can no longer sit here and wait for death."

"Yan'er, we need to be cautious in this matter." Xuanyuan Ping gently warned, "We must find solid evidence to expose the true face of our second brother."

In the capital, rumors about the three of them were getting more and more intense. However, Pei Zhiyan and Xuanyuan Ping had a more daring plan in mind. They knew that the only way to calm the storm was to spread a more shocking rumor...

The moonlight was like water, quietly falling in the courtyard of the Sixth Prince's Mansion. Princess Yongtai sat alone on a stone bench, looking up at the bright moon, but her eyes were empty and lifeless, as if she had lost focus.

Since the incident, she seemed to be isolated from the world, from the noise and joy of the world. She was no longer the proud princess, but a ghost who lived in harmony with the world. She was silent, but occasionally uttered a few unclear words, as if she was telling a secret that no one could understand.

She looked lonely, like a withered flower, swaying alone in the cold wind. She used to be so beautiful and proud, the pearl of the palace, the princess doted on by everyone. However, the fickleness of fate made her fall from the clouds. She was like a wounded bird, curled up in a corner, licking her wounds alone.

The moonlight shone on her face, reflecting the confusion and sadness in her eyes. She thought of herself in the past, when she was so happy and carefree. But now, she can only sit alone in the courtyard, letting the moonlight accompany her and soothe her wounded heart.

"Yongtai." Xuanyuan Che gently put a cloak on Princess Yongtai. This cloak was specially selected by him. It was embroidered with Princess Yongtai's favorite peony flowers, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

Princess Yongtai felt Xuanyuan Che approaching and her body trembled slightly, but then she saw that it was him and her tense nerves gradually relaxed. She looked up at Xuanyuan Che, her eyes gleaming with gratitude and relief.