Upon hearing this, grief surged within Noble Princess Consort Luo.

"Am I to just let this go? Hong'er, I am your mother, and someone is bullying your mother like this. Can you really stand by and do nothing?" Noble Princess Consort Luo wept bitterly, hating Ye Lingyue to the bone, wishing she could chew her bones and swallow her flesh. How can there be such a malicious woman in this world?

"Ye Lingyue again?" Crown Prince Hong, ever since he was rejected by Ye Lingyue that one time, harbored deep hatred for her.

"Your Highness, when I just returned from picking up medicine at the Imperial Hospital, I heard that early this morning, Empress Liu adopted Ye Lingyue as her foster daughter. Empress Liu also wants to request Emperor Xia to personally bestow the title of Princess Yue on her," complained the Chou Alchemist, his cheeks still swollen from being hit by Noble Princess Consort Luo, feeling intensely uncomfortable at the mention of Ye Lingyue being granted the title of a princess.

The Chou Alchemist also harbored extreme hatred towards Ye Lingyue. If not for her, he would not have fallen to his current wretched state.

"A Princess Yue? Humph, is one Princess Yue in Daxia not enough, now we need two Princess Yues?" Crown Prince Hong sneered.

The other Princess Yue that Crown Prince Hong mentioned was naturally the one from Hong Residence.

Hong Mingyue was previously ordained as Princess Ming Yue by Emperor Xia. Now with Ye Lingyue also being ordained as a princess, if these two were to meet in the future, it's uncertain which one should be addressed as Princess Yue.

Tears shimmered in the eyes of Noble Princess Consort Luo, lamenting that the title bestowed upon Ye Lingyue was at the cost of her poor child's life.

"That vile woman, of unknown origin and background, does not deserve the title of a princess," Noble Princess Consort Luo said bitterly.

"Mother, don't worry. This Ye Lingyue, who has repeatedly harmed us, mother and son, this time, I will definitely not let her off," Crown Prince Hong said sinisterly.

Crown Prince Hong realized that all the misfortunes of late were mostly connected to Ye Lingyue.

This woman, unyielding and defiant, should have been dealt with long ago for her refusal to toast, thus forcing her to drink a penalty toast.

"Is this true? Hong'er, do you have an ingenious plan?" Noble Princess Consort Luo perked up upon hearing the possibility of eliminating Ye Lingyue, forgetting to cry.

"My son has already devised a strategy which, I must confess, will require your involvement, mother. We need to make good use of the recent incident where you and Empress Liu 'slipped.'" Crown Prince Hong said with a smile.

The news of Ye Lingyue soon being ordained as a princess truly stirred up waves.

The news immediately reached Hong Residence.

Ever since the last encounter near the Taiyi Secret Realm, where Hong Mingyue and her fellow disciples from the Three-Life Valley met, she found time to return to Hong Residence.

Upon her return, seeing her improved cultivation, everyone in Hong Residence was overjoyed, especially Hong Fang and Zhuge Rou from the third branch, who these days held their heads even higher.

Even the members of the main branch had to tread carefully around them.

"Ming Yue, it's just a pity that your grandfather is in seclusion; if he knew you had broken through to the Reincarnation Realm, he wouldn't know how happy to be."

As the Zhuge Rou family dined, Hong Fang entered the palace and hadn't returned yet.

Zhuge Rou couldn't close her mouth when she saw her youngest daughter, Hong Mingyue; her chopsticks wouldn't stop moving, and in no time, Hong Mingyue's bowl was piled high with dishes.

Seeing such a situation unfold, Hong Yuying snorted while Hong Yulang found it unsurprising.

In this family, as long as Hong Mingyue was present, everyone else merely faded into the background. If it weren't for Hong Mingyue being a daughter, Hong Yulang wouldn't have had a chance to inherit everything from the main branch.

"Mother, compared to Grandfather and Father, I've only just started learning. I've been away studying all these years and couldn't stay by your side, for which I feel really guilty. Please, you should eat these dishes instead," Hong Mingyue said with a smile.

Her temperament was different from Hong Yuying's; she understood more clearly the hierarchy and order.

"Exactly, little sister, you're always not in the Capital. If you were here, my older brother and I wouldn't need to suffer and endure the oppression from those people at Hongwu Hall," Hong Yuying slammed down her chopsticks, her face full of dissatisfaction.

"Yuying, shut your mouth. Don't speak while eating, don't talk while sleeping; have you forgotten the rules of our residence?" Upon hearing this, Zhuge Rou knew that Hong Yuying was stirring up trouble again.

"Mother, it's okay. Sister, what has happened in the years I've been away? Weren't elder brother and you doing well in Hongwu Hall, how could anyone bully you? Who dares to bully people from our Hong Residence!" Hong Mingyue said, her face showing a hint of anger.

Ever since she was sensible, it had always been the Hong Residence bullying others; never had anyone dared to bully people from the Hong Residence, especially not her siblings.

"Nothing but the sisters from Lan Residence and some civilian officials' children from Xia Capital," Hong Yuying began talking trash with enthusiasm.

"Lan Residence? Are you talking about General Lan Yingwu's daughter? But I remember that General Lan only has one eldest daughter named Lan Cai'er, and her martial arts skills are quite good," Hong Mingyue puzzled.

"Lan Residence has recently acknowledged another daughter from the common folk, her name is Ye Lingyue. This Ye Lingyue is really capable. It's been less than a year since she arrived in Xia Capital and she's already a high-profile figure. From a commoner girl, she first became a Third-grade Princess, then replaced Nangong Qinglin's position and entered the Imperial Hospital. That's not all; just yesterday, she was adopted by Empress Liu, and it's said that she will soon be declared Princess Yue," Hong Yuying was better at stirring up trouble than her cultivation in martial arts.

In a few words, she painted Ye Lingyue as an ugly, vulgar woman obtaining a princess title through flattery and intrigue.

Princess Yue?

Hong Mingyue frowned upon hearing this.

Especially when she heard that the second daughter of the Lan Residence was named Ye Lingyue.

Her name was Hong Mingyue, while the other's was Ye Lingyue; although it might just be a coincidence, the implication of the name was to rise above Hong Mingyue!

"Humph, what a Ye Lingyue. Mother, why doesn't the second daughter of the Lan Residence have the surname Lan but rather Ye?"

"That Ye Lingyue has her mother's surname; Lady Lan's maiden name is Ye." The news of Ye Lingyue being titled as a princess was already known to Zhuge Rou and other prominent ladies of Xia Capital.

Hearing that her title was also to be Princess Yue, Zhuge Rou was indeed very displeased.

In her view, her own daughter Mingyue, with such noble blood and astonishing talent, was the only one worthy of the title Princess Yue. As for that Ye Lingyue, she had neither proper manners nor sufficient cultivation. Compared to her own Hong Mingyue, how could Ye Lingyue deserve the title "Princess Yue"? She was merely a firefly, completely insignificant.

"Mingyue, you needn't worry about this. That Ye Lingyue could never become a princess," said Hong Fang as he walked into the room wearing an official robe.