CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 50: SHE’S NOTHING BUT AN ORPHAN!

Wooo...

The female ghost continued to let out haunting sobs, pleading with Yu Nianzhao for help.

"Alright, I’ve already received the deposit, I’ll take care of your matter."

Yu Nianzhao retrieved the red jade earring, and the female ghost was grateful, willingly transforming into black mist and returning to the red jade earring.

Ms Jiang stared in awe, "Zhaozhao, are you going to redeem this female ghost?"

"The female ghost is obsessed; only when her obsession is eliminated can she be redeemed, and her soul is incomplete. I need to meld her soul together."

"Is the Princess Consort going to the An Nan Royal Mansion?"

"Hold on, there’s no rush."

The An Nan Royal Mansion isn’t some market on the corner; you can’t just casually go looking for a ghost.

——

There’s only one day left before the ten-day death prophecy Yu Nianzhao mentioned.

Today happens to be the Royal banquet, and Ms Jiang dressed Yu Nianzhao early in the morning. The He Xiu Workshop sent a Yanzhi Palace gown that fit perfectly, accentuating her snow-like skin, peerlessly graceful.

In the carriage, Xie Jiuxiao looked at her with deep, dark eyes, as if sparks were leaping in them, "This dress looks quite good."

Yu Nianzhao, with her chin rested on her hands, asked with a cheerful smile, "Is the dress good, or is the person good?"

"The person!" Xie Jiuxiao answered without hesitation.

Yu Nianzhao was momentarily stunned, her smile growing brighter, and she sidled over to sit next to Xie Jiuxiao, "The Prince has a keen eye, I’ll reward you with a protective amulet."

She conjured up a scented pouch, "Inside is a protective talisman; today they will inevitably try to kill the person carrying the mother gu. This protective talisman can save you from disaster at the necessary moment, saving your life."

Yu Nianzhao grabbed Xie Jiuxiao’s hand, pressing the scented pouch into his palm.

Whether it was the warmth from Yu Nianzhao’s hand or the effect of the talisman, a warm current spread from his palm to all his limbs.

"Alright, I’ll wear it." Xie Jiuxiao’s lips curled upward, dispersing the tension of impending death, and he promptly hung the scented pouch at his waist.

The golden scented pouch, though mismatched with his demeanor, was barely visible.

Upon alighting from the carriage, Mu Hongxuan’s face was tense, finally unable to resist whispering, "Princess Consort, isn’t today the tenth day? We haven’t found the person carrying the mother gu yet? Is it really okay to just attend the banquet like this?"

"Relax, today is the best opportunity! They want to use the child gu to kill him, they must keep the carrier of the mother gu within a mile of the child gu, which means the carrier of the mother gu will appear near us shortly."

Yu Nianzhao blinked her beautiful eyes and asked belatedly, "Hey? Didn’t I tell you all in advance?"

Mu Hongxuan, "..."

No, you never mentioned it!

Xie Jiuxiao’s brow was serene, "The last day happens to be the Royal banquet, is it really such a coincidence?"

Yu Nianzhao laughed lightly, "Of course, there are no such coincidences; it’s obviously a deliberate arrangement."

Mu Hongxuan exclaimed, "The Emperor and many officials will attend the Royal banquet on New Year’s Eve. Is this an attempt to have everyone witness the Prince’s death? That’s quite ruthless."

Xie Jiuxiao’s eyes were stern, "It’s more than that. Whether the matter involves imperial marriage or not, my mother will surely return to the Capital City to accompany the Prince and the Crown Prince for New Year’s Eve. She wants my mother to witness my death firsthand, to break her heart!"

"Hiss..."

Yu Nianzhao felt a bit chilly, "The struggle within the harem truly is unending. Already made into the Empress Dowager, yet still fixated on former harem rivals."

"The Empress Dowager believes that my mother killed her son and has been plotting against me and the Crown Prince to inflict the same pain on my mother."

Xie Jiuxiao’s words were light yet heavy, making Yu Nianzhao envision an epic court battle, "But it’s unfortunate that what she couldn’t achieve in the past, she still can’t achieve now."

The Royal banquet was set in the Imperial Garden, with harmonious music in the air, glasses clinking!

The attendees were renowned influential families from the Capital City, talking and laughing, exchanging toasts as they mingled.

"Prince Su has arrived!"

The eunuch’s sharp voice resonated, accompanied by an icy aura swirling in the Imperial Garden.

The smiles of ministers and noble heirs halted abruptly as they looked over in surprise.

They saw Xie Jiuxiao, tall and elegant like jade, cold as ice, walk over with his head held high. Even more shocking was the rare sight of the usually solitary Prince Su accompanied by an exquisite beauty.

Have they truly seen a ghost, as it’s night?

"Doesn’t Prince Su usually avoid attending such banquets? Even if it’s the New Year’s Eve banquet, he arrives late and leaves shortly, so why has he come so early today?"

"My dressing isn’t warm enough. It cannot shield against Prince Su’s aura."

"Who is the lady beside Prince Su? Wasn’t there talk of a Princess Consort Su before? Is it true?"

"Where did this valiant lady come from, able to withstand Prince Su’s aura? Does she not value her life?"

"..."

The whispers reached their ears, and curious gazes were cast on Yu Nianzhao.

"It’s Zhaozhao!"

Pei Yunzhi immediately spotted Yu Nianzhao. Seeing her exceptional beauty, a trace of envy flickered in her eyes.

Lien Yanran frowned, "Didn’t expect Prince Su to be so attentive to her? Arriving and leaving the banquet with her, clearly announcing her identity."

Pei Yuncheng pouted with jealousy, "Grandmother said Yu Nianzhao married over with a widow’s fate."

Pei Yunqing’s icy gaze shot over like knives, "Pei Yuncheng, do you even realize where this is? Continue speaking nonsense, and I’ll cut off your tongue!"

Pei Yuncheng’s face turned pale, lips pursed as he stared resentfully at Yu Nianzhao.

Pei Yunzhi instinctively glanced at Xie Yunzhe not far away, noticing Xie Yunzhe’s gaze was also fixed on Yu Nianzhao. She began to feel anxious again.

"Zhaozhao sister truly is fortunate. Even after leaving the Pei Family, she can still receive Prince Su’s affection." Pei Yunzhi feigned admiration.

Pei Yuncheng reassured her, "What’s so good? You are the true heiress groomed by the Pei Family. Even if she becomes Princess Consort Su, you are destined to be the Princely Heir’s spouse of An Nan. Mr. Xie’s fate is aligned with the Purple Qi Dragon, and you have close confidants all around. She’s merely an orphan; you’re much better than her."

Lien Yanran looked at Pei Yuncheng with a peculiar gaze, a strange feeling spreading through her heart.

Is he really a brother? To belittle Yu Nianzhao like this?

Pei Yunqing clenched his fist, grinding his teeth, "Pei Yuncheng, must I teach you a lesson in such a setting? Zhaozhao is our sister, don’t make me repeat myself."

Pei Yuncheng pouted, muttering, "She doesn’t acknowledge being our sister."

"The Emperor, Imperial Consort, Empress have arrived..."

The eunuch’s sharp voice rang out once more.

Yu Nianzhao felt the ground tremble, and she raised her eyes in surprise to see a mountain of flesh with royal garments charging towards Xie Jiuxiao.

"Mu Hongxuan!" Xie Jiuxiao, used to it, calmly stood his ground and shouted.