81 Let The Game Begin (1/2)

Nonetheless, at the moment, there was nothing Hongyue could do other than to wait. In a place Hongyue couldn't claim as her own, there was no doubt there was hidden danger lurking about within every wall. Who was to say that the high court ladies weren't pawns who might be keeping notes on her possible weaknesses and capability? Perhaps, even the movement of her drinking soup was noted down as something that could to be used against her.

Ah, how tiresome—yet so exciting.

At this time, the Crown Prince was engaged in a conversation with the emperor. His fingers tapped on the wooden tabletop as he spoke confidently. Nevertheless, Hongyue could see his eyes indicating something to his mother. A chuckle slipped out from his lips, and there was a slow eye movement to the right before coming back to the left. A laugh sounded — another quick eye movement to the right.

Now, now, was that for her to catch or not for her to catch?

Hongyue dulled her eyes as she 'carelessly' dropped her spoon the floor. The silver utensil clanged on the ground for the fourth time, and the Crown Prince paused to look over. Hongyue huffed in exasperation as she reached over to pick up the spoon. Just as the eldest miss seemed to grab hold of it, it seemed to slip back out of her hands. The eldest miss's face became red as she fumbled for her spoon, and the Crown Prince turned back his head to his father's next words. Hongyue finally got the spoon within her fingers, and she quietly got back into her seat.

She already got what she needed.

Something was staring at her—not from the right or above but at the bottom corner of the Empress's chair. Just slightly tucked under the robe of the Empress, there was a pair of beady red eyes. She had just spotted it on the curve of her spoon.

Oh my~

Hongyue made a few more 'accidents' with her chopsticks before she seemed to be done with her meal.

When had the eyes appeared? Was it at the second time Qingyu warned her? Then did they arrive with the Crown Prince?

Tilting back her head, she swallowed a sip of diluted wine. Should she continue to wait? Her dark eyes roamed the surface of the light copper-colored liquid. However, it didn't seem like she would have wait too long. As her hand passed over a linen cloth to wipe her mouth, she could see the Empress's eyes narrowing.

”Seeing that this is the first time the eldest miss has come to the palace, why don't you go escort her around the garden?” The Empress spoke directly toward Jiayi. Her face no longer held the anger she once had, and she smiled dazzlingly.