Little Sorcerer, Divine Doctor-Chapter 871 - 23: Making a Display of Power

The first to receive the news was Lady Li, residing in the Pear Blossom Garden, who was the Princess Tang Yuan mentioned earlier by Madam Chi Bi.

Just like the courtyard she lived in, Lady Li, at eighteen, had eyes like spring water, her skin delicate, and every smile and frown carried the elegance of a Jiangnan woman.

But at this moment, Lady Li’s face lacked its usual gentle demeanor; she held a Magic Wand in her hand, and her spring-like eyes flashed with hatred.

"I don’t know from where this lowly commoner came, claiming to be the Crown Princess Consort."

Lady Li thought herself the Princess of Tang Yuan, marrying Dugu Xiu, so that one day when Dugu Xiu would inherit Hou Qin’s throne, she might also become the Empress of Hou Qin, never expecting Donghuang Sheng to appear midway.

"Princess, don’t be angry. Look, the Crown Prince didn’t even accompany the Crown Princess Consort inside. It’s just as well; she cannot compare to your entrance when the Crown Prince personally welcomed you," Lady Li’s maid comforted her.

"Indeed, that woman is just a wild girl found from the commoners. How could she compare to a true Princess like me? Someone, come dress me up properly. I want to show that lowly commoner who the real Princess is."

Lady Li’s maids hurried to dress her up.

In the adjacent courtyard of Diao Yu Garden, the scene was entirely different.

Unlike the delicate pear blossom-like Lady Li, this woman wore riding attire, her waistband tightly fastened, her figure graceful yet robust, full of heroic air.

She had a Feathered Imperial Eagle perched on her hand and was taking Demon Beast Meat from a maid to feed the eagle.

"Master, the Crown Princess Consort is about to enter the mansion. What do you think?"

The Feathered Imperial Eagle pecked at the Demon Beast Meat in the woman’s hand.

"No hurry, someone will eagerly test her," the heroic woman sneered, glancing towards the Pear Blossom Garden, her mouth curling into a disdainful smile.

Qing Family had already inquired; this "Crown Princess Consort," neither skilled in martial arts nor magic, had nothing but the title of the Eastern Capital Princess.

This woman, like Lady Li in the Pear Blossom Garden, was merely a pawn plotted by Cousin Dugu to consolidate his position.

Cousin Dugu would soon tire of this so-called Crown Princess Consort.

The Hou Qin Palace was vast, and Yun Sheng’s Phoenix Carriage traveled for over half an hour before stopping at a mansion.

The mansion’s entrance was guarded by six stone beasts, exuding solemnity and grandeur.

"Princess, ahead is the Crown Prince Mansion. As a male, and with the Crown Prince absent, I am not suitable to enter the Crown Prince Mansion, so I can only escort you here," Dugu Qian said with utmost respect, bidding farewell to Yun Sheng.

He spoke sincerely, but Yun Sheng clearly saw the hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Thank you, Second Prince. When free, I will visit the Second Prince Mansion," Yun Sheng, having sat uncomfortably in the carriage, wished to alight and rest.

As Yun Sheng traveled, she noticed the defensive arrangement of the Hou Qin Palace – easy to defend and hard to attack, with guards every ten steps and sentries every twenty steps, showing a robust vigilance, requiring long-term plans to escape.

The Phoenix Carriage finally stopped after a turn, and Yun Sheng and Donghuang Lingling alighted.

As soon as she stepped off, Donghuang Lingling’s brow furrowed.

What was going on?

The Crown Princess Consort was entering the mansion, yet at such a place?

The grand gate from earlier was gone.

No wonder Donghuang Lingling turned discontented, for she and Yun Sheng were standing at an inconspicuous side door of the Crown Prince Mansion.

A horse-faced, big-footed old woman stood at the door.

"Gold health to the Princess, the steward said the Princess has traveled far and prepared a courtyard for the Princess, please follow me inside," the big-footed woman glanced behind Yun Sheng.

Besides Donghuang Lingling disguised as a maid, there were no other guards or maids, looking quite desolate.

The two concubines in the mansion entered with grandly carried palanquins, surrounded and rewarded by attendants.

Indeed, as rumored, this "Second Princess" was a neglected low-born, somehow lucky enough to rise to higher status.

That big-footed old woman was displeased, reluctantly leading Yun Sheng and Donghuang Lingling into the Crown Prince Mansion.

After several turns, they arrived at a courtyard.

It was a dilapidated small courtyard named Taxue Garden.

This Taxue Garden lived up to its name, facing north, with moss growing on the ground, spending over three hundred days of the year without seeing sunlight.

The house was shabby, the courtyard overgrown with weeds and strewn with fallen leaves, evidently neglected long-term.

"What is this place?" Donghuang Lingling could no longer bear it, as the Crown Prince Mansion people were clearly ostracizing them.

"Haha, Princess, the Crown Prince Mansion is crowded, besides the Crown Prince’s Yu Yu Pavilion, all other courtyards are occupied. It’s not appropriate for you to share a courtyard, so please manage in Taxue Garden for a few months. At least it’s a courtyard, where unattended cats and dogs love to wander."

The big-footed woman inwardly thought: not sure if the Crown Prince will even want you in a few months.

Donghuang Lingling wanted to protest further, but Yun Sheng shook her head, pushing the garden gate open and stepped inside.

Upon entering, a fire basin was placed on the ground.

"What’s with this fire basin?" Donghuang Lingling was angered again, stepping forward to inquire.

"Princess, we heard that you had spent early years in the commoners, there’s a saying in Hou Qin that commoners are unlucky, hindering the Crown Prince’s fortune, you must cross this wealth basin to burn off the ill luck before entering," the horse-faced big-footed woman shrilled from beside the side door.

Her underlying meaning was ridiculing "Donghuang Sheng" as a commoner, unworthy of the splendor.

"Oh? If that’s the case, I must rid myself of bad luck," Yun Sheng smiled charmingly, approaching the fire basin.

The flames in the basin mirrored in her eyes, flickering brightly.

The big-footed woman saw this, thinking she would soon get her reward from Princess Li.

"Ah, my hairpin fell into the fire basin. Whoever retrieves it for me will be rewarded with ten Gold Coins, that was a gift from the Crown Prince," Yun Sheng pretending to step over the basin, suddenly cried out.

The big-footed woman, hearing of gold coins, quickly went forth, saying, "I’ll help find it, Princess."

She bent down to search.

Behind her, Yun Sheng coldly smiled, her black eyes fixed on the fire, narrowing slightly.

The fire suddenly roared high as if doused in oil.

Before the big-footed woman reacted, two hands swiftly pushed, and Yun Sheng harshly kicked her behind, sending her face-down onto the fire basin.