TFWYH – Chapter 643 A Sparring Match

They had heard before that Noble Consort Su was the Princess of Wengnai’s godmother, but no one had expected the Noble Consort to dote on Tang Wan so openly.

Didn’t they hear what had just been said?

Even the Emperor himself had to stand behind her in line!

The Emperor favored Ling Yu, while the Noble Consort adored Tang Wan!

Oh my!

This young couple was truly extraordinary. They absolutely had to be befriended.

Originally, many officials had secretly felt displeased because repeated invitations to this young couple had all been declined.

But after witnessing this scene, all resentment instantly vanished.

The couple might indeed be arrogant, but they clearly had the qualifications to be arrogant.

The Empress maintained a dignified and proper smile, but upon closer inspection, there was not the slightest trace of warmth in her eyes.

As for Huangfu Xiao, he merely drank his wine calmly, paying no attention at all to the touching display of mother-daughter affection.

He had only one goal—the throne.

Su Qing had no sons, only an adopted daughter, so she posed no real threat.

But Ling Yu…

Could he still be won over?

After all, he had caused the deaths of Su Qing’s two children. Tang Wan was not only Ling Yu’s lawful wife but also Su Qing’s adopted daughter. This grudge had probably already been firmly established.

At this thought, a vicious glint flashed through Huangfu Xiao’s eyes.

If he could not recruit Ling Yu, then he could only eliminate him.

Nor was Huangfu Que idle in thought.

It seemed Ling Yu and this so-called Princess of Wengnai did not belong to Second Brother’s faction. In that case, perhaps they could still be drawn over to his side.

No one noticed that Gu Xiyan, seated behind Gu Hengcang, was currently staring coldly at Tang Wan.

Why?

Why was this woman so fortunate?

She was clearly just a village woman, yet she had a handsome and talented husband, had been granted the title of Princess, and even enjoyed the favor of both the Noble Consort and the Emperor.

She was merely a village woman—so why did she possess everything Gu Xiyan dreamed of having?

Gu Xiyan felt extremely unwilling to accept it.

Especially when she looked at Ling Yu, who carried himself with noble grace like a celestial being, her resentment deepened further.

If Tang Wan did not exist, that man would have been her husband.

She would have been the wife of the Minister.

With Ling Yu’s talent and speed of promotion, in less than two years he would surely stand above all others save the Emperor himself, just like her grandfather.

Gu Xiyan imagined that beautiful future, and the more she imagined it, the more she hated Tang Wan.

Tang Wan seemed to sense her gaze and suddenly looked over.

Gu Xiyan’s heart jumped in alarm, and she instinctively lowered her head.

Though she reacted quickly, Tang Wan still noticed her.

Tang Wan found it rather baffling. Why did this woman harbor hostility toward her? She did not even remember meeting her before.

Just as Tang Wan was trying to recall where she had seen her, the Empress suddenly spoke with a smiling expression.

“Your Majesty, today is a wonderful day for family reunion. This concubine sees that many nobles and officials have also brought their families along. It is said that the women of our Heavenly Dynasty excel in singing, dancing, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and literature. Why don’t Your Majesty and this concubine offer a prize and allow the young ladies of each family to compete with one another? It would also give us an opportunity to broaden our horizons. What does Your Majesty think?”

“The Empress’s suggestion is excellent. Wan Zhenxiang, bring forth the Seven-Exquisite Ring tribute from the Southern Barbarians.”

The Emperor’s smile faded slightly, though he did not reject the Empress’s proposal.

He knew the Empress’s true goal was not simply to watch a competition—it was to choose side consorts for the First Prince.

Coincidentally, he too wished to see which noble daughter might be worthy of his precious grandson.

The Seven-Exquisite Ring was an accessory for women. Though called a bracelet, it was in fact a concealed weapon. Crafted entirely from gold and exquisitely engineered, it had been gathering dust in the treasury. Using it as a prize was quite fitting.

The Emperor thought the item useless to himself, but every official below who had heard of the artifact sharply inhaled in shock.

The Seven-Exquisite Ring!

They had not expected the Emperor to be so generous!

Even those who had never heard of it hurriedly questioned nearby colleagues about its origins.

Before long, everyone’s eyes were shining brightly as they frantically signaled to their daughters.

A treasure!

Go! You absolutely must participate!