Chapter 153

Everyone was utterly baffled by Su Hua’s audacious move.

She openly insulted the Crown Prince… just to play the qin?

Damn, what a power move.

Ignoring the bewildered stares around her, Su Hua’s fingers danced across the strings.

The music flowed like a clear, icy spring trickling through a secluded ravine, then surged into a roaring rapid, pulling the listeners into a world of towering cliffs and treacherous reefs.

Suddenly, the melody sharpened, and the audience felt as though they were adrift on a lone boat in a stormy sea.

Violent waves crashed over them, each impact sending phantom pain through their bodies.

The tempo quickened—the sea grew wilder, the boat teetered on the brink of capsizing—

Clink!

The crisp sound of chopsticks tapping against a cup shattered the illusion.

Everyone snapped back to reality, drenched in cold sweat.

Only then did they realize: Su Hua hadn’t been playing music.

She’d been attacking them with sound.

A hair’s breadth more, and they would’ve died without a sound.

All eyes turned to the source of the interruption—a woman in white, seated calmly at a table, a single chopstick still in her hand.

This was the physician Emperor Song had brought with him.

Su Hua wasn’t surprised Mu Chengxue had broken her sonic assault.

As the female lead, bolstered by rare treasures and a cross-dimensional journey, her mental and physical prowess were extraordinary.

“Qi!”

The Crown Prince was the first to recover, his usual gentle smile replaced by cold fury.

“Guards! Seize her!”

Wei Jue moved to shield Su Hua, but she stepped in front of him instead.

With a flick of her toe, the guqin flipped into her hands.

The strings thrummed—a tangible wave of sound slammed into the advancing guards, hurling them to the ground.

Every martial artist in the hall froze.

Her control over internal energy… it’s flawless.

The Crown Prince paled.

“More men!”

This was now a fight to the death.

Perfect—he’d use this chance to eliminate her.

A troop of guards stormed in as the banquet’s guests scrambled for cover.

“Qi has attempted to assassinate this prince. Show no mercy—take her down, dead or alive!”

“Wait.”

Prince Jing stood.

“‘Dead or alive’ seems excessive.”

The Crown Prince sneered.

“Second Brother, she nearly killed everyone here, yet you defend her? Are you conspiring with her?”

“This humble brother merely suggests that Miss Qi has not been in Great Qian long. For her to dare target the Crown Prince implies a mastermind behind her. We should capture her alive to uncover the truth.”

Song Qimo, who’d been about to speak: “…”

Better stay silent.

The Minister of Revenue, hiding behind a pillar, stepped forward.

“This official agrees with Prince Jing.”

His faction quickly voiced support, and soon, the hall erupted into a political battleground.

Su Hua, cradling the qin, sighed.

“Hey, if you’re not done arguing, I’m leaving.”

She tossed the instrument aside, hooked an arm around Wei Jue’s waist, and bolted.

“After them!”

The Crown Prince roared.

But catching Su Hua was impossible.

A palace-wide search turned up nothing, and the banquet ended in disarray.

Notably, after this incident, Song Qimo’s delegation was “invited” to stay in the palace—under watch.

—

Palace Rooftop, Later

Su Hua sat under the moonlight, scowling.

“No more white robes.”

Wei Jue’s attire today had been pristine, harmless white.

“Alright. I never liked it anyway—just wore it to appear unthreatening.”

Su Hua suddenly recalled: back at the embassy, he’d mostly worn black.

De’er: Host, I think the boss looks great in white! So refined, so—

“Did you miss the female lead’s idiot-white ensemble?”

De’er:…So you’re mad because they matched?

“Dumbass. It’s couple outfits, not a coincidence.”

Logging off. Impossible to talk to host anymore.

Wei Jue opened his mouth—

“Shhh.”

Su Hua silenced him.

They were perched near the imperial garden.

Below, a familiar voice drifted up.

Peering down, Su Hua spotted two figures amidst the trees: one in white, the other in bright yellow.

Yellow? That’s either the Emperor or… yep, the Crown Prince. And white? Female lead, obviously.

Su Hua ghosted to a nearby tree, eager for some eavesdropping—or ‘leaf’-dropping.

The Crown Prince’s voice was saccharine.

“Among a thousand beauties, you alone are the one I adore.”

Mu Chengxue stiffened.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t speak so.”

He seized her hands.

“Chengxue, I once believed emperors couldn’t afford love. I tried to lock my heart away—for what is a ruler but a being of ice?”

Releasing her, he turned, the falling snow framing his dramatic pause.

“But you taught me otherwise. Love cannot be caged. From the moment I saw you, I was lost.”

Mu Chengxue studied him.

The lantern light softened his edges, gilding him in warmth.

She’d heard of Great Qian’s succession struggles.

The Crown Prince, gentle as jade; Prince Jing, sharp as a blade.

Rumor said the Emperor favored the latter—perhaps the Crown Prince suffered in silence?

No one in the imperial family has it easy.

Even Song Qimo, now emperor, was bound by chains of duty.

“Your Highness flatters me,” she demurred.

“I am but a humble woman, unworthy.”

He gripped her shoulders.

“Chengxue, walk this long road with me. Though I cannot offer you the throne… I pledge you the rank of Noble Consort.”

Mu Chengxue’s sympathy vanished.

“I’ve no wish to wed into royalty.”

She stepped back, curtseying.

“The night grows late—Your Highness should return to your bridal chambers. I take my leave.”

She turned, her white robes blending into the snow.

The Crown Prince’s face darkened—warmth replaced by cold calculation.

Su Hua smirked.

The female lead refused an empress’s crown.

Did you really think “Noble Consort” would tempt her?

Still, it’s better to be angry and humiliated and sleep with the female lead quickly.The messier this love triangle got, the easier it’d be for Boss to profit.

A twig snapped.

“Who’s there?!”