Crown Princess Consort 4

Lily and Jean were deep in whispered gossip when, of course, a whole crowd started drifting their way—because drama never takes a day off.

"The Du Ruo tree in the back is gorgeous—let's go take photos there!" Angel’s voice rang out, all bossy enthusiasm.

Lily Bai scrunched up her nose and muttered to Jean, "Let’s bail."

The three of them started to slip away, hoping to dodge the incoming circus.

But Angel, sharp-eyed and never one to let a good scene go, spotted them and hollered, "Lily Bai!"

Lily had no choice but to freeze mid-step, mentally bracing for Angel’s next round of theatrics.

"Why do you bolt the second you see us?" Angel grinned, pure mischief in her eyes.

"You guys want the tree for photos, right? We're just making space for..." Lily glanced at the crowd clustered around Shaun Fane and Xena Xiao. "The happy couple."

"Leaving already? That’s kinda rude, don’t you think?" Angel said, dramatic as ever. "You came to the engagement party and haven’t even said congratulations or hello!"

"Yeah! Princess Xena, who is she?" piped up a mixed-race girl with a nose in the air—probably Angel or Xena’s friend—giving Lily the full haughty up-and-down.

Xena Xiao answered coolly, "That’s General Lan’s granddaughter."

"General Lan? Oh, figures!" Lulu Ames sneered. "Lan family folks are just plain uncivilized."

Lily was about to clap back, but Jean’s face turned stormy. "If you were really well-bred, you’d never say something like that. Drop the act, will you?"

"I don’t talk to daughters born to mistresses," Lulu shot back at Jean, rolling her eyes. "Wouldn’t want to contaminate my status!"

Lily, silently fuming, asked Sandy through her mental link, "Who’s the brat?"

"Angel’s half-sister," Sandy replied. "Lulu Ames. She and Angel are pretty tight."

"Seriously… there’s always another one," Lily muttered, dragging Jean away. "It’s your cousin’s big day, let’s just drop it and go!"

Jean, after all, was Xena Xiao’s actual cousin.

If things blew up, Angel and her snobby friend would walk away untouched, but Jean—and her already shaky ties to the Third Prince’s family—would take all the damage.

Jean bit her tongue and kept cool. The two tried once again to make their escape.

"Not so fast!" Angel snapped, determined to keep the drama alive.

Lily spun around, her eyes cool as ice, ready for whatever nonsense was coming next.

"Lily Bai, you still haven’t wished my cousin and her fiancé anything," Angel pressed, milking the moment. "You’re just gonna walk away like that?"

Lily turned, walked right up to Xena Xiao, and with a straight face said, "Princess Xena, Shaun Fane, wishing you both a lifetime of happiness and zero drama."

Xena nodded, cool as ever, not stirring up any trouble.

But Angel wasn’t done. "Lily Bai, you’re just a commoner—you have to do the royal bow for the princess and Young Master Fane! Didn’t you get the memo?"

Lily shot her a look, unimpressed and not about to play along.

"Like this!" Angel struck a pose, dropped to one knee, and did a dramatic bow. "Got it? Now you try!"

It was so obvious—Angel just wanted to see Lily kneel to Shaun Fane and get humiliated in public.

Honestly, Angel Ames could drive a saint insane with her talent for stirring up trouble!

Lily flashed a crooked smile. "Sorry, I’m just a clueless country girl—no way I’ll master all that royal etiquette in five seconds flat. Don’t let me ruin your photo op. I’ll see myself out!"

Decision made, she was out of there—no way she’d stick around for more drama.

Angel could yell all she wanted; Lily was officially not listening.

But Shaun Fane, clearly enjoying the chaos, stepped right into her path and blocked her exit.

"So, Young Master Fane, what pearls of wisdom do you have for me now?"