"Father, I can't serve this."

Concubine Mei quickly snapped at her.

"Nonsense, serve the tea."

Hongyue pretended to look pained as she lifts the cup and handed it over to the Prince. The Prince narrowed his eyes and was about to accept it when the Concubine shrieked out.

"How can you do that to the Crown Prince?! Do you don't want your life anymore?"

Hongyue smirked, she had successfully handed the tea with no errors so this stupid witch dug a hole for herself. Now she was going to observe how this witch was going to explain her little outburst.

The Crown Prince scowled at her.

"General, don't tell me not only are you not able to control your servant, but you also can't control a measly concubine from wildly screaming?!!"

Concubine Mei paled. She stared at Hongyue.

"H..Hongyue..didn't yo-"

"Mother is really strange today. Hongyue didn't want to serve the tea because it was cold, it would hurt the imperial son's stomach but you insisted that I serve it. Now that I served it, why is mother blaming me?" Hongyue whined.

The Crown Prince's eyes flashed over at Hongyue. The girl had nothing particularly special, but he had seen how the servants handled the tea before. It was steaming hot yet how in a few seconds was it ice cold. Interesting. He looked over at the General.

"Witchcraft!" A desperate scream came from the shaking concubine.

Hongyue frowned and dropped before her father.

"Father, I don't understand. This daughter has no abilities in magic whatsoever. There's nothing wrong with what this daughter did, why is mother blaming me of witchcraft?"

The General looked at his daughter for a while. He was about to call her out himself. This child was so difficult to kill, he thought she had some secret powers. However, the useless trash had no power, maybe she was just lucky.

"Call out the servants! How dare they slack off on their responsibility!"

The two servants came out and examined the tea themselves. They poured the tea from the pot, the handle of the pot was burning into their skin. The servants instantly dropped to their knees.

"My Lord, the pot is very hot! We've been wronged, this is not our fault!"

The Concubine rushed towards the pot aching to test it herself. Hongyue struck the ground with her index finger while gazing at the pot. The energy spread out from her finger like sound waves and traveled up the table toward the pot. Once the wave hit the container, the tea inside became ice cold but the outside remained hot.

The concubine grabbed the pot which the outside was still hot.

"My husband, it's still hot."

"Mother, Hongyue doesn't understand. So what if the outside is hot, the inside is cold. You were the one who insisted I serve the tea. Are you trying to -"

"Hongyue, my daughter, don't be so rude. Concubine Mei might not be your blood-related mother but she is still your elder. Don't randomly blame her of insignificant tricks." The General motioned for a servant to take Hongyue back.

"General, don't you want to hear my opinion. I'm the one who is being plotted against, no?" A sharp voice spoke out.

The General bowed smoothly towards the Prince and gave a quick yes.

"Your concubine seems unhinged and your servants are unfaithful. To see this lack of control is a disgrace especially under a general of our country. Your daughter.." The Prince paused, eyeing Hongyue with interest, "..is merely being used a p.a.w.n. I normally wouldn't bother with inner family issues but should I remind you my Grandfather wanted me to marry her?"

The General froze.

"The edict had spoken of marriage..you can pick any of my daughters-"

The Crown Prince stared at Hongyue without breaking eye contact.

"Her. I chose her when I was younger and my mind is set on it. She is the one. I want her."