Half an hour later, ng Qianqian walked out of Changchun Palace, her arms full of gold, silver, and jewels, her expression radiant.
This wasn’t so compensation from Consort Li—after all, Consort Li was her aunt. As such a considerate younger generation, how could she let an elder lose face?
No, it was Liu Qingyun insisting on disciplining her own sister, and ng Qianqian had rely stepped in with kind words, sparing Consort Li from physical anguish—a little token of thanks for her efforts.
"Phew, so heavy, so heavy."
Liu Qingyun cast her a glance. "Too much for you?"
ng Qianqian shook her head like a rattle-drum. "Not too much, not too much!"
Inside the main hall, Consort Li was nearly beside herself with anger. She swiped an entire table of fruits and pastries onto the floor, and still felt unresolved. Grabbing the golden candelabra on the table, she lifted it high.
"Your Highness!"
Wang Dequan was alard, rushing to stop her. "This is the only valuable item left in the hall!"
Aside from those under record in the Household Affairs Office that couldn’t be touched, everything else had been taken by ng Xiaojiu!
Bringing it up only made Consort Li angrier.
"That wretched girl! She brought bad luck even when she was in the Lu Family, and now after remarrying, it continues!"
Wang Dequan let out a long sigh. "Are you upset with ng Xiaojiu? This servant thought Your Highness was angry at your elder sister."
Consort Li flew into a rage. "She’s not my sister! I have no such sister! She only protects her own son; does she even see as her younger sister?"
Wang Dequan murmured softly, "She doesn’t have a daughter-in-law who knows how to coax people like you do either."
Consort Li pointed at his nose. "Wang Dequan, you’ve had enough of living, haven’t you? Are you planning to serve Liu Qingyun too?"
Wang Dequan imdiately dropped to his knees. "This servant wouldn’t dare."
As he knelt, he exchanged a look with Ying Yue, the maid.
Ying Yue caught the hint, cautiously stepping forward to take the golden candelabra from Consort Li’s hands.
Consort Li, still fuming, sank petulantly into her chair. "She bullied when we were children, fine. But now I’m about to beco Empress Dowager, and she’s still bullying ! I won’t let it go! One day, she’ll pay for this!"
"Mother, we gave the Supre Imperial Concubine such a hard ti today—do you think she’ll hold a grudge and co after us later?"
ng Qianqian asked as she walked alongside Liu Qingyun.
Liu Qingyun said indifferently, "Her little tricks might work on others, but against ? She doesn’t have the ability. The younger sister I raised—just a wag of her rear, and I know what kind of fart she plans to let out."
Blood ties truly are daunting... ng Qianqian stuck out one foot.
Liu Qingyun: "What are you doing?"
ng Qianqian glanced at the treasures in her arms. "I can’t give you a thumbs-up with my hands, so I’ll do it with my foot."
Liu Qingyun: "..."
The two got into the carriage.
Just as they were about to leave, another carriage approached from the opposite direction. A finely-dressed old man leaned out of the window to look their way.
Out of curiosity, ng Qianqian glanced from inside the carriage. "Oh, it’s the old Duke."
What a coincidence—she had just "borrowed" from Consort Li, only to run into her father, the old Duke Yao, as soon as she left.
"Who?"
Liu Qingyun, clearly unbothered, didn’t recognize the wrinkled man at all.
ng Qianqian thought for a mont before explaining, "A male concubine."
Liu Qingyun: "..."
Back at the Governor Mansion, Liu Qingyun imdiately retreated to her room for a nap.
ng Qianqian had Nanny Li store away the treasures in the warehouse.
Nanny Li was taken aback. "Where did all this co from? Did Madam splurge again?"
ng Qianqian sipped the warm water Ban Xia handed her. "This was from Consort Li—or rather, we should now call her the Supre Imperial Concubine."
Nanny Li grew even more surprised. "Wasn’t she always indifferent toward you? Why would she—"
ng Qianqian hesitated for a mont, then decided it no longer mattered to conceal it. "Actually, she’s my mother’s sister. Today, during a visit to the palace, I cleared up the relationship. Aunt might have felt guilty about her previous coldness toward , so she gave a small token gesture to make ands."
Nanny Li stared at the table full of dazzling treasures. "This... this is what you call a ’small token’?"
She collected herself, then sat beside ng Qianqian. "To think the Supre Imperial Concubine is actually Madam’s sister. I really misjudged her before. Giving such a grand gesture—she’s quite generous, isn’t she?"
ng Qianqian took a sip of her water and smiled. Generous wouldn’t even begin to describe it—she had even been forced to hand over her secret stash of Dongzhu pearls.
Such satisfaction.
"Truly delightful," she said sincerely.
Ban Xia chid in, "Indeed, marrying the new groom was such a blessing!"
Nanny Li, who hadn’t internally cursed Lu Yuan for a while now, found herself strangely at peace. Nothing works better than Liu Qingyun’s gold bracelets.
"After spending so ti, it’s true there’s not much to fault the bridegroom on. When he first ca to the mansion, I worried he’d take one of the maids as a concubine since they’re all so beautiful. But he hasn’t. Nor has he brought back any disreputable won from the outside... not even the mother-in-law could find fault with him."
ng Qianqian retorted, "Nanny, she makes follow rules every single day, and now she’s even gotten to serve her als!"
Nanny Li said solemnly, "No rules, no household. Besides, it’s only right that a daughter-in-law serves her mother-in-law."
ng Qianqian donned a serious face. "Nanny, that’s not what you used to say."
Nanny Li coughed awkwardly. "Ahem."
It’s for the young lady’s own good—certainly not because Madam gave her too much.
ng Qianqian only teased Nanny Li—it was clear in her heart that she truly liked Liu Qingyun. So much so that she wouldn’t mind becoming her daughter-in-law for real.
But her marriage with Lu Yuan was only a ruse.
Sigh!
ng Qianqian headed to Chen Long’s courtyard.
Her brother wasn’t there. Who knew what he was busy with.
"I had a question about the murderer to ask him. Oh well, I’ll wait for him to return."
She then went to Tinglan Courtyard to find Bao Shu.
But Bao Shu wasn’t there—instead, she had gone to Bai Yuwei’s courtyard.
At that mont, Bao Shu was standing hands on her chubby hips, locked in a battle of wits with Bai Yuwei.
The conflict stemd from the Miao King assigning ng Qianqian to discipline Bai Yuwei. Since ng Qianqian had taken on the responsibility, she wouldn’t slack. Every morning, she would accompany Bai Yuwei for reading and writing practice.
Today, because ng Qianqian had to visit the palace, she left behind a set of copybooks for Bai Yuwei to practice on her own.
However, Bai Yuwei, relying on ng Qianqian’s absence, had one of the maids from Miaojiang do her writing for her—only to be caught red-handed by little supervisor Bao Shu.
Bao Shu gave an impassioned scolding. When words weren’t enough, she made up for it with sheer presence—intense and fierce!
Bai Yuwei glared at her, furious. "You’re scolding now?"
She had always been the youngest in the family, the one her grandfather adored the most. Then this little imp arrived, stealing all of his affection.
Ask for stars, and her grandfather would pluck stars; ask for the moon, and he’d scoop the moon. She even fed his Gu worms to the chickens.
And yet, instead of getting mad, her grandfather would let her ride on his shoulders to watch fireworks.
None of these privileges had ever been hers!
She loathed this little brat!
"Bao Shu."
ng Qianqian’s soft voice drifted from the doorway.
Bao Shu instantly toned down her combative aura, transforming into an adorable little angel. She stretched out her tiny arms toward ng Qianqian, her voice babyish. "Mom."
ng Qianqian scooped up the little one in her arms.
Bao Shu tattled, "Auntie is being naughty."
"I see," ng Qianqian replied with a smile.
The little one began to sweat from all the bickering, so ng Qianqian gently wiped her face with a handkerchief.
Bai Yuwei snapped unhappily, "Who cares about listening to you people?"
ng Qianqian smiled faintly. "Grandfather said if you don’t behave, you’ll be sent back to Miaojiang."
Bai Yuwei shot to her feet. "Fine, I’ll go! Who wants to stay in the Capital City anyway? Ah Man, pack my things. We’re leaving!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)