??Chapter 60: 060 Putting the Conspiracy and Tricks Out in the Open (Second Update)
Chapter 60: 060 Putting the Conspiracy and Tricks Out in the Open (Second Update)
Ji Chuchu caught sight of Li Xianyun from a distance. Dressed in riding attire, she looked frail but radiantly beautiful.
They say won are like flowers, blossoming fragrantly under the care of a nurturing man, yet withering slowly if neglected, until all vitality is gone.
It was clear that Li Xianyun was the forr, and it looked like Yelu Yan treated her very well.
Thinking this, Ji Chuchu bristled with envy and couldn’t even bother to make polite conversation with the noble ladies talking to her.
As Li Xianyun and Yuchi Qian, leading Yelu Xuan, walked up, Guli greeted Li Xianyun with a warm smile, “Xianxian, co sit over here.”
The familiarity of the address could not be overstated, yet her smile did not reach her eyes, a perfect example of a smiling tiger.
Li Xianyun noticed an empty seat beside Guli, which according to palace hierarchy, was ant for her.
The group greeted Guli with a deep bow, saying, “Greetings to the Grand Imperial Consort.”
Li Xianyun also bowed in greeting.
The other noblewon stood up to greet Li Xianyun in return.
Everyone appeared joyous and harmonious, their facades well crafted.
Li Xianyun looked towards Yuchi Qian.
Yuchi Qian pointed to two empty chairs not far away and whispered, “Consort and Xuanxuan will sit over there.”
Li Xianyun nodded slightly and walked over to Guli to take a seat next to her, while Zhuo Ma and throngs of maids stood by the high platform.
Guli took Li Xianyun’s hand and said, “My good child, you have not co to see Mother for days. The Mother fears you are brooding, and she wanted to cheer you up by inviting you to the horse festival.”
Hearing this, the surrounding noblewon and ladies of quality whispered among themselves, “The princess consort actually failed to pay respects to the Grand Imperial Consort; this is truly lacking in manners.”
“Yes, even though the Khan dotes on her, she shouldn’t take such advantage of his favor.”
“They say that Houtang values rites and ceremonies above all else, but as I see it, that is hardly the case.”
Li Xianyun pretended not to hear and smiled at Guli, “The Khan said that Mother had waived my morning and evening duties out of consideration for my weakness. Is that not so?”
Guli had been feeling frustrated for so ti. Li Xianyun had been in the Imperial Palace for rely two days when Yelu Yan sent word: the princess consort was frail, and to prevent her from getting tired from walking, all her morning and evening duties were excused.
Did he even consider his own mother in this matter? It was utterly outrageous!
Guli had raised the issue openly that day with the intent of embarrassing Li Xianyun and Yelu Yan, hoping to pin a reputation of disrespect and ignorance of etiquette on them.
Guli was waiting for Li Xianyun to push the bla onto Yelu Yan.
But unexpectedly, Li Xianyun didn’t fall into the trap and instead indicated that it was Guli who had compassionately excused her from her duties.
Li Xianyun had neatly placed a cap of caring for the younger generation on Guli’s head.
Though inwardly fuming, Guli couldn’t deny the truth, as much as she disliked Yelu Yan. She didn’t want outsiders to sense any discord between her and her son.
With Yelu Yan’s power at its peak, if people knew of their strained relationship, she feared losing much of her prestige.
Guli laughed a couple of tis and said, “The Mother is getting on in years and has a poor mory. Now that you ntion it, Mother rembers the matter. If the Khan is concerned about you, Mother is happy to see it.”
Li Xianyun replied with a smile, “After all, mutual care is the very essence of a marital relationship.”
“You make sense, you make sense.” Guli said, her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched into a fist, her fingernails digging into her flesh, she was so filled with hatred that her teeth itched, yet she had to put on a smiley face.
Ji Chuchu had heard their conversation without missing a word, and it made her feel awful.
The other ladies, upon hearing Li Xianyun bring up Yelu Yan, dared not say anything further.
Guli glanced up at Rong Ge.
Understanding the cue, Rong Ge walked to the front and bowed to Guli, saying, “Greetings to the Grand Imperial Consort.”
Guli, looking at the bright red slap mark on Rong Ge’s face, asked deliberately and loudly, “Oh my, what happened to your face?”
They weren’t far apart, yet she spoke so loudly, obviously for the sake of others hearing it.
As expected, the won started whispering among themselves again.
Yuchi Qian beca nervous and looked at Li Xianyun with concern.
Rong Ge glanced at Li Xianyun, not daring to speak, her intended ssage couldn’t have been clearer.
Guli looked at Li Xianyun and said, “Good child, has this servant of mine angered you?”
Li Xianyun replied calmly, “This servant, relying on the fact that she is under my mother, strutted around in my palace, not only scolding my servants, but also daring to loudly question why I did not attend the horse racing event, which is insolent and utterly disgraceful. Hence, I spoke up on mother’s behalf.”
Guli, with a displeased expression, said, “A few words of reprimand would have sufficed; there was no need to hit her so hard. If you really felt wronged, you could have told , and I would have dealt with it. Why be so heavy-handed? Servants are also people, not little cats or dogs, they should not be hit at will.”
Li Xianyun looked at Guli, her skill at slinging mud was no small matter.
She said, “Mother, I thought the sa as you, that a few words of admonishnt would be enough. I spoke to this servant with emotion and reasoned with her, telling her that as the manager of palace servants and maids, she should know the punishnt for speculation about superior’s intentions, and that she should act according to the rules. But who would have thought that she would kneel on the ground and slap herself in the face? I was terribly frightened, and I had no idea that the discipline in mother’s palace was this strict.”
“I thought it was a rule set by mother, and was afraid to contradict you, so I didn’t dare to stop her. However, watching her continuously slap herself, I really couldn’t stand it. If I hadn’t intervened, her face might have been ruined. Mother’s firm rule is truly admirable,” she continued.
Shaking her head, Rong Ge said, “Grand Imperial Consort, it’s not as the princess says.”
Li Xianyun spoke in a mild tone, “Then I ask you, did you kneel down of your own accord?”
“I…”
“And did you slap yourself with your own hand?”
“…”
“Moreover, did I ever ask you to slap your own face?”
“…”
Li Xianyun’s words were factual, leaving Rong Ge speechless.
Seeing this, Guli gave an awkward laugh and said, “Rong Ge has always been amiable and doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would do sothing disobedient.”
Li Xianyun laughed and said, “Mother, you are just too kind, seeing everyone in a good light. You must not let them deceive you, for then they’ll tarnish your reputation without you even knowing.”
“You are absolutely right,” said Guli in a soft voice, now struggling to maintain her composure.
With a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, Li Xianyun said leisurely, “Mother, this servant is exceptionally scheming. In my palace she chose to kneel and slap herself, and now, before a grand audience, she pays her respects to you, all to stir up trouble between you and , hoping to make
lose face before the other officials’ families. Such craftiness is apparent, and you must be wary of such a villain, Mother.”
Rong Ge knelt down with a thud, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, “Grand Imperial Consort, I never had such thoughts!”
Reviews
All reviews (0)