Chapter 226: A Family's Protection
Chapter 226: A Family's Protection
Changchun Palace.
Lady Li, the Grand Dowager, was examining the new fabrics sent by the Imperial Household Department.
With the Emperor's grand wedding, a new Empress would soon be welcomed into the harem.
The ranks of the imperial concubines were also elevated, with the Empress being honored as the Empress Dowager, while Lady Li herself became the Grand Dowager.
These fabrics were meant for her new attire as the Grand Dowager.
"So old-fashioned," Lady Li complained, "The ones from Smoky Rain Pavilion are much better, but even with money, they can't be bought."
Wang Dequan entered with a dustpan in hand, his steps hurried as he bowed respectfully and whispered, "Your Highness, the Miaojiang Princess and Meng Xiaojiu seek an audience."
Lady Li's half-closed eyes widened in an instant.
Wang Dequan was aware of Lady Li's true identity, and he spoke softly, "Should I announce them, Your Highness?"
Lady Li frowned, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but after a moment, she said impatiently yet helplessly, "Really, how did these two get here? Announce them, then!"
Meng Qianqian and Liu Qingyun entered Lady Li's chamber.
Lady Li was dressed in exquisite imperial attire, looking down from her high position.
Before meeting Liu Qingyun, she was the most beautiful woman Meng Qianqian had ever seen, possessing a natural and ethereal beauty that was free from the trappings of the world.
Even now, with an unfriendly expression on her face, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.
"Greetings, Grand Dowager," Meng Qianqian bowed.
As she was about to kneel, Liu Qingyun raised her hand to stop her. Liu Qingyun's gaze fell on Lady Li's face, "Have your people step back."
Lady Li smiled arrogantly, "The Miaojiang Princess sure is bold, coming here and ordering me around."
Liu Qingyun replied calmly, "I'm doing this for your own good, so you won't lose face in front of your attendants later."
Lady Li's smile froze.
Wang Dequan and Lady Yingyue both glanced at Lady Li.
As Lady Li's confidants, they were well aware of the past entanglements between the Miaojiang Princess and Lady Li.
If it were anyone else, they would have driven them away, but this Miaojiang Princess indeed held some real status.
Lady Li stared at Liu Qingyun without blinking, feeling indignant. She had been bullied by Liu Qingyun when they were young, and now, as the Emperor's mother, she couldn't believe she still had to endure this crazy sister's temper.
She slammed her hand on the table and stood up, shouting, "I am the Grand Dowager! The Emperor's mother! You're just a mere Miaojiang Princess, and you dare to show off in front of me?"
Liu Qingyun tugged at her sleeve, "Sister, sister, after so many years, you're still... exactly the same."
Lady Li's face changed slightly, "What are you going to do?"
Liu Qingyun raised her hand.
Lady Li shuddered instinctively.
But Liu Qingyun merely removed the hairpin from her head and handed it to Meng Qianqian, "Hold this, don't lose it later."
Meng Qianqian caught it with both hands, "I understand, Mother."
Liu Qingyun slowly approached Lady Li. Her lips, as red as blood, curved slightly.
The fear of being controlled by her sister suddenly surged in Lady Li's heart. She clutched her handkerchief tightly, "All of you, get out!"
Wang Dequan and Lady Yingyue hurriedly led the attendants out of the chamber.
The vast chamber was left with only Liu Qingyun, Lady Li, and Meng Qianqian.
Liu Qingyun walked up to Lady Li. She was tall and her eyes held a hint of madness.
Cruel people were not to be feared, but madmen were.
Lady Li's arrogance instantly diminished by half. She sat down on the couch, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at Liu Qingyun.
Liu Qingyun's fair and clean fingers gently grazed Lady Li's face, "Sister, I asked you to take care of my son in the capital. Did you do it well?"
Do you not remember how your sister punished you when you were young for not listening to her?"
Lady Li shuddered.
Liu Qingyun smiled gently, "Or have you forgotten who kept you alive? Your father was just a male concubine, and you were born different. The Miao village considered you a bad omen, so your biological father abandoned you in the mountains at night. Your sister found you adorable and took you in."
Meng Qianqian perked up her ears, born different, abandoned by her father, and rescued by her sister—what a juicy story!
Lady Li touched her face.
She had a birthmark on the right side of her face, making her face look like two different people.
It was Liu Qingyun who rescued her and even used her own blood as a catalyst to help her mother cure her.
But Liu Qingyun wasn't doing this out of the goodness of her heart; she was treating her like a pet cat or dog.
When the village children boasted about their obedient cats and dogs, Liu Qingyun would tie her up with a rope and say, "My little sister is the most obedient."
Liu Qingyun was crazy!
No matter how Liu Qingyun treated her, her mother never paid any attention, as if in her heart, only Liu Qingyun was her daughter, and she was merely a toy to make Liu Qingyun happy.
So, for those years in the Miao village, she lived under Liu Qingyun's shadow until her father sent people to bring her back to the Yao family.
She thought she could finally escape Liu Qingyun, but she never expected Lu Yuan to be Liu Qingyun's son.
Just as she felt Liu Qingyun was about to tear her face apart, Liu Qingyun suddenly withdrew her hand, sat down beside her, and picked up the cup of Empress Dowager's Tea that she hadn't drunk from the table, "I've killed those people."
Lady Li was stunned, "Who?"
Liu Qingyun took a sip of tea, "The ones from Ten Thousand Flowers Tower."
Upon hearing this, not only was Lady Li shocked, but even Meng Qianqian took a while to react and realize who Liu Qingyun was talking about.
The experts from Ten Thousand Flowers Tower, Yan Niangzi's subordinates, were mostly also Xun Prime Minister's men.
She had accidentally discovered their dealings with Lady Li, and they had tried to kill her to silence her. It was Lu Yuan who appeared in time and disrupted their plan.
One of them died from her poison.
As for the others, they haven't been seen for a long time.
That wasn't the main point; the main point was that she had reported them just this morning, and before noon, her mother-in-law had already dealt with them? Meng Qianqian felt that her admiration for her mother-in-law was far too little!
Liu Qingyun blew on the hot tea, "Sister, this is a warning to you. If you dare to be a fence-sitter again, I won't be so polite next time."
Lady Li clutched her handkerchief tightly.
Liu Qingyun slammed the teacup onto the table, "And when did it become your turn to bully my daughter-in-law?"
Lady Li seemed to have suddenly found a scapegoat and pointed at Meng Qianqian's nose, "So, it was you who was badmouthing me behind my back!"
Meng Qianqian, looking scared, hid behind Liu Qingyun, "Mother."
Lady Li was furious, "What are you pretending for? Aren't you very capable? Aren't you unyielding? Where is that stubborn spirit you showed in front of me? I wanted to discuss this with you, but you had someone smash my bedroom! And you still have the face to report to others?"
Meng Qianqian was expected to make some excuses, but instead, she said innocently, "Your Highness can also go and report to your mother-in-law. I wonder if Your Highness is as lucky as Xiao Jiu to meet the most beautiful, most open-minded, most extraordinary, and most caring grandmother-in-law in the world.
Lady Li: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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