Chapter 445: A Slap in the Face
Chapter 445: A Slap in the Face
Oh ho, it's been years since anyone dared to put on airs before her. The last one who was so arrogant was her sister who became a concubine, thinking that her status as an imperial concubine would allow her to flaunt her power in front of her. In the end, she was dealt with severely.
Even if the other party wasn't the Crown Prince's wife, Li Qingyun wouldn't be afraid.
"Your lady's attitude is quite something, it has piqued my curiosity. Never mind, I ate too much earlier, so I'll go and meet your lady. I'll consider it as a walk to aid digestion."
Hui Zhi gestured, "Madam, this way please."
The two women headed towards the Rose Garden.
The garden was filled with lush flowers, meticulously arranged, and the signs of careful pruning were evident.
However, while it was beautiful, it lacked the natural charm of a wild garden.
Hui Zhi kept observing Li Qingyun's expression.
The madam usually tended to flowers and plants, and every female relative who had been to her garden was amazed by her horticulture skills.
Was this woman clueless, or had she seen better?
"My lady has some free time, so she casually tended to the garden," Hui Zhi said with a smile.
Li Qingyun replied indifferently, "It's obvious, it's indeed quite casual."
Hui Zhi: "..."
Li Qingyun thought that her mother's garden was truly beautiful, while others could only be called vegetable patches.
Hui Zhi led Li Qingyun into the house.
Dou Qingyi was seated in the main seat.
Li Qingyun recognized her as the woman she had almost bumped into earlier, "So, you want me to come and pay my respects to you in the middle of the night?"
Dou Qingyi wore a lake blue waist-bound skirt and a transparent embroidered robe, accentuating her graceful figure.
Her hair accessories looked simple, but each piece had an impressive origin, especially the Eastern Pearl on her forehead ornament, which was a gift from the Empress.
When the two women met earlier, she wasn't wearing this outfit.
Unfortunately, Li Qingyun didn't notice any of this.
Hui Zhi secretly glanced at Li Qingyun again, wondering what was wrong with this woman? The madam's outfit was so exquisite that even the imperial consorts in the palace would envy her.
Dou Qingyi placed her teacup on the table and spoke gently, "Sister, your words are a bit distant."
Li Qingyun extended her hand, "Stop, I'm not your sister."
Dou Qingyi gracefully said, "Hui Zhi, please take a seat."
With just one sentence, she established the hierarchy.
Hui Zhi brought over a stool.
The stool was lower than Dou Qingyi's chair, and once Li Qingyun sat down, she would be shorter than Dou Qingyi.
Li Qingyun hadn't eaten pork, but she had seen pigs walk; she wasn't going to fall for such a petty trick.
"If you have something to say, say it. If you have to fart, fart!"
Hui Zhi said, "This is the Crown Prince's Mansion, so I advise this lady to be careful with her words and actions."
Li Qingyun coldly laughed, "You know this is the Crown Prince's Mansion, but are there rules for servants to lecture their masters here?"
Hui Zhi was speechless.
Dou Qingyi spoke softly, "Sister, since you've just arrived, and you don't have a personal maid by your side, tomorrow I'll send someone to the Imperial Household Department to register your identity and have them assign a few capable palace servants to you."
This statement clearly implied that Li Qingyun hadn't been acknowledged by the mansion and couldn't be considered the mistress of the house.
Li Qingyun hadn't intended to be the mistress of the Crown Prince's Mansion, so she wasn't provoked at all, "No problem, I'll take my leave."
Dou Qingyi lifted her teacup and asked softly, "May I ask when and where you met His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Li Qingyun asked in return, "How do you know that I met the Crown Prince by chance?"
Dou Qingyi paused for a moment while drinking tea and asked without changing her expression, "You're a stranger, and I haven't seen you in the Imperial City."
Li Qingyun spoke with a meaningful tone, "From your words, it seems you haven't been in the Imperial City for just a few months. Otherwise, how could you assume that you've met all the women in the city?"
Liu Qingyun was single-minded when it came to certain matters, but most of the time, she was quite intelligent.
Dou Qingyi spoke with a calm and detached tone, "I am the Crown Prince's woman, and I have met many noble ladies and daughters of prominent families. Sister, don't misunderstand. I originally wanted to invite you for tea, but I never expected to anger you. It was my fault for not considering this. The hour is late, and I'll have Hui Zhi send you back to your courtyard."
Just as Liu Qingyun was beginning to extract some useful information, she wasn't quite ready to leave yet.
Her gaze shifted, and she pointed at the teacup on the table across from her, "You're right. Since I entered the mansion before you, according to the rules, I should address you as 'elder sister' to avoid His Majesty scolding me for being impolite and causing trouble for my son. Alright, I'll offer you a cup of tea."
Hui Zhi wondered if she had heard correctly.
Had this woman's attitude changed so quickly?
Liu Qingyun glared at her, "Why are you standing there in a daze? Pass me the tea, or do you not want me to offer tea to your mistress?"
Hui Zhi turned to look at Dou Qingyi.
Dou Qingyi nodded slightly.
Hui Zhi stepped forward, poured a cup of tea, and placed it on a tea saucer, offering it to Liu Qingyun.
Liu Qingyun took the tea and walked towards Dou Qingyi.
Just as everyone thought she had finally recognized her position and was about to bow to Dou Qingyi, her hand slipped.
Scalding hot tea splashed towards Dou Qingyi.
Dou Qingyi valued her face the most, and she would not allow any harm to come to it.
Instinctively, she grabbed the nearby tray and blocked the teacup that Liu Qingyun had thrown.
In this block, Liu Qingyun ended up getting splashed instead.
Liu Qingyun's wrist moved nimbly, and she managed to catch every drop of the spilled tea back into her own teacup.
She spun around gracefully, like a blooming snow lotus. When she returned to the center of the hall, she now held a jade bottle she had taken from Dou Qingyi's sleeve.
Liu Qingyun examined it and said, "Oh, a Gu bottle. So, you're from Miaojiang."
Dou Qingyi's face changed slightly.
Just then, a servant's cry rang out from the courtyard, "Your Highness!"
Hui Zhi reached out to grab the Gu bottle, and in the process, she knocked over Liu Qingyun's teacup.
"How dare you splash tea on my mistress!"
As Lu Zhaoyan entered the room, he happened to hear Hui Zhi's righteous accusation.
He glanced at the broken porcelain on the ground and instinctively looked at Liu Qingyun.
Dou Qingyi clutched her handkerchief tightly.
Hui Zhi knelt down and pleaded, "Your Highness! Please stand up for your mistress—"
"Yin Jiou, is it?" Liu Qingyun asked with a bitter smile.
Liu Qingyun strode towards Dou Qingyi, picked up the teacup from the table, and mercilessly splashed tea on her face.
Then, she turned to Lu Zhaoyan and said, "Now you can stand up for your woman!"
A cold light flashed in Lu Zhaoyan's eyes.
But it wasn't directed at Liu Qingyun.
Dou Qingyi, looking disheveled, stood up and said, "Hui Zhi! Stop your nonsense!"
Lu Zhaoyan took Liu Qingyun's wrist and left with her after saying, "Behead her."
Dou Qingyi sat in a daze, collapsing into a chair.
Even after giving birth to his son, was he still so concerned about that woman?
Hui Zhi crawled to Dou Qingyi's feet and cried, "Mistress—please save me—I don't want to die—"
Dou Qingyi scolded, "You fool! His Highness is a wise man. Do you think he would be fooled by such a clumsy scheme? He hates it when people try to manipulate him. You're digging your own grave, and you almost dragged me down with you—Take her away!"
(End of Chapter)
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