Chapter 441
~ WHY DON’T YOU BOW DOWN WHEN YOU SEE ME? ~
Due to the repeated orders from the Emperor, Grand Princess Yi De ordered someone to escort Su Qing and Mu Yunyao to the Imperial Palace.
As soon as Mu Yunyao and Su Qing had just gotten off the carriage, they saw a young eunuch welcoming them, “Greetings, Lady Su. Greetings, Miss Mu.”
“Eunuch need not be so polite. I have to trouble you to lead the way, thank you.”
“Young Miss has humbled this servant. Please follow this servant.” When he first came to lead Mu Yunyao the way, she was only the Young Miss Biao who had just returned to the Su family’s residence. The people in the Palace all said that she was lucky to be found by the Su family. Now, in just a short time, she had already become the ‘Miss Mu’ that everyone praised. She no longer has to use the Su family to gain glory. Instead, she has become a person that Grand Princess Yi De values in one fell swoop. In addition to her actions, it would not be an exaggeration to praise her as a proud daughter of heaven.
As soon as Mu Yunyao and Su Qing walked into the Palace gate, they heard an expressly cold voice, “Mu Yunyao?”
Mu Yunyao followed the voice and looked over, facing Su Yuyi’s eyes full of hatred. In front of Su Yuyi stood an old lady with a long, thin face, raised eyebrows, and slightly raised cheekbones. At this time, her expression was displeased, with a natural meaning of meanness. She was the wife of Grand Master Meng, Princess Qingning.
“Greetings, Princess Qingning.” After seeing Mu Yunyao pay her respects, Su Qing hurriedly followed.
Princess Qingning brought Su Yuyi forward with her. Without concealing the disgust and scrutiny in her eyes, she swept Mu Yunyao with her gaze several times, “To be able to cause my daughter, grandson, and granddaughter to successively fall victim. Your ability is really great.”
“Yunyao doesn’t understand what Princess is saying.”
“Heh.” Princess Qingning sneered and turned to look at Su Yuyi. “Yuyi, the air here is foul. It’s better not to linger any longer.”
Su Yuyi hated Mu Yunyao very much. Mu Yunyao had caused her mother to be abandoned, making her become a joke in the Capital. She had also caused her father to be demoted from a higher official, and she was also firmly pressed on his head by the Second Branch. Her elder brother had no choice but to curry favor with the domineering Sixth Princess. She keeps all these accounts in her heart. When the opportunity presented itself, she would definitely strike at Mu Yunyao until she could resolve the hatred in her heart!
Mu Yunyao helped Su Qing stand up and watched Princess Qingning and Su Yuyi’s backs as they left. A dark light flashed in her eyes. “Mother, let’s go.”
The young eunuch wiped off the cold sweat on his forehead, afraid that Mu Yunyao would vent her anger on him. After carefully observing for a while e gradually put down his heart when he saw that her smile was gentle, without the slightest bit of haze.
Seeing that he was about to reach the front hall, the young eunuch let out a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a sharp voice berating him.
“Who’s in front? Why are you so unruly? Why aren’t you kneeling and bowing when you see Imperial Concubine De?”
Mu Yunyao raised her head and saw a woman in a magenta palace dress embroidered with hundreds of butterflies and peonies, slowly walking over under the escort of the Palace maids. She was incredibly bright and incomparably beautiful, with a slight smile on her face.
Mu Yunyao’s brows twitched. After giving Su Qing a wink, she bowed her knees respectfully and saluted, “Greetings, Imperial Concubine De.”
Imperial Concubine De waved away the Palace maids by her side and slowly walked to Mu Yunyao. With a wave of her palace dress, the peony on the edge of her dress swayed as she spoke, “Who are you? Why do you look so tense? It’s as though you’ve never seen it before.”
Imperial Concubine De had seen Mu Yunyao attend the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet before. Thus, when she said she didn’t know her, Mu Yunyao clearly felt Imperial Concubine De wanted to embarrass her.
“Reporting to Imperial Concubine De, this humble daughter is Mu Yunyao, and beside me is my mother, Su Qing.”
“Mu Yunyao, Su Qing... You call yourself a humble daughter just because you don’t have any title on you. Why don’t you bow down when you see me?” Imperial Concubine De looked at Mu Yunyao. Even though she was expressionless, her lips were slightly raised.
There were a lot of people who came to attend the Palace Banquet. Generally, they only needed to perform a simple salute. But Imperial Concubine De would naturally not let this point slip by if she intentionally picked a fight with them.
Mu Yunyao kneeled down happily, and after bowing, she said in a crisp voice, “Imperial Concubine De, please forgive me.”
Su Qing looked at Mu Yunyao, feeling extremely nervous in her heart. This Imperial Concubine De was most likely the Eldest Madam’s older sister, so she was waiting here to intentionally make things difficult for them.
The corner of Imperial Concubine De’s lips lifted as she looked at Mu Yunyao kneeling at her feet. A bright smile flashed in her eyes. She lightly took a step forward as if her feet weren’t steady enough. Her dark purple embroidered shoes just so happened to step on Mu Yunyao’s fingers on the ground.
“I heard that your embroidery skills are peerless in this world. When will you make a palace dress for the Palace?”
Her finger hurt, causing Mu Yunyao’s face to turn white, and her forehead immediately broke out in a sweat, “Imperial Concubine De, you accidentally stepped on my finger.”
Imperial Concubine De looked down, but she did not have the intention to move her feet away, “Is that so? Perhaps it’s because you’ve been holding the embroidery needle so long with your fingers, so it felt so rough when I stepped on it. There’s no difference compared to standing on the ground. I didn’t react for a while. Shouldn’t you go to Grand Princess Yi De to sue me?”
Mu Yunyao raised her head to look at Imperial Concubine De, her black eyes cold and detached, “In any case, I’m still the one whom Grand Princess Yi De has personally taken a fancy to be her granddaughter. Is Imperial Concubine De not afraid of Grand Princess Yi De getting angry from playing such a small trick?” There was no one else here, so there was no need to be so cautious when speaking.
Imperial Concubine De sneered. She slowly crouched down and focused her strength on the foot that was stepping on Mu Yunyao’s finger. The peony embroidered dress was scattered on the ground, like a flower spreading freely. She stretched out her finger that was covered in red rosewood and pinched Mu Yunyao’s chin, forcing her to raise her head. “Who do you think you are? Did you really think that climbing on Grand Princess Yi De could make you ascend to the sky in one step? I would like to see if Grand Princess Yi De would punish me, the favorite concubine of the Emperor, for the sake of her granddaughter, who was picked up halfway.”
Mu Yunyao blinked, and a smile appeared on her lips, “To be able to call herself the favorite concubine, Imperial Concubine De is truly confident. However, someone once told me that flowers are not blooming every day, and people are not good for a thousand days. I think it is particularly appropriate to advise you today.” Based on the Meng family’s way of doing things, even if she didn’t deal with it, Imperial Concubine De was about to be punished by the Emperor.
Imperial Concubine De s fingers that pinched Mu Yunyao’s chin grew harder and harder, her nails leaving crescent-shaped marks on her cheeks. “Look at this delicate face. f I can’t handle it well, I’ll accidentally scratch it with my nails. I’m afraid I won’t be able to see it again.”
Mu Yunyao’s smile didn’t change, as if she was sure that Imperial Concubine De didn’t dare to do anything to her. “If Imperial Concubine De feels relieved, then let go of me. My skin is tender, and it is easy to leave traces. It was because Meng Yanran slapped me that I formed a grudge with the Meng family. Have you forgotten?”
Imperial Concubine De fiercely released her hand and pushed Mu Yunyao to the side, “You’re indeed arrogant. Just because you’ve achieved your goals, you actually dare to be disrespectful to me?”
Imperial Concubine De was furious in her heart. Partly because Mu Yunyao was disrespectful to her, but also because Mu Yunyao’s words were reasonable. She really did only dare to use these petty tricks against her. Who allowed this person to receive Grand Princess Yi’s attention? No matter how angry she was in the heart, she had to take into consideration of the Grand Princess’s faces.
Many people had already arrived at this gap. But upon seeing this scene, they quickly moved out of the way.
“Imperial Concubine, it’s about time. If we continue delaying, I’m afraid we’ll miss the opening of the banquet. Can I get up now?”
“No, you must kneel here! Without my order, if you dare to stand up, I will let the palace break both your legs!”