Xue Huichun stopped for a moment. Although she was curious, she knew that the palace rules were strict and it was not something she could find out.
Thinking of what happened during the outing at Liquan Mountain, she shook her head slightly, secretly lamenting that if Li Yunting didn't curb her arrogance, it might cause a big disaster. She hoped that she could take care of herself and not implicate innocent people.
In the side hall, Li Yunting's voice continued to be heard, with tears and unwillingness in her voice: "Empress Dowager, Zhang Xian knows that he... He has always hated me. He pretends to obey me but secretly disobeys me. We have never had any love as husband and wife. Please, Empress Dowager, make a decision for Ting'er!"
Lu Fengqing's voice was cold and angry. "As a member of the imperial family, how can you be so willful? Marriage is such a serious matter, how can it be treated lightly? You insisted on marrying Zhang Xianzhi, and even the emperor was remonstrated with the censors. Now you want to divorce him. Where do you place the dignity of the imperial family?"
"When Prince An was trying to save the late emperor, he was tragically struck by an assassin's arrow and ultimately passed away from his injuries. I brought you to the capital, raised you with all my heart, and gave you the honor and status you deserved. Yet, you acted recklessly and arrogantly. Did you really think I would continue to indulge you without a single ounce of restraint?"
"But Queen Mother, I..." Li Yunting's voice was choked, and it was obvious that the Queen Mother's words touched a sore spot.
Chang Bao stepped forward, his tone somewhat admonishing: "Princess Xianning, the Queen Mother has been distressed for many days because of the matter of Consort Liu. Now, not only can you not offer any kind comfort, but you are coming to her to cause trouble..."
Although Li Yunting held Lu Fengqing in awe, she didn't take Chang Bao, a mere eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, seriously. She snorted and retorted, "Eunuch Chang was so attentive to the eldest daughter of the Xue family just now. Could it be that he accepted favors from the Xue family and is now betraying them?"
"How dare you!" Lu Fengqing shouted sternly.
Seeing Li Yunting's rude words and deeds, and how she dared to speak rudely to her chief eunuch in front of her, Lu Fengqing could no longer contain her anger.
"Do you think I know nothing about what you did? It's just that there was no trace back then, and considering your father's contribution in saving the emperor, I chose to make a big deal out of it and keep the peace."
Li Yunting's face changed suddenly when she heard this. She originally thought that no one knew the secret of that year, but she didn't expect that the empress dowager's eyes were so sharp and she had already seen through everything.
"The Lotus Heart Sutra enshrined in Anhua Hall can eliminate karma. You should kneel here for an hour and reflect on your mistakes before leaving the palace."
After Lu Fengqing finished speaking, he turned and left without even looking at Li Yunting who was kneeling beside him.
Chang Bao followed closely behind and walked out of the Anhua Palace. He passed a disdainful look over the head of Princess Xianning, silently expressing his dissatisfaction.
The Queen Mother had long been disgusted with Li Yunting's misbehavior. Now Li Yunting openly proposed to divorce her husband. Such behavior was rare in the royal family and would surely cause an uproar if it were to be spread.
Although the side hall was covered with soft carpets, Li Yunting had been kneeling for an hour without anyone offering her tea. When she stood up, she felt a sharp pain in her knees, making it almost impossible for her to stand.
The palace maids outside the hall watched coldly because she had just offended the empress dowager, and no one came forward to help her.
Several ladies came out of the main hall after offering sacrifices and caught a glimpse of her slightly disheveled figure from behind, and could not help but whisper to each other.
Li Yunting suddenly turned around and glared at several people with a fierce look, which scared them into silence. They hurriedly saluted and left quickly.
A breeze blew across the high platform of Anhua Palace, but it could not suppress her anger at all. She was shaking with anger, and her angry eyes were cast towards Ci'an Palace where the Empress Dowager lived.
After leaving the palace, Li Yunting boarded the Princess's Mansion's magnificent carriage and angrily yelled at the driver, "Go to the Linjiang Palace!"
The residence of Linjiang King Li Longjing was originally located in the most prosperous area of the capital, but he did not like the hustle and bustle, so His Majesty Li Longze awarded him the Taohua Temple Palace in the suburbs of Beijing as his new palace.
This palace was built during the lifetime of their grandfather, Emperor Renzong. The wonder of the garden's landscape lies in the fact that the hot springs on Taohua Mountain were brought into the mansion, and pavilions and terraces were built around it.
Located in the center of the palace, the Bishuiyunju, which serves as the main hall, is combined with a viewing corridor. Across a shimmering waterside pavilion, it overlooks the stage with carved railings and painted buildings on the opposite bank.
Even in the daytime, the famous actors on the stage sing in melodious voices, tearfully and plaintively, as if expressing their endless heartfelt feelings and endless affections.
Prince Linjiang Li Longjing sat comfortably on a couch, the folding fan in his hand turning slightly with the rise and fall of the melody, and every movement revealed an innate elegance and nobility.
"Get out of my way!"
Li Yunting's arrogant and domineering voice broke the tranquility among the pavilions and waterside pavilions.
The sudden noise made Li Longjing, who had originally closed his eyes and immersed in the opera, open his eyes slightly, revealing a helpless look.
He lightly raised the folding fan in his hand, and the attendant beside him immediately understood and raised his hands to clapped twice towards the stage on the other side of the pavilion.
The originally melodious singing came to an abrupt end, and the famous actors on the stage bowed respectfully and quietly retreated.
"What? Did you get bullied in the palace?"
Li Longjing did not turn around to look at Li Yunting who walked into Bishuiyunju in a hurry. He just stared quietly at the shimmering water in front of him and asked in a calm tone.
"Being bullied? The old woman actually acted like a queen mother to me. She didn't even consider that if my father hadn't saved the late emperor from danger, she and her son would never have had the chance to sit on the throne!"
Thinking of this, Li Yunting angrily swung her wide sleeves with such force that the fruit plate on the coffee table next to her fell down. The gold utensils hit the ground with a loud clanging sound. Fortunately, all the utensils in the Linjiang Palace were made of gold, otherwise porcelain fragments would have been scattered everywhere.
Seeing this, the maid beside her hurriedly squatted down to clean up, but Li Yunting's anger did not subside at all. She raised her foot and kicked the maid's waist, scaring her so much that she kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"Sir, please don't be offended. My cousin has been spoiled since she was young and has a stubborn personality. Even I can't do anything to her."
Li Longjing said jokingly with a hint of apology in his tone, this was obviously not the tone a prince should use to speak to his servants.
Upon hearing this, Li Yunting looked around in confusion, wondering what distinguished guest had come to visit the mansion.
A gentle spring breeze blew from the mountains in spring, and a soft spring breeze blew through the corridor, causing the hanging sky-blue gauze curtains to flutter in the wind.
At the table behind the screen, a tall figure was painting with great concentration. At first glance, the man was wearing a simple and elegant blue shirt, like a wisp of frosty wind in early winter, exuding a cold and independent temperament.
Li Yunting just took a quick glance, and the anger on her face disappeared in an instant. She swayed her waist and slowly approached.
This is where Li Longjing handles the affairs of the palace. Anyone who can write on this desk must be his trusted and important minister.
"Cousin, when did you have such an outstanding talent in your family?"
Li Yunting smiled charmingly and reached out to gently stroke the unfinished painting "A Thousand Pines in Spring Mountains" on the table.
The painter raised his head, revealing his cold eyes, which were both somewhat indifferent and distant, yet concealed a barely perceptible sharpness.
"I am Yan Boxi, honored to meet the princess."
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