Chapter 203 The Daughter of the Liu Family
Liu Yuetang's slightly drooped eyelids swept over the people kneeling on the ground, and the coral and jade earrings beside her cheeks reflected a cold light.
"Everyone, get up."
Although her tone was calm, it carried the authority of command, and everyone bowed their heads and dared not look up.
Liu Ming slowly stood up and felt very pleased when he saw his daughter living a luxurious life.
"Your Majesty, you must be exhausted from the journey. Please come inside and rest. We have prepared a sumptuous feast for you."
Liu Yuetang didn't look at him, but only looked at the mansion and said, "Thank you, Minister of Rites."
The words "Minister of Rites" hit Liu Ming's heart like a stick. He still remembered that the last time they met, she called him in such a strange way in private.
Although the daughter was now a favorite concubine and enjoyed great glory, things had changed.
She is no longer the well-behaved and sensible little girl she was in her childhood.
Liu Ming couldn't help feeling guilty and regretful. He had devoted all his attention to government affairs, so he had shown very little love and care for her since she was a child.
Now, because of the gap between our status and the palace, it is difficult for him to even meet her, and it is difficult to make up to her.
Qi walked up to Liu Yuetang with a smile on her face, "Your Majesty's return home today has truly brought honor to the Liu Mansion."
As she spoke, she was about to raise her hand to support Liu Yuetang, but Liu Yuetang's wide sleeves fluttered, and her sharp nails brushed against her fingertips.
"Liu Zheng."
As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Zheng raised her hand and helped Liu Yuetang up the stairs.
Qi's face froze, and she withdrew her hand awkwardly. Then she frowned in disdain and followed Liu Ming into the inner hall.
Liu Yueyao had a gloomy face for the entire half day.
Seeing this, Fu Zhixing beside her stroked her arm and said, "After all, she is your sister, and now she is Concubine Xi, so you should pretend to be happy."
Liu Yueyao shook off his hand and glared at him fiercely: "Don't touch me!"
"If it weren't for you being so incompetent, I wouldn't be able to hold my head up in front of her."
She turned away coldly, furious.
If it weren't for Fu Ze'an (Fu Zhixing's father) gaining face in front of the emperor, and if the Fu family still had some face in the city, she would have wanted to divorce long ago.
In two whole years, Liu Yuetang rose from a low-ranking imperial concubine to become one of the four concubines, and even became pregnant with the emperor's heir.
And what about me? Not only do I not have a single imperial decree, but I also have to look after my mother-in-law's face in the Fu family.
She really regretted it!
I shouldn't have exchanged marriages with Liu Yuetang in the first place.
Otherwise, the person riding in the luxurious carriage to go home to visit her parents today would be her, Liu Yueyao.
When they arrived at the main hall, Liu Yuetang held Liu Zheng's hand and slowly sat down, her gold-woven skirt spreading on the chair like flowing clouds.
She glanced at the people in front of her with a smile in her almond-shaped eyes, and finally fell on Liu Yueyao who was clutching a handkerchief.
"Mrs. Fu, it's been a long time since we last met. How are you now?"
Hearing the sarcastic words "Mrs. Fu", Liu Yueyao's face became even uglier. She looked up at Liu Yuetang and squeezed out through gritted teeth: "I'm fine."
Fearing that Liu Yuetang would embarrass her daughter, Qi stepped forward with a smile, "Tang'er, your father has missed you terribly in the past two years."
"Now that I see you are living well in the palace, your father and I are relieved."
As always, Mrs. Qi presented herself as a loving mother, kind and virtuous in front of outsiders.
"Really?" Liu Yuetang smiled faintly, and Kou Dan tapped the armrest casually with his nails.
For some reason, although she was clearly smiling, there was a chill in her eyes, which frightened Qi. She tried her best to maintain a kind smile: "That's right! Now that you're back, let's have a good family reunion."
As they were talking, the maid brought the tea.
Qi said quickly, "Tang'er must be thirsty after all this journey. Come and have a cup of tea."
The smile on Liu Yuetang's lips deepened a little: "I'm a little thirsty."
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand.
But Liu Zheng didn't hand over the tea for a long time, instead she stared at Qi.
Qi looked at the hand Liu Yuetang stretched out to her again, and she understood - Liu Yuetang wanted her to serve the tea personally.
Qi's face changed slightly, she was angry but didn't dare to show it.
After all, things are different now. She is the Empress Xi, who is favored by the emperor and has a noble status. Not to mention herself, even Liu Ming should serve her tea.
Besides, there are so many guards standing in this courtyard. Liu Yuetang has been scheming since childhood, and he must want to use this opportunity to punish himself for disrespect.
She gritted her teeth, walked forward, and offered the tea to Liu Yuetang with both hands: "The tea in the mansion is not as good as the one in the palace, please don't despise it, Your Majesty."
Liu Yuetang smiled faintly and did not take the teacup.
Just when Qi was wondering whether Liu Yuetang was trying to intimidate her, Doctor Shen from the courtyard came up, inserted a silver needle into the tea to test for poison, and then brought it close to his nose to sniff it carefully.
After he nodded slightly, Liu Yuetang took the teacup and drank it slowly.
Seeing this, Liu Yueyao snorted coldly, feeling that it was both ridiculous and hateful.
If she's so afraid of being poisoned, why did she come back?
Did he come back just to show off his power?
Liu Yuetang took a sip and said, "This tea...is it the Mengding tea that Madam Liu has treasured for a long time?"
Qi was completely unaware of the impending danger and said with a smile, "Exactly! Knowing you were coming, your father specially asked me to find this tea."
Liu Yuetang smiled lightly, dimples appearing on her face. "I remember that I accidentally spilled this tea that year, and Madam Liu punished me by making me kneel in the ancestral hall for a whole night."
As the words fell, the teacup fell onto the holder with a "ding-dong" sound, startling everyone.
Qi's face turned pale and the smile on her face froze instantly.
Liu Yuetang raised her almond-shaped eyes with a half-smile: "I wonder if mother still remembers it?"
"Your Majesty, I was not thoughtful enough in the past. I hope you can forgive me." Qi didn't dare to look directly into Liu Yuetang's oppressive eyes.
"Oh~" Liu Yuetang chuckled.
"Is the crime committed by my mother merely a lack of consideration?"
"I am now the Xi Consort in the palace, yet just now my mother kept calling me by my full name! What is her crime?"
Upon hearing this, Qi's knees softened and she knelt on the ground: "It's been a long time since I last saw Your Majesty. I was so happy that I lost my composure. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Seeing her mother being humiliated by Liu Yuetang like this, Liu Yueyao could no longer bear it and stood up suddenly: "Although you are the Concubine Xi, you are still a daughter of the Liu family. You said your mother was disrespectful, so isn't it unfilial for you to treat your stepmother like this?"
"The daughter of the Liu family?" Liu Yuetang sneered, her laughter like the wind blowing out of an ice cellar.
"When I was born and abandoned in Zhuangzi, did you ever treat me as the daughter of the Liu family?"
Her eyes were like frosted cold blades, sweeping sharply across everyone in the hall.
"When I spent nine years in the manor, did you remember that I was the daughter of the Liu family?"
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