As soon as she finished speaking, one of Li Yunyan's maids moved.
She flew out with lightning speed and slapped Granny Yue twice across the face.
He left with the words, "If you can't speak properly, you might as well not have a tongue!" and then flew back.
Li Yunyan raised an eyebrow. Only then did she realize that Bao Xia was skilled in martial arts. Judging from her smooth speed just now, she might even be a secret guard.
Granny Yue covered her face in disbelief, "How dare you! You actually hit me!"
Then, Bao Xia raised the right hand that had just hit her, looking at her with a half-smile, and Granny Yue immediately shut up.
She looked at Du Qingyao with resentment, called out "Your Majesty," and then dared not speak her anger.
Du Qingyao was even angrier than she had expected that this mistress would be so powerful, not even respecting her, the princess.
She adopted the airs of a princess, her face stern as she said, "Why don't you, a mere concubine, bow before me?"
Li Yunyan looked at the anxious butler Liu behind her and chuckled softly.
"I don't even bow to Gu Yingzhi, do you think you're more arrogant than the Prince?"
"How dare you address the Prince by his given name!"
Granny Yue reprimanded her. Seeing that Bao Xia didn't react, she knew that if she didn't curse, she wouldn't be beaten, and her confidence returned.
Li Yunyan was speechless; it turned out to be a low-level game.
Having grown accustomed to palace intrigue in her previous life, she assumed the other party would kill or set fires at the drop of a hat, but she had overestimated them.
Her expression grew even more languid, and she replied listlessly, "I've already called, so what?"
Du Qingyao wanted to have someone slap her, but when she thought about how she only had a few maids by her side and all the guards she brought were blocked at the door, she became furious.
She, a princess, is constantly mistreated by the mistress, and can't even retaliate! It's infuriating!
She looked at Steward Liu behind her, "Steward Liu, is this how your prince teaches you to do things? How should a concubine be punished for daring to disrespect the princess?"
Steward Liu chuckled awkwardly, not daring to utter a single word, secretly hoping that the prince would return soon.
Du Qingyao had never been treated with such indifference. She could no longer maintain her dignified demeanor and cried out, "Where is your prince? Bring him out! I want to ask him if I have any say in this household!"
Silence fell over the surroundings.
......
Just then, three small figures appeared behind Li Yunyan.
They were wearing only thin undergarments, sleepily clinging to Li Yunyan's legs, and even yawning.
"It's so noisy!"
"Mother, who's here?"
"Mommy, hug me!"
Li Yunyan lowered her head, patted the little head that was sticking up three times, and coaxed softly, "It's hot outside, my darlings, go inside first, Mommy will come in and keep you company soon!"
"No! I want my mother!"
Xi'er is already grumpy when she wakes up, and being woken up loudly only made her feel worse. She cried and wanted a hug.
Li Yunyan had no choice but to pick her up, pat her gently, and then said impatiently to Du Qingyao, "The prince isn't here right now. Why don't you wait until he comes back?"
Du Qingyao stared intently at the three small faces that looked exactly like Gu Yingzhi's, her heart filled with turbulent emotions.
The prince not only kept a mistress, but also had his eldest son and eldest daughter!
They're already this big?!
The hands hidden in her sleeves trembled uncontrollably. Child! Child!!
While the prince refused to touch her even on the verge of death, he was having affairs with other women outside, and they even had three children together!
How could she possibly tolerate this?!
Reason crumbled the moment she saw the child, and she angrily rebuked, "You shameless slut! I don't know what kind of seductive tricks you used to seduce the prince into abandoning his home and neglecting the people of Qingyang City!"
A righteous expression appeared on her face. "Today, I, the imperial concubine, will teach you a lesson on behalf of His Majesty and my mother, you filthy and lowly woman!"
Out of the corner of her eye, Li Yunyan caught sight of a tall figure rushing towards her. A slight smile played on her lips as she lowered her eyes and asked, "So, how do you want to teach me a lesson?"
Du Qingyao, however, assumed she was afraid and became increasingly reckless in her speech, "This concubine will definitely throw you and these bastard children you've borne into..."
"shut up!"
A loud shout rang out, and Gu Yingzhi rushed to Li Yunyan's side, looked her up and down, and asked anxiously, "Yanyan, are you alright?"
Li Yunyan turned her head away, sulking and ignoring him, a slight sour feeling rising in her heart.
When Xi'er saw her father arrive, she immediately rushed from Li Yunyan's arms to be held by him. As soon as Gu Yingzhi took her, the two little boys automatically climbed up and hung on his arms, one on each side.
"Father!"
"Father!"
"Daddy, these people are so fierce! They woke us up!"
Gu Yingzhi was busy both soothing the child and coaxing Li Yunyan.
"Yanyan! Don't be angry! I'm late!"
Li Yunyan lowered her eyes and didn't speak. Gu Yingzhi could tell at a glance that she was throwing a tantrum. Looking at her awkward little expression, a sweet feeling welled up in his heart.
Yanyan is jealous! She's jealous!
He handed the child to the nanny beside him, then took her in his arms and gently coaxed her, "I rushed back as soon as I got the news. Has Yanyan been wronged?"
Li Yunyan pushed him away, "Don't touch me! Your princess is here, go and talk to her!"
After saying that, she turned to leave, but Gu Yingzhi wouldn't let her go. If he didn't appease her now, she might not let him into the room that night.
He hooked his long arm around her waist and pulled her back, holding her tightly in his arms so she couldn't move, whispering sweet nothings in her ear over and over again.
"Yanyan, be good, it's all my fault."
"I'm not angry anymore."
"How about I get rid of her right away?"
The servants around him all expertly looked down at their toes, pretending not to see anything.
His oblivious demeanor stung Du Qingyao's eyes. She had never seen the usually aloof and dignified prince so tender and affectionate!
He used to refuse to even touch her hand, but now he's acting so subservient and begging for mercy in front of a woman!
"Your Highness?!" Her voice trembled, filled with disbelief.
Seeing that Li Yunyan had stopped struggling and was just sulking as he held her, Gu Yingzhi glanced at her.
"Who sent you?"
This was the first time he saw Du Qingyao after he came in. His gaze was cold and cruel, as if he wished she would disappear immediately.
Du Qingyao was heartbroken by his gaze; his eyes were completely different before and after, making it impossible for her to deceive herself any longer.
The prince truly disliked her, even loathed her!
What is it about her that I dislike? Is it that I dislike her for occupying the position of the principal wife?
"Your Highness, I would like to ask you a question: In Your Highness's heart, who exactly is the Princess Consort of Qingyang?"
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