Xie Wanyun married Qin Su'an, the outdated Marquis of Yuanxing, while Li Fengmian married another wealthy and powerful man, who was much better than Qin Su'an. Later, she gave birth to a daughter, Youli, while Xie Wanyun had been childless for many years. Only then did Li Fengmian win back a game in front of Xie Wanyun and feel proud.
In fact, Xie Wanyun no longer cared about the quarrels in their youth, and did not want to get along with Li Fengmian, but Li Fengmian still held a grudge against her.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager's eyes were still red, Xie Wanyun felt bad. Not knowing what to say, she could only offer the handkerchief.
The Queen Mother feigned anger and took the handkerchief, but tapped her forehead and sighed, "You've always been this straightforward since you were little. You don't know how to save face at all."
Xie Wanyun smiled. "Aren't all the daughters of our Xie family like this?"
The empress dowager was stunned, and Xie Wanyun's words suddenly aroused the spirit of her youth.
"That's right. Actually, I also know that the reward the emperor gave you was too little for your contribution in saving the emperor at the hunting grounds. However, the emperor has his considerations, and you should understand him."
Xie Wanyun bit her lip, but couldn't help asking, "Is the Emperor still wary of the Xie family? Is that why he's doing this on purpose?"
The Queen Mother frowned, and after a long while she said, "There are only two of us left in the Xie family now. You must not say this in front of outsiders."
Xie Wanyun lowered his head and said nothing.
The Queen Mother stroked her hair and said sadly, "Who could have imagined something like this would happen? If your father and brothers were still alive, how could the Xie family be in such a state today?"
"Something like that? Queen Mother, are you referring to the defeat at Blue Moon Pass? My father and brother did their best, but the reinforcements were slow to arrive..."
The Queen Mother's eyes were red. She wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, she sighed deeply and said nothing.
Xie Wanyun quietly clenched his fists.
The Queen Mother's attitude was strange! If it was just a normal defeat, why would she be so secretive? Or was there something fishy going on back then? And the Queen Mother knew the inside story.
But she is also a daughter of the Xie family!
"Empress Dowager, can you tell me more about what happened back then? I was too young then and I don't remember a lot of things." Xie Wanyun was unwilling to give up.
The Queen Mother waved her hand. "Let's not talk about the past. It makes me uncomfortable."
There was a hint of inexplicable emotion in his eyes.
Xie Wanyun sighed quietly. The fleeting moment of genuine affection she had just felt was gone. The noblewoman before her was not only her great-aunt, but also the almighty Empress Dowager.
The two of them sat and chatted again. Xie Wanyun wanted to find out some things indirectly, but the empress dowager was tight-lipped.
Someone was sent from the Queen's Palace to ask the Queen Mother to come and have a seat in the palace.
The Queen Mother smiled and agreed. "It's a good thing Wanyun is here too. Come with me. It'll be more lively with more people. We can talk and laugh, and stop thinking about unhappy things."
Xie Wanyun accompanied the Queen Mother there, and as expected, Li Fengmian was also dressed in gorgeous clothes and was accompanying the Queen.
Today she wore a goose-yellow palace dress embroidered with an intricate pattern of butterflies and flowers. Her head was adorned with a full set of ruby jewellery. She looked dazzling and regal.
With bright features and a slender figure, she was a rare beauty. However, compared to Xie Wanyun, she always seemed to lack a bit of grace and temperament.
Perhaps it is true that beauty lies in the bones, not in the skin. Xie Wanyun has a graceful figure and an ethereal temperament.
Li Fengmian, on the other hand, had an oval face, plump and round. Although she was gorgeous, she lacked a bit of charm.
Xie Wanyun greeted the Queen before saying calmly, "So Princess Anyang is here too."
The queen is over forty years old, but her facial features are gentle and elegant. She is well maintained, her skin is fair and tender, and there is almost no wrinkle.
She looked at Xie Wanyun, then at Li Fengmian, and said with a smile, "Queen Dowager, Fengmian and Wanyun grew up together. Now that they are together, they each have their own unique qualities and are both incredibly beautiful."
Xie Wanyun said modestly, "Your Majesty, I am too kind. I am so vulgar, how can I compare to the elegance and nobility of Princess Anyang."
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