Early in the morning, after having breakfast at the Yan residence, Gu Yanan was picked up by Eunuch Wang, who said that the date for their wedding had been chosen: the tenth day of the sixth lunar month. He was going to take Gu Yanan's measurements to make her wedding dress.
Yan An naturally didn't let Gu Yanan delay any further. After all, it takes ten years of cultivation to share a boat ride and a hundred years to share a pillow. The two of them had already wasted six years. Otherwise, their child would be old enough to run errands by now, and she would be able to become an aunt? Or even a great-aunt?
Inside the Minister's residence, Liu Ruyan heard that Gu Yanan had been named Empress and would be married to the Emperor on the tenth day of the sixth month. She was so angry that she smashed everything she could in the room. She was clearly proficient in all the arts, and she was the most talented woman in Yue Kingdom. She should be the future Empress of Yue Kingdom and the most noble woman in the world. She was unwilling to accept it.
In fact, after the last Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, both the common people and the official families regarded Yan An as the number one talented woman in the Yue Kingdom, while Liu Ruyan had long been forgotten. After all, who would remember the second place?
Liu Ruyan's face was contorted with anger, and the effects of the "Beauty's Intoxication" drug were about to kick in, making her face even more frightening.
Ever since Liu Xuening got Liu Ruyan addicted to Beauty Intoxication, she stopped sending her any more. Liu Ruyan has already sold many of her jewelry and just finished using up the last of her Beauty Intoxication.
She had thought about kicking the addiction, but looking at her aging face, she couldn't accept it. Thinking of this, she threw a teacup out the door again: "You bitch!"
"Why did you smash so many things, sister? Let me guess what made you so angry. Could it be that the Emperor is getting married, and the person he's marrying isn't you, sister?"
Liu Xuening had also heard the news of the Emperor's upcoming wedding. She came here to see Liu Ruyan's ugly face. For so many years, Liu Ruyan had never treated her like a human being. Why didn't she come back today to avenge all the years of humiliation? Liu Xuening was quite satisfied with the sounds coming from inside the room.
"Hmph, that sister is nothing special. I heard that she went to see the Regent not long ago, hoping to share his burdens, but the Regent ignored her and even broke one of her ribs. I wonder if her rib still hurts now."
Normally, Liu Xuening was her maid who came and went at her beck and call; how could she possibly be the one to humiliate her?
Liu Xuening's expression changed. Of course it hurt. If she hadn't wanted to see Liu Ruyan looking unhappy, she wouldn't have come over.
"Thank you for your concern, elder sister. I am in love with the Regent, and he will see it sooner or later. If I may say something, elder sister, if you don't have a mirror here, I will have someone bring you one so you can look at yourself. With your current appearance, even a county magistrate wouldn't give you a second glance, hahaha!"
The saying "A woman dresses up for the one she loves" ignited Liu Ruyan's anger. Her face was already showing many uncomfortable symptoms. How could Liu Ruyan not know that she was now inseparable from the "Beauty Intoxication" product? Once she stopped using it, her facial skin would age rapidly, making her look like a seventy or eighty-year-old woman.
"It's all your fault! I'm going to strangle you, you bitch!" Liu Ruyan looked terrifying. If it weren't for the maidservant beside Liu Xuening blocking her way, Liu Xuening would have been strangled by Liu Ruyan right now.
"What a madwoman." Liu Xuening wiped her wrist, which Liu Ruyan had touched, with a handkerchief, then threw it on the ground in disgust.
Liu Xuening's actions made Liu Ruyan feel insulted again. She grabbed a broken vase from the side and threw it at Liu Xuening. Liu Xuening dodged the vase, and the half of the vase landed solidly at the feet of Liu Youlin who had rushed over.
After all, she was his daughter whom he had raised for many years. Liu Youlin knew that Liu Ruyan had been in a bad mood lately, so he wanted to come and see her. He never expected to encounter this scene.
The vase that was thrown almost hit him. Liu Youlin stormed towards the two of them, shouting, "You wretched girl! Look what you've done! Do you have any semblance of a proper young lady?! Are you trying to kill your father?!"
Liu Xuening, who was standing to the side, had not expected Liu Youlin to come. She was surprised that even in this state, her father still cared about her so much. Liu Xuening clenched her hands under her sleeves and twisted her arms several times where Liu Youlin could not see.
Before Liu Ruyan could explain, Liu Xuening stepped forward and grabbed Liu Youlin's sleeve, sobbing, "Father, please save your daughter! I know my sister must have found out about the Emperor's wedding, and I thought she would be upset, so I came to keep her company. I never expected her to hit me with a vase, and... and even try to strangle me! Waaah..."
Liu Xuening inadvertently revealed the marks she had just made by pinching herself. Liu Xuening was truly ruthless, silently pinching her arm until it was covered in red and purple welts.
"Father, no, I didn't. It's all because of that wretched woman. It's that wretched woman who ruined my face. It's all because of that wretched woman and her wretched aunt. They're all despicable people. A stinking maidservant like her wants to become the master."
Liu Ruyan was already somewhat dazed. She slapped her across the face. Liu Ruyan couldn't believe it. "Father? You actually hit me for this bitch?"
Her father loved her the most, it was all because of those two bastards. Thinking this, he pinched Liu Xuening again, which confirmed Liu Ruyan's guilt.
"Enough! Liu Ruyan is rude and foul-mouthed, disgracing the Minister's mansion. She has no regard for family ties and is putting righteousness before family. Move out of Cuiwei Courtyard immediately. Xue Ning, you are not fully recovered, so go back home as soon as possible." Liu Youlin flicked his sleeves and left angrily.
Liu Ruyan has been completely disfigured and her behavior is somewhat insane. She is no longer the daughter he was once proud of. From this day forward, he will devote all his efforts to nurturing Liu Xuening.
"Miss, you should hurry up and pack your things. There happens to be an empty garden in the northeast corner, which is very close to Madam. Why don't you move there?"
Butler Liu is also a cunning and opportunistic person who knows how to read people's expressions. When Liu Ruyan was favored, he would try to please her every few days. But given his master's temperament, Liu Ruyan is definitely doomed now. Even a lowly butler dares to ride roughshod over her.
Seeing her father walk away, Liu Xuening approached Liu Ruyan and mocked, "Sister, don't fall again. After all, there's nothing valuable in that garden. I wonder what you'll do with the medicine then. Sister, you fell so hard just now, are you regretting it now? Hahaha..."
Liu Xuening took out a silver ingot and handed it to Steward Liu. "Steward Liu, my sister has had a hard time. She's all alone and weak. Please help her out."
"This servant understands, please rest assured, Miss." Butler Liu said with a fawning expression.
Liu Xuening left happily, glancing at the courtyard before she left. This Cuiwei Courtyard was the largest courtyard in the backyard of the Minister's Mansion, and it would be hers sooner or later. She would soon be the legitimate daughter of the Minister's Mansion.
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