Chapter 340 The Bet
Now, most people at the banquet are gathered around the table where Wen Zhiming and Ye Guhong are sitting, to see who has a better alcohol tolerance. Only a few martial arts practitioners who don't drink are sitting between Yue Jiaoluo and Meng Lingge, and they all turn to watch the excitement.
Yue Jiaoman looked over with concern from several tables away, not knowing what Yue Jiaoluo had said to her, as she showed no intention of leaving.
Meng Lingge looked at Yue Jiaoluo and smiled, "Who requests an audience with me?"
Knowing that Meng Lingge was deliberately using her status to intimidate her, Yue Jiaoluo's expression turned even uglier. After hesitating for a while, she said with a livid face, "This commoner, Yue Jiaoluo, requests an audience with Her Majesty the Empress."
Meng Lingge's smile deepened.
See, they learn the rules very quickly.
Although Wen Zhiming was being watched from several tables away, he kept glancing at Meng Lingge. There were so many palace maids and eunuchs around. Although Yue Jiaoluo had some martial arts skills, Meng Lingge thought she wouldn't be so reckless as to hurt someone here.
He probably only came here to say a few unpleasant things and upset her.
Despite her thoughts, Meng Lingge didn't like Yue Jiaoluo getting too close to her, and because she was pregnant, she was even more cautious about safety.
“Speak right there, I can hear you.”
Upon hearing this, Yue Jiaoluo was so angry that she almost ground her teeth to powder, but she was unwilling to return just like that.
Speaking in a voice just loud enough for Meng Lingge to hear, she said, "Your Majesty the Empress is quite pleased with yourself. I heard that today, in front of all the civil and military officials, His Majesty said that only the Empress remains in the harem. To be honest, having roamed the world for many years, I've rarely seen someone as devoted as His Majesty. So far, he's the only one who hasn't fallen for my seductive charms. But..."
At this point, her tone shifted, becoming extremely certain: "I have heard about your affair with the Emperor. I believe that the Emperor is only grateful for your unwavering support during his time of hardship and for your full support in his ascension to the throne. That is why he is now blinded by his emotions and acting on impulse. Such feelings are initially deep and sincere, but they are the most vulnerable to the test of time. As time goes by, the gratitude fades, and the two will not even be able to treat each other with respect. They will only become a resentful couple."
Her almost curse-like remarks quickly alerted the servants, and several guards approached her, ready to seize her at Meng Lingge's command.
But Yue Jiaoluo was not afraid at all. She knew that with her senior sister there, she would only say a few words and there would be no serious consequences.
Meng Lingge wasn't actually angry; it was just that someone who took pride in breaking up loving couples was so confident in analyzing her views on relationships, which she found somewhat amusing.
"Oh? Then tell me, how long will it take for my feelings for the Emperor to fade? When will we become a resentful couple?"
Yue Jiaoluo looked confident.
"At least one year, at most three years. By then, your favors will become the Emperor's shackles, impossible to break free from. All your good deeds will turn into bad ones, and new people will replace the old. You won't be smug for long. I'm telling you this not to be glib, but to remind you from my experience that a man's deep affection is the most unreliable thing. Although I have lost now, you will definitely lose in the future. And you will definitely lose more miserably than I have."
She just wouldn't accept it.
This time she didn't succeed, not because she lacked charm, nor because Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming's relationship was really that strong, but simply because her timing was unfortunate.
There can be no true heart in this world, and even less so in men.
The happier Meng Lingge is now, the sadder she will be in the future.
"I don't believe it." Meng Lingge showed no anger as she looked at Yue Jiaoluo and said, "I cannot predict the future. But you haven't met a good man yet, and you're already making such heartbreaking remarks. It's just like the saying, 'You can't talk about ice with a summer insect.' My affairs are none of your concern. You should worry more about yourself."
"Are you scared?" Yue Jiaoluo was still unwilling to give up.
Wen Zhiming was not only the only person who didn't fall for her seduction, but also the person whose looks and status had captivated her the most in the past few years.
"How about we make a bet? If everything I say comes true in three years, you can persuade the Emperor to take me as a concubine. If I'm wrong, you can do whatever you want with me."
Those who heard this were all surprised.
Many people already know that Yue Jiaoluo had ulterior motives towards Wen Zhiming at the Prince of Anshun's mansion. If anyone else had done something so shameful, they would have stayed far away long ago.
She actually dared to go up to the person in question and try to get what she wanted by provoking him. I have to say, in terms of shamelessness alone, Yue Jiaoluo is at least in the top three in the martial arts world.
Meng Lingge couldn't help but laugh and said, "If what you said comes true, and the Emperor and I dislike each other, why would he listen to me and take you as his concubine?"
Yue Jiaoluo was taken aback, but then said with certainty, "The Emperor has made a solemn vow not to betray you, so even if he no longer loves you, he will not depose you. You should still have that right then."
Meng Lingge found that she couldn't agree with Yue Jiaoluo's logic at all. Chatting with people whose values didn't align with hers was really tiring, far less comfortable than the delicacies in front of her.
"Even so, I don't want to get involved in his affairs. How about this: if everything you said comes true, I will resign as Empress. Whether you can become a concubine depends on your own abilities. If you are wrong, I will not punish you, as long as you earn back all the money your senior sister has lost for you over the years. Do you think this is feasible?"
Yue Jiaoman is almost forty years old, and all she does all day is clean up after Yue Jiaoluo.
If Yue Jiaoluo continues like this, not to mention what will happen to her, Yue Jiaoman's life is definitely over.
Meng Lingge has always been clear about her gratitude and grudges.
She always remembered the kindness of Yue Jiaoman in rescuing Meng Xiyao, and now that Yue Jiaoluo had come to her door, she decided to return the favor to Yue Jiaoman.
Yue Jiaoluo never expected that Meng Lingge knew so much about her background in the martial arts world.
She didn't want to agree to Meng Lingge's betting method, but she told her senior sister that she had come to apologize to Meng Lingge. If she delayed any longer, her senior sister would find out something was wrong and come to stop her, which would be troublesome.
She wasn't at too much of a disadvantage in this bet, so she nodded and readily agreed.
"Alright, I will come to see you as promised in three years. Just don't hide or break your promise to avoid meeting me."
Meng Lingge smiled but did not answer, holding her cup.
Seeing that Yue Jiaoluo had already left and the Empress still hadn't given any instructions, the guards who were waiting nearby also returned to their original positions.
Because Yue Jiaoluo's voice was not loud and Meng Lingge's attitude was gentle, their exchange did not cause much of a commotion. The few martial arts practitioners who heard it remained calm and continued to eat with their heads down.
Over there, Wen Zhiming, Ye Guhong, and the others who were competing in drinking grew louder and louder, eventually even starting to play drinking games and shout.
Meng Lingge saw Wen Zhiming amidst the crowd, his sleeves fluttering, his eyes bright as stars, drinking wine like flowing moonlight, and smiling gracefully like a painting. If it weren't for the dragon robe he was wearing, he would look like a chivalrous knight-errant.
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