Several concubines had already arrived at the north courtyard and were waiting. When Jiang Meng saw Ruan Yu Mu arrive, she was furious. Faced with a table full of food, she had no appetite whatsoever. Who told the general to be the first to arrive at her courtyard last night?
Upon seeing Ruan Yumu, she suppressed her discomfort and kept scheming in her mind. She immediately adopted a high-handed attitude. When Ruan Yumu respectfully knelt down and began to serve tea, Jiang Meng took the tea with an air of superiority, drank a sip, but did not tell her to get up.
"I heard that last night, after the hour of You (5-7 PM), the general left my north courtyard and went to your Yunxiang Pavilion?" Ruan Yumu's voice was cold, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, filled with displeasure.
“Yes, Jiang Mengyi.” Ruan Yumu quickly stood up and prepared to go forward, eager to recognize her little baby.
"How dare you address the princess by her given name! Who told you to stand up? Ladies, make her kneel down! You ill-mannered fellow!" Yuqing directly stopped Ruan Yumu from getting close to her.
At this moment, Ruan Yumu was certain that the usually carefree and gentle Jiang Meimei would speak up, because it must be this wicked servant overstepping his bounds.
"Stretch out your hand!" Jiang Meng said coldly.
Ruan Yu Mu, unaware of what was happening, obediently extended his hands.
"Come up!" Perhaps Jiang Meng wanted to get a better look at herself, because Ruan Yu Mu hadn't realized the problem yet, and was pulled to the front by several old women.
Then, several old women pressed her hands down on the table next to her, and the maid next to her immediately understood and took out a bag, which contained embroidery needles of different lengths.
Jiang Meng looked at her, took out a cigarette, and asked, "How many times last night?"
Ruan Yumu trembled with fear. This damned woman, who used to be as docile as a lamb when she was by his side at the border, what was she up to today? Was she going to prick him with a needle?
"once!"
“Lies! That’s not what your servants at Yunxiang Tower said when they came to report. They counted! I heard you’ve been dominating the General’s backyard for several years. You must be quite a formidable character. I’d like to see just how formidable you are today. Tell me! How many times exactly?” Jiang Mengyi raised her voice. Ruan Yumu was inwardly groaning. Her buttocks had just healed, and now this was another form of torture? At this moment, she felt that Jiang Mengyi in front of her was a complete stranger.
"twice."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Meng's expression turned fierce. She grabbed Ruan Yu Mu's thumb and pierced it deep into her nail. Ruan Yu Mu cried out in pain. Only then did Ruan Yu Mu realize that being in the backyard and having a lowly status meant she was destined to be bullied.
"Madam, please spare me! It's just that the General himself came, and I couldn't refuse to serve him. I'll just stop serving him from now on!"
But these words did not make Jiang Mengyi happy. She leaned down and pinched Ruan Yumu's chin. "How can you not serve? Otherwise, people will gossip and say that I, the mistress, am jealous. You must serve well and bear more children for the general. It is your ability to get the general to go to you. Don't blame me for being ruthless. Today, I mainly want to teach you a lesson. I have to remind you not to think that just because you have some skills, you can ride on my head. My father is a prince of the current dynasty."
Ruan Yu Mu watched as an even thicker embroidery needle was about to pierce Yu Qing's thumb. She instinctively tried to back away, but was restrained by several old women and couldn't move.
Just as they were about to take action, a message came from outside that Lady Liu had arrived, and the maids and concubines beside her quickly knelt down to greet her.
"Let her go, don't let Sister Liu think I'm mistreating this concubine."
"It's Madam!"
"Younger sister Liu Ruhua greets elder sister. Oh dear, I'm the last one to arrive. Oh, please don't be offended, madam. I had dressed up and was ready to come early this morning, but I didn't expect the prince to come." Liu Ruhua's eyes were still red, and even a fool would know what had happened.
"Then you've worked hard, little sister."
“It’s no trouble at all, Madam. This is a piece of red coral from Nanhu Lake that my father asked someone to find. There is only one of its kind in the world. It is more than suitable for your noble status. I am of lowly status and am not worthy of your status. Madam is noble and elegant. This bright red color is something that only you can enjoy!”
"Yuqing, please keep this safe." Jiang Meng was overjoyed when she saw the rare red coral. A few years ago, when the Emperor bestowed it upon her, Jiang Meng had asked her brother, Jiang Congzhi, to give it to her, but he refused! Seeing that this was even larger than the imperial gift, she said, "Thank you for preparing such a precious gift, Consort Liu."
"Sister, why are you slumped on the ground? This is unseemly! Get up and tidy yourself up. Your hair is all crooked." Liu Ruhua saw Ruan Yumu beside her and the embroidery needle on the table. She knew what had happened, but she pretended not to know anything.
"The general is here!"
Everyone quickly packed their things. The old woman immediately hid Ruan Yumu behind her, and then Yuqing stood in front of her and whispered, "If you dare to tell on us, your fate will be even worse!"
At this moment, the general strode in. Jiang Meng stood up happily, a stark contrast to her previous fierce demeanor. Her ability to change her expression was truly remarkable! "The general has finished court?"
"Yes, I'll go out later and have a meal with everyone back at the manor. I mainly wanted to come and see you." Qi Jingxuan deliberately said these words to annoy Ruan Yumu, who was standing next to him. Isn't this the woman you've got your eye on? Well, now this general will pamper her properly for you.
"Thank you, General." After Jiang Meng replied, she noticed that the General's gaze lingered on Ruan Yu Mu, and even though she was displeased, she understood. Naturally, she didn't miss the subtle expression on the General's face and immediately made the arrangements.
"Someone, bring the meal! Consort Ruan, come forward and serve the general his meal!"
Upon hearing this, Ruan Yumu closed her eyes, feeling even more desperate. She didn't have hands, yet she had to serve him; it was truly speechless. Once the general left, she wondered if that damned woman Jiang Mengyi would still prick her with needles. She had been blind to have been deceived by her gentle and lovely appearance.
"Sit down and eat too, you must have been tired last night!" Qi Jingxuan seemed considerate, but in reality he was adding fuel to the fire. He could clearly see that her hands were shaking when she was serving the food, and he wondered what kind of injury she had suffered.
Ruan Yumu was stunned for a moment. This was clearly digging a hole for herself. It was like bringing up the very thing she didn't want to talk about!
When Jiang Meng saw Qi Jingxuan looking at her with a mocking expression, she felt a chill run down her spine. She almost lost her composure, but she still had to maintain her gentle and obedient image. "Yes, Madam Ruan, the General has asked you to sit down and eat. Why aren't you thanking him? What are you doing standing there in a daze?"
"Yuqing, quickly go and get out the jewelry I prepared for the sisters a long time ago, as a greeting gift." Jiang Meng deliberately waited until Qi Jingxuan arrived before taking it out, wishing that her goodness could be magnified hundreds of times in front of Qi Jingxuan.
Qi Jingxuan looked at the people at the table and shook his head. The medicine last night was really potent; it had tormented him to the point of collapse. Fortunately, a general's body is meant for fighting, otherwise he would probably have had to ask for leave from the morning court session today.
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