Chapter 123 Your subject only instructed you on the rules, not made Mother kneel as punishment.
He had thought she was different from other women, unlike others who would eagerly demand more once they gained favor.
He thought she knew how to behave appropriately.
Understand what questions men and women should ask and what questions they shouldn't ask each other.
But now.
Liu Yu not only asked, but she asked so directly and so impatiently.
"Let's talk about this later." Xie Jingxing turned around, his back to her.
Liu Yu seemed oblivious to his displeasure.
Or perhaps she sensed it, but was still unwilling to give up: "Yu'er just wants to know, in your brother's heart..."
"Enough!" Xie Jingxing sat up abruptly, his voice as cold as ice. "I'm tired, go to sleep."
That night, for the first time, he didn't hold her as they slept afterward.
In the darkness.
He heard Liu Yu's soft sobs, but unlike usual, he didn't soften his heart and comfort her.
Instead, Xie Jingxing felt a strange sense of irritation.
He even wanted to escape from the Liu family's villa!
Kunning Palace.
The day the Empress sent a female official to deliver a message to Crown Princess Qian Yueshu.
Qian Yueshu happened to be away from the manor because she had to personally handle many of the businesses that had been acquired from the Hu family.
Qian Yueshu at this moment.
It is at the dock, a hundred miles away from the capital.
Before dawn, she had already been busy in the accounting office at the dock for a long time.
The Hu family used to run businesses such as canal transport, salt permits, and silk.
Now, most of them have fallen into the hands of the Qian family, and she needs to manage these huge businesses herself.
"Young master, these are last month's accounts." The old manager handed over a thick ledger, his tone respectful yet tinged with admiration.
Qian Yueshu took the ledger and her slender fingers quickly turned the pages.
"The profits from the canal transport have increased by 30% compared to last month, but the salt permit business seems to have encountered some trouble," she said without looking up, her voice as clear and cold as jade beads falling onto a plate.
The old shopkeeper quickly explained, "Yes, the people from the canal gang haven't been cooperating lately; they said they want to raise the price."
Qian Yueshu raised her head, her clear eyes sharp as knives: "Raise the price? Tell them that if they don't follow the original procedures this month, they can forget about getting the clearance documents next month."
She is now the Crown Princess.
Sometimes, once you have power in your hands, you have to use it when necessary.
She rubbed her throbbing temples, remembering the message she received that morning—a summons from the Empress.
But she simply couldn't spare the time; she had just taken over the Hu family's business, and there were countless things that required her personal attention.
"Prepare the horse, I'm going to the headquarters of the Canal Gang." She stood up, straightened her sleeves, and spoke decisively.
The personal maid couldn't help but remind her, "Miss, what about the Empress..."
"Have someone from the palace tell me that I'm currently out and unable to return, and that I'll come to the palace to pay my respects in a few days." Qian Yueshu fastened her cloak and strode out with a brisk pace.
at the same time.
The atmosphere inside Kunning Palace gradually became heavy.
"The Crown Princess is not in the residence?" The Empress put down her teacup.
The lady-in-waiting answered tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess has gone on a long trip, saying it's because of the Qian family's business."
The Empress tapped her fingertips lightly on the armrest, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips.
She had long heard that this daughter-in-law was out in public all day, managing the Qian family's business, but she never expected that she would even dare to neglect a summons from the palace.
"Send men to guard outside the Crown Prince's residence. Report to them immediately as soon as the Crown Princess returns." The Empress gave the order calmly, but a layer of frost had already formed in her eyes.
This wait lasted for a full seven days.
It seems he hasn't been at the Crown Prince's residence for a whole week.
No wonder her son is like a lonely, resentful woman confined to her chambers.
Seven days.
The Empress's spies reported daily that the Crown Prince's mistress was nowhere to be found.
In the past few days, when Xiao Qingxuan paid his respects, he always looked gloomy, with an undisguised sense of loneliness between his brows.
That day, the Empress specially summoned the Crown Prince to the palace for a meal: "My son, how have you been lately?"
She asked, seemingly casually.
Xiao Qingxuan forced a smile: "Thank you for your concern, Mother. Your son is well."
But the dark circles under his eyes and his gaunt face could not escape the Empress's notice.
As the Empress watched her son's lonely figure depart, she unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
Thinking of this, the Empress's heart sank.
It seems that Qian Yueshu needs to be taught proper manners.
Besides, Qian Yueshu is, after all, the future mother of the nation.
It's already wrong for her to be out in public all day, but now she even dares to delay being summoned. How can she be a model mother to the world if she acts like this?
On the evening of the seventh day, Qian Yueshu finally returned to the Crown Prince's residence, weary from her journey.
Before she could even change out of her dusty outer garment, the female officials of Kunning Palace were already waiting at the door.
"Your Highness, the Empress requests your immediate presence in the palace." The female official's tone was respectful yet brooked no refusal.
Qian Yueshu sighed softly, knowing that there was no escaping it this time.
She quickly tidied her hair and then followed the lady-in-waiting into the carriage.
The carriage drove along the bluestone streets of the capital, the afterglow of the setting sun turning the streets golden.
Qian Yueshu leaned against the car wall and closed her eyes wearily.
She barely slept for the past seven days.
Now that I've finally returned, I thought I could finally rest, but I still have to be taught manners by the Empress.
The Crown Prince's residence.
Xiao Qingxuan was reviewing memorials in his study.
The eunuch Wang Xi rushed in and whispered a few words in his ear.
"The Crown Princess is back?" Xiao Qingxuan suddenly stood up, a look of surprise flashing across his face.
But then his face darkened. "You were summoned to Kunning Palace by the Empress Dowager?"
He walked quickly to the window, looked in the direction of Kunning Palace, and unconsciously tapped the window frame with his fingers.
If Mother wants to teach manners, can't she choose a better time?
Qian Yueshu just got back, she must be very tired, she should get some rest.
When they heard the news from their spies in Kunning Palace.
"Prepare the sedan chair, we're going to Kunning Palace." The Crown Prince grabbed his cloak and headed out, his hurried steps nearly tripping him on the threshold.
How could the Empress Dowager make Qian Yueshu kneel?
Inside the Kunning Palace, candlelight blazed brightly.
Qian Yueshu knelt on the cold gold brick floor, head bowed, saying nothing.
The Empress sat upright at the head of the table, slowly stirring the foam in her teacup: "You haven't returned to your residence for seven days, and you even dare to ignore the palace's summons."
The Empress's voice was calm and even, yet every word was like a knife: "Do you still remember your place?"
Qian Yueshu raised her head, her face weary: "Your subject knows her mistake. It's just that I've only just taken over the Hu family's business, and many matters require..."
"Does the Crown Princess need to personally go to the docks and make an appearance?" The Empress interrupted her, her voice suddenly turning cold. "Do you know how the Crown Prince has spent these past seven days?"
How does the crown prince live?
What does this have to do with her?
They're currently in a cold war, and even though she's at the mansion, she doesn't want to talk to him.
But she couldn't say that to the Empress!
Qian Yueshu opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.
Xiao Qingxuan barged in without waiting for an announcement, and his face immediately turned ugly when he saw Qian Yueshu kneeling on the ground.
"Mother!" He strode forward, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "I only asked you to teach her manners, why make her kneel? Yue Shu has been away for seven days, she's already had enough to suffer!"
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