As always, Granny Yang wore a smile, but this time her smile carried a hint of schadenfreude.
Upon seeing Qu Qingxi emerge, Granny Yang respectfully bowed and greeted her, saying, "This old servant greets Your Highness."
"Get up. I wonder what business the Empress has with me?" Qu Qingxi glanced at Yang Mama indifferently.
"This... I dare not presume to guess what the Empress is thinking," said Granny Yang with a smile.
"Alright, Qingdai, let's go." Qu Qingxi didn't really intend to ask anything, so she gestured for Qingdai to come with her.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment. Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that only Your Highness is permitted to enter the palace; no one else may accompany you," said Granny Yang, still smiling.
Qu Qingxi turned to look at Granny Yang, her eyes narrowed slightly. She remained silent for a moment, then looked at Qingdai and said, "Since Her Majesty the Empress has given the order, you should stay in the manor."
He then gave Qingdai a wink, signaling her to go find He Liufeng.
Qingdai nodded, indicating that she understood. She also knew in her heart that the Empress was probably up to no good today, and looked at Qu Qingxi with concern.
Once outside, Qu Qingxi got into the carriage, and Granny Yang followed and sat down next to her.
Qu Qingxi watched Yang Mama's overstepping actions without saying a word. Even if she was the nanny by the Empress's side, she was still just a servant. Qu Qingxi was a princess consort, and according to the rules, Yang Mama should kneel to the side and serve Qu Qingxi properly.
But she sat there like a mistress. Yang Mama was from the palace, so she must know this rule. The only explanation is that she did it on purpose.
Whether it was the Empress's instruction or Yang Mama's overstepping of her bounds, Qu Qingxi was angry.
"Granny Yang, pour me a cup of tea. I'm thirsty," Qu Qingxi ordered without any politeness, her eyes closed.
Granny Yang turned to look at Qu Qingxi in shock. How dare she order her to serve her tea and water? Normally, apart from the Emperor and Empress, who would dare to order her around? She was the Empress's most favored head maid.
After waiting a while, the tea still hadn't been poured. Qu Qingxi opened her eyes and casually looked at Granny Yang, "What's wrong? Can't I order you around?"
"This old servant wouldn't dare. However, this old servant has always only served the Emperor and the Empress, and has never served anyone else." Although Yang Mama had a smile on her face, the implication in her words was that Qu Qingxi was not worthy of her service at all. She only served the Emperor and the Empress, so how could a mere princess order her around to do things for her?
"Granny Yang, I, the Princess Consort, ask you, what is your identity? And what is my identity?" Qu Qingxi looked at Granny Yang with a half-smile.
"This old servant is the head maidservant by the Empress's side, and the Princess Consort is the principal wife of the Prince of Nanqing."
"So, you mean that it's an insult for a princess like me to have a servant pour me a cup of tea?" Qu Qingxi's smile faded, and her tone gradually turned cold.
"This old servant dares not."
"Dare not? When we enter the palace later, I, the Princess Consort, will ask the Empress whether the status of a servant is more precious or that of a princess consort. Or perhaps, are there other rules in the Empress's palace?" Qu Qingxi stared at Yang Mama, her eyes as cold as ice.
The Empress suppressed her because of the Empress's high status. What was Yang Mama anyway? She was just a servant by the Empress's side, yet she dared to make things unpleasant for her to her face.
"Your Highness is too kind. This old servant is just a servant, how can I compare to Your Highness's noble status?" Granny Yang did not expect that Qu Qingxi would not only not be afraid, but would even dare to make trouble for her. Her face immediately turned ugly.
"Now that you know your identity, pour this princess a cup of tea." Qu Qingxi withdrew her gaze and flicked non-existent dust off her clothes.
"Yes." Granny Yang could only reply reluctantly. There was a small stove in the carriage with a teapot burning on it. When Granny Yang saw the teapot constantly emitting steam, she immediately came up with an idea. Seeing that Qu Qingxi hadn't noticed her, she poured Qu Qingxi a cup of hot tea, not even iced, put it on a saucer, and handed it directly to Qu Qingxi.
"Your Highness, please have some tea." Granny Yang bowed respectfully, offering the teacup with both hands, her attitude very courteous.
"I don't want to drink anymore, so this cup is yours. You can drink it." Qu Qingxi glanced at Yang Mama, then lowered her eyes again. Did she really think she hadn't seen anything? Fool!
The smile that had widened at the corners of Yang Mama's mouth, which had been lowered, froze. Was it a reward for her?
"Your Highness, this is tea that this old servant specially poured for you. This old servant is of lowly status, how can I drink this tea?" Granny Yang said stiffly.
She had originally thought that as long as Qu Qingxi dared to accept the cup of tea, she would definitely be scalded by the boiling tea. Even if someone asked about it later, she would say that it was the princess who failed to catch it and that it was no one's fault. She never expected that Qu Qingxi would actually say that it was a reward for her.
"When I say I'll give it to you, I mean I will. What, are you disrespecting me?"
"This old servant didn't mean it that way." Granny Yang looked up at Qu Qingxi, then quickly lowered her head again. She glanced to the side and was about to pretend to accidentally spill the tea on the ground when Qu Qingxi noticed.
"Granny Yang, this cup of tea is a gift from me, and it is a gift. If this tea is 'accidentally' spilled on the ground today, then you will kneel down and lick it clean." Granny Yang's little actions did not escape Qu Qingxi's eyes, so she warned her.
Granny Yang looked up at Qu Qingxi instantly, her eyes filled with shock. How dare she do this?
However, at this moment, she was a servant, Qu Qingxi was a princess, and the empress was not here. No one was there to support her, so she dared not disobey Qu Qingxi. But she simply could not bring herself to drink this cup of boiling water.
She hated Qu Qingxi to the core, but looking at the teacup in front of her, her eyes flickered, unsure of what to do. If she really drank this tea, she would probably burn her mouth and cause sores and blisters.
Granny Yang made up her mind that when she returned later, she would definitely complain to the Empress about how Qu Qingxi had treated her.
She had forgotten that she had personally poured this cup of scalding tea, intending to harm Qu Qingxi.
Qu Qingxi kept staring at the person in front of her, looking like she wouldn't give up until Granny Yang drank it.
Just as the two were at an impasse, the carriage stopped. Granny Yang felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and her confidence instantly returned. She threw the teacup aside and then gave Qu Qingxi a smug look.
Now that she's in the palace, in the Empress's territory, how arrogant can she be? And how dare she be arrogant?
Before Qu Qingxi could say anything, Granny Yang got off the carriage first.
Qu Qingxi chuckled as she looked at Granny Yang's smug expression, but her smile was laced with sarcasm and disdain.
Did Granny Yang really think she had escaped disaster by getting off the carriage early?
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