Qu Qingxi slowly stepped down from the carriage. The magnificent palace appeared before her eyes. Looking at this huge golden cage, Qu Qingxi's eyes were indifferent. She sighed softly and walked inside.
Fortunately, she became the Princess Consort of Nanqing. If she had entered the palace, given her personality, she would probably have caused a lot of trouble.
Following behind Qu Qingxi, Yang Mama walked through the long corridor and headed straight for the Empress's Phoenix Palace.
Along the way, Qu Qingxi saw many busy palace maids and eunuchs with their heads down doing their work. In late autumn, everything should be withered and desolate, but the palace was different. Green pines stood tall, and unknown flowers bloomed by the roadside, their colors bright, adding a touch of life to the palace.
Fengyi Palace was far from the palace gate. Qu Qingxi and Granny Yang walked for a long time before they arrived at the gate. Qu Qingxi looked up and saw the three golden characters "Fengyi Palace," but her eyes were devoid of any emotion.
Qu Qingxi stood at the door, waiting for the announcement. Yang Mama came out from the side and gave Qu Qingxi a malicious look. "Your Highness, please wait here. Allow this old servant to go in and announce your arrival."
Without waiting for Qu Qingxi to say anything, he went straight inside.
Qu Qingxi stood at the door, her expression indifferent, her face devoid of any emotion.
Soon, Granny Yang came out and said somewhat apologetically, "Your Highness, we have come at a very inopportune time. Her Majesty the Empress is not feeling well and has just rested. Please wait here for a while."
"How long is 'wait a while'?" Qu Qingxi stood at the bottom of the steps, looked up, and her eyes held a sharp edge.
Standing on the steps, Granny Yang looked at Qu Qingxi. Although she was standing higher, she seemed to be at a disadvantage in terms of presence. It didn't seem like she was bullying Qu Qingxi; rather, it seemed like Qu Qingxi was questioning her.
When this thought popped into her mind, Granny Yang was startled and immediately looked at Qu Qingxi with displeasure. She was just an unfavored woman from the Prime Minister's mansion, yet she married the Prince of Nanqing and actually thought of herself as the Princess Consort of Nanqing.
Hmph, wait until Her Majesty the Empress deals with you, then let's see how arrogant you'll be.
"Of course we'll wait until Her Majesty the Empress wakes up. Isn't Your Highness asking a question you already know the answer to?" Granny Yang said with a forced smile.
"I see." Qu Qingxi nodded in understanding, and before Yang Mama could say anything more, she said, "Since Her Majesty the Empress is not feeling well, then this Princess Consort will come another day."
After saying that, he turned and tried to leave.
What does the Empress want to do? Does she really think she's the Empress and everyone in the world has to give her face? She's the Princess Consort of Nanqing, not a concubine in the Emperor's harem, and she still has to make a living under the Empress's control.
"Wait, Your Highness, the Empress has decreed that Your Highness must enter the palace and is not allowed to leave without permission." Seeing that Qu Qingxi actually wanted to leave, Granny Yang immediately spoke up.
She really didn't expect that Qu Qingxi would actually prepare to leave as soon as she heard that the Empress was resting. This move caught Yang Mama off guard.
In the harem, she had dealt with many concubines on behalf of the Empress, but she had never encountered a woman as cunning and difficult as Qu Qingxi.
Qu Qingxi thought to herself, "You really haven't seen much."
"So you mean, the Empress summoned me to the palace even though she was unwell?"
"That's not what I meant."
"What do you mean by 'not that'? Although the Empress has issued an imperial decree summoning me to the palace, I am unwell and need to rest. Do you mean that the Empress should see me while she is ill?"
Or does the Empress mean for me to wait here at the entrance of Fengyi Palace indefinitely?
Qu Qingxi looked up at Granny Yang, her words sharp and precise, and began to ask questions.
Granny Yang immediately shut her mouth, not knowing what to say. She hadn't expected Qu Qingxi to be so direct. In this situation, anyone with eyes could see that the Empress was trying to intimidate her, making her wait at the door to deflate her arrogance, but Qu Qingxi just had to say it so bluntly.
The implication was that the Empress was doing this on purpose, disrespecting the Princess Consort of Nanqing.
The Empress sat inside, having people keep a close watch on the outside. When she heard Qu Qingxi say those words, she snorted coldly and then gestured to the maid beside her to call Qu Qingxi in.
If Qu Qingxi isn't called in soon, and she really leaves, that's not what the Empress wanted today.
The palace maid nodded and went outside. Seeing Qu Qingxi standing there, ready to leave, she quickly called out, "Your Highness, please wait! Her Majesty the Empress heard that Your Highness had entered the palace and forced herself to get up. She is now waiting for Your Highness in the hall."
"The Empress must have had a tough time," Qu Qingxi said sarcastically.
The palace maid didn't speak, but bowed and invited Qu Qingxi in.
Looking at the palace maid's expressionless face, Qu Qingxi couldn't help but shake her head. Granny Yang had served the Empress for many years, yet she was not as composed and sensible as one of the palace maids serving the Empress. She really didn't know what was wrong. Perhaps she had become used to being bossy in the palace over the years, which was why she had lost her composure.
Granny Yang is a very capable old nanny, but when faced with someone like Qu Qingxi who doesn't play by the rules, she loses her composure and doesn't know how to deal with her.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress." Although she disliked the Empress and knew that today's banquet at Fengyi Palace was a trap, Qu Qingxi still bowed to the Empress according to the rules.
"Qingxi is here, get up." The Empress said with a smile, without any anger on her face. If someone who didn't know the situation saw her, they would think that the Empress was really a kind-faced old woman.
Having learned what had just happened, the Empress dared not make things difficult for Qu Qingxi over such a trivial matter.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress." Qu Qingxi smiled and looked at the Empress, as if she wasn't the one who had been preparing to leave outside.
"Why aren't you hurrying up and bringing a stool for the Princess?" The Empress glanced at the palace maid.
Immediately, someone brought Qu Qingxi a stool, and Qu Qingxi sat down with a clear conscience. Soon, other palace maids served tea and snacks. Some kind of incense was burning in the hall, but it smelled very nice.
"I wonder what business Your Majesty has summoned Qingxi here today?" A smiling tiger, huh? Anyone can be one. Qu Qingxi also looked at the Empress with a smile.
"It's nothing serious, I just missed you a bit after not seeing you for a while, so I asked you to come in and talk to me."
Missing you? Talking to you requires an imperial decree? And faking illness to deliberately ignore you? The Empress is truly shameless, daring to say anything.
"Oh, I see. Qingxi noticed that Granny Yang looked anxious and thought the Empress had something urgent to attend to." Qu Qingxi covered her mouth and chuckled.
"No, not at all." Qu Qingxi tried to steer the conversation toward Granny Yang, but the Empress merely glanced at Granny Yang and said nothing.
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