Chapter 493 My Princess Comes to Meet the Regent Princess
Mu Ting'er didn't dare to hide anything and told the whole story of how she had "bumped" into the Regent Princess at Jin Manlou today.
Finally, she knelt again, her voice trembling with pleading: "...My mother and I really didn't know the princess at the time, so we made a big mistake. Now it's too late to regret! Please, Princess, put in a few good words for us in front of the princess. Please, have mercy on us and spare the Mu family this time!"
As Nalan Mei listened, her brows furrowed further and further, and she cursed inwardly: What a clueless fool! Even she was now wary of Lan Xiyue and didn't dare to provoke her easily. And this Mu Ting'er, how dare she snatch her things in public? How could she handle this hot potato?
However, when his eyes swept across the pile of valuable gifts on the ground and the corners of the silver bills faintly visible in the brocade bag, Nalan Mei's mind became active again.
Although the cash cow of the Mu Mansion came from a merchant family that was not presentable, it was "sensible" and sent novelties and thick silver bills every now and then, which greatly alleviated her predicament of being stretched to the limit due to the burning of the princess's mansion and its emptiness.
Her mother only cared about her own well-being, and her father was obsessed with searching for some illusory miracle doctor. Her expenses had long been less than before, and this wallet... she really couldn't let it go bankrupt so easily right now.
Seeing Nalan Mei remain silent for a long time, Mu Ting'er's reserved smile faded. Her heart sank to the bottom of the valley, and cold sweat oozed from her forehead: Could it be... the princess is unwilling to help? How is this possible? Don't they usually...
Just as Mu Ting'er was getting flustered, Nalan Mei coughed lightly, picked up the teacup, and slowly skimmed off the foam with the cup lid. Her tone sounded a little nonchalant, "Don't worry too much, Sister Ting'er. Lord Bao Hang is known for his impartiality, integrity, and honesty. As long as you in the Mu family are upright and haven't done anything that is against the will of heaven or against the law, why should you be afraid of his investigation?"
"Princess...!" Mu Ting'er's face turned pale instantly. These light words were like a basin of ice water poured on her head. She suddenly looked up at Nalan Mei, with undisguised panic in her eyes.
Nalan Mei saw her momentary loss of composure and immediately understood—Oh, this won't stand up to scrutiny! The Mu family's background is probably not clean. She put down the teacup, her noble smile reappearing on her face, but there was a hint of understanding and calculation in the depths of her eyes.
Mu Ting'er seemed to have grabbed the last straw and said hurriedly: "Princess! My mother said that if you can save our Mu family from the difficulties this time, the whole Mu family will be grateful! In the future... in the future, we are willing to give 20% dividends from all the business of the Mu family, and honor you every year!" She almost gritted her teeth and threw out the trump card her mother had told her.
"Twenty percent bonus?" Nalan Mei's eyes flashed, and the smile on her face instantly became much more genuine and warm, as if the coldness just now had never existed.
"Look at you, mother and daughter, how scared you are!" She waved her hand in a scolding manner, her tone as intimate as if she were talking to a close friend, "I have always treated Sister Ting'er as my own sister. If something happens to your Mu Mansion, how can I sit idly by? As for my little aunt..."
Nalan Mei drawled out her words, "She has a bit of a... well, erratic personality. She's probably just trying to scare people."
"How about this? I'll go to the Regent's Palace in person later to test the waters with my 'Little Imperial Aunt'. Since the Little Imperial Uncle is my uncle, she'll definitely have to give him some respect."
Upon hearing this, Mu Ting'er felt a huge weight lifted off her chest. A joyful smile instantly spread across her face, and she bowed deeply, "Thank you, Princess! Thank you for your kindness! The Mu family will never forget it!"
Nalan Mei put on airs again and chatted with her about some family matters, her words full of comfort.
Only after seeing Mu Ting'er's face glowing again did Nalan Mei tap the table with her fingertips, a little impatiently: "Well, it's getting late. Sister Ting'er, just go back and wait for the news. I will change my clothes and go to the Regent's Palace."
"Yes, yes, yes! Ting'er will take her leave and wait for the princess's good news!" Mu Ting'er was filled with joy. She bowed solemnly again and retreated with light steps. She thought to herself: As expected, the princess treats me like a sister. As long as I ask, she will definitely help!
When Mu Ting'er's back completely disappeared at the end of the corridor, the deliberately maintained gentle atmosphere in the flower hall disappeared in an instant.
The smile on Nalan Mei's face suddenly disappeared, replaced by a cold look of sarcasm.
She casually picked up the brocade bag and weighed it, listening to the rustling sound of the silver bills inside, and a hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Heh," she sneered coldly, throwing the brocade bag onto the table. "What an ignorant fool! He even dared to offend the Princess Regent. Do you think he's too old?"
The maidservant standing nearby stepped forward and asked in a puzzled voice, "Since the princess despises a merchant's daughter like this, why is she still wasting her time and energy trying to please her?"
Nalan Mei glanced at the maid, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the smooth edge of the table. Her voice was filled with a barely perceptible gloom. "What do you know? My mother only cares about her own happiness, and my father is a lunatic. Ever since the fire at the Princess's Mansion... burned it down, I can't even afford a decent new headpiece." She paused, her tone turning realistic. "The Mu family is stupid, but money is really good. How can we let this purse of money that has been delivered to our doorstep be easily destroyed? Prepare the car."
She stood up and straightened her sleeves. "Let's go to the Regent's Palace."
"Yes, Princess." The maid responded and hurried down to make arrangements.
A carriage slowly stopped in front of the majestic vermilion-lacquered gate of the Regent's Palace.
The carriage curtain moved slightly, and Nalan Mei sat upright inside. Through the veil, she glanced at the towering walls and the heavily guarded palace. A subtle complexity flashed across her eyes. She raised her chin slightly, and the maidservant beside her immediately understood. She bowed and stepped out of the carriage, walking briskly up the steps.
The maid said to the guard at the door in a clear but respectful voice, "Big brother guard, please inform me that my princess has come to see the Regent Princess."
The guard's eyes were sharp as torches as he scanned the carriage logo and the maid's clothing. After confirming her identity, his expression remained cold and hard as he simply replied, "Wait."
He turned around and strode through the doorway towards the inner courtyard.
Not long after, the guard returned, still speaking in that official tone: "The butler has gone in to report to the princess. It is entirely up to the princess whether she wants to see him or not." The implication was that the princess also needed to wait here for the princess's decision.
The maid understood and maintained a proper smile on her face, nodding slightly: "Thank you, big brother guard." She turned and walked down the steps, returned to the carriage, stood with her hands hanging down, waiting for news.
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