Chapter 497: I don’t know what kind of despicable and seductive tricks Lan Xiyue used!
Chuxia was like a joyful little bird, holding a fiery red coral branch with a unique shape, and exclaimed in surprise: "Princess, look! This coral is so beautiful! The color is pure, and the branches are lush. Doesn't it look like a burning flame?"
Lan Xiyue glanced up casually at him, her red lips curled slightly in a lazy smile. "Well, you have good taste. This coral is of excellent quality. It's festive and precious, just right for the occasion." She waved her hand casually. "Here, take it, put it in the box, and count it on the betrothal gift list for brother."
Chuxia received the order and carefully held the coral, as if it were a rare treasure, and gently placed it in an open large wooden box covered with red silk satin next to her.
At this moment, the butler walked quickly into the storeroom and bowed in Lan Xiyue's direction, "This old servant greets the princess."
Only then did Lan Xiyue slowly withdrew her gaze from the room full of jewels and gems and fell on the butler.
She raised her eyebrows slightly, her tone still lazily casual: "Butler, what's the matter?"
The butler bowed his head and spoke steadily, "Reporting to the princess, the guard at the gate just came to report that the princess has arrived and wants to see the princess."
When Lan Xiyue heard this, her eyes, which had originally been smiling lazily, instantly froze with a thin layer of ice. She frowned slightly, with a hint of impatience: "Princess Wenshu?" Her voice was cold and no emotion could be heard.
"That's right." The butler bowed to confirm.
"Ha!" A short but clear sneer escaped Lan Xiyue's lips, with undisguised sarcasm. "This is quite interesting. The younger one left, and the older one came knocking again? What's the matter? Do you think I'm easy to talk to, or do you think the threshold to the Regent's Palace is not high enough?"
A gleam flashed in the housekeeper's eyes, and he immediately said, "If the princess doesn't want to see me, I will send her away right away. Even if she is the eldest princess, she is not allowed to trespass and act wildly in this regent's palace."
Lan Xiyue waved her hand casually, and her fingertips brushed across the smooth surface of the Dongzhu, bringing a slight coolness.
The corners of her lips curved up in a playful arc, but her eyes were sharp as a knife. "No need for that. This princess really wants to see what this mother and daughter are up to." She paused, her eyes sweeping over the treasure chests. "If they're still here to make a fuss about that mess at the Mu Mansion... I'm afraid they're destined to come with high hopes only to return disappointed."
Then, she raised her voice slightly and said, "An Yi."
An Yi, who had been arranging volumes in the corner of the storeroom like a shadow, stopped what he was doing upon hearing the voice. He appeared silently in front of Lan Xiyue, bowed and clasped his fists, "What are your instructions, Princess?"
"How's the progress of the case investigated by Mr. Bao?"
An Yi was slightly startled, and immediately replied: "I will send someone to find out." He turned around quickly and made a very fast gesture at the air.
A figure disappeared as if melting into thin air, to carry out the order.
Seeing this, the housekeeper understood what he meant and bowed respectfully to Lan Xiyue: "I will take my leave and go to welcome the princess." Seeing Lan Xiyue nod slightly, he turned around and walked out of the jeweled warehouse with steady steps.
The housekeeper arrived at the gate of the mansion and put on a formal smile to Princess Wenshu, whose face was already gloomy. He stepped aside and led the way in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Your Highness, the Princess invites you. Please follow this old servant."
Princess Wenshu snorted heavily, and with anger at being neglected, she suddenly flicked her gorgeous wide sleeves, held her head high and chest out, stepped over the threshold as if inspecting her territory, and strode in.
Nalan Mei followed closely behind.
The butler led the way, walking at a moderate pace.
The corridors were winding and the courtyard was deep, but Princess Wenshu's attention was soon attracted by another scene. She saw the palace's secret guards, in groups of two, carrying heavy mahogany boxes, walking steadily out of the inner courtyard and heading towards the side door.
Although the boxes were sealed, one could tell from their material, size, and the tense muscles of the guards that what was inside was definitely not ordinary.
Princess Wenshu's steps suddenly stopped, and her well-maintained face was instantly filled with surprise and uncontrollable jealousy!
She pointed at the boxes, her voice suddenly rising with questioning: "Where is the Regent? Is Mo Liyuan in the mansion?!" She was calculating quickly in her mind: If Mo Liyuan was here, how could he allow Lan Xiyue to be so presumptuous?
The housekeeper stopped when he heard the voice and slowly turned around. His face still had that calm expression and his voice was flat and calm: "Replying to the Princess, my prince is not in the mansion today."
"Not here?!" Princess Wenshu's voice shrilled, her nail-painted fingers nearly poking the butler's nose. "The Regent is away, and you're just letting Lan Xiyue take the Regent's Palace's treasures and give them to an unrelated outsider?!"
Her chest heaved violently, jealousy and anger gnawing at her heart like a venomous snake. How could she not resent it? Her princess's mansion had been burned down, and she was still struggling to rebuild it with the help of the Queen Mother. The treasury was empty.
Even without seeing the treasures inside these boxes, just imagining what had flowed out of the Prince Regent's Palace was enough to make her eyes blaze with envy and her teeth itch with hatred! Lan Xiyue, what right did she have?!
Facing this almost roaring question, the butler remained motionless and his tone remained calm, "The eldest princess is wrong! The princess is the rightful mistress of the Regent's Palace. The prince has already issued a clear order that the princess has the right to dispatch and dispose of all affairs of the palace, including the treasury." He deliberately emphasized the words "legitimate" and "clear order".
"You...!" Princess Wenshu was choked and her breath was stuck in her chest, and her face turned pale.
She stared at the housekeeper's expressionless face, her anger having nowhere to vent, and in the end she could only let out an even colder snort, swallowing back the more unpleasant words that followed.
She glared at the boxes she was carrying, as if she wanted to burn them through, then she angrily walked on.
When they arrived at the front hall, the butler bowed symbolically and said, "Princess, Lady, please wait here. The princess will be here soon." Then he retreated, leaving the mother and daughter in the empty hall.
Soon, a servant lowered his head and silently served hot tea and a few plates of exquisite snacks, placed them on a high rosewood table beside, and then quickly bowed and retreated.
Princess Wenshu walked a few steps to the first armchair below the main seat and sat down with an arrogant attitude. She picked up the teacup, but had no intention of tasting it. She put it heavily on the table, making a slight "clang" sound.
She looked around the front hall that was full of luxury and power, and thought of the boxes she had just seen. Hatred surged in her heart, and she couldn't help but say to Nalan Mei beside her hatefully: "Hmph! I don't know what kind of despicable and seductive tricks Lan Xiyue used! She could actually make your uncle, who has never been interested in women and is cold-hearted, so infatuated with her that she even let him drain the foundation of the palace!" Her tone was full of contempt and malicious speculation.
Nalan Mei was sitting on the other side. When she heard her mother's words, she thought of Lan Xiyue's stunning face and her current glory. Her heart ached. She whispered, "Mother, Lan Xiyue...it's just that face that's pretty good. When she was chasing the Crown Prince, she deliberately made herself look extremely ugly. Only when she was chasing my uncle did she dress up beautifully. I don't know if it was intentional. Maybe Lan Xiyue's target from the beginning wasn't the Crown Prince, but my uncle."
Upon hearing this, Princess Wenshu snorted with even more disdain, "Fox charmer!"
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