Wen Nongnong said, "I heard that the scenery behind Huangming Temple is beautiful and pleasant, so I came with Consort Atuo to take a look. I didn't expect that Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and everyone else were here. I hope we haven't disturbed you, Your Majesty?"
The words "old lady" sounded like a slap across Empress Dowager Guo's face.
A sinister glint flashed in her eyes as she clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Her gaze fell on Wen Nongnong's young and beautiful face, and she felt even more disgusted and annoyed.
"If I say I've disturbed you, what are you prepared, Your Highness?" She asked with a smirk, her tone playful, but there was no hint of a smile in her eyes.
Wen Nongnong glanced at her. She had felt that Empress Dowager Guo harbored inexplicable hostility towards her before, and now that feeling was even stronger.
She paused, then said seriously, "If Your Majesty feels disturbed, then this humble woman can only take her leave. This back mountain is so big, this humble woman can go play elsewhere." As she spoke, she curtsied to her and pulled Atuo Jianghua away.
Empress Dowager Guo sneered inwardly, and said slowly, "The Princess Consort feels that she has disturbed me and wants to move elsewhere, but Consort Atuo rarely comes out, so please come and keep me company and relieve my boredom."
These words created a somewhat awkward atmosphere.
The concubines and noblewomen all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe, but they were all very puzzled.
The Empress Dowager is clearly trying to isolate the Regent's wife, but why?
Wen Nongnong raised an eyebrow. How could she not hear the Empress Dowager Guo's obvious rejection?
It's really strange. She doesn't think she's offended her, so why is she being targeted?
Thinking it over, she glanced at Empress Dowager Guo with a scrutinizing look, but unfortunately she couldn't see anything. It seemed as if those words were just something she said casually.
Before Atuo Jianghua could say anything, Guo Yuzhen spoke up first: "Empress Dowager, Consort Atuo has always been ignorant of etiquette. Keeping her here might anger you."
This time, Atuo Jianghua agreed with her words and hurriedly echoed, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhen is right. I am used to being rough and do not know the rules. I am afraid that I will not only be unable to keep you company, but will also make you angry. Please rescind your order."
Empress Dowager Guo looked displeased. "Since Consort Atuo is so ungrateful, how can I force her to do something against her will? She may leave."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Atuo Jianghua happily curtsied to her, then took Wen Nongnong's hand and said, "Nongnong, let's go over there. Maybe we can catch a wild rabbit, and we can roast it and eat it."
Wen Nongnong originally didn't want to implicate her, but seeing that she had already offended Empress Dowager Guo, she didn't try to persuade her anymore.
"Great! I've never roasted rabbit before," she said eagerly, smacking her lips loudly.
When Empress Dowager Guo heard this, her expression became even more unpleasant.
Is Wen Nongnong provoking her?
Did she think that Gu Linchao would always protect her?
Without Gu Linchao, she would be nothing at all.
Someone like her dares to be so insolent in front of her?
Empress Dowager Guo clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
She was determined to teach the girl a lesson when she came to Huangming Temple.
Once out of Empress Dowager Guo's sight, Atuo Jianghua asked, "Why did the Empress Dowager target you just now?"
Wen Nongnong shook her head. "I don't know either." Then, she looked at Si Yi. "Do you know why?"
Si Yi frowned, thought for a moment, and asked, "Did you offend her unintentionally?"
"No, I've only seen her a handful of times. I haven't even had a chance to offend her," Wen Nongnong said, puzzled.
Atuo Jianghua stared at her radiant and beautiful face for a moment, then suddenly had a thought and said, "Could it be that she's jealous of you because you're too beautiful?"
Wen Nongnong was stunned, and reached out to touch her face. "Jealous of me?"
Si Yi scoffed, "That's utter nonsense."
A Tuo Jiang Hua retorted, "How is that nonsense? It's quite possible, isn't it? Neither Nong Nong offended her nor did she hinder her in any way, so naturally it can only be a woman's jealousy at play."
“Impossible,” Si Yi rejected. “The princess must have offended her unknowingly.”
Wen Nongnong carefully recalled all the scenes of her meetings with Empress Dowager Guo, but no matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't find any way she had offended her.
Could it be true, as Jiang Hua said, that Empress Dowager Guo was jealous of her beauty?
This is outrageous! Empress Guo is a widow, she should be calm and composed, why would she be jealous of someone else's beauty?
Moreover, Empress Dowager Guo herself was quite beautiful. Although she was not as pretty as her, there was no reason for her to be jealous of her.
Is it because I'm younger than her?
But this is somewhat unreasonable.
She sighed, "Fine, I guess I'm repulsive in her eyes."
"Hey, what's that smell? It smells so good!" At that moment, Atuo Jianghua suddenly exclaimed.
Wen Nongnong smelled it too, "It smells like barbecue..."
"The aroma is coming from over there, let's go take a look." Atuo Jianghua said excitedly, guessing, "Could it be some monk from Huangming Temple hiding here and stealing meat? Wouldn't that be breaking his vow against eating meat? We should go over there and make him hand over the meat as a bribe, or we'll expose him to the abbot."
She became more and more excited as she spoke, and then grabbed Wen Nongnong and ran.
Seeing that she looked like she wanted to rob someone, Wen Nongnong sighed and wondered if it was really necessary to go to such lengths just to eat some meat.
Si Yi followed.
The fragrance was coming from the woods in front.
The three of them went over and discovered that the person grilling the meat was not a little monk at all.
"You've arrived." Si Luo sat under a tree, skillfully turning the rabbit roasting over the fire. Seeing the three of them, she greeted them with a smile, her relaxed tone making it seem as if they were old friends.
Upon seeing him, Wen Nongnong paused, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, and she subconsciously glanced at Si Yi beside her.
Seeing that his expression had turned ugly, he said coldly, "What are you doing here?"
“Huangming Temple is so big, and this back mountain is not a forbidden area. Anyone can come here.” Si Luo did not care about his attitude. Instead, she smiled at him, like a tolerant elder.
Seeing this, Si Yi's expression turned even uglier. He looked at Wen Nongnong and said, "Let's go."
"Oh, okay." Wen Nongnong didn't want to get involved with Si Luo, so she quickly nodded.
A Tuo Jiang Hua didn't recognize Si Luo, but seeing that the two of them didn't seem to like him, she had no choice but to suppress the urge to drool and watch them walk away.
Si Luo then stood up, holding the roasted rabbit.
He sighed softly and said, "Si Yi, you don't have to do this. If you don't want to see me, I'll leave."
Si Yi ignored him and led Wen Nongnong forward.
At this moment, Si Luo quickly took a few steps, caught up, and blocked the way for the three of them.
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