"Who is your mistress...?"
The palace maid smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine."
"..."
Meng Qingluan's eyes flickered for a moment, but her expression quickly returned to normal.
She didn't know why the imperial concubine had summoned her, but her intuition told her that it couldn't be anything good.
Even if she didn't want to go, there was nothing she could do. They had already personally sent a palace maid to summon her, and if she refused, it might bring even more trouble.
Inside the temple, she really didn't believe that this so-called "mother-in-law" would dare to do anything to her.
Yingbang looked worried and tried to discuss the matter with the palace maid who came to her.
“Sister. My lady’s cold has not fully healed yet. If she goes there, she might catch the Empress’s illness.”
"It's alright. Your Highness has just recovered from a cold and is perfectly healthy. Besides, the Imperial Concubine sent me to invite you, Madam. If anything goes wrong, I won't be able to explain myself."
The palace maid's answer was impeccable.
Meng Qingluan knew that the hope of not going was slim, so she grasped Yingbang's hand.
"Alright, don't worry about me. The ointment I prepared for Shen Yan is on the cabinet. Go and take it to him in a bit."
Yingbang realized the meaning behind her words and nodded.
"Yingbang knows."
"Madam, please get dressed and come with me," a palace maid reminded her.
"Um."
Meng Qingluan put on her coat, took only US dollars, and followed the palace maid to the east wing.
"This servant will go in first to inform them," the palace maid said, turning around.
"..."
Meng Qingluan and the US dollar stood at the door. After a short while, a palace maid came out again and led Meng Qingluan inside.
The US dollars were left at the door to wait.
As soon as Meng Qingluan entered, the first thing she smelled was a faint scent of incense. Looking inside, she saw a graceful and charming figure kneeling in front of the Buddha statue, lighting an incense stick.
He truly has the heart of a tyrant and the appearance of a crane.
Meng Qingluan stood still, not daring to step forward rashly.
The imperial concubine uttered "Amitabha" again before being helped to sit down on a chair by a palace maid. She then lifted her eyelids to look at her.
"Now that you're here, why don't you come over and say hello?"
The imperial concubine held a teacup in one hand, her bright red nail polish constantly scratching the outside of the cup.
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingluan stepped forward and respectfully bowed to her.
"Greetings, Your Highness. I saw that Your Highness was offering incense and dared not disturb you."
The imperial concubine chuckled softly.
"You're quite sensible."
"..."
Meng Qingluan stood in front of her, without saying a word.
The imperial concubine seemed to find her silence boring, so she casually started a conversation.
"What does Madam Shen usually like to do?"
Meng Qingluan replied, "Make pastries."
Upon hearing her answer, the Imperial Concubine frowned with dissatisfaction and began to criticize her sharply.
"As the wife of a high-ranking official, how can you spend all your time in the kitchen? If word gets out, you'll become the laughingstock of others."
"..."
Meng Qingluan remained silent.
Do whatever you want, what's it to her?
The Imperial Concubine continued, "I heard that you come from a rural background, so you should study and cultivate your character even more. Even if you can't bring honor to your husband, at least you won't embarrass him."
"Just like today..."
The second half of the Consort's words was quite meaningful, clearly referring to Meng Qingluan. The fight between Shen Yan and Li Zhanlan today was inextricably linked to her.
Meng Qingluan sighed inwardly. So the Imperial Concubine had been secretly observing her all along?
Therefore, she saw the whole story clearly.
Meng Qingluan felt indifferent, and even felt a little nauseous.
What is she doing? Playing the role of a good mother, disciplining her daughter-in-law on behalf of her own son?
Meng Qingluan smiled gently, "No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself. I come from the countryside and don't even know a few characters, let alone read books."
When the Imperial Concubine saw that she not only refused to comply with her wishes, her face darkened.
Where did a country bumpkin get the courage?
"You're utterly hopeless," the Imperial Concubine said coldly. "I kindly offered you some advice, yet you are so ungrateful."
Meng Qingluan raised her head, a faint smile on her face.
"Whether it's shameful or not, only my husband and I know. It's our own family matter, so please don't worry about it, Your Majesty."
The imperial concubine clenched her hands into fists.
"With such a sharp tongue, it seems I must teach you a lesson today, lest Lord Shen be implicated by your foolish wife."
After he finished speaking, three or five palace maids were already itching to make their move.
Meng Qingluan straightened her back, her gaze sweeping over the palace maids, her expression cold and sharp.
"Who dares?"
"How dare they not obey my orders?" The Imperial Concubine slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
Meng Qingluan was neither humble nor arrogant.
“I am Shen Yan’s lawfully wedded wife, and also the wife of a fourth-rank official personally appointed by the Emperor. I have done nothing wrong today, and no one can touch me. Does Your Majesty intend to use private torture without authorization?”
The Imperial Concubine's eyes narrowed with malice. "Fine, they can't touch you? I'll personally teach you a lesson. If you're guilty, I'll ask for your punishment."
As the imperial concubine spoke, she pushed aside the palace maid in front of her and raised her hand to slap Meng Qingluan across the face.
Meng Qingluan firmly grasped her hand.
Although she herself was also a novice, the Imperial Concubine had been pampered in the palace for many years, and her delicate and tender body was no match for her.
The imperial concubine's eyes widened, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothed out as she opened them wide.
Those eyebrows and eyes were more similar to Shen Yan's.
"How dare you!"
Meng Qingluan gazed intently at her features, ignoring her angry shouts, and leaned closer to her, speaking with a soft laugh.
"Your Highness, your eyebrows and eyes do resemble Ah-Ye's quite a bit."
"..."
The imperial concubine stiffened, her breathing involuntarily becoming lower and softer.
After a long pause, the Imperial Concubine lowered her voice and warned, "Meng Qingluan, only by understanding your place can you live a long life."
Meng Qingluan tilted her head.
"Your Majesty, you should say this to yourself."
"..."
The imperial concubine's eyes turned red with anger, and the powder on her face trembled.
Seeing that she was so angry that she couldn't speak, Meng Qingluan still refused to let her off easily. She leaned close to her ear and spoke to her in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
The imperial concubine trembled even more violently.
How could she know?
As the two were locked in a stalemate, the door was suddenly kicked open with great force.
When the imperial concubine saw the person who had arrived, her eyes immediately lit up with surprise, but she became visibly flustered after realizing what she had done.
Seeing her reaction, Meng Qingluan knew without guessing who it was.
With a slight smile, she released her grip and deliberately pressed her face against the palm of the hand that was holding her cheek.
Meng Qingluan saw the Imperial Concubine's eyes widen in surprise.
His body swayed, and he floated lightly to the side.
Before she fell, Meng Qingluan saw the panic in the Consort's eyes, and also a hint of hatred.
Instead of making intimate contact with the cold floor as I had imagined, my body was caught by a pair of warm arms.
Meng Qingluan lay down in Shen Yan's arms, her eyes immediately welling up with tears, and she raised her hand to cover her face.
Why are you only arriving now?
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