Xiao Yuan only heard Xiao Yao mutter something in a low voice, but he didn't hear what she said at all. He couldn't help but tilt his head and asked, "Sister, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly."
"Nothing. No matter what happens today, you are not allowed to ask the princess for help, understand? Do you want the princess to go against her relatives for us?"
"Maybe my cousin the Crown Prince has a solution!"
"Xiao Yuan, we can't always trouble Prince Jing's Mansion to stand up for us, and the people in Prince Jing's Mansion have no obligation to help endlessly. If something happens, I'm lucky enough to handle it well, but if... I won't blame others. I won't let the Xiao family lose face because of me, and I won't ask others for help for my personal safety. Do you hear me?" Xiao Yao said sternly.
"Oh!" Xiao Yuan, who rarely saw her sister get angry, nodded in response.
Xiao Lang, Xiao Yi, and Xiao Yang, standing by the carriage, felt a surge of pity for their younger sister. It turned out she had anticipated everything, but had feigned ignorance to avoid worrying her family. If something truly happened today… Xiao Yi didn't know about the others; he could only predict that Yayuan's world would crumble and his grandfather would go mad.
Yun Yichen clenched his hands into fists in his sleeves. No wonder his mother and sister loved the little girl so much; she truly understood. He could understand why she didn't bother Ruonan, since, as she'd said, her sister's situation in the palace was also awkward. But was it really necessary to separate them so clearly? She didn't want his help, did she? And yet, he insisted on making her owe him a favor she could never repay. Just wait and see what she'd do in the end.
After about a quarter of an hour, the carriage slowly stopped.
"Miss Eldest and Miss Second, we've arrived at the palace." Qianyu and Xiaohui stepped forward, lifted the curtain, and reached out to support their respective masters, allowing them to get off the carriage.
Four years later, Yun Yichen saw Xiao Yao again. His first thought was: the little girl has grown up and become a big girl; his second thought was: she looks no different from before, still with those big clear and bright eyes, and still with that lively expression on her face; his third thought was: the two people next to her who were combing her hair and fixing her skirt were particularly annoying no matter how he looked at her. Did you know that your sister is a big girl now?
In the future, Tianyu should add a new law that prohibits touching others even if they are family members.
As if Yun Yichen's jealousy wasn't enough, Xiao Yuan pulled Yun Ruonan aside and muttered, "My three uncle's brothers are all very kind to my sister. What's this now? My fifth brother still holds my sister's hand when he walks.
My third brother is a very good chess player, but when my sister cheats sometimes, he just ignores her. When she pretends to lose, he carries her on his back and walks around the yard for a long time without stopping to rest. My second brother and his wife often quarrel, not because of their son, but because they fight over who will accompany my sister out and who will help her pick up food..."
"It's getting late. We should go to the palace." Yun Yichen didn't want to listen to his cousin's touching stories about the little girl's brother and sister's love for each other anymore, and he didn't want to see Xiao Yi and Xiao Yang circling around the little girl. It was okay that he didn't understand his feelings before, and he could pretend not to see the intimate interactions between the Xiao family siblings, but how could he face this scene calmly now! He had to separate them quickly.
"Ping'an, remember not to be impulsive and be careful everywhere. Second brother is waiting for you outside. We are not going anywhere today." Xiao Yi held Xiao Yao's hand. He really wanted to pass all his strength to his sister.
"I will do my best to protect Ping An." Xiao Yang said very solemnly. If he couldn't even protect his own sister, how would he have the face to go home and face his parents and relatives!
"Don't worry, I will be careful." Xiao Yao stood on tiptoe and patted her second brother Xiao Yi's shoulder, then pulled her third brother's sleeve and shook it.
"You!" Several brothers spoke at the same time.
After entering the palace gate, palace maids and young eunuchs came forward and bowed to several people. Then, the older palace maid walking in front said, "Master Crown Prince and Xiao Bang, please follow Xiao Zhuzi to the front. Princess and the two Miss Xiao, please follow me to Fengxiang Palace to pay respects to the Queen Mother."
"You guys go with her! I'll go to the Empress Dowager's Palace to see you later. If anyone is disrespectful to you, I will take care of it." Yun Yichen said to the three girls, his eyes fixed on Xiao Yao who lowered her head and remained silent. Unfortunately, the girl didn't respond at all. She thought he was talking to her sister!
Yun Yichen didn't have the time or energy to dwell on this matter, as people were already arriving. Any further delay would do no good to the three girls. He was also annoyed by the gazes glued to Xiao Yao, and Xiao Yang urged them to hurry to Fengxiang Palace.
Yun Yichen wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to start. He could only comfort himself that the Empress Dowager would not resort to any tricks as soon as they met, and he believed that the reinforcements he had called for would definitely be able to protect the three of them.
"Thank you, cousin!" These are the words Xiao Yuan wants to hear the most now. Yun Yichen's character is still trustworthy. As long as he says this, he will definitely go to the Queen Mother to visit his cousin. Then there will be someone standing on his sister's side, right!
Fengxiang Palace is the largest and most luxurious palace in the harem. Not to mention the Xiao sisters, even Yun Ruonan was entering here for the first time.
"Princess Yian is here, and the eldest and second daughters of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery are here." A eunuch with a shrill voice cast a pair of shrewd eyes over the three little girls, then bowed and invited them in.
"Huh!" Yun Ruonan could no longer remember what her grandmother looked like. Her heart was pounding and she really wanted to turn around and go home.
"Don't be afraid." Xiao Yao covered Yun Ruonan's hand with her sleeve and gently held it. If she was just given a few cold stares or treated coldly, that would be fine. She wouldn't have to worry or be afraid.
"Yeah, I know." Yun Ruonan knew that it would be better for both she and Xiao Yao not to make any mistakes. If she was caught in Fengxiang Palace, it would be equivalent to giving the Empress Dowager an excuse to humiliate his mother for not teaching her daughter well. If Xiao Yao made a mistake, the consequences would be worse than hers!
When people heard that these people were coming, Fengxiang Palace suddenly became quiet. These young ladies who had arrived earlier all had more or less relatives with the Han family. No matter whether they were relatives or not, they would definitely not like them.
"Yian pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Your servant Xiao Yao (Xiao Yuan) pays homage to the Queen Mother."
"The one below Yueting is your cousin Ruonan. Go and help her up." Empress Dowager Han turned around and spoke to a girl beside her in a kind manner, as if she didn't see the Xiao sisters.
"Cousin, please stand up quickly. Sister Yian is dignified and quiet. With your noble status, you should interact more with royal ladies or your own relatives. Never come into contact with those who are not presentable. Over time, their shortcomings of flirting with royal children and thinking they are the most beautiful in the world will scare you." Han Yueting was standing right in front of the Xiao Yao sisters. Seeing them kneeling there, she showed no intention of avoiding them.
Xiao Yao desperately grabbed Xiao Yuan with her hands, not allowing her to move, and let Han Yueting have her momentary verbal pleasure. If Princess Jing's words were to reach her ears, the Han family girl would never be able to enter the palace gate. How could the Princess be happy if she dared to accept the kneeling worship of her niece?
Knowing clearly that the princess and her sisters were on good terms, she still said these words to their faces. This Miss Han's IQ is not that high. You should at least wait until you have dealt with Yun Yichen before you sow discord between your sister-in-law and her friends! She was so impatient to ruin her own future. Xiao Yao really wanted to say to her, "Poor kid."
"Who are those kneeling below?" Queen Mother Han seemed to have just remembered the existence of these two people and glanced at the Xiao sisters.
"It seems to be our most beautiful woman in the world, the eldest daughter of the Xiao family!" He Jinzhi gritted her teeth. Everyone in Kyoto knew that she wanted to marry Yun Yichen. However, the Jingwang Mansion had always refused to express its position. He Jinzhi, who had already passed the age of marriage, no longer dared to hope for the position of Crown Prince's Consort. The Jingwang Mansion dismissed her father with the words that he would decide the Crown Prince's marriage himself.
He couldn't get close to Yun Yichen, and Princess Jing and the Princess ignored him. Meanwhile, the Xiao sisters visited the palace as if it were their own backyard, and the Princess and the Princess treated them like family. The Crown Prince never visited the He family, but he frequented the Xiao family. One of them was the prince's only legitimate son, and the other was incredibly beautiful. If they said there was nothing shameful going on between them, no one would believe it!
Han Yueting and He Jinzhi reached a consensus before coming to the palace. They would first defeat Xiao Yao together, and then Han Yueting would become the Crown Prince's consort and He Jinzhi would be the concubine.
I just don’t know if they considered Yun Yichen’s thoughts when they discussed this.
Xiao Yao was almost amused by her anger. She had always thought that being the most beautiful woman in Kyoto was big enough, but now she was even the most beautiful woman in the world. Was she going to be accused of deceiving the emperor?
"Number one in the world..." Queen Mother Han sneered. She really thought number one in the world was just cabbage! Could she have it just because she wanted it? She was indeed a child raised by that rustic, uncouth man, Xiao Hu. She didn't even possess the most basic modesty of a lady. What was there to fear from such a person?
"Then please, the most beautiful lady in the world, look up and let me open my eyes!" Queen Mother Han was waiting leisurely to see Xiao Yao make a fool of herself. If the girl in front of her was too ugly, she would accuse her of deceiving the emperor; if she was still acceptable, she would let her marry into the Han family. With Yue Ting and other sisters around, her life would definitely not be lonely.
Xiao Yao still knelt there motionless, turning a deaf ear to Queen Mother Han's words and not responding at all.
"Xiao Yao, you are so bold. Did you hear the Queen Mother telling you to look up?" Han Yueting thought she had caught Xiao Yao's handle, so she slammed the table and stood up, treating Fengxiang Palace as casually as if it were her boudoir.
"My surname is Xiao and my given name is Yao. The Empress Dowager did not call my name just now, so I did not dare to look up." Xiao Yao did not take the brave but foolish Han Yueting seriously. She was more concerned about what means the Empress Dowager would use to deal with her.
"Then I was wrong. Miss Xiao, can you look up now?" It means looking up instead of standing up, which means that Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan have to continue kneeling.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
