“Young master, please have some tea.”
“Miss, please have some tea.”
Qiao'er liked to call Yun Xiao this way, it felt intimate.
Yun Xiao hooked her lips slightly. The little girl probably wouldn't realize anything was amiss with this.
If it reached the ears of those with intentions, she would likely suffer. Such a disposition was absolutely unsuitable for the imperial palace.
Yun Xiao drank her tea while yawning. She seemed very tired, but in reality, she didn't know how to face Yun Zhen. She knew nothing of their past interactions, so it was best to be cautious.
Yun Zhen, while gentle and refined, was a formidable individual who could easily conceal his sharp edge and blend into society.
This precisely showcased his exceedingly intelligent nature. The current Yun Wang Manor truly needed to lie low. With the existence of the Regent, it had already become a thorn in the royal family's side. If Yun Zhen were to also be powerful, disaster would surely strike.
Seeing Yun Xiao yawn, Yun Zhen didn't suspect anything. He put down his tea bowl and stood up, speaking softly.
“Xiao'er, you must be tired. Rest for a while. Brother will come to see you again later.”
Yun Xiao remained seated, nodding with a smile as she watched Yun Zhen depart. His tall figure quickly merged into the golden light…
As soon as the young master left, Qiao'er couldn't wait any longer. She rushed over and hugged Yun Xiao, “Miss, Qiao'er missed you so much.”
Her actions were natural and pure.
Perhaps she had done this often before, but Yun Xiao was still the Empress now, and such behavior was inappropriate.
Yun Xiao did not stop her, and Xiu Xiu naturally dared not say anything. However, Xiao He, who walked in from outside the flower hall, was displeased. Her expression turned cold, and she reprimanded.
“Bold! How dare you be so familiar with the Empress? You’re courting death.”
Qiao'er was startled and hurriedly released Yun Xiao, then knelt with a thud. “Miss, I’m so sorry. Qiao'er forgot your current status.”
Yun Xiao said nothing, glaring at Xiao He. She extended her hand, pulled Qiao'er up, and petted her head with a smile.
Seeing Yun Xiao’s actions, Qiao'er knew her mistress was not blaming her. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes again.
Yun Xiao’s head ached at the sight of her crying. Qiao’er was truly made of water, why did she cry so much? It seemed she truly liked her, getting so emotional upon her return.
The flower hall was silent, save for Qiao'er’s soft sobs. At this moment, a young maid entered.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Cousin Miss has come to visit Your Majesty.”
Cousin Miss? The woman who always glared at her, wishing her a thousand deaths?
She truly didn't understand where such hatred came from. She was merely a guest, yet she acted as if Yun Xiao had stolen everything from her. What a shameless woman. What was her intention in coming now?
Yun Xiao's lips curved into an ambiguous cold smile.
Seeing her expression, Xiu Xiu and Xiao He felt their hearts clench. It seemed someone was about to fall into misfortune.
Unfortunately, Qiao'er didn’t realize that the current Yun Xiao was not the same as before. She quickly spoke up to object, “Miss is tired and needs to rest. She doesn’t have time to see anyone.”
As soon as she spoke, a sharp voice came from outside the door, “You wretched girl, how dare you make decisions for your mistress? Today, I’ll teach you a lesson.”
Qiao'er’s face turned pale. She immediately lowered her head, too frightened to utter a sound.
At the entrance of the flower hall, a tall and graceful figure walked in. She wore a crimson-red long dress, paired with a light blue thin jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, swaying gracefully. The bright tassels on her head accentuated her elegant demeanor.
However, her charming face was now covered with frost, and her eyes were sinister.
This woman was Yun Xiao’s cousin, Ruo Yun, who resided in the manor. Yun Xiao wondered why she was here. Her clear, bright eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint lurking in their depths, as she calmly observed everything before her.
As Li Ruo Yun entered, she neither curtsied nor looked at Yun Xiao, who sat at the head. Instead, she walked directly to Qiao'er, glared at her angrily, and spoke coldly.
“Was it you, you little slut, who just spoke? I am the Empress’s cousin. When did it become your turn, a mere servant, to give orders? You detestable thing.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she abruptly raised her hand to slap Qiao'er’s face. The small Qiao'er dared not dodge. Her face turned deathly pale, and she tilted her head, preparing to endure the slap.
But the slap never landed because Yun Xiao flashed down from her seat, blocking Li Ruo Yun’s movement.
As Yun Xiao moved, Xiu Xiu and Xiao He, the two maids, rushed forward, pulling Qiao'er aside and glaring coldly at Li Ruo Yun.
They were people from the palace. Even as mere maids, they were more esteemed than ordinary daughters of noble families, thus exuding an imposing presence. Xiao He shouted.
“Bold! Who are you? How dare you make a move in front of the Empress?”
“The Empress?”
Li Ruo Yun paused, then turned to glance at Yun Xiao beside her, who was currently staring at her with a half-smile. Her dark and bright eyes were filled with chilling coldness.
In this state, she did not resemble a fool or that timid, weak girl at all. Instead, she looked like a completely different person.
If she hadn't watched her grow up, Li Ruo Yun might have been deceived. Li Ruo Yun forcefully withdrew her hand, grunting in dissatisfaction. When she looked up at Xiu Xiu and Xiao He, her face was full of smiles.
“Sisters, please don't be angry. You don’t know, this little girl is too ill-bred. Look, although the Empress is foolish, she is still the Empress. A mere servant presumes to act on behalf of her masters. Sisters, don’t you think she deserves a beating?”
Xiu Xiu and Xiao He exchanged glances. What the woman before them said was not wrong; Qiao'er had indeed been presumptuous. However, since the Empress did not blame her, they had no right to say anything.
Xiu Xiu looked up at the Empress. She saw that Her Majesty had a cold smile on her face, and a sneer hung on her lips, clearly showing her disdain for Li Ruo Yun’s ability to twist facts.
If Li Ruo Yun had turned around at this moment, she would have noticed something amiss. But she was not concerned with these matters; her focus was on how to dismiss the two palace maids.
“Sisters, Cousin has been living in the palace. I haven’t seen her for a long time and miss her dearly. I’d like to have a private chat with her, is that possible?”
As she finished speaking, she took out two exquisite jewelry pieces from her sleeve and stuffed them into Xiu Xiu’s hand. Xiu Xiu, as if receiving a hot potato, was about to throw them back.
But at this moment, Yun Xiao waved her hand. With a seemingly casual gesture, Xiu Xiu immediately understood. Did Her Majesty want them to leave? She couldn’t help but feel worried for the woman before her, but the latter had a look of utter obliviousness.
“Alright, then you chat for a while.”
Xiu Xiu, holding the jewelry, led Xiao He and retreated. Seeing the situation, Qiao'er’s eyes immediately reddened. She cried out to Xiu Xiu, “Sister, please don’t! Your Majesty will…”
Before she could finish, Li Ruo Yun glared fiercely at her, “If you say one more word, believe it or not, I’ll tear your mouth apart.”