Chapter 200

Chapter 200 Granny Yan Being Repeatedly Rejected

“My Lord, Lord Jing is here!” The young eunuch saw Lord Jing coming from afar, so he reminded Lord Wei.

Lord Wei stood at the window and looked out for a long time. After that, he frowned and was in a daze. This state of his made the young eunuch very uneasy. Lord Wei’s body did not seem to be able to withstand standing for a long time. Whenever Lord Wei could have a seat, the young eunuch would definitely not let him stand.

It was best even not to sit when he could lie down.

However, Lord Wei had been standing there for a long time. His face sank, and he did not move at all, making others not dare to move at all too.

When the young eunuch finally saw Lord Jing coming from afar, he hurriedly reported.

Pei Qingmin moved and sat down in the chair. He picked up the cool tea on the table and drank a few mouthfuls before putting it down.

The young eunuch was even more horrified. His expression changed greatly, and he could only feel the sweat on his back.

Lord Wei was the most exquisite Prince, and there could not be a single mistake when it came to his eating and drinking. But what was going on now? He had actually drank some cool tea. If something were to happen to him, as his attendant, the young eunuch would not be able to escape punishment.

“Qingmin, sorry to keep you waiting.” The handsome figure of Lord Jing appeared at the door. He seemed to be in good spirits. He had just had a tryst with his lover, and that was why he felt that everyone was very pleasing to the eye.

And that included his weak and sick younger brother.

“It’s fine. Can we leave now, Second Brother?” Pei Qingmin rubbed his head, his face wearied. “We’ve been out for a while now. I’m quite tired.”

“Alright, alright. Let’s go.” Pei Yusheng said with an apologetic face, “I have unknowingly wasted so much time. Sorry to make you wait for such a long time, Qingmin.”

Pei Qingmin did not reply. He got up with the help of the young eunuch and walked out.

He did not walk very fast. After walking for a few steps, Lord Wei was somewhat unable to hold on any longer. He could only rest in the pavilion on the side. Pei Qingmin asked someone to look for Qu Qiuyan. Not long after, Qu Mansion’s servants brought over a wheelchair. The young eunuch helped Pei Qingmin get onto the wheelchair.

The wheelchair was pushed all the way out, and then they got into their respective carriages.

“Is this Qu Mansion-owned wheelchair?” The two Lords took a light ride today. Their carriages today were ordinary. After they got into the carriages, Pei Qingmin asked.

“It belongs to Fourth Lady Qu. Her foot was injured from the fall earlier. I heard it happened when she bumped into Uncle Yun,” Pei Yusheng said indifferently.

“Did she really bump into Uncle Yun?” Pei Qingmin leaned against the carriage and felt much better. He asked slowly.

“Of course it is true. Could it be fake? However, Fourth Lady Qu is quite exceptional. She actually bumped into Uncle Yun. There are so many ladies from aristocratic families in the capital, but none of them have this chance,” Pei Yusheng said meaningfully. They, as the children of the imperial family, all understood it.

Pei Qingmin no longer spoke. He did not seem to be very interested, and he closed his eyes.

Was she really such a lady? Her manners and actions were neither servile nor overbearing. Although she did not speak much, her meaning was very clear. There was no trace of timidity in her words and actions. It was completely different from her weak appearance during the Crown Princess’s funeral. Or rather, the one he saw at this time was the real her.

Sunlight shone over. In a glimpse, he saw that exquisite and beautiful side profile, which indicated that if she really took a fancy to one of the Princes, it would not be entirely impossible for her to stand a chance.

Her status was actually a little higher than Qu Qiuyan, for she was the wife-born daughter of the first wife, unlike Qu Qiuyan, a concubine-born daughter who halfway became the first wife-born daughter. Although Qu Moying lacked something to be a Princess Consort, she was definitely qualified to be a Princess, and there was no need for her to do too much.

Compared with Uncle Yun, these Princes were much easier to get along with.

So, why…

Qu Moying did not know that when she took off her veil just now, Lord Wei saw her. When she returned to her yard, Granny Yan had already returned too. Qu Moying had asked Granny Yan to make a visit to somewhere just now.

Since yesterday, Qu Moying had already started learning the etiquette from Granny Yan. Granny Yan was rather satisfied with Qu Moying’s appearance and demeanor. With that, her attitude towards Qu Moying also became a bit better. She no longer had the arrogant attitude of nit-picking. This time, it did not take Qu Moying much effort to send Granny Yan to make a visit.

“The next time we enter the palace, bring Second Lady Qu along.” After Granny Yan entered, she raised her chin at Qu Moying.

“Why?” Qu Moying asked with a smile. She was not surprised.

“Second Lady Qu said that you are sisters of the same family. The East and West Mansions have never separated from each other. The initial reason why we are entering the palace this time is that Dowager Consort Qu wants to meet Qu Mansion’s ladies anyway.” Granny Yan put her hands behind her back, and her expression became dignified.

“Then, will Eldest Sister go too?” Qu Moying smiled.

“Of course.” Granny Yan nodded.

“Is it required by Dowager Consort?” Qu Moying’s smile became more and more gentle.

“It is indeed an order from the palace,” Granny Yan said vaguely. Her gaze swept across Qu Moying’s face. She saw that there was no trace of displeasure in Qu Moying’s expression. After a pause, she gave a rare explanation, “Dowager Consort values you, Fourth Lady, but since you are actually Qu Mansion’s youngest lady, and Dowager Consort is Qu Mansion’s elder, it is natural that four of you ladies shall meet her together.”

Did this mean that the four of them were arranged to enter the palace together from the beginning? But why did they only mention the two ladies from the West Mansion and not the two ladies from the East Mansion?

Or did it mean that they would pretend to not know East Mansion also had two ladies if those two ladies did not say anything? Since they only mentioned the two ladies from West Mansion, it could be seen that compared with the two ladies from East Mansion, the two from West Mansion obviously had higher identities.

The status of the daughter of Vice Minister of Works was much higher than the status of the daughter of an ordinary Imperial Censor.

Therefore, originally, it didn’t matter whether Qu Xuexin and Qu Caiyue would be brought into the palace or not. Both of the two plans were okay. It all depended on how this matter was handled.

However, Granny Yan was not an easy-going person!

“Please tell the Old Lady that you want to go into the palace with Second Lady and First Lady,” Granny Yan said.

Qu Moying shook her head. “Granny Yan, I don’t have the final say in the matters of entering the palace.”

“Fourth Lady, you only need to mention it briefly. As for the matters of entering the palace, they will be arranged.” Seeing Qu Moying refuse, Granny Yan said unhappily.

Granny Yan thought that Qu Moying was implying that she did not have the ability to handle this matter.

“Granny Yan, I think I am very clear on this. This matter has nothing to do with me. If it is the order from the palace, Granny Yan, then I will have to trouble you to pass it to Grandmother. Whether Second Sister enters the palace or not has nothing to do with me. It is also not something that I can control,” Qu Moying reached out and took the tea that Yu Chun had brought over. After taking a sip, she spoke indifferently.

Granny Yan couldn’t help but frown as she was refused again and again. “Fourth Lady, this won’t bother you much. You just need to mention it briefly.”

“I can’t!” Qu Moying said calmly and refused again.

This sentence thoroughly annoyed Granny Yan. Her face completely cooled down, and her eyes contained a bit of anger. “What do you mean, Fourth Lady?”

Qu Moying said without flinching, “And what do you mean, Granny Yan?”

With this sentence, the atmosphere in the room immediately became tense. Yu Chun and Yu Dong, the two maids, also raised their heads and stared at Granny Yan coldly.

Granny Yan subconsciously took a step back and suddenly came back to her senses. For a moment, she was so angry that her face turned red. She was a servant in the palace, but she was frightened by a lady who was still young and had no rank. This was really something that made her feel ashamed. Even in the palace, she rarely had such a weak and angry moment.

“Granny Yan, I don’t care whose idea this is, nor do I care who asked you to do this. I only hope that you can understand this matter has nothing to do with me. I never wanted Second Sister to enter the palace with me. If something happens to her in the palace, don’t get me involved.”

Qu Moying’s eyes were fixed on Granny Yan. Even though there was an eye veil, others could feel that her temperament was not weak. Her words had no intention of backing down.

Granny Yan’s face was very dark. She looked at Qu Moying coldly. “Do you mean to go against the order from the palace, Miss Qu?”

“I wonder who ordered it.” Qu Moying’s gaze fell on Granny Yan’s face. “Granny Yan, please tell me who gave the order.”

It was clearly said that it was asked by Dowager Consort Qu. If Dowager Consort Qu really had the ability, she would not have been unknown all this while. How could an old Dowager Consort, who did not even have a Princess and was never heard of before, suddenly appear at this time? It was really a matter worth investigating.

Granny Yan slightly raised her chin and looked at Qu Moying with a hint of contempt in her eyes. “Fourth Lady Qu, the matters in the palace are not something that someone like you, a daughter of Vice Minister, should ask.”

“It is indeed so. So please forgive me for not being able to talk to Grandmother about this.” Qu Moying smoothly continued Granny Yan’s words. After she finished speaking, she stood up and bowed to Granny Yan. “Granny Yan, I’m tired. I’ll rest for a while first. I still have to practice the royal etiquette later. I can’t accompany you for the time being.”

After saying that, she walked into the inner room with the support of Yu Chun and directly left the arrogant Granny Yan outside.

Granny Yan’s face turned livid, and then she became furious. She was about to lose her temper, but in the end, she only snorted coldly. She flung her sleeves and said to Yu Dong, who was still in the room, “Royal etiquette practice in an hour. Please ask Fourth Lady Qu to get ready.”

After that, she turned around and stormed out.

“Yes, Granny Yan.” Yu Dong’s lazy voice, which was rather annoying, came from behind her. No matter how one listened to it, Yu Dong did not sound like he cared much.

Sure enough, like Master, like servants. Granny Yan was extremely angry. She had never been so sullen. It was just a small matter that she wanted to do as a favor for others, but now, it actually ended up like this. It was really ridiculous.

But she had already promised that person. If she now went back on her words, she would feel ashamed. She could not afford to embarrass herself. Now that she could not make Fourth Lady Qu agree, she would find someone else. She could not fail to complete such a small matter.

Her identity was indeed not ordinary. She was now someone by Dowager Consort Qu’s side. However, she used to be a servant by the late Empress Dowager’s side. After the late Empress Dowager passed away, those powerful palace servants all found themselves a new Master. She, too, found a new Master in that situation…