Chapter 272 Delusion

Chapter 272: Wishful Thinking

Consort Li saw Luo Qianxue looking on the verge of tears, and she realized she had said the wrong thing.

Although, deep down, she felt that this day would come sooner or later.

For Luo Qianxue, who was completely unaware, the shock was still overwhelming.

Seeing Luo Qianxue about to summon a physician to attend to her, Consort Li grabbed her hand, a gentle and kind smile spreading across her face.

She had once again reverted to the dignified, kind, and graceful Consort Li.

"Xue'er, I was just telling you about a dream I had last night, that's all. Why are you so frightened?"

Luo Qianxue turned to stare blankly at Consort Li. Seeing the familiar smile on her face, she let out a huge sigh of relief.

As if all her strength had been drained, she slumped into a chair, patting her chest and complaining,

"So it was just a dream. I thought you were losing your mind!"

After complaining, she turned to Consort Li and said helplessly:

"Mother, please don't tell me such terrifying things in the future. It's too scary. Anyone would think you're talking nonsense in broad daylight. My poor heart can't handle this."

Having been beaten by both Ji Yuntang and Luo Qingge, Luo Qianxue still had some psychological scars.

Consort Li said that one day these two would kneel before her and be at her beck and call. Although Luo Qianxue found the thought satisfying, her reason always prevailed.

In short, Luo Qianxue felt she wouldn't even dare to dream of that.

Consort Li stepped forward a few steps, a slight smile curling at the corners of her lips, looking at her indulgently.

"You, so easily rattled, how are you gonna handle meeting your future mother-in-law?"

Consort Li's words made Luo Qianxue tremble all over again. After reacting, she widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Wait, what? I have a mother-in-law? How come I didn't know?"

Consort Li took her hand and said softly, "It's not too late for you to know now. Haven't you always wanted to marry Xie Liuzheng? Just now, I sent Jian Lan to the Duke Rong's Mansion to have the Duchess Rong come to the palace."

"When you see her later, you can't forget your manners. Be sure to act sweet and well-behaved, showing her your best side so she'll take a liking to you and accept you."

Seeing that Luo Qianxue was listening attentively, Consort Li continued, "I know you've always been a bit thick-headed. Remember, being respectful and obedient is one thing, but after all, you are a princess. When speaking and acting, you can't come across as too subservient. Don't think that just because she will be your future mother-in-law, you have to bow and scrape to her. After all, you've got your own status to uphold. Being too humble will only make others look down on you."

"You just need to be more attentive. Constantly observe the Duchess Rong's movements, and before she makes any move, think ahead about how you'll act, so that she will see you in a new light and quickly come to like you."

After listening, Luo Qianxue lowered her head and pondered for a moment.

Consort Li held Luo Qianxue's hand and continued speaking to her earnestly.

"Xue'er, I know how much you want to marry Xie Liuzheng, but the Duke Rong's Mansion has never been a place where he, as the heir, calls all the shots."

"In the mansion, the one with the most say is actually Madam Cai of the Duke Rong's Mansion, Xie Liuzheng's mother."

"It was at the full moon banquet at the Xu residence that Madam Cai took a liking to Ji Yuntang at first sight, who chose her as a goddaughter. Do you see Duke Rong having any objection to this?"

"So, marrying Xie Liuzheng is actually not difficult. As long as you win over your future mother-in-law today and gain her approval, then marrying her son will be as easy as her saying a word."

When it came to Ji Yuntang acknowledging Xie Jinrong and Madam Cai as her godparents, Luo Qianxue was fuming.

Especially when the other party gave Ji Yuntang a gift that even she (Luo Qianxue) envied.

In Luo Qianxue's eyes, it was only a matter of time before she became Heir Xie Liuzheng's wife, so all these things should rightfully be hers, and Ji Yuntang had no right to touch them.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and she couldn't help but curse in front of Consort Li.

"That bitch Ji Yuntang, how can she be so greedy? Why does she get to hog all the good things?"

"Shouldn't those 100,000 silver notes from Heir Xie have been used to buy me clothes and jewelry as a betrothal gift? When others give her something, she just takes it—how does she have the nerve to take it!?"

"And that heirloom bracelet from Duchess Rong's hand should have been given to me, her future daughter-in-law, so why did Ji Yuntang get it too?"

"Also, the Pardon Token in my future father-in-law (the Duke of Rong)'s hand was bestowed by my imperial grandfather; it originally belonged to our royal family."

"Instead of thinking to give such a precious thing to me, he gave it to that country bumpkin Ji Yuntang. I have no idea what these people are thinking, it's really infuriating!"

Luo Qianxue was so angry her face turned red and her neck veins bulged, like a balloon ready to burst.

Consort Li frowned slightly. She knew Luo Qianxue had resentment in her heart and had to let it out.

When Luo Qianxue's emotions had calmed a bit, Consort Li patted her on the hand and spoke to her.

"Xue'er, those who achieve great things don't get hung up on small things. Ji Yuntang has taken things that belong to you, so you need to find a way to take them back. Why fuss over such trivial gains now?"

"Think about it, the Duke of Rong's estate is vast and wealthy, and they only have the one heir, Xie Liuzheng. Once you become his wife, won't everything in the mansion's treasury be yours? At that point, you can use them however you like—who would dare say a word against it?"

"Ji Yuntang only took a fraction of it. Besides, she may have taken these things, but she may not be able to keep them. It's too early to worry about that now."

"As women, we must have a long-term vision. Only then can we manage the household, hold onto wealth, and keep everything firmly in our grasp."

Consort Li spread her slender fingers and then made a fist.

She only hoped that Luo Qianxue would heed her advice and not sacrifice the greater goal for petty gains.

Luo Qianxue's eyes suddenly lit up. She seemed to think of something, and a determined smile spread across her face.

"I've made up my mind. I don't want those things that Ji Yuntang has anymore!"

"No matter what, this time I am going to marry Xie Liuzheng and become the heir's wife of the Duke of Rong's mansion. No one's objection will change my mind."

Consort Li thought she had finally understood and was about to praise her when Luo Qianxue said in a fierce tone.

"Before, that bitch Ji Yuntang always used being my sister-in-law as an excuse to beat me with a ruler, and I've never been able to swallow that anger."

"Now she's acknowledged Heir Xie as her brother, so as long as I become his wife, then I'll be her sister-in-law!"

"All the grievances she's inflicted on me, I'm going to pay them all back. I want her to experience what it's like to be beaten by her 'sister-in-law'!"

She gritted her teeth heavily as she said the word "sister-in-law."

Once Luo Qianxue figured this out, her heart suddenly felt as if the clouds parted to reveal the moon.

She thought that Ji Yuntang acknowledging Xie Liuzheng as her brother wasn't such a bad thing after all.

At least now she could take revenge in the name of being her sister-in-law. Whenever she was unhappy, she could go and beat up Ji Yuntang. Just thinking about it made her feel great.

Seeing Luo Qianxue's excitement, Consort Li's lips twitched slightly. She really didn't expect her daughter to be so naive.

Even if she became Ji Yuntang's sister-in-law, it was unlikely she could take full revenge for her grievances the way she imagined.

After all, Consort Li herself was a prime example.

In name, she was Ji Yuntang's mother-in-law—wasn't that status high enough?

Logically, Ji Yuntang should have called her "Mother Consort," but Consort Li had never once heard her address her as such.

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