Chapter 273 Every Word Pierces the Heart

Every time Ji Yuntang addressed her, she would call her "Consort Li" with unusual distance.

After all, Ji Yuntang despised Consort Li, so Consort Li didn’t mind the cold address.

But unexpectedly, even she, who had never lost a battle in over twenty years of palace intrigue, had fallen into Ji Yuntang’s hands time and again.

Before this, she had always managed to scheme flawlessly without ever being this thwarted, but when it came to Ji Yuntang, everything changed.

Consort Li felt that with Luo Qianxue’s brains, even ten of her couldn’t outsmart a single Ji Yuntang.

Of course, at this moment, she had to put on a very pleased look to encourage Luo Qianxue, not kill her enthusiasm or dampen her spirits.

Otherwise, if she got scared and backed out, unwilling to marry, what then?

Luo Qianxue always did as she pleased, and things like agreeing one moment and reneging the next were not uncommon for her.

With that thought, Consort Li instantly put on a dramatic act. She clapped and said:

"Wow! You really are my daughter, Xue'er! You are so clever!"

"With Ji Yuntang’s brains, even ten of her can’t match one Xue'er."

"As they say, fortunes turn. Xue'er, your mother believes in you. That bitch Ji Yuntang has been bullying us mother and daughter without mercy, banking on the fact that the cripple Luo Junhe would never defend us. Once you marry Xie Liuzheng in the future, you can become her sister-in-law and take revenge. Then, while you're at it, help me get my revenge too!"

Luo Qianxue loved being flattered like this.

Pleased, she nodded smugly.

"Rest assured, Mother. That bitch Ji Yuntang can’t escape my grasp. I will teach her a good lesson and make her learn her lesson for offending us mother and daughter."

As they spoke, Jian Lan entered to report.

"Consort Li, Tenth Princess, I've brought Duchess Rong here. She is waiting outside."

Consort Li first glanced at Luo Qianxue, signaling her to behave herself and do well, then said to Jian Lan: "Go and invite Duchess Rong in. She is my honored guest."

Madam Cai had skin as white as jade and a graceful figure. Her well-maintained face looked very young, without even a single fine line at the corners of her eyes.

She wore a long silk dress woven with gold threads, the collar and cuffs outlined in gold, highlighting her tall, perfect figure. She looked elegant yet natural.

Entering Weiyang Palace, Madam Cai followed etiquette and knelt to pay respects to Consort Li and Luo Qianxue.

Her knees were slightly bent, and just as she was about to kneel down, a startled cry made her freeze.

"Wait!"

Luo Qianxue immediately ordered Jian Lan, "Why are you just standing there? Go get a cushion! The floor is so hard; what if Madam’s knees hurt from kneeling?"

Madam Cai: "..."

She wanted to say that this was totally unnecessary!

She glanced at Luo Qianxue, who smiled sweetly back at her.

Madam Cai instantly thought there was something off about Luo Qianxue.

But Luo Qianxue thought Madam Cai was moved by her thoughtfulness.

She always kept Consort Li’s words in mind: observe more, don’t be humble, and ensure her own dignity while making the other party feel how dutiful and thoughtful she was.

Luo Qianxue thought she was so clever.

This way, she didn’t lower herself and still showed she was thoughtful.

She smiled and said to Madam Cai: "Madam Cai, please wait a moment. The cushion is coming right away. Then you can greet me and my mother."

But just as Luo Qianxue finished speaking, Madam Cai lifted her skirt and knelt directly.

Her voice was calm as still water, betraying no emotion.

"Thank you for the Tenth Princess’s kindness, but my health is still quite good, and my legs have no discomfort. Such a small matter as kneeling to pay respects is no problem. You can skip the cushion."

She then said directly: "I greet Consort Li and the Tenth Princess. May I ask why you summoned me today?"

Consort Li: "..."

Consort Li: "!!!"

She could almost die from Luo Qianxue’s stupidity!

Who in their right mind would think of bringing a cushion and then making someone kneel?

Shouldn't she have just gone over and helped Madam Cai up and said, "No need for that"?

Consort Li was furious, but this was not the time to scold Luo Qianxue. She shot her a look.

"Madam Cai, no need for such courtesy."

"Xue'er, go help Madam Cai up."

Luo Qianxue stood frozen. She hadn’t expected Madam Cai to kneel so quickly. She was about to reach out to help her up when she saw Madam Cai stand up on her own.

"I can get up by myself. No need to trouble the Tenth Princess."

Luo Qianxue’s hand hung awkwardly in the air, not knowing whether to pull back or reach out, making her look incredibly clumsy.

Consort Li quickly spoke up to save the awkward moment.

"Xue'er, go fetch a chair for Madam Cai so she can sit and chat with me."

"Yes, Mother." Luo Qianxue, mortified, quickly responded and turned to leave.

Consort Li smiled at Madam Cai and said: "I've spoiled Xue'er too much over the years. She's naive and meant no harm. Madam Cai, please don't read too much into it."

Madam Cai didn’t know what Consort Li was up to, but she smiled back.

"In the palace, the Tenth Princess still being so innocent and carefree is truly rare. All thanks to Consort Li’s excellent upbringing."

Consort Li: "..."

She felt something was off about those words, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

It felt like Madam Cai was subtly mocking Luo Qianxue for putting on an act and herself for being a hypocrite?

Consort Li frowned. Hopefully, she was just overthinking it!

Just then, Luo Qianxue brought over a nanmu wooden stool.

This time she was smarter and directly placed it behind Madam Cai.

"Madam Cai, please have a seat."

Madam Cai did not sit, but instead looked her over with a smile.

"Tenth Princess, your complexion doesn't look too good. Is it from carrying the chair?"

Luo Qianxue’s body stiffened. It wasn't fatigue; she was simply furious about what just happened.

She personally helped her up, but Madam Cai didn't appreciate it—how utterly unreasonable!

After leaving, Luo Qianxue threw a fit before finally bringing the chair over.

But she couldn't say that in front of Madam Cai, so she could only nod in acknowledgment.

"It might be because I haven't rested well lately. I'm a bit tired, but it's nothing serious."

Madam Cai raised an eyebrow and said with a half-smile, "After just one trip carrying a chair, you're drenched in sweat and pale as a ghost. Tenth Princess, your health is really a bit weak!"

"How about this: after I return, I'll have my daughter prepare a prescription for you. You can take it to nourish your energy and blood."

"You're still so young and unmarried. You can't be this exhausted from such a small task. People might think you're suffering from some incurable chronic disease, Tenth Princess."

At this point, Madam Cai circled around Luo Qianxue and suddenly leaned close to her ear, saying:

"Staying in the palace as you and Consort Li do, you might not know how vicious the rumors outside are!"

"Whenever someone of status so much as sneezes, the entire capital knows about it. Tenth Princess, you really should take better care of your health."

Luo Qianxue: "..."

Luo Qianxue: "!!!"

Madam Cai was cursing her?

How dare she!

Luo Qianxue was absolutely furious, but she still forced a smile, though her nails were almost digging into her palm beneath her sleeves.

She suppressed her anger, forced out a fake, hollow smile, and asked Madam Cai.

"Madam, doesn't your household only have Brother Liuzheng as a son? This princess had no idea that the Duke of Rongguo's mansion has suddenly acquired an eldest daughter."

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