Chapter 35: Move Aside
How rough must they have been for her to end up this exhausted?
Li Qingheās teasing gaze swept over Jun He.
“Consort Jun, you should know that my sister’s constitution isn’t very good. If something were to happen from you two fooling around like this, what would you do?”
“When Mother Empress and Father Monarch find out, they will surely be worried.”
Her tone carried an unmistakable hint of malicious glee.
She would be thrilled if Li Xuanyue were tormented to death by him.
Jun He’s cold eyes finally fell upon Li Qinghe.
“Princess Qinghe, if you have time to stand here and say this to me, you would be better off moving aside so I can take the princess back to rest.”
His tone was indifferent and light, holding not a shred of respect for her royal status.
The smile on Li Qingheās face instantly froze.
But Jun He didn’t give her a chance to react. Holding Li Xuanyue with one arm, he simply rammed his way through the space between the mistress and servant.
Caught off guard, Li Qinghe staggered from the impact, taking a step back.
If Ruyue hadn’t been quick to react, rushing forward to support her without a thought for her own safety, Jun He’s shove might have sent her sprawling to the ground.
“Insolent fool!”
Once she recovered, Li Qinghe’s expression was uglier than words could describe.
Her fingernails dug into her palms.
Her body trembled with rage.
“Princess, don’t be angry,” Ruyue quickly tried to soothe her. “That Consort Jun is the one who doesn’t know his place. We are magnanimous; we won’t stoop to his level.”
“Shut up!”
Li Qinghe truly regretted keeping such a stupid girl by her side.
She was a hindrance in everything she did.
She should have just sold her off in the first place, saving her the trouble of listening to her foolish, annoying words.
Li Qinghe’s roar of anger scared Ruyue into silence.
She could only stand there, motionless, like a timid quail.
Looking at her pathetic state, Li Qinghe felt a furious anger that had nowhere to go.
“You will stand here tonight. Do not follow me!”
Before she drives me to death with her stupidity!
Tears immediately welled up in Ruyue’s eyes.
Please, no!
She opened her mouth to plead, but seeing Li Qinghe’s furious retreating figure, she closed it again, feeling utterly wronged.
She couldn’t understand why the princess was punishing her.
She hadn’t done anything wrong, other than misspeaking a few times.
The princess had never treated her like this before.
After leaving Ruyue behind, Li Qinghe’s rage subsided somewhat.
But this was the first time she had been without Ruyue by her side, and it felt strange. She paused, turning back to call for her, only to realize she had walked too far. She couldn’t see Ruyue at all, let alone call out to her.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Li Qingheās face. She shouldn’t have left Ruyue standing there alone.
Now she had to personally go back and get her.
Li Qingheās mood soured even further. But just as she was about to turn back, she saw a figure at the edge of the peach grove.
This figure was none other than the Second Prince of the Serpent Clan, Jun Mo, who had arrived a few days prior for the visit.
A light gleamed in her eyes.
“Greetings, Second Prince.”
Li Qinghe proactively approached Jun Mo, her face a mask of gentle sweetness.
Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought they were close acquaintances.
At that moment, Jun Mo, who had been recovering in his palace for several days, had grown bored and decided to take a stroll through the Phoenix Clan’s peach grove alone. Hearing a voice behind him, he turned around.
Li Qingheās ethereally beautiful face immediately came into view.
A look of surprise flashed in Jun Moās eyes. “You are…”
Before he could finish, a faint scent of peach blossoms reached his nose. The scent was neither pleasant nor unpleasant, but it quickly caused his entire body to grow hot.
Jun Moās expression turned ugly.
What’s happening?
Why is my body suddenly burning up?
A triumphant smile flashed in Li Qingheās eyes. “Is something wrong, Second Prince?”
She stepped forward, feigning concern.
However, under the influence of the heat and the drug, Jun Mo’s gaze quickly became hazy and unfocused. He reached out and grabbed the hand that Li Qinghe was waving in front of his face.
The Five Clans’ visit was scheduled for seven days.
But for five consecutive days, Li Xuanyue had not appeared in the main hall.
At first, everyone felt it was excusable. But as time went on, her continued absence began to feel like a sign of disrespect to the other clans.
“Empress Feng, surely Princess Xuanyue isn’t still with that Consort Jun today and refusing to make an appearance?”
The speaker was the First Lady of the Wolf Clan, aunt to Yaoguang, a woman named Teng Luo.
She was lavishly dressed, with a baby face that belied her status. Her style was luxurious and noble, her black hair coiled elegantly, and a high-quality green jade bracelet adorned her wrist. She exuded an air of aristocracy.
“How many days has it been?” Teng Luo muttered from her seat. “Even if that Consort Jun was in heat, he should have stabilized by now.”
“Indeed,” chimed in Shufen, Lang Hua’s maternal aunt. “Look at my Lang’er, he’s been sitting here on the cold bench with us for days!”
Suddenly being named, Lang Hua stiffened.
He was perfectly happy sitting on the cold bench.
What is my aunt talking about?
Li Feng also felt she was losing face. Li Xuanyue’s handling of this was indeed improper.
Even if she needed to soothe her consort, there should be a limit. It was unacceptable to not show her face for days on end.
“Ahem!”
She raised a hand to her lips and coughed lightly to hide her embarrassment. “Everyone, please be patient. Yue’er will be here shortly.”
Li Feng seemed to have anticipated this situation.
She had already sent someone to Junhe Hall to summon them before the banquet began.
If all went as planned, they should be arriving any moment.
With Li Feng’s assurance, the two women who had been grumbling finally quieted down.
Beside them, Lang Hua felt like he was dying of embarrassment.
“Aunt, what are you talking about?” he whispered, tugging gently on Shufen’s sleeve with his head down.
“Who the princess likes, who she wants to favor, that’s her business. Can you please not cause trouble here?”
He would be thrilled if Li Xuanyue never sought him out.
That way, once the three years were up, he could leave.
Shufen glared at him, displeased. “What does a brat like you know? The princess is a person of immense value. If you’re not more proactive, you won’t even get to eat shit while it’s still hot!”
Lang Hua was speechless.
Just as Li Feng had said, a short while later, Li Xuanyue appeared before the crowd.
What people didn’t expect, however, was that she appeared alongside Jun He.
From his cool and composed demeanor, it was clear that the desire within him was well under control.
In contrast, Li Xuanyue looked a bit worse for wear.
Fortunately, a steady stream of rejuvenating tonics had been poured into her over the past few days.
So while she wasn’t in terrible shape, she did look a bit drained. It wasn’t a major issue.
“Your child greets the Mother Empress.”
Li Xuanyue and Jun He bowed in unison to Li Feng, who was seated on the throne.
Seeing this, Li Feng smiled so broadly her eyes were nearly squeezed into a single line.
“Good, good, good. Don’t just stand there, hurry and take your seats.”
Over the past few days, Li Feng had heard from many servant girls that Li Xuanyue and Jun He were getting along harmoniously in Junhe Hall.
She believed it wouldn’t be long before the Phoenix Clan had joyous news to celebrate.
But no sooner had Li Xuanyue and Jun He sat down than Li Qinghe entered from outside the hall with Ruyue trailing behind her.
This was rather unexpected.
After all, the Five Clans’ visit had little to do with Li Qinghe.
It was Li Xuanyue who was required to be present.
For her to appear at this moment made Li Feng feel a sense of displeasure.
“Your child greets the Mother Empress.”
Li Qinghe acted as if she didn’t see Li Feng’s unhappy expression and bowed to her as a matter of course.
“Is there something you need?” Li Feng asked, getting straight to the point.
She neither invited Li Qinghe to sit nor to stay.
Despite the awkward situation, Li Qinghe paid it no mind and continued to speak.
“Mother Empress, your daughter wishes to ask that you grant her a marriage.”
Her words were like a small stone dropped onto a calm lake, creating a thousand ripples.
Everyone was stunned, their eyes fixed on her.
Even Li Xuanyy, seated to the side, frowned at Li Qinghe’s words.
What kind of scheme is she plotting now?
Or rather, what is she trying to do?
Li Feng did not respond immediately, instead staring at Li Qinghe for several long seconds.
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