Chapter 161 – Who Was Behind The Screen?
Chapter 161 Who Was Behind the Screen?
The yard was indeed right beside, but it looked a bit bigger than the guest yard where Qu Moying had just rested. As Qu Moying stood outside the yard entrance, her eyes became a bit colder.
This yard was actually also a guest yard for resting, but usually, women living here were not ordinary ones.
The women who could stay in this guest yard in Eastern Palace were all extraordinary. They were usually women like the Princesses and the mandated Old Ladies. The ordinary noble ladies basically could only stay and rest in the yard where she had been just now.
At present, Qu Moying felt that she was extraordinary. She rested in an ordinary guest yard, but she was going to have lunch in this extraordinary guest yard.
Yu Dong, who was holding Qu Moying’s arms, clearly felt Qu Moying dawdling, so he subconsciously called out, “My lady!”
“Let’s go!” Qu Moying shook her head gently and slowly walked in.
Since Ji Youran wanted to lure her over, Qu Moying would then come and take a look. No one would know about her rebirth, so as long as she was careful, she would not be in danger.
“Fourth Lady Qu, please.” The maid leading the way pointed to a room in the middle and said.
Her expression was extremely respectful, and the smile on her face became even more gentle. Even her footsteps became a bit lighter.
Qu Moying took two steps forward and stood at the door, but she did not go in straightaway.
“Is there anyone else?” She asked with a frown.
“Fourth Lady Qu, there is no one else, only you.” The maid replied in a low voice. Her hands were clasped in front of her stomach, and she appeared even more respectful than before. Her voice also softened.
“Will Princess Ji be here?” Qu Moying asked.
“Princess Ji is still busy at the front. I’m afraid she won’t have time to accompany you. Fourth Lady Qu, if you’d like to see Princess Ji, I will report it to her a moment later.”
The maid’s answer was watertight.
The maid said she could report it, but it didn’t mean Qu Moying could see Princess Ji. She was just delivering a message.
These words had a deep meaning.
“In your mansion… does Princess Ji hold the highest rank now?” Qu Moying suddenly became curious and she stopped in her tracks.
“I do not know. Fourth Lady Qu, please go in!” The maid did not dare to answer. She reached out her hand and hung her head even lower.
Qu Moying already knew something in her heart. The corners of her lips curved quietly. She no longer made things difficult for the maid. Then, she held Yu Dong’s hand and slowly walked in.
There was a round table that was not too big in the room. On the table was a large food basket. The dishes had not been taken out of the basket yet. There was only a chair at the table and nothing else.
The room was actually quite big, but it was separated by a screen. The part behind the screen was connected to the inner room behind. At first glance, it looked very small for those who were unfamiliar with the place.
The broad, eight-panel screen blocked everything inside the room behind.
Yu Dong helped Qu Moying sit down at the table. The maid opened the food basket and took out the dishes inside.
There were five dishes and one kind of soup. It was not much but very exquisite. There was also a big bowl of rice. The amount was big.
Qu Moying sat down and her gaze stopped at the soup. The faint fragrance was somewhat familiar. As it was blended with the fragrance of dishes and rice, the fragrance was particularly faint that it was almost unnoticeable.
The soup was mushroom soup. Naturally, it gave off some fragrance. The fragrance was really faint.
Qu Moying swept her gaze over the food. She took over the bowl of rice that Yu Dong passed to her. After taking a few bites, she put it down and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
“Fourth Lady Qu, do you think it’s not good? Would you like me to ask the kitchen to make a few more?” Thinking that Qu Moying did not like the taste of these dishes, the maid hurriedly said.
When Qu Moying was eating, she only picked a little, and she did not eat much rice.
“No. I just feel uncomfortable and don’t have an appetite.” Qu Moying shook her head, looking unwell. Others could tell that she was not in high spirits. She touched her forehead, and the smile on her lips appeared a little tired. “Today is Crown Princess’ … I am not in the mood!”
These words made it difficult for the maid to respond.
On the day of the Crown Princess’ funeral, she should not have a belly-worship, right?
“Then Fourth Lady Qu, please sit for a while. I will bring you some fruits.” The maid hesitated for a moment and responded quickly.
Qu Moying only sat down not long ago, and she was about to leave after a few mouthfuls.
“No need. I will go back first!” Qu Moying shook her head.
“Fourth Lady Qu, don’t leave just yet. Princess Ji might come here to see you.” The maid hurriedly said when she saw that Qu Moying was determined to leave.
Yu Dong saw that the maid was trying hard to persuade Qu Moying to stay, so he also explained, “My lady is already feeling unwell. I’m afraid she can’t hold on any longer. So she’ll leave and rest first.”
As Qu Moying nodded, she looked paler. She held Yu Dong’s hand and stood up. Then, she turned to walk out.
Seeing that she was about to leave, the maid became a little anxious. She took two steps forward and was about to speak when she saw Yu Dong glaring at her angrily. Only then did she stop going forward.
Yu Dong took the opportunity to help Qu Moying walk past the maid.
Stunned, the maid subconsciously turned to look behind the screen. She did not dare to breathe too loudly, and her eyes were nervous.
After turning to look at her, Qu Moying understood something, and she turned to leave with Yu Dong supporting her.
This was Eastern Palace. Of course, Ji Youran would not secretly come to see her. If Qu Moying had guessed correctly, it should be that person. However, Qu Moying did not expect that she would come out of the palace today.
In Qu Moying’s last life, that person was very nice. Sometimes, she even disregarded her son’s face for Qu Moying’s sake. However, it turned out to be a show. Before Ji Hanyue’s coffin was brought out of Eastern Palace’s door, she was already choosing a new wife for her son.
On the reason for attending the funeral of the Crown Princess of Eastern Palace, she was actually doing such a thing. She was not even worried that her good name would be ruined and that others would gossip about her.
A thoughtful look flashed in Qu Moying’s eyes. So, Pei Yuanjun came not because of Ji Hanyue but because of this person?
Qu Moying left with Yu Dong. The maid in the room fell on her knees, bowed her head, and bent her body into a ball, not daring to move.
Gradually, there was a sound behind the screen. Someone came over and pushed the screen to the side, and the maid became even more afraid to move.
The screen was pushed open. In the middle, there was a big cedar chair. On the chair sat a graceful and luxurious woman. Although her facial features were not the most outstanding, she had an extraordinary bearing. Looking at the maid with a cold face, she snorted coldly.
Ji Youran stood aside. Her hands fell down and she did not dare to move. She had been maintaining this posture for a long time. Even if her hands were sore, she did not dare to move.
With her head low, Ji Youran looked at the ground. She was as nervous as the maid.
She never thought that the Empress would come today. She originally thought that the person who came would be just a manager working by the Empress’ side. She did not expect that the Empress would come in person. This made her panic.
The Empress was not the Crown Prince. The Empress had never been nice to Ji Youran. In the past, when Ji Youran followed Ji Hanyue into the palace, the Empress only liked Ji Hanyue but not her.
She was kind to Ji Hanyue but did not pay any attention to Ji Youran.
Today’s matter was really just an accident for her. Originally, she was happy that there were many noble ladies who came today. There were even ladies like County Lady Jingyu who had a high status. Unexpectedly, they did not come to accompany her. The Empress’ secret arrival had already made things clear.
But before this, Ji Youran did not know anything. She only thought that although she invited none of the noble ladies, they came to curry favor with her and wanted to serve as a foil to her. There were a few of these noble ladies whom she was not able to curry favor with in the past. Now, they came to curry favor with her, uninvited. How could Ji Youran not be happy?
It was only later that she understood that it was not for her. She did not even know anything until the Empress arrived at the mansion.
However, no matter how angry she was, she did not dare to make a single move.
This also made her realize for the first time that she was not the real female host of Eastern Palace. If the Crown Prince did not want to tell her about something, she would be a nobody.
Being only a Princess made Ji Youran aggrieved and angry. However, there was nothing she could do. Her drooped eyes revealed a trace of hatred. She had spent so much effort killing Ji Hanyue’s entire family, all for the sake of the position of the Crown Princess.
Now that she was about to get the position, how could she be willing to see the position fall into someone else’s hands?
“That was Fourth Lady Qu?” The Empress’ gaze fell on the door. Qu Moying did not stay for a long time, so the Empress hadn’t heard and seen much.
“Your Highness, it was indeed the Fourth Lady from Vice Minister Qu’s Mansion just now. Her appearance wasn’t elegant, and she didn’t even have any talent. Besides, her eyesight wasn’t good either. Although she could make out things, what she sees is blurry.” Ji Youran answered carefully. When the Empress asked to see Qu Moying, she was shocked.
Although her words were euphemistic, when one thought about it carefully, one would only think that Qu Moying was someone useless.
“No talent, no beauty. Moreover, she has an eye disease. Is that why she bumped into Lord Yun?” The Empress said indifferently. Her gaze still did not fall on Ji Youran. The Empress had never cared about Ji Youran, the so-called Princess Ji. She had never thought of letting Ji Youran be her daughter-in-law. Of course, she would not care if Ji Youran was just a Princess. If her son liked her, let him.
However, the Empress would not let Ji Youran become the Crown Princess. She looked down on Ji Youran from the bottom of her heart and completely ignored the latter.
Suddenly, Ji Youran’s heart skipped a beat. She squeezed the handkerchief in her hand hard, and her hands were wet with sweat. As if having realized something, she did not dare to answer again and only lowered her head.
Fortunately, the Empress did not expect Ji Youran to answer this question. After asking, the Empress shifted her gaze on the door. If this was how it was going to be, it was actually not bad.
She was willing to do her best to facilitate this matter!
Helping Pei Yuanjun find a match was just an excuse for her arrival today. Her real purpose was to do it for her son. However, before Pei Yuanjun even entered the inner yard, he left in a hurry. It was said that he had bumped into this Fourth Lady Qu. Whether this was intentional on Fourth Lady Qu’s part or not, the Empress was willing to match them up.
Qu Zhizhen, an insignificant Vice Minister, was really not of much use!
If the Empress drew a blank after she left the palace today, she would have nothing to report to the Emperor, but now she had. Standing up, she did not look at Ji Youran, who was standing at the side. The Empress took a few palace servants and headed inside. She wanted to have a closer look at those noble ladies. It was indeed different to examine the ladies in the palace versus in Eastern Palace. At least, it would be much more convenient for her son…
Ji Hanyue’s funeral had given her a reason to leave the palace…
