Translator: Henyee Translations . Editor: Henyee Translations
They came with ill intentions, so the banquet was naturally a trap. However, the host was the current Empress. Xiaoxiao was about to reach out to take the invitation when Xiao Ran placed her hand on her shoulder and said in a careless tone, âUnfortunately, she has something on that day and canât go.â The nanny looked up at Xiao Ran. Although she was dissatisfied, she was still a little afraid.
After weighing the pros and cons, she still asked bravely, âGeneral Xiao, may I ask what is it that can surpass the Empressâs invitation?â
Xi30 Ran* tone turned cold. âNanny, do you think His Majestyâs errands are qualified to take priority over it?â
The nanny knew that she had hit an iron plate and left dejectedly.
Xiao Ran spat at her back. âI can tell at a glance that youâre up to no good.â Xiaoxiao asked her mother, âWhat imperial duty do we have to do that day?â Xiao Ran said nonchalantly, âIâll just get one from the Emperor.â Xiaoxiao: â¦777 Give Mommy a thumbs up.
The Emperor was quite impressive. He really arranged a job to repair a bookhouse for Xiaoxiao.
Although it was said to be renovation, in fact, since the bookhouse was built by the royal family, who would not pay attention to the materials design or the post-production use?
He just let Xiaoxiao stay there for half a day and missed the Empressâs banquet. This matter had already passed, but on the day of the banquet, Xiaoxiao had just finished her trip to the library and was about to find Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law for a meal when she realized that the Crown Princeâs carriage was waiting at the entrance of the book house.
Xiaoxiao:â¦
To be honest, it was a little annoying.
An even more annoying thing happened. The Crown Princess Consort walked out of the carriage and waved at her with a smile.
âMother doesnât want to neglect Princess Anâning no matter what. Look, she even specially asked me to pick you up.â
If she didnât agree now, she wouldnât be able to absolve herself of the crime of disrespecting the Empress as the daughter of the Generalâs Residence. Xiaoxiao didnât care about gossip, but she wasnât stupid enough to give others something to use against her on the streets, so she maintained a smile.
[Baby, Range Control.]
The nanny behind the Crown Princess Consort, who looked familiar to Xiaoxiao, suddenly pushed the gentle and dignified Crown Princess Consort was pushed down from the carriage.
Xiaoxiao pretended to reach out to help her up before retracting her hand. She covered her mouth and asked, âDoes it hurt?â
The Crown Princess Consort:â¦
Someone had already slapped the nannyâs face. âHow did you serve Mistress?â But doing this would only embarrass the Crown Princess Consort even more. After watching this little farce, Xiaoxiaoâs mood improved a lot and she could set off with this group of people calmly.
Xiaoxiao did not know if the Crown Princess Consort was too lazy to pretend or if her sprained ankle really hurt. She had not spoken much since she got into the carriage. Xiaoxiao was glad to be quiet and closed her eyes to rest. She was really a little tired with her eyes closed. Hence, she told the space to let it be a guard and fell asleep.
When the Crown Princess Consort adjusted her emotions and expression and turned around, she saw that Xiaoxiao, who was breathing steadily and had pulled a small blanket from the carriage to cover herself, was sleeping with a flushed face.
She was speechless for a moment. She despised and envied this seemingly carefree person in front of her.
She looked down on Xiaoxiaoâs rural past of more than to years. She looked down on Xiaoxiao, who was a princess in name, but she was just a rough person who interacted with yellow soil, pigs, and sheep deep down. However, she really envied her for living freely. She had a family to sincerely protect her and the Third Prince to cherish her.
Although the Third Prince was not favored in the past, he had become a thorn in the Crown Princeâs side recently. The Crown Princess Consort was also very curious. If the Third Prince really made a meteoric rise one day, would he still show his love for Xiao Ning like he did now, regardless of the worldâs opinion?
The news of the Third Prince sticking to Xiao Ning the moment he was free had long spread throughout the entire Imperial Capital. Some people said that the Third Prince was unambitious and romantic. Some said that Xiao Ning must have done something great in her previous life to get such a good husband in this life. However, the Crown Prince felt that the Third Prince was so close to the Generalâs Residence for power.
âHe made a trip to the death arena at the border. Heâs just an idle prince now.
Clearly, Father doesnât like him. Third Prince must be anxious.â
The Crown Prince said, âThatâs why he deliberately pretended to be close to Xiao Nmg. After all, the Tiger Talisman is in Xiao Ranâs hands. Obtaining the support of the Generalâs Residence is equivalent to controlling Great Xiaâs military power!â
He said it so firmly that the Crown Princess Consort believed him. But when she heard about Third Prince and Princess Anâning again, she could not help but feel a little dissatisfied. Was it necessary to do that?
When the Crown Prince roped in the Zuo Family back then, he did notâ¦
Forcibly suppressing this thought, the Crown Princess Consort looked at Xiaoxiaoâs delicate face and suddenly remembered that the Crown Prince wanted to take this girl in.
In her sleep, Xiaoxiao felt a chill run down her neck, and the scene in her dream suddenly changed.
Men and women in prison uniforms were pushed and gathered together. The leaderâs face was covered in stubble as he said in a loud voice, âYour Majesty, how should we deal with these criminals?â
The familiar voice at the head of the table was cold. âThe rest will be beheaded.
Zuo Qingyan, tear off her four limbs and head using five horse drawn carts.â
âGuilty for murdering the Noble Consort.â
A woman in the crowd suddenly looked up. âYour Majesty, Your Majesty! I didnât kill Noble Consort Ji. I-I didnât do it on purpose! It was the Empress. The former Empress asked me to poison her!â
Rong Yan, who was wearing a dragon robe, looked thin and gloomy. âItâs fine. Empress Yan is waiting for you underground.â
Xiaoxiao shivered and woke up to meet the Crown Princess Consortâs complicated gaze.
Both of them had their own thoughts and looked away.
When she entered the palace, the banquet was already halfway through. Xiaoxiao was also convinced by the Empressâs persistence and planned to find a corner to stay in to survive this banquet. However, the Empress could not let her have her way. Before she could sit on the stool, she heard the Empress say, âAnâning is here? Quick, sit beside me.â
She sounded as though they were very close.
When Xiaoxiao looked up, the first thing she noticed was not the Empress who raised her head and looked down on all living beings, but Noble Consort Ji, who was sitting with her and had an indifferent expression.
It was rumored that Noble Consort Ji had always followed the Empressâ lead. Now that she saw it, it was indeed true.
Xiaoxiao was a little unhappy-she clearly had such a likable biological son. Why did she have to be intimate with someone elseâs family, but let Little Big Brother grow up alone?
As she was really unhappy, Xiaoxiao greeted her very casually. The Empress did not mind. Instead, she smiled and said to her, âCome, come, Anâning. Coincidentally, your future mother-in-law is here today. Itâs rare for the two of you to meet, so you can get along today.â
Xiaoxiao casually bowed, and Noble Consort Ji also casually gave her a meeting gift that had no other characteristics other than its expensiveness.
Then, she instructed Xiaoxiao to sit beside Noble Consort Ji.
To be honest, it was quite awkward.
Noble Consort Ji was famous for her cold personality, and Xiaoxiao had no intention of taking the initiative to befriend her. The other guests watched helplessly as the two of them did not interact at all and ate their own food.
Slowly, Xiaoxiao also felt the benefits of sitting beside Noble Consort Ji. She could eat her fill and avoid unnecessary social interactions..