Lüluo followed Chu Qing with a puzzled look on her face, holding the key. Even she could see the intention of the side princess. She didn't believe that their mistress couldn't notice it.
However, looking at their mistress whose back clearly showed a bit of... excitement, Lüluo chose to keep her mouth shut and just follow obediently.
Soon, they arrived at the storeroom.
After Xu Xin walked in, the greed and jealousy in her eyes mingled and lingered for a long time.
She never expected that Chu Qing's dowry would be so generous. She wasn't from a small - family, so she wasn't a shallow - eyed person. But after seeing the things in Chu Qing's storeroom, she still clenched her fists in her sleeves out of envy.
Sooner or later, she would make Chu Qing step down from the position of the princess consort, and she would take over all of her dowry!
After pulling Xu Xin into the storeroom, Chu Qing quietly let go of her hand.
At this moment, Lüluo seemed to be suddenly inspired. She took out a handkerchief from her bosom and gently handed it to Chu Qing.
Feeling something soft in her hand, Chu Qing lowered her head to look. After seeing what was in her hand, Chu Qing curled the corner of her mouth and gave Lüluo an appreciative look.
After wiping her hands, Lüluo promptly took the handkerchief back from Chu Qing and put it away.
"Elder sister, is this the masterpiece left by the Painting Saint?" Xu Xin asked in surprise, pointing at a landscape painting.
Chu Qing glanced over lightly and curled the corner of her mouth. "Yes."
The more Xu Xin looked at it, the more jealous she became. Then she said softly, "Elder sister's family is really wealthy!"
"Sure it is. I lack everything in my family except money," Chu Qing replied boldly, feeling extremely comfortable in her heart.
When she saw Xu Xin's eyes fall on a night - pearl with extremely gentle light, Chu Qing knew that the other must like this thing very much.
So Chu Qing raised her eyebrows and said leisurely, "Does sister like this?"
Xu Xin blushed a little and replied slowly, "This night - pearl is really beautiful. Sister is so envious that elder sister can have such a perfect night - pearl."
"Does sister want it?" Chu Qing said to Xu Xin with a smile.
Xu Xin was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head shyly. "How can sister take away something that belongs to others?"
Chu Qing narrowed her eyes. "Since sister likes it so much, just take it!"
"Elder sister?" Xu Xin seemed not to believe her ears and looked shocked.
"Lüluo, help the side princess pack this night - pearl and send it to the side princess's courtyard later," Chu Qing ordered Lüluo beside her with a beaming smile.
Seeing her mistress being so generous, Lüluo couldn't help but speak up. "Mistress?" How could you be willing to give this night - pearl to her!
Chu Qing curled the corner of her mouth and said calmly, "Just do what I tell you."
Seeing that Chu Qing said so, Lüluo had to lower her eyes and go to find a box.
"Sister, keep looking! See if there's anything else you like! Don't be shy!" Chu Qing continued to say to Xu Xin with a beaming smile.
At this moment, she was extremely enthusiastic, even... a bit too enthusiastic and strange.
However, at this moment, Xu Xin was already dazzled by all the treasures in front of her eyes. How could she care about Chu Qing's expression.
After hearing what Chu Qing said, Xu Xin immediately beamed with joy, and her whole body was so excited that she even breathed a bit fast.
Since she said so, she really wouldn't be polite!
At this moment, Xu Xin thought that Chu Qing was just a money - bag that could be easily exploited.
"Sister already has the night - pearl. How could she have the nerve to ask for other things from elder sister," Xu Xin said politely, but her eyes were almost glowing green as she looked for valuable things.
Seeing Xu Xin looking around aimlessly for a target, Chu Qing came up with a plan. Then she said casually, "I once heard someone say that the Empress Dowager likes red coral very much. I originally wanted to give red coral to the Empress Dowager, but this coral is from the Dongyi State. Although the Empress Dowager likes red coral very much, she hates the things from the Dongyi State." As she said, Chu Qing led Xu Xin to a corner where there was a pot of red coral almost as tall as a person standing against the wall.
It had a bright color and a smooth texture.
Even those who didn't understand the business could tell that this pot of red coral must be extremely valuable.
"How does elder sister know it's from the Dongyi State?" Xu Xin asked curiously.
Chu Qing replied, "Because someone told me. If it were up to me to tell, I couldn't tell either. For red coral, if no one says where it's from, no one can easily tell. Because red coral usually comes from the South Sea."
"Then we don't have to tell the Empress Dowager that it's from the Dongyi State!"
"Eh? Really? Can we do it like this?" Chu Qing pretended to be surprised and covered her mouth.
"Just say that we got it by chance at that time. I believe the Empress Dowager won't dig into it!" Xu Xin's eyes couldn't be diverted from the red coral anymore.
If she put it nicely, this red coral would surely win the favor of the Empress Dowager! No, she must find a way to snatch this red coral!
Just as Xu Xin was thinking about the countermeasure, Chu Qing showed a hesitant expression. "But..."
"Since elder sister is worried, then we won't give it to the Empress Dowager. Actually... sister also likes red coral very much... I wonder if elder sister is willing to part with it?" Xu Xin's little face flushed red. She looked very shy and whispered.
Chu Qing was stunned for a moment, then said, "Of course, elder sister is willing to give it to you. But sister won't take this to give to the Empress Dowager, right? What if the Empress Dowager sees that it's from the Dongyi State? It won't be good for sister. Although the possibility is very small, elder sister is really worried."
Xu Xin quickly explained, "Elder sister needn't worry. Sister is going to keep this red coral for herself. Sister has already thought of other gifts for the Empress Dowager."
"That's good," Chu Qing seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Then elder sister, can I go and call a few servants to carry it?"
"Go ahead!"
"Then sister will take her leave first. I'll be back soon."
...
Looking at Xu Xin's hasty back, there was nothing but sarcasm and coldness in Chu Qing's eyes.
Sure enough, greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.
In the Great Yan Kingdom, apart from the Emperor and the Empress, the one who knew the current Empress Dowager best was the Grand Empress Dowager, the former Chu Qing.
The Empress Dowager really liked red coral very much, and she really hated the things from the Dongyi State. Chu Qing was telling the truth about these things. But the unknown thing about the Empress Dowager was that she was very good at distinguishing the origin of red coral. Except for the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor, even the Empress didn't know this.
So, if Xu Xin presented this red coral, the Empress Dowager only needed to take a few simple looks to know that the origin of this red coral was the Dongyi State.
No one knew why the Empress Dowager hated the people and things from the Dongyi State so much. So anyone who angered her on this point would never be lightly forgiven.
Thinking of this, Chu Qing's smile grew wider.
"Mistress! How could you be willing to give these things to her!" After Xu Xin left, Lüluo asked directly.
Chu Qing smiled and said, "You'll know later."
...
Sure enough, not long after, Xu Xin came back with a few people.
"Elder sister, sister is really going to take these things away?" Xu Xin blushed and asked in a low voice again.
"Take them away," Chu Qing said with a smile.
After she finished speaking, Xu Xin directed everyone to carry the pot of red coral.
Seeing Xu Xin smiling brightly, Chu Qing slowly raised her voice. "By the way, Lüluo, calculate the price of the night - pearl and the red coral later and tell the side princess. Otherwise, she must be too shy to accept such valuable things calmly."