After Chu Qing left the imperial study, she didn't immediately leave the palace.
The words the emperor's eldest grandson had casually said just now really bothered her.
This Empress Dowager Xiao had always been disdainful and oppressive towards Yuan Rui...
In this world...
How could there be such a mother?
Oh...
Right...
There was.
For example, Wei Ying's mother, Nangong Yin.
Chu Qing heaved a heavy sigh.
How come all these poor kids without maternal love had crossed paths with her? There was nothing she could do about Wei Ying, but for the emperor's eldest grandson, she had to put in some effort.
The old lady's urge to meddle in other people's affairs resurfaced.
Thinking of this, Chu Qing turned towards the direction of the Hall of Eternal Joy.
Although only Lvluo served her quietly by her side, Chu Qing somehow felt at ease in the palace.
When she smoothly arrived at the gate of the Hall of Eternal Joy, Lvluo immediately grabbed her in panic and whispered, "My lady, why did you come here? You saw how sarcastic and mean the empress dowager was just now! Why are you going to court trouble on your own?"
Seeing Lvluo becoming more and more blunt with her, Chu Qing gave her a sideways look and said, "What, do you think your lady is that stupid in your eyes?"
Lvluo pouted but didn't say a word.
Too lazy to argue with the little girl, Chu Qing just strode forward.
Finally, the maids at the gate of the Hall of Eternal Joy saw Chu Qing. With complex expressions on their faces, they immediately turned around to report to their mistress.
Sure enough, there came the sound of something breaking in the hall. To Chu Qing, it sounded rather pleasant.
After a long time, the maid finally came out tremblingly to invite Chu Qing in.
Chu Qing showed a faint smile and walked in with her head held high.
Actually...
She didn't come here this time just to provoke the empress dowager and watch her make a fool of herself.
Swear to God!
She came for the emperor's eldest grandson.
She couldn't just watch the mother - son relationship drift further apart, could she?
She knew that although Yuan Rui pretended not to care on the surface, he must be crying his heart out inside.
As for watching the empress dowager make a fool of herself, it was just a bonus!
Thinking she was extremely kind - hearted, Chu Qing subconsciously made her smile even more kind.
When the empress dowager saw Chu Qing smiling as if she was about to burst into a flower, she didn't even bother to pretend. She directly said coldly, "Are you here to watch my joke? So? Are you happy to see the discord between me and the emperor?"
Seeing the other's attitude, Chu Qing didn't bother to argue with this woman. She directly said, "I don't have such thoughts as the empress dowager. I just came to have a calm talk with you."
The empress dowager squinted her eyes and sized her up. Then she let out a cold laugh and said, "What right do you have to have a calm talk with me?"
Hearing this, Chu Qing frowned.
Well!
She almost forgot that in her previous life, she couldn't have a calm talk with this woman either. Even when the woman appeared gentle and submissive, it was only because of her identity at that time.
Now, in the other's eyes, she didn't hold much weight.
Thinking of this, Chu Qing continued calmly, "Whether I have the right or not depends on your will, empress dowager. Whether you listen to what I'm going to say or not, I have to follow my heart. Don't you think you've been too harsh on the emperor? Aren't you afraid... of driving a wedge between mother and son?"
"Presumptuous!" The empress dowager angrily slapped the table. "What happens between me and the emperor is none of your business! How dare you, an outsider, interfere and spout nonsense here! Let me tell you! No matter what, I'm the emperor's biological mother! As his mother, I won't tolerate your meddling!"
Chu Qing rubbed her temples, and her desire to persuade vanished instantly.
Forget it. She felt that coming here today was a complete waste of time.
This Empress Dowager Xiao probably really thought that the emperor's eldest grandson could be at her mercy.
A forced melon isn't sweet.
Forced affection isn't firm.
She came to the Hall of Eternal Joy today just to watch a joke.
"Since the empress dowager thinks so, I'll act as if I never came today. Please rest well, empress dowager. I'll take my leave." Chu Qing said lazily. Then she bowed seriously and was about to leave.
"Stop!" Before Chu Qing had taken a few steps, the empress dowager's voice came from behind.
"Has the empress dowager changed her mind?" Chu Qing turned around and asked hopefully.
The empress dowager's expression froze for a moment, then she sneered, "Chu Qing, in all my years, I've never seen someone as self - important as you! Do you think the Hall of Eternal Joy is a place where you can come and go as you please?"
"What do you want to do?" Chu Qing slowly withdrew her smile.
"Of course, I'm going to teach you the palace rules properly! Someone! Bring our Princess Ning here for me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, two rather strong maids walked out from behind the empress dowager.
Teach her the palace rules?
Teach her the palace rules?
Chu Qing could hardly hold back her laughter.
Well... in the end, she did laugh.
"You can still laugh in the face of trouble?" The empress dowager glared at her fiercely.
Chu Qing continued to smile and said, "Does the empress dowager want to keep me from leaving the Hall of Eternal Joy? Aren't you afraid that if something happens to me, the Prince Ning will come here and kill you?"
Mentioning Wei Ying, the empress dowager's expression became even more resentful.
Seeing this, Chu Qing laughed even more heartily. "It seems that the empress dowager cares a great deal about... my Prince Ning?"
The empress dowager, whose dark thoughts had been exposed, immediately flew into a rage. She stood up and stared at Chu Qing sinisterly. "If you dare to say another word, I'll tear your mouth apart! Do you really think I won't dare to do anything to you? Don't forget! I'm the emperor's biological mother! Even if I really kill you, the emperor won't do anything to his own mother! As long as you're dead, I can tell the story however I like!"
Humph!
Biological mother?
Did the emperor even respect his own grandmother just because she was his biological mother?
Seeing that Chu Qing still showed no sign of fear, the empress dowager became even more annoyed.
She waved her hand, and the two strong maids rushed towards Chu Qing aggressively.
Just as they were about to grab Chu Qing from both sides, Chu Qing grabbed their hands and twisted them behind their backs.
There was a cracking sound...
It seemed that a bone was broken.
Chu Qing curled her lips and coldly looked up at the empress dowager.
Although she was pregnant, her martial arts skills were still there.
Chu Qing originally thought that these two strong maids knew some martial arts and that she would have to spend some effort.
But it turned out...
They were just intimidating in appearance.
Just like their mistress, they were useless and couldn't be put on the stage.
When the empress dowager saw Chu Qing subdue her two maids with one move, her face instantly darkened. "Chu Qing, how dare you lay a hand on my people?"
Chu Qing raised her eyebrows and then suddenly let go of their hands.
Before the empress dowager could say anything else, Chu Qing kicked the two maids one by one and sent them to the empress dowager's feet.
"If I don't use my hands, then I'll use my feet?"
"Chu Qing!" The empress dowager roared hysterically.
"His Majesty the Emperor is here!"
At this moment, a eunuch's shrill voice suddenly came from outside the door.
The empress dowager's eyebrows twitched, and then she smiled triumphantly.
Now that the emperor was here, she didn't believe that this Chu Qing would still be so arrogant! Later, she would surely file a good complaint against her!
But Chu Qing frowned and said nothing.
She didn't want to put her poor eldest grandson in a difficult position.