"Miss, what's wrong with you?"
Seeing Yun Xi's face flickering between rage and calm, her teeth grinding with an audible crunch, Yu Zhu leaned over curiously, peering at the note in her hand.
Su Yun had once taught Yu Zhu how to read and write, so deciphering the note was no great challenge for her.
As her eyes scanned the words, Yu Zhu's eyes widened in shock.
"Is this... a note from His Highness the King of Xian to you, Miss?"
"Who else could it be?!"
Yun Xi glowered at the note with a fierce look in her eyes. Then she cast a sidelong glance at the pigeon, pecking away at its food nonchalantly, completely oblivious to her seething anger.
Just like its master!
Qi Rong had been away from the capital for a month and a half. Yun Xi wondered how on earth he managed to keep tabs on her, as if he had the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox. Not only did he know about her new title as the Princess of Yongning, but he was also well - informed about the number of times she had met the Crown Prince Qi Yu recently.
Even more astonishingly, he knew about the time when the Crown Prince had tied a cape around her outside the city gate, and the incident when the Crown Prince had snagged his purse in the Prime Minister's mansion and she had mended it for him.
If she hadn't been certain that Qi Rong was a thousand miles away in Cangzhou, she would have suspected that he was lurking in some dark corner, doing nothing but spying on her all day long!
"Miss, His Highness the King wants you to write back to him and make him an embroidered purse too."
Unlike Yun Xi, who was fuming with rage, Yu Zhu wore a mischievous smile on her face.
Although she didn't know how the King of Xian had managed to find out about everything, the note was brimming with jealousy and possessiveness.
He had even resorted to threatening her to reciprocate his feelings.
"Yu Zhu, whose side are you on? You seem to be enjoying my misfortune!"
Seeing Yu Zhu's suppressed laughter, Yun Xi grew even angrier. She snatched the note and tore it into shreds.
"He always takes pleasure in bullying me. Don't you understand?"
Qi Rong, that despicable man, had dared to threaten her. If she didn't write back or give him an embroidered purse, he would keep her jade pendant for himself!
She regretted ever letting him take it in the first place. And she also regretted being so soft - hearted and forgetting how he had gone back on his word!
Looking at Yun Xi, her cheeks puffed up with anger, Yu Zhu covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Miss, it's you who doesn't understand."
Although her young mistress had come of age and was eligible for marriage, she seemed to be completely innocent when it came to matters of the heart.
If someone truly hated another person, they wouldn't be constantly preoccupied with their actions.
Nor would they feel jealous when that person got close to someone else and try to force them to focus on themselves!
The King of Xian might be a terrifying and unpredictable man, but ever since Yu Zhu had learned about their relationship, she had gradually realized that his feelings for Miss Yun Xi were straightforward and easy to understand.
As a result, she no longer found him intimidating.
Although Yun Xi was furious, she still wrote back under the King's intimidation. There were only four words on the note: "Don't Bother."
On the one hand, she had written back, and on the other hand, she had expressed her dissatisfaction.
She was reminding Qi Rong to mind his own business and that he had no right to interfere in hers!
Looking at those four words, Yu Zhu could almost imagine the King's expression when he saw them. She wanted to warn her young mistress not to provoke the King, but Yun Xi had already tied the note to the pigeon's leg. She lifted the bird into the air and tossed it gently. The pigeon flapped its wings and flew away.
Yun Xi was watching the pigeon fly further and further away, gradually disappearing into the sky, when a maid rushed into her courtyard.
"Miss, someone from the palace just came to say that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will be hosting a banquet in the Kunning Palace at noon tomorrow. She has specifically invited you to attend."
"The Empress Dowager?"
Yun Xi's black eyes widened in surprise. She quickly exchanged a look with Yu Zhu.
Since she had been conferred the title of the Princess of Yongning, the Queen had summoned her once. But this time, it was the Empress Dowager, who usually devoted herself to Buddhism and stayed out of worldly affairs, who had invited her. It was truly unexpected.
Everyone knew that although the Queen was the mistress of the harem, the real power was in the hands of the Empress Dowager.
People outside the palace might not know much about this, but Hong Luo, who had grown up in the palace, had told Yun Xi a great deal about it.
"Alright, I understand."
Yun Xi nodded. After instructing Yu Zhu to give the maid a reward, the maid left happily. But Yun Xi fell into deep thought.
"Miss, why don't you let Hong Luo accompany you to the palace tomorrow?" Yu Zhu suggested.
The Empress Dowager rarely showed herself in public, except for that one time at the girls' academy fundraiser.
It was said that the Kunning Palace was the strictest place in the palace. One wrong move could lead to punishment, and even the Emperor's concubines were not spared!
"Okay, that's a good idea."
Yun Xi nodded in agreement.
Compared to Yu Zhu, Hong Luo was well - versed in palace etiquette and was also very smart. If anything happened, they could handle it together.
And so, the next day arrived quickly.
Hearing that the Empress Dowager preferred simple and elegant attire, Yun Xi deliberately chose a light yellow dress and paired it with a white rabbit - fur lined jacket. She looked like a ray of sunshine in spring, warm and radiant.
Her long black hair was simply pinned up with a white jade hairpin. Without any makeup, she still looked natural and beautiful, transcending the mortal world.
Hong Luo was standing in front of the carriage. When she saw Yun Xi approaching slowly, her eyes almost popped out.
"Miss, you're so beautiful! Even the fairies in the sky would feel inferior if they saw you!"
Hearing Hong Luo's exclamation, Yun Xi glanced around at the onlookers. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she made a shushing gesture to Hong Luo.
"Hong Luo, don't flatter me like that. People will laugh at us!"
Yun Xi had no clear concept of her own beauty. She only knew that she wasn't ugly.
But being praised so openly still made her feel shy. She would rather be as strong as Zhen Bao.
If she could ride a horse and become a chivalrous woman who robbed the rich to help the poor, that would be the perfect life!
The first snowfall in the Liu Kingdom had lasted for several days, and the weather was extremely cold. All the way to the palace, Yun Xi held a hand - warmer, but she still felt the biting cold.
But as soon as she entered the Kunning Palace, it was as if she had stepped into spring. There was a large brazier every few steps, and there were more than a dozen in total.
The cold was dispelled, and Yun Xi felt her body relax. Her tense nerves also gradually eased.
"Yun Xi of the Prime Minister's Mansion pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, Her Majesty the Queen, and Concubine Yu. May Her Majesty the Empress Dowager enjoy good health and boundless blessings!"
Yun Xi knelt down gracefully, her eyes straight ahead, her attitude respectful and her movements proper.
The Empress Dowager, wearing a phoenix crown, sat in the middle. She was dignified and kind - faced. She sized Yun Xi up carefully. Seeing that she remained calm and composed, without a trace of nervousness, the Empress Dowager nodded with a smile.
"She's a good girl."
The Empress Dowager offered Yun Xi a seat and naturally asked about the sudden death of the refugees outside the city. She praised Yun Xi for her intelligence and for relieving the court's urgent need.
In the face of the questions and compliments from the Empress Dowager, the Queen, and Concubine Yu, Yun Xi answered truthfully, with a humble attitude and no intention of taking credit. She earned a few more points of praise from the Empress Dowager.