Feeling a burning gaze, Yun Xi casually glanced in the direction of Mrs. Jiang. She saw Mrs. Jiang walking over gracefully, smiling as she said,
"Yun Xi, your younger sister is still naive. Don't take it to heart. If Yun Ni causes any trouble in the palace, I hope you'll look out for her."
Since only unmarried men and women were invited to the palace banquet by the queen, and parents and elders were not included, Mrs. Jiang couldn't accompany Yun Ni into the palace.
Watching Mrs. Jiang looking worried and speaking pleadingly, putting on a show of being a good mother, Yun Xi's mind suddenly flashed the image of Yue E's burned face.
This woman in front of her, although also a mother, was different from the millions of mothers in the world.
Her love came with conditions. It had to be beneficial to herself! Otherwise, she could abandon it like an old shoe, or even destroy it with her own hands!
A sarcastic smile curled up on Yun Xi's lips.
"Yun Ni may be naive, but she's not stupid. She knows what to do and what not to. I'm sure she'll be fine even without someone by her side to remind her."
"As for you, Auntie, you should think about whether you've done any wrong deeds that you still can't forget."
Yun Xi's expression was half - smiling. Her deep and sharp black pupils seemed to have the magic to see through everything, making Mrs. Jiang feel uneasy. Her face suddenly changed:
"What, what are you talking about? I don't understand a single word!"
Mrs. Jiang tightly clutched her handkerchief with her fingers, trying hard to maintain her calm on the surface, but inside she couldn't help but wonder if Yun Xi had already known something.
Watching Mrs. Jiang pretending to be calm, Yun Xi suddenly relaxed her expression and laughed.
"As the saying goes: A clear conscience fears no false accusations. I was just joking with you, Auntie. Why are you taking it seriously?"
Yun Xi shook her head with a smile and said to Yu Zhu beside her:
"Let's go. I'm sure Zhen Bao is waiting impatiently."
"Yes, Miss."
Yu Zhu glanced at Mrs. Jiang, whose face had turned pale, with a sense of satisfaction. She deliberately bumped into Mrs. Jiang's shoulder, making the latter stagger.
"Oops, sorry, Auntie. Please make way."
Saying so, she gave a perfunctory apology and then walked straight past Mrs. Jiang. She helped Yun Xi into the carriage.
"Oh, I didn't know our Yu Zhu had such a side!"
Yun Xi had seen everything that just happened. After the carriage started moving, she looked at Yu Zhu with a teasing expression.
Hong Luo also covered her mouth and giggled beside them, chiming in:
"Exactly! Usually, Sister Yu Zhu always seems so proper. Even when she's wronged, she can endure it. It's the first time I've seen her be so sarcastic!"
Hearing the two of them teasing her, Yu Zhu didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed. Instead, she said indignantly:
"I just can't stand Mrs. Jiang's hypocritical and selfish appearance! Since she could be so cruel back then, why does she have to put on an expression of being wrongly accused?"
"I don't think she has the slightest bit of remorse!"
Yu Zhu almost always accompanied Yun Xi when she went out. So after learning about Yue E's situation, she hated Mrs. Jiang even more, and she couldn't even hide her hatred when seeing the woman in person.
Since Yun Xi had said that this matter should be kept a secret for the time being to protect Yue E and her father's safety, only Yun Xi, Yu Zhu, and Hong Luo in the prime minister's mansion knew about it.
Thinking of Yu Zhu's personality, Yun Xi couldn't help but shake her head.
"You're just too innocent. You show all your emotions on your face. People will easily take advantage of you in the future!"
Fortunately, they were about to move out of the prime minister's mansion soon, so there was no need to worry about Yu Zhu being used by Mrs. Jiang.
Hong Luo, on the other hand, was more reserved than Yu Zhu because she had spent a long time in the palace.
Maybe in the future, Yun Xi could adjust their duties. Let Yu Zhu do things she was better at and participate less in these secret matters. This was also a way to protect Yu Zhu's safety.
As they were talking, Yun Xi's carriage had already arrived at the general's mansion. Zhen Bao, already dressed up, rushed out of her room. Wearing a light green dress, she exuded the vitality of spring, looking even more delicate and charming.
"Yun Xi, do I look good like this?"
Zhen Bao quickly twirled around on the spot. On her lightly - made - up face, there was a bright smile like the warm sun, which made Yun Xi's lips curl up involuntarily.
"Beautiful. You're the most beautiful!"
Yun Xi sincerely praised her, and Zhen Bao was very pleased.
Originally, she didn't like wearing makeup, but her mother had forced her to sit in front of the dressing mirror for half an hour, applying makeup on her, making her sleepy.
Now hearing Yun Xi's praise, she finally felt that the time spent wasn't wasted.
"Yun Xi, why didn't you put on makeup?"
Zhen Bao looked at Yun Xi's face from side to side and found that she was still as plain as usual. Although she was still as beautiful as a celestial being, she was a bit too plain.
"Come in. Let my mother help you put on makeup!"
Saying so, Zhen Bao grabbed Yun Xi and rushed towards her room!
Zhen Bao thought her mother was right. Girls loved beauty not to please others, but to make themselves more confident from the inside out.
So she thought that since she had become more beautiful, she should also make her good friend more beautiful and confident!
"I don't think it's necessary, right?"
Being dragged in front of the dressing mirror by Zhen Bao with brute force, Yun Xi looked at herself in the mirror and said with a frown.
She didn't have any special requirements for her appearance. After all, being beautiful couldn't fill her stomach.
She might as well spend that time eating a couple more meat buns from the south city street corner. The buns had thin skins and plenty of fillings. When you took a bite, they were oily and fragrant. It was simply wonderful!
Just thinking about it made Yun Xi's taste buds tingle. Her mouth watered, and she couldn't help but smack her lips.
At this time, Mrs. Zhen had walked in. She smiled and looked at Yun Xi's face, then nodded.
"It is a bit too plain."
After all, this was a grand occasion like a palace banquet. Yun Xi was not only dressed simply, but also had no makeup on her face. Her hair was only simply pinned up with a white jade hairpin.
Looking at Yun Xi's peerlessly beautiful and ethereal face, people couldn't help but feel a sense of regret, as if a precious thing was being wasted.
Mrs. Zhen sized Yun Xi up and down, unconsciously rubbing her palms. As if making a decision, she said:
"Okay, let's start with the hair!"
So, Yun Xi's hairpin was removed. Her long hair was let down and then re - combed. Under Mrs. Zhen's skillful hands, it was quickly coiled into a snake - shaped hair bun. Colorful jade hairpins were inserted into her hair, replacing the white one.
Then, Mrs. Zhen looked at Yun Xi's delicate facial features and frowned slightly. Yun Xi was born with natural beauty and an otherworldly charm. Even without makeup, she was extremely beautiful!
To avoid ruining Yun Xi's original beauty and making her look vulgar, Mrs. Zhen only painted her lips red, lightly outlined her eyebrows, and finally applied a thin layer of rouge on Yun Xi's overly fair cheeks.
Finally, Mrs. Zhen nodded in satisfaction:
"All done!"
Zhen Bao looked at Yun Xi at this moment and exclaimed "Wow!" three times. Yun Xi felt embarrassed under her stare, but Mrs. Zhen pushed her daughter's shoulder and urged:
"Hurry up and go to the palace."
At this time, the Zhen brothers had already mounted their horses and were waiting outside. When they saw Yun Xi come out, Zhen Yuanfeng was immediately in a daze and stared blankly.
"Third brother, come back to your senses! Wipe the drool off your mouth!"
The two younger brothers laughed and teased him, but Mrs. Zhen gave her third son a sideways look:
"Dismount! Stay at home obediently for me!"
So, escorted by the Zhen twin brothers, Yun Xi and the others' carriage slowly drove towards the palace.