Hearing this, Li Xinyue looked at Nanny Zhou, whose face was gradually turning embarrassed, and let out a chuckle.
After sending away Eunuch Wang, she put forward a condition to Nanny Zhou. "If you want to cooperate with me, show some sincerity! I want another palace banquet. You can decide the occasion yourself!"
Nanny Zhou opened her eyes wide in shock, unable to believe that the princess would make such a request.
But Li Xinyue's expression clearly showed that she wasn't joking. Instead, the anger that had been suppressed in her chest flared up again at the mention of the banquet.
It would have been fine if she alone had been neglected.
But the fact that the person who meant so much to her, her sweetheart, her husband, had also been neglected with her, she just couldn't swallow this insult.
She had no intention of letting this go so easily.
"If the Queen can't manage this, from now on, I'll side with Father and Concubine Yu. With my support, Concubine Yu will surely aim for the position of the main consort in the harem soon, posing a direct threat to the Queen. You can figure it out for yourselves."
"You!" Nanny Zhou's heart skipped a beat. She almost choked and went to see the underworld ruler.
Li Xinyue smiled in satisfaction. Then she picked up the storybook on the small table, rubbed her fingertips against its edges, and threw it at Nanny Zhou's face.
Nanny Zhou couldn't dodge in time and was knocked to the ground.
She touched her bleeding face in a daze and looked at Li Xinyue, daring not to show her anger.
Li Xinyue suddenly sat up from the couch and looked down at the disheveled nanny on the ground. "This is more like a servant! Remember, the next time you come before me, know your place. Otherwise, I'll make sure you never return!"
"Get out!"
Nanny Zhou was so frightened that her heart trembled. At the same time, she felt extremely humiliated.
It was true that she was a servant, but she was an important one beside the Queen. Even the Crown Prince would show her some deference on ordinary days. Yet, she was being scolded by a concubine - born princess.
She couldn't swallow this insult.
But she also knew that the Crown Prince showed deference because she was the nanny of the Crown Prince's birth - mother, and Li Xinyue, not being the Queen's daughter, naturally didn't put her in her eyes.
In front of Li Xinyue, she was truly nothing.
Nanny Zhou stood up grudgingly. Her shrewd eyes were now filled with tears and no longer showed the arrogance from before.
"Wait!"
Nanny Zhou stopped in her tracks.
Li Xinyue remembered that when this nanny had walked in earlier, she had been extremely overbearing. She hadn't even bowed to her and had dared to look her in the eye.
This debt had to be settled!
"Come here! Bow to me properly! If you can't do it, then let Lian'er teach you. You can't return to the Queen's palace until you've learned.
Don't expect the Queen to come to your rescue. She's in a difficult situation herself, with Noble Consort Yin in front and Concubine Yu behind. She's too busy to care about you.
The Crown Prince won't put aside his important business just to come all the way here to ask for a nanny.
So, behave yourself!"
Nanny Zhou was completely subdued. She didn't even dare to harbor any resentment in her heart. She obediently turned around and bowed to Li Xinyue. "Greetings to Your Highness the Princess."
Lian'er burst out laughing happily.
Li Xinyue also curled the corner of her mouth. "Get out!"
After Nanny Zhou left, Li Xinyue turned to Lian'er and gave instructions. She was going to Concubine Yu's place. If Chu Junyi asked about her, Lian'er should tell him the truth.
Chu Junyi had started work today and should be dealing with official business in the Capital Office at this moment.
She was worried that he wouldn't find her when he came back, so she asked Lian'er to stay and pass on the message.
Besides, she was really curious about what this Concubine Yu looked like, since she was said to resemble her mother. Since Father had specifically asked her to go, she might as well go and take a look.
In Concubine Yu's palace, Li Xinyue leaned over and pinched the woman's face, forcing her to look up.
Then, Li Xinyue was also shocked. Especially the way this woman lowered her head submissively in front of her, it was exactly like how her mother used to behave in front of other consorts.
And there were plate after plate of black - looking dishes on the table. She was really afraid that this woman would say, "Yuer, quickly taste the food for mother."
"Mother, try tricking someone else. Don't always pick on Yuer. You'll lose Yuer this way."
"But I've tried all the people who can taste the food. Who else can I find?"
"Father!"
Li Xinyue's eyelashes trembled. Just a few words made her remember how her mother used to chase her around excitedly with a bowl of porridge in her hand, scaring her so much that she wanted to climb a tree. Then she had smartly "framed" Father.
Her mother really couldn't cook, but she loved to cook for Father.
She really didn't know how Father could eat it.
But thinking that Father had been so willing to sacrifice his stomach for her mother back then, yet now he was taking another woman as a concubine in the name of her mother, she always felt uncomfortable.
Li Xinyue came back to her senses, withdrew her hand and let go of the woman's chin. She straightened up, lay down on the concubine's couch nearby, and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sunlight shining through the window lattice on her face.
Yu Niang secretly let out a sigh of relief. Her hands folded in front of her trembled slightly. For that moment, she felt as if she had experienced a life - and - death struggle.
But luckily, she was still alive.
She slumped into the armchair, firmly remembering what the cold and glamorous white - haired woman had said. "Currying favor with Yuanyang can win the Emperor's heart.
But Yuanyang is smart and perceptive. Don't play tricks in front of her. The best way is to show your most genuine self to her."
"How did Your Highness the Concubine Yu become an imperial concubine?" Li Xinyue listened intently to the sounds behind her, wondering who had left this woman in the palace.
She looked similar to her mother, got lost in the palace by chance, and it happened during a time when the Emperor and the Queen were on bad terms. With so many coincidences, it was hard not to make her think of someone, the Eldest Princess.
"I... Oh, I got lost last night and accidentally met the Emperor. Then I comforted the Emperor a bit, and he let me stay in the palace.
I know people outside all say that I resemble the late Lady Fu a bit. The Emperor said so too.
The Emperor kept me by his side, probably to console his longing for Lady Fu. And he was afraid of ruining my reputation, so he made me Concubine Yu."
Li Xinyue frowned slightly, wondering why this woman was being so frank with her. She even talked about the intimate things with the Emperor. Was she afraid of making her angry?
Well, it was true that it would be a bit uncomfortable for her to accept that Father was with this woman... But now she felt a bit better.
This Concubine Yu was indeed not stupid to think of these things. So, her getting lost in the palace and finally being made a concubine must have been pre - meditated.
She had the answer.
Li Xinyue felt that this trip was worthwhile.
"Then be a good confidant for Father." She stood up from the concubine's couch and turned to leave the palace.
Anyway, Father had asked her to come and talk to Concubine Yu. He hadn't said she had to stay until night. She had talked and accompanied the woman. Her task was done!
Yu Niang raised her eyes and stared deeply at Li Xinyue's back. After the person left, she had someone spread the news that Princess Yuanyang had come to her palace to chat.
So, the people in the palace and some of the consorts all thought that Princess Yuanyang was on good terms with Concubine Yu. Who wouldn't want to curry favor?
Moreover, Emperor Mingde had been worried that Li Xinyue would be unhappy after seeing Yu Niang. When he heard this news, he finally let out a sigh of relief. After finishing his official business, he went to visit Yu Niang.
Concubine Yu had someone light some aphrodisiac incense and deliberately wore a sheer gown.
When Emperor Mingde came in, she first talked about her conversation with Li Xinyue and praised Li Xinyue a bit. After making Emperor Mingde happy, she slowly started to undo his clothes.
Emperor Mingde suddenly opened his eyes and pushed away the hands on him.
Yu Niang was put in an awkward position. She gritted her teeth and just sat on him. She wrapped her legs tightly around his and kissed the Emperor on the lips. Closing her eyes and reaching out her hands, she just went all the way.