Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 242 - 226: The Whole Family Covers for Each Other

Chapter 242: Chapter 226: The Whole Family Covers for Each Other

Changchun Palace.

Consort Li was admiring the new fabrics delivered by the Household Affairs Office.

The Emperor’s grand wedding was approaching, and the Central Palace was set to welcome a new Empress.

The ranks of the concubines in the harem were also elevated; the Empress was honored as the Supreme Empress, while Consort Li became the Supreme Imperial Concubine.

These fabrics were sent to be tailored into palace attire for her new position as Supreme Imperial Concubine.

"So old-fashioned." Consort Li remarked dismissively, "The fabrics from Yanyu Pavilion are much more pleasing to the eye, pity you can’t buy them even with money."

Wang Dequan, holding his horsetail whisk, hurried inside, respectfully bowed, and softly reported, "Your Highness, the Miaojiang Princess and Meng Xiaojiu request an audience."

Consort Li’s languidly shut eyes immediately flew open.

Wang Dequan, privy to Consort Li’s true origins, whispered, "Should I summon them, Your Highness?"

Consort Li furrowed her brows, a hint of indecision flickering in her gaze, then said with exasperated resignation, "Just great, why have those two shown up now? Summon them, summon them!"

Meng Qianqian and Liu Qingyun entered Consort Li’s chamber.

Consort Li was clad in magnificent palace attire, seated high and mighty.

Before meeting Liu Qingyun, she had been the most beautiful woman Meng Qianqian had ever seen, possessing a transcendent beauty that shone brightly even in simplicity.

Even though she wore a highly unwelcoming expression now, she remained breathtakingly striking.

"Greetings to the Supreme Imperial Concubine."

Meng Qianqian bowed respectfully.

Just as she was about to kneel, Liu Qingyun raised her hand to stop her. Liu Qingyun’s gaze fixed on Consort Li’s face, "Dismiss your attendants."

Consort Li chuckled indulgently, "What an imposing aura the Miaojiang Princess has, ordering me about in my own chamber."

Liu Qingyun replied coolly, "I’m doing it for your own good, saving you the embarrassment of losing face before your attendants later."

Consort Li’s smile froze.

Both Wang Dequan and Ying Yue, the female official, turned their gazes to Consort Li.

As Consort Li’s confidants, they were well aware of the tangled past between the Miaojiang Princess and Consort Li.

If it were any other visitor, they’d have simply dismissed them outright, but the Miaojiang Princess indeed held undeniable authority.

Consort Li stared unblinkingly at Liu Qingyun. She had endured humiliation as a child under her sister’s dominance, but now, as the Emperor’s birth mother, did she still have to suffer at the hands of this deranged elder sister?

She slapped the table and stood abruptly, her voice sharp, "I’m the Supreme Imperial Concubine! The Emperor’s birth mother! And you’re merely a lowly Miaojiang Princess daring to flaunt your strength before me?"

Liu Qingyun tugged at her sleeve, "Ah, dear sister, all these years apart, and you truly... haven’t changed a bit."

Consort Li’s expression shifted slightly, "What are you trying to do?"

Liu Qingyun raised her hand.

Consort Li instinctively flinched.

However, Liu Qingyun simply removed the hairpin from her head and handed it to Meng Qianqian, "Take this. Don’t lose it later."

Meng Qianqian accepted it with both hands, "Understood, Mother."

Liu Qingyun advanced toward Consort Li, her blood-red lips curling into a faint smile.

The fear of her sister’s tyranny rose swiftly in her heart. Consort Li clenched her handkerchief, "Everyone, leave the chamber!"

Wang Dequan and Ying Yue quickly led the palace attendants out.

The expansive chamber now housed only Liu Qingyun, Consort Li, and Meng Qianqian.

Liu Qingyun approached Consort Li, her tall figure and wild, fierce eyes radiating a sense of madness.

A ruthless individual is scary; a mad one is terrifying.

Consort Li’s previous arrogance instantly diminished by half; she plopped down onto the Imperial Concubine’s Couch, staring at Liu Qingyun in terrified silence.

Liu Qingyun’s clean, pale fingers lightly brushed against her cheek, "Dear sister, I asked you to take care of my son in the Capital City—have you done so? Do you remember how I punished you as a child when you disobeyed me?"

Consort Li quivered.

Liu Qingyun smiled warmly, "Or perhaps you’ve forgotten who saved you? Your father was just a male concubine, and you were born with abnormalities. The Miao Village deemed you a curse, and your own father abandoned you in the mountains late at night. It was me, your elder sister, who found you adorable and brought you back."

Meng Qianqian perked up her ears; born abnormal, abandoned by her father, rescued by her elder sister—what juicy gossip!

Consort Li touched her own face.

She was born with a yin-yang face, a large red birthmark staining her right cheek.

It was Liu Qingyun who rescued her, then used her own blood as a medicinal primer to help their mother cure her.

But Liu Qingyun hadn’t done so out of kindness; she merely treated her like a stray pet.

While the village children flaunted their obedient cats and dogs, Liu Qingyun would tie a string around her neck, declaring, "My little sister is the most obedient of all my pets."

Liu Qingyun was utterly insane!

No matter how Liu Qingyun treated her, their mother never intervened, as though Liu Qingyun were her only true daughter and Consort Li was nothing more than a plaything to amuse her.

Thus, her years in the Miao Village were spent cowering beneath Liu Qingyun’s shadow until her father’s men brought her back to the Yao Family.

She had thought she’d escaped Liu Qingyun for good, only to discover that Lu Yuan was Liu Qingyun’s son.

Just when she feared Liu Qingyun would rip her face apart, Liu Qingyun withdrew her hand, sat beside her, and picked up the untouched cup of Imperial Concubine Tea from the table, "I killed those people."

Consort Li froze, "Which people?"

Liu Qingyun took a sip of tea, "Those at Wanhua Tower."

Her words stunned not only Consort Li but also Meng Qianqian, who took a moment to process them; Liu Qingyun was speaking of them.

The skilled fighters from Wanhua Tower, Lady Yan’s subordinates, who were likely also under Prime Minister Xun’s command.

Meng Qianqian had stumbled upon their entanglements with Consort Li. They had tried to kill her to silence her, but Lu Yuan intervened just in time to thwart their plans.

One of them had died from her poison.

As for the others, they hadn’t been seen in a long while.

That wasn’t the point—the point was, she had reported this morning, and by noon, her mother-in-law had already taken care of them?

Meng Qianqian realized her admiration for her mother-in-law was still far too insufficient!

Liu Qingyun blew gently on the hot tea, "Sister, take it as a warning. If you dare act like a fence-sitter again, I won’t be as polite next time."

Consort Li clenched her handkerchief tightly.

Liu Qingyun slammed the teacup heavily onto the table, "And my daughter-in-law—when did it become your turn to bully her?"

Consort Li suddenly seemed to find an outlet for her indignation. She pointed accusingly at Meng Qianqian, "So it was you talking maliciously behind my back!"

Meng Qianqian shrank back behind Liu Qingyun, her face full of fear, "Mother."

Consort Li was infuriated, "Don’t act innocent! Weren’t you the one who was so strong-willed? Where’s your unyielding spirit from before? You were so stubborn and defiant in front of me—why has it disappeared now? I tried to negotiate kindly, and you had people smash up my chamber! Yet you have the gall to report me afterward?"

One would have thought Meng Qianqian would argue back, but to everyone’s astonishment, she simply replied in a soft, innocent tone:

"Your Highness could also go complain to your mother-in-law, but I’m not sure if Your Highness is as lucky as Little Nine to have the most ethereal and magnanimous, world-renowned and unmatched, endlessly nurturing and protective, absolute gem of a mother-in-law."

Consort Li: "..."

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