She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 150 Seeking Ice, There Are Countermeasures

Chapter 150: Chapter 150 Seeking Ice, There Are Countermeasures

Utterly nonsensical!

That was everyone’s first reaction.

Leaving aside how much substance there was to Li Chengyuan, the Princess Yaochi, the mere mention of her arranging marriages for the noble ladies by petitioning for an Imperial Edict, seemed utterly absurd.

Among those present were people of high status, who had come today merely to give Li Chengyuan face. No one expected to encounter such an incident.

Moreover, she had invited men into their presence without their consent, secretly at that.

However, due to the presence of Yan Wanqing, the Princess Anping, the noble ladies were unsure if this situation was related to her.

If it was related, the Empress had not yet spoken, so how could it fall upon Yan Wanqing to do so?

If it was unrelated, once this dirty water was cast, it would not be easy for the Princess Anping to come out squeaky clean.

So this was also the reason why many people did not show their displeasure outright and chose to stay and observe.

After all, the Capital City was full of wealthy idlers; the noble ladies had nothing better to do on normal days and loved to watch these little human dramas unfold.

Seeing that Li Chengyuan had laid all her cards on the table,

everyone turned their gaze towards Yan Wanqing.

They saw her slowly take her seat at the head of the table with a calm and composed demeanor.

"...Little sister, this is quite improper," Li Chengxiang struggled to speak up as no one else did.

In an instant, Li Chengyuan’s icy gaze fell upon her.

Li Chengxiang immediately recalled her conversation from earlier that day and froze on the spot.

A sardonic smile appeared on Li Chengyuan’s face: "Big sister just reminded me, the weather is hot today, we can’t let everyone suffer from the heat. Why not have you, big sister, take a few people and ask the Empress for some more ice?"

What audacity!

Asking the Empress for ice blocks?

Could it be that Li Chengyuan has lost her mind?

She really thinks that after being granted the title of Princess Yaochi, there is no one in the world who can control her.

The sympathetic gazes of the crowd fell on Li Chengxiang.

The discord between the sisters of the Li Family was well-known, but no one expected it to be this severe.

If Li Chengxiang were to go to the Empress, she might be turned away even before meeting her, and at the least she would suffer some kind of loss.

Li Chengxiang was, of course, well aware of this.

"Why are you still standing there, sister? Go on, has my word become so ineffective?" Li Chengyuan urged her.

Li Chengxiang’s hands clenched together, grasping tightly as she bit down hard on her lower lip.

Just then, Yan Wanqing suddenly spoke.

"Princess Yaochi makes a good point, we cannot let the noble ladies overheat. Here’s what we’ll do." She gestured to Cong Ge, "You accompany Miss Li to the Empress and say that I asked for the ice."

Cong Ge bowed, "As you command." Then she approached Li Chengxiang, "Miss Li, please come with me."

Li Chengxiang, with her head down, followed without a word.

Only after they had left the room and passed several corridors, did Cong Ge let out a sigh and hand over her handkerchief.

"Don’t be sad, miss. Wipe your tears," she said.

Li Chengxiang gratefully accepted the handkerchief and wiped the tears from her eyes, her voice choked with sobs, "I’m sorry, I’ve caused trouble for the Princess again."

Cong Ge consoled her, "Rather than trouble, it’s a calamity that was unavoidable."

"What do you mean?" Li Chengxiang was startled and confused.

"Yesterday, your sister had already clashed with the Commandery Princess, and today she has gone out of her way to set a trap—you don’t need to take all the blame onto yourself,"

"But, the one who set the trap is my half-sister by the same father, and no matter what, I can’t completely dissociate myself from this matter," Li Chengxiang choked up again.

Cong Ge was at a loss, thinking to herself that the Miss of the Li Family really was a person of deep feelings and loyalty.

No wonder her own mistress had offered her assistance repeatedly.

Such sincerity is precious and rare in this world.

Cong Ge sighed, "My mistress has her own strategies in mind. Before coming here, she said, ’When troops come, use a general to block; when water comes, use dirt to cover.’ Since she sent me to accompany Miss Li to fetch the ice, she must already have a plan. Miss Li, you should hurry along with me. The weather is extremely hot, and my mistress is particularly intolerant of the heat. Getting the ice sooner will help her stay comfortable."

When it came to this, Li Chengxiang quickly wiped away her tears, "Alright, let’s hurry."

By the time the two of them had made their way through the winding corridors, drenched in sweat, and after having waited for the Palace Attendant to announce them, they finally saw the close eunuch of the Empress emerge with a scroll in hand.

With his white eyebrows and benevolent face, the eunuch exuded an air of inaccessibility and loftiness.

"The ice is ready and will be sent over with you. This is an Imperial Edict from the Empress, which she wants personally delivered to the Commandery Princess," instructed the white-browed eunuch to Li Chengxiang.

Li Chengxiang recognized him—it was this eunuch who had previously helped her in dealing with the family of the Chief of Staff’s daughter.

She immediately bowed and said, "I thank the Empress for her kindness, and I’m grateful for your efforts, Eunuch."

The white-browed eunuch nodded and cast a glance towards Cong Ge before turning to walk back.

After he left, Li Chengxiang breathed a sigh of relief.

Last time, she didn’t feel the Empress was so distant because the Commandery Princess was with her.

But now that she came by herself, she realized even the eunuchs and Palace Maids seemed to hold a daunting aura of superiority.

Her heart felt a twinge of melancholy and her gratitude towards Yan Wanqing grew.

If she had come by herself, not to mention getting ice, she probably wouldn’t have even been able to see that white-browed eunuch just now.

"Miss Li, the ice has arrived. Let’s head back," Cong Ge said from the side.

Li Chengxiang nodded, holding the scroll carefully with both hands, a look of respect on her face.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

After Yan Wanqing had taken her seat, the other noble ladies settled in as well, with Li Chengyuan sitting at the same level as Yan Wanqing, as the hostess.

Although Li Chengyuan’s attitude had caused some murmuring among the noble ladies, they were quite fond of the refreshments served at the banquet.

The table was constantly being supplied with delicacies that were beautifully crafted and appealing, stirring everyone’s appetite.

Li Chengyuan had someone go to the front hall to invite the gentlemen over, but for the moment, no one came.

It was only after her maidservant returned and whispered to her that Li Chengyuan learned it was all because of her collection of poems.

She had transcribed the collection from memory and handed it to Lord Li, who had astounded everyone at the poetry gathering today with his works. Many of his poems had spread, and the gentlemen in the front hall were now eagerly discussing and admiring the collection.

"Then let them be. We have plenty of time," Li Chengyuan said dismissively to the maidservant.

Being admired made her feel quite pleased at the moment.

A delightful smile curled on her lips, which Yan Wanqing noticed and inquired with a meaningful look, "Princess Yaochi seems to have encountered something delightful again?"

Li Chengyuan didn’t intend to keep it a secret; she shook her head with feigned helplessness, "It’s nothing significant."

The maidservant standing behind her, who had yet to leave, chimed in opportunely about the matter.

"Oh? What kind of poetry collection could attract the attention of the Capital City’s talents so greatly? I wonder if I, as the Commandery Princess, might have the honor of viewing it?" Yan Wanqing said with an amiable smile.

"The original manuscript of the poetry collection is currently with my father. The gentlemen in the front hall only have copies. Once my father returns, I will present the collection to the Commandery Princess," Li Chengyuan replied.

At that moment, Zhang Nian of the Zhang Family, who had been silent, spoke up.

"Since the Princess herself composed the collection and the finest pieces are etched in your mind, like the poem ’You do not see the waters of the Yellow River coming from the sky,’ which is considered a legendary work instantly created within seven steps, could you perhaps recite a couple of them to sate the curiosity of us here?"