Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife

Chapter 921: Chapter 921: The Empress of the Qi Imperial Family, Eldest Daughter of Ms. Xie

This, in fact, is estrangement.

When a couple has a good relationship, most of the ceremonial acts are merely symbolic, like Empress Xie’s three bows and nine kowtows, which seems solemn and formal.

Like Long Yue and Li Qingmu, they never engaged in these ceremonial greetings.

"Thank Your Majesty!"

Empress Xie slowly stood up.

Her gaze shifted slightly, noticing several scattered memorials on Qi Jingyu’s desk, she walked over.

"Your Majesty is burdened with state affairs; besides making some broth to nourish Your Majesty’s body, I have nothing else to offer."

As she spoke, she helped organize the memorials, rarely showing Qi Jingyu a charming smile.

Actually, this Ms. Xie is quite attractive, with a dignified and gentle appearance, not coquettish at all, but she isn’t aligned with Qi Jingyu.

Qi Jingyu frowned slightly at her, and a palace maid handed over a bowl of broth from behind him.

Ms. Xie would occasionally send him broth; initially, he didn’t want to drink it, but there was once he was so busy with state affairs that he forgot to eat lunch, and by afternoon, he was starving when Ms. Xie happened to send some food.

Since that day, he started to eat a bit.

This could be considered as Qi Jingyu accepting Ms. Xie; he looked at that bowl of broth, which did not look perfect, but it showed that she made it herself.

"Empress has been thoughtful."

Qi Jingyu said, and then continued to busy himself.

"Your Majesty, there’s something I wish to..."

At this point, Ms. Xie suddenly looked at Qi Jingyu with a troubled face.

Qi Jingyu raised his head, frowning: "What is it? Speak!"

"Your Majesty, this matter is not supposed to trouble you, but after all, it concerns my maiden family; the grace of raising and nurturing can’t be forgotten..."

"Speak directly!"

Qi Jingyu, much like Li Qingmu, didn’t like beating around the bush; if you have something to say, just say it directly.

Given Qi Jingyu’s attitude, Ms. Xie knew her display was disliked, but it didn’t bother her as she plainly said, "The land owned by my family was occupied by local villagers, and they even cultivated it; we can’t retrieve it back... I humbly request Your Majesty’s advice."

Qi Jingyu looked at her, squinting.

She wanted him to take a stance.

Ms. Xie, being from a local noble family, and the villagers represented the common people; she asked him to choose between the commoners and the noble family!

Ha, such a cunning mind!

Choosing the common people meant opposing the noble family and his Imperial Grandmother, while choosing the noble family meant opposing all the commoners.

Qi Jingyu squinted, closely scrutinizing his Empress; who taught her this?

Questions so sharp and catching one off guard?

He squinted, chuckling lightly: "Empress, this is a family matter, where even wise officials cannot adjudicate, I can’t help you."

Since she posed such a tricky problem, he knew how to play Tai Chi and passed it back to her.

The Empress was stunned for a moment, likely not expecting Qi Jingyu to have learned how to be cunning; she gave a dry laugh, saying: "It’s just that the family couldn’t make a decision and sought your advice?"

Qi Jingyu gave a faint laugh, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes, thinking she’s determined to get a reaction from him?

His eyes flashed with disdain.

The Imperial Uncle said, if living together is possible, then make do with it, but it’s simply impossible to live together!

The handsome face cooled, and Qi Jingyu said, "If it’s illegally occupied, it must be returned."

Upon saying this, he glanced at her and saw her relaxing expression, knowing she was satisfied with this answer.

Inwardly, he felt even more disdainful.

The wife of the Qi Imperial Family was thinking about her family’s affairs; was she aiming to be the Empress of the Qi Imperial Family or the eldest daughter of her own Ms. Xie?

Ha, the answer was obvious.

People who marry for family interests ultimately prioritize family interests first.

It seems he couldn’t rely on her.

And the Crown Prince, always following around his mother, learning from her example; wouldn’t he end up just like Empress Dowager Li or Empress Xie in the future?

If so, Dazhou’s realm would be entirely controlled by the powerful.

Thinking of this, Qi Jingyu felt a wave of annoyance and a bit of thirst.

He glanced at the broth on the table and casually took a few sips.

"Your Majesty, did the broth I made taste alright?"

Qi Jingyu nodded: "Passable!"

The Empress’s cooking skills weren’t bad? It seemed she was earnest.

"Then, I won’t disturb Your Majesty with your duties, I take my leave."

Empress Xie took her leave.

Qi Jingyu continued handling state affairs while eating the broth.

Scooping one spoonful at a time, eating bit by bit.

The texture was quite decent.

Unbeknownst to him, as he ate and looked at the memorials by his side, a spoonful of broth unexpectedly contained a tiny insect egg.

This insect egg was very small, invisible to the naked eye, and since the broth had been cooked very thoroughly, it didn’t require chewing and could be easily swallowed; so when Qi Jingyu drank that spoonful of broth, the insect egg entered his body along with it.

This insect egg settled down within him, and it wouldn’t be long before it would hatch bit by bit, eventually consuming him.

But for now, there were no anomalies visible on Qi Jingyu; even Long Yue couldn’t discern anything.

Empress Xie returned to the palace.

Upon entering, she was informed that Empress Dowager Li had arrived.

She hurried inside and paid her respects to Empress Dowager Li, who was seated in the main position drinking tea.

"Greetings, Aunt."

"No need, no need, get up, quickly rise."

Seeing this obedient junior, Empress Dowager Li graciously helped her up and immediately seated her beside.

"Aunt, the task you assigned me has been completed."

Empress Xie said, her expression a little unnatural.

Empress Dowager Li squinted: "Oh? You’ve successfully made him drink the broth?"

"Aunt, according to your instructions, I placed twenty insect eggs, and I watched with my own eyes as he drank it; be assured, he definitely consumed a few of them."

"Hehe, good, good, I knew my dear niece was capable."

Empress Dowager Li said, her face full of joy, in an exceedingly good mood.

"It’s all thanks to aunt’s guidance!"

Empress Xie quickly said.

Empress Dowager Li gave a small nod: "Your son is now three years old already; in time, when the Emperor passes, he’ll become the new emperor, and you’ll be the Empress Dowager reigning behind the curtain!"

Hearing the words "Empress Dowager reigning behind the curtain," Empress Xie couldn’t contain her excitement, trembling all over.

Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager!

She was going to become the Empress Dowager!

Once she became the Empress Dowager, there would be no one above her, at most only Empress Dowager Li, but that was her aunt!

Her aunt was almost forty years older than her, surely she would pass before herself, and then wouldn’t she be...

Thinking of this, Empress Xie gasped abruptly!

A breath of cold air was inhaled into her body, surprisingly soothing even though it choked her.

Indeed, her aunt was right.

Serving a man every day, wasn’t life exhausting? It was better for him to leave soon, and then alone, wielding great power, wouldn’t that be nice?

Excited, she promptly knelt, joyously saying: "Thank you for aunt’s direction!"