Chapter 400: Regifting to the Empress of Xi Yan
Peony was taken aback. ’Why would she need a brush and ink right now?’
A flicker of confusion passed through Xiliu Yuan’s dark, deep-set eyes, gone in an instant.
Helian Chen watched for a long moment, his attention fixed on the guard beside Ye Qianning. ’What incredible skill,’ he thought, ’to be able to thrash that big bear so thoroughly.’
When he heard Ye Qianning ask for a brush and ink, he looked over, thinking the little girl had lost her mind. ’Doesn’t she see what’s happening? What good would a brush and ink do now?’
Dean Chen was also puzzled, but he knew his young disciple always had her reasons for doing things.
Mo Geluo took the opportunity to swallow a pill, and some color returned to his pale face. Hearing her request, he sneered, "COUGH... Little girl, are you planning to take a last-minute lesson in etiquette?"
"Don’t be in such a hurry," Ye Qianning said, her voice light as she glanced at him.
Mo Geluo’s eyes bulged.
In a flash, Luo Xuan landed before the crowd. He presented the brush and ink, then knelt on one knee with his back facing her.
Ye Qianning laid the Xuan paper out on his back.
"Master, I’ll ask you to write for me," Ye Qianning said, offering him the brush with both hands.
"Very well."
Dean Chen walked over and took the brush pen.
"Didn’t the General of Xi Yan just say he was only making a few jokes?" Ye Qianning began, her expression dead serious. "In that case, I’ll pass these jokes along to the Empress of Xi Yan. If the Empress of Xi Yan can take a joke, then my General’s Manor can certainly take one too."
As soon as she said this, the expressions of everyone present changed dramatically.
Xiliu Yuan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Although Prince Yu didn’t know what the General of Xi Yan had said, he couldn’t help but think, ’This little girl’s methods are absolutely ruthless.’
Peony’s eyes widened in realization. In that moment, Ye Qianning was like a goddess in her eyes. ’Passing the insult on to the Empress of Xi Yan... that’s absolutely brilliant!’
Mo Geluo froze, then whirled his head around to glare at her. "You dare!"
"What’s the matter? Can’t the Xi Yan Imperial Family take a simple joke? Is your tolerance really so limited?" Ye Qianning retorted, mimicking his earlier arrogant tone.
"You..."
"Master, you may begin writing. Let’s write it just as the General of Xi Yan said: The Emperor of Xi Yan has three thousand beauties in his harem and cannot bestow his favor upon them all equally. Her Majesty the Empress is left to guard an empty room alone. It pains my very heart to see it, so it would be better if..."
"Enough," Xiliu Yuan cut in sharply.
A smirk played on Ye Qianning’s lips as she feigned ignorance. "Is something the matter, Your Highness? There’s no need to get angry over a little joke, is there?"
"You little brat! How dare you insult the Emperor and Empress of Xi Yan! It seems to this general that you’re tired of living!" Mo Geluo’s bear-like face contorted into a frightening scowl.
Prince Yu clutched his chest. ’The Empress left to guard an empty room? Are these words we should even be hearing?’
’The young miss of the Xiang family is unbelievably bold. To dare involve the most noble Empress of Xi Yan in such sordid talk...’
"Why are you so angry? Wasn’t it just a joke?"
"How dare a mere concubine be compared to our noble Empress? The General’s Manor certainly has fine discipline." ’If I had a weapon in hand,’ he thought, ’I would have lopped off the little girl’s head on the spot.’
"Don’t you dare talk to me about discipline," Ye Qianning said, her voice turning icy as she looked at him. "Some people are just shameless. When others try to be civil and follow the rules, you act like a scoundrel. But when others play the scoundrel back at you, suddenly all you can talk about are rules. You want to have it both ways? Life isn’t that convenient."
"You..." Only then did Mo Geluo realize that the little girl before him was no simple child.
"So, can Xi Yan take this joke?" Ye Qianning’s gaze shifted, landing on Xiliu Yuan.
A bone-chilling cold radiated from Xiliu Yuan. His deep eyes were like a whirlpool, so dark they seemed capable of pulling a person in.
"General Mo," he said coldly after a long moment, "are you not going to kowtow and apologize to Aunt Xiang and Miss Xiang?"
"Your Highness, she insulted the Empress! How can we let this go?" Mo Geluo protested, unwilling to back down.
"Kneel and apologize."
"Your Highness, this humble servant cannot accept this!"
