Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 781: Crisis Everywhere! (Part Two)

Chapter 781 -781: Crisis Everywhere! (Part Two)

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It wasn’t until the time of two pots of tea had passed that the four people kneeling on the ground still showed no signs of movement.

A fierce glint flashed in the Empress’s eyes, followed by a look of surprise, “Eh! Who are these people kneeling below? When did they arrive, and why did I not see them? Look at yourselves, not even reminding me. Get up now.”

None of the palace maids beside her spoke up or stepped forward.

“Thank you, Empress.”

Liu Sisi finally stood up, her body swaying slightly as her legs were numb from kneeling for too long. Fortunately, she managed to steady herself in time.

“The Empress’s admonishment is just. Just now, a few of us sisters also didn’t notice an extra person down there.”

...

A woman in a white jade dress covered her mouth with a laugh. A peony made of white jade was pinned to her head, looking truly beautiful as if the person beside the flower was more charming.

Next to her, a woman in a green dress had a flash of radiance in her eyes as she hurriedly chimed in.

“Oh! Who is this younger sister? How come I have never seen her before? Is she a new beauty in some minister’s house? With such looks, she will overshadow all of us. Princess Consort Hua, don’t you agree?”

The woman referred to as Princess Consort Hua, who was wearing the white jade peony, snorted coldly. She glanced at the green-dressed woman and then held her head up proudly.

“Ah! People are like that; when someone is beautiful, they’re always compared to others. Princess Consort Virtue, you still like to joke around with your younger sisters, and I am overwhelmed by the attention.”

Princess Consort Hua didn’t get affected by her provocation; instead, she held up an orchid finger and peeled a fig from the table to eat.

Princess Consort Virtue’s eyes darkened slightly before quickly resuming her composed expression.

“Where is my younger sister speaking from? When I saw a new face in the palace, I couldn’t help but say something. I didn’t know my younger sister would take it like this, making me feel so ashamed. Sigh!”

As the beautiful woman sighed, she seemed as gorgeous as Xishi, the renowned beauty.

Liu Sisi still stood in her original position, her face showing no signs of anger.

It was only when the two of them stopped talking that she bowed and said, “To answer the Concubines, Ruyu is the Prefecture Princess Ruyu, who was personally appointed by His Majesty a few years ago. Today, I am honored to be summoned by His Majesty and personally invited by the Empress to attend the Flower Admiring Banquet.”

The Empress’s face faltered for a moment; she had just said she didn’t see her. Yet in the blink of an eye, Liu Sisi said she had invited her. At that moment, the Emperor was present, so even if she wanted to deny it, she couldn’t. Wasn’t this a blatant slap in the face?

“Oh! Yes, I remember now. It seems there was such an incident this morning.”

The Empress immediately laughed, her face exuding maternal grace, “So you are Prefecture Princess Ruyu, who was summoned by His Majesty this morning? Look at my memory; as I grow older, it’s getting worse. Getting old, getting old!”

The Empress shook her head repeatedly, instantly turning the unfavorable situation around.

She is Prefecture Princess Ruyu?

Several concubines present looked at Liu Sisi in astonishment. Honored Princess Consort Luo, who had not spoken until now, also cast a glance full of brightness but still said nothing.

Everyone present was shrewd and naturally did not take the initiative to ask questions.

“Empress, you are joking. You don’t look old at all, just like a 17-or 18-year-old girl in full bloom.”

Liu Sisi complimented her outwardly, but inwardly she cursed.

Not looking old does not mean you are not old. You have a grandson in his teens, a complete old demon. Yet you still try to act young like others, shameless!

“Prefecture Princess Ruyu has such a sweet mouth!”

There was no joy on the Empress’s face, instead she indifferently pointed to the low table nearby, “Sit down! Do not say later that I bullied you.”

This was a serious matter!

Liu Sisi could only kneel down again to plead guilty: “Empress, please forgive me, Ruyu is terrified!” Her body also trembled a few times, like a fallen leaf in a withering wind.

“Enough! Go and sit down! So I won’t have to look at this eyesore.”

“Thank you, Empress.”

Liu Sisi expressed her gratitude and retreated, sitting in the designated position set by the Empress. As soon as she sat down, she immediately noticed something unusual.

There was a small paper ball under her left foot!

She had been aware of her surroundings before sitting down, and this paper ball had suddenly appeared here. In this highly guarded palace, she couldn’t afford to be careless. How could there suddenly be a paper ball here? Was it brought by a friend or foe?

Seizing the moment while she bent down to thank and pick up a grape, Liu Sisi discreetly collected the paper ball into her arms.

Several people on the stage were still chatting and laughing, while Liu Sisi sat quietly on the side, serving as background decoration.

The actors on the stage were still singing in their yiyi and yaya tones, making the audience drowsy. In addition, the irritating chirping of cicadas really made people restless.

Something was wrong! Liu Sisi was suddenly alerted!

Forget about her habit of not taking naps in recent years, even in the imperial palace, falling asleep was impossible.

Could she be under someone’s spell?

She struggled to stay awake, but the people in front her blurred together, making her anxious.

Although the people on stage were chatting, Liu Sisi’s movement wasn’t unnoticed. Everyone kept their distance without saying a word.

Just as Liu Sisi was about to give in, she suddenly heard a small tug from behind, “Mom, I want to eat a tangerine…”

Following her son’s gaze on the table, she saw the tangerines in the fruit plate. At the same time, she saw a small knife for peeling fruits and her eyes lit up!

“Wait a moment, Mom will peel it for you.”

Liu Sisi reached for the small knife.

The palace maid beside her was quick!

“Prefecture Princess, let this slave peel the fruit for Young Master!”

Almost at the same time as Liu Sisi’s hand was about to grasp the small knife, the palace maid’s hand also reached out. Liu Sisi’s eyes flashed a cold light, and she immediately let out a miserable scream!

On her outstretched arm, a wound about two inches long suddenly appeared, spanning from her wrist to her thumb and through the back of her index finger. Fresh blood gushed from the wound, flowing along her wrist and spreading rapidly.

Obviously, the cut was made by the sharp knife, which was now in the palace maid’s hand.

The palace maid’s face turned pale with fright, and she dropped the knife with a clang, waking her up from her stupor.

She hurriedly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly, her head making a pounding sound: “Empress, have mercy! Prefecture Princess, have mercy! This slave didn’t do it on purpose, it wasn’t intentional!”

A troublemaker!

The Empress clenched her silver teeth with hatred: “Guards! Drag this woman away and beat her to death with wooden sticks!”

Anyone who dared to ruin her plans must be prepared to die!