Chapter 0122: Poisonous Schemes and Disappointment

Chapter 0122: Poisonous Schemes and Disappointment

Yunli took a deep breath and smiled faintly, "Yes, being a woman involves suffering, but I dislike receiving such suffering from my own family."

"You've always been stubborn since you were young," Madam Yu said. "Your father doesn’t hold a high position. Now that you're in the palace, how can you not rely on your uncle in the future? Get along with your elder sister, listen to her, to your uncle and aunt. Wouldn't that make the Qi family's future better?"

Yunli looked at her, the sadness in her eyes gradually turning into pity.

The tragedy was that she was her own grandmother, yet her heart held no place for her. The pity lay in the fact that she, a woman herself, was persuading another woman in such a manner.

Yunli thought this must be the limitation of the era.

But still, she couldn't accept it.

So, she stood up and slowly withdrew her hand.

"I thought Grandmother wouldn't regret her decisions, but I never imagined that even today, it would be Grandmother advising me to get along with my elder sister and obey the main family. I grew up in front of Grandmother until the age of sixteen; don’t you know my temperament?"

Yunli knelt down to perform the junior's respect.

After three bows, she knelt there, looking straight at the person lying down: "Grandmother, today I bid you farewell."

Madam Yu's face was filled with shock: "Li'er..."

Yunli smiled faintly: "I hope Grandmother stays well and worry-free."

Then, she turned around, taking Zhuyu's hand, and left the place.

Once outside, she walked straight to the main courtyard without glancing sideways.

She didn't even look at the maidservant, Moyu, who was from Lin Shi's side, standing in the corridor.

Moyu didn't dare to approach, only watching as the beauty walked away.

Yunli's private time, naturally, was entirely spent with the old Marchioness during her return to the palace.

Even if Lin Shi was anxious, there was nothing she could do.

In the afternoon, when the Noble Consort and Lady Qiong were to return to the palace, and the Qi family came to see them off, Lin Shi and Qi Tongkang eagerly watched Yunli.

Yunli simply bowed to them: "Father, Mother, take care of your health."

Lin Shi was fine this time, but Qi Tongkang was on the verge of tears.

He knew his daughter was upset with him.

But now, it was too late for anything.

Qi Xiaohè stepped forward at this moment: "Lady Qiong, please wait. I have something to say."

Yunli looked at him: "Brother, please speak."

Qi Xiaohè bowed deeply to her: "Lady Qiong, last time I spoke out of turn and said the wrong thing. Please forgive me, considering we are all family."

Yunli smiled: "Brother, you're too concerned. I don't remember those things anymore. It's cold, and you're not dressed warmly enough. Take a cloak."

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Qiong," Qi Xiaohè smiled, genuinely comforted.

Jiang Shi hurriedly said, "After all, we're all siblings in the family, so it's good like this. Whatever happened before at home, let's not dwell on it. In the harem, you two are still sisters. Lì'er, today Aunt entrusts you, and if I may add, your elder sister has her quirks. She entered the palace early and left home early, getting used to it. Sometimes she forgets you're sisters when she speaks. Now she understands, and in the future, you two will be the ones interacting the most as sisters. If she still has any shortcomings, you, seeing as you're all from the Qi family, shouldn't mind."

Yunli glanced at the Noble Consort and then bowed: "Yes, Aunt, I understand."

The Noble Consort remained silent, waiting for everyone to finish speaking before saying, "It's time to go back."

Yunli nodded and followed behind her.

The Qi family watched them get into the carriage, saw it depart into the distance, and as the sky darkened, they all returned home.

The Noble Consort in the carriage remained silent.

Today's words were naturally Jiang Shi's intention. All she could do was cooperate by not speaking. Even so, she felt humiliated.

Yunli was also in a bad mood and didn't feel like talking.

So the two sisters returned to the palace like this.

On the other side, as evening fell, Qi Xiaohè went to the main courtyard to find Jiang Shi.

The mother and daughter sat talking, Jiang Shi sighed, "I wonder how effective the old lady's advice was."

Qi Xiaohè shook his head, "It's useless. Whether it's the old lady's advice or Mother's words today, she won't listen. In the past, we underestimated her. She's as shrewd as her sister."

Jiang Shi was taken aback, "You... then what about you today?"

"Mother, Mom," Qi Xiaohè stood up, walked over, and squatted down, "Mom gave birth to me and my sister. In the future, whether the Qi family's titles or wealth, do we rely on the heads of other branches? Father has other children, but you only have us."

Jiang Shi opened her mouth but could only sigh.

"Mom, don't worry, as long as I'm here, I'll protect my sister every day. It's a fact that she's not favored, but it's not urgent. If Qi Yunli has the ability to be favored, it's not a bad thing."

Jiang Shi was puzzled, "You... Mom doesn't understand."

Qi Xiaohè said, "Favor leads to children. The harem doesn't need two influential women from the Qi family. As long as Qi Yunli can give birth to a prince. Once she's gone, the child should belong to my sister. This isn't much different from what we originally thought."

Jiang Shi bit her lip, nodded after a while, and patted his shoulder, "You're right."

While the mother and daughter were plotting, on the other side, Qi Tongkang and Lin Shi looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

To be honest, there was definitely regret.

Raising such a big daughter who suddenly turned against them, not feeling sad would be fake.

But truly regretting to the point of wishing things were different, they weren't there yet.

They still hoped Yunli could completely defeat the Noble Consort.

It can only be said that people of this era don't value girls.

After returning to the palace, Yunli naturally had to go to the Empress first.

After comforting her for a few words, the Empress let them leave.

After leaving the Phoenix Pavilion, Yunli made a perfunctory bow and left directly.

They didn't even wait for the Noble Consort to say a word.

The Noble Consort wasn't angry, just looking at Yunli's back, her eyes deep.

Back at the Le'an Palace, Yunli sent Zhu Ding to the Zhengyang Palace.

After He Jinli finished his busy work, he heard that someone from the Qiong Consort's residence had come and summoned them in.

Zhu Ding entered and bowed in greeting.

"What does your master need?" He Jinli asked.

"In response to Your Majesty's orders, our mistress returned from her family and sent us to see if Your Majesty was available. She wishes to pay her respects," Zhu Ding replied.

He Jinli smirked, "You may go back first. I have matters to attend to tonight. Inform your mistress to dine alone. I will visit her at the hour of the Dog."

Zhu Ding knelt again, "I understand, Your Majesty. Thank you."

After he left, He Jinli asked Meng Chang, "Is the old lady from the Dongchang Marquis's residence about to pass away?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The imperial physician has visited and said there are only a few days left."

He Jinli nodded and continued with his tasks.

In the evening, He Jinli naturally went to Yunli's quarters.

Yunli wore a plain dress, her long hair loose. As soon as she saw him, she rushed towards him like a swallow returning to its nest.

It was in the midst of the twelfth month when they were in the courtyard. She held onto He Jinli in her thin garment and said, "Your Majesty, I feel so miserable. Now, only Your Majesty is left."