I am born a beauty, and I am supreme

Chapter 39

Yin Yue stuck out her tongue: "Fine, I won't say then."

He really shut up and went off to watch the fun with a smile.

"Your name is Leyan?" The Empress Dowager sized up the person in front of her and asked slowly.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he replied.

"Hmm, indeed... a good child."

Consort Xu frowned and glanced at the Empress Dowager.

Yin Yue chuckled softly, her eyes darting around.

Tang Leyan smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager gently beckoned, "Come closer."

Tang Leyan paused for a moment, then stepped forward.

The Empress Dowager smiled and looked her over with her eyes.

It was as if they couldn't get enough of looking at it.

"You child..." the Empress Dowager murmured, then asked softly again, "Is your surname Le?"

Before Tang Leyan could answer, a figure entered through the palace gates, ran to the Empress Dowager, bowed, and said, "The Crown Prince of Chu requests an audience with the Empress Dowager..."

"Oh? Is it a song?" The Empress Dowager was taken aback and looked up to ask.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Why does he have time to come? Summon him." The Empress Dowager smiled slightly and gave the order.

The eunuch bowed and then scurried back outside.

While the Empress Dowager was beaming with joy, Tang Leyan was suffering terribly.

Why is that guy here too?

She absolutely refused to believe it was just a coincidence...

However, Tang Leyan was unaware that this series of coincidences was just beginning.

※※※※※

Just as that slender figure appeared at the palace gate, the Empress Dowager was asking, "How old is Leyan this year?"

It's obvious they've forgotten the question they asked earlier.

Tang Leyan breathed a sigh of relief: "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, I am fifteen years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning)."

"Hmm, what a fine age. Back in the day..." The Empress Dowager nodded, her eyes slightly unfocused.

Tang Leyan looked at the smiling Empress Dowager, then at the fierce-looking Consort Xu beside her, and then at Princess Yinyue on the other side, who was holding her cheek and scrutinizing people. She thought to herself: What excuse can I find to get away without being embarrassed?

Just then, a figure slowly walked out from beside him: "Ge Xing greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"Get up quickly," the Empress Dowager said kindly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The man bowed his head respectfully, his eyes glancing over her almost imperceptibly.

Tang Leyan pretended not to see anything.

"Ge Xing, it's been a long time since you've been to Ronghua Palace. Come here, let me take a good look at you." The Empress Dowager's attention was drawn to Chu Ge Xing.

Tang Leyan sighed: This prodigy is really eye-catching.

But it's good that he's here; at least the Empress Dowager won't keep asking her questions.

The Empress Dowager reached out and took Chu Gexing's hand, asking him questions affectionately.

The demon also acted like a harmless little lamb, obediently answering the questions.

She stood to the side, trying to make herself invisible.

Then, a foot suddenly stretched out from the side and kicked.

"Hey, Leyan!" Princess Yinyue called softly.

"Your Highness," Tang Leyan bowed.

"Who gave you permission to wear this outfit? It's awful!" Princess Yinyue pouted.

"This..." Tang Leyan coughed and said softly, "This... is a personal hobby."

"Hmph!" Princess Yinyue snorted coldly. "What special hobby? I think you're just imitating others!"

Tang Leyan was taken aback: "May I ask, Princess, what is meant by 'imitating Dong Shi'?"

"Don't you know? Back then, my brother Shao Si..." Princess Yin Yue pouted as she spoke.

Tang Leyan listened with a smile, nodding as she said, "Yes, yes, yes..."

While Chu Gexing was chatting intimately with the Empress Dowager, he glanced over.

When Lord Military Commissioner arrived at Ronghua Palace, this was the scene of a happy family reunion that greeted him.

The Empress Dowager held Chu Gexing's hand, asking him all sorts of questions. Princess Yinyue, standing beside her, kicked Tang Leyan from time to time while showing concern for her. On the other side, Consort Xu frowned and sulked inwardly.

Chu Zhen had never expected it to be so lively. In a moment of surprise, the thought of "Should I turn around and leave?" flashed through her mind.

Everyone in the hall turned to look at them instantly.

"Ha, it's Zhen! Come here quickly!" The Empress Dowager was surprised but overjoyed.

Chu Gexing quietly retreated and stood silently beside Tang Leyan.

Chu Zhen was caught in a dilemma, so she braced herself and walked in, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"Ah Zhen, did you two plan this to give me a surprise tonight?" The Empress Dowager smiled, her crow's feet glistening at the corners of her eyes.

"Ha..." Chu Zhen was speechless and could only smile.

"It's quite a lively night." The Empress Dowager nodded, stood up, and walked to Chu Zhen. "Why are you being so polite with your sister...? Look at you, you haven't gained any weight. Do you often stay up late?" Her voice was low, filled with heartfelt concern.

Chu Zhen felt a warmth in her heart: "It has already changed a lot."

"Don't lie to me... Don't I know you too well?" The Empress Dowager sighed, a deep pity flashing in her eyes. "Is Luo Ling still serving you well?"

Luo Ling was the name of a female official in the Imperial Guard. Chu Zhen was taken aback, then remembered, and lowered her eyelids slightly: "Very good."

"You child... really..." the Empress Dowager scolded. "If you just say the word, you can choose any minister's daughter or child in the court, and settle this important matter as soon as possible. But you're so stubborn, when will you finally..."

Chu Zhen turned her face away: "Empress Dowager..."

Seeing his expression, the Empress Dowager stopped talking: "Never mind, if I could control you, I would have done so long ago..."

Tang Leyan watched the prominent siblings chatting intimately, feeling happy and unable to suppress a smile.

Yin Yue kicked her from behind: "Le Yan, Le Yan, you tell me!"

She turned to look at the spoiled princess: "Princess, if you kick me again..."

Princess Yinyue was taken aback, while Chu Gexing said gloatingly, "What's wrong with kicking you? Princess, kick me a couple more times."

Tang Leyan was furious and began to sing loudly to the moon. Just then, she heard a eunuch outside announce loudly, "The Emperor has arrived..."

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

The Empress Dowager thought to herself: What's going on today... Several people who don't come often have come, and they came together one after the other!

Chapter Fifty-One For Whom

Tang Leyan turned around and looked at the magnificent figure at the door.

At this moment, shouldn't the emperor be enjoying a pleasant time with his court officials in the main hall?

Why did the Emperor himself also arrive after the Nine Gates Admiral's stunning appearance and the Grand Councilor's belated arrival?

She was surrounded by three men, each with a completely different identity, yet all of them were radiant and exceptionally charming.

They arrived as if they were rushing to a market.

Tang Leyan, holding her fan, nimbly dodged Princess Yinyue's kick, thinking, "Could it be that they've arranged to meet in the Empress Dowager's palace tonight?"

This is truly a rare occurrence.

With three people plus the Empress Dowager, the number of people is just right; they could really play a game of mahjong.

What are you doing here, serving tea and water?

She smiled gently, her fan obscuring the corners of her mouth.

※※※※※

When the emperor arrived, everyone except the empress dowager immediately straightened their posture and bowed in an orderly manner. The empress dowager bowed gracefully in the palace, which was quite a magnificent sight.

Princess Yinyue reached out and pinched Tang Leyan's arm.

She managed a bitter smile to dodge the attack, but on the other side was the Nine Gates Admiral.

At this moment, it's truly a situation where we're surrounded by wolves in front and tigers behind.

The Nine Gates Admiral, that wolf, glanced at her, his face smiling calmly, but his hand ruthlessly rammed into her.

Tang Leyan involuntarily moved back towards Princess Yinyue, and could even hear Yinyue's smug laughter.

At that moment, someone subtly stepped back, blocking Yin Yue's hand with their body.

Tang Leyan stared at her sudden savior, momentarily stunned.

Chu Zhen turned his head, his dark eyes flashing with a hint of coldness.

Seeing this sent a chill down her spine, and the smile on her face unconsciously vanished.

※※※※※

After the words "Everyone, please rise, there's no need to be so formal," the atmosphere in Ronghua Hall became somewhat strange.

The emperor walked up to the empress dowager, bowed, and wore an unusual smile. His bright eyes swept across the faces of the people in front of him, finally landing on Tang Leyan's face: Why is he still staring straight at me like that? How presumptuous and rude!

Tang Leyan blinked and looked at the emperor for a while. So beautiful, so beautiful, such a beauty! It turns out that the emperor is the type that gets more and more beautiful the more you look at him.

The Nine Gates Admiral sneered at the infatuated man, thinking: Here we go again. Yes, not long ago, before his male identity was revealed, this man had looked at him with the same lustful gaze. Damn it, he deserves a beating.

The Grand Councilor frowned, his cold and aloof demeanor unchanged, but his heart was filled with turmoil: Why was I here? Why did my legs not obey my commands? Why did I feel uneasy hearing the Empress Dowager call this boy, and even worry about his safety so I came to check on him? What was the reason for all this? "You bastard, drag him out..."

Chu Zhen was torn between her inner thoughts and her own conscience.