The look in her eyes held mockery, smugness, and secret delight, as if someone were constantly calling her "little country bumpkin" in her ear.
She's not a country bumpkin!
Her composure was stirred, and she became much calmer in the face of the Empress's question, suppressing the slight tremor in her throat: "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."
Her swirling thoughts did not escape the Empress's discerning eye, and she praised, "Xi Xi's taste is as good as ever."
"Auntie, you flatter me."
Wei Pingxi raised his eyebrows and whispered something in her ear, which made the Empress laugh at him.
Their gazes seemed to fall on her subtly, and Yu Zhi nervously pursed her lips.
Madam Wei smiled, seemingly unsurprised by this scene.
Yu Zhi sat back down in her original seat. The scene of being surrounded and praised by many people at the Yan residence did not reappear. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but a strange feeling welled up in her heart.
Everyone says the Yan sisters have a deep bond, but this doesn't seem to be the case at all.
The Empress Dowager treated the Fourth Miss with kindness and warmth, and her words often showed her affection. However, she spoke very little to Madam Wei, and their relationship was still far from being truly close.
Many questions weighed on her mind, but Yu Zhi observed the two sisters calmly.
Lady Wei is quite beautiful on her own, but when placed next to the Empress, she pales in comparison.
How can a mortal compare to a fairy?
The Fourth Miss's ethereal beauty likely comes from her aunt, and only when she sits next to the Empress does she not appear out of place.
"You'll be staying in Beijing for a while. The Wei family is a mess, so don't get involved."
Wei Pingxi took a bite of the fresh lychee: "Aunt is right. That's why I'm here to 'seek refuge'. Let them make a fuss, as long as the fire doesn't reach me, I have nothing to worry about."
The Empress hadn't seen her for several years, and for some reason, she missed her terribly. She affectionately wiped the fruit stains from the corner of her lips with a handkerchief, saying, "You little rascal."
When she didn't know that the current chaos in the Wei family was all the work of Miss Wei the Fourth?
A smart person can understand with just a glance. Wei Pingxi secretly gave a thumbs up: "My aunt is incredibly perceptive."
"Ah Qing," the Empress said solemnly.
Madam Wei stood up: "Your Majesty."
"Don't rush to leave this time you've come to the capital. Stay for another year or two after the New Year. If all else fails, have Marquis Yiyang move back to the capital. Why separate family members?"
She rarely spoke a word of affection, and Madam Wei's smile became more genuine: "We'll listen to Your Highness."
"Zhizhi."
Yu Zhi straightened her back: "Mother...Your Majesty?"
Wei Ping chuckled and nestled into the Empress's arms: "Why are you calling me 'Mother'? Aunt, I've already told you, she's timid. Don't scare her anymore. If you frighten her into a daze, where am I supposed to find a concubine who suits my taste?"
The Empress helped her to her feet, her expression of indifference and composure crumbling, and she smiled with a beauty as warm as spring flowers in bloom: "Come here too."
"yes……"
Yu Zhi didn't have the courage of the Fourth Miss. She stepped forward respectfully, marveling at how beautiful the Empress's smile was. Just then, a voice came from directly in front of her: "Extend your hand."
A lustrous white jade bracelet was worn on her wrist.
"Xi Xi also has one of these bracelets. Now I'm giving this one to you. You must cherish this hard-won connection. She has a fiery temper, many tricks up her sleeve, and her ideas often clash with the world. Since you are her person, you must treat her with utmost sincerity."
"Aunt!" Wei Pingxi blushed and tugged at her sleeve, whispering, "She's just a concubine. Why did you give her this bracelet? I'm just using her as a toy."
The Empress gave her a disapproving look, as if to say, "Just give up."
If you really treat it like a toy, and she wouldn't even part with it to scare her, then this thing is far too precious.
"I think she's good, so shut up."
Wei Pingxi looked resentful. It was rare to find someone who could keep her in check. Yu Zhi was trembling with fear as she tried to take off the bracelet.
"Think it over before you back out. You may not want the gifts you've already given away, but plenty of others will. Think it through."
Yu Zhi's movements stiffened slightly. She glanced at the Empress, then at the disgruntled Fourth Miss, who seemed quite unhappy that she had received the bracelet.
Yu Zhi put the jade bracelet, which had been partially removed, back onto her slender wrist, and said with deep gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Wei Pingxi snorted softly and turned his back to her.
Madam Wei's expression turned slightly cold, clearly feeling that a concubine was not good enough for her beloved daughter.
Wearing the jade bracelet on her wrist provided an additional layer of protection. With this jade bracelet, Yu Zhi could at least keep the Fourth Miss in check when she was fickle and easily bored.
She didn't know what it was about her that caught the Empress's eye, but a surge of gratitude welled up in her heart.
Lady Wei was led by a palace maid to a side hall to rest. Wei Pingxi said with a sullen face, "Aunt, how could you do this? I don't like her. You gave her the bracelet, and now she's using it to manipulate me. What am I supposed to do?"
"I'll take advantage of you as I please, and you're still complaining? If no one keeps an eye on you, you'll probably fly to the sky."
"I can fly to the sky, but isn't it all because my aunt spoiled me? You, on the other hand, are happy to play the good guy, since it's not like you're the one who's in trouble."
The Empress turned to look at her, patted her head, and then patted it again.
Wei Pingxi was still angry with her and wouldn't let her touch him, so he got annoyed and said, "Stop pulling me, I don't want to talk to you!"
The palace maids of Gan Ning Palace arrived early and late. The older maids serving the Empress couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh, while the newer maids had already turned pale.
Everyone marveled at how audacious this fourth young lady was, daring to speak to the Empress in such a manner.
His Majesty often has to appease the Empress, so is this Fourth Miss even more favored than His Majesty?
"If you don't want me to touch you, then don't. You're so stingy. I'll touch His Majesty's head when night falls."
"..."
She spoke with an air of pride, saying, "His Majesty's head is more pleasant to touch than her nephew's." Wei Pingxi cleared his throat and said, "Aunt, what if I'm just playing around with her? Aren't you setting me up?"
The Empress's bright eyes held a hint of reproach: "Heh. Playing around? Then have fun, I can't control you anymore."
"Hey? Why can't you control it?" Wei Pingxi pestered her.
"Go play with your concubine, don't bother me, I need to read."
"oh……"
No sooner had she left than the Empress turned the pages of her book and muttered to herself, "You're so serious about playing around, you silly little thing."
...
In the side hall, the Zhehua Hall, Yuzhi Cat repeatedly admired the jade bracelet on her wrist. This was undoubtedly a "sacred sword" that the Empress had kindly given her. For the sake of the bracelet, the Fourth Miss should cherish it a little, right?
The door opened, and Wei Pingxi listlessly lifted his eyelids: "You can't keep this bracelet, give it back."
"I won't return it. It was given to me by Her Majesty."
"Give it back!"
Yu Zhi ignored her and said, "If you're so capable, then go ahead and steal it."
Wei Pingxi took a deep breath, took two steps forward as if to snatch it, but then slowly withdrew his hand for some unknown reason.
The bracelet was a gift from her aunt on her coming-of-age day. It was a pair, and she had been wearing one with her for the past few years. Her aunt had been keeping the other one safe, saying that she would return it to her when she found someone she liked.
Now it's been returned, to the concubine in her courtyard. She felt a surge of annoyance: how could her aunt think she loved a country bumpkin?
Her eyes were complicated, and she remained silent for a long time.
Yu Zhi turned around to look at her, noticing her strange expression, and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
"I choked."
"Ah?" Yu Zhi hurriedly poured her some water: "What did you choke on? Are you alright? Should we call the imperial physician?"
Wei Ping glanced at her and saw that she was flustered even when pouring a glass of water. He was indignant and said with a blank face, "You choked on the words of that country bumpkin."
A country bumpkin?
Yu Zhi felt ashamed and indignant.
Chapter 36 Two Bags
"Huh? You're abandoning me?"
Yu Zhi put down her teacup and continued to admire the lustrous white jade bracelet on her wrist. Perhaps because she had the Empress as her backer, she said coquettishly, "You said you would take care of me?"
"You've gotten quite capable?"
"Yes, they've become capable. Can't even a country bumpkin become capable?"
Wei Pingxi was amused by her coquettish attitude. He rested his arm on the table and asked, "What kind of bun is a country bumpkin who has gained skills?"
Yu Zhi really thought about this question seriously: "A country bumpkin who has acquired skills is no longer country bumpkin."
"Is it a fragrant steamed bun?"
The phrase "fragrant bun" reminded Yu Zhi of the suggestive words she had uttered in bed, her face flushing slightly as she turned away, saying, "Anyway, I'm not a country bumpkin."
Wei Pingxi rested his chin on his hand, silently staring at her profile. Yu Zhi pretended not to see, focusing on playing with her bracelet.
Given how much the Fourth Miss cared about this bracelet, it must have some extraordinary significance. She seemed to have guessed something, and her heart pounded.
"Let me smell your fragrance."
Yu Zhi remembered how awful she was, so she pretended not to hear it.
Miss Wei smiled and said, "Then how about you give me a kiss?"
That's fine.
Yu Zhi turned around and placed a kiss on her cheek, her lips sweet and soft.
Wei Pingxi sighed inwardly: I have to say, when did her taste become so rustic? Country bumpkins taste strangely delicious.
She deliberately ignored the Empress's kind intention in bestowing the jade bracelet, and went with the flow, embracing Yu Zhi's soft waist and using her utmost frivolousness.
In the Gan Ning Palace, the Empress was reading a book.
The head palace maid whispered, "Your Highness, Lady Wei has arrived."
"Please let her in." She closed the book and picked up the teacup that the maid had placed on the table.
Lady Wei arrived quickly, bowing respectfully as she entered: "This humble woman greets Your Majesty!"