The next day, the Empress Dowager indeed sent someone to summon Xiao Li to the palace, and she had already prepared a banquet to welcome her niece.
“I want that emerald green peony dress.” Xiao Li immediately chose the most eye-catching one.
Gold branches and jade hairpins, adorned with red gemstones.
A spot of red amongst a sea of green, quite gaudy and exaggerated, but absolutely vibrant and flamboyant.
She applied exquisite makeup, with pearls dotted on her forehead and the corners of her eyes.
Her lip rouge was a brilliant scarlet red, her skin pale as snow; every glance was a striking and stunning sight.
After Hong Yue and Lan Yue finished styling her hair, they couldn't add anything further, and were simply astonished to watch her complete her entire makeup look on her own.
Is it even possible to apply makeup like that?
Xiao Li stood up and turned around: “What, is it not pretty?”
The two of them stared in amazement, shaking their heads dumbly: “It's not ugly, it’s beautiful, it's just…beautiful beyond words.”
They serve the princess, and have also seen the top nobles in the realm, all kinds of opulent and stunning dresses, all kinds of beautiful makeup, but this is different.
This green is too bright, this red too flamboyant, and this makeup is bold enough.
It’s a kind of garishness created by piling up all sorts of bright colors. At first glance, it’s indeed a little vulgar, but the more you look, the more unique it becomes.
Mm, exceptionally beautiful, but also seems particularly wicked, and doesn’t look like a kind person at all, she has quite a strong presence.
Xiao Li adjusted her hair: “As long as it looks good.”
Today, her outfit is naturally the most striking of all, so much so that Lu Yanzhi, dressed in a simple dark green patterned silk robe beside her, paled in comparison.
Xiao Li glanced at him, not understanding, wondering why a man would like to wear green every day, especially with all the rumors flying around—was he wearing it to provoke her, or to remind her she needed to do something?
“Princess.”
Lu Yanzhi stared at Xiao Li for a couple of seconds, and awkwardly turned his gaze away.
Xiao Li gave him an impatient look: “What is it?”
Lu Yanzhi cleared his throat: “Is the princess going out?”
Xiao Li didn’t even want to answer his pointless question; she was tired of seeing him around.
The Empress Dowager dislikes her, and Chen Pinging is also a nasty one. Knowing she was going into a den of wolves, Xiao Li would have been foolish to go herself.
“Imperial Brother, aren’t you going to check on Younger Sister Chen?”
The Emperor held a memorial, looking serious: “I still have some urgent matters to handle, you go first, I’ll come later.”
Xiao Li would never go herself; she walked to the Imperial Desk, half-bowing: “Imperial Brother, is Younger Sister Chen here to arrange a marriage?”
The Emperor looked at her, just once, and almost forgot what he was going to say.
It’s just so green.
“Do you even care about her?”
Xiao Li sighed: “I don’t want to care, but Imperial Brother also knows that I have never gotten along well with her. If she marries a powerful and influential husband, won't I be bullied to death by her in the future?”
The Emperor felt like he had been stung, because he wondered if he might be Chen Pinging’s future husband.
“That’s all in the past, you are both grown up and sensible now, she won’t act recklessly.”
Xiao Li retorted: “That's not certain. Even if she was immature back then, I stole the man she loved, who knows what she's plotting to torment me. ”
The Emperor frowned: “What do you mean, you stole the man she loves?”
Xiao Li winked: “Imperial Brother surely knows she likes Lu Yanzhi, right?”
Xiao Li scoffed: “Three years ago, after you arranged the marriage, she hated me so much that she wanted to eat me alive. Because she was young at the time, she was afraid of challenging me directly, and always subtly flattered the consort every time she returned, now that she’s back, she probably heard some news and thought I was going to divorce Lu Yanzhi so she could take my place.”
“If Imperial Brother doesn't believe me, just watch and see if she will target me because of Lu Yanzhi.”
Seeing the displeasure on the Emperor’s face, Xiao Li knew she was on the right track.
Even if the Chen family is his wife’s family, that doesn't mean he’ll be happy if the Chen family tries to manipulate him.
For the sake of the Empress Dowager’s face, he reluctantly had to accept his cousin as a concubine, but if this cousin secretly likes someone else, and that someone is his brother-in-law, could he be okay with that?
The Emperor's flaw—I may not care about you, but if you don't care about me and instead care about others, that’s a mistake.
“The Emperor has arrived!”
“Princess Xuanyang has arrived!”
Xiao Li followed behind the Emperor, enjoying the power boost, feeling very satisfied.
Just moments ago, there was laughter and chatter, but now it all stopped.
Everyone inside, except the Empress Dowager, stood up to greet them.
The woman standing to one side was the Chen Family First Madam, and on the main seat, sitting closely beside the Empress Dowager, was Chen County Master Chen Pinging.
“You may all rise.”
The Chen First Madam lavished the Emperor with pleasantries, assuming the attitude of an elder, treating him like a member of the family.
The Emperor’s expression was still polite, but he was actually a little annoyed. However, Chen First Madam didn’t notice, and the Empress Dowager didn't sense it either, instead constantly praising Chen Pinging, calling her “your cousin” over and over.
The Empress Dowager and Chen First Madam were clearly trying to matchmake, but the Emperor didn’t play along, and Chen Pinging wasn’t very willing either, brushing it off and turning her attention to Xiao Li.
“Sister Xuanyang, why are you here alone? Where is your consort?”
The words sounded innocent, but there was no kindness in her eyes—she was looking for trouble.
Xiao Li glanced at the Emperor, saw him frown, and then replied with distaste: “He's annoying, I didn’t want to bring him.”
Chen Pinging burst out laughing in mockery: “I think it’s more likely that the consort dislikes *you* and didn’t want to come. Look at what you're wearing, it’s so eyesore!”
It *is* meant to be an eyesore, to make you uncomfortable.
“If you put it that way, if I don’t come, then why would he come—to welcome you?”
“Besides, my consort really likes green lately, the greener the better!” He’s practically begging to wear it for you, tsk.
“You—” Chen Pinging was choked for words, scoffed, and shot Xiao Li a cold, knife-like glare: “I haven’t seen you in a year, and your tongue has become even sharper, little sister can’t argue with you.”
Xiao Li returned a hypocritical smile, and condescendingly lowered her eyes: “Forgive me, I’ve only gotten good at fighting with my consort.”
“You even scold him?” Chen Pinging looked incredulous?
Xiao Li thought she was overreacting: “Scold him? I’ve even hit him several times. A man who doesn’t listen needs to be beaten, or he’ll think he can bully you and walk all over you.”
“Enough!” The Empress Dowager’s face turned cold, interrupting, and reprimanded Xiao Li with disapproval: “What nonsense are you spouting, don’t corrupt Pinging.”
Xiao Li shut her mouth, but felt resentful inside. Chen Pinging was already a bad seed, she didn't need to teach her.
She probably only loses her mind whenever Lu Yanzhi is around.
Sure enough, without mentioning Lu Yanzhi, she immediately switched to a pleasant facade and nestled obediently by the Empress Dowager’s side: “Aunt, look at my sister, how fierce she is. I was just asking, and she became angry and even hit someone.”
The Empress Dowager frowned, looking at Xiao Li with displeasure: “You should restrain yourself for me, or I’ll have to teach you what etiquette is again.”
Xiao Li was obedient. It was pointless to argue with the Empress Dowager, and she had already achieved her goal.
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