Xu Qiu’er suppressed all her hatred. She dared not look up, fearing her anger would burst out. The play hadn’t even begun; how could it end so quickly?
Long Hanxie knelt and slapped himself with seven-tenths of his strength, the sound echoing through the room, startling the empress dowager. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. Your grandson was confused and will never do this again.”
Xu Qiu’er raised her eyes, meeting Long Hanxie’s gaze, and quickly tried to comfort the empress dowager. Seeing her grandson submit, the empress dowager didn’t want to embarrass him further. After a few words and his assurance, she left.
After the empress dowager left, Long Hanxie stood up calmly, his legs numb from kneeling. He closed the door and sat down, carefully examining Xu Qiu’er. After a moment, he coldly laughed:
“Playing games? Fine, I’ll play along. Xu Qiu’er, don’t you know that person is my grandmother? If something happened, she wouldn’t protect you.”
Reminded by Long Hanxie, Xu Qiu’er’s heart trembled, but her expression remained unchanged. Long Hanxie seemed energized and no longer angry. He smiled at Xu Qiu’er and said, “You entered the palace to destroy me? Xu Qiu’er, don’t be naive. The empress dowager might not like my taking concubines, but this crown prince’s position is something I worked hard for. She won’t abolish me because of your tricks.”
Xu Qiu’er coldly snorted, “Is that so?”
He smiled, revealing a hint of coldness, “Xu Qiu’er, let’s make a bet. Come and see if I can bring Qing’er into the palace.”
“Paying respects to the Empress.”
“Rise.” The Empress looked at the woman before her, wondering what Han Jie saw in Xu Qing’er. In terms of looks, Xu Qing’er was no match for Xu Qiu’er. She thought that a woman was just kept around for entertainment, and the less intelligent, the better.
After withdrawing from the Kunning Palace, Xu Qing’er wandered alone in the back garden.
She imagined herself draped in colorful silk, wearing a golden hairpin, stroking her belly with a hint of smugness.
“What are you thinking about, so oblivious to everything around you?” an intimate voice whispered in her ear.
