FID – Chapter 256

Feng Qingbai did not appreciate it at all.

The girl’s face was too ugly, but he could be sure that Shengsheng should have never met Consort Liu before. However, the look on her face at the moment made him think that there was obviously a problem.

That problem must also be related to Consort Liu!

“Shengsheng?”

“I’m fine.” Liu Yusheng clasped the man’s hand with force making her finger bones whiten. She took a deep breath and tried to wave away that hideous face in her mind.

She had no clue why exactly the same person appeared in different time and space, but now was not the time for her to chew over it.

This was the imperial palace.

And the one sitting in the pavilion was Feng Qingbai’s opponent. She couldn’t make things worse for herself.

Liu Yusheng released the man’s hand and stepped forward to perform a greeting ceremony. “This young girl, Liu Yusheng, greets Imperial Consort. I’ve lived in the countryside since I was a child, so the first time I saw such a noble figure as Your Highness, I was scared for a moment. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“So that’s how it is.” Consort Liu regarded Liu Yusheng obscurely. She saw everything clearly just now. King Nanling had almost taken her into his arms, and the meaning of his defense was clear.

Considering Feng Qingbai’s nature, he surprisingly could still be impulsive regardless of the occasion. It was evident that he attached great importance to this girl.

“Liu Yusheng, daughter of the Liu family, are you the new County Lord appointed by His Majesty recently?”  Consort Liu’s words were quite sharp though she was smiling, “It’s your first time to come to the imperial palace, so it seems you don’t understand the rules here. When you meet a noble person here, you are required to perform the full salute.”

Full salute meant the kneeling ceremony.

Feng Qingbai and Feng Mohan almost simultaneously turned cold.

Before they could say anything, Liu Yusheng replied with a smile, “It’s true that I really don’t understand the rules because when I received the imperial edict before, His Majesty once said that I didn’t have to kneel. So, I hesitated just now. If I don’t kneel before His Majesty but do so to Consort Liu, I’m afraid it will make Your Highness the object of gossip. After all, no one in the harem is more honorable than His Majesty. This is the reason for my impoliteness. If Consort Liu feels that I have overstepped my bounds, I can repeat my salute.”

The smiling face of Consort Dowager Liu slowly vanished as she stared soberly at Liu Yusheng.

If she forced her to kneel, wouldn’t that be the same as telling others that she thought she was more honored than the emperor?

If such rumors get out, the entire Liu family would be pushed to the cusp of the storm!

She could barely contend  with King Nanling’s power by uniting with many parties now, and countless people in the court were waiting to see her misfortune. How could she hand this handle to those hands?!

Liu Yusheng of the Liu family couldn’t be underestimated!

“Consort Liu is respected in the harem, and countless people pay their respects to you every day. There should be no shortage of Ruyi County Lady’s kneeling.” Feng Qingbai stepped forward from behind, took the girl’s hand, and sat down in the pavilion, raising his eyes. “What say you, Your Highness?”

The light in his eyes was faint but permeated a pressure that couldn’t be denied.

The man stared at her for a moment. Consort Liu shifted her gaze and laughed, “Look at how nervous you two are, protecting Ruyi County Lady one after another. I was merely joking, but you all took it seriously.”

“I told you Consort Dowager is usually kind and generous. How could you care about such trivial matters? It turned out that you were joking. Others might not have been scared, but I was,” Feng Mohan also sat down and jokingly smoothed things over.

They and Consort Dowager Liu knew better what their relationship was.

But before they were completely sure of defeating each other, they absolutely could not tear their faces in the open.

“Look at what Your Majesty is saying. How can you be scared when you know my temperament? No matter what, I am also your great aunt. I will only help and protect you at any time.”

“Consort Dowager taught me a lesson. It was me who made a fuss.”

The rigid atmosphere seemed to ease in the hypocritical politeness.

Consort Liu’s gaze returned to Liu Yusheng and Feng Qingbai.

“Just now, I heard Your Royal Highness calling Ruyi County Lady Shengsheng, am I right?”

Feng Qingbai hooked his lips, his eyes glowing deep and dark. “She is indeed Shengsheng.”

“I didn’t expect that Your Royal Highness would be so close to a woman, so I was quite surprised. It looks like you two have known each other for a long time.”

“Quite a long time.”

Consort Liu’s gaze fell on Liu Yusheng once more, and she shook her head with a laugh. “I had thought that Your Royal Highness would get together with Miss Fu. Miss Fu has saved your life and accompanied you for so many years. If you get together, it’s only considered as a matter of course. Moreover, her original identity is not low. Although her father was only a merchant, her mother had also been prominent for a while and wouldn’t humiliate Your Royal Highness. Who would have thought that you would end up loving Ruyi County Lady?”

“A favor is a favor and should not be confused with something else. I really can’t get together with whoever saved me to return the favor. Fu Yuzheng helped me, so I gave her a place to stay when she was lonely and helpless. We have long been even.” As for the word “affection”, Feng Qingbai didn’t deny it but struck back with irony. “As for the level of status, whether it is humiliating or not, it is even more nonsense to me. My status is already high enough. There is no need to find another person to add brilliance to my splendor.”

“Your Royal Highness treats everything with clarity. Indeed, kindness and feelings should not be confused.” Consort Liu nodded, then raised her hand to lightly press her forehead. “I’ve been sitting here for a long time. It is time to return to my bedchamber. I will not disturb you young people to play.”

“Take care, Your Highness.”

With the three people nodding their heads in greeting, Consort Liu left the pavilion.

The moment she turned around, the smile on her face immediately vanished, and her eyes turned cold.

When she returned to Qingning Palace, she smashed everything in the room and finally sat down on the soft couch, panting violently.

Feng Qingbai!

Feng Qingbai!

Nine years ago, he had already played her in the palm of his hand when he was only twelve years old!

Shengsheng.

Zhengzheng.

What was there not to understand!

She has been a fool for nine years in vain! But behind the scenes, she knew nothing about it and was still complacent!

He simply borrowed a coma to confuse the public and protect the people he really wanted to protect from the elements!

When she sent Fu Yuzheng to his door, Feng Qingbai was probably secretly laughing at her stupidity behind her back!

Consort Liu fiercely clawed the armrest of the soft couch, her sharp fingers leaving deep scratches on the wooden surface. When she directed a gaze toward the imperial garden, her eyes were sinister and poisonous!

Meanwhile, as soon as Consort Liu left the imperial garden, Feng Mohan immediately hissed at her back. “Old witch! How dare you insinuate that Aunt Liu’s low status is not worthy of my Imperial Uncle!”

“What she said is true, I am indeed of low status,” Liu Yusheng commented lightly.

This statement made Feng Qingbai frown, and Feng Mohan even called out “Aunt Liu” worriedly.

Aunt Liu didn’t look right earlier, and now she was like this…It was his fault. He shouldn’t have brought up the subject at all!

Looking at the two frowning up as out of a withdrawn look, Liu Yusheng snickered, “Her intention is to make us unhappy. If I am really unhappy, won’t I be falling right into her trap?”

“Are you really okay?” Feng Qingbai asked.

“I’m really fine.” She was indeed of low status, but she would never belittle herself and think that she was unworthy of Feng Qingbai.