'It's time for actress Xu Ling Ai to make a comeback.'

Xu Ling Ai walk carefully towards the empress direction. Today she decided to feign weakness to let Empress Yi let her guard down.

Her goal was to control the empress and overcome her. She could appear strong if she wanted to but it wouldn't be fun.

"This lowly servant were very honoured to be here Your Majesty." Xu Ling Ai bow her head down to the empress.

Xu Ling Ai was about to sit beside the Empress but she suddenly told her to sit a bit far away from her. Which is on the ground.

"Sit there. I have a very important guest later to sit here. You won't mind right?" Empress Yi question Xu Ling Ai but she wasn't planning to accept her answer. Xu Ling Ai just nodded.

"How is your new life? It's good to be a Princess Consort right." Empress Yi clearly mocking Xu Ling Ai.

"It was all thanks to Your Majesty generosity or I wouldn't be able to reach the position I am right now." Xu Ling Ai's tone were very coward and humble.

But no one know she was burning inside. This old witch who were matchmaking her with someone she didn't know. Fortunately it was Li Zhao. But what if she was bestowed a marriage with a pervert old man?

"Good thing that you know your place. Minister Xu is good in teaching his daughters." Empress Yi said it while sipping the tea again. Never once did she offer the tea to Xu Ling Ai.

'Daughters? Means this old witch knew Xu Jia Wen and Xu Li Mei.' She thought silently.

"Here's a small gift from me as Li Zhao's mother for you." Empress Yi suddenly asked the Eunuch to give her a small box.

The eunuch hand it over to Xu Ling Ai. She was somehow taken aback by the empress sudden gesture. Is she trying to bribe Xu Ling Ai?

"Even though I feel burden accepting your gift, I will accept it with wide open heart." Xu Ling Ai smile widely when she saw the gift.

It was a hair pin and it seems priceless. She could sell it to gain some money.

If the empress is using the gift to lure Xu Ling Ai, she did the right thing. Xu Ling Ai were jobless and poor right now. She don't want to keep receiving things from Li Zhao.

The empress smirk evilly looking at the girl in front of her. The way she held the hair pin and her eyes shine bright.

'Another materialistic peasant. Even an old and used hair pin make her happy.' Empress Yi laugh mentally.

"This empress can give you more if you want." The empress added when she saw Xu Ling Ai's excitement.

Empress Yi laugh at herself because she really had overestimated the girl in front of her. The story that the people spread must be a lie.

Everyone in the country had heard about Xu Ling Ai's and the man fight in the town. However, until now the empress and the emperor couldn't confirm the news yet.

'Maybe the news is false. How could a weak lady like Xu Ling Ai fight a man?'

"This is more than enough Your Majesty." Xu Ling Ai again smile genuinely at Empress Yi.

"Is there anything else more Your Majesty? If not, this lowly servant will take her leave first." Xu Ling Ai wanting to leave as soon as possible if she could.

"How dare you talk to Empress Yi like that! You can only leave when Her Majesty allow you to!" Suddenly a nanny named Hu Mama who had served Empress Yi for years interrupted.

Empress Yi did not even scold her maid servant. That clearly shows Xu Ling Ai and the nanny differences.

"Your Majesty I did not meant like that. But.. Why is your servant so rude? It is very bad for your image." Xu Ling Ai were clearly taunting the empress.

"She is my servant, this empress will teach them on my own way. You don't need to meddle." Empress Yi real temperament slowly coming out. She did not talk kindly to Xu Ling Ai anymore.

"Sure then." Xu Ling Ai casually respond.

"This empress did not bestowed you a marriage to Duke Su for nothing." Empress Yi frankly said. She had no mood to turn around her word anymore.

'Gotcha! I just know it! This old witch have bad scheme towards Li Zhao.'

"What should this lady do to repay you Your Majesty?" Xu Ling Ai faking her sincerely grateful expression.

"Easy. You just had to report all of Li Zhao's activity to me." The empress finally let out her real motive.

Xu Ling Ai was about to reply when another person interrupted their conversation.

"Greeting Your Majesty." It was Xu Jia Wen. The First Miss of Xu Manor. Xu Ling Ai's stepsister.

"Jia Wen. You've come? Come sit here." Empress Yi's tone instantly change. She even call Xu Jia Wen intimately.

Unsurprisingly, Xu Jia Wen did not acknowledge Xu Ling Ai and sat beside The Empress where she is supposed to sit earlier.

"Jia Wen?" Xu Ling Ai accidentally blurted out.

"Ahh.. You have lived in the country side for too long so you don't know." Empress Yi again ridicule Xu Ling Ai.

"Your sister Xu Jia Wen. The most beautiful and smart lady in this country is my one and only son Duke Chen's future Princess Consort." The empress proudly said.

'Li Jun Yi and Xu Jia Wen were lovers? But why didn't they get married earlier?' Xu Ling Ai mentally questioning herself.

Xu Jia Wen is the most wanted lady among the bachelors. Compared to Xu Li Mei, Xu Jia Wen's silence and soft spoken voice attracted the men more.

"Your Majesty what are you talking about? You are the one who is the most beautiful in this country." Xu Jia Wen response delightful.

Xu Ling Ai cringe at the sight of daughter in law and mother in law moment. She even mimicking their conversation.

"Xu Ling Ai pour some tea for your sister." Empress Yi's order Xu Ling Ai.

Xu Jia Wen was wondering what a happen to the imprudent Xu Ling Ai. When she saw Xu Ling Ai clenching her hand while pouring the tea, Xu Jia Wen then realize she is pretending to be innocent.

Wanting to take this chance to gain Empress Yi favour, Xu Jia Wen plan to exposed Xu Ling Ai's true self.

"Xu Ling Ai I heard you got into a fight?" Xu Jia Wen finally talk to Xu Ling Ai. She look at Xu Ling Ai's bruised lips.

"I did. Why?" Xu Ling Ai look at Xu Jia Wen challengingly. She realizes she needed to stop acting because Xu Jia Wen have seen her real attitude.

"Your Majesty I will not disturb you any further. You can continue your pleasant conversation with First Sister." If she stay right there, she might explode because of Xu Jia Wen.

"Remember what I asked for you to do." Empress Yi remind her about the task she needed to do.

"Pardon me Your Majesty but I refuse to do that." There's no motive for her to take her side an betray Li Zhao.

'What did Empress Yi told Xu Ling Ai to do?' Xu Jia Wen just stood there and observe the situation.

"You dare to defy me? The empress of this country." In a matter of second, Empress Yi's anger blow up.

"Damn. My ears. Why would you scream Your Majesty? I was talking to you calmly." Xu Ling Ai mock her by closing her ears.

"Someone hold her! I will teach this ungrateful bitch this instant!" Empress Yi loose her patient and Xu Jia Wen smirk awaiting for Xu Ling Ai to be punish.

The servants rushed to Xu Ling Ai's direction to hold her down. She roll her eyes at the amount of people came to take her down. Like she is some kind of a giant.

"Stop right there." Xu Ling Ai sternly said. Her aura changed. No more the fragile Xu Ling Ai.

"Your Majesty. Did you forget that I am a Princess Consort?" She asked then pouring a cup of tea for herself.

Sipping it stylishly, she eyeing Empress Yi who glare at her angrily. If looks could kill, Xu Ling Ai would be under the ground.

"This empress don't care. I am the one who appointed you as Duke Su's consort!" The empress yell at the shameless girl who drink the tea without permission.

"Will the people be quiet when they know their beloved empress torture her daughter in law? Will His Majesty not meddle when you torment his son's consort? What if you lose your position?" This bring silence to the empress.

Empress Yi couldn't reply anything. She has been protecting the throne for years. She couldn't let her seat got snatch because of a peasant lady.

She had kill hundred people to get where she is now. Empress Yi couldn't believe the weak and misfortune slut dare to go against her.

"You feel frustrated right? I have one solution for you." Xu Ling Ai stand up getting ready to leave and went near Empress Yi.

"Get Li Zhao to divorce me and you can do anything you want to me." She arrogantly whisper then proceed to give Empress Yi and Xu Jia Wen her signature wink while walking away.

Xu Jia Wen thought Empress Yi will be able to teach Xu Ling Ai a lesson but she was wrong. She really need to become Li Jun Yi's Princess Consort as soon as possible.

"Xu Ling Ai!" Empress Yi yell out of frustration cursing at Xu Ling Ai. Her screamed filled the hall.

Empress Yi turn the small table upside down making the teapot and cup scattered on the ground. The servants look down fearing the empress's wrath.

"I will wait for you. Empress Yi." Xu Ling Ai turn around and smirk at her. End game.

💖