Yan Ggonggong kept apologizing, promising to teach Meng Xun a good lesson and ensure he wouldn't run out again to offend a noble.
Seeing that Chu Yu had no intention of leaving, Yan Ggonggong walked directly up to Meng Xun, slapped him a few times, and cursed while hitting him: "You truly have the guts of a bear and a leopard! How dare you block the Princess's path? Hurry up and apologize to the Princess!"
Meng Xun still looked at her in shock, unable to react for a long time.
His gaze was dull, and he couldn't think anymore; things were completely different from what he had imagined and what Chu Yu had said.
"That's enough. I'm in a hurry to pay my respects to Mother Empress, so I'll let you off for now."
Chu Yu gradually walked away, never once showing any intention of saving him from beginning to end.
Yan Ggonggong wiped the sweat from his forehead, then turned around and slapped him again, "Who else could you have provoked? Why did you have to provoke this one? Is Princess An Yu easy to mess with? I hit you too lightly."
Meng Xun asked, unwilling to give up, "Princess An Yu is kind-hearted. How could she not save me?"
Yan Ggonggong sneered, "If that's how you choose to see it, then your eyes are useless! You cursed Princess Zhaoyang so much, yet she specifically told me not to harm your life before she left."
Those who don't serve in the Palace don't know these details.
Although the two Princesses were born of the same mother, their temperaments were vastly different.
Chu Ningzhao was cold on the outside but warm-hearted; while she lived in the Palace, she often helped their group of servants. Chu Yu was different; she stayed out of everything. If she held a grudge against someone, it wouldn't show on her face, but she would retaliate behind their back.
"I'll tell you this: today you provoked both Princesses. Neither of them bothered you when they left. But Princess Zhaoyang's not caring means she truly doesn't care and won't do anything!"
"However, Princess An Yu is a different story! She's currently gone to see the Empress, and who knows! She might just tell the Empress about this matter," Yan Ggonggong complained grumpily.
Chu Yu held grudges, acting one way to your face and another behind your back, but she would never personally act; she always used others as her pawns.
Her most frequent pawn was Chu Ningzhao; everything needed Chu Ningzhao to resolve it, while she hid behind, pretending it had nothing to do with her.
If one day the person she bullied became successful, she would even actively approach them, completely clearing herself of the evil deeds she had committed.
Meng Xun didn't believe these words; how could Chu Yu be such a person?
Today Chu Yu didn't save him, but that must be… because Chu Yu was in a hurry to pay her respects.
Yes, yes, yes! He shouldn't have stopped Chu Yu at that time. When Chu Yu returned from paying her respects, if he asked for help again, Chu Yu would definitely help him!
Meng Xun kept comforting himself, suppressing that hint of doubt that had just appeared.
Chu Yu had already left a little late today, and then she was stopped by Meng Xun midway. By the time she arrived at Jinhua Palace, Chu Ningzhao had already been chatting with the Empress for a long time.
"Mother Empress!" Chu Yu entered, looking wronged, and quickly went to the Empress's side, clinging to her and complaining coquettishly.
The Empress couldn't stand her acting like this and chided, "What is it now?"
Chu Yu huffed delicately, "I entered the Palace early today because I wanted to be the first to see Mother Empress, but I encountered someone thoughtless on the way. He stopped me, which is why I'm late. Mother Empress won't blame me, will she?"
Since she said that, what could the Empress blame her for?
Not only did she not blame her, but she also asked curiously, "Who was it that stopped you?"
Chu Ningzhao quietly picked up her teacup, like an outsider, watching their mother-daughter antics.
The two of them were twins, but the Empress had always favored Chu Yu more since childhood.
Chu Yu knew how to act spoiled; whenever the Empress looked at Chu Ningzhao a bit more, she would always find a way to pull the Empress's attention back to her.
Chu Ningzhao was the older sister and was willing to yield to her, never caring.
Today Chu Yu was late. When she came in and saw Chu Ningzhao and the Empress chatting and laughing, she again felt the urge to compete for favor.
Just like that, Meng Xun became the perfect scapegoat.
He did block the way, that's true, but Chu Yu's lateness wasn't just because of Meng Xun; she had left late today.
Under Chu Yu's embellished narration, Meng Xun deserved to die…
The Empress looked at her clothes and said, "If such beautiful clothes were truly dirtied, he would be guilty. Since they aren't dirty, calm down. A lesson is enough. After all, the two countries have just made peace and are on good terms, and the hostage cannot die yet."
If the hostage died in Li Country right after peace was made, the people of Yun Country would surely be enraged. Their combat power in a fit of rage would be extraordinary, and if it couldn't be suppressed, the two countries would go to war again.
The Empress had this much sense of proportion; the hostage could not be abused to death here.
Chu Ningzhao continued to drink her tea without speaking. In fact, everyone understood the logic. Even if she didn't step forward to protect Meng Xun, Meng Xun wouldn't die; he would just suffer more bullying.
Of course, from the Emperor and Empress's perspective, it was better if someone was willing to protect Meng Xun! At least his safety would be guaranteed, and they wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.
It was just that this person would inevitably bear everyone's anger and take on the bad name.
The former Chu Ningzhao would have been willing, but the current Chu Ningzhao would only think… this tea is good.
As for other matters, they had nothing to do with her.
Chu Yu pestered the Empress for a long time. After a while, the Empress finally noticed Chu Ningzhao, who had been neglected.
"Stop making a fuss. Can't you learn from your older sister and be more composed? You're so old, yet still so flighty!" the Empress said, feigning anger.
Chu Yu seemed to blurt out casually, "Sister has been married, so of course she's composed."
After she said that, the hall suddenly became quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The Empress's smile faded, and she said sternly, "What are you saying?"
Chu Ningzhao had been married, but her consort had fallen gravely ill and died on the way before even reaching the capital.
In folk terms, this was a 'widow before marriage,' but for a Princess, there was no such thing as being a widow.
Everyone also kept silent about it, pretending it never happened!
But Chu Yu, whether intentionally or unintentionally, always reminded everyone that Chu Ningzhao had been married.
The Empress carefully glanced at Chu Ningzhao's expression, fearing she was sad.
This matter had been a year ago. At that time, Chu Ningzhao was still young and not in a hurry to choose a consort, but Prince Zhennan wanted his son to marry a Princess.
He also said that as long as the Emperor agreed, he would send his son to the capital to marry the Princess.
At that time, Li Country was at war with Yun Country, and Prince Zhennan was in a crucial position, guarding the border.
He was willing to send his son to the capital to show his loyalty. The Emperor also wanted to form a marital alliance with Prince Zhennan, so he had to choose one of the two Princesses.
Chu Yu would cry and make a fuss, looking just like an immature child.
And so, Chu Ningzhao stepped up!
Later, after the consort died, the royal family and Prince Zhennan's family still had an in-law relationship! Chu Ningzhao didn't have to be a 'widow before marriage,' but this marriage could not be denied.
The Emperor's original intention was that the relationship still existed, but as long as no one intentionally brought it up, everyone would gradually forget, and no one would take it seriously.
But Chu Yu was precisely afraid that people would forget, and she would bring it up from time to time.