"Lingyang, since you're free, come with me. Don't let Mother Empress down," the Empress Dowager said.
The Empress Dowager surely hoped to see the two reconcile.
Lingyang cared about the Empress Dowager and didn't want to put this elder in an awkward position.
"I'm not doing this for her. I'm doing it for Mother Empress," she mumbled. Then she patted Thunder's head and showed a mischievous smile. "Come on, Thunder. Let's go scare her!"
However, when they arrived at the Shoukang Palace, Lingyang let Thunder play outside for a while.
Thunder was as big as a pony. Although it was old, it was still intimidating.
Cheng Simian couldn't help but smile. "You always talk tough, but you're actually Mother Empress's sweet little girl."
Qiluo announced at the door, "Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Eldest Princess are here!"
The maids on both sides of the door pulled open the curtains.
Cheng Simian and Lingyang walked in one after another and paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked in good spirits and had a happy look on her face.
"Si'er, these are your sister - in - law and cousin."
A slender woman walked forward gracefully and knelt down to pay respects to Cheng Simian.
"Your humble subject pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Eldest Princess."
She was about twenty years old, wearing a mist - blue silk pleated dress with a cinched waist. Her upper - bodice was apricot - yellow, and the colors were very elegant.
She only wore a jade hairpin and a beaded hairpin on her head, without any gold jewelry. For the daughter of a duke, this was a rather simple dressing.
"Rise," Cheng Simian said.
Pei Zhaoyi stood up gracefully, with perfect etiquette.
Her makeup was so light that it was almost invisible. Standing there, she had an air of erudition, like a far - reaching and elegant Chinese ink painting.
She stood beside the Empress Dowager with her head down, quiet and obedient.
The Empress Dowager was very happy to see her niece. She always liked girls and doted on her own nieces.
"Shouldn't the Emperor be done with his work? Qiluo, go to the Yangxin Hall and tell him that it's my order. Si'er rarely comes. I'll prepare a dinner tonight. The Empress and Lingyang will be here. Ask him to come too. Let's have a lively family gathering."
At the mention of the Emperor, Pei Zhaoyi couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips. She tucked a loose hair behind her ear, and a blush appeared on her face.
Lingyang rolled her eyes silently.
Pei Zhaoyi picked up an exquisite and elegant brocade box and presented it to Cheng Simian respectfully. "Your Majesty the Empress is a well - known talented woman in the world. You are proficient in poetry, calligraphy, and painting. Your humble subject has been fortunate enough to admire your works and was deeply impressed. I wonder if I could have the honor to get some guidance from Your Majesty? This is an inkstone I've chosen for Your Majesty. Please don't dislike it for being too simple."
Shuyi was about to reach out to take the brocade box, but Cheng Simian raised her hand.
Shuyi understood and stepped back.
Cheng Simian took the brocade box herself.
As the Empress was of noble status, she didn't have to reach out to take things from others.
By doing so, she showed her respect for Pei Zhaoyi. She was approachable and didn't put on airs.
This gesture made the Empress Dowager very satisfied.
Cheng Simian opened the brocade box. It was a Duan inkstone. It wasn't extremely precious, but it had a faint fragrance. It felt smooth to the touch, and the ink ground with it should be very fine, suitable for painting landscapes.
"It's really a good inkstone. Miss Pei knows about calligraphy and painting," Cheng Simian said.
Pei Zhaoyi curtsied and smiled. "Your Majesty the Empress has over - praised me."
Then she took out another gift from the maid's hand and presented it to Lingyang.
"This is a lucky concentric knot embroidered by your humble subject. I've sewn an Eastern Pearl on it. I'd like to give it to you, elder sister. I hope you'll find a good husband soon."
Lingyang's face changed slightly, and a chill welled up in her eyes.
Pei Zhaoyi's gift and words were like stepping on her sensitive nerve precisely.
Cheng Simian couldn't see any disrespect on Pei Zhaoyi's face, but she felt an undercurrent between the two.
Lingyang was twenty - three years old, considered an old maid.
Everyone knew that her marriage with Qin Ziqi was a nightmare, and the shadow it left on her hadn't completely faded away.
Over the years, Lingyang had never mentioned getting married, and the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had never arranged a marriage for her.
Almost everyone in and out of the palace thought that Lingyang probably wouldn't get married in her life, just like Lu Ningzhen.
But Pei Zhaoyi gave her a lucky concentric knot and said something like "finding a good husband".
Wasn't this deliberately provoking Lingyang?
Lingyang's face was covered with a gloomy look, and her teeth were grinding. She was about to lose her temper.
The Empress Dowager frowned. It was hard to tell if she was angry with Pei Zhaoyi or Lingyang.
Pei Zhaoyi still looked sincere and innocent.
Cheng Simian picked up the teacup and took a sip. When she put the teacup lid back on, she deliberately made a louder noise.
Lingyang looked at her, and Cheng Simian shook her head imperceptibly.
She had seen through Pei Zhaoyi. On the surface, she was a well - behaved young lady from a prominent family, with proper manners and humility.
In fact, she was narrow - minded and vengeful.
She must still remember that Lingyang had pushed her into the water years ago and had prevented her from entering the palace for more than a decade.
Lingyang just complained verbally but left Thunder outside, which showed that she didn't really want to scare Pei Zhaoyi.
But Pei Zhaoyi, under the pretext of giving gifts, had embarrassed Lingyang.
Maybe she was sure of Lingyang's hot - tempered and arrogant nature. Her purpose was to make Lingyang lose her temper on the spot and embarrass herself.
In this way, she would become the weak and wronged one.
When the Emperor came later, she could get the Emperor's attention in a wronged and patient way.
Although the Emperor indulged Lingyang, he was always considerate. He would surely give Pei Zhaoyi extra comfort.
And the Emperor's special attention would be the reason for her and her family to quietly spread signals.
Once the rumor that the Emperor favored her spread...
Cheng Simian sneered in her heart. What a delicate mind!
But she would never allow Pei Zhaoyi to climb up by stepping on Lingyang's face.
Lingyang saw her head - shaking and understood her meaning.
What Pei Zhaoyi didn't know was that although Lingyang's arrogant and domineering personality remained unchanged, she listened to Cheng Simian. Over the years, she had become much more stable and intelligent.
She suppressed the frost in her eyes and took the lucky concentric knot from Pei Zhaoyi's hand.
"Fourth younger sister's handicraft is really good. I don't need this thing. It's quite suitable for sister - in - law," Lingyang said with a smile.
Lingyang looked at Cheng Simian. "Sister - in - law, I'm not good at needlework and have never given you a decent gift. Today, I'll present this lucky concentric knot to you and Emperor brother. How about it?"
Then she snuggled up to the Empress Dowager and asked coquettishly, "Mother Empress, what do you think?"
The Empress Dowager looked at Cheng Simian. She knew that it was Cheng Simian's hint that made Lingyang hold back her anger.
The Empress Dowager was glad that her daughter was no longer as arrogant and unreasonable as before.
She smiled. "Since it's a gift from Si'er, you can give it to whoever you like."
This time, Cheng Simian didn't reach out. Shuyi took it.
Pei Zhaoyi's face looked a bit ugly.
Her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched tightly.
Cheng Simian was really a tough woman!
But she wasn't Qin Xuanyan. She wasn't stupid enough to tear up the relationship on the spot and challenge the Empress's face and authority.
She walked up to Cheng Simian and was still very respectful.
"Your Majesty the Empress, your humble subject is not very talented but likes painting. I hope to get some guidance from you."
The Empress Dowager also said, "This child loves painting and has some talent. She has been looking forward to asking you, an expert, for advice for years."
"What did you paint? Let me have a look. Fourth younger sister has an open mind and noble character. I'm sure the artistic conception of your painting won't be bad," Lingyang said in a rather sarcastic tone.
Cheng Simian was very curious. "I've long heard that Miss Pei Si is extremely talented in the capital and her paintings are hard to come by. I'm really lucky to have a look."
Pei Zhaoyi seemed flattered. She quickly asked the maid to unfold the painting in front of her.
Lingyang also leaned over.
The scroll slowly unfolded. On a row of iron - gray city walls, there stood a row of soldiers holding fire - tipped spears. The snow was flying all over the sky, blurring the boundary between the distant mountains and the sky. The soldiers' heads and shoulders were covered with thick snow, but their eyes were very determined.
The painting was named "The Garrison on the Border".
It had a rather tragic and grand charm.
Lingyang didn't understand painting, but she thought it was quite good.
But she didn't say so.
Cheng Simian was admiring it carefully.
At this time, the voice of Little Anzi came from outside, "His Majesty the Emperor is here!"
Pei Zhaoyi's eyes sparkled. It was obvious that she was nervous and looking forward to it. Her expression became even more shy.