As the Princess of Ning, Chu Qing was just a princess. She had no imperial title, only an empty title of princess and a seemingly glamorous shell.
Moreover, she was out of favor. At least, that was what Chu Qing thought. As for Wei Ying, he believed that, considering his general attitude towards women, he had treated Chu Qing quite well.
After changing into appropriate clothes, Chu Qing got into the carriage with Wei Ying.
The Prince of Ning's Mansion was only two streets away from the palace. Before Chu Qing could finish her sentimental musings while lifting the curtain, they had arrived.
It seemed like ages since she had been so close to the joys and sorrows of ordinary people. Watching the people coming and going on the street, Chu Qing sighed silently to herself.
"Boss!" The voice of the "Meatball" suddenly rang out, scaring Chu Qing so much that she almost rushed out of the carriage door. But she quickly regained her composure. Glancing at Wei Ying's expression, she smiled and explained, "The carriage jolted just now. I didn't sit still."
Wei Ying forced himself to believe her.
"Boss, boss, answer me!" The voice of the "Meatball" sounded again. Chu Qing leaned back on the back seat, pretending nothing had happened. She silently grumbled in her heart, "You finally showed up. And 'boss'? What kind of title is that for a bandit leader!"
"Hey, don't worry about that. Let me tell you, there's a great opportunity for you this time when you enter the palace!"
"What opportunity?"
"The secret of heaven must not be revealed! Hehe!" After the strange and shrill laugh, the "Meatball" disappeared again.
Chu Qing felt like grabbing the "Meatball" out and torturing it. Every time it only said half of what it wanted to say. When it came to the important part, it was always mysterious and evasive, deliberately whetting her appetite. Didn't it know that it was easy for an old person like her to get sick from this?
"We're here." Wei Ying saw Chu Qing sitting there stiffly. His brows furrowed. Was she scared?
Chu Qing came back to her senses and nodded at Wei Ying.
Wei Ying got out of the carriage. After a moment's thought, he still reached out and pulled Chu Qing, who was about to take the servant girl's hand, out of the carriage. With a skillful movement, he helped Chu Qing get out of the carriage steadily.
Chu Qing raised her eyebrows. This young man was quite considerate.
"Don't act like you did the first time." Wei Ying kindly reminded her.
Fine. This guy was still afraid that she would disgrace the Prince of Ning's Mansion. Although Chu Qing felt a bit uncomfortable, she still smiled and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured."
Wei Ying nodded and walked ahead first. Chu Qing followed leisurely behind.
As she walked, she sized up her surroundings.
It had only been a little over three months since she left, but when she came back, it felt like an eternity had passed.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. It really was like an eternity.
In the past, Wei Ying always strode quickly when walking in the palace. Now, considering Chu Qing's smaller steps, he couldn't help but look back while walking.
When he looked back this time, Wei Ying was a bit stunned.
Dressed in a dark - red formal dress, Chu Qing was extremely radiant.
At this moment, Chu Qing seemed to fit perfectly with the solemn and majestic palace. There was not the slightest sense of disharmony.
It was as if Chu Qing was born to be in the palace, and was supposed to be the most noble woman in it.
Wei Ying's steps unconsciously slowed down. Originally, he was in front, but gradually, Chu Qing walked in front of him.
Looking at Chu Qing's back, at this moment, Wei Ying suddenly felt that he didn't know this woman who had been married to him for two years at all.
The originally innocent and lovely young girl had now become someone he couldn't figure out.
Only... did she know the way?
"The princess actually knows the way?" Wei Ying narrowed his eyes.
Hearing Wei Ying's voice, Chu Qing came back to her senses. She didn't notice that she had walked in front of Wei Ying!
"I've been here once, so I naturally remember." Chu Qing smiled and lowered her head, not letting Wei Ying see the panic in her eyes.
But Wei Ying was very sharp and caught the flicker in Chu Qing's eyes.
Did Chu Qing have something to hide from him? Thinking of this, Wei Ying's heart sank. He had just started to try to get close to someone.
Just as they were each lost in their own thoughts, they arrived at the Empress Dowager's bedroom.
The servant girl at the door saw the two of them coming. First, she bowed respectfully to Wei Ying. Then, when she saw Chu Qing, she curled her lips, bowed, and went in to report.
Seeing this, Chu Qing also curled her lips.
Wei Ying said nothing.
After a while, the servant girl came out and said that the Empress Dowager was ready and was waiting for them.
Wei Ying walked in first, and Chu Qing followed closely behind.
When they saw the Empress Dowager, Chu Qing saw that familiar yet strange face. Although she maintained her composure on the surface, her heart was in turmoil.
The person she used to call "Mother" she now had to call "Sister - in - Law" following Wei Ying. This change in seniority was a complete mess.
Chu Qing cast a complaining look at Wei Ying.
Wei Ying didn't notice Chu Qing's look. At this moment, he was only focused on dealing with the Empress Dowager.
Wei Ying had always been reluctant to have too much contact with women. He thought women were troublesome and it was better to avoid them. However, his sister - in - law had always been nice to him. Even after his short - lived elder brother passed away, her attitude towards him remained unchanged.
He really couldn't be cold - faced to her.
After Wei Ying exchanged a few words of greeting with the Empress Dowager, Chu Qing didn't want to say much more. She clearly felt the undisguised contempt from the Empress Dowager.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did her daughter - in - law seem to have changed?
Wasn't she quite dignified, reasonable, kind, and sensible before? It seemed she had been pretending?
"Is the younger sister - in - law unwell?" The Empress Dowager, who had been chatting casually with Wei Ying, suddenly changed the topic and asked Chu Qing.
If it had been the previous Chu Qing, she would have already lost her composure.
But now, sitting upright, Chu Qing heard the Empress Dowager call her. Suppressing the discomfort of being called "younger sister - in - law", she forced a proper smile and replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Sister - in - Law. I'm fine."
In the past, she had always been the one in control, but now she was at the mercy of others.
Chu Qing sighed deeply. Fortune changes in thirty years. The wheel of fortune turns!
The Empress Dowager looked at the composed Chu Qing and was a bit stunned. If she remembered correctly, this daughter - in - law had not even dared to raise her head when she first met her, and had spoken timidly, looking like someone who couldn't be presentable.
Just thinking about the fact that Wei Ying had once begged to marry the daughter of a merchant made her heart ache.
How could a good - for - nothing like Chu Qing be worthy of Wei Ying, the most outstanding Prince of Ning in the Yan Kingdom!
Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager shifted her gaze to Wei Ying.
At this moment, Wei Ying was lowering his head to drink tea. A ray of light from outside the window shone in, making his side face look extremely handsome.
It was so dazzling that it made one's heart flutter.
Chu Qing happened to be sizing up the Empress Dowager and naturally didn't miss the deep meaning in the Empress Dowager's eyes when she looked at Wei Ying. It was a bit subtle.
It seemed to her that there was a green light above her son's head?
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Her self - control was still not good enough.
Look at her. After all these years, she had remained pure and upright. No man could easily catch her eye anymore.
Although Chu Qing had once thought about taking a male concubine in the fifth year after becoming the Empress Dowager, no one had caught her fancy.
Could it be that...
Was the position of the Empress Dowager prone to making people... lonely?
Eek, just thinking about it made one blush and feel one's heart race!
Just as Chu Qing's mind was wandering, the servant girl at the door came in again to report that the Emperor and the Empress had also come.
Chu Qing was stunned. Involuntarily, her hands grasped her knees. She squinted her eyes and looked at the two people in bright yellow walking side by side.
Weren't they her great - grandson and great - granddaughter - in - law!
She clearly remembered that the bastard Emperor hadn't visited her for a long time before she died. Now, even after her hundred - day memorial, this guy had become even fatter and whiter!
"Humph!" Without realizing it, Chu Qing let out a cold snort.
The snort was extremely imposing.