After Chu Qing let out a snort, she noticed that everyone was looking at her seriously. Only then did she gradually realize that she was no longer the former Grand Empress Dowager. This snort was really... inappropriate.
She sighed silently in her heart. Then Chu Qing took out a handkerchief she always carried from her bosom and waved her hand to cover her mouth.
It takes enough experience to turn a powerful snort into a few delicate coughs.
Chu Qing thought silently that as long as she wasn't embarrassed, it would always be others who were embarrassed.
After coughing, Chu Qing thought she should pay respects to her great - grandson, oops, no, to the emperor...
Although it felt a bit awkward, and she wondered if the other person would have bad luck because of it, but as the daughter of the richest man in the Yan Kingdom now, she should still pay respects when seeing the emperor and the empress.
On the side, Wei Ying saw Chu Qing standing up with a flushed face and felt a bit helpless.
Not knowing if coughing would affect others, Wei Ying even couldn't help but cough a few times before opening his mouth, just like clearing his throat.
"Since the emperor and the empress are here, this prince and Qingqing won't bother any longer."
After saying that, Wei Ying stood up and walked to Chu Qing's side. Actually, Wei Ying didn't want to dine in the palace at all. Even he didn't like the red tape in the palace.
Chu Qing, whose hand was held by Wei Ying, was a bit caught off guard, but she quickly curtsied to the empress dowager, the emperor and the empress. Since someone else had spoken for her, she was happy to be at ease.
Seeing that Wei Ying was about to leave with Chu Qing, the empress dowager also stood up:
"Is Prince Ning being distant from this old woman and the emperor? You're not even willing to stay in the palace for dinner?"
These words were full of hidden threats.
Chu Qing glanced at the empress dowager out of the corner of her eye. Oh, this woman really had an imposing manner now.
The emperor looked at his mother and his uncle, then immediately walked over and said with a smile, "Uncle, seeing me and the empress coming, you're about to leave. You're really being distant! I'm so angry!"
Although he said he was angry, there was no sign of anger on his face.
Chu Qing silently praised the emperor in her heart. He seemed to be quite good at being a peace - maker.
Just when Chu Qing was about to say something, the empress, who had been silent all along, also spoke, "His Majesty and the empress dowager know Prince Ning's intention. They said so because they hoped you could stay for dinner. After all, the family hasn't gotten together for a long time except during the New Year."
The empress gave everyone a way out.
Chu Qing looked at the empress with approval. This girl had a bit of her former grandeur!
In her previous life, when the emperor's great - grandson married the empress, she just came out to accept the salute and never saw her again. After all, with the empress dowager around, she didn't need to worry about how the harem was managed by this empress.
Now it seemed that it should be quite good.
After the empress finished speaking, she couldn't help but feel relieved. At this moment, the empress also felt someone looking at her. Following the gaze, she found that it was the young aunt, Chu Qing, the Princess of Ning, who hardly ever spoke.
When Chu Qing saw that the empress noticed her looking, she was a bit embarrassed, but the other party gave her a smile.
This smile made Chu Qing even more satisfied with this empress.
This girl was much more likable than the empress dowager.
Seeing this, Wei Ying thought for a moment. Not wanting anything unexpected to happen, he had to agree to stay for dinner with the emperor and the empress dowager. Just when he looked at Chu Qing with a bit of guilt, worried that she wouldn't be used to dining in the palace, he saw the little interaction between Chu Qing and the empress.
Should he not have this kind of guilty feeling towards this woman?
She was really carefree. She was even flirting with the empress?
...
The empress dowager chatted a bit more and then ordered the servants to inform the imperial kitchen to serve dinner.
Wei Ying was originally a bit worried that Chu Qing wouldn't be used to so many rules in the palace. After all, the last time he brought her here, the result really gave him a headache.
But now Chu Qing really impressed him.
Every gesture of hers showed that she knew the rules no less than the empress dowager. She even looked more pleasing to the eye than the empress dowager.
Hiding the surprise in his eyes, Wei Ying lowered his head and said nothing.
On the side, although Chu Qing looked calm and polite on the surface, she was actually quite dissatisfied in her heart.
A whole table of dishes! A whole table of dishes! But there were only two that suited her taste!
One was the clear - oil chicken and the other was the chopped - pepper fish spine.
Both were spicy dishes. She had loved spicy food since her previous life, and even after changing her body, she still couldn't live without spicy food.
However, it was unreasonable that there were only two spicy dishes. After all, the empress dowager used to enjoy eating spicy food with her! Could it be...?
Maybe seeing that most of the spicy dishes were placed in front of Chu Qing, the empress dowager said leisurely, "Sister - in - law actually likes spicy dishes?"
Before Chu Qing could speak, the empress dowager continued on her own, "This old woman never thought there would be someone who likes such greasy dishes. So I didn't order the imperial kitchen to make them. These two dishes were probably made by the imperial chef casually. If sister - in - law likes them, feel free to eat. But except for you, no one here can enjoy this 'good fortune'. However, this greasy and pungent stuff makes one look really vulgar when eating. Sister - in - law should pay more attention on other occasions in the future. After all, last time, it was really a disgrace to our royal family."
Was this an open and veiled mockery of her vulgarity? Being sarcastically mocked by this woman in both her previous and current lives really made her unhappy!
Chu Qing put down her chopsticks, narrowed her eyes and asked in confusion, "But this subject's wife once heard that the empress dowager and the grand empress dowager of our Yan Kingdom have always had a deep affection. The empress dowager liked to drink and eat spicy hot - pot with the grand empress dowager on winter nights. The common people all praised the most noble women in our dynasty for being open - minded and free - spirited when they heard about it."
Seeing the empress dowager looking angry, Chu Qing continued happily, "However, now this subject's wife just knows that sister - in - law doesn't eat spicy food. It's really hard for sister - in - law all these years."
Saying this, Chu Qing even showed a look of pity.
"The Princess of Ning is really well - informed!" The empress dowager gritted her teeth.
Chu Qing happily enjoyed the empress dowager's loss of composure, but on the surface, she looked panicked as if she had just realized she might have said something wrong.
Since Chu Qing lowered her head, the mocking smile in her eyes wasn't seen by others.
Seeing that the atmosphere became suffocating again, the emperor forced a smile, "Actually... I also like spicy food very much, but my body doesn't allow it. Eating too much spicy food will make me get angry. Mother is just worried about aunt's health. Aunt, don't be panicked."
Hearing the emperor's words, the empress dowager gave him a cold look. Seeing this, the emperor lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Seeing the emperor's appearance, Chu Qing got angry for no reason.
Was the emperor afraid of the empress dowager?
What kind of dignity was this!
Although angry, she couldn't say much because of her current identity. If she was still the former grand empress dowager, she would have scolded directly.
Unlike now, watching her great - grandson being bullied but having no right to protect him.
This was the first time she felt so frustrated since her rebirth.
It seemed that Rooqiu sensed Chu Qing's anger and appeared to send her a voice message. After a good deal of comfort, Chu Qing's anger was finally quenched.
Everyone finished the meal silently with their own thoughts. Just when Wei Ying was about to say goodbye and leave.
The empress dowager spoke first like she was seizing the opportunity, "Your Majesty, don't you want to discuss important matters in the court with your uncle?"
"Ah?... Oh, then uncle, please follow me to the imperial study." The emperor was first stunned, then reacted and was about to take Wei Ying away.
Wei Ying looked at Chu Qing worriedly. Before they could speak, the empress dowager continued, "Sister - in - law, just leave her to this old woman. According to the folk saying, we're sisters - in - law. How could this old woman eat her? But Prince Ning really has a deep affection for his wife!"
The empress dowager pursed her lips and smiled, showing no other emotions on her face.
"Then I'll trouble sister - in - law to take good care of Qingqing. If Qingqing does something wrong, please forgive her." Wei Ying thought that although the empress dowager seemed different today, she had always been kind to him. Presumably, she wouldn't be too harsh on Chu Qing.
Thinking of this, Wei Ying simply gave Chu Qing a few instructions and then left with the emperor.