Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 286: A Lady Fears Fading Beauty, a Hero Fears White Hair
The Empress Dowager’s birthday is on May 15th, which is the tenth day after the Dragon Boat Festival.
The Empress Dowager is not the birth mother of the Emperor, so by rights, the birthday banquet should not be extravagant. But the Xue Family is wealthy, and Empress Dowager Xue is funding the banquet herself, so the Emperor has no say, right?
The Emperor really has no way.
Since Empress Dowager Xue returned to the palace, Qi Yun has not been in a good mood and rarely goes to the harem, as the saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind."
Yet thinking that he, a dignified Emperor, has to avoid the Empress Dowager, truly irks him.
Qi Yun walked in the back garden and looked up at the tempting lanterns being hung, his gaze turning colder.
"Emperor, there are steps ahead, be careful not to trip."
Chen Zhong followed behind, whispering a reminder. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Qi Yun took two steps, suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked, "How much silver was spent on the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet this time?"
"Reporting to the Emperor, two hundred thousand taels."
"Haha, good, two hundred thousand taels. The Xue Family is indeed wealthy and powerful!"
Spending two hundred thousand taels just for a birthday banquet is truly spending money like dirt! No wonder this Emperor is angry, and indeed furious.
"Empress Dowager Xue has been living at Da Xiangguo Temple all these years, and now that she’s back, I hope she is only here to celebrate her birthday!"
Qi Yun squinted his eyes, showing a dangerous cold smile.
Let’s hope Empress Dowager Xue doesn’t meddle in court politics, otherwise, she will not have a good time!
"These people all think I’m old, that I’m aging, and that the princes have no abilities, and so they all reveal their sharp fangs?
Ridiculous! Really ridiculous! Even a tiger that has lost its teeth isn’t for them to bully at will. What’s more, I’m still in my prime; when did it become their turn to flaunt their strength? Hmph!"
Qi Yun was truly angry and furious!
He is the supreme Emperor, the True Dragon Emperor, yet those below are coming to touch his reverse scale. Do they think that because he hasn’t used his blade in years that it’s become rusty?
Empress Dowager Xue hasn’t returned to the Imperial Palace for so many years, and now that she’s back, it’s definitely not just for a birthday banquet. There must be someone orchestrating and arranging this behind the scenes!
"Return to the study, and call Yama!"
Yama is the leader of the Yulong Pavilion and one of Qi Yun’s closest confidants!
"All these years I’ve been focused on finding Xiang’er and Xiao Shiqi, neglecting the ones below. It seems it’s time for a blood sacrifice!"
Qi Yun said, his face showing a ferocious expression!
The beauty fears aging, the hero fears going white, and Qi Yun is considered a hero, yet as he grows older, those below him refuse to behave. How pathetic is that?
He was truly burning with anger!
He strode back furiously, leaving behind a trail of kneeling, frightened palace maids and eunuchs who didn’t know what was wrong with the Emperor or why he suddenly lost his temper.
...
Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, and Long Yue also received an invitation.
"Are we going?"
Li Qingmu carried a basin of fragrant soup to wash hands for his little wife.
This task should’ve been done by Huanhuan, but Li Qingmu insisted on doing it himself. The small woman’s hands were soft and tender, smooth and delicate, a burst of enjoyment with every touch, how could he pass up such a good opportunity?
"Of course we must go!" Long Yue threw the invitation on the desk, saying, "Since the invitation has been delivered, if we don’t go, we might have some trouble. Those people might seize this to attack you."
Li Qingmu frowned, "But I’m worried you’ll be plotted against!"
"Aren’t you by my side?"
Li Qingmu was taken aback.
Long Yue lightly chuckled, "A Mu, with you by my side, I’m not afraid of anything!"
Is the trust really that deep?
Li Qingmu’s heart was slightly moved, a warm stream slowly flowed, and his heart felt sweet as if he’d eaten honey!
He lowered his eyes, murmuring, "Okay, I will stay by your side; no one can bully you!"
...
The next day, it’s the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.
It’s a sunny day, with bright sunshine and a slight warmth.
Long Yue dawdled in front of the dressing table for quite a while. Finally, she chose a pale purple dress with flying birds embroidered on the edges, draped with a translucent light yellow floral coat and complemented with a white gauze scarf. She turned around lightly, looking like an elf.
Li Qingmu was already seated in the carriage, dressed simply in a white robe. To avoid looking too plain, he chose a blue-edged one, with a bun tied on his head, adorned with a white jade hairpin....
When Long Yue came over and saw his attire, she couldn’t help but want to laugh. If he had chosen a black edge, it would have been like he was sending the Empress Dowager off!
"You are really bold, everyone dresses festively for the birthday banquet, and yet you come in plain attire. It’s clearly a sign of giving no face to the Empress Dowager!"
Long Yue said as she lightly poked Li Qingmu. Li Qingmu just gave a faint smile, "What’s the problem? A big figure like the Empress Dowager won’t care about someone like me in the corner. Besides, isn’t there color in my attire? Unless she’s blind, what can she do to me?"
Long Yue shook her head with a smile, knowing that Li Qingmu was endorsing the Emperor and merely wanted the Empress Dowager to be uncomfortable, as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were not on good terms.
"Husband, the hour is getting late!"
Wang Xiaoliu sat at the front of the carriage, seeing them still dilly-dallying over there, dared to remind them at the risk of being scolded.
"Where’s the brother-in-law? Why hasn’t he come out yet?"
Cao Xiao also received an invitation, and he had to go; otherwise, people would criticize him.
"Coming, coming!"
Cao Xiao hurriedly ran out, and upon seeing his attire, Long Yue and Li Qingmu were quite speechless.
Cao Xiao was dressed in a flamboyant way, wearing a burgundy robe with a blue and gold-threaded vest outside, sleeves bound, long hair tied high with some strands falling, adorned with a red gemstone....
The red gemstone was large, as big as a duck egg, a treasure Cao Yin collected during wars, now casually embedded in a hairpiece....
Li Qingmu looked at Cao Xiao and suddenly remembered an old saying: No business in this world earns faster wealth than looting, and the most legitimate looting comes with war!
When you win a battle and charge into the enemy’s city to plunder, all the gold, jewels, and beauties become yours!
The Cao Family may not be extremely wealthy, but it has deep roots. Through generations of war, they have looted countless treasures, either stored in the family treasure house at home or partly in the General Mansion in Shengjing City.... In short, if Long Yue were to sell all the treasures in the General Mansion, she could probably buy dozens of estates around Shengjing City.
"Ah, with such a rich grandfather, why do I need to work hard then?"
Long Yue, resting her chin in her hand, felt a bit puzzled, shouldn’t she... pawn some treasures? Is that being wasteful?
"Little Yue’er, A Mu, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up already! What? Am I too handsome?"
Seeing the two still staring at him, Cao Xiao stretched out his hands to his face, striking a handsome pose.
This person really loves to flaunt!
"Brother-in-law."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Today, Miss Chang is also going back."
Cao Xiao looked baffled, scratching the back of his head hard. What does Little Yue’er mean by that?
