Dressed as a concubine instead of a concubine

"Queen mother..."

Xie Junyi wanted to say something else but was interrupted by the Queen again.

"Go and pass on the food."

"Yes."

Soon, the meal was served.

The Queen Mother sat on the main seat, with Xie Junyi and Princess Rong'an on both sides.

But Meng Xiyue stood behind the Queen.

"Yue'er, sit down and eat with us. There are no outsiders here."

Xie Junyi couldn't bear it anymore and spoke slowly.

"The slaves dare not."

She knelt down quickly and said, "Master, please eat. How dare this servant sit at the table?"

"You are learning the rules of a concubine. You are also a master, not a servant."

Xie Junyi growled angrily, "Stop kneeling, get up."

"This is the rule for concubines. Concubines are also servants in front of the prince and the princess."

Her words made Xie Junyi's body shake violently.

He looked at the Queen with questioning eyes.

"Mother, what rules did she learn in the palace?"

The Queen put down the chopsticks in her hand, and a hint of frost appeared between her brows.

"Yier, don't talk while eating or sleeping. If you have anything to say, talk after dinner."

"Xiyue, you should get up too and serve the princess for dinner."

"Yes."

Meng Xiyue lowered her eyebrows and walked to Cui Panxi's side, picking up dishes and serving soup for her.

"Yier, you eat too."

There was a warning in the Queen's eyes.

If the meal is not finished, Meng Xiyue cannot take it away.

Xie Junyi closed his eyes and felt a deep sense of powerlessness for the first time.

It turned out that he couldn't guarantee that she would never be wronged.

Now he was sitting here having his meal like a high and mighty master, while she was serving him and Princess Rong An like a servant.

He didn't want her to do this, but he couldn't do anything about it.

"I'm done eating, thank you Miss Meng."

Cui Panxi's words finally ended the lunch.

"Okay, let's withdraw then."

The Queen ordered, "Xiyue, you should also go and have your meal."

"Yes."

From beginning to end, there was no expression on Meng Xiyue's face, and she was no different from the female officials and maids in the palace.

She bowed and stepped back.

Seeing this, Cui Panxi nodded with satisfaction, "Empress, it's getting late. I will go back home first."

"Okay, let Yi'er take you back."

Before the Queen finished speaking, Xie Junyi said, "Your son still has something to say to your mother."

"I can go back by myself."

Cui Panxi said magnanimously.

"What a good child! These are what I prepared for you. I hope you like them."

The Queen was very satisfied with Cui Panxi. Although she was not a lady from a wealthy family in the traditional sense, she had all the necessary bearing and was a tolerant person.

Cui Panxi looked at the pair of jewelry boxes taken out by the palace maid, all of which were treasures.

"Thank you, Queen, for the reward."

After Cui Panxi left, Xie Junyi said in a deep voice, "Mother, is it necessary to do this?"

The Queen raised her eyelids and leaned back on the chaise longue. "I originally thought it was unnecessary, but after seeing your performance today, I feel it is not enough."

"Yier, you're really doting on her too much." The Queen's voice was a little stern.

"At any time, her status cannot exceed that of Princess Rong An."

"If she continues to take advantage of her favor and does something against the rules, don't blame me for beating her to death."

"Mother?" Xie Junyi stood up in disbelief. "Yue'er is just a weak woman. Why would mother be so wary of her?"

"It's not her that Mother should be on guard against, it's you." The Queen's expression suddenly turned cold.

"Yier, you are becoming less and less like yourself."

Xie Junyi used to be steady and capable, and everything was under his control.

But after Meng Xiyue appeared, he often lost control. What happened just now was obviously the most normal thing. It was the rule in every family for concubines to serve the mistress during meals.

But Xie Junyi couldn't even bear this, so how could he be capable of taking on big responsibilities in the future?

"It is the Queen Mother who has never understood me."

Xie Junyi's eyes were bloodshot. The him in the past was the him that his mother wanted, but that didn't mean he was the real him.

When the Queen heard this, her body stiffened.

Then he changed the subject, "You've also heard about the Crown Prince of Nanrong coming to ask for marriage, right?"

"Don't worry, mother. I won't let Zhaohua marry."

Xie Junyi immediately said that he had spoiled this sister since she was a child, and would never be willing to let her marry to Nanrong Kingdom.

"No, mother means the exact opposite of what you mean." The Queen Mother sat up straight.

"I have been thinking about it these past few days and feel that a marriage alliance may not be a bad thing. At the very least, Zhaohua's marriage will bring you greater prestige in the court. If Zhaohua can gain a foothold in Nanrong Kingdom, it will also be a help to you in the future."

Hearing this, Xie Junyi lowered his head and smiled foolishly.

"Mother, is it so important to you whether I sit in that seat or not? Is it so important that you would give up your own daughter?"

He always thought that in his mother's heart, Zhaohua was the final pure land and the most important existence.

But for the position of crown prince, she was willing to sacrifice even Zhaohua.

"Of course it's important. That's what you and I deserve, but now we have to do everything we can to get it. Don't you understand why?"

The Queen Mother was a little crazy at this time, "If you fail, then none of us will survive, Queen Mother will not survive, Zhao Hua will not survive, and your beloved Meng Xiyue will not survive either."

"Mother, whether you can get that position or not, I am capable of protecting you."

Now he is no longer a child who can be bullied by others, and he can protect them.

The Queen shook her head. "It's better to die than to live in vain."

"Yier, for you, your mother can sacrifice anything. You can't waver, understand?"

Xie Junyi exhaled deeply, "I understand, mother, don't worry."

After hearing these words, the Queen's eyes gradually became clear.

She is still the dignified and elegant queen.

When Meng Xiyue came over, she noticed a strange atmosphere between the two of them.

The Queen raised her eyes to look at her and spoke gently.

"Xiyue, you have learned most of the rules these days. Prince Qi wants to take you out of the palace, so you should go back."

"Thank you for your grace."

"Although you have left the palace, you must not forget the rules. You must copy the female instructions and female precepts every day and send them to the palace."

"Yes."

Meng Xiyue still answered obediently.

The Queen was about to say something, but Xie Junyi suddenly stood up.

"Mother, it's getting late. We should go back."

The Queen sighed and waved her hand.

"Let's go."

Before she finished her words, Xie Junyi took Meng Xiyue's hand and walked out of Yikun Palace.

The Queen looked at Meng Xiyue's back and murmured to herself, "She is simply unwilling to be inferior to others."