Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

The Empress put down her teacup. Li Xueyue's attire surprised her greatly. Her simple hairstyle, paired with a flowing white and light blue dress, further accentuated her natural features.

"Oh, yes, the Crown Princess and I need to discuss it," the Empress explained, though she didn't really need to. Although Lady Ge Beining was considerably lower in rank than the Empress, the Empress still offered a brief explanation to avoid upsetting the Crown Princess.

“I see,” Mrs. Gebenin stammered. She didn’t want to just stand there and watch. So she turned and walked towards the entrance, the only exit.

Unfortunately, she had to meet with the Crown Princess. Madam Ge Beining smiled wryly and bowed her head in greeting: "Crown Princess, you are more radiant every day."

Li Xueyue wasn't sure if this could be considered an indirect insult. Weren't pregnant women supposed to have a healthy glow? Nevertheless, she responded with a sincere smile.

“Good morning, Miss Ge,” Li Xueyue said kindly. “Then, please excuse me for a moment…”

Li Xueyue brushed past Madam Ge Beining without giving her another glance. She wondered what delicious food Madam Ge Beining had eaten to become so beautiful. The palace maids were probably still trembling with fear from what had happened that morning, while Madam Ge Beining remained as calm as a leaf drifting in the wind.

"Your Majesty," Li Xueyue said, cupping her hands in a curtsy.

Are you asking me to attend?

"Please sit down," the Empress said, gesturing to the chair beside her.

Li Xueyue sat down. She admired the pavilion in the center of his magnificent garden, which was filled with flowers she had never seen before. She was certain that these flowers were not native to Han Jian.

"How are you feeling?" the Empress asked. She poured a cup of tea for the Crown Princess, but then stopped. The teapot was ice-cold. She moved the lid aside, signaling the maids to bring another pot of tea.

The maids rushed forward, taking the teapot to brew tea. They looked bewildered, because the Queen's tea was always brewed by Lady Gebenin. Had something happened between them? Had they fallen out? This would certainly become gossip.

"I feel much better than yesterday," Li Xueyue said.

Even after all that had happened before?

Li Xueyue blinked. She wasn't sure if the Empress was targeting her or genuinely asking a question, or perhaps she was overthinking it again.

Li Xueyue smiled slightly, "I'm not bothered by what happened this morning."

"Ha," the Empress laughed, shaking her head with amusement. It was the first time she had ever heard anyone say they could tolerate the Crown Prince's cruelty.

"Even if he punishes your servants without warning, making them kneel and watch torture? Even if you have to see the mutilated corpse of the maid who once served you?"

Li Xueyue admitted that she was not happy that her people were punished without prior warning, but they only knelt and watched, and at least they did not suffer the same torture as Xu Jiaqi.

Xiao Hua, who is usually easily startled, doesn't seem to care at all. Her eyes and hands tremble when she makes even the slightest mistake.

Li Xueyue believes that the public's viewing of torture had a huge impact on the maids, who seemed to work even harder to ensure that everything was perfect.

“Even though I witnessed it all with my own eyes,” Li Xueyue nodded in confirmation.

“What a dutiful wife,” the Queen murmured. She was certain the Crown Princess was kind-hearted, but not necessarily so strong-willed. There truly wasn't any woman in this country who could tolerate the Crown Prince's cruel methods. Some even called him a “sadist”…

“Even if my husband were the emperor of this country, I would still complain. But you sit here and smile at my son’s horrific acts.” The queen sighed softly and shook her head.

“You know, you can complain to me about my second son. I know he doesn’t like me, so everything we’re talking about here is a secret between us.”

Li Xueyue felt that the Empress's words made a lot of sense; Yu Zhen really did not like her mother.

Even so, Li Xueyue actually had nothing to complain about regarding Zhen. Well, except that he always took away her sense of satisfaction from revenge. He wanted to help her, but she didn't like it.

Of course, such a complaint sounded somewhat vain and selfish. So, Li Xueyue retracted her tongue and grinned.

"If there's any complaint, it's that he misses his son or daughter too much," Li Xueyue said shyly.

Upon hearing this, the Empress burst into laughter, understanding the Crown Princess's subtle meaning.

“All men are impatient,” she mused.

Li Xueyue nodded slowly, relieved that the Empress understood the meaning behind her words. But why did the Empress suddenly appear so unpleasant to look at? A trace of dimness flickered in her originally bright eyes, concealing the melancholy deep in her heart.

“I will know…” the Queen sighed somberly, adding. She turned her gaze to the garden. Despite the terrible events of the morning, the sun still hung high in the sky, brighter than ever before.

A warm ray of light bathed her garden. Everywhere the sunlight touched sparkled. The freshly watered flowers, illuminated by the morning light, resembled jewels.

The Empress couldn't help but recall how much effort she had put into obtaining these rare flowers and herbs, and how she had even had to meet with the Marquis of Qin to discuss how to send them to the Han River.

Long journeys can damage flowers, whether due to lack of sunlight while on a carriage or overwatering by traveling merchants who don't know how to properly care for them.

In the end, it was all worth it. These exotic flowers and plants were always praised and admired for their beauty, just like the empress. Everyone thought she would cause trouble, and that marrying her wouldn't bring the emperor enough benefit.

How terribly wrong they were...

The Empress suddenly spoke up, "Crown Princess, would you like to hear a story?"

Li Xueyue was curious about this sudden question. Although it seemed abrupt, she didn't mind, since she didn't have any plans in her schedule anyway.

Moreover, could this be the focus of their conversation? In other words, is this why Li Xueyue was summoned to this garden?

Li Xueyue noticed that the Empress's attention was not on her; the Empress's gaze was fixed on the nearest flower, her eyes glazed over.

Before Li Xueyue could answer, the Empress said, "This is a very interesting question, and it will be good for the Empress to hear it."

Li Xueyue tilted her head, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, and said with a smile, "Of course, Your Majesty, I would love to hear your story."