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the crown princess Consort rooms:
"Your highness Consort Xi'an and the Madam's are here to pay their respects" Xu min reported to her mistress.
Xu Mingzhu had just finished having her bath and was getting dressed when Xu min informed her of their arrival.
"Really, have the maids serve me breakfast" Xu Mingzhu said as the maids decorated her hair with her gold hair pins. This was Lu Xiaolian first time paying her respects so she wanted to put her in her place. She wanted to start early to avoid having another concubine who didn't know her place. She was the prince main wife, the crown princess consort even if she has a messy Princess title she still had to bow to her.
"Yes your highness" Xu min said and signaled the maids to began serving the meals. She already knows her mistress temper and hence what she aimed to achieve by doing this. Her Mistress wasn't happy with the Emperor's decision and even though she couldn't openly oppose it, nothing stops her from making her opinion known.
"The kitchen steward doesn't seem to know who is their master. Have the kitchen steward and his attendant whipped" Xu Mingzhu said after taking a bit of the food.
"Yes your highness" Xu min replied.
"Good, how is madam Yang" Xu Mingzhu said.
"She is getting much better but is still too weak" Xu min replied.
Xu Mingzhu didn't bother hastening her eating speed. She wished to make them all sweat especially Lu Xiaolian. She didn't want the brute General's daughter to get any ideas.
Thirty minutes later Xu Mingzhu leisurely walked into the room and took a seat on the master's seat.
"Greetings your highness" Lu Xiaolian and the concubines chorused after the crown princess consort had taken her seat.
"Do rise, mei mei I hope I didn't keep you waiting. I was having my breakfast" Xu Mingzhu said with fake concern.
"it was nothing your highness" Lu Xiaolian replied joyfully. She could already guess why Xu Mingzhu kept them waiting. She however isn't easily annoyed but she can't say the same for everyone else. She finally understands why Xu Mingzhu heavily disliked. Did Xu Mingzhu honestly think that she was in the right position to do this or that this was the best way to handle this. Xu Mingzhu maid it very easy to pull her down. She kept giving people chances it's a surprise that she lost her seal and authority to Jang Suyin for many years.
"Consort Lu is here too. It so good to see you" Xu Mingzhu said looking down at Lu Xiaolian.
"Thanks Jei jei please take good care of me"Lu Xiaolian replied.
"Mingzhu welcomes mei mei to the family. We as sisters should always take care of ourselves isn't that right Madams" Xu Mingzhu said finally looking Jang Suyin in the eyes smiling smugly.
"Your highness is right" Jang Suyin replied gnashing her teeth.
"Madam Yang didn't have to bother coming everyone knows you are still recovering" Xu Mingzhu said to Madam Yang.
"It's only right that I do. This concubine thanks her highness for her care and concern most especially these past weeks" Yang Liu replied smiling softly.
"it was nothing, like I said before. We sister's has to take care of each other. That is why we have to be much careful with who we trust. That said I took the liberty of selecting more loyal maids to be sent to your courtyard" Xu Mingzhu said still maintaining her smiling.
"You are truly wise your highness" Jang Suyin replied also smiling. It was very hard for her to maintain that smile. She knew Xu Mingzhu was out to make her suffer.
"His highness would be having lunch with me I better start getting ready" Xu Mingzhu said dismissing them and walking out of the room.
A few minutes later Lu Xiaolian stood to leave when she was stopped by Madam Yang.
'Jei jei I also wished to thank you for your Swift response that saved the life of myself and my baby. A thousand thanks to your highness" Yang Liu said softly. She may not know Lu Xiaolian well enough or at all for that matter but she could already tell that Lu Xiaolian wasn't that simple.The one thing she was sure of was that Lu Xiaolian looked like the type that would never hurt you without a reason.
"There's no need I only did what I should" Lu Xiaolian replied and prepared to take her leave when Jang Suyin stopped her by saying
"jei jei is right one should always do what they should but it would do well if one was careful no to over do"
"As should you madam Jang. A cobra only bites when rattled" Lu Xiaolian said smiling and walked out of the room leaving Jang Suyin stunned.
* * *
Lu Xiaolian's private rooms.
Lu Xiaolian walked into the courtyard and was greeted by the maids sent over by the crown Princess consort "Greetings your highness"
They all chorused bowing.
"You may rise Bie Liu I will leave them to you" Lu Xiaolian said and walked into her rooms. She quickly removed her coat and walked to her dressing table and Yao Yao began Setting down her hair.
"Her highness is very thorough in her actions" Yao Yao said in low tones audible only to Lu Xiaolian.
"Yes she is anyone can tell that these are her spies nothing else We will have to be careful with our actions and words" Lu Xiaolian replied."I will have someone watch them" Yao Yao said.any didn't know that she was trained by Duke Wu to protect her Mistress. Her duty was to ensure her safety and act as a go between her mistress and the Lu family spies.
"Good inform Ting Ting that she would be in charge of my meals. Jang Suyin is a snake and no one in the manor can be trusted" Lu Xiaolian said looking up at Yao Yao through the mirror.
"Yes your highness" Yao Yao said.
"Good" Lu Xiaolian replied