"Miss, you are really smart. I didn't expect the Third Concubine to show up in person," Lvxin said, awestruck.
Hua Qiyue faintly raised her eyebrows and said, "Not only the Third Concubine, but the Second Concubine, as well. "
Youshui was scared. "No way! Why would she come here?"
Lvxin looked at Hua Qiyue in surprise. In her experience, Concubine Cheng had always been proud, unlike Concubine Pan, who conducted herself in a proper manner. There was no way the Second Concubine would come here.
However, there were soon footsteps outside and, a moment later, Concubine Cheng came in with Hua Mengshi and two maids.
Nanny Luo was standing beside Cheng, there was a big box in her hands. She appeared respectful, with no hint of malice.
"My, but you're having dinner quite late! Qiyue, we are here to apologize to you." Cheng said with a faint smile. Hua Mengshi's face lowered, hiding her expression, but Qiyue could imagine the disgust in her eyes.
Hua Qiyue smiled and asked her maid to arrange seats for them.
Mengshi could not help but stare at the soup on the table. Long Red was a magical medicine, and Qiyue had made soup with it? A single flower was worth a fortune!
This merely served to intensify her hatred for Hua Qiyue.
That bitch had to be killed.
"You're too kind. How can I let you, my elder, personally make an apology?" Hua Qiyue replied with a faint smile.
"I'd like to address what happened today. Qiuyun, one of Mengshi's maids, unleashed a dog to trample the divine herbs in your yard. I'm to blame for this. We had Qiuyun beaten twenty times with heavy bamboo. Additionally, we have sent a painting of eight horses as a token of apology," Cheng said carefully. As she was saying, she was observing Hua Qiyue's expression.
Nanny Luo quickly opened the big red box while the other maid took the painting out.
The artist was famous in Changjing. It was said that he had made one painting a year for ten years, then stopped with no explanation. His paintings are so beautiful and vivid that even the emperor himself had sought them out.
Hua Qiyue idly wondered how Concubine Cheng would get hold of such a treasure.
In the painting, eight Akhal-Teke horses lifted their front legs. They did not hear any sound, but that scene was so vivid that the horses seemed to be running on the green grassland with long flying bristles, wild and free. The colors were bright and dazzling, almost exaggerated, but they served to focus the viewers' attention.
Lvxin and Youshui glanced at each other, and carefully took the painting away.
"Thank you so much, Concubine Cheng. Would you and Mengshi like some Long Red soup? It's quite nourishing, both for the body and soul."
"Lady Qiyue is so kind! I have never had the chance to taste the soup of a divine herb before —it would be my honor!" Cheng replied.
Hua Mengshi raised her head, a smile on her face. "Yes, sister, it's my honor to taste the Long Red Flower soup. Thank you very much."
Polite as everything seemed, Hua Qiyue knew this was merely an act.
But that was okay — they were playing her game, now.
Hua Qiyue ordered Youshui to pour two bowls of Long Red soup for their guests.
The Second Concubine smiled, not out of gratitude for the soup, but out of relief that Hua Mengshi was behaving herself.
Hua Mengshi put the bowl to her lips, gently sipping at the soup. It was mildly sweet, but not too much, mixed with the taste of chicken, and she could taste it long after swallowing.
She couldn't really enjoy it, though. Not coming from Hua Qiyue. Her eyes briefly flashed with rage in Qiyue's direction, who seemed not to be paying attention.
Tianci, though, was paying attention. Seeing Mengshi glaring at Qiyue, he stealthily sprinkled some cayenne pepper into her bowl.
Hua Qiyue noticed, but merely smiled and made no move to stop him.
Seeing Qiyue glance in her direction, Hua Mengshi smiled and finished the soup in one gulp.
Tianci was smiling, but there was a mischievous look in his eyes.
Hua Mengshi suddenly began coughing. It was so spicy that her cheeks flushed, and her eyes teared up.
"Mengshi, what are you doing? Take your time!" Concubine Cheng chided her.
Hua Mengshi didn't dare tell anyone that she couldn't handle the soup.
"Mengshi, take your time. You can always have more if you drink it slowly," Hua Qiyue said.
Tianci giggled, and Hua Mengshi forced herself not to glare at him.
Instead, she suppressed all her anger, wiped away her tears, and answered with a smile. "The soup is so delicious, I just couldn't help myself."
Hua Qiyue found herself in an excellent mood.
Hua Mengshi returned to normal, chatting with everyone as if nothing had happened.
As much as Hua Qiyue hated to admit it, she admired Hua Mengshi. She was adept at scheming and knew how to mask her emotion. There was a good reason she was known as the first lady of the capital.
After a little more chit-chat, Cheng finished her soup and left with Hua Mengshi and the others.
Watching them leave, Hua Qiyue could not help but smile. Tianci had poured oil on the flames. Mengshi would be even angrier now.
After returning to her residence, Hua Mengshi ordered her maids to leave her room. She chugged her tea, then threw the teacup to the ground.
Cheng was surprised to see her daughter so angry and lowered her voice. "What's wrong, Mengshi?"
Hua Mengshi glared in the dim light from the window and said, "Mom, that wild boy put some cayenne pepper in my soup! It almost killed me!"
The second lady recalled Tianci's bright smile. She could not help but twist her eyebrows. "It seems Hua Qiyue is will be even more difficult to deal with than we thought. Using her adopted child to tease you..." She tsked. This wasn't proper at all.