Yi Xiangnong spoke: „Meimei[1]´s intention was to come here to pay you a respect.“
„You are thoughtful.“ Qu Tang´er really didn´t understand the custom, so everything went at will.
„Jiejie just arrived to eighth prince´s mannor. Presumably didn´t yet comprehend the matters inside the mannor. If there´s anything needed for meimei to render a service for, do not hesitate to tell me. At least, meimei has been in the mannor already for several years.“ Yi Xiangnong pursed her lips and smiled as if to show off something. Her smile was too wide. It made people´s eyes feel irritated.
„Oh. You´re thoughtful.“ Qu Tang´er repeated the same sentence. She didn´t like this woman at all. She was so hypocritical it made people detest her.
„I heard from servants that at the wedding night his highness didn´t spent night at jiejie´s chamber.“ It seemed as if Yi Xiangnong was concernedly looking at Qu Tang´er. Yet, when listening to her, it seemed more like she was rejoicing in other people’s misfortune.
„It turned out that you know it all. It´s true that his highness didn´t sleep in the bridal chamber yesterday night.“ Qu Tang´er slightly knitted her brows and lowered her head. Her speech carried a sadness. Actually, she bowed her head in order to conceal the disgust inside her eyes.
„Why didn´t sister make his highness stay then?“
„I failed to make his highness stay. Alas.“ Unfortunately, she still had to display a sad and heart-broken appearance. She had to make her depressed tone presentable. When these words came out of Qu Tang´er, Jing Xin who was beside her almost didn´t restrain herself from laughing. She also promptly lowered her head to cover herself up. From when did her master liked to tease people so much?
„Jiejie must be then very cold at night sleeping by yourself, right?“
„It wasn´t cold. It was very warm.“ Qu Tang´er said without thinking.
„As meimei I truly feel sad for jiejie.“
„I´m not sad. I´m very happy.“
„Jiejie ——„ Yi Xiangnong still wanted to talk.
„Madam Yi, please drink tea.“ Jing Xin reached for a cup of tea, that was arranged on the table and carried it over right away. Hence, she lightly interrupted Yi Xiangnong´s speech. It was merely because she received a hint that Qu Tang´er sent her from the corner of her eyes just a moment ago.
Anyone would be in a bad moon if he/she was interrupted by someone. Yi Xiangnong fiercery glared at Jing Xin. But due to Qu Tang´er´s presence, it was no good for her anger to flare up. „Jiejie, you drink tea.“ To one´s surprise, Yi Xiangnong wanted, as if, to deliver tea, that Jing Xin carried over, before Qu Tang´er.
The corner of Qu Tang´er´s mouth twitched. She didn´t receive it. She faintly said: „It´s for you. Drink it.“
„Xiangnong would dare drink it if jiejie first drank it.“
„You don´t have to wait for me. You drink first.“
„There´s no need. Jiejie is princess consort, after all. Xiangnong is only a mere madam, how could drink the tea before jiejie. It´s greatly disregarding the etiquette.“ If Yi Xiangnong truly was afraid of disregarding the etiquette, she would then had no right to call Qu Tang´er “jiejie“. She was obviously violating the rules. A mere concubine had what qualifications to call herself meimei? Her status was just slightly higher than the status of servants. Facing the n.o.ble princess consort, she still had to call herself “this servant“.
„We are a one family. There´s no need to be concerned for so much rules. Just drink it.“ Qu Tang´er was too lazy to reveal her.
„No. It would be better if jiejie first drank it.“
„Why? Could it be that you are afraid Ben w.a.n.gfei[2] would poison you?“ Qu Tang´er spoke mildly, still gentle as before. Yet, unexpectedly, her words carried a bit of imposingness and sharpness. At the right times she put up a princess consort front and changed to call herself “Ben w.a.n.gfei“. Gosh, this woman. If she wanted to drink then drink it. Yet, she was talking endlessly. It made others, who were listening to her, feel annoyed.
„Since jiejie says so, then meimei I……“
„Mhm. Just drink. Isn´t it just a cup of tea? I wouldn´t mind about it——”
„I will drink first then.“ Yi Xiangnong softly smiled, a trace of triumph flashed in her eyes. She raised her head and then drank all of the tea inside the cup to her stomach. There was not even half drop of a tea left.
Qu Tang´er waited for her to finish drinking the tea. Only after then did she leisurely proceeded to finish the speech she had just a moment ago spoke to half. However, she was also certain, that after she finished this speech, Yi Xiangnong´s facial expression ought to change: „…….that tea is yesterday´s, anyway. I do not want to drink it. Lest to harm the body.“
[1] means little sister
[2] this is how princess consorts refer to themselves