Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 260: Is This the Silly Idea You Came Up With?

Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Is This the Silly Idea You Came Up With?

Hearing her words, Qi Yu showed a hint of a smile on her face, spread her hands, and said with an air of indifference laced with a hint of teasing, "What can be done, just take it as it comes!"

If Li Mingjue truly harbored such intentions, she wouldn’t be able to stop him.

Shi Zhou still frowned, clearly dissatisfied with her answer, "I’m being serious with you."

Qi Yu laughed and said, "So am I seriously responding to you."

After a pause, she slightly straightened up and sincerely expressed her concerns to Shi Zhou, who was genuinely worried for her, "Rather than fretting over things that haven’t happened yet, it’s better to live well in the present. Besides, whom the Prince likes or dislikes is not something I can influence. But my thoughts are the same as his; we want to be life-long spouses, and that is his promise to me."

Having said it all in one breath, Qi Yu still felt somewhat embarrassed.

However, Shi Zhou nodded, "The Prince treats you very well."

Qi Yu nodded as well, "Indeed, very well."

It had been very good from the beginning.

Otherwise, from the moment she arrived in this strange world, she should have been strangled as a spy.

As they passed by the Duke Residence, Qi Yu deliberately asked the carriage to stop for a while, drew back the curtain, and said to Shi Zhou, "This is the Duke Residence. Familiarize yourself with the way, as you might need to make trips here in the future."

Shi Zhou cast her a glance, slightly annoyed, yet earnestly memorized the route in her mind.

By the time they returned to the Prince Residence, it was already evening.

Qi Mu and Qi Xuan were sitting at the entrance and, upon seeing Qi Yu and Shi Zhou alighting from the carriage, hurried over while affectionately calling, "Sister Yu, Sister Zhou!"

Qi Yu slightly bent down and pinched each of their cheeks, looking at their rosy, plump little faces with a wave of satisfaction in her heart.

Shi Zhou was usually expressionless, but her demeanor softened a lot when facing the two little bundles.

Qi Yu held Qi Xuan’s hand, and she willingly took Qi Mu with them.

Upon her return, Mr. Li quickly had the kitchen serve the dishes.

Although Qi Yu didn’t have much of an appetite, since none of the household had eaten yet, she still sat at the dining table and drank a few cups of tea.

In the Imperial Palace, Liu Sisi’s ankle was swollen; she was bound in several layers of gauze and limped into the carriage with the help of Xiang Lan.

On the road, she not only had to endure this excruciating pain but also felt troubled by the words the Empress had just admonished her with.

Her performance today hadn’t satisfied the Empress, so before leaving the palace, the Empress had dismissed the attendants and privately reprimanded her.

Liu Sisi had always been held in high regard by others and had never been in such a sorry state before.

But the person criticizing her was the Empress; even if she was not willing, she had to suppress her feelings and listen, constantly nodding and agreeing.

The Empress, who had previously treated her kindly, spoke with an extreme coldness, "I told you to find a way to make an appearance before the Prince; is this the foolish method you came up with?"

Barely enduring the pain, Liu Sisi replied with grievance, "But the Prince was not in the Imperial Garden, so I could only wait outside the Imperial Study Room. It took so long to see someone come out. If not like that, how could I get close to the Prince?"

The Empress, seeing her talk back, grew even more dissatisfied.

She scolded with a cold face, "That doesn’t mean you should employ such a foolish method! Is the Prince blind or did he crush his brain with a door to not see through your intentions?"

Liu Sisi bit her lip, her eyes red, and retorted with resentment, "Her Majesty only said to find a way to attract the Prince and didn’t specify which method to use; I am dull, naturally I could only think of such a foolish idea."

The Empress was almost driven to anger; she hit the table several times, scolded a few words, and then, containing her anger, instructed, "To deal with someone like the Prince, you need to use a more ingenious method. There are numerous ladies from prominent families in the capital, yet why did the Prince fancy that concubine? Isn’t it just for novelty?"

She enunciated each word, "If you want the Prince to look at you differently, you must show him your unique skills!"

Liu Sisi sniffed, her nasal voice replying heavily, "This humble girl understands, thank you for your guidance, Empress."

The conversation thus came to an end.

The Empress gestured for Treasure Bead to show the guest out and then rubbed her own temples that throbbed in irritation.

Truly a hopeless case!

Treasure Bead returned with a bowl of fetus-preserving medicine and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please be careful with your health, harming the Dragon Son would be dreadful."

After drinking the fetus-preserving medicine, the Empress spoke with a hint of exhaustion, "If only everyone were as clever as you, there would be no need for me to tire myself and get angry like this."

Despite the praise, Treasure Bead was not particularly happy.

She spoke in a low voice, barely audible, "Your Highness, why exhaust yourself over that lady from the Liu Family? Even though the Lius have been a courtly family for generations, there are so many distinguished ladies in the capital city; just pick a smarter one."

The Empress shook her head slowly, "I never cared about that Liu Sisi, what concerns me is the power behind the Liu Family."

She lowered her eyes, gently cradling her stomach, but a trace of ruthlessness flickered in her eyes.

Meanwhile, having returned to the Marquis Residence, Madam Liu and Marquis Liu had been anxiously waiting in the hall for news.

Upon seeing her being supported by Xiang Lan and another maid, they were startled.

Madam Liu, still loving her daughter, quickly stood up and asked Xiang Lan, "What happened here?"

Xiang Lan hemmed and hawed, unable to articulate a clear response.

She dared not say.

Could she really say it was because the young lady tried to scam Prince Qi and instead ended up spraining her ankle, and was furthermore outwitted by Prince Qi’s wife?

Liu Sisi’s expression was also poor. She forced a weak smile and said to Madam Liu, "Mother, it’s nothing. I just wasn’t watching my step in the Imperial Garden and twisted it a little, it’s not serious."

Hearing this, Madam Liu somewhat relieved, but still sent a servant to call a doctor.

She only had this one daughter, she had to be treasured.

However, Marquis Liu was not so easily fooled. His gaze sharply scrutinized the faces of Liu Sisi and Xiang Lan, and he immediately guessed that something disgraceful must have happened in the palace.

And today was the Empress’s birthday feast; all the ladies from prominent families were at the palace.

By tomorrow, the events at the palace would spread throughout the entire capital city.

He spoke sternly, "Call a doctor? Do you want more embarrassment?"

Liu Sisi’s expression stiffened, but Madam Liu disagreed, retorting, "It’s just a sprained ankle, how is that embarrassing?"

Marquis Liu rose, his face ashen. He glanced at Liu Sisi, flicked his sleeve, and left.

Watching the direction he was heading, Madam Liu huffed, "He must be going to that wench’s separate residence again!"

Liu Sisi knew she was referring to Luo Qiyuan, a concubine in their household.

Madam Liu had always disliked her, but who could blame her when Luo Qiyuan was so beautiful, and with a delicate figure that had ensnared her father’s heart.

Luo Qiyuan, clever as she was, stayed out of sight, knowing Madam Liu disliked her, and kept to her own quarters peacefully.

Liu Sisi didn’t exactly despise Luo Qiyuan, but she absolutely loathed the daughter Luo Qiyuan had given birth to, her half-sister, Liu Murou.

Lost in these thoughts, Liu Sisi then saw Liu Murou, dressed in a light yellow spring robe, walking towards her slowly, a mocking curve on her face.