sweet and sour, with a hint of fermented grain sweetness, and there was also a faint scent of plum blossoms mixed in. An Xuetang thought it smelled very good.For a moment, she inexplicably felt the u...An Xue Tang knew very well that the envy in Liu's eyes wasn't envy for her clothes at this moment, nor for how good or gorgeous they were.

What Liu shi envied, however, was the red clothing she wore. It was only something a legitimate wife could wear.

With such a disgraceful background, Liu could eat and wear without worry. However, she would forever remain in the shadows. Naturally, she envied An Xue Tang's respectable status as the North Frontier Princess.

The moment the eunuch pushed open the door, An Xue Tang knew that the current Liu Shi was completely different from before, with her ambition practically written all over her face.

At this time, Liu turned her head and glanced at the palace maid beside her, "Go down first."

Two maidservants bowed respectfully and quickly responded with a "Yes, ma'am" before turning to leave. The careful way they moved suggested that they had been scolded by Lady Liu many times before.

After her own maidservant left, Liu turned to look at Fu'er and Ning'er who were behind An Xuetang.

In her eyes, Fu'er and Ning'er were just like the two palace maids from before, so she unceremoniously scolded them, "What are you two still doing here Get out first."

"..."

An Xuetang raised an eyebrow, this Liu Shi now dared to point fingers at her people It seemed she really treated herself as a concubine in the imperial palace.

Fu'er and Ning'er simply stared at An Xuetang, both ignoring Liu shi.

Liu saw that after she finished speaking, both Fu'er and Ning'er were silent. Her face darkened, "What's wrong with you two Are your ears deaf"

An Xuetang's eyes were deep, "Mother, they are not your maidservants, nor people from the palace. Except for this concubine, no one can order them around."

"..." Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

An Xuetang's icy words instantly plunged the atmosphere into an unbearably awkward situation. The room fell silent, and the air grew thick with tension.

Liu's face kept changing, she probably didn't expect An Xuetang to be so disrespectful, and An Xuetang deliberately called herself "this concubine" in front of her, it must be to make fun of her.

She did want to call herself "this palace," but she had no title. She was just an ordinary woman the emperor kept hidden from view!

An Xuetang then turned her head to look at Fu'er and Ning'er, "Fu'er, Ning'er, go outside and wait for me."

An Xue Tang told the two to go out first. Ning'er was reluctant, but she scanned the room and saw nothing that could threaten An Xue Tang's safety, so she obediently retreated outside with Fu'er.

The moment the door closed, Liu Shi frowned and said disapprovingly, "A Tang, you are the esteemed Princess of Bei Jiang. How can you address yourself as 'I' in front of these servants You must always remember your noble status."

An Xuetang smiled, “Mother, you’ve changed quite a bit these days.”

Liu blinked, "What do you mean, A Tang"

An Xuetang didn't want to discuss this with her. At this moment, she looked at her and said, "I wonder what mother is looking for me for Do you want me to save you"

"No, no, no."

Upon hearing this, Liu shi quickly shook her head and said nervously, "I won't go out. I... I'll just stay here."

“So, Mother, are you truly willing to remain by the Emperor's side like this”

"In my whole life, I never thought I'd have such a day, nor that I'd meet the Emperor and be favored by him. This life of mine is now complete."

"Is that so"

An Xuetang leisurely sat down, "Mother, are you reluctant to leave the emperor or the riches and honor here"

Liu pursed her lips, silent for a moment before saying, "It's hard to bear parting. Ah Tang, you don't know, after mother entered the capital, she suffered so much grievance. In that household, she was tormented by that Liu Yaner until she felt like dying. Anyway, mother will never go back there."

To be tortured to the point of death

An Xuetang couldn't help but let out a light laugh, "As I know it, mother, although you were a concubine in An Shilang's mansion, Liu Yan'er couldn't harm you at all because my grandmother and aunt always protected you, didn't they"

An Xuetang had already had people investigate. After Liu entered the capital, Liu Yaner did indeed want to bully her and arrange the worst courtyard for her. However, Liu held Wang and Cui's antidote in her hands. She used Wang and Cui against Liu Yaner, and Liu Yaner couldn't calculate her at all.

Wang's fierce temper protected Liu, what could Liu Yaner do to Liu

So, although she became a concubine, Liu's life in the manor wasn't too bad.

Moreover, because of her beauty, that Annan Lin would almost always secretly give her some favors. He would sneak to her courtyard day after day. Such days were already good enough for the previous Liu Shi. She actually described them as being tortured and worse than death

When exposed like this by An Xuetang, Liu's face flushed red. "I... I..."

An Xuetang smiled, "Mother, you don't need to explain to me. Let me just say this, if I have the ability to safely rescue Mother and can also ensure your prosperous and wealthy life for the rest of your days, would Mother be willing to leave with me"

Liu shi almost without thinking shook her head, “No, mother won't leave.”

After she finished speaking, Liu's own face turned embarrassed.

"Okay, I understand."

An Xuetang looked at her, her eyes devoid of any emotion. "Since this is your own choice, mother, I won't say anything more. Just know this, the moment you choose to stay here, it's as if we've severed ties completely."

"After all, I am the Princess of Beijang. My biological mother would never be with my husband's father. So, if you stay here, the next time we meet, we'll be strangers."

Liu pursed her lips, clearly somewhat dissatisfied with the outcome. But this result seemed to be what she wanted as well. By separating from A Tang, she might still have a chance to ask the emperor for an official identity.

Thinking this way, Liu shi accepted An Xue Tang's words.

When An Xue Tang saw that she didn't object, her heart felt a little cold, but in the end, this was Liu's own choice, and she respected it.

"Well then, I won't stay here any longer. Perhaps you would be kind enough to tell me directly what brings you to see me"

Liu returned to her senses and looked up at An Xue Tang, "A Tang, do you... still have the things you gave me last time"

An Xue Tang raised her eyebrows slightly. "Skincare products"

"Yes, yes." Mrs. Liu said impatiently. "A Tang, you know that I'm not young anymore. If I don't use your medicine to maintain my beauty, the Emperor won't favor me in the future, and people wouldn't treat me so well."

She had only called her over for this. An Xuetang stood up and said softly, "I'll find a way to get the medicine sent in to you. Is there anything else"

Liu shook her head, then after a while nodded again. She walked over to An Xuetang and lowered her voice, "A-Tang, there's something I want to ask you."

What's the matter

"Is the King of Beijng going to be emperor"

At her sudden question, An Xuetang's eyes instantly turned cold.f wash over him. "There isn't much I can do. The emperor planning to send troops was something I overheard during a casual drink with the Minister of War. All I can do is inform you all about it. As f...