CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 87 DON’T WANT TO GIVE

"Your Highness, do you think this servant is being disrespectful..."

Consort Yun smiled even more genially. "Of course you may... let’s keep each other company in the future!"

"Unless... you are unwilling?"

Honored Lady Xi hurriedly said, "Willing, this servant is of course willing..." As she spoke, her face turned red, and she softly called out, "Elder Sister Consort Yun..."

Consort Yun happily responded. Then she looked toward Honored Lady Lan.

Honored Lady Lan was timid and very afraid, not daring to call out, and even less did she want to go against Consort Yun’s wishes. She only felt flustered and at a loss, wanting to seek Honored Lady Xi’s advice. But glancing over, she saw Honored Lady Xi smiling joyfully. Her mind went completely blank.

"What’s wrong? Honored Lady Lan is unwilling?" Consort Yun suddenly asked.

Honored Lady Lan could not speak and could only shake her head desperately. "No, not at all..."

Having said that, she had no choice but to call out, "Elder... Elder Sister Consort Yun..."

Consort Yun chuckled merrily in response.

It only took a little while before they started addressing each other as sisters... These two fools, they’re really so easy to fool!

By noon, Consort Yun invited them to have lunch together. The two of them were so frightened that they knelt down, repeatedly saying they dared not. This wasn’t a matter of daring or not, but rather that it was somewhat improper. Consort Yun didn’t insist any further and let it go.

After Consort Yun left, Honored Lady Lan’s face went pale, her whole body relaxed. Honored Lady Xi, however, didn’t seem to feel anything was wrong and was still very excited. The two of them played for a while longer before going to have lunch.

In the afternoon, Honored Lady Xi dragged the napping Honored Lady Lan out of bed. "Eldest Sister Lan, the sun outside is splendid, the sunset is almost here, why are you still sleeping."

Honored Lady Lan woke up.

"Eldest Sister Lan, the magnolia in the Imperial Garden has bloomed, let’s go take a look."

Honored Lady Lan thought, since she couldn’t sleep and had nothing else to do, she might as well go.

After tidying up, the two of them headed to the Imperial Garden.

Xia Ruqing also went for a stroll in the garden. She too had just woken up, and it was the kind that left her feeling as though her bones were about to fall apart. Spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, summer naps—there wasn’t a time when she wasn’t sleepy.

However, she had another purpose for visiting the garden: to walk her rabbits. Zhao Junyao had gotten her those five or six little white rabbits, which she had raised to be fatter and fatter.

Xia Ruqing thought: If they grew any fatter, she might really be tempted to eat them.

Therefore, she came to help the rabbits lose some weight.

Arriving at the Imperial Garden, she found a spacious place, opened the cage, and let them run around. Just then, she heard bursts of laughter nearby. Upon approaching, she realized it was Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi.

"Eh? Elder Sister Xia is also here?" Honored Lady Xi said with a look of surprise.

Xia Ruqing had just sat down and had to stand up again. "Naturally, I came to stroll in the garden..."

Whenever they went to pay respects to the Empress, the three of them would sit together. Although Xia Ruqing didn’t want to casually acknowledge them as sisters, she still had to respond to their greetings.

Honored Lady Xi just smiled. Then she noticed a cage on the ground, and not far away, a few rabbits were running around. She immediately became excited.

"Rabbits, there are actually rabbits here!"

"Elder Sister Xia, are they yours?"

Xia Ruqing appeared a bit embarrassed and could only say, "Just to pass the time, I had someone bring a few to raise..."

In the palace, it was common for women to keep a few cats or dogs to pass the time. However, raising rabbits was still a novelty.

Honored Lady Xi curiously looked at this one and touched that one. The little rabbits were very well-behaved, and the grass on the ground was lush; they were just busy eating. They didn’t even notice when someone touched them. From a distance, they looked like little snow-white balls of fluff nestled in the grass. Their long ears twitched occasionally, presenting an adorably naive appearance.

Honored Lady Xi liked them very much and held one, reluctant to let go. "Elder Sister Xia, could you give me one? I’ll trade you my prettiest hairpin..."

Xia Ruqing saw the look of expectation on her face and her strong desire. Regrettably... she simply didn’t want to give one away, no particular reason needed!

So she said, "Rabbits always come in pairs. Honored Lady Xi, your one hairpin could buy several pairs."

Her meaning was clear: she didn’t want to give one away; if Honored Lady Xi wanted one, she should buy it herself.

When Honored Lady Xi heard they came in pairs, she felt too embarrassed to ask for a pair directly. After playing with one for a while, she reluctantly put it down...

At that moment, a sharp voice carried over. "Well, well... I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be the three of you..."

"Lady Xia, Honored Lady Xi, Honored Lady Lan!"

Hu Liyi, dressed flamboyantly, approached, swaying her slender waist and her fan.

Xia Ruqing, reluctant as she was, still had to come forward to pay her respects.

Looking at the women curtsying to her, Hu Liyi let out a disdainful snort. "Rise..."

"Thank you, Hu Liyi..." Lan Xi said in unison.

Xia Ruqing, however, didn’t want to speak to her, so she remained silent and simply rose to her feet.

Hu Liyi, who already couldn’t stand the sight of her, became even more incensed at this. She mocked coldly, "Oh, does Lady Xia look down on us? Can’t even utter a thank you?"

Xia Ruqing retorted with a sneer, "Why should I give thanks?"

Besides, she really did look down on Hu Liyi. She had figured it out: Hu Liyi was just looking for trouble with her. If she had said thank you, Hu Liyi would definitely have found something else to pick on. In any case, she would have caused trouble! Constant yielding wouldn’t work!

Hu Liyi snapped in anger, "You paid respects to me, and I permitted you to rise. Shouldn’t you thank me?"

Xia Ruqing countered with a cold sneer, "Is that one of the rules? If it is, then I’ll certainly have to look it up when I get back! Next time I see Liyi, I’ll be sure to give my thanks properly, perhaps tenfold to make up for this occasion, how about that?"

Hu Liyi was so furious she was rendered speechless. "Lady Xia! You..."

"What’s the matter with me? Oh, Liyi, why are you so upset!" Xia Ruqing smiled brilliantly.

"You audacious Lady Xia, you actually dared to offend me..." Hu Liyi was so enraged she felt like she could cough up blood, when suddenly she caught sight of the rabbits on the ground. Her eyes lit up in an instant.

"Hmph, Lady Xia, if I can’t deal with you, do you think I can’t deal with a few rabbits?" She had heard everything just now; these rabbits belonged to Lady Xia!

Xia Ruqing’s heart sank with a thud. Oh no, the rabbits!

Hu Liyi, however, didn’t consider the consequences at all. Acting on impulse, she quickly took a couple of steps and kicked towards a foolish rabbit that was grazing. She was vicious, and this kick carried her full, deadly force. The rabbit, if hit, would surely die!

Xia Ruqing shouted in a panic, "Don’t!"

"Don’t!"

They cried out in unison.

Xia Ruqing lunged forward but was a step too late. Honored Lady Xi, however, managed to dive in the way. She had intended to shield the rabbit in her embrace, but in her panic, she tripped over her own dress and tumbled to the ground.

The little rabbit, sensing danger, hopped away agilely.

But Honored Lady Xi took the full brunt of Hu Liyi’s kick! Right in the solar plexus!

"AH!"

"URGH..."

A mouthful of fresh blood spilled out, and Honored Lady Xi fell unconscious.