Chapter 433 - The Empress Dowager Asks for Ideas in Cining Palace (1/2)

“Why can’t you use it. You two are so much more lively than I am. I can’t wear clothes like these because they don’t complement my color. These clothes suit your complexions well.” Mo Xuetong smiled lightly. Her eyes were sincere. She moved over and picked up a dress to hold against He Yufen. The smile on her face was kind and gentle as she said, “Misses He, you are both beautiful and will look even more amazing if you wear these to the palace. Consort Zhao will definitely be pleased.”

When He Yufen heard Mo Xuetong mentioning Consort Zhao, the wariness in her eyes slowly faded. Instead, satisfaction replaced the wary look in her eyes as she gave Mo Xuetong the side-eye. She sniffed to herself coldly. She did not believe that Mo Xuetong did not want to please Consort Zhao. She had been so rude to the He family early only because Consort Zhao had not said anything about it.

Upon hearing that her sister could also enter the palace, He Yufen figured that it was because Consort Zhao had helped them out. Of course Mo Xuetong would try to b.u.t.ter up to Consort Zhao. No wonder Mo Xuetong looked as if she was trying to please the two He sisters today. She was full of smiles and even gifted them with clothes politely. It was because they had the support of Consort Zhao.

He Yuxiu had already spotted a dress that she liked. When she saw that He Yufen was not going to say anything else, she pointed at the dress and pretended to be shy. She said to Mo Xuetong sweetly, “Cousin-in-law, this dress is really pretty. The peonies on it are embroidered with gold thread. It is so beautiful. I have never seen a dress so beautiful before.”

“Second Miss, I will give it to you since you like it so. The dress complements your skin tone and makes your skin look even fairer.” Mo Xuetong waved her hand generously. “Come, Mo Lan, take Second Miss and help her dress up.”

“Yes, Second Miss, please come with me.” Mo Lan picked up the dress and smiled at He Yuxiu.

When He Yuxiu heard how Mo Xuetong complimented her and saw how generous she was, He Yuxiu immediately nodded happily. Even though she felt that this was Mo Xuetong’s way of b.u.t.tering up to Consort Zhao, she did not forget to say politely, “Thank you, Cousin-in-law. You are the best.”

Then, she did not wait for He Yufen and went with Mo Lan to get changed. He Yufen was so mad she gritted her teeth secretly. She was just a tad slower and the most beautiful dress landed in He Yuxiu’s hands. She liked that dress as well and was about to take it using Consort Zhao’s name. She did not expect He Yuxiu to be a tad faster than her and she was furious about it.

He Yufen’s heart burned with hatred, yet she did not show it. Even though her smile was a little stiff, she did not act rashly.

“First Miss, what do you think of this set? You will stun the crowd if you wear this with a peac.o.c.k skirt. First Miss is a gentle person and this set complements you well.” Mo Xuetong smiled and pointed at another set of clothes. She recommended it to He Yufen, saying, “Look, this sachet is nice as well. It looks like the one on Second Miss’s set of clothes. But it matches this set as well.

The pink sachet was indeed beautiful. It was the perfect finis.h.i.+ng touch beside the peac.o.c.k skirt. He Yufen liked it when she saw it. Fortunately, He Yuxiu did not see it earlier when she was picking out her clothes. That was great, and it was now He Yufen’s.

“This… I feel awful. How can I take your clothes!” He Yufen might seem polite but she could not hide the greed in her eyes. She did not even blink as she looked at the golden threads on the clothes. Mo Yu believed that if they were not around, First Miss He would have leaped at the clothes and gathered them in her arms.

She forced herself to restrain herself and pretended to be mature. However, she just looked like a joke.

“What’s there to feel bad about? First Miss He will look pretty in these clothes. Consort Zhao will feel proud of you when she sees you later.” Mo Xuetong smiled with warmth and familiarity.

It was Consort Zhao. Mo Xuetong was indeed afraid of Consort Zhao!

He Yufen did not expect Mo Xuetong to be so cowardly. She kept bringing up Consort Zhao. In the future, when He Yufen entered the King’s Manor, Mo Xuetong would be afraid of her as long as Consort Zhao supported He Yufen. He Yufen felt her mood improve immediately and despised Mo Xuetong. If this was so, there was no need to stand on ceremony. Mo Xuetong must be afraid that she would speak badly of Mo Xuetong in front of Consort Zhao, which was why she was trying to b.u.t.ter up to He Yufen now. Since this was so, she might as well take what Mo Xuetong was offering her. If she were any slower, the shameless He Yuxiu would come out. She might like the set that He Yufen was holding to right now. Then, it would be too late for her to cry even if she felt like it.

“Thank you so much, Cousin-in-law.” This time, He Yufen did not pretend to be reserved anymore. She waved her hands at Mo Xuetong with a pleased expression. She was very disrespectful in her actions.

Mo Yu brought He Yufen to get changed.

The two were changed after a while. He Yuxiu wore a pink satin s.h.i.+rt that glimmered with gold embroidered edges. The s.h.i.+rt was paired with a light pink skirt. She also wore a necklace of jade and pearls and her hair was in the palace style. She looked extremely charming with her make-up, making her look like a bride.

He Yufen, on the other hand, wore a light green peac.o.c.k skirt with gold flower adornments and a s.h.i.+rt that was of the same color. A pearl and jade belt wrapped around her waist with a few jade pendants hanging from it. She also wore a pink color sachet. Together, these ornaments chimed pleasingly as she walked. One could smell a slight fragrance before she even arrived. It was a charming sight.

The two of them walking together was a beautiful sight. However, the jade pendants and sachet added on a different charm for He Yufen as she walked. She immediately overshadowed He Yuxiu.

“First Miss He is so pretty. If a n.o.bleman falls for her like that, she would have a meteoric rise.” Mo Yu praised and clapped her hands.

He Yufen was pleased after being praised in front of so many people. However, she was also an unmarried young lady. She lowered her head shyly and missed seeing the vicious and cold look of jealousy in He Yuxiu’s eyes.

The Empress’ Cining Palace was very crowded today. Not only was the heavily pregnant Consort Yu present, Consort Zhao, who was the most doted on in the back of the palace, was present as well. Consort Chu, Ling Rui’er, Consort Yan, You Yue’e, Wife of Marquess Mingguo, Ling Mingyan, as well as some young ladies from n.o.ble families were all present as well. It could be said that it was a gathering of beautiful women. They laughed and chatted, and their tinkling laughter filled the air.

When Mo Xuetong arrived, the Empress Dowager invited her to the main hall. Mo Xuetong arrived at the main hall and saw the Empress Dowager sitting in the middle. She looked kind and benevolent and seemed healthy. She was not gravely ill unlike what was said in rumors.

Consort Yu sat to her left. She was visibly pregnant and wore a light yellow willow-style skirt. She was beautiful and gentle and spoke with the Empress Dowager with a smile. She would elicit peals of laughter from the Empress Dowager from time to time.

On the right of the Empress Dowager was Consort Zhao. She wore a light green dress, and compared to the filled figure of pregnant Consort Yu, Consort Zhao looked slender and pet.i.te. She was smiling and seemed very amicable. She was not arrogant at all even though she had been the focus of the Emperor’s affections for the past 10 years.

She chatted with the Empress Dowager and would interrupt from time to time and would get a hint of a smile from the Empress Dowager.