Chapter 70: Startled, to go so far as bribery (2/2)

“Why don’t you dare? You don’t know, but before your betrothal, this one almost claimed you as…”

“Esteemed empress dowager, this dish is good too. Was it made by the head chef as well?” Han Yunxi interrupted again.

Finally, the empress dowager could only smile hypocritically as she nodded in silence. Thus, Han Yunxi finished her meal smoothly and unhindered, feeling very satisfied. They could always discuss matters after she ate and drank to her heart’s content.

After rinsing and changing to a tea table, the empress dowager finally had a chance to open her mouth, but she actually continued with the topic she’d dropped before. “Yunxi, before your betrothal, this one always claimed you as an adopted daughter. Your mother personally agreed as well.”

Hearing this, Han Yunxi’s hand holding the teacup turned stiff. What were the empress dowager’s motives in saying these things? She didn’t speak, she continued to wait.

The empress dowager paused before smiling, “Yunxi, ah, do you still want to be this one’s adopted daughter?”

Han Yunxi’s mouth twitched. “Esteemed empress dowager, it was your blessings that wedded Yunxi to the Duke of Qin. Yunxi makes bold to say that she’s considered esteemed empress dowager family long ago.”

Speaking from another perspective, Han Yunxi still counted as the empress dowager’s daughter-in-law. She actually wanted to take her as an adopted daughter. The intelligent Han Yunxi instantly sniffed out the scent of someone trying to win her over.

“Heheh, well, a daughter-in-law still isn’t as intimate as a daughter,” the empress dowager joked, taking Han Yunxi’s hand with a smile.

Han Yunxi shot a glance out of the corner of her eye at the empress. Indeed, the empress’s face instantly looked unsightly. Of course, the empress dowager’s words weren’t meant for the empress, but Grand Concubine Yi. Han Yunxi was Grand Concubine Yi’s daughter-in-law, but now the empress dowager wanted to take her as a daughter. What she meant was that she wanted to bribe her over to counter Grand Concubine Yi!

Han Yunxi finally understood why the empress dowager wanted to betroth the daughter of her lifesaver to the son of her enemy. It was so she could act as a spy and planted agent! Except, she never expected the child to grow into a useless, good-for-nothing ugly woman.

Leaving aside the fact that she didn’t want to be a spy, Han Yunxi would definitely refuse to spy by Long Feiye’s side. The rivalry between the empress dowager and Grand Concubine Yi was basically the rivalry between the emperor and Long Feiye. For her to be a planted agent at Long Feiye’s side was looking for death! Though the empress dowager’s words were veiled, a smart person could understand very clearly when they listened.

Seeing Han Yunxi hesitate, the empress dowager signaled the empress with a glance, who spoke. “Yunxi, the empress dowager has no daughters. She’s always wanted one, so an adopted daughter would be the same as a real one. If anyone bullies you in the future, not just the empress dowager and myself, but even the emperor won’t let them off easily.”

Tsk, tsk, Han Yunxi sighed with emotion in her heart. What an enticing temptation. Was this telling her that a single nod to agree would make the emperor someone to depend on? Seeing the warm smile of the empress and the expectant look of the empress dowager, Han Yunxi really wanted to tell them, Spies throughout the ages are always killed after they’ve been used. Relying on anyone was just empty promises.

She quietly finished her tea and smiled. “A daughter is naturally more intimate than a daughter-in-law.”

“Of course, of course,” the empress finished with a nod.

“In the end, a daughter-in-law is still an outsider,” Han Yunxi said again.

The empress thought she’d agreed and immediately nodded her head.

“A daughter-in-law isn’t intimate!” Han Yunxi said once more.

At this point, the empress realized that something was off. She was a daughter-in-law herself, and her mother-in-law was right next to her! Unhappiness flitted past her eyes, but she kept it in. She only stopped nodding. The empress dowager, though, was very pleased at such words. She said before, if Han Yunxi could cure the crown prince, then she’d give up old grudges and go according to previous plans from years ago to plant Han Yunxi as her agent in the Duke of Qin’s household. Originally, she expected Han Yunxi to consider it for much longer, but the woman actually approved of her words.

“Yunxi, it’s better than you understand. Why don’t we take care of this matter like…”

Before the empress dowager could finish, Han Yunxi stood up and made a respectful bow. “To gain esteemed empress dowager’s doting is Yunxi’s fortune. Yunxi thanks esteemed Empress Dowager.”

The empress dowager was very pleased and raised a hand to help her up. “Silly girl, if your mother hadn’t passed away early, and we didn’t have these misunderstandings, you wouldn’t have needed to suffer. With this one’s support, Grand Concubine Yi won’t dare to cause you difficulties.”

Han Yunxi smiled mildly, seemingly helpless. In actuality, she was mocking them. “Esteemed empress dowager, though my mother has already passed away, Yunxi has already become a married woman with a husband. Yunxi cannot be the judge on being your adopted daughter, but perhaps esteemed empress dowager can ask the Duke of Qin?”

What?

The words stunned the empress dowager and empress, whose faces instantly changed. A sinister and ruthless glint rose in the empress dowager’s eyes before she almost lost it. Han Yunxi, ah, Han Yunxi. We talked for so long but you were just playing around!

She knew that this issue was to target Grand Concubine Yi and the Duke of Qin, but she dared to say it should be discussed with the Duke of Qin!

Well done!

A so-called ‘married woman with a husband’ completed rejected her. A completely ingenious rejection! It made it impossible for her and the empress to lose their temper or cast blame. If they knew it would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have spoken in favor of sparing the Han Clan’s three generations!

The hands hidden in her wide sleeves clenched into fists as she suppressed her temper. The empress dowager couldn’t even find a chance to extricate herself from this awkward position. If news reached the ears of the Duke of Qin and Grand Concubine Yi, not only would she be a joke, they’d also take precautions against her.

The empress was furious as well. “Aiya, without mentioning the Duke of Qin, I would’ve forgotten about the matter. Imperial Mother, you like Yunxi, but in the end she’s one of the Duke of Qin’s people. You should know of Grand Concubine Yi and the Duke of Qin’s tempers. Arguing for the sake of arguing, such things won’t do if they hear of it!”