mtl008 Chapter 240 Silly and Cute Li Lingxuan
Chapter 240 Silly and Cute Li Lingxuan
"Teacher, what Master Yulan said makes sense."
Lu Qingyun advised, "After all, we are still not fully grown and our power is not yet fully formed. If we can get the Queen Mother's forgiveness, it will be a hundred benefits for us and there will be no harm. Besides, you are not going to beg her, you are just visiting her to express your goodwill."
Sister Cen Xiao pondered for a long time and finally made up her mind: "Okay, then I'll do as Qingyun said. I'll visit Li Lingxuan tomorrow."
The next day, Sister Cen Xiao brought Yu Lan and prepared generous gifts to visit the princess at her residence.
Li Lingxuan seemed to have anticipated that Cen Jiexiao would come, and was already there to greet her at the door of the inn.
"It is a great honor for our humble home to have you, Dean Cen!" Li Lingxuan came forward with a smile and took Cen Jiexiao's arm affectionately, as if they were good friends who had not seen each other for many years.
Cen Jiexiao was secretly alert in her heart, but she remained calm on the surface. She smiled and exchanged a few words of greeting, then entered the inn under the guidance of Li Lingxuan.
Although it was just a guesthouse, the decoration was extremely luxurious, showing the owner's status and position everywhere. As Cen Jiexiao walked along, she was secretly amazed. This royal relative was really rich enough to rival an entire country!
The two of them arrived at the living room and took their seats, host and guest. A maid served them fragrant tea, and Li Lingxuan eagerly asked, "I wonder what brings you here today, Dean Cen?"
Sister Cen Xiao smiled slightly and said, "It's nothing serious. It's just that I haven't seen you for a long time. I'm sure you've heard about a lot of things that happened recently. I happened to have some free time, so I came to visit."
Li Lingxuan gracefully put down her teacup and looked at Cen Jiexiao with a half-smile, her tone tentative. "Speaking of which, there have been rumors swirling around Linkang Prefecture lately. They're all talking about how Dean Cen won the emperor's favor and was granted the title of Imperial Zhou Ling. Zhaoyin Academy has also become a target of public criticism. Sigh, I don't know who would come up with these fabricated stories. It's really giving me a headache."
Cen Jiexiao took a sip of tea calmly and sneered in her heart. Li Lingxuan was really good at pretending. She obviously wanted to test her opinion, but she had to pretend that it had nothing to do with her. Did she really think she was a fool?
Seeing that Cen Jiexiao didn't respond, Li Lingxuan didn't get angry and continued, "President Cen, please don't blame me for being nosy. My aunt, although she's the Queen Mother, is also a kind person. She can't stand people saying bad things about her. You know, there's a lot of gossip in the harem. If some words get to my aunt's ears, she's bound to be unhappy. Don't you think this is the case?"
Cen Jiexiao agreed with a forced smile, "The princess is right. The Queen Mother is kind and generous, so she naturally won't tolerate those scoundrels gossiping behind her back."
Li Lingxuan covered her mouth with her hands and smiled, pretending to say casually, "Actually, Dean Cen, there's no need to worry too much. My aunt has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She looks serious on weekdays, but she's actually very kind-hearted. As long as you please her and help her relieve her worries, then she'll naturally not care about some things."
"Oh? From what the princess said, has the Empress Dowager been worried about something recently?" Cen Jiexiao asked calmly, but she was secretly thinking about the intention of Li Lingxuan's words.
Li Lingxuan sighed, a hint of helplessness in her tone: "Alas, it's all because of Your Majesty and the Great Zhou that I'm worried sick about. My aunt often said that Your Majesty is young and there are many treacherous villains in the court. She is really worried."
Cen Jiexiao sneered in her heart. This Li Lingxuan was really good at confusing right and wrong. It was obvious that the Queen Mother herself was greedy for power and unwilling to give it up, but she insisted on talking about the country and the people. It was really ridiculous!
Li Lingxuan put down the teacup in her hand and said nonchalantly, "Come to think of it, I've noticed lately that my aunt seems to be a little worried."
She paused, observing Cen Jiexiao's expression. Seeing no unusual reaction, she continued, "A few days ago, I went to pay my respects to my aunt and found her staring blankly at the mirror, a look of sorrow on her face. I asked her what was wrong, but she refused to say. She simply sighed and said, 'Time is merciless.'"
Li Lingxuan paused here deliberately, picked up the teacup and took a sip, but she kept an eye on Cen Jiexiao's expression out of the corner of her eye.
Cen Jiexiao listened calmly, but in her mind she began to rapidly analyze the meaning behind Li Lingxuan's words. The Empress Dowager had always been particular about maintaining her appearance, and was particularly concerned about changes in her appearance. Now that she suddenly said, "Time is merciless," it was clear that she was deeply anxious. Could it be... that the Empress Dowager was worried about her own fading beauty? Thinking of this, Cen Jiexiao couldn't help but sneer. It seemed that the greater the power, the greater the fear of losing it, even the smallest loss.
"I've noticed that my aunt doesn't look very well recently. She can't sleep well at night and often sighs in front of the mirror. I don't know what's wrong." Li Lingxuan mentioned it casually, but her eyes were fixed on Cen Jiexiao, trying to catch the slightest flaw on her face.
Cen Jiexiao's heart stirred. Li Lingxuan's seemingly careless words were actually a reminder to her. The Queen Mother's recent worry was naturally about her own aging and fading beauty. Although she held great power, she was still a woman, and it was a woman's nature to love beauty. Thinking of this, Cen Jiexiao's lips curled up into a sly smile.
"Your Highness, you may not know this," Cen Jiexiao feigned surprise. "The Empress Dowager is so busy with her affairs, working so hard for the country and the people that it's inevitable that she might feel less energetic." She paused, observing Li Lingxuan's expression. Seeing that she didn't doubt him, she continued, "The Empress Dowager's good health is a blessing for our Great Zhou and the people. I hope Your Highness will comfort her and ask her not to overwork herself."
Li Lingxuan was secretly anxious when she saw that Sister Cen didn't understand her hint, but she couldn't say it too directly, so she could only continue to hint at it: "Dean Cen is right, but my aunt has always been strong-willed and likes to do many things herself. As her niece, I can only worry about it but can't help much." As she spoke, she sighed helplessly, but she was always paying attention to Sister Cen's reaction out of the corner of her eye.
Cen Jiexiao sneered in her heart. This Li Lingxuan was really a good actor. It was obvious that she wanted to take the opportunity to warn her and make her stand on the side of the Queen Mother, but she had to pretend to be concerned and confused. It was really ridiculous!
"Thank you, Princess, for the reminder. I'll take note of it." Cen Jiexiao said lightly, but she already had an idea in her mind.
Li Lingxuan was secretly pleased to see that Sister Cen seemed to have understood her hint, but her face remained concerned. "As long as Dean Cen understands what I mean, I'm relieved."
Cen Jiexiao stood up and said with a smile, "I have bothered you for a long time today, it is time to take my leave."
Li Lingxuan stood up to see her off and accompanied Cen Jiexiao all the way to the gate of the inn before turning around and leaving.
After leaving the inn, Cen Jiexiao curled up the corner of her mouth with a sneer. Li Lingxuan really had a good plan. She wanted to take this opportunity to warn her and make her stand on the side of the Queen Mother. It was really wishful thinking!