Everyone immediately held their breath for Chu Qianli.
The Empress Dowager's words clearly indicated she had strong opinions about Chu Qianli.
Playing tricks in front of the Empress Dowager would not end well.
Princess Ling and Chu Nandong watched Chu Qianli, wondering how she would explain herself.
Unexpectedly, Chu Qianli smiled and nodded, "Yes! Chu Feiyan has always bullied me, so when I caught the opportunity today, I naturally had to get revenge."
"..." Everyone was speechless.
Even the Empress Dowager was taken aback.
This little girl didn't hide her intentions at all!
Her frankness made it hard to dislike her.
Just moments ago, she had intensely disliked Chu Qianli.
The Empress Dowager left.
Chu Qianqian followed her in.
No one knew what they were going to discuss.
Princess Ling breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Chu Qianli, her expression anxious, "Miss Chu, this is Nanming!"
"I know." Not being on her own territory, offending the Empress Dowager was indeed a dangerous matter.
Princess Ling's feelings were complicated.
This young girl, still so young, could be said to be ignorant, yet she seemed to understand everything.
But when she was supposed to be sensible, she could be so impulsive.
She sighed softly.
Chu Qianli smiled, "No matter how this matter ends, the Empress Dowager's anger will only be directed at me and will not implicate Princess Qianqian."
"Moreover, the way the Empress Dowager looked at Princess Qianqian just now held some apology. At least in that regard, Princess Qianqian benefited from today's events."
"But you, Miss..."
"I am not from Nanming. As long as the Empress Dowager doesn't kill me, everything is negotiable and won't affect my future."
"You are quite optimistic," Princess Ling sighed. "You don't know how much influence Prince Yu has here..."
Never mind, speaking too much could lead to mistakes.
This was, after all, still within the palace.
"The guests have all arrived. Since the Empress Dowager is not here, let's head to the banquet hall first." Princess Ling quickly regained her composure.
Chu Qianli nodded, glanced back in the direction the Empress Dowager and her party had left, then turned and followed Princess Ling.
...
The Empress Dowager's chambers.
Chu Qianqian kept her head down, fiddling with her ten fingers, not daring to speak carelessly.
She even held her breath, afraid to breathe too deeply.
"Are you very afraid of this old woman?" The Empress Dowager was not a malicious person; in fact, she was generally easy to get along with.
However, being in a high position, her status meant that few people dared to interact with her with genuine sincerity.
It was for this reason that when Chu Feiyan, who was both well-behaved and occasionally spoiled and willful, appeared, the Empress Dowager immediately took a liking to this little girl who dared to act out in front of her.
From childhood, she had liked her until... just now.
Perhaps she still liked her, but for a moment just now, she had felt a flicker of disappointment.
She really disliked children who lied.
Perhaps no elder liked that.
"Does your Imperial Grandmother seem so terrifying to you?" the Empress Dowager sighed.
Startled, Chu Qianqian quickly raised her head to meet her gaze.
"Imperial Grandmother, I didn't mean that. I just... I just..."
She bit her lip, and after a long while, quietly said, "I have never spoken to you like this before, Imperial Grandmother. Being so... close, I... I felt nervous..."
The Empress Dowager and Nanny Dian exchanged glances.
Chu Qianqian was now sitting not far from the Empress Dowager.
The distance was indeed not far.
But for her other granddaughter, Chu Feiyan, this distance was perfectly normal.
It seemed that over the years, she had truly been so partial!