Su Yunmo frowned deeply, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
She pushed aside the warm, thick cotton robe and took the flower branch from Liu Lanxue, coaxing, "There are many more over there. I'll hold this for you. Why don't you go pick some prettier ones?"
"Okay~" Liu Lanxue happily ran off into the distance.
Once Liu Lanxue was far enough away that she couldn't hear their conversation, Su Yunmo looked up at Ye Yunshuang.
"Who I bring here is none of your business. If you don't want to end up eating dirt like last time, you'd best mind your own affairs and leave."
A cold light shot from the little dumpling's eyes, and a surging aura erupted around her.
Even though she was sitting curled up, she exuded an immense sense of pressure.
Ye Yunshuang was suddenly reminded of the previous incident, and her throat felt sore, as if she were about to gag.
Almost instinctively, she took half a step back, her voice involuntarily trembling slightly, "I won't argue with you today. Do as you please. When the Empress finds out about this, you'll be in trouble!"
She glared hatefully at the little dumpling and turned to leave with her maids.
Seeing Ye Yunshuang go to pick flowers elsewhere, the little dumpling glanced across the way again.
Liu Lanxue was within her line of sight, and quite far from where Ye Yunshuang was picking flowers.
Su Yunmo clicked her tongue and, feeling reassured, tucked her head back into the soft cushion.
She took out peanuts from her small cloth bag and began peeling and eating them one by one.
Soon, a rustling sound came from beside her, and something cool was placed around her head.
"It's beautiful!" Liu Lanxue's voice was filled with joy.
Su Yunmo knew she had probably woven another flower crown. She hummed in response and continued eating.
As she ate, she started to feel sleepy again. She yawned, closed her eyes, and rested.
Liu Lanxue had woven two flower crowns in a row. Looking at them, she felt there weren't enough flowers. She took the one from the little dumpling's head and tied it to the one in her hand.
It was still not enough.
She looked up and scanned her surroundings, her gaze settling on a tree laden with blossoms.
Holding the flower crown, she walked out of the pavilion towards the tree.
Ye Yunshuang was instructing her maids to cut flower branches when a figure flashed past her. She looked up and saw Liu Lanxue not far from her.
She glanced back towards the pavilion. The little dumpling was still nestled in her thick cotton robe, motionless. A sly glint flashed in Ye Yunshuang's eyes, and she walked towards Liu Lanxue.
Liu Lanxue was stretching her hand, trying to reach the highest flower branches. But even on tiptoe, she couldn't reach them. She placed the flower crown on the ground beside her.
Ye Yunshuang then stomped down hard on the flower crown, a look of vindictive satisfaction flashing in her eyes.
Damn Su Yunmo! If I can't deal with you, can't I deal with a simpleton?
Liu Lanxue, who was diligently picking flowers, gasped when she saw her flower crown being trampled, "My flower crown!"
Ye Yunshuang ground her foot into the flower crown several times, her eyes full of mockery. "I'm truly sorry. Who told you to leave your things lying around? I didn't see them."
"Move away, don't step on it!" Liu Lanxue bumped into her, desperately trying to push her leg.
Ye Yunshuang looked down at her, supporting herself with her maid's arm. She pressed down with her foot, "So what if I step on it? If you have the guts, move my leg yourself."
"Kneel down and move it! You'll use more force if you kneel, hurry, kneel, kneel, hahahaha..."
Liu Lanxue used all her strength, but she couldn't budge two people by herself. In her desperation, she cried out, "Get away, Momo! Momo!"
"She doesn't have time to concern herself with you. You'll have to do it yourself. Or perhaps I can help you." A sinister glint flashed in Ye Yunshuang's eyes, and she raised her foot to kick Liu Lanxue's head.
Su Yunmo, who had been drowsy, suddenly heard Liu Lanxue's voice. She quickly emerged from the soft cushion and saw Ye Yunshuang about to kick someone.
"Your Highness!" The little dumpling quickly stood up, but running from such a distance would be too late.
She gathered her strength and flicked her sleeve fiercely towards Ye Yunshuang.
Ye Yunshuang let out a scream and was sent flying, landing on top of her maid.
The maid was knocked to the ground, crying out in pain.
The little dumpling quickly shed her cumbersome cloak and strode towards them.
"Damn it, what was that!" Ye Yunshuang was bewildered, but seeing Su Yunmo running towards her, she quickly struggled to get up.
The little dumpling reached Liu Lanxue and reached out to help her, "Your Highness, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Ye Yunshuang had just gotten to her feet when she heard the address and froze. "Your Highness? You're calling this lunatic 'Your Highness'?"
How could this be possible?
Liu Lanxue knelt on the ground, cradling the flower crown.
The flower crown was completely ruined and could no longer be repaired.
She held the flower crown, her eyes filled with sadness, "Momo, the flower crown is broken. It's gone."
She couldn't reconcile with A'Yao anymore.
Su Yunmo patted her back, "It's okay. There are plenty of flower branches here, we can make a new one."
Liu Lanxue shook her head, the broken flower crown dangling to the ground, "It's not the same."
Although she didn't know why it wasn't the same, it was as if someone had told her that broken things were difficult to make whole again.
She wiped her eyes vigorously, looked up at Ye Yunshuang, and clenched her fists.
It was all this person's fault. This person ruined the flower crown she made for A'Yao!
Ye Yunshuang steadied herself and frowned at Liu Lanxue, "Which palace are you from? I don't recall any empress who has been ill and acting mad recently."
The maid thought for a moment, then stepped forward and whispered in her ear.
Ye Yunshuang suddenly understood.
Right, the first time she met Su Yunmo, she was in the cold palace. So this madwoman must be that deposed Consort Liang?
She hadn't seen her in so many years that she had forgotten what she looked like.
"Hey, shouldn't you be in the cold palace, you crazy woman? What are you doing out here... Ah!"
Ye Yunshuang was tackled to the ground.
The maid, startled, quickly stepped forward, "Your Highness!"
Before the maid could get closer, Liu Lanxue quickly looked up, a red light flashing in her eyes, "Get lost!"
The maid was frightened by her gaze.
Liu Lanxue slapped Ye Yunshuang hard across the face.
*Slap!*
Ye Yunshuang was stunned by the blow.
Even Su Yunmo was taken aback. She had been with Consort Liang for three months since she started treating her.
Consort Liang had only been this angry twice. The last time was when her hand was injured in the Empress's palace.
And this time, it was over a flower crown?
"You dare hit me? You crazy woman, I'll have my imperial brother kill you!" Ye Yunshuang finally came to her senses and struggled to kick the person on top of her.
But Liu Lanxue acted as if she were oblivious, striking her face with both hands.
Ye Yunshuang's vision swam with stars from the blows. She yelled desperately, "Useless wretch, what are you standing there for? Come and help!"
The maid snapped back to attention and stepped forward.
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes and waved her hand.
The maid froze instantly, her legs unable to move.
Ye Yunshuang had received at least a dozen slaps to her face by now. "I told you to come and pull this crazy woman off me, didn't you hear me? Hurry up!"
The maid was sweating profusely, "Your Highness, my legs won't move!"
What in the world was going on?