Chapter 9: Making Enemies 5

Lu Xin did not understand her meaning. She raised her chin in displeasure and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, whether I share a bed with Ouyang Jing or not, what does it have to do with you?"

Liu Qinghua gave her a cold sneer, then turned to smile at Lv Luo beside her. "Lv Luo, don't you think that after that long string of 'do not speak of improper things,' there should also be a phrase added: 'do not meddle in improper things'?"

Lv Luo let out a charming laugh upon hearing this, but realizing they were currently in Consort Xin's sleeping quarters, she did not dare to be insolent and could only lower her head to stifle her laughter.

Seeing that even a tiny maidservant by her side dared to mock her, how could Lu Xin swallow this insult? However, since what Liu Qinghua said was indeed reasonable, she could only pick at the minor flaws in her words to make an issue of it.

Her cheeks flushed red with anger as she pointed at the tip of Liu Qinghua's nose and shouted, "You actually dare to call the Prince by his given name! I taught you the rules yesterday, and it seems you have forgotten!"

Liu Qinghua felt she was making a scene without reason and ceased to be polite.

She grabbed the finger right in front of her, using her height advantage to look down at Lu Xin, and said, "I indeed did forget. Why don't you give me another lesson?"

She had not expected Liu Qinghua to change her timid attitude from yesterday and confront her like this.

Lu Xin was surprised in her heart, but her movements did not hesitate for a moment. She raised her hand to slap the other woman's cheek, her eyes filled with extreme malice.

Seeing that she was serious, Liu Qinghua let out a cold snort. She easily blocked the woman's wrist and swung her hand to deliver a slap back to Lu Xin. The loud sound rang exceptionally crisp in the warm pavilion.

"You dare hit me?!" Lu Xin clutched her stinging cheek and stepped forward in a rage to retaliate, but her wrist was gripped tightly.

Liu Qinghua looked at her with disgust and sneered, "I originally wanted to make peace with you, but you simply do not know what is good for you! I truly cannot understand how Ouyang Jing could marry a woman like you."

Lu Xin could stand nothing more than these words. She glared fiercely at Liu Qinghua, struggling violently to resist, but a bone-deep pain suddenly surged through her wrist; she felt as if it were about to be snapped.

"I can let yesterday's matter go, but from today onwards, you had better behave yourself. If you dare to arrogantly lecture people again, I guarantee I will cleanly snap these two claws of yours!"

Liu Qinghua gave a cold snort, released Lu Xin's wrist, and instead pulled the stunned Lv Luo out of the warm pavilion.

Lu Xin let out a resentful roar, sweeping all the jewelry off the dressing table onto the floor, yet she still could not vent the fury and humiliation in her heart.

After the master and servant returned to Yihe Residence, Liu Qinghua picked up the water cup on the table and drained it in one gulp, only then feeling a bit of satisfaction.

Lv Luo stood timidly to the side and said, "Princess, Consort Xin has always had a haughty temperament and loves to nitpick. I am afraid she will not let this go easily."

Recalling the scene just now at Warm Fragrance Cottage, Liu Qinghua struck the table hard, causing the porcelain on it to clatter.

She said indifferently, "If she has the guts, let her come. I will see her through to the end."

Thinking of Lu Xin's speechless appearance just now, Lv Luo could not help but smile and say, "Since the Princess woke up yesterday, her temperament does not seem as weak and easily bullied as before. This servant thinks that Consort Xin will not dare to provoke you again!"

"After all, I am the primary consort. If someone truly comes to lecture me, it won't be her turn."

"The Princess is right, but Consort Xin has the Prime Minister and the Empress backing her. You must be careful."

"I will deal with whatever comes my way; I will never retreat even a fraction."

Looking at the brilliance erupting in her eyes, Lv Luo was actually shaken: The Princess's gaze was confident and intimidating. A person with such eyes always possesses a charm that makes people unable to help but follow.

Even though Liu Qinghua had made sufficient psychological preparations, she still did not expect that Lu Xin's retaliation would come so quickly.