The weather grew warmer day by day, and Wang Qingyao found herself increasingly prone to sleep. This time, no one dared to wake her in the morning. She slept until she naturally woke up each day, and still took an afternoon nap.
One day, after waking from her nap and having some tea and snacks, she summoned Bian Siyue and Huang Shiyu. The three of them worked on needlepoint together, making some clothes and socks for the unborn child.
Wang Qingyao didn't know how to sew, but she had a heart overflowing with maternal love.
She imagined how heartwarming it would be to see her own child wearing clothes she had made with her own hands.
However, reality proved that imagination was beautiful, but reality was cruel.
With Wang Qingyao's sewing skills, which were limited to hemming handkerchiefs, she could probably only make a bib, and that too, only after the maids had cut the fabric for her, and she simply hemmed the edges.
Even just hemming the edges, her stitches were uneven and crooked.
Bian Siyue held the bib she had sewn and burst into laughter, nearly falling off her seat. "I thought I was bad at needlework, but Princess, you're even worse than me... Hahaha... Look, even Shiyu's embroidery done with her feet is better than yours..."
Huang Shiyu nudged her with her elbow. "How can you speak to the Princess like that?" But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, and she couldn't resist smiling.
Wang Qingyao didn't care at all. "Laugh all you want. I'm not good at this anyway."
"Then what are you good at, Princess?" Bian Siyue blurted out.
"Rolling dice and playing Dou Dizhu."
Everyone else looked speechless and surprised, except for Bian Siyue, who was full of enthusiasm.
"Princess, can you teach me?"
"It's a secret technique, so no."
" stingy."
Huang Shiyu was about to nudge Bian Siyue again, but Bian Siyue dodged her. Huang Shiyu lost her balance and almost fell off the stool. Fortunately, Zhi Zi quickly caught her, and she was fine.
Bian Siyue laughed until her stomach hurt and asked someone to fetch her zither, as she was inspired.
As they were making merry, a maid from the Qi King's consort's residence arrived with a formal invitation.
The invitation was to invite Wang Qingyao to visit the Qi King's mansion in two days.
Wang Qingyao's face darkened. Without even looking at it, she ordered Yin Zhu to throw it away.
Bian Siyue asked curiously, "Princess, what did the Qi King's consort do to offend you?"
Huang Shiyu glared at her, thinking she was being too talkative.
Yin Zhu and the others were also curious. The last time they went to the Qi King's mansion, Wang Qingyao and the Qi King's consort had been chatting and laughing, so why had Wang Qingyao suddenly turned hostile?
Wang Qingyao said, "All of you remember this: do not provoke anyone from the Qi King's residence. Whether it's the Qi King's consort, Princess Yinyue, or even the Qi King himself, ignore them all."
Huang Shiyu and Bian Siyue were consorts to Xiao Yun, so they wouldn't have many opportunities to meet people from the Qi King's residence.
Zhen Zhu, Yin Zhu, and the others served Wang Qingyao closely and might encounter them, perhaps even be used. Therefore, Wang Qingyao decided to give them a warning beforehand.
Yin Zhu said cautiously, "Your Highness, can you explain more clearly? My mind is slow, and I can't figure it out."
Wang Qingyao originally didn't want to explain. These maids didn't know she had clairvoyant eyes, and explaining would be troublesome. However, she was afraid of future troubles if she didn't explain clearly. So, after some thought, she said, "The tea that the Qi King's consort brewed for me last time was drugged."
"Hoo!"
Zhen Zhu, Yin Zhu, and the other maids who had accompanied her gasped in unison.
Yin Zhu: "Your Highness, how did you discover it? We didn't notice anything at all."
Yin Zhu and Zhen Zhu exchanged glances, recalling the scene at the time. There were truly no clues. How had the Princess discovered it?
"Cough, cough," Wang Qingyao put on a profound expression. "I smelled it. My nose is stronger than ordinary people's..."
In addition to her exceptionally strong senses, Wang Qingyao had another special ability: a sensitive sense of smell.
Yin Zhu and the others looked at her with admiration.
Han Suiqin had sent the invitation, and after waiting for a long time, Wang Qingyao didn't come. Not only that, but she didn't even send anyone to notify her.
Princess Yinyue sneered, "It seems the Ding'an King's consort doesn't think much of you either."
Han Suiqin bit her lip unpleasantly. "Perhaps she had a last-minute matter."
"I don't care if she had something to do or not. In short, you must invite her to the Qi King's mansion!"
Han Suiqin had no choice. The next day, she personally went to the Ding'an King's mansion to see Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao truly didn't expect her to have the nerve to come to the Xiao family.
She had initially planned to find an excuse not to see her, but she was annoyed by the thought of her coming again in the future. After some thought, she had her brought to Kangping Courtyard.
As soon as Han Suiqin saw Kangping Courtyard, she felt that the atmosphere was not right. Why did everyone look at her strangely? It seemed unfriendly...
Was she overthinking it?
Wang Qingyao invited her to sit in the small parlor. Yin Zhu served tea and snacks, placing them down with a "thump" unceremoniously, splashing tea onto the small table.
Han Suiqin, already feeling guilty, was startled and gave Wang Qingyao an embarrassed, flustered smile.
"The maids in Second Sister's outer courtyard have quite a temper."
Wang Qingyao glanced at her, too lazy to even smile. "She's usually not like this. She only acts this way when she encounters someone particularly annoying."
Yin Zhu: "..." Princess, aren't you being a bit too direct?
Han Suiqin was taken aback and said awkwardly, "Second Sister, you do like to joke."
Wang Qingyao said seriously, "I'm not joking. I'm serious."