frightfiction Chapter 342
Chapter 342
Huo Yunzhi went to the Cheng family residence with absolute confidence.In Huo Yunzhi's eyes, she shouldn't have had to step in for such a trivial matter; it was all the fault of that useless old fool, Prince Lanhuai.
To fail at such a small task, and he called himself a prince.
As far as Huo Yunzhi was concerned, Prince Lanhuai was simply too stingy. If he couldn't buy the shop back, it was definitely because he hadn't offered enough money.
"Go, knock on the door!" Huo Yunzhi's carriage stopped at the Cheng residence, and she ordered Fangcao, who was beside her, to announce their arrival.
"Side Consort, is it really appropriate for us to just go in like this?" Fangcao hesitated. After all, prominent families were very particular about rules and etiquette.
And the Cheng family was the Empress's maiden family; naturally, they valued these rules even more.
If the Side Consort truly wanted to visit the Cheng family, she should have sent a formal visiting card first.
Showing up unannounced like this was highly improper.
"What, are you my servant, or the Cheng family's? Can I no longer order you around?" Huo Yunzhi was extremely displeased by Fangcao's attempt to dissuade her.
She was absolutely determined to get her hands on that Qin Pavilion.
Otherwise, how could she suppress Li Zhiwei?
How could she take her revenge on Li Zhiwei?
"This servant will go right away." Fangcao took a deep breath.
She prepared herself for the worst.
As soon as Fangcao knocked on the main door of the Cheng residence, a young servant curiously poked his head out and asked, "Miss, who are you looking for?"
The servant asked in confusion, looking at the unfamiliar Fangcao standing before him.
Knowing that the master and madam were not at home, the servant wondered if she was here to see the Second Miss.
"Hello, young brother. My master is the Side Consort of Prince Lanhuai's estate, and she wishes to see your master," Fangcao said, quickly smiling and slipping a few pieces of broken silver into the servant's hand.
The servant weighed the silver in his hand and thought to himself that the Second Miss was also a master of the household.
"Wait here!" the servant said before heading inside.
Cheng Qingli was boredly eating grapes gifted by the Empress.
She saw the servant hurrying over. "Second Miss, there is someone outside who claims to be the Side Consort of Prince Lanhuai's estate, asking to see you."
"Who did you say?" Cheng Qingli wondered if she had heard incorrectly. Why did it sound like someone from that detestable Prince Lanhuai's estate had come again?
Just thinking about that old fool Prince Lanhuai made Cheng Qingli feel disgusted. He actually wanted his daughter to marry me?
Prince Lanhuai must be blind not to recognize that she was a woman.
"The person said she is the Side Consort of Prince Lanhuai's estate," the servant clarified.
"A side consort? Does she have a visiting card?" Cheng Qingli asked casually.
"No." The servant shook his head; the other party hadn't handed over any card.
"Send her away. Just say I went out." Cheng Qingli had no desire to entertain people from the annoying Prince Lanhuai's estate.
"Yes!" The servant wasn't surprised by this. After all, their Second Miss had always been the most favored.
The master and madam couldn't bear to let the Second Miss handle the household's social obligations and receptions.
Now that their Second Miss was unwilling, the servants certainly wouldn't force her to see an outsider.
Besides, hadn't the master just met with Prince Lanhuai yesterday?
What was the meaning of sending a side consort over today?
"Wait!" Just as the servant was about to leave, Cheng Qingli called him back. If she remembered correctly, wasn't it the side consort of Prince Lanhuai who had previously insulted her at the Green Jade Studio, claiming she was having an illicit affair with Li Zhiwei?
What was she trying to do by coming to the Cheng family today?
Did she feel she hadn't insulted her enough last time?
"Does the Second Miss have any further instructions?" the servant quickly returned and asked with a smile.
"Bring her in." Cheng Qingli suddenly recalled the side consort accusing her of having an affair with Li Zhiwei.
She was wearing women's clothing today, and she wanted to see if that blind side consort could recognize her.
"Yes, this lowly one will go bring her in right away," the servant said cheerfully upon hearing this. After all, he had accepted her broken silver. If the Second Miss had refused to see her, he was wondering if he would have to return the money.
Thinking about it left a bad taste in his mouth; after all, the silver had already entered his pocket, and having to take it back out...
It would be like cutting off his own flesh.
Hearing the order, the servant hurried out.
Seeing the servant allow them into the residence, Huo Yunzhi felt smug. She knew it, this Cheng family wasn't some difficult family to deal with after all.
With this thought, Huo Yunzhi held her head high like an arrogant rooster and walked inside.
The servant standing to the side scratched his head, wondering what exactly this side consort's background was.
Fangcao stood trembling with fear to the side.
She did not even dare to cast a single glance at places she shouldn't look.
One must know, this was the Cheng family.
If she and the Side Consort really caused trouble in the Cheng residence, the Prince and the Princess Consort definitely wouldn't save them.
Huo Yunzhi, however, lacked Fangcao's restraint. She looked around everywhere, thinking to herself that this Cheng family wasn't anything special. Back in the day, the things their Huo family possessed were much better than this.
What Huo Yunzhi didn't know, however, was that although the items in the Cheng residence didn't look as luxurious as the Huo family's had been, they exuded refinement in every detail, and many of them were actually bestowed by the palace.
These were things the Huo family could not compare to, even at their peak.
When Huo Yunzhi saw Cheng Qingli, she only felt that this person looked somewhat familiar.
But she couldn't recall for a moment where she had seen this person before.
"I heard you wanted to see me?" Cheng Qingli looked at Huo Yunzhi, an ambiguous smile playing on her lips.
Seeing Huo Yunzhi's expression, Cheng Qingli figured she probably hadn't recognized her.
At this moment, her desire to tease flared up.
One had to know, Li Zhiwei was the future primary consort of Prince An, and her father was the Vice Minister of Revenue. Whether it was Prince An or the Empress, they both protected Li Zhiwei. As for this insignificant side consort, she didn't take her seriously at all.
"You must be the Miss of the Cheng family, right?" Without waiting for Cheng Qingli to speak, Huo Yunzhi sat down directly on a nearby chair.
"Isn't it obvious?" Cheng Qingli felt that Prince Lanhuai wasn't very smart, and the side consort he married was nothing special either. After all, coming to the Cheng family and actually asking if she was the Cheng family's miss?
Was there even a need to ask? Furthermore, this side consort looked rather arrogant, and she didn't know where she got the capital to be so haughty.
Prince Lanhuai was merely an idle prince.
Her own father was the Grand Tutor. Although her father was a royalist loyal to the Emperor, he had no need to be loyal to Prince Lanhuai.
After all, he was just the Emperor's uncle. The Emperor only kept him around to show his benevolence to the world.
But that didn't mean the Emperor would tolerate his reckless behavior.
"Speak. What business do you have with me?" Cheng Qingli didn't give Huo Yunzhi much face either.
After all, this side consort of Prince Lanhuai's estate didn't take her seriously, so why should she give her any face?
"Miss Cheng is indeed a straightforward person. I like dealing with straightforward people the most." Seeing Cheng Qingli speak like this, Huo Yunzhi put on airs, assuming that the Cheng family also had to watch her expression when speaking.
Thinking of this, Huo Yunzhi became even more smug.