Consort of a Thousand Faces

Chapter 509 (2): Is It The Empress Dowager (unedited)

Su Xi-er’s gaze landed on Niu Niu. She looks exactly like Pei Yaran. Is she really foolish or feigning to be? Let me test her.

Hence, Su Xi-er reached out an arm to pull Niu Niu over and smiled at her. “You really look like a fool. Niu Niu, do you remember how old you are?”

Niu Niu’s body trembled, but she kept her head lowered, preventing others from seeing her expression. Su Xi-er decided to just raise her chin, only to see her eyes filled with cowardice.

Getting anxious, the old uncle knelt again. “Princess Consort, I beg of you, please let this peasant’s granddaughter off. She has been foolish since she was young. After losing her parents, this peasant has raised her single handedly.”

Su Xi-er’s finger brushed Niu Niu’s chin, her eyes filled with a probing look. “Is that so? Do you know that the granddaughter you single handedly raise looks a lot like someone I know from the past.” She paused and turned to look at Ruo Yuan. “Take the old uncle to the Bookkeeping Office to collect more silvers, and get a guard to personally send him back to his hometown. I find this granddaughter of his likeable, so I’ll have her stay in the residence and accompany me for a few days.”

“This servant obeys the order.” Ruo Yuan immediately walked towards the old uncle and gestured at him.

The old uncle’s body shuddered, afraid that Su Xi-er would do something to Niu Niu. But I have no way to save her; I can only beg for mercy. Yet, that didn’t have any effect.

Finally, he sighed. I didn’t raise Niu Niu single handedly; I found her. My son died a few years ago, and my daughter-in-law also followed without leaving behind any children. When I saw this foolish girl, I decided to take her back home and raise her.

But I won’t tell anyone about this. Judging from the Princess Consort’s expression, that person she knows from the past may have had some conflict with her. If I tell the truth, then that would be tantamount to harming Niu Niu.

Seeing that the old uncle was leaving, Niu Niu shivered in fear and looked at Su Xi-er with trepidation.

“You’re scared of me?” Su Xi-er chuckled and released her chin.

Niu Niu immediately lowered her head, not letting anyone discern her expression. The only reaction she gave was her trembling body.

“You really look like someone ー Pei Yaran.” Su Xi-er slowly stated. However, there was not the least bit of response from Niu Niu.

“Hong Li, prepare a private room for her in the backyard. We have to properly entertain her for these few days.”

“This servant obeys the order.” Hong Li tugged at Niu Niu and forcefully dragged her away.

Watching Niu Niu’s departing figure, Su Xi-er wondered if she was really foolish. There aren’t that many coincidences in this world.

This person must be Pei Yaran.

After mulling it over for a while, she wanted to turn around, planning to return to the main courtyard. Right as she did so, however, she bumped into a large and cosy embrace, and a familiar scent assailed her nostrils.

“Xi-er, since when did you start walking in such a hasty manner?”

“A-Jing, Pei Yaran is back. I don’t know if she’s really foolish or pretending to be.”

Pei Qianhao caressed her, his eyes looking towards the direction Pei Yaran left in. “We’ll know after we test her.”

Su Xi-er moved her body and raised her head to look at him. “She entered the palace when she was 15, then she became the Empress soon after, and she controlled the imperial harem at the age of 18. We can’t underestimate a woman like this.”

Looking at her sparkling eyes, Pei Qianhao knew that she already had a plan in mind. “Xi-er, we’ll do as you like.”

“Really? Why don’t you ask me how I plan to execute the ruse? She’s your younger sister, after all.” Su Xi-er mischievously smiled.

“Xi-er, you’re jealous again?” Pei Qianhao teasingly smiled.

She didn’t get jealous when Zhen Yu pounced into my arms, but she got jealous right after Pei Yaran appeared.

“What do you mean by ‘again’? I’m not like you ー a vinegar jar. Let me tell you, I plan to use a handsome man trap[1].”

Hearing the words ‘handsome man trap’, Pei Qianhao’s gaze deepened, and he flicked her forehead. “I don’t know what’s stuffed in this brain of yours.”

Su Xi-er pouted. “Did you even need to ask? Of course it’s stuffed with handsome men.”

Pei Qianhao lowered his head and whispered into her ear. “This Prince wants to ask you: who is the handsome man in your mind?”

1. Adapted from ‘beauty trap’, where as the name suggests, it is an artifice involving a beaut.