Li Yuyu: ?
Doesn’t the Empress Dowager like Han Guiren’s style the most? She’s practically turned herself into a wooden post just to lower her presence, so how come the Empress Dowager can still nitpick her?
I can’t stand it anymore!
Li Yuyu looked up and flashed a sweet smile at the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, it’s like when you’re dining with Han Guiren and you’re pleased, you eat more; when the Emperor sees me happy and is in a good mood while dining with me, he also eats more. It’s the same logic."
"You can’t be biased and say only I have means, I’m speaking up on behalf of Han Guiren."
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath: "Lady Li, how dare you..."
"Empress Dowager, this way please, let me assist you." Li Yuyu squeezed beside Yan Xiu, and her little hand slyly tugged at Yan Xiu’s dragon robe.
Yan Xiu understood immediately and stepped aside.
Li Yuyu then cheerfully linked arms with the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, would you like to hear a story?"
"You’ve already had your meal today, haven’t you? I’ve eaten too, only the Emperor hasn’t. How about I tell you a story later to pass the time?"
Yan Xiu: ?
Eating with him is so boring that it requires storytelling to pass the time?
The Empress Dowager looked at her arm being held by Li Yuyu. This wasn’t the first time; the last time she summoned Li Yuyu to Cining Palace, she was speaking to her in the same manner.
Clingy and not at all walking properly.
"Stand still!" the Empress Dowager scolded with a stern face.
"Aren’t I standing properly?" Li Yuyu looked down at her legs, puzzled.
She wasn’t staggering or leaning, was she?
Empress Dowager: ...
Forget it, it’s like playing the lute to a cow.
Though the Empress Dowager kept a stern face, she didn’t shake off Li Yuyu’s hand, thinking that doing so with such a large motion would lack etiquette. As the Empress Dowager, she could not do anything unbecoming.
At the table, the food was set, and the dishes Yan Xiu disliked were not brought to the table.
The people from the Imperial Kitchen didn’t know Lady Li was there, so they only prepared vegetarian dishes or those the Emperor liked. Even though Li Yuyu had eaten, seeing a table full of dishes she didn’t like, she immediately pouted her cherry lips.
"Empress Dowager, the people from the Imperial Kitchen are too much, they’re bullying people!"
Empress Dowager: ?
The Empress Dowager hadn’t even prepared a seat for her, so what’s she complaining about?
"Empress Dowager, you must stand up for me." Li Yuyu tugged at the Empress Dowager’s sleeve, swaying coquettishly.
From the time the Empress Dowager could remember until now, no one had ever tugged at her sleeve and acted so spoiled, leaving her momentarily unsure of how to react.
"Nonsense!" Yan Xiu scolded with a stern face: "Sit properly, you’re not usually this picky, so why act delicate in front of the Empress Dowager? Apologize right now!"
"Alright." Li Yuyu’s small face was written all over with "aggrieved," and she curtsied to the Empress Dowager, saying: "It’s my fault, please punish me, Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager looked into Li Yuyu’s eyes filled with grievance for a long time and finally waved her hand: "Go, tell the Imperial Kitchen to bring some pastries and fruits for Lady Li."
Chen Jing: "...Yes."
What happened to not indulging and being hard-hearted?
"Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your kindness. Empress Dowager, please sit, I thought of a good story today..."
Li Yuyu’s small face instantly bloomed into a smile like a flower, once again linking arms with the Empress Dowager, helping her sit in a chair, and her small cherry mouth chattered non-stop, eventually coaxing the Empress Dowager into forgetting to continue punishing her.
Yan Xiu, forced to dine alone: ...
He underestimated Yu’er’s ability to fool people.