Chapter 319: Just Hold It Properly

"Empress, my lady saved my life and my son's life before; I am willing to guard you for a lifetime, to be utterly devoted to you, and Heaven will not tolerate otherwise."

A single sentence choked the Empress tightly; at that moment Qiao Mai felt a pair of venomous gazes.

She looked up and saw, on the floor above hers, a couple at a table; the woman was staring at her with a man‑eating gaze.

Ah, so it's an old Wang Jiaru's Acquaintance, Princess Yihe; her birth mother is the Empress?

It seems she has recovered her memory, which is fine; now that her cultivation is higher, she has the ability to erase memories, so this time she'll completely make her lose that segment.

However, she is already married, with her husband by her side, so she cannot lose her temper; watching Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi be affectionate, her eyes blaze with fire.

Thinking of how that woman once beat her, she feels as if she could kill her.

Qiao Mai curled her lip at her, then turned, about to speak, when the Empress opened her mouth; it seems she does not intend to let me off today.

"Lady Qiao, you are fortunate; Lord Yuan treats you so well."

"My wife will also be good to him."

The Emperor finished biting a melon, wiped his mouth, and said, "Of course I won't be picky; given your relationship, any gift is only natural."

Consort Rui didn't catch on, as the Emperor ate the melon and laughed, saying.

"Then what talent will you perform?"

Just as the Empress was about to speak, the Emperor interjected, "Attendants, prepare a tray and a piece of Red Cloth for Lady Qiao."

He also examined the jewelry closely, "Truly exquisite, Lady Qiao; this set must be very expensive, right?"

"Your Majesty?"

"What about Madam Xiao? She doesn't have this, does she?"

The Empress clenched her teeth and forced a smile; she understood the Emperor's intent, fearing she would be framed.

"No, this is Diamond, imported from abroad; surely some people in Jingcheng recognize it."

"Mother-in-law?"

"What is given to you is naturally yours; won't you take it?"

Qiao Mai looked at the Empress, "Your Majesty, what fruit do you like to eat?"

Inside the great hall, a hissing sound filled the air, everyone enviously buzzing.

This time the Red Cloth was lifted again, emitting a dazzling light that instantly dimmed the candle flames.

Consort Rui stared at the Emperor, who stroked his beard.

Lord Zhen Guo glared at her, "Can't you consider what virtue you had back then? Could anyone treat you so well? Moreover, can you compare yourself with Consort Rui?"

Old Emperor sprang to his feet, "Lady Qiao, is this a Night Pearl? So bright!"

The Emperor only now discerned the Empress's malice; he glared at her. In front of the entire court he could not rebuke her, but seethed inside, "I'll deal with you after the banquet, huh!"

Qiao Mai gave the Empress a glance and sneered.

The Emperor reached for an orange; Yu Bao stood behind him, about to test the poison on the Emperor, but was stopped.

Fresh leaves still clung to the orange, as if just plucked from the tree.

"My wife, let me try."

A young eunuch approached, carefully taking the tray and presenting it before Consort Rui.

Such trust in Lady Qiao! The Emperor unhesitatingly peeled the orange and ate it.

"Shameless, everyone wants to compare with Your Majesty; who do you think you are?"

The couple stepped onto the central table, and Qiao Mai gazed at the lofty Emperor and Empress.

This, how could this be possible?

Qiao Mai again manipulated space, conjuring a massive golden honeydew, which delighted the Emperor immensely.

She lifted the Red Cloth, spread it over the tray, then with her right hand lifted the central part of the Red Cloth slightly to create a gap, and with her left hand she grabbed at the air and tossed it onto the Red Cloth.

Consort Rui finally recovered, replying to Qiao Mai, "I am not picky; I like everything."

Civil and military officials, noble ladies all stared dumbfounded at Qiao Mai on the stage.

The Empress was furious beyond measure; she had instigated this, yet she received only a few oranges, while Consort Rui got an invaluable treasure. How infuriating, she is Jia Mei's biological mother after all.

"Mother-in-law, what would you like?"

"Please prepare a tray and a piece of Red Cloth for me."

"Your Majesty, what fruit do you like to eat?"

She slowly stepped out, with Yuan Jiaqi close behind her.

She adored that set of jewelry; no matter what, she must have her conjure another set like it.

"Wife, what should I do?"

"Just hold it properly."

"Ha ha, slice it quickly, everyone taste it; I have overindulged in wine, this will sober me up."

"Their Diamonds are tiny; each of mine is ten times larger. This is a set of purple Diamond jewelry, set in Platinum. Do you know what Platinum is?"

"I have indeed seen concubines wear it."

"Fine!"

"Let's skip cooking; otherwise the oil fumes will ruin the girls' makeup."

"Can Lady Qiao transform anything else?"

The Empress was startled, then said slowly, "I like oranges."

"Enough, is this endless?"

Yuan Jiaqi summoned a young eunuch, ordering him to bring the oranges to the Emperor and Empress.

This certainly isn't a Transformation Trick; such tricks are prepared in advance, supposedly hidden on the body, but Lady Qiao could not have known the Empress's provocation ahead of time, meaning she has nothing concealed on her.

"So sweet, so tasty, this is the best orange I've ever eaten. Empress, are you satisfied now?"

The Emperor and the Empress were left dumbfounded; this could never have been prepared in advance by Lady Qiao, after all it was her first time attending a banquet.

It was another married woman, and the talent performance was also a sudden challenge from the Empress.

"Wait, I still want to ask Lady Qiao to produce something."

Everyone wore an expression of disbelief, and Qiao Mai suddenly looked at Rui Fei.

Yuan Jiaqi glanced around and said, "Your Majesty, Empress, does my lady's talent now count as passing?"

The scolded Duchess could only stare hungrily, and Jiang Yunpeng and the others could only watch with aching hearts.

"Since today is our first meeting, let me present you with a welcome gift; after all, given our relationship, I think the Emperor and Empress won't object."

"Just gold?"

"Yes, but the color is different—made of Platinum with purple diamonds to make them even more dazzling. This set of jewelry suits Consort Rui perfectly for her first meeting with her mother‑in‑law; it is a welcome gift from this servant, please accept it."

After a short while, a eunuch carried a tray with a piece of red silk, and Yuan Jiaqi took it.

She quickly took it herself; the magnificent and beautiful jewelry made her fall in love at first glance, and even the Old Emperor could hear the surrounding sounds of people swallowing.

"I wonder if Lady Qiao could showcase some talent for us; I heard your cooking is quite good, even preparing a dish would suffice."

"She didn't call you wrong; Lady Qiao should indeed call you mother‑in‑law."

Qiao Mai's eyes immediately darkened; just as she was about to retort, the Emperor glared at the Empress.

"My lady, shall I act for you?"

"Even money can't buy it."

Qiao Mai approached the tray, smiled at Yuan Jiaqi, lifted the Red Cloth, grabbed it in the air, and tossed it toward the red side.

The Duchess rolled her eyes, "Why didn't she give me jewelry like this back then?"

Now the Emperor showed interest, "I would like to eat the golden honey melon sold at your shop, may I?"

It was as if something had been thrown into the Red Cloth; immediately she withdrew the Red Cloth, revealing a tray full of orange‑yellow large tangerines.

"Your Majesty, I have no other intention; I just think that Lady Qiao's great ability makes me want to—"

"She is human, not a god; don't keep pushing endlessly."

Seeing the Emperor warn her with his gaze, the Empress fell silent; otherwise, who knows what trouble might arise.

Consort Rui knew the Empress also liked this set of jewelry; normally she doesn't compete with the Empress, but when it comes to snatching what the mother‑in‑law gave her, there's no chance.

(End of chapter)