Chapter 87b: She’s the Best at Suppressing People
If Luo Qing Shuang acted directly, no matter whether she wanted to beat Hongyu, or do something else, Luo Qing Luan was capable of blocking it. But now, Luo Qing Shuang had learned from experience and knew how to use her status to suppress others. Hongyu was merely a concubine. Currently, Luo Cheng also wasn’t here. If she wanted to watch Hongyu dance, and used her status as Fifth Prince’s imperial side consort to do it, even Luo Qing Luan also couldn’t find a reason to prevent it.
After thinking about it, Luo Qing Luan casted a meaningful glance over at Hongyu, telling her to be careful.
With trepidation, Hongyu could only go on stage, raising her hands slowly to dance.
In but a short time, w.a.n.g Xue Ru came, after having received heard the news. Luo Qing Shuang immediately laughed and waved at w.a.n.g Xue Ru to come sit by her side. The mother and daughter pair complacently watched Hongyu dancing lightly and gracefully. Even though their faces displayed a smile and seemed to be admiring it, a chilling aura resided in the depths of their eyes.
Once Hongyu finished dancing with difficulty and stood in the middle of the stage waiting for Luo Qing Shuang to comment, the latter finally laughed coldly, “You’re a lead performer at Heavenly Dream Tower, yet dances only at this level?”
That peculiar voice was clearly deliberately offering petty criticism, yet Hongyu could only reply, “My presentation was ugly, may Madam Luo forgive me.”
Turning her head around, Luo Qing Shuang asked, “Mother, tell me, how was her dance?”
w.a.n.g Xue Ru naturally replied disdainfully, “Serving people with her looks, humph, from my perspective, how could that be called dancing. She was clearly seducing men.”
Seeing that the two wanted to pick a fault, Luo Qing Luan also became cold, “If Elder Sister and Father’s Concubine doesn’t like it, then don’t have Hongyu dance anymore. Hongyu, you can leave and go wait upon Father.”
“Yes. Miss Luo.”
Hongyu curtsied to pay her respects and was using the opportunity to depart, but Luo Qing Shuang immediately responded, “Stop. Did I allow you to leave?”
“What does Elder Sister mean?” Luo Qing Luan looked at her, her face already revealed some impatience.
Previously, Hongyu had been slapped. That was because she didn’t have time to block it. If right now, Hongyu was still beaten in front of her, then she would be too useless!
“I don’t mean anything by it!”
Luo Qing Shuang looked at Hongyu with disgust and continued, “I already said earlier that if she danced well, she’d naturally be rewarded, but if she danced poorly, then she should be punished!”
‘Should be punished’. After a mere three words were spoken, the complexion on Hongyu’s face changed.
“This is the General’s Mansion and not Immortal Dream Tower. The dance that you danced just now was flirty, materialistic, and full of tricks. Casting amorous glances everywhere, it was simply depraved and unbearable. Do you take us to be those rotten men who visited you in the past? Hongyu, what big nerves you have, to dare defile this madam’s eyes. You deserve to be guilty!”
Having waited for this moment to take revenge early on, w.a.n.g Xue Ru yelled at once, “Dujuan, did you not hear what Her Imperial Side Consort said? Beat her!”
From behind Luo Qing Shuang, a servant girl rushed forward, actually already prepared earlier. She even held a rod in her hand as thick as her arm. She ran to face Hongyu and said, “Imperial Side Consort, how many times?”
“Humph, start with twenty times.” Luo Qing Shuang answered.
“Please don’t. Madam Luo, please spare me!” Hongyu kneeled down on the spot in fright, complexion changing greatly.
Seeing that Dujuan already raised the rod up and was going to strike, Luo Qing Luan couldn’t stand it anymore and said angrily, “Who dares to hit Hongyu?”
That gloomy and cold voice, as if filled with killing intent, caused Dujuan to immediately stiffen upon hearing it. Her hand froze in midair, not daring to move.
Luo Qing Luan glanced at Luo Qing Shuan. Her expressive glance seemed as if it contained a sharp spear point as she opened her lips and said apathetically, “Elder Sister is only punishing Hongyu because her dance didn’t look good, right? I’m asking you for a personal favor to dismiss her from punishment. How about it?”
Having antic.i.p.ated that Luo Qing Luan would ask for a favor early on, Luo Qing Shuang naturally wouldn’t agree. “Younger Sister, she’s but a minor concubine who originated from the brothels. You’re actually making a plea on her behalf? If you’re afraid Father wouldn’t be happy, if worst comes to worst, have Mother arrange another minor concubine for him on another day and that’ll resolve it. Since I’ve already spoken, I’ll need to accomplish it. She danced badly. Don’t tell me that she shouldn’t receive her punishment?”
Without the slightest anger, Luo Qing Luan, as before, appeared completely apathetic as she replied emotionlessly, “That’s fine. Since Elder Sister is determined to punish Hongyu, then I can’t argue with you. However, there’s something I need to tell you. Today, due to your status as Fifth Prince side consort, you wanted to ask Father’s concubine to dance for you, so I have nothing to say against that. But next month, if I become the Prince of Chu’s princ.i.p.al Imperial Consort, when the time comes for me to return to my maiden home on the third day,I might also be interested in having Mrs. w.a.n.g dance for me. After all, I’m the Prince of Chu’s princ.i.p.al Imperial Consort, and she’s only a concubine who’s unable to advance. With her status, she should listen and obey, right?”
Not antic.i.p.ating at all that Luo Qing Luan would actually say these kinds of things and even changed her way of address, not calling her mother ‘Father’s Concubine’, but calling her ‘Mrs. w.a.n.g’ instead. She dared to have Mother dance for her to watch? Luo Qing Shuang nearly spit a mouthful of blood in rage.
w.a.n.g Xue Ru said angrily, “Qing Luan, you actually dare to say things like that? I’m your father’s concubine. If your father finds out, watch out how he’s going to teach you a lesson!
Casting a contemptuous glance at w.a.n.g Xue Ru, Luo Qing Luan’s expression didn’t change at all. “I’ll become the Princess of Chu after marriage and will no longer be someone belonging to the General’s Mansion. Even if it’s Father, when he sees me, he’ll have to address me with respect as the Princess of Chu, not to mention you? Since you’re not my mother, and is only a lowly concubine, this princess asking you to dance is already an honor for you. What, you’re still not willing?”
“Luo Qing Luan, you……don’t you be too presumptuous. She’s my mother! I’m your elder sister!” Luo Qing Shuang was so angry that her face ashened, shaking from head to toe.
“Since Elder Sister is not giving me face today, then Younger Sister naturally also won’t care about your face.” Luo Qing Luan suddenly laughed and continued, “That’s right. When the time comes for me to make a visit to my maiden home, the Prince of Chu will naturally also come with me. Even if I don’t watch Mrs. w.a.n.g dance, maybe the Prince of Chu will be interested?”
“I’m reminding you to take notice ahead of time, so as to avoid being humiliated like Hongyu today. I advise Mrs. w.a.n.g to start practicing as soon as possible, so as to avoid making the Prince of Chu unhappy at that time. Father will also lose face. If Father divorced you in a fit of pique, then that’ll certainly be bad.”