Rebirth of the Female Antagonist: XUANRONG Chapter 116: Drama

XuanRong entered the Prime Minister's residence and immediately visited Xiao Lou to pay respect. Even if XuanRong despised Xiao Lou, she would not show it to the others and destroy her reputation as a filial daughter she painstakingly protected.
"Rong'er greets Er Niang. Rong'er pays respect to Er Niang."
XuanRong gave a perfunctory greeting. She only bobbed her head, neither acting familiar nor cold towards Xiao Lou. XuanRong stared at the woman sitting on the chair. The woman was wearing a combination of white and violet-colored Hanfu[1]. After that shameful event during her coming of age ceremony, XuanRong did not see Xiao Lou nor XuanFei's shadow. XuanRong heard that they were 'punished' and were 'grounded' inside the residence by the order of her father, XuanLi. They were not allowed to go outside the Fu until the next two months, but XuanRong knew that everything was nothing but a show. If XuanLi really wanted to punish both mother and child, he would have subjected them with the family's corporal punishment without being impartial. XuanRong already guessed the XuanLi would try to hide the truth while trying to protect the image of the Prime Minister's residence and the face of the Xuan family. Although XuanFei was deemed by other people as the 'victim', but the fact that she had already lost her innocence even before she reached her marriageable age, made XuanLi lost face in front of the whole noble family in the capital.
If the one who brought shame to the Xuan family was not XuanFei but his other daughters, XuanRong knew that XuanLi would not think twice before sending that person to death just to protect the reputation of the family. Although he was angry, XuanLi could not bear to punish her favorite third daughter. Thus, XuanRong knew that XuanFei and Xiao Lou were not reprimanded heavily by XuanLi. At most, he would only give warning to both of them and punish them a little.
Xiao Lou was looking at XuanRong with hatred in her eyes, this time, she did not bother concealing it. Her plan failed and everything went outside of her control. She almost destroyed her daughter's future, and in order for her to save XuanFei's life and reputation, she had to pretend to be lunatic, acting crazy in front of the entire crowd. Even if they were able to reach their goal at the end, Xiao Lou knew that it brought negativity towards Xu Ji An and XuanFei's relationship. Although her husband did not pursue the issue, it would not mean that someone would not. Xiao Lou knew that the Crown Prince and his mother, the Empress, were not idiots. Since Xu Ji An was able to secure his position as the Crown Prince for this long, it would only mean that he was capable, and the person behind him was none other than the Empress. The Empress had been fighting in the Inner Palace for years, scheming and plotting against the Emperor's women. A person who survived inside the Imperial Palace for years while being able to secure her position would certainly see something amiss. The Empress and The Crown Prince would definitely remember it. Everything was all XuanRong's fault. It was her who destroyed the plan Xiao Lou painstakingly prepared for days.

Looking at the face who ruined her daughter's reputation, Xiao Lou could no longer pretend to be a loving mother towards XuanRong. She wanted to beat XuanRong to death and laugh at her corpse. Xiao Lou subconsciously wrung the handkerchief on her hand when she was cursing XuanRong in her mind.
XuanRong almost laughed when she saw the myriad of emotions displaying on Xiao Lou's face. It was the first time XuanRong saw Xiao Lou lost her composure. Her current facial expression was hilarious, making XuanRong want to preserve it. If XuanRong had a paper and ink, she would paint Xiao Lou's current face and hang it on the wall inside her inner room. She would laugh at it until she could no longer breathe.
"IS THIS HOW YOU GREET YOUR MOTHER?"
Xiao Lou's voice was not loud but there was a certain authority inside of it. She stared daggers at XuanRong, wishing she could rip XuanRong's face.
XuanRong lowered her head, concealing the hatred in her eyes. When XuanRong raised her head, her face remained impassive, as if she did not hear Xiao Lou's words. They were inside Xiao Lou's outer room and the only people inside apart from both of them were Xiao Lou's servants. XuanRong would not bother pretending to be a filial child in front of those lowly beings.
"Seems like Er Niang is starting to become confused due to age. Er Niang must not forget that Er Niang's status is only the second wife of my father after being promoted from being a lowly YiNiang[2]. Er Niang is not This Lady's mother. This Lady's mother's memorial tablet is still at the ancestral hall. Er Niang must refrain from speaking nonsensical words that might confuse other people."
"You---!!!!"
Xiao Lou's blood rose when she heard XuanRong's words. Without thinking, she grabbed one of the tea cups and threw it towards XuanRong, aiming for her face. The force was very strong, it contained all the hatred Xiao Lou felt towards XuanRong. When Xiao Lou realized what she had done, the tea cup was already flying towards XuanRong's direction.
When XuanRong saw the object flying towards her, she could not help but inwardly roll her eyes. She wanted to catch it but it would only expose her qinggong. She could have dodge it effortlessly, but she knew that a 'weak woman' like her would not be able to move nimbly . Instead, she only turned her head a little, trying to minimize the impact. The cup grazed at XuanRong's cheek, enough to bring discoloration to her jade-white face, before landing on the floor. The tea cup broke, creating a nasty sound of crashing.
XuanRong heard a male voice outside the outer room. Although the level of her qinggong did not reach An Wei's level, it was considered higher that most of the qinggong practitioners in Qian Zou, thus, her hearing was quite good. She was able to hear the several footsteps outside. When someone spoke, her pupil contracted. She recognized the owner of that voice.
It was Xu Ji An.
XuanRong's eyes gleamed, an idea suddenly flashed inside her mind. She fell on the ground while clutching her cheeks. She looked like she had suffered such grievance. If one would see her right now, one would think that she was being maltreated. XuanRong lowered her head, waiting for the right cue.
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Xu Ji An and XuanFei.
The two were not walking side by side, rather, it was as if Xu Ji An was in a hurry, walking at the front while XuanFei was meekly following him behind.
When the two entered the room, XuanRong was at the left side of the door, making her instantly visible in the eyes of the two.
"What is going on here?!"
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[1]. It consists of a narrow-cuffed, knee-length tunic tied with a sash, and a narrow, ankle-length skirt worn with a length of fabric that reached the knees.
[2]. Concubine
[Unedited Chapter]

Chapter end