One had to know that the Emperor was known to respect the Empress.
It was said that back then, he had almost taken her as his one and only. It was because the Gu family had gone too far that the Empress had no choice but to restrain her edge. The Emperor could no longer dote on her alone.
At this moment, Xie Qiao looked at the mala beads and thought for a moment. “Your Majesty, can I have a look at the mala beads?”
The Empress did not refuse and handed it to her.
Xie Qiao took it and her hand trembled.
This thing… was bad. It was similar to the dharma instruments found in the temple across from the Li family’s ancestral grave. They were all lethal weapons that could hurt people.
There were not many things like this. Those who were adept in feng shui would not dare to use them casually…
“Forgive me for taking the liberty. Your Majesty, these mala beads are bad luck. It’s better not to use it again.” As she spoke, Xie Qiao put the thing in her hand.
The Empress was also a little dumbfounded.
The Crown Prince said that this lady of the Xie family was special. She had a kind personality. It was because she had stayed in the Taoist temple for many years, she was well-versed in both worlds. However, she was a woman after all, so it would be inappropriate for her to teach it to outsiders.
“Bad luck?” The Empress glanced at Xie Qiao’s hand.
It was not as bad as she thought, right?
Xie Qiao nodded. “If Your Majesty needs mala beads, I’ll give you a better one next time when I enter the palace.”
The people around the Empress thought Young Lady Xie was crazy.
The mala beads were sent by the Gu family. Even if the Gu family had declined, it was still an aristocratic family that had existed for hundreds of years. How could the things they sent be bad?
This young lady actually said that she had a better one!
The people around the Empress thought Young Lady Xie was too presumptuous.
Xie Qiao was also helpless. She could not directly say that this thing was an evil instrument, right?
If she really told the Empress that this thing was harmful, the first one to suffer would be the Gu family. However, the Gu family was the Empress’s family, so there should not be any reason for them to send such a thing. What if there was some misunderstanding?
“You…” The Empress was not angry. She smiled. “You like it, don’t you? Alright, I’ll give it to you. No wonder the Crown Prince likes you. We’re family after all.”
Xie Qiao smiled awkwardly.
“It’s just that you can’t be the only one with a gift.” The Empress looked at Xie Xi. “Everyone says that the ladies of the Xie family are fierce. How are they fierce? Look at your younger sister, she’s really obedient.”
As she spoke, the Empress sent someone to the private vault and bring a string of jade to Xie Xi.
Xie Qiao was quite embarrassed, but she took it shamelessly.
At this moment, Xie Qiao suspected that the Empress’s family and the Li family’s situation should be similar. They had all been harmed.
It was hard to say these things now. Xie Qiao wanted to go back and tell Zhao Xuanjing. After all, they were family now. It would be inappropriate to pretend that she did not know about such a serious matter.
After a while, the Empress led the two sisters to the banquet.
At this moment, everyone was present at the banquet.
Dong Xiyun’s seat was very eye-catching, and the person sitting across from her was the Fourth Prince.
It was Xie Qiao’s first time seeing the rumored Fourth Prince, and she could not help but take a few more glances at him.
The Fourth Prince was not very old. He was seventeen or eighteen years old. He was also very handsome, and he carried a bit of amiability. It was just that his eyebrows were slightly thin, and his personality was not very strong.
In addition… his hands and feet were exquisite, his face was gorgeous. He had an elegant bone structure. Although he had a noble aura about him, he had a carefree and happy appearance. He did not fit the rumor that he was always going against the Crown Prince.
He did not have the aura of an Emperor. It could be said that even if Zhao Xuanjing would not be the Crown Prince, it would not be his turn.
As for the Fifth Prince next to him, he was even younger, about eight or nine years old. He was too young, and his appearance would change, so it was hard to say much.