Chapter 341 - The Battle of Wits III

There is two-seat beside Lory before she reaches the Empress, the weird thing is the two chair next to her is empty, she wonders who will sit next to her, across of her Qian Mu Ting sit closer to the Empress but that was expected than Yuan Shan sits next to Qian Mu Ting right in front of Lory is Jiang Kang Yi and the lady stares at her with a pout.

Because Ming Yue Yin pretends to be maid she stands a little bit far on the corner with the other maid but her eyes remain vigilant for any threat that might come. Lory watches the ladies composed themselves trying to show there best acted in front of the Empress is reminded lory with Beauty pageant where the Empress as a judged, Lory mouth curved slightly she finds it amusing how this world so different but yet similar as her old world how odd it is?

The empress observed Lory, she see nothing special about the 'mysterious fiancee' of Long Ming, she looks quite, frail and even her looks is not astounding as other women she ever saw before and she have seen a lot at the imperial harem even her daughter Qian Mu Ting is famous for her beauty, but this woman….why Long Ming so fond of her?

Lory feel the Empress secretly observes her, she doesn't mind because she doesn't care. She can't control how people think about her and is not like what other people though matters for her.

"What's your name?" the empress words make everyone quiets instantly and all of them turn their gaze to Lory.

Lory bend her waist and bow gracefully "My name is Luo Ri Yi you're majesty" she said calmly without a hint of nervousness.

"You are Long Ming fiancée?" The empress asked.

"I am, you're majesty" Lory replied with the same calm manner for some reason annoyed the empress.

"I heard the rumor that Long Ming very fond of you" the empress smiles but there's a mockery in her tones.

Lory face unperturbed she humbly smiles toward the empress "I'm very lucky you're majesty"

Lory didn't flustered, embarrassed or flaunt her relationship with Zhao Li Xin her demeanor as tranquil as the lake surface, The empress can't read her expression and it make her vexed. Only then the Empress realizes that the woman in front of her is not as simple as she portrayed herself.

"They said you are once working for the prime minister Lao of the Jiang Wei Kingdom if that true?"

"Yes, you're majesty" Lory nods her head politely.

The Empress stared at her with the incredulous expression "Before that who are you?"

"Just someone from the remote village you're majesty" Lory answer with soft smiles.

Her clear eyes and collected demeanor just increased the Empress suspicion "Are you saying the truth, its a crime if you dare to lie to Royal family"

Qian Mu Ting slightly frowned, she doesn't understand why her Mother thinks Luo Ri Yi is lying. Doesn't she conduct a thorough investigation beforehand?

Lory's face didn't change the slightest, she doesn't lie when she said she's coming from the remote village because that is the place she found herself when she was sent to this world, Lory bows her head courteously "All I say is true you're majesty, I'm just a woman from the remote village, I have no family, I can't cultivate the truth is I have nothing to benefit others, even I perplexed how could a be so fortunate" her words are gentle and humble, she doesn't look embarrassed or ashamed by her flaws but she rather accepts it without means to hides it.

when Lory acted like this is hard for the empress to satirize lory without making herself look petty, such a cunning move, can a mere ex-made be this bold?

"Such kind lady is no wonder Lord Long Ming choose you" the empress smiles amicably but behind her wide sleeve she clenched her fist until it paled. Only Qian Mu Ting notice the changed in her mother eyes, she shift her gaze to Lory and her heart suddenly trembles, this woman perhaps more dangerous then she realizes.

Suddenly an old eunuch enters the room he whispers something to the Empress than the Empress nods her head "Send them in" she said with a low voice.

"Holly lady and miss Yang have arrived!" the eunuch announce their arrival loudly.

Lory squints her eyes in annoyance to the innocent old eunuch.

A second later Nan Yu Wei and Yang Wei Lan enter the room, Nan Yu Wei wearing white hanfu and silver flower headpiece, she looks dignified and pure while Yang Wei Lan wearing lavish pink hanfu with a frill on her sleeve make her look innocent and sweet. The two ladies have a different type of beauty but both of them astonishing nonetheless.

Ming Yue Yin smirked, is amazing how all their enemy came to one place 'This is going to be interesting'

The empress took a quick glance at Lory but she's disappointed when Lory shows no expression in her face, Lory looks down patting her bird seems uninterested with Nan Yu Wei's arrival. For someone who has no cultivation that woman is too calm is she thought no one can't hurt her in the public, the empress sneered inwardly if she wants to hurt Luo Ri Yi she can make a lot of excused to do so.

Yang Wei Lan kneeled on the floor and cupped her fist elegantly while Nan yu Wei because of her high status she only bends her waist slightly to show her respect to the empress as the Mother of the Kingdom.

"Apologize for coming late you're majesty," said Nan Yu Wei and Yang Wei Lan in tunes.

The Empress raised her to sign them to raised there head "How is your grandmother, is she alright?"

"Thank you for your concern you're majesty, yes my grandmother is fine but she still needs to rest," said Yang Wei Lan in relief. Yang Wei Lan come late because she take care of her Grandmother her filial piety moves the ladies and her reputation increased slightly.

"You are a good granddaughter, you're grandma fortunate to have you" the Empress nods in satisfied than she shift her gaze to Nan Yu Wei "Holy lady, is a honor to have you here"

"The honor is mine you're majesty" said Nan Yu Wei gracefully.

Lory smiles faintly she wonder how much resistant Nan Yu Wei used not to pounce toward her right this moment, maintain one dignity it is not an easy task. Lory stroke Girsha back and the bird looks half-sleep on her laps. Nan Yu Wei take s a deep breath to calm herself just like Lory though she can't help to strikes Lory this instant and rip her off, but this is not the right moment so she must be patient and yet Lory teased her with calm smiles.

Nan Yu Wei face turn stiffed, hatred could easily see in her eyes and so she looks away, the funny thing is the Empress seems tested her because she make Nan Yu Wei sit next to Lory, but this is the Empress miscalculation she thought it would be Lory who will feel anxious and flustered but who knew its Nan Yu Wei who feel uncomfortable instead.

Their's only small table between Lory and Nan Yu Wei, Lory turn her head toward Nan Yu Wei and she greeting warmly "Nice to meet you again, Holy Lady"

The way she called Holy lady sound like teasing and Nan Yu Wei feel her blood is boiling from anger "Nice to meet you to Miss Luo, I thought it would be hard to meet you again" Nan Yu Wei implies Lory should be hiding after she stole her weapon after all people already knows about this incident and they can't wait for what would happen between these two ladies.

"And here I am" she giggles lightly.