The First Volume: The Abandoned Wife's Self-Strengthening Chapter 22: Butterfly Concubine's Invitation

  Xue Lengyu smiled and shook his head: "This is a big courtyard for everyone, and the interpersonal relationship is really not easy to handle."

  "Yes." Xiaofeng said with emotion: "Although we say that we don't have to be controlled by others, sometimes several imperial concubines compete for favor and do not allow us to tell other imperial concubines. Alas, we cannot offend any of them, it's really hard for us to do anything."

  Xue Lengyu was about to comfort Xiao Feng a few words, when a little maid in apricot yellow clothes rushed into the maple garden, her eyes searching around as if looking for something. Seeing Xue Lengyu and Xiao Feng walking out of the door together, she looked delighted, lifted her skirt and ran over.

  "Xiao Feng, you're here?" The maid in yellow rushed to the front of the two, greeting Xiao Feng, but her eyes were fixed on Xue Leng Yu.

  Xue Lengyu recognized her, although he didn't know what her name was. He had just seen her beside Die Fei earlier, so she should be one of Die Fei's maids.

  "Is there something I can help you with?" Xiaofeng asked politely.

  Xiao Er's little maid smiled and looked at Xue Leng Yu: "I'm here to invite this young lady."

  "Me?" Xue Lengyu was taken aback.

  "Yes." Er smiled and said: "Miss, our Butterfly Princess wants to invite you for lunch."

  Xue Lengyu was taken aback, hastily waving her hand: "Young Miss Yuer, don't joke around. I'm just a servant in the Maple Garden, how dare I ask Princess Die to treat me to dinner."

  "Yes." Xiaofeng also said: "Yuer, you didn't make a mistake, did you? Her name is Leng Yu, and she's also a servant of Fengyuan."

  "How could I have made a mistake?" Er smiled and said: "So you're called Leng Yu, Leng Yu. Our madam personally instructed the kitchen to add dishes for lunch today and asked me to invite you over. She said that since you were inconvenienced this morning because of her, she wants to make it up to you."

  "It's alright, it's alright." Xue Lengyu hastily said: "I didn't suffer any grievances, besides it was my own fault, it has nothing to do with Empress Die. Trouble Yan'er to inform your empress, really no need to be so polite."

  Butterfly Empress invited her to dinner, which doesn't need to be thought about with the brain to know that there's no good thing. Xue Lengyu also felt that someone might come to trouble her, but didn't expect it to be so fast. Moreover, it was Butterfly Empress, one of the side consorts, who provoked both Butterfly Empress and Li Mu, with similar nature.

  What if Butterfly Empress really decided to be unfavorable to him, would anyone stand on his side?

  "Stubborn girl." The young lady's face turned red with anger: "You can't not go. Our mistress is the king's concubine, how can you, a little maid, be given such great respect?"

  "It's not that it's not big." Xue Lengyu hastily said: "It's too big. I don't dare to want it. When I see important people, I get nervous. Look, the first time I served this morning, I made such a fool of myself. I'm afraid that if I were to be disrespectful in front of the empress again, then...then how could I bear it?"

  Xue Lengyu said this, and he was still somewhat satisfied, but his tone remained unyielding: "You say that, which also makes sense. However, since the princess has ordered me to do so, I must call you over. Otherwise, if I go back and tell her that you're unwilling to meet with her, wouldn't that be even worse?"

  "Yes." Xiaofeng also said: "Leng Yu, even if you don't want to go, you still have to. The Butterfly Empress is also one of the masters of this palace, and you don't have the right to refuse."

  Looking at Xiao Feng who didn't stand on her side, and then looking again at Er's firm face, Xue Leng Yu could only force herself to say: "Since you put it that way, fine, I'll go."

  You'er's face lit up with joy, and Xue Lengyu suddenly leaned over and hugged Xiao Feng tightly.

  Xiao Feng was stunned and didn't know what Xue Leng Yu was doing, but Xue Leng Yu had already said to You Er: "Let's go."

  Xue Lengyu's heart was as clear as a mirror, and she knew that Butterfly Empress's invitation couldn't be good. If she thought positively, it might be an attempt to win her over with bribes, but if she thought negatively, who knows what would happen? Although she had heard that the waters of the wealthy families were deep, she didn't expect to become embroiled in them so quickly, especially since she was just a small and insignificant maid who didn't want to get involved in anything.

  Xue Lengyu smiled at Xiao Feng, and then followed him out, thinking to herself as she walked. What about the future? Which faction should she lean towards? The fallen queen or the favored Empress Butterfly? It was a headache. But being in this situation, wanting to stay neutral was probably not that easy.

  Familiarly entering the Butterfly Empress's courtyard, it was still early for lunchtime. Far away, on a chair under the flower tree, one could see the beautiful back of the Butterfly Empress.

  You'er led Xue Lengyu into the courtyard and stopped a few steps away from Die Fei, saying softly: "Your Majesty, Lengyu is here."

  "En." The butterfly queen slowly turned around, still with such a beautiful face.

  Xue Lengyu hastily bowed her head and gave a curtsy to Die Fei: "Servant Xue Lengyu, paying respects to Concubine Die."

  The butterfly queen's mouth corners overflowed with a hint of a smile, and she said lightly: "No need for formalities."

  "Thank you, Your Ladyship." Xue Lengyu stood up straight, but didn't raise her head: "I don't know why Your Ladyship summoned me, what are your orders?"

  Die Fei said: "It's not an order, it's just that I saw you suffered a setback in my place today, and I'm afraid you're feeling sad, so I want to comfort you."

  Xue Lengyu said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I didn't suffer any injustice. On the contrary, I disturbed the atmosphere of your and the king's breakfast today, which makes me feel uneasy. It was an unintentional mistake on my part, so I hope you can forgive me."

  "Look what you said." Die Fei covered her mouth and smiled lightly: "You didn't do it on purpose, would I blame you? Ai Er, bring a stool for Cold Yu to sit down."

  "Yes." Er hurriedly replied, and from one side, he brought over a small stool for Xue Lengyu.

  In front of the master, being able to sit on a small stool is already a great honor.

  Xue Lengyu didn't dare sit down, and her head hung even lower: "Your Ladyship is trying to tease me to death, how could I possibly dare to accept?"

  "Butterfly Princess said: 'I let you sit, you just sit. If you don't sit, I will get angry.'"

  Xue Lengyu was furious, scolding all sorts of dirty words in her heart, but on the surface, she smiled humbly: "In that case, I'll be bold. Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting me a seat."

  Xue Lengyu sat down, and Butterfly Princess smiled: "This morning, when you raised your head, you scared me half to death! No wonder sister wants to give you to the king, such a beautiful and clever girl, staying in sister's house as a maid would be a waste."

  Xue Lengyu smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, you've misunderstood."

  "Did I misunderstand?" Die Fei said: "What did I misunderstand?"

  Xue Lengyu said: "Your Ladyship, I was also a maid in Fengyuan Garden."

  The butterfly queen smiled: "Even if you are a maid now, you won't be able to do it for long. Didn't you see the way the king looked at you today? Do you really think the king is so broad-minded that you can just escape like this as an ordinary maid?"