The Stunning Mad Empress: The Useless Third Miss - Chapter 45

It is said that the matriarch of the Nan Gong family is formidable, and only today do I realize that the rumors are true. Her powers of observation are unparalleled.

Of course, Xiao Qingcheng, who was standing not far away watching the scene unfold, also witnessed this moment.

“Fu Yingsi is truly extraordinary,” she muttered.

“Master, why are you praising someone else?” Little Pearl asked.

“Never underestimate your opponents if you want to win. I’m sizing up the enemy I’ll be dealing with next,” Xiao Qingcheng replied.

“I don’t get it! I don’t get it! In my opinion, why don’t you just have an all-out fight? How simple would that be!”

“If it really came to a fight, I’d be at a disadvantage being alone. But if it’s a battle of wits, I could outsmart all of them without breaking a sweat!”

Listening to Xiao Qingcheng’s confident words, Little Pearl’s big eyes sparkled with admiration. She was growing more and more fond of her master—what should she do?

“Qingxue is too naive, always clinging to Young Master Nan Gong. As her mother, I should apologize to the matriarch on her behalf,” Lin Fen stepped forward, sensing the tension and interrupting Fu Yingsi’s scrutiny.

“Future in-law, you’re being too modest. Since Yu likes this girl, I, as his mother, naturally like her too,” Fu Yingsi responded.

“Mother, let’s not stand outside. Let’s go inside,” Nan Gong Yu said.

Only then did Xiao Feng manage to interject, “Yes, yes! Let’s go into the residence first. We can sit down and talk.”

Ignoring Xiao Qingcheng, who was standing at the entrance, the group marched into the Xiao residence. However, Fu Yingsi paused before entering the parlor: “Someone, please invite Miss Xiao San as well.”

“Yes, Matriarch!”

Nan Gong Yu frowned beside her. “Mother, why bring up that good-for-nothing?”

Xiao Qingqing, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: “Recently, there’s been a girl named Qingcheng who is truly exceptional. I heard she’s even the younger master’s junior fellow apprentice. We saw her just the day before yesterday. The young master praised her highly! Instead of seeing the third miss, you should see her.”

“Oh? Yu, is that true?” Fu Yingsi raised her eyebrows and looked at Nan Gong Yu beside her.

Nan Gong Yu reluctantly nodded, then glared at Xiao Qingqing with displeasure. He hadn’t intended to reveal Qingcheng to his mother so soon.

“Well, since the elder brother is leaving, Qingcheng has also departed. It might be hard to see her this time. But her extraordinary medical and poison skills are truly unparalleled. Even the elder brother has to admit her prowess,” Nan Gong Yu said.

Hearing this, Fu Yingsi’s eyes darkened slightly.

At that moment, Xiao Qingcheng had already arrived at the entrance of the parlor.

“Miss Xiao San has arrived!”

Everyone turned towards the door at the announcement.

Fu Yingsi released Nan Gong Yu and stepped forward personally: “Good child, come here and let me have a look.”

Xiao Qingcheng inwardly sneered. Fu Yingsi was indeed good at playing the role of a kind and caring matriarch.

Stepping over the threshold, Xiao Qingcheng stopped three meters away from Fu Yingsi.

“What are you standing there for? Don’t you want the matriarch to have a good look at you?” Xiao Feng, sitting nearby, glared at Xiao Qingcheng with displeasure.

Now that Nan Gong Feng was gone, everyone’s attitude towards Xiao Qingcheng had changed drastically.

“Ah, don’t scare the child. Come here, let me see you,” Fu Yingsi interrupted Xiao Feng, her face softening into a gentle and maternal expression.

“What’s there to see?” Xiao Qingcheng retorted coldly.

Hearing this, Fu Yingsi was taken aback for a moment: “You, my child, seem… not as foolish as I thought!”

“Humph! Even if she’s not foolish, she’s still an idiot. It’s probably the effect of the elder brother’s Yu Lu tea,” Nan Gong Yu interjected darkly.

Fu Yingsi raised her eyebrows, a hint of interest flickering in her eyes: “Oh? Good child, do you know who I am?”

Xiao Qingcheng pointed at Nan Gong Yu: “That despicable man’s mother!”

“How dare you call me despicable! You’re asking for death!” Nan Gong Yu roared, lunging towards Xiao Qingcheng.

Xiao Qingxue and Xiao Qingqing, who had been watching the drama unfold, both wore expressions of schadenfreude.

However, just as Nan Gong Yu’s fist was about to reach Xiao Qingcheng, Fu Yingsi spoke again: “Yu, step back.”

“Mother!” Nan Gong Yu shouted in frustration.

“I will fulfill your wishes, my son, but recklessness is not allowed.”

Hearing her mother’s concession, Nan Gong Yu retracted his fist and stepped back.

“Damn it, the chance to poison her just slipped away,” Xiao Qingqing muttered.

“Master, this old witch is really shrewd. She seems to be helping you out of trouble, but in fact, she only cares about her own son,” Little Pearl commented from within Xiao Qingcheng’s sleeve.

“Indeed! Even you can see through it, which shows how many fools are in this room,” Xiao Qingcheng replied.

After Nan Gong Yu stepped back, Fu Yingsi approached Xiao Qingcheng with a smile, squinting her eyes as she examined the seemingly disheveled and狼狈的 Xiao Qingcheng: “Good child, do you know why I’ve come to your Xiao residence?”

Without batting an eyelid, Xiao Qingcheng replied, “To call off the engagement! I’m not stupid!”

Fu Yingsi continued with a smile: “Do you also know that if I really agree to the annulment between you and Yu, how will you stand in the Xiao family in the future?”

“Just call it off! Why all the fuss?” Xiao Qingcheng deliberately feigned foolishness and impatience, shouting at Fu Yingsi.

“Damn it! What does this old witch want?” Little Pearl exclaimed inside the sleeve.

“She doesn’t want to call off the engagement so easily, and she’s trying to test me!” Xiao Qingcheng whispered back.

“Breaking off the engagement is possible, too. Here, this blood jade was something your mother personally handed over to me back then. Now, I’m returning it in full,” Fu Yingsi said, handing the blood jade to Xiao Qingcheng. “I heard that the token Nan Gong family gave you was borrowed by Miss Xiao and eventually smashed by Feng.”

Fu Yingsi handed the blood jade to Xiao Qingcheng and then turned to sit back on the main seat.

“Mother, that’s all in the past. And Qingxue is already preparing a basin of blood coral as the engagement token,” Nan Gong Yu quickly interjected.

Hearing this, Xiao Qingxue stepped forward: “Matriarch, Yu is right. Qingxue is sincerely willing to marry Yu.”

Fu Yingsi ignored Xiao Qingxue and took a sip of tea from the teacup beside her.

Xiao Qingxue bit her lip, her expression darkening as she watched the scene unfold.

Not far away, Xiao Qingqing nodded slightly at Xiao Qingxue and pointed to the handkerchief in Xiao Qingxue’s hand.

Xiao Qingxue hesitated, somewhat distracted.

“Qingxue, what are you staring at? Quickly help Mother with some snacks,” Xiao Qingqing prompted.

“Oh, right! It’s almost time for snacks,” Xiao Qingxue replied.

Then, Xiao Qingxue and Nan Gong Yu began to serve: one attending to tea, the other to the meal.

From a distance, Xiao Qingcheng watched as Xiao Qingxue’s handkerchief repeatedly wiped the delicate snacks, which were then handed by Nan Gong Yu into Fu Yingsi’s mouth.