The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 2)

Chapter 241 - The Heart is Hidden Behind the Belly

"Alright, Ye Shi has gained favor now. If we send her back today, who knows what bad things she might say about me in front of the Emperor. Let her in," Yi Xiuyuan said, waving her hand with a somewhat displeased expression. At the same time, her gaze turned cold and sharp. "I want to see what tricks she still has up her sleeve."

She ordered someone to take the third prince away first, then adjusted her clothes and called for Ye Yun to be brought in from outside.

"I pay my respects to Xiuyuan. I apologize for the sudden visit; please don't hold it against me."

Etiquette always needed to be observed first; after all, one should never strike a smiling face.

Yi Xiuyuan didn't expect Ye Yun to be so polite, which made her feel even more guarded.

"Please, Ming Xiurong, take a seat. You must have something important to discuss coming here today?"

This straightforward approach clearly indicated her unwillingness to engage in small talk, hoping Ye Yun would get to the point quickly and leave.

Yi Xiuyuan's meaning was clear to Ye Yun, but at this moment, she decided to play dumb.

With a smile, she sat down, "Why doesn't Xiuyuan offer me a cup of hot tea? It's not easy to come here, and I've heard the green tea from Xiuyuan is quite good."

"Of course, we have tea, but it's surprising that Ming Xiuyuan seldom comes," Yi Xiuyuan said, forcing a smile.

She slowly adjusted her demeanor, feeling a bit more relaxed.

With a wave of her hand, Yun Xiu stepped forward to pour a cup of hot tea.

Ye Yun took a sip and savored it carefully.

Her unhurried demeanor made Yi Xiuyuan unable to hold back first.

"Ming Xiurong coming here must be for more than just tea."

"Naturally not." Ye Yun smiled at her and gestured for Huiyue and Nanzhi to come forward.

"I recently acquired some fine fabrics, and the people at the sewing workshop said these materials are soft and perfect for making clothes for children. So, I brought some for the third prince, along with a few small toys that children like, all of which I gathered from my maternal family's business."

The two maidservants stepped forward and presented the items in their hands.

Setting aside how novel and clever those small toys were—after all, they were mostly made of wood and not particularly valuable—the few bolts of fabric were indeed of excellent quality.

They were all snow gauze brocade.

At this point, Yi Xiuyuan found it difficult to grasp Ye Yun's intention.

Could it be that she was here to make amends?

But that seemed too sudden, and she wasn't necessarily obliged to agree.

"Then I'll thank Ming Xiurong on behalf of the third prince. Such fine things are rare."

"Xiuyuan has a good eye; you can tell the quality of things at a glance. But I wonder if you can discern the goodness or badness of people's hearts," Ye Yun suddenly shifted the conversation.

This remark came unexpectedly, causing Yi Xiuyuan to pause for a moment before becoming wary again.

With a half-smile, she looked at her, "What does Ming Xiurong mean by that? Are you implying that I don't understand?"

"Nothing much, just a casual remark," Ye Yun replied lightly, though her gaze subtly swept over the figure of Yun Xiu standing behind her. "After all, people's hearts are hidden behind their bellies; they aren't like objects, where good and bad are clearly visible at a glance."