Jiang Wuyou never failed to show the proper courtesy in her daily greetings.
But when a matter of principle was at stake, she never yielded, letting her edge show.
Empress He gave Jiang Wuyou a long look before smiling. "Children grow up and stop listening to their mothers! Since Wuyou is unwilling, no one can force you. Let's drop the matter."
A smile played on Jiang Wuxie's lips, making his handsome face seem almost otherworldly.
Jiang Wuqi raised a fist to his lips and stifled a cough.
Jiang Wuhua had been caught in the middle without warning. He simply said in a gentle voice, "That chair looks uncomfortable. Attendant, bring the Third Imperial Princess another one."
He took the initiative to ease the tension between the Empress and Jiang Wuyou. He recast Jiang Wuyou's angry, discourteous rise from her seat as a complaint about an uncomfortable chair, giving both sides a way to save face.
"No need." Jiang Wuyou smiled radiantly and sat back down. "No matter how uncomfortable a chair is, you get used to it after sitting in it long enough."
She offered Jiang Wuhua no courtesy, and there was an unmistakable implication in her words.
Yet Jiang Wuhua still smiled gently. "As my imperial sister wishes."
He turned and instructed, "There's no need to change it."
The eunuch standing nearby bowed and acknowledged the order.
It was a considerate gesture, but from another angle, it was also a declaration.
Whatever the case, the eunuchs present were all servants of the Son of Heaven.
Only the Emperor and Empress—and the Crown Prince—could give them orders directly.
The other princes and princesses could certainly get them to do things, but etiquette required them to say "please."
Only then did the Emperor of Great Qi speak. He turned to Han