Chapter 292 The birthday gift bumped into someone!

Duke Xuanyuan seemed somewhat helpless when he appeared.

He came with the second young lady Xuanyuan Huili.

Ever since the last incident, Xuanyuan Huili could no longer maintain her gentle and shy image.

In the mansion, many servants would look at her strangely behind her back, even if they didn't mention it to her face.

The Duke's wife often went to her room and advised her to relax, but with her emotional intelligence, what she said often had the opposite effect.

For example, she would angrily say, "Lu Yunjue is blind. My daughter is so good, how dare he despise her?"

If she were an ordinary girl, she would probably just cry and then get over it.

But how strong-willed was Xuanyuan Eri? Her mother had instilled in her since she was a child the idea that she was the best daughter in the world, so naturally she felt that she would marry the best husband!

Lu Yunjue is such a person who completely meets her inner fantasies and standards.

But the reality is tragic.

Not only did she fail to win Lu Yunjue's favor, she even exposed her darkest side to the servants in the mansion.

How could she let go of this?

The Duke watched helplessly as his daughter's obsession grew deeper. At first he could still deal with it rationally, but later on he hated Lu Yunjue to death because he felt sorry for his daughter!

When Prime Minister Lu was in power, His Majesty valued civil officials over military affairs, causing the Duke to suffer a lot of humiliation, both openly and covertly.

He finally died, but his son actually dared to harm his own daughter?

How dare the Lu family, a family on the verge of collapse, offend the Duke's Mansion?

Hu Xiner felt a chill and turned around to find Xuanyuan Huili looking at her viciously.

Good man, the ghost is still lingering.

Hu Xin'er complained silently in her heart, then poked Mu Qing: "Look, your bad peach blossom."

Mu Qing looked over with a hint of doubt.

At this moment, Xuanyuan Huili's expression immediately became shy and timid.

The couple simultaneously looked away with a hint of disgust.

The Duke is currently busy presenting gifts to His Majesty and is not paying attention to what is happening here.

When Hu Xiner saw the birthday gift he presented, she couldn't help but open her eyes wide in shock.

The ceremonial officer slowly said, "The Duke's Mansion presents—a jade screen depicting a hundred-mile landscape!"

Not only her, almost everyone in the scene was shocked by this birthday gift.

The Duke observed the expressions of the crowd and smiled with satisfaction, "Your Majesty, I was stationed in the southern border last year, and this is a piece of jasper jadeite presented to me by the local natives. It is so large and rare, and it is also completely natural and of exquisite quality. It took me a year to carve it with skilled craftsmen. It is truly unparalleled in the world!"

Even though those sitting here were royal relatives and powerful families, they could not help but be amazed.

This jasper is actually more than one meter tall. Not to mention the water content, patterns, and the carving of the vast landscape on it, it would take an incredible amount of manpower and resources to transport it from southern Xinjiang!

More importantly, it is rare.

There is only one such thing in the world!

The emperor was a little tired at first, but now he showed a surprised smile: "My dear Xuanyuan, you are so thoughtful! Why don't you keep such a good item for yourself?"

Duke Xuanyuan laughed heartily, "Your Majesty, you're joking again. I'm just a duke. How could I possibly fit such a rare treasure in my courtyard? Only Your Majesty's dragon energy could hold such a treasure!"

If it were any other time, Hu Xiner would definitely complain that Duke Xuanyuan seemed bold on the surface, but was actually a good flatterer.

But now, her mind was blank and her palms were slightly sweating.

Because Duke Xuanyuan's birthday gift actually had the same theme as hers.

With such a precious treasure in front of her, no matter how much effort she put into her painting, it could not compare to the luxurious screen that the Duke spent a lot of money to buy!

However, the gift list had already been presented, and Hu Xiner had no choice but to give it. She could only pray that her gift would appear later.

But misfortunes never come singly, the next name announced by the ceremonial officer was the Lu family!

Hu Xin'er looked at Mu Qing in confusion.

Mu Qing's eyes darkened, indicating that he was also unaware.

The original order was not like this. Someone must have noticed that the birthday gifts of the Lu family and the Duke's Mansion had the same theme, so they deliberately placed them behind the Duke's Mansion.

And who else could be behind this except the prince?

Mu Qing looked at the Crown Prince, who smiled slightly and toasted him with a glass of wine. He then said, "Father, you have always admired Madam Lu's painting skills. I wonder what kind of surprises she will bring us this time?"

The emperor smiled and said, "It's good that the thought is there."

He obviously didn't expect too much from the Lu family's gift.

But it was different for the other people on the field.

All the people whose attention had just been attracted by the jade screen, followed the prince's words and looked towards the Lu family's seat.

At this time, the palace maids quickly brought the Lu family's birthday gift over.

Hu Xin'er prepared a painting, and although it was placed in a precious sandalwood box, compared with the wealth of the Duke's Mansion, her box was simple and even a little shabby.

When the painting was unfolded, everyone saw that it was a picture of a river and mountains, and they all looked uninterested.

The Emperor praised her a few times, but the Duke laughed and said, "Mrs. Lu's painting skills are still as superb as ever. But this thousand-mile landscape is only depicted on a piece of paper as a birthday gift for Your Majesty. It's a bit petty."

He looked at Mu Qing again and said with some disapproval: "Even Lu Hanlin's doting on his wife has to have a limit..."

He actually wanted to exaggerate and fabricate Mu Qing's story at this time!

Hu Xin'er suppressed her anger and smiled, "I can't believe that the Duke, with his rich eyes, can't even see the design in my painting?"

If only she was criticized, she would have endured it. After all, she had been criticized in the capital for her identity as a peasant girl for a long time.

But this Duke actually squeezed Mu Qing as well, making him lose face in front of his colleagues?

How could Hu Xiner let this go?

The emperor asked with great interest, "Oh? What is the design in your painting?"

Hu Xin'er's heart was a little nervous, but she smiled generously and confidently: "Your Majesty, please turn off the lights now!"

"The assassin at the Princess's wedding banquet was taken away by Madam Lu, and then died suddenly and inexplicably. If someone were to harm His Majesty in the dark this time, Madam Lu would be held responsible..."

The one who came out to find fault this time was Xuanyuan Huili.

The Duke nodded silently to show his support for his daughter.

The emperor dismissed her words as childish and said with a smile, "It's safe at the birthday banquet. You don't have to worry."

After turning off the lights, Hu Xiner walked to the painting and picked up a lantern.

Under the illumination of lanterns, the painting of a thousand miles of rivers and mountains suddenly became glittering, the river water was silver, and the mountains were shining with golden light. The already exquisite painting skills became even more fascinating because of this unique design!

Everyone who was ready to laugh at her suddenly couldn't take their eyes off her.