Xiao Tang slightly raised her chin, her smile forced and insincere.

I really hope the third task the system gives me is to slap this bald, greasy, lewd middle-aged man ten or eight times.

Her smile was stunning, yet chillingly cold.

"Duke Xiao, please don't stand on ceremony with me. Your mansion reeks of stench. I, the princess, don't even want to stay for dinner."

"Tsk, this smell of pig swill is probably only something that old uncles with unique tastes like Duke Xiao would like."

"Insolence!" Duke Xiao roared angrily, his face contorted with rage, and slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair as he stood up.

Duke Xiao was a military general in his youth, and this palm strike was extremely powerful!

The cracks on the chair armrests resembled a spider web.

It's clear that a slap to the forehead would cause a level 10 concussion.

Xiao Tang pursed her lips.

He trembled with rage and pulled out a bundle of leather whips from somewhere. "Xiao Tang, if your father doesn't teach you a lesson, you won't know what manners are!"

He pointed angrily at the two servants outside the door and roared, "Men, hold her down!"

He'd better give him a good thrashing!

Xiao Rourou feigned surprise and covered her mouth, "Father, please calm down! It wouldn't be good if you hurt my sister! She's the Regent's Consort now!"

"Ha! Regent's Consort?" Duke Xiao sneered. "So what? I'm your father, so I have the right to hit you!"

Xiao Rourou looked at Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan rushed over and grabbed Duke Xiao's hand—of course, she grabbed his left hand.

Duke Xiao held a long whip in his right hand.

"Husband, please calm down. Xiaotang has suffered since childhood, so it's normal for her to have many complaints about us."

"Why don't you leave Xiaotang with me? I'll discipline her properly and teach her manners, etiquette, and court etiquette so that she won't offend the Regent in the future."

Xiao Rourou nodded repeatedly.

Only Xiao Tang maintained a cold expression throughout the entire process.

She watched the whole family's performance with a blank expression.

Finally, they didn't forget to clap and applaud.

The sudden clapping startled everyone in the room.

Xiao Tang clapped her hands and said, "Your performance was wonderful. You guys must have been the ones who instructed the opera troupe at Hongmei Garden, right?"

Hongmei Garden is the most famous theater in Beijing.

In the royal family, the Empress Dowager and the Empress loved to go to the opera, and they would go to the Red Plum Garden.

Duke Xiao's anger had subsided after his wife persuaded him a few times, but Xiao Tang's words made him furious again!

"Hold her down!"

Two servants were just about to come in...

Before he could even move, he was suddenly struck by two palms.

The servant was caught off guard and fell to the ground.

Yan Jiu strode in, his eyes coldly fixed on Duke Xiao. "The Regent has ordered that anyone who dares to harm the Princess Consort will be executed without mercy!"

The Regent clearly didn't come...

It was clearly just an order relayed by a guard...

Yet, a strange chill lingered and lingered in the room.

Duke Xiao's expression gradually turned ugly.

Xiao Rourou's expression also became somewhat distorted.

What did she hear?

The Regent is actually protecting Xiao Tang like this!!

Moreover, even Yan Jiu was assigned to Xiao Tang, just to ensure that Xiao Tang would not be bullied when she returned to her parents' home.

At this moment, Xiao Rourou's heart was twisted with jealousy.

She couldn't help but tighten her grip on Di Yanhen's hand.

At this moment, Duke Xiao realized he should be pragmatic and forced a stiff, awkward smile. "Hehe, no...no, Lord Yan Jiu must have misunderstood. I was just trying to strengthen my bond with my daughter."

He looked at Xiao Tang and said, "Xiao Tang, it's a rare occasion for you to return home today, so please stay and have a meal with us."

After saying this, he secretly ground his teeth.

They were truly angry but dared not speak out.

Xiao Tang lazily tossed her long hair and said in a low voice, "There's no need for that. I really don't want to eat your pig swill. It's such a unique flavor, you should enjoy it yourselves."

"Sister!" Seeing Xiao Tang turn to leave, Xiao Rourou immediately called out to her.

She noticed that Xiao Tang's hair was adorned with no jewelry, so she smiled and said, "Sister, I have a lot of jewelry. Let's go to the backyard together, and I'll let you choose some."

This is the intention to keep Xiao Tang here.