All the women were silent, not daring to say a word. There was even a timid girl who fell directly into her mother's arms, almost crying with fear.
Xia Mengyao slammed the table and stood up, drew the soft sword from her waist, and rushed towards Ji Yunhuan with rage burning in her eyes.
"You're a coward! Your whole family is a coward! Watch out, I'm going to poke a few holes in you today."
Old Madam Xia sat at the top, her silver hair tied into a single bun, her face carved with deep wrinkles, she looked like a very serious old lady.
"Yao'er! Stop it! We are guests. If a guest doesn't know the rules, don't you, the host, know the rules too?"
"Your father told you to entertain the distinguished guests well, so you should do so. What's the point of fighting and killing?"
Xia Mengyao bit her lip and reluctantly put the soft sword back.
If she dared to disobey her grandmother, her grandmother would certainly not beat her, but her father would definitely punish her.
She was her father's only precious daughter, and he spoiled her in every way on ordinary days. He was only particularly strict with her when it came to her grandmother.
"Grandma~" Xia Mengyao turned around and hugged Old Madam Xia's arm, pointing at Ji Yunhuan and saying, "Look at how domineering she is. It's clear that she doesn't take our mansion seriously. Do we really think our family is afraid of her?"
"Today is your birthday party, and she insisted on coming here to cause trouble. If it were me, I'd just kick her out. Our family and the Prime Minister's Mansion don't get along anyway, so there's no need to give her face!"
Madam Xia slapped her granddaughter's arm vigorously and frowned, saying, "Shut up! Don't talk nonsense!"
She lived for eighty years and experienced the pain of losing her husband and the sorrow of losing her son. Now she has only one son and one granddaughter to take care of her.
Although the situation looked so prosperous, the loyal and brave Marquis was actually not good as he could not support himself.
Now that the emperor is missing, undercurrents are surging in the court. If one is not careful, the situation will be disastrous. She can only advise her son to keep the military power in his hands and never hand it over.
As for the Prime Minister's Mansion, we still have to maintain the superficial friendship to avoid giving others a handle.
Many thoughts flashed through Mrs. Xia's mind in an instant. She nodded slightly at Ji Yunhuan. There was not much intimacy in her words, but she maintained just the right amount of enthusiasm.
"I'm very grateful that you, a little girl, can come to celebrate my father and brother's birthday. Yao'er lost her mother when she was young and has been spoiled by our family. If my words were slightly offensive, I apologize on her behalf."
Ji Yunhuan did not come here to make enemies with the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. He decided to quit while he was ahead. With a whoosh, he put the whip back to his waist, took two steps forward, and bowed to Old Madam Xia.
"Huan'er is a junior. Old Madam, you are too polite. Huan'er doesn't deserve it. Miss Xia is straightforward and lively. If she can get a little bit of Old Madam's wisdom, she won't have to worry about the future."
Old Madam Xia pulled her granddaughter, who looked unconvinced, to sit down, fearing that she would say something unpleasant again.
It was rumored that the eldest daughter of the Ji family was spoiled and stupid, and only knew how to cling to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but she did not see that as the case.
On the contrary, it was his own granddaughter who had been like a possessed person since she met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. She even begged the Loyal and Brave Marquis to hand over the military power and fawn on His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
The foundation of the Loyal and Brave Marquis's character is loyalty to the emperor! He will never get involved in factional disputes!
If the Royal Guards were really handed over, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery would become a fish at the mercy of others.
Old Madam Xia scolded and punished, but it made Xia Mengyao miss the Crown Prince even more. Young people are always self-righteous and think that love that is opposed by relatives is the true and passionate love.
Old Madam Xia sighed. Fortunately, she was still alive. She didn't expect Yao'er to take on the responsibility of the backyard, otherwise, who knows what would happen.
"Miss Ji is a distinguished guest. Come, give her an extra seat so we can enjoy the flowers and the opera together. This will make the most of this beautiful spring."
Immediately, a clever maid came over to arrange the seating, adding a separate table that was neither too far nor too close, and not in contact with anyone.
The famous actor on the stage not far away began to sing again.
"I wear a golden crown on my head and my temples, and I put on the iron armor I wore back then."
"The flag with the character 'Shuai' floating in the clouds, the huge character 'Mu' shaking the heavens..."
The song they sang was "Mu Guiying Takes Command", and Ji Yunhuan listened with great interest.
The ladies present were somewhat uninterested. Having lived in the capital for a long time, they were used to listening to some gentle and sentimental tunes, which most of them considered elegant and looked down upon other pieces.
Old Lady Xia looked at the powerful fighting scenes on the stage, a look of nostalgia on her face. She put her arm around her granddaughter's shoulders, and a rare bit of kindness appeared on her serious face.
"This opera is well sung. Grandma likes it very much."
The song on the stage was singing, "I don't want to be an official, I don't want to be an eunuch, I live for the country and the people..."
Xia Mengyao leaned against her grandmother, her little mouth pouting so much that an oil bottle could be hung on it, and she was sullen and refused to say a word.
Old Madam Xia couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Why are you still acting like a child? You get angry just because I say a few words to you. You're so angry, and everything shows on your face. What are you going to do when Grandmother is gone?"
Xia Mengyao reached out to cover her grandmother's mouth and said anxiously, "Pooh, pooh, pooh! Grandma, what nonsense are you talking about? You will definitely live a hundred years, a hundred years, no, two hundred years!"
The wrinkles at the corners of Old Lady Xia's eyes deepened, and she smiled, revealing her missing teeth. "If he really lived for two hundred years, he would become an old monster."
The grandfather and grandson laughed and joked for a while, and the unpleasantness just now disappeared.
Old Madam Xia said sternly, "Yao'er, you're not a child anymore. Your father asked you to organize the birthday banquet, but you're so forgetful and careless. You panic at the slightest accident and are even led around by the servants."
"Let's just talk about the Prime Minister's daughter. She's here today. You don't like her, but you can't show it openly. Your father has allowed her into the mansion, so he must have his reasons. No matter what the Ji family's daughter does, you must remain calm and show the hospitality of a host."
Xia Mengyao shook her head irritably and covered her ears with her hands. "Grandma, please stop talking. My ears are almost callused. It's just a party. I'm sure I can do it better next time. Please stop nagging me."
"Anyway, I just don't like her. If I become the head of the family in the future, I will definitely not invite the Prime Minister's Mansion. Why didn't Dad invite His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? I thought I could meet the Crown Prince today."
Old Lady Xia felt powerless. After she said so much, her granddaughter was still thinking about the prince. If Marquis Zhongyong invited the prince to come, wouldn't it be a clear stance?
She didn't want to repeat what she had said hundreds of times, nor did she want to upset her granddaughter today, so she simply kept silent.
"Princess Rong'an has arrived~"
A loud voice came from far away, and the women stood up one after another, saying in unison: "Greetings to Princess Rong'an."
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