Everyone present was lost in their own thoughts, but suddenly Princess Jingyue burst out laughing.
She stared at the list of birthday gifts, as if she had seen something funny, and for a moment she couldn't stop laughing.
"Hahaha! That's hilarious! It's absolutely hilarious!"
"Song Xizhi sent a gilded blue and white porcelain eight-treasure vase? Such things are everywhere in the palace... Hahaha, how can she be so confident that the Empress Dowager would like this? Has she never seen a blue and white porcelain vase before?"
"It's not even pure gold, but just gilded. If you were to give it to me, I'm afraid its shabby appearance would dirty my own place!"
Upon hearing this, Consort Li couldn't help but cover her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckle softly.
Consort Liang smiled and shook her head at Princess Jingyue: "Jingyue, don't say that. What if this is the best thing she can offer?"
The two concubines reacted in this way, and the noblewomen at the table couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"How dare they send such shabby stuff?"
"They sent it all, yet they dared to spout such nonsense in front of the princess... They really have no taste of the world. They're not from any distinguished family, so marrying into the Marquis of Anding's household is truly a step up for them!"
Song Ruoan and Zhao Qianlan, mingling in the crowd, were also laughing heartily.
Song Ruoan felt incredibly relieved, but outwardly she frowned and looked at Song Xizhi with obvious helplessness:
"Sister, if you are short of money, just tell me. How could you send such a rude gift? What if you anger the Empress Dowager?"
Song Xizhi couldn't help but laugh when he heard her words: "Does my sister mean she can lend me money in the future?"
Song Ruoan's face stiffened, and she changed the subject, saying, "I really couldn't bear to see you do something so ridiculous!"
Others also sighed, "They were clearly born into the same family, but Song Ruoan's performance was far superior to Song Xizhi's."
"Could this be related to the Zhao and Su families? Being born into humble families really makes a difference!"
Princess Jingyue pouted smugly: "Don't compare the Zhao family to those scoundrels!"
Song Xizhi's smile gradually faded when she heard her insults directed at her maternal grandparents. She spoke calmly:
"How can you be sure that what I gave you was worthless without even seeing what the vase looked like, Princess Jingyue?"
Princess Jingyue sneered, feeling that Song Xizhi was putting on a brave face, and that her words were an attempt to salvage her own dignity: "Since you're so confident, why don't you bring the vase up for us to see?"
"What if the vase hides a secret? Wouldn't I, the princess, be wrongly accusing an innocent person?"
The ladies present all shook their heads, indicating that they did not believe Song Xizhi's words. Consort Liang even regarded Song Xizhi as a joke.
Zhao Qianlan took a deep breath and couldn't help but speak with a smug smile: "Xizhi, don't blame your mother for scolding you. No matter how I advised you, you wouldn't listen. This is what you deserve."
"If you hadn't overestimated yourself and insisted on taking what belonged to others, the understanding Princess Jingyue wouldn't be curious about what birthday gift you brought today."
Her voice carried a hint of coldness: "Some people are just born with a lowly fate; they'll never get those good things no matter what!"
Song Xizhi suddenly looked up, his beautiful almond-shaped eyes staring intently at her, and then nodded seriously: "That's right, things that can be easily obtained are what we are destined to have."
"If you forcibly change your fate and use underhanded means to obtain something that does not belong to you, you will suffer retribution."
Zhao Qianlan naturally understood the deeper meaning of Song Xizhi's words. Her face stiffened, and she almost gritted her teeth.
At that very moment, a palace maid beside Princess Jingyue brought over the birthday gifts presented by Song Xizhi.
The process went very smoothly, because everyone knew that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor spoiled this little princess rotten, and no one dared to disobey her. Moreover, all she wanted at the moment was a simple birthday gift.
Princess Jingyue didn't notice who Song Xizhi was arguing with; once the birthday gift arrived, her eyes were glued to it.
"Come, come, open it quickly! This princess wants to see what kind of changes she can make with a vase!"
“If you open it and find it’s just an ordinary vase, then you’ve deceived Father and Grandmother! I will definitely talk to them and teach you a lesson.”
Song Xizhi ignored Princess Jingyue's threat and instead made a "please go ahead" gesture: "Then thank you very much, Princess."
The princess was speechless at Song Xizhi's attitude, and then gritted her teeth and opened the box containing the birthday gift.
The wooden box looked to be made of precious materials, specifically Phoebe zhennan wood, and was carved with many patterns, suggesting it was quite expensive. The exterior was even more exquisite.
Everyone watched with bated breath, while Song Ruoan looked at Song Xizhi's calm face and a playful smile appeared on her lips.
As expected, Princess Jingyue, upon seeing the true form of the birthday gift, suddenly let out a scream.
Everyone present looked up in confusion, only to hear Princess Jingyue's voice: "The birthday gift that Song Xizhi gave to the Empress Dowager is broken! It's broken!"
Everyone's eyes narrowed. When the palace maid carrying the birthday gift slowly turned around, they saw an empty wooden box filled with fragments.
Consort Liang suddenly stood up from her seat and spoke sharply to Song Xizhi: "Song Xizhi, you presented the Empress Dowager with a completely broken vase. What is your punishment?"
Liang Yongshu stared at the vase in the palace maid's hand, his heart tightening. He then turned to look in Song Xizhi's direction, and even the hand he was holding slowly tightened.
Princess Jingyue wanted to make things difficult for the Empress Dowager, but the vase broke during the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration. What should be done?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
