Zuo Bin blushed with embarrassment and could only smile awkwardly, "Master Xiao, you see, my memory is so bad that I even forgot this is my second daughter. Hahahahaha..."
Everyone around him suppressed their laughter and said nothing. Only Lord Zuo's awkward laughter filled the air.
At this time, an old man with a long face came towards Xiao Licheng holding a long gift box.
He smiled broadly and said, "Master Xiao, I heard that you have always been fond of studying painting. I have specially asked the most famous painter in the capital to paint a picture for you. Please appreciate it."
This person was none other than Wang Zhixing, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Xiao Licheng had just calmed down, but when he heard the word "Danqing", his face instantly turned black again.
Damn it, who said I like Danqing the most? !
Which blind man did you hear that from?
I grew up in northern Xinjiang, where I learned horseback riding and archery in elementary school. I never liked painting. Later, when I went to study at the Imperial College, the thing I dreaded most was calligraphy and painting classes, okay?
The calligraphy and painting assignments I did back then were always at the bottom of the class.
Painting, calligraphy and painting are simply my psychological shadows.
Xia Miaoyuan saw his uncle's face was dark with trembling lips and he couldn't speak, so he almost laughed out loud.
She covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, her shoulders shaking: [Ah, another one of those people who doesn't do their homework before giving a gift.]
[Do you think that all civil servants like to be pretentious?]
[But my third uncle is not like that.]
Xia Zhengqi exhaled deeply. What kind of people are these? Are they competing to create embarrassment today?
He parted his lips, hesitated, and then walked forward. He was too lazy to smooth things over, so whoever wanted to intervene could do so.
Let them be embarrassed to the end.
The Second Prince couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so he walked forward, took the painting from Wang Zhixing's hand, opened it, and looked at it. He said, "This painting has delicate brushstrokes and vivid artistic conception. It is indeed a good painting."
A smile immediately broke out on Wang Zhixing's face, and he looked at Xiao Licheng flatteringly.
"Master Wang, this painting is a very nice gift. But please don't give it to me again next time."
After hearing what the second prince said, Wang Zhixing's smile froze.
"My third uncle gets a headache whenever he sees something involving painting. If you give him too many paintings, he'll be so distressed that he won't be able to get out of bed. The case at the Dali Temple will be delayed."
The people around them burst into laughter instantly, then suppressed their laughter, their mouths twitching.
"Ah, this..." Wang Zhixing's long face turned red.
"I have to go to the bathroom urgently..." Wang Zhixing stuffed the painting into Xiao Licheng's arms and ran away.
Xiao Licheng really couldn't stand it anymore, so he called his son Xiao Yong over to stand at the gate to welcome guests and accept gifts, while he led the queen and others to the inner courtyard.
At a banquet like this, male and female guests are treated separately.
Today, Xia Zhengqi brought his two sons to the front yard of the Xiao Mansion to greet and chat, while the queen brought her daughter to the backyard.
Entering the main house in the backyard, Xia Miaoyuan looked inside.
I saw my aunt Jiang Yuru wearing a bright red brocade dress, sitting in the middle of the main room.
Next to her was an exquisite crib with a small baby lying in it.
When everyone saw the queen coming, they immediately stood up and bowed to her.
The Queen said gently, "Quickly stand up. We are not in the palace today, so everyone should be more relaxed and at ease."
Xia Miaoyuan couldn't wait to see them exchange greetings, so he walked straight to the crib.
She leaned over the crib railing and looked at the baby inside.
I saw a baby sleeping with his eyes closed, his long eyelashes trembling occasionally, his pink little face and his mouth like peach petals, he was so cute.
[What should I do? What should I do?] Xia Miaoyuan's eyes were shining with stars.
【Oh my, this looks like a good rua. 】
[I wish my mother could give me a sister like this.]
[If mother doesn't give birth, it would be nice if I could bring my little cousin back to the palace.]
Xia Miaoyuan muttered to himself.
"Isn't it super cute?"
A soft and baby voice came.
Xia Miaoyuan looked up and saw Xiao Wanyin jumping towards him.
"Look, my little sister is so cute!" Xiao Wanyin raised her face proudly.
"Every morning when I open my eyes, I want to see her, kiss her and hug her, but unfortunately my mother won't let me."
Xiao Wanyin spoke to Xia Miaoyuan in a baby voice.
Xia Miaoyuan's eyes were full of envy.
The two little balls of milk gathered together and commented on the little sister in the crib for a while, then they held hands and skipped out to play.
Seeing that Xia Miaoyuan liked her cousin Xiao Wanyin very much, the Queen was happy to let them play more, so she just gave Sang Qi a wink and asked her to follow and protect her.
"Come, cousin Miaomiao, I'll take you to find something delicious." Xiao Wanyin took Xia Miaoyuan's hand and walked out.
When they reached the reception room, Xiao Wanyin took her in.
The guests were still standing outside the hall chatting, and various snacks and candies were placed on several small tables in the reception room.
Xiao Wanyin took Xia Miaoyuan's hand and walked straight to the small table. She grabbed handfuls of the candied fruit and pineapple candies on the plate and put them into her purse. After filling one small table, she walked to the next small table.
When one purse was full, she picked up the largest pineapple candy and put it in her mouth.
Then she took off Xia Miaoyuan's purse and stuffed handfuls of candy into it.
[Wow, my little cousin is so nice!] Xia Miaoyuan cast an admiring look at Xiao Wanyin.
"Hehe, I also know that I'm fine." Xiao Wanyin said, picking up a candy and stuffing it into Xia Miaoyuan's mouth.
When both of their purses were filled with candies, Xiao Wanyin took Xia Miaoyuan's hand and came to the yard again.
"Look, this is a plum tree. When it snows, it will bloom. It will bloom lots of beautiful flowers."
Xiao Wanyin pointed to a tree in the yard and introduced it to Xia Miaoyuan.
Xia Miaoyuan looked up and observed the layout of the courtyard. When she and the queen came to the Xiao Mansion before, they couldn't walk yet, so they didn't pay much attention to the courtyard here.
[Wow, these flowers are blooming so beautifully.] Xia Miaoyuan took one look at the gorgeous roses in the flowerbed and walked over involuntarily.
In Beijing, there are very limited varieties that can still bloom in winter.
Rose is one of them. Even if the weather is cold, it can still bloom as long as it is taken care of well.
"This was planted by my mother. Isn't it beautiful? But she hasn't had time to take care of it recently, so the gardener is taking care of it." Xiao Wanyin introduced it to Xia Miaoyuan with a sweet smile.
She stretched out her two chubby little hands, reached out to a big red rose, carefully avoided the sharp thorns on the branch, and pulled it down with force.
"Here you go!" Xiao Wanyin handed the flowers to Xia Miaoyuan.
"The flower is beautiful! Hello, sister!" Xia Miaoyuan jumped excitedly and took the rose like a treasure.
"Master Xiao, please walk slower!"
A muffled male voice came.
Xia Miaoyuan and Xiao Wanyin couldn't help but look in the direction of the sound.
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