Chapter 161 Changing Surname
Today's ceremony for the recognition of a daughter at the Princess's residence has attracted an enormous number of guests, including the wives of nobles from several surrounding counties.
The Xiao family should have been the first to receive these guests before the Eldest Princess and Xiao Yuxuan returned.
However, the princess's few words kept the Xiao family sitting in the living room for nearly an hour.
"The Xiao family and the princess are not close, so it would be inappropriate to trouble them to entertain our guests. It would be better to prepare a room for them to rest in, and then let them come over when we return."
The statement that the princess did not have a deep relationship with her biological parents would not hold water for anyone else, but it was perfectly reasonable in the Xiao family.
Xiao Yuxuan had only been back in the Xiao family for a few months, but she spent most of her time by the side of the Eldest Princess.
As expected, the Xiao family had no way to refute this explanation and could only stay obediently in the living room, unable to leave even for a moment.
So the Xiao family arrived late, only to find this scene before them.
The guests, regardless of gender, gathered in twos and threes to chat, all with warm smiles on their faces.
How could I not be happy?
Who is the Eldest Princess? She is the Emperor's own elder sister. How dazzling and radiant she was in her youth! She has only become quieter in recent years, but anyone with a bit of age and experience knows the Eldest Princess's former splendor.
As for the experience of losing a husband and children, of course some people will gossip behind their backs, but every family has its troubles. Those who can climb to high positions are mostly smart people who know who holds the power and who they should flatter.
So no matter what they thought in their hearts, they put on a good show, afraid that the people in the Princess's residence wouldn't be able to see how happy they were from the bottom of their hearts.
"The Eldest Princess has arrived! Princess Chang Le has arrived!"
As the master of ceremonies announced the name of the ceremony, everyone stopped talking and looked in the direction of the voice.
Upon witnessing this scene, they all gasped in unison:
Sunlight streamed into the hall, illuminating the intricately patterned Western Region carpet and reflecting off the towering palace lanterns on either side. The palace servants, with their heads bowed and eyes lowered, walked to the sides, revealing behind them a woman dressed in the robes of a princess and a young girl dressed in the robes of a county princess.
This is today's main character.
Princess Chang Le lagged half a step behind the eldest princess, approaching slowly and unhurriedly amidst the gazes of the crowd, with an air of motherly affection.
The princess's beauty is beyond doubt. In her youth, she was known in the capital for her bright and flamboyant appearance. Time has added a touch of gentleness and elegance to the corners of her eyes, but it has not diminished her former sharpness in the slightest.
The little girl she was holding was even more beautiful, her beauty otherworldly, her skin as white as porcelain and delicate as if it could be broken with a touch, her clear and bright eyes almost able to see through people's hearts, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, her eyes sparkling, and when she looked over from afar, almost no one could help but blush.
For a moment, everyone almost forgot to bow, staring blankly at the two protagonists, each with their own unique charm.
It's unclear who started it, but someone knelt down first, shouting:
"May Your Highness the Eldest Princess be well, and may Princess Chang Le be well—"
As if awakened, everyone hurriedly followed suit and bowed.
Even though she knelt down to pay her respects, many gazes still swept across Lin Hui's face.
She was the birth mother of Princess Chang Le. The princess's stunning beauty was undoubtedly due to her mother, who was once the most beautiful woman in the capital.
However, upon seeing this, those people couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.
I thought Madam Xiao must be a beautiful woman with a lingering charm, but I never expected her to have aged so much.
She's not even as good as the eldest princess, let alone other ladies her age.
How could Lin Hui not notice the glances from those around her?
After a moment's thought, she understood the key point and clenched her back teeth.
The most beautiful woman in the capital back then was also confined by domestic affairs, raising children, and worrying about her health. She was no longer as carefree and innocent as she used to be at home.
It is said that one's appearance reflects one's heart. How can a heart that is already exhausted be as innocent and beautiful as it was in its youth?
After the two people at the head of the table were seated, the princess glanced at the Xiao family members indifferently before telling them to rise.
"I have invited you all here today to witness this auspicious day for me and Yuxuan."
"Although Yu Xuan is not my biological daughter, I have a deep connection with her. She is intelligent, kind, and of excellent character. To me, she is no different from my own daughter. I hope that you will take good care of her in the future for my sake."
Everyone quickly said they dared not accept such praise, and congratulated the eldest princess and Princess Chang Le on their close relationship, saying it was a predestined fate.
As Lin Hui listened to the people around her saying these things, she felt increasingly uncomfortable.
Seeing her absent-minded look, Xiao Yuyao knew what she was thinking, so she took a half step forward, gently placed her arm in hers, and said softly:
“Mother, this is a good thing for Fifth Sister. From now on, Yuyao will take her place in serving you. Please don’t be sad…”
Before she could finish speaking, Lin Hui placed her other hand on hers and patted it:
"I am fine."
The next moment, he forcibly pulled her hand away from his arm.
Xiao Yuyao was unwilling, but with so many people around, it was really not easy to make any big moves, so she retreated in a huff.
Lady Guo, the wife of the Prince of Runing, praised Xiao Yuxuan to the skies, saying that she had noticed Xiao Yuxuan and the Princess looked like mother and daughter, and now her words had come true. She smiled and asked the Princess for a lucky draw prize.
With this blessed lady stepping forward to liven up the atmosphere, the group of guests were in high spirits, and everyone chimed in with their support.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Aunt Meng, at the Princess's behest, stepped forward and read aloud the imperial edict bestowed by the Emperor that day, conferring the title of Princess.
Xiao Yuxuan solemnly walked up to the eldest princess, knelt down, placed her hands on her right hand, and slowly kowtowed to the ground.
"Daughter Qi Yuxuan greets Mother, wishing Mother a long life, good health and happiness."
These words caused an uproar, not only among the Xiao family members sitting below, but also among the other guests.
Qi Yuxuan?
Not Xiao Yuxuan?
Qi is the surname of the state!
Could it be that the reason the Eldest Princess and Princess Chang Le went to pay respects to their ancestors today was not merely to give Princess Chang Le face, but that they truly intended to place her under the Eldest Princess's wing, making her a genuine royal princess?!
This is hardly just adopting a goddaughter, it's practically adopting a biological daughter!
They glanced furtively at the Xiao family members' expressions, only to find them equally bewildered and shocked, as if they knew nothing about the matter!
What's going on?
The Xiao family was completely unaware?
Those below speculated and were surprised, while the eldest princess at the head of the table stepped forward with tears in her eyes and personally helped Qi Yuxuan, who had changed her name, to her feet.
"Good boy, get up quickly!"
"You've truly overcome all your hardships now. From now on, it'll be just the two of us, mother and daughter, relying on each other for survival."
Looking at the loving face of the eldest princess before her, Qi Yuxuan said softly, "From now on, Yuxuan will no longer be a child without love."
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