Chapter 69 Filial Piety
"Yu Xuan, how can you be so disrespectful in front of the Princess? Hurry up and sit in your own seat!"
Madam Xiao gently reprimanded him.
These words immediately drew the attention of most people in the hall.
Guo, who had just been asking which family Xiao Yuxuan belonged to, stiffened her smile. It turned out that Xiao Yuxuan was the daughter the Xiao family had just found.
Her reputation was rumored to be poor, yet the eldest princess valued her so highly. She naturally trusted the eldest princess's judgment of character, therefore…
Guo's life has been smooth and happy since childhood, but that doesn't mean she's unaware of the tricks used in those mansions. Frame-ups, mistreatment, neglect, and even poisoning and switching medicines are commonplace.
I thought the Xiao family was simple and honest, a rare and blessed family, but it turns out their good looks were just on the surface...
Xiao Yuxuan stopped smiling and turned to look at the mother and daughter standing in the hall.
Madam Xiao looked angry, while Xiao Yuyao kept her head down, trying to minimize her presence.
"Mother, Fourth Sister."
Xiao Yuxuan, looking obedient, got up and went over to greet her, then tried to help Madam Xiao by supporting her other arm.
Madam Xiao was still angry about her daughter's sycophancy. She flicked her sleeve and knocked her hand away, then led Xiao Yuyao to pay their respects to the Princess.
His knees bent, but the person at the head of the table did not announce that he should dispense with the formalities.
The people in the hall were all shrewd and intelligent; how could they not see the struggle without bloodshed? Those with quick minds immediately grasped the situation and, not daring to make a sound of mockery, exchanged knowing glances and guesses about what had happened.
After a long while, the eldest princess seemed to just remember something and exclaimed, "Oh dear!"
"I was so focused on enjoying my tea that I didn't notice you were here. Please rise and take your seats."
Madam Xiao and Xiao Yuyao were overjoyed and were quickly led by palace maids to seats to the side.
Standing in the hall and maintaining the bowing posture for a long time not only causes back and leg pain, but being scrutinized openly and secretly by so many people is truly like having thorns in your back.
Madam Xiao had not been so humiliated in a long time.
After much thought, the reason for all of this still lies with Xiao Yuxuan!
Xiao Yuxuan must have said a lot of bad things about the Xiao family in front of the Princess, which is why the Princess took extra pity on her.
Otherwise, how can one explain how a commoner girl who was once just an embroiderer could win the favor of the princess?
Madam Xiao believed she had grasped the truth and was heartbroken by Xiao Yuxuan's attempt to curry favor with the Princess.
Xiao Yuyao kept her eyes down and thought to herself, "Just as I thought."
She knew she would be harassed by the princess upon entering the palace, but she didn't expect to be met with such a harsh welcome right away. She had no idea what other challenges awaited her.
Just as she was filled with anxiety, she heard the eldest princess call her name again:
"Miss Xiao, your outfit today is quite unique. In my opinion, it's shimmering brocade, isn't it?"
Xiao Yuxuan sat quietly beside Madam Xiao, and upon hearing this, her expression turned forlorn for a moment.
The princess naturally noticed this change in expression.
She understood immediately. She thought to herself that Yu Xuan had said this morning that she was reluctant to wear the shimmering brocade she wanted to save for her coming-of-age ceremony, so how could she possibly give it to Xiao Yu Yao? It seemed that someone had acted first and informed her later, using a deceptive tactic.
Xiao Yuyao was taken aback. Was this dress made of shimmering brocade?
Isn't that the kind of fabric that the Eldest Princess gave to Xiao Yuxuan? It's said that only a dozen or so bolts are produced each year, making it extremely precious. Only members of the royal family and their most favored relatives can use it to make clothes.
Yesterday, my mother had someone send over the clothes, saying that they were made by the best embroiderer from Longxing Cloth Shop, so that she could wear them to the palace banquet today to make a good impression. However, she didn't mention that the material was the legendary shimmering brocade.
A bad feeling suddenly arose in her mind.
"Your Highness, I was unaware that this garment was made of shimmering brocade..."
Madam Xiao's heart skipped a beat when the eldest princess mentioned the word "clothing," and she quickly interjected:
“Your Highness, this is the fabric you bestowed upon Yuxuan a few days ago. She has already presented it to me. I was worried that Yuyao might not have suitable clothes to wear to the palace, and that wearing something too plain might be taboo, so I took the liberty of…”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuxuan sneered inwardly, but her desolation deepened.
She seemed to struggle with herself before finally managing to say with difficulty:
“Your Highness, Mother is right. This is a gift from your humble daughter to you. I am deeply grateful for Your Highness’s gift, but I will do my utmost to repay Mother for giving me life. This precious brocade is a gift from your humble daughter to you.”
The hall was deathly silent.
If they were just thinking of watching the show and seeing how lively the Xiao family was, now that some of them were quick-witted and kind-hearted, they immediately understood and couldn't help but sigh.
Putting aside the fact that every girl of this age loves to dress up, any normal mother would not accept fabric that is clearly made for a young girl.
It's highly likely that Madam Xiao favored her adopted daughter, misappropriated the money first, and then didn't inform the original owner afterward, which led to this misunderstanding.
The eldest princess sighed softly.
She hadn't felt this tired in a long time since her husband passed away.
She wanted to stand up for Yu Xuan in front of everyone, but she found that the word "filial piety" weighed down on her, and all her efforts and methods were in vain.
To avoid embarrassing her biological mother, it was obvious to everyone that Yu Xuan had already compromised to the extreme.
Madam Xiao, you have such a good daughter but you don't know how to cherish her. You pour your heart out to an adopted daughter who uses despicable means and is vicious and cold-hearted. You've truly been blinded by greed.
"Alright, since that's the case, I won't say anything more. The clothes are already made, so Miss Xiao should wear them properly."
After she finished speaking in a low voice, she looked tired and unwilling to speak, and was helped by Aunt Meng to the back to rest.
Xiao Yuyao sat there, her heart numb with coldness.
It turns out that this shimmering brocade was indeed the one that the Princess gave to Xiao Yuxuan. On that day, all the gifts were covered with red silk, and she had never had the chance to see such a rare material before, so she naturally did not know that this was the shimmering brocade.
She said that seeing Xiao Yuxuan smiling at her at the palace gate was not a hallucination, and her urge to go home when she sensed danger was not unfounded.
The gazes directed at her from all around became increasingly brazen and filled with ill intent.
Xiao Yuyao was in the very center of everyone's gaze, and the handkerchief in her hand under the table was torn.
All of this must have been planned by Xiao Yuxuan!
The side hall, which had been quite lively, became much quieter after this interruption.
As the time for the banquet drew closer, Chunwen became increasingly restless.
Xiao Yuxuan pretended not to notice Chunwen's unusual behavior, glanced at the sky outside the hall, and said:
"Qin Yuan, come with me for a walk, it's so stuffy outside."
Qin Yuan nodded readily, and Chun Wen, noticing she hadn't been called, tentatively asked:
"Fifth Miss, let me accompany you!"
Xiao Yuxuan refused:
"No, you stay here for now, I'll be right back."
If Chunwen isn't given a chance, how can the play continue?
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