Chapter 162 Pearl
"Please, Princess Chang Le, serve tea to the Princess."
Aunt Meng really couldn't bear to disturb the mother and daughter, but the process was still going on, so she had to wipe her eyes and then personally carry the tray forward to remind them.
Qi Yuxuan snapped out of her reverie and was about to reach for the teacup when she heard a furious, indignant voice from behind her:
"Your Highness, shouldn't you give the Xiao family an explanation?"
She looked at the eldest princess, who shook her head at her almost imperceptibly.
The change of surname was, of course, not announced to the Xiao family in advance, and as expected, the Xiao family was about to make a scene.
The eldest princess took Qi Yuxuan's hand, pulled her behind her, and looked at the spirited Xiao Min, a smile playing on her lips:
"Oh? I wonder what kind of explanation Young Master Xiao wants? I don't understand."
The noble and imposing princess merely glanced at him, yet Xiao Min felt a chill creep down his spine, and upon hearing her words, he shrank back even further.
Seeing the curious and scrutinizing looks from the surrounding guests, he looked to Xiao Su for help.
Everyone here knows what changing one's surname means. From now on, there will be no more Xiao Yuxuan in the Xiao family genealogy, but there will be a Qi Yuxuan in the imperial genealogy.
Moreover, the eldest princess acted first and reported later, which is an utter disgrace to the Xiao family. How could Father possibly tolerate this?
Xiao Min, who prided himself on understanding his father, wanted to help him, but when the princess and the guests actually came to investigate, he started to back down.
"Father……"
Xiao Su's brows furrowed into a tight knot. He knew, of course, that the Princess was provoking the Xiao family, but he was thinking about more than just that.
To be included in the imperial genealogy must have required the emperor's approval.
Does this mean that His Majesty knew something and therefore acquiesced?
They never expected that their second son, who was not only a good student but also a mediocre person, would say such things that embarrassed them and even had the nerve to call him that!
Xiao Su glanced at Xiao Min with disappointment; this son was ultimately a good-for-nothing.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. My son is young and may have spoken inappropriately. Please forgive him."
Having served as an official for over twenty years, Xiao Su knew he couldn't take the lead now. If he proactively informed so many guests that the Xiao family didn't even know Xiao Yuxuan was going to change her surname, then he would be at a disadvantage.
The eldest princess gave a cold laugh.
What a cunning and calculating Xiao Su! He can swallow his anger like this, probably thinking of making a big profit with a small investment and then playing the victim in front of the emperor in the future.
But she is unlikely to do as they wish.
"Yu Xuan, weren't you going to serve me tea?"
We'll deal with the Xiao family after we've finished the important business.
Qi Yuxuan pursed her lips and smiled gratefully.
She turned to the side and picked up the cup of tea that had been prepared beforehand from the tray in Aunt Meng's hands.
She approached the eldest princess, her slender neck slightly bowed, and offered tea to her eyebrows with her delicate hands: "Daughter respectfully invites Mother to have some tea—"
The princess didn't want her to hold it for too long, so she immediately took it and drank it.
After drinking the tea, the princess raised her hand, took a long hairpin with a golden phoenix holding a pearl from her hair, and personally put it on Qi Yuxuan.
The heavy golden phoenix is entirely made of gold thread as fine as hair, delicate and symmetrical, and every part is dazzling and gorgeous, making people turn their heads. But what is most amazing is the pearl in the phoenix's mouth, which is the size of an infant's fist and is truly rare in the world.
"This hairpin was prepared for me by my mother when I was a baby. Now I'm giving it to you, so that it can be passed down between us."
"When you have your own daughter later, give this hairpin to her..."
The princess smiled wistfully, "It'll be soon. You'll be of marriageable age in just over six months. I wonder which lucky young man will be able to marry my daughter."
“It’s really beautiful. Only a hairpin like this is worthy of being worn on my daughter’s head.”
As she talked on and on, Qi Yuxuan's eyes grew even wetter.
Lin Hui, no, the Xiao family, had never spoken such intimate whispers to her.
The eldest princess took out a handkerchief and gently and slowly wiped away the tears on her face, looking at her intently:
"Yu Xuan, don't cry. From now on, stay quietly behind your mother and don't go it alone anymore. Don't forget, you're still a child."
Qi Yuxuan's voice choked with emotion as she softly replied, "Okay..."
The large pearl trembled slightly, shimmering in the little girl's hair.
Guo, with a smile in her eyes, spoke at the opportune moment:
"Look at the eldest princess and Princess Chang Le, mother and daughter, they are truly enviable. Anyone who sees them would praise their deep affection."
“I know about that hairpin. When the late Empress took it out, it really opened our eyes. I never thought I would be so lucky to see it again.”
A lady chimed in:
"Yes, I've also heard about that golden phoenix hairpin with a pearl in its mouth. The pearl, the size of a baby's fist, is not easy to come by. What's even more precious is that it's flawless. You might not find one like it in a hundred years. And today it's being presented to Princess Chang Le as a gift."
"It's also worth it for Princess Chang Le. Even without this relationship of recognizing her as a daughter, based on what she did in the capital recently, few ordinary women would have such courage."
The guests below praised Qi Yuxuan highly.
The princess was pleased to hear this, but she did not forget the increasingly grim expressions of the Xiao family members in the crowd.
She gently raised her hand, and everyone fell silent.
"Thank you all for coming. However, the Xiao family just mentioned that they want me to give an explanation. Since everyone is here today, I will ask the Xiao family for an explanation."
Xiao Su's brow twitched violently at being called out by name.
He glared at the timid Xiao Min behind him with a look of exasperation, then bowed and stepped forward:
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
"Is that so? Bring the person up!"
All eyes turned to the entrance of the main hall, where two guards escorted two widowed women into the hall, leaving everyone somewhat puzzled.
The two old women were dressed plainly, in simple clothes and skirts, so they were just ordinary people. But what were they up to?
"Madam Xiao, do you remember the lady on the left?"
Aunt Meng stepped forward with a cold face, pulled the cloth out of the mouth of an old woman on the left, and then looked at Lin Hui.
Wang the midwife's lips trembled, about to say something, but when she saw the two extremely elegantly dressed noblemen at the head of the table, she was so frightened that she immediately shut her mouth.
During this period, she witnessed firsthand the tormenting abilities of these high-ranking and powerful people.
Even without causing injury or death, there are countless ways to make life worse than death!
She had truly had enough, and after vomiting out everything she knew over and over again, she finally found relief today.
Lin Hui frowned as she looked at it; it did look somewhat familiar.
However, she usually managed the household affairs of the Xiao family and had seen at least eighty or a hundred stewards and servants, so she really couldn't remember when she had seen them before.
Judging from his ordinary, even somewhat shabby, attire, he must not be an important person.
"Please enlighten me, sir."
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