The people from the Shen family came. It was Grandfather Shen who brought Grandmother Shen, and of course Shen Rouyun.
Shen Baisong from the Shen family was exiled to Qiongzhou half a month ago. It was a remote place and it was even a question whether he could survive to get there.
Shen Rouyun felt very uncomfortable when she saw Shen Qiu's family holding such a big birthday party. They were all daughters of the Shen family, so why?
Her father and brother held military power, and she married such a powerful man. It would be fine if he was just an old man, but he was not. He was not only handsome but also the youngest duke and the most favored.
But what about her? Her father was banished, her grandmother was a concubine with no say in the Shen family, and her mother was also not welcomed in the Shen family. She was not even invited to the banquet at her niece's house, and she had to ask her grandfather to bring her along.
Shen Rouyun watched Shen Qiu chatting and laughing among the ladies, acting like the hostess, and she felt more and more uncomfortable.
The grandparents of the Shen family were invited to Rongwei Hall to chat with Duke Ye and Madam Xiao.
Before the main meal, everyone would find their own friends, some in groups of three or four, to drink tea and chat, some to appreciate the flowers, and some to play some small games played in the boudoir.
The main banquet is about to begin. Madam Xiao asked someone to invite the Duke. He is the main guest today. What would it be like if he didn't attend?
But the people who went there returned empty-handed, so Lady Xiao had to go alone.
As soon as Lady Xiao arrived at the old Duke's bedroom, she began to scold him, "You said you were half-dead, what are you trying to do? You haven't been so scared in front of millions of soldiers on the battlefield. Isn't it just for you to see your old friend? What's so shameful?"
Madam Xiao grew angrier and angrier as she spoke. She paced back and forth in the room, then suddenly pulled out a hairpin from her head. She turned to the old Duke and said, "Ye Xuan, I'm going to ask you one last time, are you going to get off the ground?"
The old Duke still didn't move, his eyes staring ahead without any expression. Madam Xiao picked up the hairpin and put it against her neck, saying, "If you can't take this step today, I'll shove this hairpin in. That's more satisfying than being pissed off by you!"
Xiao Taijun was ruthless and was about to stab it without hesitation, but suddenly she felt a pain on her hand and the hairpin fell to the ground. Xiao Taijun looked at the ring that knocked her hairpin off and tears fell down.
The old Duke said in a fearful voice: "Hong'an, don't force me!"
Madam Xiao looked at the ring without looking up and said, "It's up to you. Since you want to stay like this forever, I won't stop you. Everyone says that Prince Fuguo Ye Xuan is a great hero and the backbone of the Great Yin Kingdom, but I think he is just so-so. He can't even face what has happened. He is no better than a country farmer."
"Forget it. I'll just treat the former Ye Xuan as dead, just like my two children. He died in battle. It's better than watching him cowering at home every day, not daring to go out."
As she spoke, Madam Xiao laughed, then walked out the door step by step. Looking at the old and lonely figure, the old Duke finally shed tears.
His wife should be the one who suffered the most from the death of their children. She had carried them for ten months and given birth to them, so how could she have suffered less than him? Yet, he was still like this, leaving her disappointed and heartbroken time and time again. He had thrown all the ups and downs in the world onto her. He felt sorry for her, but he made her bear it all for him.
The main banquet was held in the garden, where there were more trees and water and it was cooler.
Ye Chen received a message from Madam Xiao, saying that there was no need to wait for the Duke, as Madam Xiao would come over soon.
Ye Chen sighed and murmured to himself, "Grandfather, oh grandpa, grandma suffered more than you, and she had to protect you from the wind and rain and take care of your emotions everywhere. Are you really not going to stand up again?"
As the main banquet was about to begin, Madam Xiao, supported by her maid, walked towards this side step by step, leaning on the dragon-headed cane given by the late emperor.
When Chen Qiu saw this, his eyes became hot. He then quickly walked over, took the maid's hand, and held it tightly, as if this could give Madam Xiao some strength.
Madam Xiao felt it, responded to Chen Qiu, then smiled at her and told her not to worry.
Just as Lady Xiao was about to take the main seat to accept birthday congratulations on behalf of the old Duke, a resounding voice called out, "The old Duke has arrived!"
Everyone looked towards the source of the sound and saw a middle-aged man dressed in black pushing a wheelchair. Sitting in the wheelchair was the old Duke Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan was wearing a black jade ring on his right thumb and holding a string of Buddhist beads in his left hand.
Before Ye Chen could react, he heard everyone say in unison, "Greetings, Duke!"
Ye Chen saw such a scene. This was something only his grandfather had. Although others also called him the Duke, that was only for the sake of his grandfather's face.
Although he is also a Duke, he has no military merits and no honors. All he has is that he is the grandson of a Duke. In this life, he is just a young master from a wealthy family in Kyoto.
When the old Duke passed by Madam Xiao, he stretched out his hand and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Come up with me!" Chen Qiu smiled and put Madam Xiao's hand in the old Duke's hand.
Afterwards, the old Duke was pushed to the main seat, and then he faced the crowd, raised his hand and said to them, "Everyone, I am late, and I hope you will forgive me. I apologize for any shortcomings in my hospitality."
"Today is my seventy-eighth birthday. My grandson and his wife are so filial that they have hosted such a birthday banquet for me. It is a great honor for our mansion to have you all here."
"As you all know, my grandson has already inherited the title. I hope you will take good care of him in the future. I would like to thank you all here."
"I have difficulty walking, so I won't dine with you all. My old friends, would you like to come with me to Rongwei Hall? Let's leave this place to the young people!"
Several elderly men with similarly gray hair followed the old Duke as they headed towards Rongwei Hall. A man in the corner, hands behind his back, smiled and nodded, saying to someone nearby, "Let's go back to the palace too. It seems this kid has achieved his goal with this birthday banquet."
Everyone watched the old Duke walk away before Ye Chen said, "The banquet is now officially starting. There will be an opera troupe coming in the afternoon, and there will be fireworks in the evening. Everyone, have fun. If you need anything, feel free to contact me."
After saying "Let's eat", the maids and servants began to serve the dishes and pour the wine.
In the afternoon, some ladies wanted to take a nap and were taken to the guest courtyard. Many of the male guests had drunk a little too much and were placed in a reception area in the front courtyard. The elderly people were all arranged to stay in the back courtyard of Rongwei Hall.
In the afternoon, a troupe of opera performers was invited, one group of men and one group of women, chatting and laughing. Chen Qiu was also very happy to see these people having a great time. This showed that she had entertained them well.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
