Chapter 183: Vicious Female Supporting Character vs. Childless Emperor 27
Old Madam Xia sat at the top, her silver hair tied into a bun, her face carved with deep wrinkles, she looked like a very serious old lady.
"Yao'er! Stop it! A guest is a guest. If a guest doesn't know the rules, don't you, the host, know the rules too?"
"Your father asked you to entertain the guests well, so you should do so. What's the point of fighting and killing?"
Xia Mengyao bit her lip and reluctantly put the sword back.
If she dared to disobey her grandmother, her grandmother would certainly not beat her, but her father would definitely punish her.
She was her father's only precious daughter, and he spoiled her in every way on weekdays. However, he was particularly strict with her when it came to her grandmother.
"Grandma~" Xia Mengyao turned around and hugged Old Lady Xia's arm, pointing at Ji Yunhuan and said, "Look at how domineering she is. It's clear that she doesn't take our mansion seriously. Is our family afraid of her?"
"Today is your birthday party, and she insisted on coming here to cause trouble. I would say just kick her out. Anyway, our family and the Prime Minister's Mansion don't get along, so there's no need to give her face!"
Old Madam Xia patted her granddaughter's arm vigorously and frowned, "Shut up! Don't talk nonsense!"
She lived for eighty years and experienced the pain of losing her husband and the sorrow of losing her son. Now she has only one son and one granddaughter to take care of her.
Although Marquis Zhongyong looked so prosperous, he was actually alone and his situation was not good.
Now that the emperor is missing, undercurrents are surging in the court. If one is not careful, there will be no recovery. She can only advise her son to keep the military power in his hands and never hand it over.
As for the Prime Minister's Mansion, we still have to maintain the superficial friendship to avoid giving others a handle.
Many thoughts flashed through Old Madam Xia's mind in a flash. She nodded slightly at Ji Yunhuan, and there was not much intimacy in her words, but she maintained just the right amount of enthusiasm.
"I am very grateful that you, a little girl, can come to celebrate the birthday on behalf of your father and brother. Yao'er lost her mother when she was young and has been spoiled by our family. If her words were slightly offensive, I apologize on her behalf."
Ji Yunhuan did not come here to make enemies with the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. He decided to quit while he was ahead. He put the whip back to his waist with a whoosh, took two steps forward, and bowed to Old Madam Xia.
"Huan'er is a junior. Old Madam, you are too polite. Huan'er doesn't deserve it. Miss Xia is straightforward and lively. If she can get a third of the wisdom of Old Madam, she won't have to worry about the future."
Old Madam Xia pulled her granddaughter, who looked unconvinced, to sit down, fearing that she would say something unpleasant again.
Rumor has it that the eldest daughter of the Ji family is spoiled and stupid, and only knows how to cling to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but she doesn't see that as the case.
On the contrary, it was his own granddaughter who had been possessed since she met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. She even begged the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery to hand over the military power and fawn on His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
The foundation of the Loyal and Brave Marquis is loyalty to the emperor! Never get involved in party disputes!
If the Imperial Guards were really handed over, Marquis Zhongyong would become a fish at the mercy of others.
Old Madam Xia scolded and punished, but it made Xia Mengyao miss the Crown Prince even more. Young people are always self-righteous and think that love that is opposed by relatives is the true and passionate love.
Old Madam Xia sighed. Fortunately, she was still alive. She didn't expect Yao'er to take on the responsibility of the backyard, otherwise, who knows what would happen.
"Miss Ji is a distinguished guest. Come on, give Miss Ji a seat so that we can enjoy the flowers and the opera together. This will make the most of this beautiful spring day."
Immediately, a clever maid came over to arrange the seats and added a separate table, which was neither too far nor too close, and had nothing to do with anyone.
The famous actor on the stage not far away began to sing again.
"I wear a golden crown on my head and put on the iron armor I wore back then."
"The flag with the character Shuai floating in the sky, the huge character Mu shaking the heaven and earth..."
The song they sang was "Mu Guiying Takes Command", and Ji Yunhuan listened with great interest.
The ladies present at the table were somewhat lacking in interest. Having lived in the capital for a long time, they were accustomed to listening to some gentle and sentimental tunes, which most of them considered elegant and looked down upon other pieces.
Old Madam Xia looked at the powerful fighting scenes on the stage, a look of nostalgia showing on her face. She put her arm around her granddaughter's shoulders, and a rare bit of kindness appeared on her serious face.
"This opera is well sung. Grandmother likes it very much."
The singer on the stage was singing, "I don't want to be an official, I don't want to be an eunuch, I live for the country and the people..."
Xia Mengyao leaned against her grandmother, her little mouth pouting so much that an oil bottle could be hung on it, and she was sullen and refused to say a word.
Old Madam Xia couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Why are you still like a child? You get angry when I say a few words to you. You are so angry and everything is on your face. What will you do when Grandma is gone?"
Xia Mengyao stretched out her hand to cover her grandmother's mouth and said anxiously, "Pooh, pooh, pooh! Grandma, what nonsense are you talking about? You will definitely live a hundred years, a hundred years, no, two hundred years!"
The wrinkles at the corners of Old Madam Xia's eyes deepened, and she smiled with her missing teeth showing, "If you really live for 200 years, you will become an old monster."
The grandparents and grandchildren laughed and joked for a while, and the unpleasantness just now disappeared.
Old Madam Xia said sternly, "Yao'er, you are not a child anymore. Your father asked you to organize the birthday banquet, but you are so careless and forgetful. You panic at the slightest accident and are led by the servants by the nose."
"Let's just talk about the daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion. She is here today. You may not like her, but you can't show it openly. Your father has allowed her to enter the mansion, and he has his reasons. No matter what the daughter of the Ji family does, you must keep your composure and show the manners of a host to treat guests."
Xia Mengyao shook her head in annoyance and covered her ears with her hands. "Grandma, please stop talking. Yao'er's ears are about to get calluses. It's just a banquet. I will definitely do a good job next time. Please stop nagging me."
"Anyway, I just don't like her. If I become the head of the family in the future, I will definitely not invite the Prime Minister's Mansion. Why didn't Dad invite His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? I thought I could meet the Crown Prince today."
Old Madam Xia just felt powerless. After she said so much, her granddaughter was still thinking about the prince. If Marquis Zhongyong invited the prince to come, wouldn't it be a clear stance?
She didn't want to repeat what she had said hundreds of times, nor did she want to upset her granddaughter today, so she simply kept silent.
"Princess Rong'an is here~"
A loud voice came from far away, and the women stood up one after another, saying in unison: "Greetings to Princess Rong'an."
Ji Yunhuan also stood up like everyone else and looked up and down at Princess Rong'an who was walking slowly towards him.
Princess Rong'an is the Empress Dowager's granddaughter and the daughter of Princess Ruihua. She is of noble status and is well-known for her talent in the capital. She is quiet and dignified, and is a model of a noble lady.
She was wearing the clothes made in the palace, with her hair in a high bun, a huge eight-tailed phoenix hairpin inlaid with pearls, and two kingfisher hairpins, which swayed slightly when she moved, bringing a gust of fragrant wind.
Princess Ronghua was followed by many palace eunuchs and palace maids. As soon as they came in, they filled the small Fu'an Hall.
Old Madam Xia quickly stood up to greet her, and made a gesture to salute, "I didn't know the princess was coming, and I was not able to greet her from afar. This is really rude."
Princess Rong'an reached out her hand and helped Old Madam Xia up. "You are too polite, old madam. I came here uninvited. Please don't think I am bothering you."
Old Madam Xia cheered up and exchanged pleasantries with Princess Rong'an for a while. The two of them gave up their seats to each other, but in the end, Princess Rong'an insisted and personally helped Old Madam Xia back to the main seat.
Princess Rong'an asked the eunuchs and palace maids to serve her, put out the things she brought with her, and sat down to listen to the opera.
"This play is not suitable for the occasion. It is too noisy and inappropriate. It would be better to sing some elegant tunes, which would be worthy of the status of an old lady in the Marquis's mansion."
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