The table in the dining room has been set, and steaming hot and fragrant vegetarian dishes have been served one after another, including Luohan vegetarian food, wild rice stem in tomato sauce, braised vegetarian dishes with fermented bean curd, four-happiness vegetarian food, mushroom and three-fresh soup, as well as various stir-fried dishes, vegetarian chicken, and vegetarian fish...
After Yun Yichen arrived, everyone took their seats. Princess Jing sat at the head of the table, flanked by her son and Qin. Xiao Yao happened to sit directly across from Yun Yichen. Because of the presence of a distinguished guest, the Xiao family had changed their habit of chatting while eating, leaving Xiao Yuan scratching her head. Xiao Yao comforted her with a smile as she served her food.
But even with delicious food and his sister, the quiet dining environment still made Xiao Yuan feel very awkward.
"Ruyi, what's wrong with you?" Yin Qianhua, who had been observing her for a long time, asked, "Maybe the child is feeling unwell!"
"No, nothing." He just felt a little depressed. Xiao Yuan knew that this was not his home, so he had to endure it even if he didn't want to.
"Mrs. Xiao, this child..." Is he feeling unwell somewhere?
"Don't be afraid of being laughed at by the princess. We never follow the rule of not talking while eating at home. She might be a little uncomfortable with eating quietly today." Qin explained.
Xiao Yuan nodded hurriedly in response. It was too painful not to be allowed to speak.
"Just say whatever you want to say." Yin Qianhua encouraged her niece with a smile. This child is interesting and the Xiao family's rules are also special. They are really a unique family!
"Is it okay?" Xiao Yuan glanced at Yun Yichen. Compared to the princess aunt, this prince scared Xiao Yuan more. You are just a little kid, you never smile all day long, and you don't talk much. Not only do you feel unhappy, but you may also affect others, do you know?
Yin Qianhua saw Xiao Yuan's concerns. She hoped that her son could give his niece an encouraging smile, or even a simple response without a smile! Son, you are so reserved and cold, it will scare the child!
Yun Yichen also seemed to feel that some people were focusing their attention on him. Actually, it was not unacceptable for him to talk during meals, but the situation today was a little special. If his cousin started talking, would the little girl next to her take the opportunity to report him?
"Just say whatever you want to say, otherwise it will be really boring." Seeing that her son could not be relied upon, Yin Qianhua had to speak up to comfort him herself.
"That's right, that's right. You don't know that talking while eating will make you feel good, and your body will get better and better." Xiao Yuan explained in detail the benefits of talking while eating.
"That makes sense." Yin Qianhua also spoke freely with her husband when they had dinner together in private, so she was deeply touched by these words and felt that there was some truth in them.
"Sister, do you like the food here? I think Luohanzhai is delicious."
Xiao Yao smiled and nodded. Today's vegetarian dishes were delicious. This must have a lot to do with the presence of the princess. The families of ordinary officials were never treated so well.
"Sister, why don't you speak?" Xiao Yuan asked curiously.
Yun Yichen also glanced at Xiao Yao intentionally or unintentionally. Was she waiting for an opportunity, a most suitable opportunity to sue him? What a cunning little girl.
Xiao Yao had already made up her mind to speak as little as possible today, so as not to provoke the prince again, which would embarrass everyone. The princess was very friendly to her family, and she had a good impression of her. She couldn't let a spoiled brat ruin the atmosphere.
"Ping'an, if you have anything to say, just say it. Don't be restrained." Yin Qianhua continued to encourage.
Yun Yichen looked at Xiao Yao in astonishment. Had she finally gotten the chance she had been waiting for?
Xiao Yao seemed not to notice Yun Yichen's surprised expression. She simply replied to Yin Qianhua very politely, "Princess, I have nothing to say."
"These two children are very much to our liking. I hope to invite them to visit our daughter on her birthday in the future. I wonder if Mrs. Xiao would agree."
"It is an honor for our Xiao family that the two of them have caught your eye, Princess. We agree, of course." This is such a pleasant surprise! It is a great honor to receive an invitation from the Princess.
"What do you two sisters think?" Yin Qianhua turned around and asked the parties involved.
"You only remember to ask for our opinions now. How dare I say no?" Xiao Yao thought to herself.
"Thank you, Princess, for not disliking our naughty sisters." Xiao Yao answered the question irrelevantly.
"Going to the palace? I've never been there before!"
"It's not the palace. I'm planning to hold a birthday party for Ruonan in the other courtyard." With Concubine Han and her daughter in the palace, how could anyone feel like celebrating their birthday? It would be better to have fun outside and eat comfortably.
"I don't know when the princess' birthday is." Tong Mingyu changed the subject. It was an open secret in Beijing that the princess and the concubines in Prince Jing's mansion were not on good terms. She quickly moved on to the next topic so as not to be asked any embarrassing questions by her daughter or niece who did not know the truth.
"February 23rd."
"Wow! She is only... three days older than my sister. Sister, the princess is older than you!" Xiao Yuan covered his mouth with his hands and laughed secretly, with a bit of gloating in his eyes.
"Really? Maybe Ping'an and Ruonan will become good friends by then!" This is also Yin Qianhua's wish. This little girl from the Xiao family always gives people a very comfortable and close feeling. She is like a beam of warm sunshine that can shine into people's hearts, making people feel warm.
"I also hope to have a chance to meet the princess." Xiao Yao said with a smile.
Yun Yichen poked the rice bowl in front of him with his chopsticks. He shouldn't have gone out today. He thought he had won the game, but he didn't expect his mother to invite them to the other courtyard to attend his sister's birthday party. He was so depressed!
Xiao Yao, who inadvertently looked up, saw Yun Yichen's reaction clearly. How much someone must hate the other person to react like that! Xiao Yao also felt that she should have consulted someone before going out today. For her, today must be a bad day to go out.
After the vegetarian meal, the two families said goodbye to the host and got on the carriage to return to Kyoto.
"Be safe and sound. Your aunt will send a carriage to pick you up on the 23rd." Yin Qianhua, who had gotten on the carriage, lifted the curtain again and gave instructions.
"Aunt Princess, we will remember this." Xiao Yuan responded enthusiastically.
Xiao Yao wanted to refuse. She truly didn't want to see this prince again. Was being a royal relative a big deal? Could he just throw a tantrum at others? She was the eldest daughter of the general's mansion, after all. Why should she silently endure the humiliation he inflicted on her for no apparent reason?
"Princess, they will definitely remember your words. Please go first." Tong Mingyu saw that her daughter just smiled and did not answer, so she spoke quickly. The child was a little abnormal today.
If she said she was not familiar with the princess, it seemed as if they had known each other for a long time; if she said they were very familiar with each other, it didn't seem like that judging from her daughter's polite and distant attitude. After returning home, she must find out what exactly happened between Ping An and the princess.
The journey was smooth and unimpeded, and they were back in Kyoto in less than an hour. After saying goodbye again at an intersection, Yin Qianhua ordered the driver to take the Xiao family members back to the Xiao Mansion on Qiguan Street.
Dinner time is the time for the family to get together, and chatting and laughing while eating has always been a tradition of the Xiao family.
"Finally, I can talk freely again." Xiao Yuan said with emotion.
"I thought you were so happy to see a princess today that you wanted to go to the palace with her!" As Xiao Rui's biological brother, he was always the first one in the family to stand up and make fun of Xiao Yuan.
"I don't want to live in the palace! You're not allowed to talk during meals, and there's a prince who acts like everyone owes him money. There's no place like ours."
"That boy Yun is just a quiet person. Apart from Prince Jing, the Ninth Prince, and the grandson of Duke Mu, I have rarely seen him pay attention to others." General Xiao evaluated very objectively.
He's more than just quiet! He's seriously ill. Xiao Yao couldn't help but wryly say, "Maybe he's been through some kind of trauma. He might have a twisted personality, a psychopath. Otherwise, why would he treat her like that?"
"Princess Jing has invited Ping'an and Ruyi to attend the princess' birthday banquet today! Second son's wife, starting tomorrow, put aside everything else and just make clothes and choose jewelry for these two children. If they want something and we don't have it in stock, just come to me." Qin was born into a merchant family, and the thing she had the most was money. With her theory that money could allow her to travel around the world, she thought that as long as she was willing to spend money, she could buy whatever she wanted.
"There's no need to dress up deliberately, just treat it as an ordinary banquet. Children of the Xiao family don't need to be judged by others, and there's no need to deliberately please anyone.
Ping'an and Ruyi, remember this: if there are people who truly want to be your friends, it's okay to make a few of them. But if someone dares to treat you rudely, don't tolerate or back down; just fight back. "General Xiao always had a unique way of teaching his children.
I have been bullied all day. In the face of reality, your theory is not completely applicable. There are always people in this world that we cannot afford to offend, Xiao Yao sighed silently in his heart.
Qin really wanted to refute her husband's remarks. The fighting and killing tactics might be acceptable for her grandson, but was it really appropriate to let two little girls roll up their sleeves and confront others?
"Especially Ping'an, if any young lady dares to bully you again, come back and tell Grandfather, and I'll go to their house and smash the door."
After looking at each other, the group of people could only sigh helplessly. They didn't know whether you always wanted to help your granddaughter or harm her, and you couldn't even think of such a method.
"I'm having someone select women with martial arts skills from among the families of my subordinates. Once I find them, I'll pick out a few women with good martial arts skills and the right age to keep them and specifically protect Ping An and Ru Yi."
"That's a good idea." Xiao Jingkang also agreed. After all, as his daughter grows up, she will have more and more opportunities to go out and attend banquets. Having two people who know kung fu accompanying her every day will make people feel much more at ease.
"I agree too." Xiao Jingtai agreed.
"I think it's very good too." Xiao Jingyan was serious for once.
"In this way, if anyone dares to exclude my granddaughter again, I will just throw him away, and Ping An and Ruyi won't have to bother hiding from her." After saying this, General Xiao twirled his beard and raised his head, waiting for everyone to praise him again.
After hearing General Xiao's words, the room fell silent for a moment.
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