On the morning of February 23rd, while Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan were still asleep, many people were already busy. The maid responsible for preparing the two young ladies' outfits for the day rechecked their clothes and jewelry. Qin Shi was worried about the people accompanying her granddaughter, fearing that they were unworldly and would not be able to help and would only cause trouble. So she specially sent Chunye, her senior maid, to help. Tong Mingyu also sent Xiying to look after her daughter.
From clothes, shoes and socks to purses and handkerchiefs, there are dedicated people to look after and take care of them. Although these people have tried their best to slow down their pace, Xiao Yao was still "woken up".
"Xiao Fu, what time is it now?" Xiao Yao asked sleepily.
"Miss, it is now the hour of Mao." Xiaofu replied softly.
"Mao... Mao time." Xiao Yao threw herself heavily on the bed. She really hoped that everything just now was just an illusion. At this time normally, she would still be in a dream. Her family was so nervous about attending the banquet. If she had the opportunity to enter the palace, would she be woken up in the middle of the night?
"Miss, why don't you sleep a little longer?" Xiaofu didn't lift the bed curtain, but just opened a crack and stuck her head out to ask.
"No need. You guys help me wash and dress. Tell the maids in Ruyi's room to be gentle and let her sleep a little longer." Xiao Yao rubbed herself on the soft quilt and prepared to get up.
"You don't have to worry about the Second Miss. Unless she wants to wake up herself, no one will wake her up, not to mention someone walking around or even knocking on a gong." Xiaofu said with a smile.
"You little girl, how dare you say bad things about me behind my back? Sister, hurry up and punish her." Xiao Yuan ran into Xiao Yao's bedroom with her hair loose and clothes in her arms.
"Xiao Fu, go to the window and see if the sun rises from the west today." Xiao Yao no longer had the heart to stay in bed, so she joked.
"Sister has also learned bad things." Xiao Yuan climbed onto Xiao Yao's bed as if he knew the way.
Several maids came over to help the two young ladies wash their faces, rinse their mouths, and comb their hair. Then Chunye and Xiying took new clothes and prepared to help the young ladies change into them.
"I want to wear that light-colored dress." Xiao Yao's eyes fell on the blue dress embroidered with colorful butterflies in Xiying's hand. The precious fabric, exquisite embroidery and complicated style made such a dress look very beautiful when worn. However, because it was so beautiful, Xiao Yao didn't even want to choose it today.
"Miss, you will look stunning in this dress. Madam and Madam have already instructed you to wear it to the palace villa today." Xiying coaxed patiently.
"Then wear it." Since the objection was ineffective, Xiao Yao had to obey the majority.
When the two sisters came to Ninghe Hall hand in hand, except for Xiao Jingkang and Xiao Jingtai who were attending court, everyone else was present.
Everyone in the family knew that Xiao Yao was good-looking, but she rarely dressed up before. When she went out, she would only go to familiar places or relatives' homes. This was the first time she dressed up carefully and seriously from head to toe like today.
Wearing a blue dress and a pearl headdress, the refreshing and graceful little girl, who looked like a fairy, stunned everyone.
Qin: You can rest assured. This look and this demeanor are not inferior to others at all.
Tong Mingyu: My daughter is just outstanding.
Li Jiaoying: If I had a daughter like this, I would wake up laughing in my dreams.
The rest of the people: It looks so good!
"I said that we uncle and nephew are the most alike. Look, I was absolutely right!" Because he was about to set off, this man had been recuperating at home for several days.
"You are you, Ping An is Ping An. How can they be alike? Why didn't I see it?" General Xiao said unhappily. He had always believed that his youngest son's face was the only thing worth showing off, and there was nothing else to recommend him. His granddaughter was different. She was sensible and well-behaved, the exact opposite of his son. She had all the qualities.
"I also think Ping An and Brother Yan are somewhat similar." Qin supported her son.
"It's getting late, let's have dinner!" Seeing that the show was about to begin again, Tong Mingyu had no choice but to stand up.
Taking advantage of the meal, Qin Shih once again explained to her granddaughter in detail the things she needed to pay attention to when going out...
During the meal, Qin talked a lot and ate little, and General Xiao was driven away early by her nagging.
"You guys go work and study." Qin, who had temporarily stopped, waved her hand and let her grandchildren go.
"My son still has some things to deal with, so I'll leave first." Xiao Jingyan took the opportunity to speak. It is not advisable to stay here for a long time. It is better for him not to stay to accompany his little niece to listen to his mother's teachings!
So Xiao Jingyan, Xiao Lang and several younger brothers retreated. Before leaving, everyone looked at the sisters with sympathy and said, "Hold on, you will be free when someone from the palace comes."
"Not loyal."
"that is."
Two small, weak voices were almost drowned out by Qin's speech.
Tong Mingyu walked behind the two of them and tapped them on the back secretly with her hand. "Listen for a while longer. I guess the carriage from the palace will be here soon."
"You must remember what grandma said." Qin reminded again.
"I remember."
"I remember. I remember."
"Chun Ye, have you brought any change of clothes? Xiying, be sure to stay close to the young lady when the time comes. Each of you should protect one young lady." Tong Mingyu wanted to distract her mother-in-law's attention and changed the subject.
"Yes." Chunye and Xiying answered.
After about a cup of tea, a housekeeper came to announce, "The carriage from the palace has arrived."
"So fast." Qin felt that she still had a lot of things to explain clearly!
"Why don't you invite him in!" Qin straightened her clothes and waited for him to come in.
"Your servant Qiuying greets Madam Xiao, Madam Xiao." Qiuying, the most senior maidservant beside Yin Qianhua, bowed and saluted to Qin.
No one expected that it would be her who came, and Qin's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could not help but look at each other.
"Good morning, Aunt Qiuying." Xiao Yao said politely.
"Is this a fairy who has come down to earth? I feel dizzy!" Qiuying complimented, half politely and half seriously.
"Please stop making fun of her." Tong Mingyu said modestly.
"My words come from the bottom of my heart." When it comes to welcoming and seeing off guests, no one can compare to those who have been immersed in the royal inner court for many years. A simple environment like the Xiao family will definitely not produce a person like Qiu Ying.
"Miss Qiuying, please have a cup of tea to warm yourself up and rest your feet. The princess is so polite that she even sent someone as important as you. In fact, you could have just sent anyone or let them go on their own." Tong Mingyu said politely.
"Our princess likes the two young ladies very much and originally wanted to send someone more respectable, but later found out that I was the only one who had met the two young ladies, so she sent this servant instead. I hope Madam Xiao and Madam Xiao will not think that the palace is being neglectful."
"You are so kind, Princess. We are flattered that you are here."
"Mrs. Xiao, you're welcome. It's getting late. If the two young ladies have packed everything, let's set off." He still had to go back to do his errands. Today was different from the past. There was no time for idle chat.
"Ping'an and Ruyi, follow Aunt Qiuying and be obedient. Don't be naughty." Tong Mingyu said this while staring at her daughter. Don't treat outside as home and act recklessly.
Xiao Yao felt that she had been very well behaved recently and had not been naughty at all. Why was it that everyone was worried about her when she was about to go out?
"It will be too late if we don't leave now. Goodbye, grandma, aunt and second aunt!" Xiao Yuan had wanted to leave for a long time. After his grandma had finally finished her nagging, his aunt and Qiuying kept talking. Was there any time to leave?
Before Xiao Yao left, she saw her mother stuffing a seemingly heavy purse into Qiu Ying's hand. She couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "What kind of a deal is this? Even being invited as a guest, you still have to make so many arrangements. Class hierarchy is really harmful!"
The palace's carriage was spacious and grand. Qiuying sat in the same carriage with Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan.
"You two must remember to follow the rules and listen to the princess and Aunt Qiuying." Qin said as the carriage started moving.
Xiao Yao had a feeling that her grandmother must have been very restless before her sisters came back today.
"Don't worry, we will never bring shame to you and the Xiao family." Xiao Yao poked her little head out of the car window and said.
"Sit back quickly and don't mess up your hair. Oh, I'm getting more and more worried about you like this." Qin said as she took a few steps forward.
Well, the comforting effect didn't work, but instead made her more worried. Xiao Yao sighed depressedly. Suddenly, she thought about how her grandmother would live if she had a relative who was a royal relative in the future!
"If I had known that grandma would be like this, I would have not accepted the invitation from the princess aunt and just stayed at home quietly. I wasn't nervous originally, but now that grandma is telling me this, I don't know what to do." Xiao Yuan muttered.
Qiuying was about to speak to comfort her when she heard Xiao Yuan say again: "Aunt Qiuying, did you bring any snacks? I want to eat when I'm nervous."
You eat a lot even when you're not nervous, but considering that your sister didn't eat much this morning after listening to grandma's "teachings", Xiao Yao didn't expose her.
"There are snacks and milk in the car." This was the princess's special instruction before leaving.
"Aunt Princess is so nice, Aunt Qiuying is so nice." They were so attentive and considerate, and Xiao Yuan no longer felt nervous.
Qiu Ying noticed the two little girls' expressions. One was focused on eating, the other was watching with a gentle smile, neither of them showing any sign of restraint or uneasiness. This was a strange thing. Madam Xiao was clearly worried and wanted to be with her granddaughter. Although the eldest wife didn't say it, her eyes were filled with worry. In contrast, the two in front of her seemed more relaxed than the other. What an interesting family.
Qiu Ying thought that the two sisters would definitely ask her about the palace and the princess on the way, but halfway through the journey, they didn't speak a word, and it seemed that they had no intention of asking any questions. It seemed that they were really not curious about the palace at all!
"Our princess's temperament is slightly different from others. She doesn't like to talk much and doesn't like to interact with others. If the princess has any inappropriate behavior, I hope you two ladies won't take it too seriously." This was the information the princess asked her to reveal to them, wanting them to be mentally prepared in advance. Qiu Ying just repeated the princess's original words truthfully.
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