When the Xiao family arrived at the palace, many officials' wives had already arrived before them. Every lady or wife who came to the banquet was accompanied by a girl dressed up in fancy clothes. The level of solemnity was comparable to an audience with the emperor in the palace.
"Do I look like a maid standing in the crowd?" Xiao Yuan joked to herself. These young ladies really tried their best to marry into the prince's palace, but there was only one position for the Crown Prince's Consort. It was not easy to stand out among so many candidates. I wonder who will have the last laugh.
"We just need to watch from the sidelines. Keep your mouths shut and don't talk nonsense. Be more careful." Yuan Yutong reminded her daughter worriedly that it would be great if Ping An could come. Her daughter would be with her sister and she wouldn't have to worry at all.
"Don't worry, no one will pay attention to me today. I came here specifically to celebrate my aunt's birthday and watch a play. As long as I know where the delicious food is, I promise to guard it without moving, hehe!"
Yin Qianhua and Yun Ruonan were particularly surprised not to see Xiao Yao. Both mother and daughter couldn't help but wonder if she was angry about the incident at the other garden? Or was she not paying attention to her son (brother) and deliberately not coming to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings?
"I'll explain to you later why Ping'an didn't come." Yuan Yutong whispered in Yin Qianhua's ear when no one was paying attention to her.
"Could it be that she's been grounded again?" Yin Qianhua could only think of this reason, but then she thought about it and realized that it wasn't right! The Xiao family had promised not to punish her again, and with the old marquis's support, only someone with the guts would dare to do that.
"Pfft, so in my cousin's eyes, Ping An is just a troublemaker. What a shame she spent two years embroidering this folding screen, but she actually gave it to someone who despised her. This child is really pitiful."
"Don't tell her what I just said. I like Ping An's gift, and I like her as a person even more. I don't mean to dislike her at all." Yin Qianhua hurriedly explained. If her son knew that she was slandering his sweetheart behind her back, would he be happy? If his future daughter-in-law mistakenly thought that she didn't like her, then her son's road to marrying her would be even more difficult. She must not hold him back.
Yun Ruonan was also asking why Xiao Yao didn't come to the palace. Her father did not allow Yun Ruoxing, who had bullied his friend, to attend today's banquet, and the young ladies of the Han family were not invited. Although He Jinzhi came, she alone could not cause much trouble. Is there anything else to worry about?
"Cousin, do you know what sunflower water is?" This is a new word Xiao Yuan just learned in the past two days. She only knows that her sister's absence today is related to it. Xiao Yuan has no idea how big the relationship is, and she doesn't even fully understand what it means!
"You mean Ping An..." He was the same age as Ping An, and he still hadn't had his period! Perhaps it was related to his previous poisoning, or perhaps it was due to his physical condition. He didn't expect Ping An to be ahead of him. If his friend couldn't come to the palace for this reason, Yun Ruonan could understand and stopped thinking about it.
"How is she now?" After being surprised, Yun Ruonan began to care about her friend's health.
"He didn't look very good these past two days, and he also said his stomach felt uncomfortable. He only felt better this morning."
Compared with Yin Qianhua and her daughter, Yun Yichen's attention to Xiao Yao is certainly even greater. When he knew that his little girl didn't come today, he thought more and further.
"Zhao Hai, go meet with the secret guards near the Xiao family and find out if there have been any unusual movements in their family recently, especially any news related to the old man and Yaoyuan Tower. You must ask them in detail." Yun Yichen ignored the fawning guests outside and paced in his study. Countless questions lingered in his mind. The joy of looking forward to seeing his sweetheart had disappeared, and now only worry and uneasiness remained.
"Yes, I'll go right away." Zhao Hai thought, "Why don't you just tell your subordinates to find out about Miss Xiao's affairs? After all this preparation, it still comes back to Miss Xiao. How many people close to you don't know what you're thinking? Why hide it?"
More than half an hour later, Zhao Hai reported back. Because most of the Xiao family's men knew martial arts, the secret guards didn't dare get too close. They only knew that two days ago, the Xiao family gathered at Yaoyuan Tower. Later, Miss Xiao's twin brother yelled in the courtyard and refused to leave. Afterward, most people returned to their respective courtyards, but the eldest wife, Tong Mingyu, stayed. The second wife stayed at Yaoyuan Tower the following night.
What on earth had happened? Yun Yichen wished he could go to the Xiao family right now. He and Yin Qianhua were indeed mother and son, so the first possibility that came to his mind was that Xiao Yao had gotten into trouble and was under house arrest again.
"Has the secret guard seen the old marquis these two days? Is his complexion good or bad?" Yun Yichen continued to ask.
"The secret guards said that Old Marquis Xiao is the same as usual, nothing different. The only strange thing is that since leaving Yaoyuan Tower that day, Old Marquis Xiao has not visited his granddaughter again. He has been eating and drinking as usual." Zhao Hai focused on finding out the movements of Old Marquis Xiao, he knew that his master would definitely ask questions.
"Go down!" Yun Yichen, who was troubled by this matter, had no time to deal with all the people who wanted to be his father-in-law. If there was a man from the Xiao family among them, he could still reluctantly socialize with him. Yun Yichen, who didn't see the man from the Xiao family at all, showed up perfunctorily, drank two glasses of wine and disappeared.
This made Kong Xuzhe, who had thought that he would meet Xiao Yuan in the palace with the help of his allies, very angry. He scolded Yun Yichen over and over again in front of Mu Fengwu and Yun Yifan, until King Jing "kindly" told him that Xiao Yuan had left with his family in a carriage. Only then did he stop talking and chase after the Xiao family's carriage in anger and anxiety.
"Mother, did my aunt tell you what happened to the Xiao family?" As soon as the guests left, Yun Yichen hurried to find Yin Qianhua. God knows how he got through the past few hours. It is not an exaggeration to say that he was suffering.
"Didn't you find out any information?" Yin Qianhua and Yun Ruonan both laughed. Xiao Yao's every move has now become the most concerned trend in the entire palace. Prince Jing had just come to inquire, and his son (brother) came.
"Can you please tell me quickly?" Yun Yichen was so anxious that he almost died, but his own mother still had the leisure to make fun of him. He was very depressed.
"It's a good thing, don't worry. But we also have to speed up our pace. Ping'an has really grown into a big girl, and more and more people will care about her. Don't let others get there first." Yin Qianhua couldn't tell her son directly, so she could only remind him indirectly.
"Can you explain it more clearly?" If it was a good thing, why was she forbidden to go out? If nothing happened, how to explain the secret guard's words!
"Some girls' private affairs cannot be told to you men. Could it be that your mother would deliberately lie to you?" Yin Qianhua waved her hand and asked her son to look at the screen given by Xiao Yao.
"I think this screen is more suitable for my son's room. What conditions do you have to exchange it with your son?" How long would it take the little girl to finish such a large embroidery? It should belong to her.
"This is Ping An's birthday gift for my mother. How can I give it to anyone? No, I won't change it for anything you give me." Although Yin Qianhua really liked Xiao Yao's gift, how could she refuse her son's request? She just wanted to tease her son.
"If I can exchange it, I would like it!" Yun Ruonan has been learning needlework for several years, but her skills are limited to embroidering handkerchiefs, making socks, and embroidering purses. Yun Yichen couldn't bear to wear the purse given by his sister.
"Why don't you think about improving your skills! My father and I are still using the purses embroidered by my mother. It's not like that in other families." The little girl almost took over the purses of all the men in the Xiao family. Even if each man changed two every year, there would be dozens of them. It's heartbreaking to think about it.
"Who are they? Tell me so I can compare and see if their needlework is any better than mine! Can you compare to the purse she embroidered?" Yun Ruonan was no longer the dull, indifferent little girl she once was. Influenced by the Xiao sisters, she had become much more cheerful. Although she was still the quieter of the three, she had become adept at making harmless jokes.
"You're asking even though you know the answer." Even though he said that, the raised corner of his mouth betrayed him. Perhaps he didn't even realize that his tone had softened and his expression had softened as he said this. Those four serious words somehow managed to sound like they were laced with affection.
"Brother, I think you're going to be miserable." Her brother and best friend were falling deeper and deeper into depravity, the other completely unaware. Yun Ruonan had known Xiao Yao for years, and she knew she was nothing like those young ladies from wealthy families who were obsessed with marrying into the imperial palace. She had never imagined relying on her future husband for the rest of her life. Would someone who had even thought of a divorce and a way out tie her heart to a man?
"Don't worry about that. I have a pure jade statue of Guanyin, which will be delivered to you soon. Take the screen away at the same time. If... the little girl asks you again, just say that you don't like embroidery that is too big and ask her not to send it to you in the future. I'm leaving now." After Yun Yichen finished his greetings, he walked away without waiting for Yin Qianhua to speak. He had not eaten or drunk well that day, and when he heard that the little girl was fine, his stomach began to protest. It was time to eat.
"Mother didn't agree to you! What did your brother mean? Mother likes the gift Ping An very much, why tell her that she doesn't like it!" Yin Qianhua didn't get a response from her son, so she turned to her daughter.
"I don't understand either." Yun Ruonan was also confused.
"I feel sorry for my young wife. How long does it take her to complete such an embroidery? You only know how to praise and admire Ping'an's skills. How can you understand the pain that Achen feels when he thinks of his sweetheart sitting in front of the embroidery frame threading the needle all day long. Our son, Ruonan's brother, has completely different ideas and positions from you." King Jing came over with a smile to clear up the confusion for the mother and daughter.
So that's how it is! Yin Qianhua and her daughter suddenly realized and slowly understood Yun Yichen's feelings. It seems that Xiao Yao, the daughter-in-law, must be married back to his family, otherwise the family member will go crazy!
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