Even if Yin Qianhua didn't mention it, Madam Yuan also planned to invite all the female members of the Xiao family to visit the general's mansion. What she wanted to do most was to promote the marriage between Prince Jing's Mansion and the Xiao family. How could it be possible without the protagonist being present?
The Xiao family had different reactions when they received the invitation. Xiao Yuan was so happy that he almost jumped up, while Tong Mingyu was worried about what to do with the mess at home if all the family members went to the banquet?
"Mom, please take everyone to Grandma Yuan's house! I'll stay." Xiao Yao didn't like attending banquets, so she would naturally avoid such occasions if she could.
"I'll stay at home, and you all... Ugh, ugh." Liu Siyi covered her chest with her hands and began to dry heave.
It was as if the women who entered the Xiao family had agreed that if they were to get pregnant, they would get pregnant together and give birth together, without too much time between them. This was exactly what was happening now: Princess Xiyue hadn't given birth yet, while Xiao Lang's wife was already over five months pregnant. Xiao Yi's wife, deliberately trying to join in the fun, also started having morning sickness. Xiao Yao, feeling sorry for her sisters-in-law, didn't want them to overwork themselves. If she didn't have to suffer, she would be the only one to do so!
"Or I'll stay." Li Jiaoying said weakly. The family really needed someone. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were the hostess and it would not be good if they didn't go. Her two nieces were young girls and they should go out and play more. After looking around, it seemed that she was the most suitable person to stay.
Qin was an open-minded mother-in-law. She decided to stay. The most important thing for the family now was the marriage of the two girls. She let their mother accompany them to the banquet, so that she would not be blamed for the good or bad things that happened in the future. She had already given up on her granddaughters marrying into the imperial palace or a prince's mansion. It was better to turn a blind eye and let them make their own decisions.
On the day of the banquet, Xiao Yuan woke up earlier than usual. She wasn't upset when Xiao Yao teased her about being a wild girl. She carefully selected a dress and accessories for herself. She even hid her sister's ordinary jewelry, leaving Xiao Hui searching for jewelry all morning, nearly crying.
Xiao Yao had no way to deal with her disobedient sister, so she had to change her hairstyle and jewelry to fulfill her wish.
Xiao Yuan took out a new gauze skirt. The hem was layered like a modern dress, and a wide belt just highlighted Xiao Yao's slender waist. Although Xiao Yao's physique was not as good as her sister's, the figure she showed was already curvy and exquisite.
Looking at her sister who looked like a fairy after dressing up, Xiao Yuan circled her three times and praised her, "She should dress like this to do justice to her face and figure. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of her gifts? If Fourth Aunt and that brat A Yu saw her like this, they would probably drool again."
Can we not mention that mother and son? There are a few people in the family who have absolutely no respect for taboos, entering Yaoyuan Building as if it were their own courtyard. Xiao Yu is one of them. He comes by every day, either staying for snacks or brazenly trying to stay overnight. If it weren't for Xiao Yuan's domineering attitude and his quick response, Xiao Yao wouldn't know how much this little guy would take advantage of her!
And her good fourth aunt, who was pregnant, still didn't forget to touch her. Every time she went to the Princess's Mansion, Xiao Yao prayed that her fourth aunt was resting. Because being molested by a pregnant woman and not being able to resist was really not a good feeling.
"Sister, do you think we will meet those two people named Liang and Yuan today?" Xiao Yuan whispered to Xiao Yao on the way to Ninghe Hall.
Grandmother is a great matchmaker, and maybe she will take this opportunity to let the sisters meet their future "husbands".
"What's that man's name?" Xiao Yao heard it many times but couldn't remember the other person's name. It didn't matter that she couldn't remember it before, but what her sister predicted today was very likely to happen. If her grandfather asked about it after she came back, she would say that she had a good impression of the man. If the marriage was arranged, her grandfather and father could put down the heavy stone in their hearts and have a good rest.
"Qianxiang, you tell me." I can't remember it myself! I'd better ask Bao Gossip Qianxiang.
Xiao Yao repeated "Liang Zhixiao" silently in her heart several times, hoping that she would remember it this time.
After bidding farewell to the old marquis and Qin, all the female members of the Xiao family, except for a few pregnant women, got on a carriage and headed for General Yuan's mansion.
The weather was neither too cold nor too hot, perfect for traveling. Xiao Yuan lifted the curtains and looked at the bustling streets outside, the bustling crowds, the century-old brands and the newly built shops. His eyes were shining and he wished he could jump off the carriage and blend into the bustling streets outside.
Xiao Yao shook her head helplessly. Her sister's personality was not suitable for being a daughter of a wealthy family. She should have been born into a free and easy family, where she could go out whenever she wanted and go shopping whenever she wanted. The life of a noble family with many restrictions was like trapping a canary in a cage. Not all birds were willing to live there, and not all birds could adapt to that kind of life.
"Sister, I want a candy figure made of small animals. Can you ask the guard to buy two for us?" Xiao Yuan slapped the wall of the car with his hand, and Xiao Bing hurried over to wait for orders. In the Xiao family, neglecting others might not result in a scolding, but if he neglected the two young ladies, it would be a big deal.
"Help us make two sugar figures. I want a bunny one. Sister, how about a phoenix one?"
"I don't want it." He is not a child anymore. He is interested in everything he sees. Besides, he is going to a banquet. What if it gets on his body or face?
At Xiao Yuan's strong request, Xiao Bing made a sugar figure of a rabbit and a buffalo for the two young ladies in his family. Not to mention that although the outlines were very simple, they were very lifelike.
After admiring it for a while, Xiao Yuan ate her own little rabbit first. Xiao Yao couldn't stand her pitiful look and handed over the "buffalo" in her hand. In a blink of an eye, it became a delicious meal in the second lady's stomach, and not even a residue was left.
Xiao Yuan licked her lips as if she wanted to have more, but Xiao Yao refused to indulge her any longer. She said that eating too much sweets was bad for the teeth. Girls should have snow-white teeth. If a mouth was full of yellow teeth or cavities, even the most beautiful appearance would be compromised.
Ignoring Xiao Yuan's nagging and pestering, no one dared to give her sister food without her consent. After finally arriving at Yuan's house, Xiao Yao reminded herself to return her sister to her third aunt when she got home. With her around, she couldn't even take a break. Her poor ears and sleeves were worn out along the way, which was almost killing her.
"My favorite thing to do is to greet you all, because I can be the first to see the little beauty and the lovely Ruyi." After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Yuan's cousin-in-law and Tong Mingyu and other elders squeezed in between the Xiao sisters, holding Xiao Yao in one hand and Xiao Yuan in the other, and walked into the yard.
"Cousin, Mrs. Xiao is so lucky to meet you at the gate. We are really destined to meet!" Yin Qianhua, who had just stepped out of the parked carriage, greeted the women of the Xiao family enthusiastically.
"Ping'an has lost weight." Yin Qianhua and her daughter said together. The little girl had obviously lost weight. Her chin had become more pointed, and her face, which originally had little flesh, was not as rosy as before. Seeing her willow-like waist, Yin Qianhua was afraid that a strong wind would blow her away.
Yun Yichen's brows had been twisted together for a long time. How could this little girl have changed so much after not seeing her for a month? If someone didn't know her, they would think she had fallen into the hands of her stepmother!
"There's so much going on at home, and Ping'an is so worried about me, isn't it exhausting as a mother?" Tong Mingyu saw Yin Qianhua and her daughter so attentive to her daughter, and she felt touched but also guilty. While others knew they cared about Ping'an, as a mother, she wanted to train her to be a good head of household, so she wouldn't be overwhelmed by other families in the future.
Is the Xiao family in need of stewards? As long as the Xiao family is willing to take them in, it wouldn't be a problem to transfer a few from the palace. Perhaps Madam Xiao wants to cultivate her daughter's abilities. Her cousin is working hard but she hasn't lost weight, but her little girl is getting thinner and thinner. How tired must she be to become like this? Don't the second wife and aunt work? She also has several sisters-in-law! What are they doing? It seems necessary to summon the secret guards back to ask why everyone in the Xiao family is the same as before, but the little girl is almost turning into a piece of paper.
His son's eyes had been glued to Xiao Yao since he saw her. It would be strange if Mrs. Xiao found out. Yin Qianhua deliberately lagged behind the others a few steps, moved to her son's side, tugged on his sleeve, and used her eyes to warn him to be more careful. Staring at a little girl in front of so many people would make others think that if they were caught, everyone would be embarrassed.
Yun Yichen reluctantly withdrew his gaze. He was not concerned about Xiao Yao's appearance and romantic thoughts. Looking at the petite figure in front of him, he was filled with pity and heartache.
When they arrived at the courtyard where Madam Yuan lived, Tong Mingyu stepped aside to let the people from Prince Jing's Mansion go first. When Yun Yichen passed by Xiao Yao, he wanted to hold her hand and comfort her, telling her that he would not let her live like this in the future, and that he still liked her bright smile and unrestrained look before.
"Did you come together?" Mrs. Yuan was surprised at her niece's speed. She got together with the Xiao family so quickly. Was this a natural development or did the two families already have a tacit understanding?
"We met at the gate." Her aunt's imagination was too vivid. Was she the kind of person who would ask her children about their lifelong affairs in public? Yin Qianhua gave Madam Yuan a look that only the two of them could understand, and shook her head twice.
Yun Yichen left after paying his respects to Mrs. Yuan. He wanted to stay, but unfortunately he had no status and could not find a suitable excuse.
"The Princess of Lingnan has arrived," the maidservant announced. This was a rare guest. The Yuan family had sent an invitation but hadn't held out much hope. The Princess of Lingnan rarely interacted with the families of officials in the capital, and even less so with the residences of military commanders. Today, they were giving the Yuan family ample face. Madam Yuan and her family all stood up, waiting to greet the distinguished guest.
"Is Princess Lingnan the mother of that guy Kong Xuzhe?" Xiao Yuan also looked towards the door curiously. He had only heard of Princess Lingnan and had never seen her in person. He didn't know whether Kong Xuzhe looked more like his father or his mother.
Several female members of the Lingnan Palace also came. The one walking in front was a noble lady in her early forties, who was dignified and elegant. Her clothes seemed ordinary, but the fabrics and jewelry were obviously made of fine materials. They were low-key yet luxurious, precious yet not ostentatious.
This is the taste of a truly wealthy and prestigious person! It seems that the wealth and status of the Lingnan Palace are unmatched by ordinary people. No wonder Kong Xuzhe has developed a bold and outspoken personality. It turns out that he has a strong backing!
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