Early in the morning on the sixth day of September, Xiao Yao walked into Ninghe Hall in the cool morning mist, holding a gift for her grandfather in her arms.
"You child, you are already weak. Why do you have to walk around in the fog? Just let the maids handle it if you have any problems." Qin has been much kinder to Xiao Yao recently. She smiles at him every time they meet. If Xiao Yu makes a move, she will scold him proactively and no longer turn a blind eye like before.
Xiao Yao didn't delve into the reasons. Anyway, it was a good thing. Without the harassment from her fourth aunt and her son, her life became much more stable and harmonious.
"Grandpa is not here?" Xiao Yao took off his thin cloak and looked around. Usually his grandfather would not go out at this time. Where had he gone?
Qin looked at her granddaughter with a beaming smile. A child like her should marry into the royal palace. Looking at her appearance and bearing, she's definitely one of the best in Kyoto, if not the best. The Jing Palace has good taste, and her granddaughter is blessed. She just doesn't know when the palace will propose marriage.
"What do you want to do with your grandfather?"
"I'm giving a birthday present to my grandfather, and I hope to be the first one to give him a gift." That's why I chose to come here so early in the morning, just to be the first one!
"Your grandfather loves you dearly, but unfortunately he had to go out early this morning for something. He probably won't be back for a while. What's the gift? Can I take a look at it first?"
"Well! Can you wait for my grandfather to come back and look at it with him? I want him to be the first person to see this gift. Grandma, please forgive your granddaughter for such an unreasonable request."
Qin quickly waved her hands to show that she was not angry. She also enthusiastically invited her granddaughter to have breakfast with her. Xiao Yao still had to go back to change into clothes specially prepared for attending her grandfather's birthday party. Moreover, she and her siblings had a surprise for their grandfather, so they needed to check it carefully one last time.
Xiao Yao had just left, and the old marquis came back in less than a cup of tea, as if they had made an appointment. His son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter-in-law came in in a long line.
Qin's favorite scene is the whole family gathering together, with the wrinkles on their faces smoothed out by their smiles.
"Oh! My old lady, don't forget what the eldest lady asked you for. I am still waiting to feast my eyes on her!" Yu Ma beside Qin said jokingly. Today is the old marquis' birthday. If you want to make him happy, mentioning the eldest lady will surely work.
"Look at my memory! Ping'an told you to give her gift to you first, and she even refused to let me take a look at it first!"
"Ping'an is becoming more and more ignorant. You must not be angry with her." Tong Mingyu hurriedly apologized to her mother-in-law on behalf of her daughter. This child is usually very smart, but when she gets stuck in a dead end, she is more stubborn than anyone else.
"How can others see the gift my granddaughter gave me first! Is there anything wrong with her doing this?" Old Marquis Xiao spared no effort to protect his granddaughter. Anyone who said anything bad about his granddaughter in front of him was wrong.
"Look at the gifts, look at the gifts." Xiao Jingyan hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over. Dad is the birthday boy today, so don't make him unhappy. Guests will be coming soon! If he keeps a sullen face, what will the guests think?
A long, brocade bag was carefully placed on the table by a maid. As soon as Xiao Rui's hand touched the bag, he was slapped away. Everyone looked at him with a look of deserving punishment. You could touch anyone else's things, but you had to reach out and touch Ping An's gift. If not you, who will be beaten?
At this time, even the most mischievous Xiao Yu knew that things on the table should not be touched. Only Xiao Rui forgot his brain in the room before going out in the morning.
Old Marquis Xiao opened the bag himself without anyone else's help and pulled out a piece of light blue fine cotton cloth. After unfolding it, it was obvious that it was a portrait. The difference was that previous portraits were all drawn with a pen, but this one was embroidered with needle and thread.
"This is father!" Xiao Jingmin was far away from the crowd, and when he looked up he saw the embroidered portrait, an embroidered portrait of an old marquis riding a horse with a majestic and dignified look.
Gradually, everyone found that standing further away actually made it easier to see things, and the portraits looked more lifelike.
"Grandfather is so majestic. How about asking Ping'an to embroider a portrait for me?" Xiao Rui was rewarded with two slaps and three slaps as soon as he finished speaking.
"You little brat, I, your fourth uncle, haven't even gotten in line yet! When will it be your turn? Let me calculate... My birthday is less than eight months away. My little niece is so filial and sensible, will she embroider one for me too? I don't want a full body, just half one will do." Xiao Jingyan envied his father and imagined that he would have the same treatment.
Xiao Jingkang glared at his younger brother in anger. He was almost a father of two, yet he hadn't made any progress. His biological father hadn't said a word even when he was standing right before him, yet he, an uncle, had the nerve to speak first. Eight months later, his daughter should be embroidering her wedding dress! Couldn't time really just stop and move forward?
"Please help me put away the embroidered portrait. No, I will let those old guys see later which granddaughter can compare with my Ping An, and let them envy and jealous! It's a pity that Old Tong didn't come today, otherwise he would be so upset that he couldn't eat." Old Marquis Xiao stroked his gray beard, his teeth showing with joy, and he was happier than if he had picked up a gold ingot on the road.
My granddaughter cares about me so much that I have to show my appreciation. So I will go to Yaoyuan Building to pick her up in person.
Xiao Yao wasn't in Yaoyuan Building at the moment. She, Xiao Jun, Xiao Qi, and Xiao Yuan were in the middle of their final rehearsal. The four of them wanted to collaborate on a piece for their grandfather. After spending several days researching, they decided that "Swordsmanship" was a fitting tribute to him. To showcase their creativity, Xiao Yao played the piano, Xiao Qi the flute, and Xiao Jun and Xiao Yuan performed sword dances. They had been quietly rehearsing for over a month, preparing for this day.
Xiao Yao's embroidery master is also looking for an apprentice. When she was helping her apprentice choose embroidery thread yesterday, she got the colors wrong because it was a little late. Since her apprentice was not there, she checked it herself to see if there was anything she needed to do.
"How come there's a new wedding dress here?" the old marquis roared as he stepped into his granddaughter's room. His family was getting bolder and bolder, and he hadn't even agreed yet! His granddaughter's wedding dress was already embroidered. Whose idea was it? How dare they overrule him?
Xiao Yao's embroidery master was trembling with fear. She had been staying in the backyard and didn't know anything about the Xiao family's affairs.
"Go down!" Old Marquis Xiao didn't want to make things difficult for a woman. Seeing her trembling, he knew that she couldn't give him the answer he wanted.
After the embroiderer left, Old Marquis Xiao walked around for a long time but didn't see his two granddaughters, and his anger grew even stronger.
He stood in the yard and shouted loudly: "Who gave you the courage to kill Anping people without my consent? Those who have the courage to do it should have the courage to stand up."
The roar was full of energy and momentum, and soon all the sons and daughters-in-law were summoned to Yaoyuan Tower.
"Father, did Ping'an make you angry? Please sit down first. I'll bring her over to apologize." Tong Mingyu observed her father-in-law's face. He looked very angry. He was fine in Ninghe Hall! How could he be so angry in just a short while?
"Come in and take a look. I just want to ask who did this." Old Marquis Xiao slammed the door curtain open and walked into his granddaughter's room angrily. Xiao Yao's bedroom was clean and simple. Unlike other young ladies who kept small animals and flowers, if Xiao Yuan's Xiaoxue had not often come to play with her, Xiao Yao's residence would only have a few masters and servants plus two masters.
Xiao Jingkang didn't know why his father asked them to enter his daughter's room, and why the old man was so angry.
"Look here." Old Marquis Xiao stepped aside, and only then did everyone notice that a new dress as red as fire and as bright as clouds was lying quietly on the couch in the middle of the room.
Tong Mingyu ran over in two steps, looked it up and down for a long time, and stammered out two words: "wedding dress".
The extremely precious brocade, the intricate patterns, the delicate embroidery, and the style that is just beginning to show its outline all indicate that this is a wedding dress that will make women's hearts beat faster and that every young lady wants to own.
"My eldest daughter-in-law, what do you think is going on?" Old Marquis Xiao wanted to tear off the clothes on the couch. He had to find out the culprit of this incident today, otherwise he would not be able to vent his anger.
"Father-in-law, I don't know what's going on! Xiying, go find the eldest lady and come back. I must ask clearly." Although she and her husband wanted to marry her to Yun Yichen, the two families had only reached a verbal agreement and the actual action had not yet begun! She really couldn't explain the matter of the wedding dress.
"I told you that someone came to Yaoyuan Building, but my sister didn't believe me. Wow! Why are there so many people? Grandpa, uncle, why are you all here?" Xiao Yuan squeezed a path through the crowd, pulled Xiao Yao, who was one step behind, and greeted the elders in the family as they walked.
"Why is the wedding dress placed on the couch?" Xiao Yuan has been looking forward to the day when it is finished. When the time comes, he will definitely let his sister try it on first. It will definitely be beautiful.
"Ruyi, do you know what's going on?" Old Marquis Xiao asked, pointing at the couch.
"I know! My sister's embroidery workshop took a business, and because the pattern was drawn by my sister, the other party asked my sister to embroider it herself, and the price was doubled!" The person Xiao Yuan trusted the most was Xiao Yao. She never questioned anything her sister said, so her words came out naturally and fluently, and it was easy for people to be convinced.
Xiao Yao clearly remembered putting her wedding dress away, so how did it end up on the couch? Someone had come into the room? I hope Grandpa and the others believe Xiao Yuan's story and let this matter go.
"Ping'an, is this what happened?" Tong Mingyu was so scared that she broke out in cold sweats, and her underwear was wet. Now things have turned around. She hopes that her daughter's explanation can convince everyone, dispel everyone's doubts, and confirm her niece's statement.
"Just as Ruyi said, I agreed to embroider it myself because I saw how much money the other party offered. Otherwise, you wouldn't think that this was embroidered for me, would you?" Xiao Yao made a joke. Since she said so herself, everyone should be relieved!
"Madam, a guest has arrived." Someone reported from outside the door.
Everyone looked at Old Marquis Xiao. No one dared to leave until he spoke!
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