Chapter 316: Smile
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Under normal circumstances, Mingzhu wouldn’t be so arrogant. But since she already knew the worst outcome and was trying to push Yuwen Bai off the throne, she had no choice but to be bold. Of course, her boldness was selective. In front of those she couldn’t provoke temporarily, she would act submissive to protect herself. But facing someone like Madam Min, she would bully the weak and fear the strong. She didn’t care what others said about her—Yuwen Chu didn’t care, and he even taught her how to be more shameless. What was there to fear?
The more Mingzhu thought about it, the happier she became, with a big smile on her face. Madam Min was driven crazy by her, almost fainting from anger. Mingzhu preemptively said loudly, “Is mental illness so popular nowadays? I’m unfortunate enough to have caught this disease, and now you’re catching it too? I have some secret pills from the palace. Do you want one? Really, I haven’t even been driven to a nervous breakdown, and you’re already falling ill.”
Hua Yang Wangfei couldn’t hold back her laughter and sprayed tea, quickly covering her mouth with her handkerchief and turning away. With her lead, several others laughed along.
Madam Min was alternately infuriated and revived by anger, unable to pretend to faint anymore. She stood there, her eyes red, looking around for Madam Fu to come and teach her despicable daughter a lesson.
But Madam Fu had already taken Lady Qian somewhere, and their figures couldn’t be seen in the vast courtyard. Madam Min trembled her lips, not knowing what to do. She could only signal to the people she had befriended to come and rescue her.
Finally, the most considerate Qi Wangfei couldn’t help it anymore and coughed lightly, stepping forward to persuade, “Let’s all calm down. It’s just a foolish child saying the wrong thing, right? She’s been reprimanded, that’s enough. Let’s leave it at that. We’re all guests here. Let’s not make things difficult for the host.”
Mingzhu smiled, “I don’t mind at all. I have enough tolerance. How can I really have a problem with a fool? It just happened to clash before. Can’t afford to make a scene, or Madam Min, even though she’s just an aunt, might also be implicated. No need for thanks. Just be careful in the future.” She picked up a pastry and ignored Madam Min.
Madam Min was led aside by Qi Wangfei, still trembling with anger, and couldn’t help but threaten, “If it weren’t for the sake of the Eldest Princess and Qi Wangfei today, I would definitely argue with Ying Wangfei.”
Mingzhu snorted, “Argue about what? Does Madam Min want to be higher than a prince? What’s that? I’m ignorant, I don’t understand.”
Of course, being higher than a prince meant being a regent or even the ultimate authority. Madam Min opened her mouth but didn’t dare to speak again.
Mingzhu won the argument, feeling very satisfied. Yuwen Chu really had foresight, preparing tea and pastries for her early on. Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare to eat anything outside after making so many enemies.
Their conflict ended here, and Longsheng Great Eldest Princess “coincidentally” returned from changing clothes, pretending as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with people as usual, and giving Madam Min special attention. As for Mingzhu, she intentionally ignored her. Mingzhu didn’t mind and leisurely listened and watched. She didn’t know why the old man brought her into the princess’s mansion, so she had to wait and see.
After sitting for a while, the bride entered, and everyone swarmed to see her. Only a few royal relatives who didn’t like crowds, Dai Wangfei, and the widowed Wangfeis stayed in the courtyard to chat. Mingzhu remembered Yuwen Chu’s advice and knew she had attracted the attention of others, so she didn’t join the crowd. She smiled and said to Dai Wangfei, “I’ll accompany fourth sister-in-law.”
Dai Wangfei smiled kindly and whispered, “You, really can’t stand even a little bit of sand in your eyes. Actually, just endure it, it’s not that bad.” She meant that Empress Dowager Min was after all the Emperor’s birth mother, and Yuwen Bai was after all an Emperor. If she really offended the Min family, the days ahead wouldn’t be easy. But the two of them didn’t have much friendship, so she couldn’t say it in detail.
Mingzhu knew she meant well, so she also smiled, “I can’t endure it. If they slap my face, it’s like slapping the Great Empress Dowager’s face. If I endure it, they’ll be even more excessive.”
Dai Wangfei didn’t say much more, instead asking Mingzhu, “You don’t look too good. The weather is getting colder. You should take more care of yourself.”
Dai Wangfei refused to discuss political matters, so Mingzhu didn’t bring it up with her either. They chatted aimlessly, and before long, they were invited to the banquet as it began. Several people got up, and Zheng Momo, leading a team of maids, neatly collected Mingzhu’s cushions, used tea cups, and plates. With a stern face, she escorted Mingzhu to the front.
Because Mingzhu deeply offended Longsheng Great Eldest Princess, there was no sedan chair for her. She didn’t mind, as her companions were mostly elderly and couldn’t walk fast anyway. So she followed them leisurely.
The male guests’ seats were arranged in the outer courtyard, separated from the female guests’ area by a passage and another courtyard. To reach the male guests’ area from Mingzhu’s location, they had to pass through that passage. With all the noble ladies present, there were servants from the princess’s mansion leading the way, shouting to clear the path, preventing any male guests lacking manners from disturbing the ladies.
However, when Mingzhu and the others approached that courtyard, she unexpectedly saw a man hurrying out from it. He wore a light blue Confucian robe, his hairpin was translucent and glossy, and he had a tall and slender figure. She immediately recognized him as the young man who had been following the Great Eldest Princess’s consort earlier.
As soon as the man saw their group, he quickly retreated, turning to the side and bowing his head to make way for them. As Mingzhu passed by him, she suddenly noticed a piece of ancient jade hanging from his waist. The jade was translucent and glossy, clearly from the same material as the jade hairpin on his head.
This was no ordinary item. Mingzhu vaguely felt it was familiar and couldn’t help but take another look. Unexpectedly, the man noticed her gaze and turned to her with a slight smile, which was very warm and pleasant.
He wasn’t the kind of person who looked stunning at first glance, but his smile was very comforting, making one feel as if they had known each other for a long time. Why was he smiling like that? Mingzhu didn’t know him well, so she arrogantly lifted her chin and walked past him, thinking he was from the Great Eldest Princess’s mansion and feeling puzzled about why he smiled at her.
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