PNB Chapter 134: No Less Meat
Chapter 134: No Less Meat
"The third prince consort has arrived!"
The third princess was in confinement, and the third prince consort came to congratulate her in person. Everyone stood up and saluted: "Greetings to the third prince consort!"
Shen Zhe nodded, and nodded to Xia Liu and Tu: "The princess is still in confinement, and cannot be seen in the wind. I have asked you to bring a gift, and I hope you and your wife will accept it."
"Thank you, Princess and Prince Consort."
Shen Zhe nodded again, looked aside, and then said goodbye: "The gift has been delivered, I'm leaving now."
"Why don't you stay for dinner, my dear son-in-law?" Xia Liu's face flushed, and she seemed very happy, and she tried to persuade Shen Zhe to stay.
Shen Zhe glanced at him and remained humble: "No, the princess is in confinement and it would be inconvenient for me to be away. Goodbye."
After saying this, Shen Zhe left with his men.
"Send the prince consort." After saying this, Xia Liu turned around and frowned, saying in a low voice with disdain: "He's just a gigolo who relies on women for a living. He has no shame!"
Tu was close by and happened to hear it. She sneered and said with more disdain, "She was the runner-up in the imperial examination that year. If you have the ability, you can also win the title and make the princess marry you."
"You!" Xia Liu didn't expect Tu to be so ruthless and even mock him!
The Prime Minister's wife and the Marquis of Wu'an's wife were not far away, and they looked over when they heard Xia Liu raise his voice.
The two ladies in high positions had just the right amount of dignity and bearing; even without saying a word, they still gave off an oppressive aura.
Xia Liu had no choice but to swallow her anger.
Not long after, someone announced, "Prince Yuan's Royal Highness has arrived! Prince Yuan's Concubine has arrived!"
This was a big deal. Everyone put away their expressions and bowed respectfully to Mo Yuyang and Xia Pinxiang: "Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Yuan and His Majesty the Concubine!"
"Everyone, there's no need to be so formal." Mo Yuyang was wearing a blue jade shirt today. He stood tall and graceful, with a jade crown tied tightly around his body, which showed his sharp demeanor. He was wearing a gray fox cloak, and around his waist hung a sachet and a jade pendant engraved with the word "Yuan". His belt was embroidered with dragons and tigers, and he looked very impressive.
Xia Pinxiang followed beside him, her face was as rosy as a peach. She wore a pink cloak over her apricot-colored palace dress, and a fine purple jade headdress on her head. She looked extremely graceful and noble. In her hand she held a hot water bottle the size of an apple, which highlighted her slender little hands.
After everyone stood up, Xia Pinxiang bowed to Xia Liu and Tu: "I greet my father and mother."
"Oh, your majesty, you are embarrassing me." Tu didn't say anything, but Xia Liu avoided her as if he was afraid.
Outsiders all say that although the second young lady of the Shangshu Mansion is a concubine's daughter, she is proficient in everything from playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is not inferior to the only legitimate young lady in the mansion. Her etiquette and manners are a model in the capital. Now, although she was granted marriage and entered the Prince Yuan's Mansion to become a concubine above everyone else, she is still gentle and respectful when she returns to her parents' home, and is still respectful to her father and stepmother. Who would not praise her when seeing her?
"Father and mother have raised me for many years, and I will never forget that. No matter what time it is, I am always your daughter." Xia Pinxiang bowed slightly to show her respect.
Xia Liu's eyes were filled with tears, she was indeed his most beloved daughter: "Okay, okay, Your Highness, Your Majesty, please take a seat."
Mo Yuyang nodded slightly as usual and walked with Xia Pinxiang to the seat of honor in the main hall.
In Ao Yan Xuan.
"Tinglan, don't be anxious. Make your young lady look brighter and don't let those people say anything nonsense." Li Guan kept nagging.
Tinglan was also in a dilemma. The young lady just said that it should be normal, but Miss Li thought it would be better to be brighter. What should she do?
Xia Yanxiang was too lazy to tidy up anymore. She looked at herself in the bronze mirror. Her makeup was light and indeed a bit plain. She paused, and with her right hand, she flicked through the few boxes of lip balm, selected one, opened it, put some on it, and applied it on her lips. After applying it, she looked a bit brighter. She then opened the small drawer at the bottom of the dressing box.
Inside was the white orchid hairpin that Mo Yuchen had given her.
"Hey, when did Miss get such a beautiful hairpin?" Tinglan was a little surprised. She has always been responsible for Xia Yanxiang's makeup. When did Xia Yanxiang get such a white orchid hairpin?
Anhua nudged Tinglan's elbow with her hand: "Why are you asking so many questions? Put it on the lady quickly!"
Tinglan immediately understood what was going on and shut her mouth immediately, but then she grinned again and quickly picked a position and put it on Xia Yanxiang.
Li Guan didn't understand. He just watched Xia Yanxiang's face blush slightly, and then looked at the two girls giggling: "What are you laughing at? Does this hairpin have any allusion?"
"It's not an allusion. This hairpin is most likely..." Anzhi spoke without restraint for a moment and was covered by Tinglan's hand.
"It's nothing, it's just that this hairpin looks good."
"Really?" Li Guan looked at the three masters and servants with suspicion, especially Xia Yanxiang, who could sometimes hide things perfectly.
Xia Yanxiang changed the subject as if nothing had happened: "Don't waste time, the guests should have almost all arrived."
"What are you afraid of? If anyone comes here and says something gossipy today, I will tear his mouth apart! Let's see who dares to say anything in the future!" Li Guan angrily clashed his two fists together, with a frown on his face, as if he was going to beat someone up.
Xia Yanxiang raised her lips slightly: "Then no one in the capital will dare to marry you, the arrogant and domineering Miss Wu'an."
"If no one dares to take it, it can only mean that the young masters in the capital are not capable of anything, so why marry them?" Li Guan was puzzled, "It's not my fault, why do you blame me?"
Xia Yanxiang nodded in agreement and said nothing else. She then stood up and went out with Li Guan.
When he arrived at the main hall, he happened to see Xia Liu and Xia Pinxiang, the father-daughter couple, so he just quietly stood by and kept silent.
Yun and Shen were the first to notice Xia Yanxiang, Li Guan and Dongfang Xu.
"Yan'er." The two called Xia Yanxiang in a low voice, and were relieved when they saw that her face was rosy and there was nothing unusual.
Everyone seemed to be under invisible constraints due to Mo Yuyang's arrival. They spoke politely and officially, and their laughter and chattering became much more restrained.
It was almost noon, and everyone glanced at Xia Yanxiang from time to time. Although the latter looked serious, everyone still caught some information from her face.
Anzhi and Tinglan stayed by Xia Yanxiang's side, never leaving for a moment, but Xia Yanxiang kept looking at the door, obviously waiting for someone.
Coincidentally, His Royal Highness Prince Luo, who used to be very diligent in visiting the Minister of Rites' residence, has not been here since he learned that it would be difficult for the third young lady to give birth.
There is a banquet at the Shangshu Mansion today, and the Shangshu Mansion must have sent an invitation to Prince Luo's Mansion. As for why His Royal Highness Prince Luo has not arrived yet, one has to speculate.
Yun and Shen were filled with rage at this time. How could Prince Luo treat Yan'er like this? He didn't come at all and sent someone to inform them, but instead caused everyone to make wild guesses. He didn't care about Yan'er's reputation and face at all!
The meal was about to start, and Dongfang Xujiang couldn't help it anymore. He clenched his fists, turned around and was about to leave.
"Where are you going?" Yue Qing stopped him lightly, "The banquet is about to start, what are you going to do?"
"Are we just going to wait like this? Judging from the looks in those people's eyes, they clearly look down on us!" Li Guan was not like her mother, but more like Shen. She became angry as she spoke.
"No matter whether Mo Yuchen comes or not, we can't help gossiping. He has a mouth on his face, so just talk if you want. It's not like we will lose a piece of meat." Xia Yanxiang looked indifferent and said something to ease Li Guan's anger.