...
Xu Ruolan's face flushed red and then turned pale; her already frail body now resembled a small boat tossed about in a storm.
Madam Ling smiled coldly. Taking advantage of someone's misfortune was always a specialty of these women; she was merely adding fuel to the fire.
On the other hand, all the officials had surrounded An Youwei.
One person said, "Lord An is late, making us brothers wait a long time."
One person said, "My grandson's birthday banquet is in a few days. You must come then, sir."
He said, "If you encounter any difficulties, just tell your elder brother. As long as I'm here in the capital, I will never let you suffer any losses!"
...
An Youwei chuckled dryly. The adults' sudden display of affection made him even more uneasy.
Minister Wang Huaishu came out and greeted them warmly, saying, "Gentlemen, you have been waiting for a long time. Please come in."
The crowd immediately surrounded An Youwei and led him into the courtyard. Outside the gate, the ladies glanced at Xu Ruolan up and down and then dispersed, leaving her standing alone in the same spot.
Xu Ruolan's eyes reddened, but she held back and straightened her new clothes. However, she felt even more awkward than before. Everywhere she looked, she saw people of great wealth and luxury, wearing fine silks and satins, adorned with pearls and jade. These people were not just putting on an act, but were born with superiority.
Just as she was lost in thought, she saw Ling Xiyao walking over with the princess. Xu Ruolan's expression suddenly changed, but she didn't know how to start the conversation as her former mother-in-law.
As Ling Xiyao approached Xu Ruolan, Fu Ruyue suddenly said, "Xiyao, the flowers on the back hill are in bloom. Shall we go admire them later?"
Ling Xiyao was taken aback, but said, "Okay." In his reply, he had already brushed past Xu Ruolan's body and missed his chance to speak.
Fu Ruyue smiled and said, "Then I'll wait for you after we've finished our meal."
Xu Ruolan awkwardly tugged at the hem of her dress before turning and walking into the courtyard.
****
The capital city is the political, economic and cultural center of a country, and is naturally very prosperous. An Xin was about to get off the carriage when she heard Yan Zhen say, "It is probably not appropriate to return to the mansion at this time. Lord An may have already gone to the Minister of Works."
An Xin paused: "My mother went too?"
Yan Zhen smiled and said, "The Minister of Works has extended such a warm invitation, so Lord An naturally cannot refuse. Even your mother will probably have to go along."
An Xin frowned. She knew that her mother was shy and not good at socializing. If she went to such a banquet, she would definitely feel uneasy. Her father was also timid and reserved. He would definitely hear some unpleasant things there.
"I happen to be heading there anyway, so I don't mind letting you hitch a ride in my carriage." Yan Zhen leaned back on the soft couch, surrounded by luxurious brocade, looking at An Xin with a smile, exuding an air of wealth and nobility.
An Xin sat back down and said calmly, "Although my father has some past grudges with you, it was you who interfered. I hope you won't make things difficult for him in the future, otherwise..."
Yan Zhen's eyes sparkled, and she lazily said, "Otherwise what?"
An Xin sneered, "Otherwise, I don't know what I might do!"
Yan Zhen raised his hand and pinched An Xin's chin, saying, "In the capital, whatever you do is up to me."
An Xin said expressionlessly, "Your face is just like a local bully."
Yan Zhen smiled, his eyelashes curving upwards: "Then I might as well tell you, one day, you will be eaten by me, this local tyrant."
An Xin said calmly, "You can eat my body, but you can't eat my heart."
Yan Zhen laughed and said, "Well, then I'll eat your heart first, and then eat your body repeatedly. No rush."
An Xin abruptly looked away, a blush creeping up her ears. She wasn't stupid; even with low emotional intelligence, she could still arrive at a conclusion with a little reasoning.
However, this result is somewhat disappointing.
Looking at Yan Zhen again, An Xin had regained her composure and said calmly, "Then, Your Excellency, be careful of your Achilles' heel."
****
A loud "crack" startled everyone in the courtyard, followed by an "Oh dear!" and a well-dressed woman suddenly jumped up.
Xu Ruolan's expression changed, and she hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"Are you trying to scald me to death?!" the woman shouted, while the maid beside her hurriedly wiped the water stains off her clothes.
Xu Ruolan's face turned pale from the tea. She had just been carrying the teacup when someone tripped over it, causing the teacup to spill out. These maids were so disrespectful; everyone was a guest, but she was the only one who hadn't been offered tea. She was unbearably thirsty, so she went to find a cup herself, only to encounter this unexpected turn of events on her way back!
"Madam Song, please don't blame her. A rough person is bound to be rough and clumsy; she can't even serve tea properly," a woman said in a sarcastic tone.
"Madam Song's clothes are made of the finest Hangzhou silk, very precious. Madam An, you must be careful!"
"You mentioned Hangzhou silk, but she probably doesn't know what it is. Most people in the village wear linen, so they've never seen silk before."
...
Madam Song stepped forward, her round face bulging with fat, and said in a sinister tone, "How can you be so careless at your age? Clumsy and clumsy, not even as good as a maid!"
Madam Song was the principal wife of Song Zhao, the Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Academy. The Chief Physician was one of the Nine Ministers, a high-ranking official. Madam Song's family was also a powerful one, so naturally she looked down on Xu Ruolan, who came from a humble background.
The commotion naturally attracted the attention of the male guests, who all looked over.
Upon seeing Xu Ruolan, An Youwei immediately walked over and asked, "What happened?"
Xu Ruolan was filled with bitterness, but she also felt that it would be even more shameful to cry and complain at this time, so she suppressed her grievances and said in a low voice, "It was my fault."
Upon seeing the situation, Physician Song Zhao hurriedly came over and said, "It's nothing, nothing. Madam An, there's no need to blame yourself."
Upon hearing this, Madam Song's eyes widened: "You old geezer! She almost scalded me to death, and you actually say it's a trivial matter!"