Jiang Qiong cursed the meddling scholar in her heart. Instead of pretending to help her out of the awkward situation, he might as well go back and read more books to gain some sense.
"The empress dowager may have a bad temper, but she's not a fool. Miss Jiang, the next time you come to a banquet, you'd better find out what the other young ladies are good at. Don't spoil the empress dowager's mood like you did today."
Jiang Qiong hurriedly knelt down. "Your Majesty, the empress dowager, please see clearly. I definitely didn't mean any harm. I really just admired Sister Yao and wanted to take a look. I didn't expect myself to be so timid."
"Humph, put away that look of yours. The empress dowager can't stand such acts. Step back on your own."
Jiang Qiong was utterly desperate. She originally wanted to redeem the situation, but when she saw Shi Muwǎn's look, she immediately lost her strength. She could only reply "Yes" and step back.
Madam Jiang didn't expect things to turn out like this. But she was useless in such a situation and was afraid of making things worse. So she just worried about her daughter from the side. Now seeing her daughter step back pale - faced, she quickly stepped forward to support her.
The scholar was sweating on his forehead, not knowing whether to advance or retreat. Suddenly, Yao Kun stood up, walked down, picked up his folding fan, and opened it to fan herself. The green silk ribbon covering her eyes couldn't hide the confusion on her little face.
Suddenly, someone burst into laughter. Looking in the direction of the sound, it was Chen Leran.
Seeing everyone looking at her, she raised her eyebrows with a disdainful look in her eyes. Putting on her usual domineering attitude, she said, "What are you all looking at? Can't I laugh at someone fanning themselves in winter? Go back to your own business."
Although it was quite inappropriate, the people who had been too scared to move before finally breathed a sigh of relief and returned to their seats one by one.
Ze Ze was quick - witted and told the musicians and dancers to continue their performance.
Yao Yao pulled Chen Leran to hide at the back, eating, drinking, and chatting. Chen Leran was laughing so exaggeratedly.
"Your move is amazing!" Chen Leran gave Yao Yao a thumbs - up.
Yao Yao gave her a disdainful look and slapped her hand away. She casually picked up a piece of pastry and ate it. "She deserves it." As she said this, she glanced at Yao Kun who was lingering around Shi Muwǎn, with a somewhat solemn look in her eyes.
In the corner, Jiang Yu was sitting alone. At first, she was sulking, but now a smile appeared on her face. Her already beautiful face became even more charming.
Humph, always looking down on others with an air of superiority. Today she finally got a lesson.
A man suddenly walked up. He was tall and straight, though a bit thin. With a smile on his face and a cup of wine in his hand, it seemed that he wanted to strike up a conversation with her.
Jiang Yu was in a happy mood after seeing her elder sister make a fool of herself. Her bright eyes were glowing with a blush. Seeing this, the man took two more steps forward to get closer.
"I'm Yin Yuan, the heir of the Marquis of Jingnan. Greetings, miss. May I ask which official's daughter you are?"
Jiang Yu's bright eyes lit up immediately. The heir of the Marquis of Jingnan! She quickly adjusted her posture and politely saluted.
Madam Jiang naturally noticed her too. Before the banquet started, her daughter had asked her to keep an eye on Jiang Qiong so that she wouldn't make any more jokes. But then her daughter got into trouble and she forgot about it. Now she saw her chatting happily with a man.
"Look at that slut's daughter. She's really a little vixen. She's flirting with someone again."
Jiang Qiong had just calmed down and her pale face had regained some color. She turned to look and saw that the two of them didn't even try to avoid others.
She felt irritated. "The heir of the Marquis of Jingnan. If she has the ability to become the heir's wife, then good for her. Mother, you'd better watch your words outside."
What kind of person Yin Yuan was, only a fool like Jiang Yu didn't know. It had spread among her little sisters in the circle. There wasn't a single pleasure - seeking place in the capital city that didn't have Yin Yuan's shadow.
Madam Jiang didn't take it seriously, but she still listened to her daughter. After all, her daughter was the most talented girl in the capital. She had to be careful about everything. She didn't want others to look down on her because of her merchant - woman background. After all, she had suffered a lot of disdain before.
...
The Noble Consort Rui lowered her eyelids and took a sip of the fruit wine.
Yao Kun would poke Shi Muwǎn from time to time. Shi Muwǎn found it funny and liked it, so she just let her do it. The Noble Consort Rui silently took a look.
The Noble Consort Rui knew that Shi Muwǎn didn't know the Yao family before. But when did she get to know the second young lady of the Yao family? It seemed that their relationship was quite good.
The Noble Consort Rui couldn't help but take a few more looks. Unexpectedly, Yao Kun turned her head and met her eyes. Although there was a layer of green silk ribbon in between, the Noble Consort Rui still felt the piercing chill.
She forced herself to look away calmly, but Yao Kun's eyes still seemed to be staring at her intently.
These people from military families really all have strange temperaments.
Not long after, someone else wanted to perform a dance. After all, it was the eldest miss Jiang who had made a fool of herself. The things they had spent time preparing carefully must be shown.
Shi Muwǎn was of course happy. In ancient times, these were the only forms of entertainment.
While having fun, Shi Muwǎn found that Huo Qizhou was nowhere to be seen. But she didn't think much about it and just turned her head to continue having fun.
...
The banquet finally ended. Shi Muwǎn dragged her heavy body back to the palace. She looked helplessly at Yao Kun standing in the palace hall.
Xiao Xiao also admired the second young lady of the Yao family very much. She had followed them for a whole way just now and was still feeling strange. Then the girl's mother and elder sister came to take her back. They almost got into a fight with the eldest miss of the Yao family. Fortunately, Madam Yao was brave enough to step forward and hold back the hot - tempered eldest miss, giving her a good scolding.
After Madam Yao's explanation, they found out that the second young lady of the Yao family had had another episode. There was also such a time before when she had followed the national master for a full two years.
Shi Muwǎn was also shocked. Was this little girl so bold? Didn't Huo Qizhou get angry?
How could Huo Qizhou not be angry? But the little girl was so persistent and he couldn't do anything to her. Since she didn't do anything out of line, he just let her be.
Yao Kun was running around in Shi Muwǎn's room. Her slender hands were twirling the green silk ribbon that had covered her eyes just now. One couldn't tell that these were the hands of a martial - artist.
Shi Muwǎn suddenly felt a headache. This girl was like a little puppy. Wouldn't she just guard by her bedside? Fortunately, Yao Kun also attached great importance to sleeping. She just ran around in the Shoukang Palace to find a place to sleep.
...
In the Yanshou Palace, the weak candlelight was flickering. The Noble Consort Rui was sitting in front of the bronze mirror, combing her waist - length hair one stroke at a time.
Zhu'er was kneeling beside her, not daring to move at all. Her cheeks were swollen and red.
During the banquet, ever since she had taken a look at that woman Shi Muwǎn, the second young lady of the Yao family's eyes had never left her. Even through the blindfold, her eyes were so sharp as if they could see through her, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Humph, she really was a brainless fool.
"Go and find someone to check what's wrong with that fool. Why is she with Shi Muwǎn?"
What did it mean for the daughter of the General of Huaihua to be under the empress dowager's care? Could it be related to the Shi family? What would the ministers in the court think if they knew about this?
This banquet had only invited the wives and children of various families, so the ministers hadn't seen Yao Kun and the empress dowager today and didn't know about this.
But now they should all know, right!