This maid had always been a favorite of the old lady and was on good terms with Mama Qian.
As soon as she said this, Mama Qian hesitated for a long time and couldn't help speaking up for her:
"Madam, this maid has always been dutiful and has served the old lady whole - heartedly. I've known her for many years, and I've never seen her lie."
The old lady pondered for a moment and then said:
"This time I did fall ill quite oddly. I felt chest tightness and itchy skin, which is very similar to the situation after contacting animals before."
Although she was extremely angry when her beloved begonia suddenly withered, it shouldn't have made her fall ill.
She originally thought it was because of her old age and a sudden illness.
However, after this maid mentioned it, she realized that there were some details she had overlooked.
Hearing the old lady say so, Mrs. Jiang immediately rolled her eyes.
Her gaze stayed on the maid's face for a while and then she said:
"Since the old lady has spoken, maybe what this maid said is true. Could it be that someone deliberately let the animals in?"
Mrs. Jiang pointed the finger at someone else again, which made everyone present look at each other in surprise.
Who had such a big grudge against the old lady that they dared to harm her openly?
And they even chose her sixtieth birthday!
The old lady's expression was hard to read. Finally, she said tiredly:
"Forget it. Let her go. I'll spare her this time. There are so many relatives and friends here today. Don't spoil the fun because of this!"
When the old lady spoke for the first time, the maid's face lit up with joy. She quickly kowtowed:
"Thank you, old lady, for your grace. Thank you, old lady, for your grace!"
The old lady waved her hand, supporting her forehead with one hand, and said no more.
Although she wasn't feeling well today and didn't invite many people, those present were all her close friends and relatives.
On her sixtieth birthday banquet, failing to make the guests and hosts happy would be a dereliction of duty of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Even for the sake of the Prime Minister's Mansion's reputation, she had to brace herself to finish this birthday banquet!
The old lady scanned the room with her eyes. After not finding the person she was looking for, her eyebrows furrowed again.
Mrs. Jiang noticed the old lady's action and took the opportunity to say:
"Old lady, are you looking for Yun Xi?"
If it were in the past, this old woman wouldn't have cared whether that little slut was present or not.
It seemed that during the time when she was being suppressed, that little slut had actually gained some status in the old woman's heart.
This was not a good sign!
The old lady was silent and didn't respond, but Mrs. Jiang sighed in the tone of an elder:
"Yun Xi is so late for her own grandmother's birthday. Even if she doesn't care about her grandmother's birthday banquet, with so many elders and relatives here, she should at least show up..."
After Mrs. Jiang said this, everyone present knew that Yun Xi was late for her grandmother's birthday banquet.
Hearing this, the old lady's younger sister from her mother's side immediately sank her face and scolded:
"I was wondering why I hadn't seen her. It's fine if she doesn't want to come to the birthday banquet to see us old women. But even when her own grandmother is sick, she doesn't come to visit?"
"How can this girl be so disrespectful to her elders? She's not as obedient and sensible as her own younger sister!"
The old lady of the Yun family had always disliked Yun Xi's mother and was often dissatisfied because her son doted on Yun Xi too much.
So her younger sister had heard about it and also didn't have a good impression of Yun Xi.
Hearing herself being praised, Yun Ni immediately said sweetly:
"Since I was a child, my mother has always taught me that grandmother is the sky of our Su family. Without grandmother's hard work in the past, there would be no prosperity of the Prime Minister's Mansion today! She told me and my younger brother to be grateful and respectful to grandmother and be good grandchildren."
Yun Ni's words immediately won the praise of the elders, and they all flattered the old lady for being blessed.
Even the old lady, who had been frowning just now, looked more amiable at this moment.
"Yun Ni and Yun Qi have always been very considerate of their elders since they were children and have always been very worry - free. As for Yun Xi... Although she is a bit unconventional, she is also a smart girl. It's just that she may be lacking in etiquette."
After the contact in the previous period, the old lady didn't dislike Yun Xi as much as before.
Moreover, after all, she was her own granddaughter and from the direct line. Yun Xi's words and deeds also represented the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Behind closed doors, she could educate her as she liked, but she mustn't let outsiders laugh at them.
Mrs. Jiang knew that the old lady's attitude towards Yun Xi had changed, but she never expected that the old lady would actually protect Yun Xi in public.
She immediately couldn't sit still and said:
"Yes! Yun Xi is quite smart. When she learned that the Empress Dowager intended to build a temple, she immediately without hesitation offered the Buddhist relic she had carried with her for more than ten years. Moreover, Yun Xi also promised the Empress Dowager to donate ten thousand taels of gold. Our Prime Minister's Mansion prepared for several days before rushing to send it into the palace."
As Mrs. Jiang spoke, she always had a smile on her face and there was not a hint of blame in her tone.
However, everyone present was already shocked!
The Buddhist relic! Its rarity and preciousness were self - evident.
Even among the people present, many of them were high - ranking officials and noble families, but few of them had ever had the fortune to see a Buddhist relic in their lives.
And the eldest legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion actually gave it away so easily in order to curry favor with the Empress!
And the ten thousand taels of gold!
Even an ordinary family would take a deep breath before saying such a thing.
This idiotic eldest lady of the Prime Minister's Mansion just donated it without hesitation.
It seemed that she didn't even discuss it with the Prime Minister's Mansion and just made the decision on her own!
If it weren't for the Prime Minister's Mansion's intention to protect her, perhaps even her head would not be safe!
"Sister, this is not smart at all. It's clearly selfishness and ignoring the whole family!"
Since this incident had already happened, no one present had the guts to say a word against the current Empress.
However, Yun Xi's wealthy and arrogant behavior had already pricked the nerves of many people present!
The old lady's younger sister was the first to speak, and immediately there was a chorus of agreement below.
Some said that Yun Xi was ignorant and too arbitrary and should be strictly disciplined.
Some others said sourly that the Su family deserved to be the richest family in the Liu Kingdom, and even their niece was so generous.
Others could never catch up!
Originally, the old lady still wanted to protect Yun Xi, but with so many people's negative comments and hitting her sensitive nerve, her face became even more ugly.
The annoyance she had towards Yun Xi in the past returned.
And Yun Xi walked into the banquet hall slowly amidst everyone's discussions.
Facing everyone's various gazes full of thoughts and extreme sharpness, Yun Xi smiled sweetly and bowed respectfully:
"Granddaughter Yun Xi pays respects to grandmother and all the elders and relatives present. Today is grandmother's sixtieth birthday. Granddaughter sincerely wishes grandmother a long and healthy life and a permanent smiling face!"