When Yun Xi walked up to the gate of the Minister's Mansion with the invitation card in hand, everyone who recognized her stared at her as if she were a rare and exotic beast, their eyes filled with surprise.
"Isn't that Princess Yongning? How does she have the leisure to come to the Minister's Mansion?"
"Exactly! Prime Minister Yun is still imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. As his eldest daughter, she doesn't show the slightest bit of sadness. Instead, she actually wants to attend Lady Cheng's birthday celebration. How heartless can she be!"
Everyone stared at Yun Xi and began to whisper to each other.
Seeing everyone pointing and whispering about Yun Xi, Yu Zhu's face turned slightly pale. She looked at Yun Xi beside her with a worried expression. Yun Xi, however, remained calm and composed, completely unaffected by the words of others.
Minister Song and his wife were standing at the gate to greet the guests. When they saw Yun Xi coming to offer birthday greetings, they couldn't help but show a look of hesitation on their faces.
Finally, Minister Song gave his wife a subtle look. Mrs. Song understood and immediately stepped forward to greet Yun Xi:
"Thank you, Princess, for coming in person. You've been so generous. Please come inside."
Although Prime Minister Yun was currently in the Imperial Prison and the Yun family seemed to be in ruins, the emperor had not yet made a judgment on the other members of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Therefore, Yun Xi was still Princess Yongning.
Even out of respect for the emperor, others had to show her some courtesy!
Moreover, the emperor's thoughts were unpredictable. Since Yun Sheng was not dead yet, there was still a possibility of a reversal. As a sophisticated official in the court, Minister Song naturally wouldn't push things to the extreme!
Mrs. Song greeted Yun Xi warmly and asked the maid to lead her in. Yun Xi nodded slightly at Mrs. Song with a faint smile and led Yu Zhu and the Taoist priest into the Minister's Mansion.
In the end, no one noticed the Taoist priest. After all, these high - ranking officials and nobles always looked down on others. How could they care about the appearance of a servant?
After Yun Xi and the others entered the Minister's Mansion, they automatically split into two groups. Yun Xi and Yu Zhu went to the seat for female guests.
The Taoist priest, on the other hand, followed the maid's guidance and headed straight for the place where the birthday gifts were stored.
"Hey! Who's this? I thought I was seeing things. To see Princess Yongning in our Minister's Mansion. This is really rare!"
As soon as Yun Xi sat down, a sarcastic female voice rang out. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Song Yulin, who was exquisitely dressed in gorgeous clothes.
Her tone was sharp, her face full of mockery. She looked at Yun Xi haughtily, a malicious smile on her lips.
Seeing Song Yulin approaching with a few other women, a cold glint flashed across Yun Xi's eyes:
"Miss Song, long time no see. How have you been?"
She stood up gracefully, a relaxed smile on her face.
Song Yulin originally thought that Yun Xi would be angry because of her words. However, Yun Xi's reaction made Song Yulin feel like she had punched a cotton ball. Her smile froze slightly.
Thinking about the current situation of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Song Yulin sneered again and deliberately said:
"Seeing that the Princess is in such a good mood, may I ask if Prime Minister Yun and Miss Yun Er have returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion?"
Then, without waiting for Yun Xi to answer, she deliberately asked the women on both sides:
"Have you heard this news?"
The women all shook their heads in coordination with Song Yulin and echoed:
"No, we haven't."
Song Yulin sneered at the corner of her lips, but pretended to look at Yun Xi with regret on her face and said:
"It seems that no one has received the news!"
"They all say that the Imperial Prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guards is a place that devours people without spitting out bones. I heard that Prime Minister Yun has suffered a lot in the Imperial Prison. Since he has already returned, why doesn't the Princess inform us? We could go to the Prime Minister's Mansion to offer our condolences."
As soon as Song Yulin finished speaking, she burst out laughing on her own, as if she couldn't control herself anymore. The women beside her also sneered, not hiding the schadenfreude in their eyes at all!
These young girls were like budding flowers. The way they laughed, their bodies trembling, looked like a beautiful painting from afar.
However, their clear laughter, like the tinkling of silver bells, was extremely harsh to Yun Xi and Yu Zhu's ears, because it represented the most vicious side of their human nature!
"Miss, they're going too far!"
Seeing Yun Xi being deliberately ridiculed, Yu Zhu couldn't help but turn angry.
These people clearly knew the current situation of the Prime Minister's Mansion, but they still made sarcastic remarks. They were simply disgracing the elegance of a young lady from a noble family!
"Don't mind them."
Yun Xi gently pulled Yu Zhu's hand, signaling her to calm down. She shouldn't be provoked by them, otherwise, it would be counterproductive.
Because soon, she would give Song Yulin a vivid lesson!
A lesson that the other party would never forget!!
Feeling Yun Xi's cold gaze, Song Yulin suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She immediately stopped laughing and couldn't help but feel a sense of uneasiness in her heart.
To cover up her panic, Song Yulin deliberately shouted at Yun Xi:
"Why are you staring at me? If you have grievances in your heart, have the guts to go and talk to the current emperor! If you want to cause trouble in our Minister's Mansion, you don't have a chance!!"
Hearing Song Yulin's words, Yun Xi blinked her clear eyes innocently:
"Miss Song has misunderstood. I was born with these eyes. Even when I squint, people still think I'm being provocative."
Then, Yun Xi changed the subject and deliberately sized up Song Yulin's eyes and said:
"Of course, Miss Song doesn't have this kind of trouble, so naturally she won't understand my hardships."
"What? You actually dare to laugh at my eyes being smaller than yours?!"
Hearing Yun Xi imply that her eyes were small, Song Yulin immediately glared at her angrily. Since childhood, no one had ever dared to make fun of her eyes!
She wished she could melt a few blood holes in Yun Xi's body with her gaze!
Yun Xi, however, stared at her with big, bright eyes and quickly waved her hands, looking helpless and saying:
"Miss Song has misunderstood again. I was just praising your eyes for being clear - cut and reserved. To ordinary people, they always seem calm and tranquil, not easily causing misunderstandings. How could I laugh at your small eyes!"
As soon as Yun Xi said this, everyone's expressions froze for a moment. Then, someone couldn't help but burst out laughing!
But under Song Yulin's angry glare, they forced themselves to hold back their laughter.
Yu Zhu covered her lips, her shoulders trembling. She almost burst a blood vessel from holding back her laughter.
Clear - cut? Reserved? Only her miss could describe a pair of dull, lifeless fish - eyes as calm and tranquil!
She was truly a master of language. It was so funny!
Yun Xi imitated Song Yulin's previous behavior and deliberately ridiculed her, but her words were impeccable. Song Yulin was so angry that she almost vomited blood!
Knowing that she couldn't get the better of Yun Xi in a verbal fight, Song Yulin stopped arguing with her and snorted disdainfully:
"Today, for the sake of my grandmother's birthday, I won't argue with you!"
Song Yulin crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking haughty:
"Perhaps this will be the last time you attend such a high - class banquet in your life. Consider it a kind charity from our Minister's Mansion. Just enjoy it. Let's go."
After saying this, Song Yulin led the others away swaggeringly.
Staring at their backs, Yu Zhu was so angry that her face turned red. She stepped forward and took Yun Xi's arm and said:
"Miss, don't pay attention to them. Without their families, they're nothing! At least you still have the Su family and can support yourself!"
Compared to these young ladies who didn't know the first thing about farming and never did any housework, her miss was much better!