Hearing Yuzhu's words, Yun Xi gave a leisurely smile, pursed her lips and said,
"You're right. Apart from the identity given by the Prime Minister's Mansion, I'm not left with nothing."
But as for Song Yulin, it might be a different story.
The guests who received the invitation cards took their seats one after another, and the birthday banquet officially began. Soon, the most important part of the birthday celebration came - presenting birthday gifts and offering birthday greetings!
According to the Li family's rules, it was first the sons of Old Lady Cheng leading their wives to offer birthday greetings, followed by the daughters presenting their birthday gifts and greetings...
Watching as everyone presented their birthday gifts and unfolded them one by one in front of Old Lady Cheng, Yuzhu couldn't help but tense up, her heart pounding.
"Miss, what shall we do when it's our turn to present the gift later?"
Yuzhu quietly leaned beside Yun Xi and whispered.
Although she knew that her miss always had a plan when doing things, just thinking about the contents of the gift box being unfolded in front of everyone, not only would Old Lady Cheng fly into a rage, but everyone present would also point fingers at her miss!
Looking at Yuzhu's anxious expression, Yun Xi said calmly,
"You don't need to worry. The birthday banquet will be over before it's our turn to step forward."
By then, there would be no need for them to present gifts!
This was also Yun Xi's way of repaying Old Lady Cheng for knowingly the situation of the Prime Minister's Mansion but still sending an invitation to her grandmother!
As soon as Yun Xi finished speaking, it was the turn of Old Lady Cheng's grandchildren to offer birthday greetings at the birthday banquet.
As the legitimate daughter of the Minister's Mansion, Song Yulin stepped forward without hesitation, overtaking her younger brothers and sisters born of concubines. Like a proud peacock, she raised her chin and appeared in front of everyone. Then she gracefully knelt down in front of Old Lady Cheng.
She crisply said a few birthday greetings, which made Old Lady Cheng, who had always doted on her, laugh from ear to ear. Immediately, she called out 'darling' and told someone to help Song Yulin up.
It was obvious that the reason why Song Yulin could bully the concubines' children in the Minister's Mansion and act so arrogantly was closely related to Old Lady Cheng's spoiling!
"Bring up the birthday gift I prepared for grandmother!"
Song Yulin clapped her hands, and immediately someone carried in a jade carving of the Goddess of Mercy. It was flawless and translucent all over, obviously carved from the finest jade. Such a large piece of jade was quite rare.
The moment Old Lady Cheng saw it, she was overjoyed and left her seat to come forward. While stroking the delicate and smooth jade carving of the Goddess of Mercy, she kept praising,
"Good, very much to my liking!"
The more Old Lady Cheng looked at it, the more satisfied she was. Looking at Song Yulin, she spared no praise and said,
"You're really my favorite granddaughter. Grandmother likes it so much!"
Hearing Old Lady Cheng's words and the echoing praises from the people around, Song Yulin wore a proud smile, straightened her back, and almost raised her chin to the sky!
"As long as grandmother likes it, even if you ask me to pick the stars for you, I'd be willing!"
You know, Old Lady Cheng's greatest strength was having a few filial sons who almost obeyed her every word.
Therefore, Old Lady Cheng had the final say in the mansion. As long as one could please the old lady, Song Yulin would naturally have the capital to act arrogantly!
"Miss, you still have one more gift to present."
Just when Song Yulin was indulging in her pride and looking extremely smug, her personal maid suddenly walked in from outside with a gift box in her hands.
The maid kept her head down, her hands and feet couldn't help but tremble slightly, and her voice was a bit strange. However, Song Yulin didn't notice anything amiss.
Looking at the exquisite gift box in the maid's hands, Song Yulin hesitated for a moment and then looked at her mother.
The jade statue of the Goddess of Mercy she presented just now was prepared by her mother in advance. Since she knew that the old lady believed in Buddhism, the purpose was to please her, for fear that Song Yulin would mess it up if she did it herself.
But she had never heard that her mother had prepared anything else!
Receiving her daughter's look, Lady Song was slightly surprised. She thought that her daughter had also prepared a gift on her own behind her back, so she immediately nodded at Song Yulin.
She thought to herself that since the jade statue of the Goddess of Mercy had already been presented and the old lady was happy.
Even if her daughter had her own idea and presented some small trinkets, it wouldn't matter. It would only add to the joy!
With her mother's approval, Song Yulin immediately thought that this gift was also prepared by her mother. So she took the gift box from the maid's hands and walked up to Old Lady Cheng with a beaming smile.
"Grandmother, I've also prepared another birthday gift. Can you guess what it is?"
Since Song Yulin didn't know what was inside the gift box, she deliberately kept it a mystery. While the old lady was still confused, Song Yulin slowly opened the gift box.
The moment she saw the gift box, Yuzhu immediately broke out in a cold sweat. She was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses.
"Miss, isn't this..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Yun Xi stopped her with a look, signaling her to continue watching the show.
Yuzhu stared at the scene in front of her in disbelief. She couldn't figure out how the birthday gift they prepared for Old Lady Cheng had suddenly become Song Yulin's?
Did the Minister's Mansion have the habit of stealing and replacing other people's birthday gifts?
Moreover, they did it so blatantly!
Song Yulin took a hasty glance and saw a corner of the delicate fabric and a few brocade buttons in the gift box. Immediately, her eyes lit up, and she was sure that it was an outer robe.
Without looking carefully, she took it out of the gift box and showed it to the old lady like a treasure. She said,
"Grandmother, I almost went blind after staying up late for several nights to sew this outer robe for you. Please put it on and try it!"
Song Yulin told a blatant lie. Before the old lady could react, she felt a blur in front of her eyes, and an outer robe was draped over Old Lady Cheng. It was only after Old Lady Cheng put it on that she noticed that the expressions of everyone around suddenly changed.
The banquet hall fell silent instantly, and the breathing of all the guests became lighter. But Song Yulin was completely unaware. She was still indulging in her self - display and carefully tied the buttons on the old lady's clothes. She said happily,
"Grandmother, look how well it fits you. You look so good in it..."
But before Song Yulin could finish her sentence, she suddenly became as silent as a cat with its tongue bitten. She stared at the shroud on Old Lady Cheng's body in horror, as if seeing a ghost!
Oh my god! How could this be a shroud?
This was clearly something for the dead. Why was it appearing at her grandmother's birthday banquet?
Looking at Song Yulin's terrified and speechless expression, only Old Lady Cheng, who hadn't seen the whole picture of the clothes, was still kept in the dark.
"What's wrong with everyone?"
She asked in confusion. Song Yulin subconsciously stared at her mother, her mind in a complete mess and her face full of bewilderment.
Was her mother crazy? How dare she publicly give a shroud to her grandmother? Wasn't this cursing the old woman to die soon?
She never knew that her mother hated her grandmother so much!
Song Yulin was full of questions but completely forgot that it was she herself who had put the shroud on Old Lady Cheng as a birthday gift just a moment ago!
Lady Song's face turned ashen. Blinking her eyes, Old Lady Cheng's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head. She immediately shouted at her daughter,
"Yulin, quickly take it off for your grandmother!!"
Out of extreme anxiety, Lady Song almost shouted herself hoarse.
Seeing her daughter standing there in a daze without any reaction, Lady Song gritted her teeth and quickly stepped forward, trying hard to pull off the shroud on Old Lady Cheng.
"Quickly do it!"
Lady Song snapped. Song Yulin immediately came to her senses and tried to take it off together with her mother. But due to their excessive strength, they accidentally pulled Old Lady Cheng to the ground.
It was all too late!