"What did you say?" Yun Yixiao raised her voice a bit and asked.
The street was bustling, and Wei Manzhu's voice was too low for her to hear clearly.
Shaking her head, Wei Manzhu quickly said, "It's nothing, nothing..."
"I said it's cold. Let's go back quickly. Father is still at home waiting for you to discuss the last and most important dish for tonight's dinner."
"Humph—"
With a cold snort, Yun Yixiao finally softened her expression a bit. As she tidied her clothes and walked towards the carriage, she muttered, "See, Manzhu. This is the importance brought by power and status.
"Think about the time after your maternal grandfather passed away. Your second uncle was suppressed and only held a nominal position in the court, and your younger uncle went far away to the southwestern border. What kind of life did we lead in the Duke's Mansion at that time?
"Everyone thought the Yun family was doomed back then. Your father doted on that slut in the mansion for so many years. But look now. As soon as your younger uncle came back and it was revealed that the unmarried wife of Prince Yu'an was from our Yun family, they immediately behaved themselves and started asking for my opinion on everything!"
As they got closer to the carriage, Yun Yixiao's voice became softer: "But Manzhu, you must remember that this kind of thing is only truly reliable when you hold it in your own hands. We don't want to get involved in that bone - crunching place in the palace, but you must rely on Prince Yu'an, that big tree..."
On the other side—
Yun Xi and the others went to the cloth store to see Jiang Ning. They told her about the family reunion dinner and asked her to come back early in the evening. Then they each selected several fine pieces of fabric that hadn't been put on sale yet, planning to make new clothes after the New Year.
The group happily chatted in the resting room on the second floor for a while before they were ready to go back home with their full - loaded spoils.
However, before they could leave, a young servant rushed over and said that the Old Madam Yun wanted to see Yun Weisheng, Liu Jingyue and a few others.
Liu Jingyue half - lifted her eyelids and glanced at Yun Weisheng. Calmly, she told Yun Qi to help Yun Xi carry the things back to Zhihong Garden first. She and her husband would go and check it out first, and then send someone to call them for dinner in the evening.
Yun Xi had a feeling that something was up and was about to ask, but Liu Jingyue had already stood up and pulled Yun Weisheng away.
They left so quickly that in an instant, they were out of sight. Yun Xi stretched out her hand to touch her, but didn't even touch a corner of her clothes. She didn't know if Liu Jingyue had anticipated her question or was afraid that Yun Xi would read her mind.
Helplessly looking at Yun Qi, Yun Xi asked without much hope, "Brother, is the Old Madam Yun our grandmother? Why did Mother leave so quickly? It seems like there's something she doesn't want me to know. Is there something between them?"
Yun Qi was also very confused. Shaking his head, he replied, "Of course she's our grandmother. But since our second uncle is the eldest grandson, our two families separated when we moved to the border. She has been living with our second uncle's family. I don't know what's going on between her and Mother."
Just as she had expected.
Yun Xi didn't have much hope that Yun Qi could give her an answer.
After all, since ancient times, the issues between a mother - in - law and a daughter - in - law are something that the daughters in the inner courtyard can get a bit of understanding of. For a man like Yun Qi who only focuses on external affairs and has been separated from the Old Madam Yun in the capital for such a long time and such a long distance, it's very likely that he doesn't know much.
After a brief thought, Yun Xi decided to follow Liu Jingyue's wishes.
Firstly, there were indeed a lot of things to put back; secondly, she had clearly felt her father's love for her mother these days. She believed that her father could protect her mother well.
"Oh, then let's go back first."
Without saying more, Yun Xi took Yi Yaofeng's hand. Behind them, Yi Yuan and Yun Qi, who doted on her, helped carry the things. The group walked back to the mansion smiling.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they got on the street, they met Shen Zhou.
Yi Yuan's face darkened. Even though he was still carrying the fruits that Yun Xi liked to eat, the moment he saw Shen Zhou, he unconsciously changed hands and took Yun Xi's hand.
With a charming smile in his beautiful peach - blossom eyes, Shen Zhou seemed not to notice. He took the wooden box from Sheng Yu behind him and handed it to Yun Xi, saying sincerely, "Yingying, this is a New Year's gift for you. I've chosen it for a long time. I hope you won't dislike it."
Before Yun Xi could say anything, Yi Yuan pulled her closer to him and said coldly, "No need. Xiaoxi dislikes it."
Uh...
Yun Xi silently swallowed back the euphemistic words on her lips.
"My lord," Shen Zhou's smile turned a bit cold, "Yingying is a living person, not a puppet. I privately think that she has the right to choose for herself."
Yi Yuan blocked Shen Zhou and suddenly tightened his grip on Yun Xi's fair hand.
His phoenix - like eyes sparkled like stars and even showed a hint of grievance. He looked at Yun Xi carefully and asked, "Then Xiaoxi, tell me, do you need it?"
[My Xiaoxi loves me so much. She definitely won't take it, right...]
[If she accepts it, it will be like slapping me in the face in public. Xiaoxi, you surely won't bear to let me suffer such humiliation, right.]
Yun Xi: …
Help! Yun Xi was in a dilemma and could only wail silently in her heart.
Yi Yuan was obviously doing it on purpose. He knew that she could definitely read his mind, so he was being so shamelessly coquettish in his heart.
The once cold and aloof prince seemed to have disappeared. Now he was becoming more and more shameless.
Just then, Shen Zhou seemed to have seen through Yi Yuan's little trick. His clear eyes were meaningful as he said, "Yingying, think about what we agreed on before. You can't just listen to one person."
On the bustling street, the air seemed to freeze. Both of them stared at her intently, waiting for Yun Xi's answer.
Yun Xi had no choice but to wink at Yun Qi, hoping that this straightforward - minded guy could be smart just once and help her out of this predicament.
Unfortunately, Yun Qi was quick to understand in military battles, but when it came to matters of love, he really didn't know how to help. Yun Xi almost popped her eyes out, but Yun Qi didn't understand a bit.
Yun Xi was helpless.
Just as she was in a difficult position and didn't know how to choose, Qiao Yan suddenly emerged from somewhere and rushed to her side. Pretending to be angry, she said, "Xiaoxi, what are you doing? I saw you from afar just now and called you, but you didn't answer."
Turning her head and seeing Shen Zhou holding a huge mahogany box, she said in surprise, "Oh, so Mr. Shen is here too? Aren't you tired carrying such a big wooden box? We know your Shen family is wealthy, but you don't have to show off in front of people like this. Put it away. There are so many people. Don't let someone knock it down later."
The tense atmosphere was suddenly broken. Yun Xi suddenly let out a sigh of relief and almost wanted to hug Qiao Yan and give her a big kiss.
Restraining herself, she greeted Shen Zhou and then continued, "Since A Yan has said so, then Shen... cough, A Zhou, you'd better put it away first. I appreciate your kindness. Thank you."
Afraid that Shen Zhou would insist, Yun Xi didn't even give him a chance to speak. Then she hooked Qiao Yan's arm, said goodbye and walked away quickly, saying, "Let's go, A Yan. I just got a really good piece of fabric from the cloth store. Go back to the mansion and take a look."
Before her words fell, she had already walked several zhang away.
"Chuckle—Did you hear that? Put it away."
Yi Yuan laughed out loud. Like a victorious rooster, he glanced at Shen Zhou contemptuously and proudly, then happily followed Yun Xi.
However, the group who had walked far away didn't see that a person who was tightly wrapped suddenly appeared behind the expressionless Shen Zhou and whispered to him, "How about it? Has she agreed?"