When Song Yixiao hesitated, Lu Kouâer and Lu Chaiâer had already drunk it. They drew their handkerchiefs out to wipe their lips lightly.
Lu Chaiâerâs mood seemed to recover a little after she got such a precious thing. She especially appreciated, âGrandmother, thank you. It smells fragrant and warm. But when I drink it, I feel it cooler than mint tea. It is so proper to drink it in this season! The prescription that the Grand Princess sends to the Empress Dowager is so wonderful!â
âMint tea?â Song Yixiao had been just doubtful before. But at present, her heart sank completely, âIs she joking? How can the Fragrant Green Liquid drink like mint tea!â
Although she never drank it, she heard a poem about it in her previous life. The poem described the feeling after drinking it like bathing in the sunshine of March. How could the sunshine be cool?
Song Yixiao felt cold at this time. Seeing the glass cup in Lanhuiâs hand, she couldnât think it beautiful and cute any more.
But she thought its color was like Master Viper.
Lu Chaiâer didnât care why Song Yixiao just sat there and didnât move. Lu Kouâer thought of the picture that Song Yixiao embroidered, which showed that Song Yixiaoâs skill of embroidery was much better than her. She never learned hard to embroider because she was proud of her status. But she was really unhappy to let an outsider perform better than herself at home!
She sneered and said arrogantly, âGrandmother had agreed to give it to you. How can she regret? You stare at it stupidly as if you canât believe it. I have to remind you that you are Brother Xubaiâs future wife now. If you are always so naive, you will lose the face of Duke of Yanâs mansion!â
Lu Kouâer had an expression of disdain to her. It made Song Yixiaoâs gentle and smiling face stunned suddenly and then she blushed with shame on her white face. Lu Kouâer felt better after seeing that!
âKouâer! Donât be rude!â While the Dowager Consort looked angry and scolded her, âYou all grow up in the mansion. Yixiao is two years younger than you. How can you treat her like that?â
Then she turned to talk with Song Yixiao, âIgnore her. She is spoiled but she isnât a bad girl. Drink it. Although itâs precious for many people, the Empress Dowager loves Xubai so much and you will drink it as you wish!â
âExcuse me!â Song Yixiao twisted her handkerchief nervously and hurried to explain, âMy thoughts shouldnât start to wander after the Dowager Consort gave me it generously! But when I saw how the Dowager Consort loved Sixth Young Lady, I thought of my own grandmother!â
Thanked to Lu Kouâer, Song Yixiao finally had an idea. How could she give up this chance?
Before other people chipped in, she took her handkerchief to wipe her red eyes and pretended to say sincerely with tears, âI remember that my grandmother treated me so well when I was young!â
âNo matter what kind of delicious food she had, she would give me some!â
âOne year, I was ill and my grandmother couldnât sleep for many nights because she worried about me! She went to stay with me every day. My parents were afraid she was affected by me so that they knelt in front her room to persuade her. But they couldnât stop her!â
âWhen I recovered, my grandmother had been thinnerâ¦â
Seeing her sincere face, Lu Kouâer snorted scornfully and murmured to herself, âWho donât know that you canât go home? Donât pretend to say that!â
But Lu Chaiâer smiled and lowered her head to hide the disdain in her eyes.
The Dowager Consort frowned and had a look at Lu Kouâer. Then she said to Song Yixiao softly, âYou are eldest legitimate granddaughter of the Song Family. How can Elder Lady Pang not love you? But itâs a pity that you are fated to mourn her health. Luckily, the Empress Dowager asks you to marry Duke Jian. Elder Lady Pang must feel relieved!â
She smiled kindly, âOld people like us will be happy if our kids have a good life!â
The point was, âDonât think too much! Have a taste soon. Before honored guests come here, I have to tell you something!â
âI, I have a wish!â Song Yixiao looked at her expectantly, âMy grandmother hasnât ever tasted Fragrant Green Liquid! I, I want to give it to her. So she can also be affected by your good fortune! Can you agree with me?â
The Dowager Consort looked dark for a while. And then she smiled, âGood girl! Iâve known that you are so filial! But Iâm not mean. Although the Fragrant Green Liquid is rare, Iâm not lack of it. How can I let you walk on the street to send her with this little cup?â
She told Lanhui, âTake a bottle of Fragrant Green Liquid that hasnât been opened and send it to the Song Family. Tell them that Song Yixiao gives it to her grandmother especially!â
Song Yixiao hurried to kneel down to show her appreciation. The Dowager Consort looked at her fiercely but said gently, âDo you rest assured this time?â
Before Song Yixiao said, Lu Kouâer, whose face had already been dark, said jealously, âShe wangles a bottle of Fragrant Green Liquid and gets a filial reputation. How can she dissatisfy? She is so greedy!â
Although she had drunk it many times because she was the Dowager Consortâs granddaughter, the Dowager Consort never gave her a bottle of it! But the Dowager Consort gave Song Yixiaoâs grandmother a bottle that was full of Fragrant Green Liquid!
As an outsider, Song Yixiao just said few words about her grandmother. Why did the Dowager Consort satisfy her wish?
Song Yixiao was so moved that she cried this time and had no time to pay attention to Fourth Commandery Princess. She said, âYour Highness, thank you so much! You treat me so well!â
âYou are so filial. Who will dislike you?â The Dowager Consort smiled and asked a maid to hand her handkerchief to Song Yixiao. âClean your face quickly!â
Lanhui used the Dowager Consortâs handkerchief to wipe tears of Song Yixiao and smiled, âMiss Song, donât be so polite to Her Highness! Iâve told you that Her Highness always regarded you as her own granddaughter!â
She considerately handed the glass cup to her lips and said, âYoung lady, please drink it soon. You will also get the Dowager Consortâs good fortune!â
Song Yixiao stretched out respectfully and said, âHow can I ask you to serve me? Let me drink it by myself!â
The Dowager Consort looked at her with a light smile. Song Yixiao took the glass cup but didnât drink. She observed it with love and said, âIts color makes me think of spring. Iâve never seen such a beautiful green in my life!â
She looked shy, âMy foster nurse is the first person who tells me the Fragrant Green Liquidâ¦â
When she said that, Lu Chaiâer who always kept silent whispered to her elder sister suddenly, âWill she want another bottle of it for her foster nurse?â
Lu Kouâer was shocked when she heard that. Then she immediately stared at Song Yixiao alertly. Sure enough, Song Yixiao said, âYour Highness, I want to ask you one more thingâ¦â
âAre you enough?â Lu Kouâer shouted unbelievably in anger, âYou pretended to be filial to get a bottle for your grandmother. Now you dare to talk about your foster nurse! Will you continue to mention all maids who sweep the floor in the Hanxia Villa?â
She had never seen such a shameless person!
How insatiable she was!
Lu Kouâer was so jealous at this time. But Song Yixiao didnât stop. She pouted her mouth and complained, âBut Fourth Commandery Princess, my foster nurse is really good to meâ¦â
âClang!â Lu Kouâer smashed the glass cup that she had used to Song Yixiao without thinking and blamed, âShut up. B***h!â
The Dowager Consort turned livid with rage. Lu Kouâer turned to talk with her angrily, âGrandmother, itâs so kind for us to raise her with luxurious life for many years! Although she will marry Brother Xubai, she canât be so insatiable! Does she think you are a sucker? Do we need to let all things of Prince of Hengshanâs mansion be her dowry?â
Song Yixiao thanked Lu Kouâer so much in her heart. But she pretended to fall the glass cup in her hand when she was avoiding the cup smashed by Lu Kouâer. She complained, âI just want Her Highness to allow me to send it to the Hanxia Villa so that my foster nurse can have a look at itâ¦â
Lu Kouâer sneered, âDo you think we are fools? You are so greedy!â
The Dowager Consort touched the bracelet on her wrist and looked at her two granddaughters with cold eyes. Then she said coldly, âIt has been smashed. No matter what you are thinking or unsatisfied, can you calm down now?â
Then her voice was colder, âAfter all, the honored guests are coming. If they see it, will my birthday party go on? At that time, Iâd better go to the imperial palace to let the Empress Dowager punish me because I donât manage the family seriously!â
Song Yixiao immediately knelt down loudly with Jinxun and said, âIâm so rude. Please punish me!â
âGrandmother, please calm down!â Lu Kouâer glared at her and then knelt down slowly.
The Dowager Consort didnât blame them. She asked them to stand up without any emotion, as if no conflict happened. Then she told them kindly, âMost of guests today were either old or married. They are not interested to talk with girls like you. After they see you and say some polite greetings, they wonât talk with you for a long time. But there are two important guests who are almost the same as your age and are not married. You should accompany them.â
Hearing that, Song Yixiao felt something bad would happen.
Sure enough.
The Dowager Consort said casually, âBut Princess Changxing and Princess Yushan are relatives of our princeâs mansion. Although they are spoiled in the imperial palace, I donât think they will blame you when they feel uncomfortable in the princeâs mansion. Donât worry to take care of them!â
Song Yixiao sneered.
How could they not blame other people?
A few days ago, Jian Xubai told her personally that she should keep at a respectful distance from âPrincess Changxingâ!
What did Wei Mengying say six years ago?
âEmperorâs daughters are all tricky. People who offend them will have many troubles!â
The Empress Dowager just decided Song Yixiaoâs marriage. Even the Dowager Consort had to respect her.
But Princess Changxing was different. She was the legitimate granddaughter of the Empress Dowager and the daughter of the Emperor. So she could purposely make difficulties for Song Yixiao in public without being punished.
The Emperor liked Jian Xubai. But the Empress Dowager and Emperor Xianjia would only protect him. They might not care about his fiancée!
Even if they cared about her, how could she have the same treatment as Princess Changxing? They must show partiality to their daughter instead of the fiancée!
Besides, Song Yixiao was just a nephewâs fiancée. She was not their sonâs wife!
But she couldnât refuse. Princess Changxing was hard to get along with. But she had a high status. It was an honor to accompany her. Especially, Song Yixiao would become her sister-in-law and had to accompany her when she came to Prince of Hengshanâs mansion to congratulate the Dowager Consortâs birthday!
âThe Dowager Consort is so clever. How can she give up after I refuse the cup of Fragrant Green Liquid?â Song Yixiao clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves and sneered in her heart. âWhat a good excuse! She gives me a problem. But everyone will praise her consideration because she gives me a chance to talk with the princess which is my future husbandâs relative!â
It wouldnât be the Dowager Consortâs fault if Song Yixiao had a conflict with Princess Changxing. After all, who dared to blame the Emperorâs legitimate daughter? So it must be Song Yixiaoâs fault for she didnât serve the princess well and wasted the opportunity given by the Dowager Consort!
âPrincess Changxing is from the royal family. I hope her behavior is gentle!â She could do nothing but to pray silently at present, âIâm good at intriguing against others. But if she uses forceâ¦â
How could she win as a really weak young lady?
Butâ¦
Princess Changxing had been famous due to her ârudenessâ since six years ago. Would she just be so gentle to quarrel with her instead of fighting?