With great caution, Wei Mengying finally conducted the two princesses to the back hall. Dowager Consort of Hengshan didn't advance to welcome them on her own, but she still stood up when the princesses entered the hall.

Under the watchful eyes of the people, Princess Changxing didn't set against Song Yixiao deliberately. After sitting down mannerly, she expressed her wishes to Dowager Consort of Hengshan on behalf of the Empress Dowager, Emperor and Empress and then greeted the t.i.tled ladies with relatively high ranking.

She bore herself well, kind and yet exalted, maintaining a demeanor of an imperial daughter.

Yet, she let Princess Yushan do most of the talking. Although she was smiling all the time, she spoke once in a while

Obviously, despite dotage on the princesses, they were still well educated.

Song Yixiao felt relieved. Since the two princesses didn't want to dishonor themselves, there might be a way out regardless.

"If Your Highnesses please, we have prepared a feast in the main hall." Wei Mengying checked the time and noticed that it was about time. Hence, she proposed, "How about joining the feast with us?"

Changxing and Yushan agreed on the suggestion with delight.

"Her Highness asks me to convey her message." Supporting the Dowager Consort, Wei Mengying headed towards the main hall with the two princesses and the other guests while Qiaoqin squeezed through the crowd to give Song Yixiao a reminder, "Don't forget what Her Highness just told you!"

Song Yixiao smiled bitterly, saying in a low voice, "Master Guanlun is a good person. He has helped me a lot over the past years. I shall not make him worry too much about me."

Thinking back and forth, she believed that Wei Mengying must want to draw support from Lu Guanlun by asking her to lead the princesses to somewhere lonely. Lu Guanlun didn't practice favoritism. If he saw the princesses took advantage of their power, he would not stand aside and do nothing. In a bustling place, if Lu Guanlun and Princess Changxing were seen to be conflicting, the servants would go to report on this in a hurry even if no one was qualified to mediate on spot.

However, in a lonely place, without anyone to mediate, they would harbor grudge against each other then!

Actually, the Dowager Consort pulled a scheme against Song Yixiao in order to help Lu Guanlun, but her scheme was ruined by him instead... Her frustration at that time was imaginable!

Song Yixiao admitted that her mother's counterattack was nice, but because Lu Guanlun had to suffer for this, she didn't want to do it. After all, not everyone would return kindness with ingrat.i.tude.

However, after hearing what she said, Qiaoqin only smiled, "I will pa.s.s on your words to Her Highness."

She hedged and then advised in an implicit way, "Your Ladys.h.i.+p, please forgive me for saying this. You have been engaged and a lifetime of wealth and happiness is near at your hand! Please take heed in acting and not affect your life for other people!"

Song Yixiao bit her lips silently and only followed the crowd into the main hall.

In terms of ident.i.ty, the two princesses should sit on the seats of honor.

However, Princess Changxing said, "My sister and I are juniors. How can we exceed a respectable t.i.tled lady? Moreover, today is her birthday dinner. In my eyes, we had better sit by age."

The Dowager Consort agreed with her tacitly and praised her for her modesty and filial piety. Then she pushed the boat along with the current and made the two princesses sit with Lu Kou'er, saying that they were cousins about the same age and could take the opportunity to get along. Of course, she also made Song Yixiao sit next to the princesses so that she could execute the princesses' order.

Actually, a lot of guests saw through why such an arrangement was made.

However, they were not friends of Song Yixiao, so they couldn't irritate the princess for her. Now they only sighed in secret and then s.h.i.+fted their focus to the feast.

"Doesn't Xue'e come today?" Several girls sitting away from Princess Changxing and Princess Yushan, who had met with Song Yixiao for several times, lowered their heads and exchanged whispers, "Her Highness Princess Changxing pulls a long face before Yixiao. If Xue'e is here, maybe she can serve as the mediator. Now Yixiao has to deal with this alone. I wonder whether she can make it."

"You are so silly! Yixiao has just received the imperial decree of marriage. At the birthday feast today, even without Her Highness the Princess, there are a lot of people who want to set against her!" Another girl shook her head and said, "Marquis Boling is not an idiot. How can he let Xue'e come her to serve as a s.h.i.+eld?"

Ordinarily, at the birthday feast of the Dowager Consort, it was inappropriate that the legitimate nephews sat together with nieces.

However, it had been widely known that Yuan Xuepei was carried back to the imperial capital. He sent for words that he was not fully recovered from the previous injuries and even got sick again. Worse still, his sister also fell ill for serving him. He was afraid to pa.s.s the ominous aura to the Dowager Consort so he only sent the birthday presents instead of him and his sister coming on their own. In this case, no one could argue about it.

However, someone did believe that Yuan Xuepei and his sister were not feeling well but now when they saw Princess Changxing's disgruntled countenance before Song Yixiao, they changed their mind. In their eyes, they thought that Yuan Xuepei must have heard about the arrival of the princesses so he found an excuse to keep his sister and himself from attending the feast so as to stay out of trouble.

Amidst the beautiful music, all the guests chatted and laughed happily but they were in the clouds. They were all waiting for Princess Changxing to make a fuss so that they could watch the fun.

However, they didn't have to wait for too long. After a few dishes were served and three singing and dancing shows were put on, the maid of Princess Changxing poured half of the sauce on Song Yixiao's shoulder "accidentally" while taking away the dishes for the princess.

"How can you be so careless?" Princess Changxing reproached the maid causally, "If it were not for that Miss Song is good-tempered, I must punish you harshly!"

Since she said so, Song Yixiao had no other choice but to help intercede for the maid, "The maid simply made the mistake by an oversight. Your Highness, please forgive her!"

"What a clumsy thing!" Princess Changxing rolled her eyes at the maid and got up, saying, "Fine. It is my maid who made the mistake. Let me accompany you to get changed!"

Song Yixiao knew that she couldn't refuse the princess but she still kept declining the offer.

Otherwise, if this leaked out, she would be criticized for airs and graces. The princess claimed to accompany her to get changed and how could she accept the offer directly?

Song Yixiao didn't leave with her until Princess Changxing insisted and then she apologized to the guests around her.

Anyway, she couldn't let others find fault.

The minute that they left, the rest guests started to gossip in a loud voice, "I thought that Her Highness would teach her a lesson in public. Yet, Her Highness still saves her face and deals with her in private?"

"You are so stupid! Song Yixiao has just been royally granted the marriage. If Her Highness makes a fuss in public, Song Yixiao will be disgraced for sure. Yet, what about Her Highness's reputation?"

"Exactly! Moreover, it will be a slap in Duke Jian's face!"

Princess Yushan put down the golden cup and coughed in a soft voice. The guests were surprised and finally recalled that Princess Yushan was still here though Princess Changxing had left.

They hastened to shut up.

Song Yixiao left the main hall with Princess Changxing. Actually, Song Yixiao should have gone to the side room to get changed.

Nevertheless, Princess Changxing found a nearby drawing room and then walked inside. Song Yixiao had to catch up with her.

"You do have guts!" Princess Changxing sat down and then asked the maids to guard the door and drag Jinxun out of the room. Only Song Yixiao was left in the room. While looking her over, Princess Changxing said aloofly, "I thought you would kneel down and beg for mercy the minute you walk in here!"

"You've got me wrong." Song Yixiao lowered her head slightly to show respect, saying in a calm voice, "On the one hand, I don't do anything wrong. Why would I worry about my safety? On the other hand, Your Highness is a determined person. If you have made up your mind, I'm afraid that it will be no use begging you."

Princess Changxing sneered with her eyes narrowed, "You are rather smart. You are aware that princess as I am, given the imperial decree of my grandma, I cannot do anything against you?"

She suddenly stood up and then walked towards Song Yixiao. She reached out her hand to touch Song Yixiao's face. Judging from her movement, she probably wanted to pinch Song Yixiao's chin. Yet, she must be taller to make the gesture imposing.

Princess Changxing was not a short girl, but Song Yixiao was half a head taller than her.

After reaching out her hand, Princess Changxing realized that something was wrong so she could only pat on Song Yixiao's cheek instead and say sneeringly, "However, since I am allowed to come here, obviously it is okay for me to vent my anger!"

She smiled with delight, "I know that this is not your fault, but I don't feel like blaming Brother Xubai so I can only give vent to my anger on you!"

Song Yixiao looked at her and gave a soft smile, "Your Highness's health is of great significance. Please don't get ill because of anger!"

"Are you defying me?" How could Princess Changxing not sense the sarcasm of Song Yixiao's loving words?

Instantly she raised her arm and tried to give Song Yixiao a slap in the face!

Song Yixiao didn't take the slap obediently as before. Instead, she dodged it agilely and then threatened calmly, "Just now Your Highness claimed in public to accompany me to get changed but now we are not in the changing room. I am still wearing the clothes that have been stained by the sauce! Your Highness, just imagining that I scream now and attract others to come here, everyone will know about this and your effort of taking me away from the feast specially will be in vain?"

Princess Changxing sneered, "Don't forget that it is the Dowager Consort's intention to ask you to receive me! You want to attract others to come? Have you inquired the Dowager Consort before?"

"The household lady-in-charge in this family is my birth mother!" Song Yixiao gave t.i.t for tat, "Today's birthday feast and particularly all the matters of the back hall are in the charge of my mother. Moreover, Commandery Princess Kou'er has anxiously talked of the Dowager Consort's arrangement when Your Highness just arrived. Do you think that my mother has no solution for this? I can a.s.sure you that there must be someone, who is ready to inform others if anything go wrong, watching us somewhere in the drawing room!"

Princess Changxing pulled a long face and suddenly took two steps backwards. She grabbed the teapot from the table and threw it to her!

Song Yixiao dodged it and then heard the Princess slap on the table and sneer, "So what if anyone comes? I can say that you are rude and have offended me! Does Madam Wei dare not to let me teach you a lesson? By then it remains whether you can still marry Brother Xubai or not! Who do you think you are? How dare you intimidate me? Since you know you are only a daughter of an official, you should be aware of bending down before me!"

"Then why does Your Highness bring me to the drawing room?" Song Yixiao sneered and became increasing emboldened, "Why not just find an excuse to set me up on the way here? Isn't that more trustable and convenient?"

She looked at Princess Changxing who was furious with a casual air and then said seriously, "Your Highness, let's cut to the chase. This time you are allowed to vent your anger on me, but there must be some restrictions. At least, you cannot affect my marriage, right?"

Princess Changxing stared at her with a gloomy face and then said, "I've been mistaken about you! I heard that you were living as a drifter, so I suppose that's why Brother Xubai shows sympathy for you. Surprisingly, you are such a scheming person that you should dare to talk to me compellingly. In this case, I think I don't have to do anything to you. As long as I go back to the imperial palace and tell my grandmother, you will be doomed!"

"Your Highness, you are so funny." Song Yixiao didn't fear about her threatening words. Instead, she said smilingly, "Since you know that I am kind of a drifter, you should also know that it was hard to me to get married actually. Hence, I am greatly surprised to be chosen by Duke Jian! Now that our marriage has been publicly announced, everyone knows that I will become one of the Jian Family. If anything goes wrong, do you think that I can have any prospect for the future?"

She rolled her bracelet with a casual air and then gave a cold look, "Without prospect, I may as well die. You've driven me to such a corner. How can I have time to pay you respect?"

"Your Highness, even an ant clings to life!"

The reckless feared the rude while the rude feared daredevils. Princess Changxing was in a daze for a while before she realized what Song Yixiao actually meant. For the moment, she didn't know what to say as counterattack.

While they were in a deadlock, footsteps suddenly came from outside and then someone ordered in a deep voice, "Open the door!"