"Oh, there are too many stray cats around here, they just won't leave. This morning, several of the steamed buns from the kitchen were snatched away by them. It's so annoying..." Steward Li grumbled as he walked.
When he arrived in front of Xiao Jinheng, Steward Li was slightly taken aback. "Hmm? Your Highness, weren't the buns in your hand ruined by stray cats? Why did you pick them up again?"
Indeed, the buns in Xiao Jinheng's hand were the ones snatched by stray cats. The young monk mistakenly thought he had stolen the buns and started to make a fuss...
"These buns aren't dirty, they're still edible!" Xiao Jinheng said calmly.
Little Xi Tian came to her senses and turned to look at Jie Kong. "Jie Kong, you misunderstood Young Master Xiao. He didn't steal your vegetable buns. Hurry up and apologize to him..."
It's good to admit mistakes, after all.
Little Jie Kong knew he was in the wrong and wasn't the type to argue unreasonably. Seeing Xiao Jinheng staring at him expressionlessly, Little Jie Kong could only bow. "I... I'm sorry!"
The next second, he suddenly broke into a smile and pulled Little Xi Tian's hand. "Sister Xi Tian, let's go to the wedding!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Xiao Jinheng: "..."
Little monk, you change your expression faster than you turn pages.
The three little ones changed their clothes, brought gifts, and then took a carriage to the Marquis's mansion.
Pingyang Marquis's mansion was exceptionally lively today. Those who came to offer congratulations were all prominent figures and high-ranking officials from the capital. Even Emperor Cheng personally came to the mansion to present gifts and blessings. Naturally, no one else dared to underestimate this marriage...
The old Marquis had also changed into a bright and festive robe and stood at the main entrance to welcome guests.
"Oh, Steward Li, you're here! Please come in, please come in!" the old Marquis said with a smile.
Li Junsheng, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, cupped his hands towards the old Marquis. "Old Marquis, congratulations! It's the first time in our Great Liang Kingdom that the Young Marquis is marrying a barbarian princess, isn't it?"
"You flatter me, you flatter me," the old Marquis said, unable to contain his joy. "It's mainly because my son is handsome and capable. When he walks forward, all the young girls behind him follow like a flock of birds, and they can't be driven away, hee hee!"
Li Junsheng: "..."
Wait, why do your words sound so annoying?
Look at how smug you are.
Emperor Cheng, along with Empress Xiao, sat in the main hall. After the officials entered the mansion, they all had to come in one by one to pay their respects...
Tu Qingdong, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Water, was intimidated by Emperor Cheng's imposing aura as soon as he entered the main hall. "Your humble servant... your humble servant greets Your Majesty and the Empress!"
"No need for formalities!" Emperor Cheng waved his hand, his expression indifferent. "How are the blueprints for the warships coming along?"
Tu Qingdong: "..."
It's only been a few days, and you're already asking about the blueprints?
He had no clue at all yet.
"Your humble servant... your humble servant is currently preparing. Your Majesty, please don't be anxious!" Tu Qingdong stammered.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng frowned. "You're telling me not to be anxious? Good heavens, you're stating your incompetence so matter-of-factly. Assistant Minister Tu, I think you should go home and retire early!"
"Oh, Your Majesty, today is Ming Yan's big day. Please don't make things difficult for them..." Empress Xiao tugged at Emperor Cheng.
Emperor Cheng suppressed his displeasure and shot Tu Qingdong a glare. "Get out, get out! I get annoyed just looking at you!"
Tu Qingdong bit his lip and retreated dejectedly.
After the three little ones handed over their various gifts, they began to wander around the Marquis's mansion.
Gu Mingyan, as the groom, had many things to attend to, so he couldn't look after them. He only asked Steward Zhou to accompany and serve them...
"Wow, there are so many fish here!" Little Xi Tian came to the back garden and squatted by the pond, teasing the fish.
The last time she visited the Marquis's mansion was in early spring, when the ice and snow in the capital had just melted. The scenery wasn't as good as it was now...
"I heard Princess Jiao'er likes to eat fish, so the Young Marquis raised more!" Steward Zhou said with a dry laugh.
Other people's ponds were for ornamental purposes, but the Marquis's mansion's back garden had become Han Chijiao's fish farm.
Even so, she was still not satisfied, constantly saying she wanted to eat the big grass carp from Gougou Lake...
"Does Xi Tian want to eat fish?" Xiao Jinheng pulled Little Xi Tian aside, afraid she would fall into the pond. "I'll find a net and help you catch a big fish!"
"I want to go too, I want to go too..." Little Jie Kong eagerly raised his hand.
Xiao Jinheng glared at him. "Why are you everywhere?"
Little Jie Kong stuck out his tongue. "Nyah nyah nyah, I'll make you angry!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Under his helpless gaze, the two little ones trotted out of the back garden to the front yard to find a fishing net.
"County Princess, please sit in the pavilion for a while. It's too sunny outside!" Steward Zhou said with a smile.
Little Xi Tian wiped the sweat from her face and nodded. "Okay..."
Unexpectedly, the moment they walked into the pavilion, a sharp scolding voice came. "Get out! This is the place I've taken a fancy to, and no one is allowed in!"
Little Xi Tian: "???"
She stopped in her tracks and looked intently. She saw a girl of about eight or nine years old sitting on a stone stool, holding a plate and cracking melon seeds...
Although she was fair-skinned, her eyes were filled with shrewdness and meanness. This innate appearance was very unlikable.
Seeing Little Xi Tian staring at her from outside the pavilion, the girl frowned and spat out a melon seed husk forcefully. "Hey, who are you, a maid? How can you stare at people like that? You have no manners at all, hmph!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
So, who exactly are you?
And, did you just mistake me for a servant?
Seeing this, Steward Zhou quickly walked into the pavilion and cupped his hands towards the girl. "Oh, isn't this the daughter of Minister Wei? Why are you sitting here alone?"
This Minister Wei was Wei Linman, the Censor-in-Chief, who was in charge of the entire Censorate...
In the future, after Qin Yu Shi took office, he would also be under Wei Linman's jurisdiction.
He had only this one precious daughter, who was doted on and lived a life of luxury at home. Being brought out unexpectedly, she thought everyone had to listen to her...
Wei Nanxiang glared at Steward Zhou and gestured towards Little Xi Tian with her chin, saying unhappily, "Old Steward Zhou, what is that little girl? Is she a temporary maid? I'm not saying this to you, but your taste is really bad. Even if you're looking for a maid, you shouldn't find one who is so ill-mannered, rustic, and dirty!"
"Hmph, today is the Young Marquis's wedding day, and having such a maid is truly embarrassing for the elders, pfft!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."