Page 1183

Yan Ruchun’s words were anything but polite, immediately turning Yao Zhilan’s face red. She fumbled with her lips for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Next to them, Xu Muqing, who had been eating with her head down, raised her head and chimed in cheerfully, "Miss Yan is right. Just because our family owns a restaurant doesn’t mean I have to know how to cook, does it?

My father is the Minister of War, but that doesn’t mean I know how to lead troops into battle! "

Glancing at Xu Muqing’s plump figure, the corner of Yan Ruchun’s mouth quirked up: "Fatty Xu, there’s no need for self-pity.

Even if you don’t know how to lead armies, just throwing your body onto the battlefield could surely crush a few enemy soldiers!

Your prospects of making a name for yourself are just around the corner, haha! "

Munching on a crab leg, Xu Muqing moved her lips a couple of times but just huffed without saying a word. After all, she never won when she sparred verbally with Yan Ruchun, so she simply chose to stay quiet.

Seeing her give up the war of words, Yan Ruchun felt a bit deflated.

She turned back to continue her taunting of Yao Zhilan: "Why is Miss Yao the Second not speaking anymore? Could it be because you think what I said is wrong? Ah, but really, why bother mentioning restaurants and military affairs? Isn’t it clear just by looking at Miss Su and Miss Yao? "

Su Qiuyu raised her head, and both Yao Hanai and Yao Zhilan turned to look at Yan Ruchun, sensing that the slight upturn of her lips did not bode well for them.

Lin Yuan also watched Yan Ruchun with great interest. After spending the day with her, Lin Yuan realized that she had only heard one side of the story from Tian Hui and that it was far too one-sided.

Yan Ruchun snorted derisively and said with a laugh, "Miss Su’s father, Prime Minister Su, is a master of both literature and martial arts, and is extremely cunning. But as for Miss Su herself," she clicked her tongue, "no offense, Miss Su, but your strategies are hardly a match for your father’s."

Qiu Yu’s mouth twitched slightly. She was in a bind, neither agreeing nor refuting, as she certainly couldn’t claim to be more formidable than her own father!

Lin Yuan was delighted to see the awkwardness on Su Qiuyu’s face.

Yan Ruchun was even more pleased with herself as she turned to the Yao sisters and said with a smile, "And then there’s Miss Yao. Graduate Yao is the most accomplished scholar in Dayong, truly possessing extensive knowledge and outstanding talent. But..."

Yan Ruchun’s eyes lifted at the corners as she looked first at Yao Hanai and then at Yao Zhilan, her gaze distinctly different between the two, making Yao Hanai’s expression change.

Continuing, she said, "Among the few children of The Grand Scholar Yao, it is only Miss Yao who stands out as a true talent; the rest, alas, are quite mediocre."

Having said that, she even shook her head in seeming regret, as if it truly pained her to see the descendants of The Grand Scholar Yao in such a state.

However, only those directly involved understood the true meaning behind her words.

Yao Zhilan looked at Yan Ruchun and then at her sister. Although she vaguely felt that something was amiss with those words, her intelligence was likely insufficient to decipher exactly what.

"I naturally cannot compare to my sister. Father also said that among us siblings, the one who resembles him the most is only my sister," Yao Zhilan said, blinking her eyes innocently.

Yet in Lin Yuan’s eyes, those seemingly innocent and naive eyes were filled with nothing but dullness.

Yan Ruchun clicked her tongue twice, though it was unclear whether she was sighing or pitying, as she said, "Miss Yao the Second makes a good point.

However, Graduate Yao had three sons and two daughters, and only one daughter truly resembles him; the other children are disappointing.

It seems that the truly formidable one is not The Grand Scholar Yao, but rather Madam Yao.

Ah, it was a mistake for Madam Yao to stop bearing children after giving birth to Miss Yao.

She should have had more children for The Grand Scholar Yao, especially sons. "

"Miss Yan!" Yao Hanai had been holding back for a long time, but upon hearing Yan Ruchun’s increasingly outrageous remarks, she ultimately couldn’t keep her emotions in check and reminded her with a stern voice.

The Yao Hanai that everyone saw was always cold and reserved, not to mention getting angry, she rarely ever spoke harshly. But today, she unexpectedly showed a darkened expression, clearly indicating her true anger.

Who is Yan Ruchun? Let’s not forget that she has an aunt in the palace, Consort Liu, who commands the wind and rain, and an arrogant cousin, Zhao Hongsheng.

She herself is unruly, always speaking her mind about people or things she disapproves of.

Otherwise, over the years in the Capital city, she wouldn’t be at odds with Su Qiuyu, nor would she directly confront Yao Hanai.

All one could hear her say with a sigh, arching her eyebrows, was, "Look at my memory, always messing things up. Madam Yao is the epitome of virtue and grace, and her daughter with Graduate Yao is naturally incomparable to those Little Concubines, wouldn’t you agree, Miss Yao?"

Yao Hanai’s fingers were tightly pinching the handkerchief in her hand, this being the second one she had ruined today.

Feeling that the atmosphere wasn’t quite right, the young ladies attending the banquet all wisely kept their heads down and remained silent.

Lin Yuan moved the corner of her mouth slightly, casually stroking the wine cup in her hand.

No wonder Tian Hui told her that the waters in Yao Mansion ran deep—it was all stirred up by Madam Yao.

The children of Graduate Yao from other women were all incompetent, with only Yao Hanai, the legitimate daughter, being full of originality and regarded as the number one talented lady in the Capital city.

Who would believe it wasn’t the machinations of Madam Yao?

But, this wasn’t their own family’s business, who would intervene?

It just so happened to be Yan Ruchun, who was coincidentally provoked by Yao Zhilan today, spilling these words.

As she was thinking, Mo Zhu, who was serving at the side, suddenly came over to Yao Hanai with a beaming smile, asking, "Miss, since it’s a banquet, how can we proceed without dance music? Shall I send for the mansion’s dancers?"

In the Capital city, the large households usually employed their own unique dancers and singers to entertain during banquets, and naturally, Yao Mansion had them too.

Lin Yuan, who was stroking her wine cup, paused with her fingers, the corners of her lips curling up slightly—sure enough, they wouldn’t let things rest!

No sooner had Mo Zhu spoken than Yao Hanai diverted the topic to music and dance.

She steadied her heart and looked approvingly at Mo Zhu, laughing, "The dances and songs of those dancers and singers in our mansion, aren’t they all the same?

Not to mention the sisters here, even I, who rarely attend banquets, find them tedious. What’s there to enjoy?"

"Miss is right." After helping Yao Hanai out of the awkward situation, Mo Zhu very perceptively retreated to one side.

At that moment, Su Qiuyu, who had been silent up until now, suddenly spoke up with her usual sickly beauty demeanor, "Miss Yao is right, the dance of the dancers is indeed pleasing to watch, but today, I’m not feeling very well and cannot endure the excitement. Maybe..."

Her eyes soft, she glanced at the women present and smiled, "Well, since the sisters are gathered today, it’s a rare occasion. Why don’t we each perform something as entertainment among sisters?"

Hmph.

No sooner had Su Qiuyu finished her proposal than Xiao Linshuang, who was engrossed in eating her apple, snorted through her nose.