"Who is this?" Lu Ping managed to ask calmly. By his side, Wu Yao could hardly hold back the urge to draw his sword.
Since their current identities were as distant cousins of Xiao Jingnan, the two of them, along with Butler Zhong, were invited by the Li Rusong couple to sit at the same table for dinner.
The three of them had never been in such a presumptuous position before and felt extremely uncomfortable. They were always on their best behavior, only daring to sit on the edge of their chairs, for fear of being disrespectful.
However, after the meal started, the prince and the princess were repeatedly slighted and provoked.
Especially the woman who came late. Her look was so full of contempt that it seemed as if the word "disdain" was engraved on her face. She was extremely arrogant and rude!
It was said that she was not even a proper relative of the Li family. She was the granddaughter of the younger sister of the Li family's grandmother on her mother's side... They were hardly related at all!
Wu Yao roared angrily, "You don't understand! That bracelet is... is..." He paused, looked around, and then said, "Anyway, it's so precious that even if you sold this mansion, you couldn't afford it!"
Sun Miaoqing scoffed, "The poorer people are, the more they brag. Aren't you afraid of straining your tongue? Do you know how much this mansion is worth? How dare you talk such nonsense?"
Li Wanming said coolly, "It's as if this were your house."
Mrs. He quickly said, "We're all relatives. Why say such things? Miaoqing, come and sit here quickly! You know your cousin's temper. Why argue with her?"
Sun Miaoqing gave Li Wanming a disdainful glance and sat down.
Dressed in magnificent clothes and looking extremely proud, she seemed to be the hostess of this banquet.
Prince Ning remained calm and simply said, "Wu Yao, sit down too."
Princess Ning didn't seem to care. As if she hadn't heard anything, she put the bracelet on Li Wanming's wrist.
Then, she continued to chat softly with Yuan Jinqiu, asking about the Li family's past and what Li Wanming liked to eat and play.
Yuan Jinqiu was slightly touched.
They were so calm and composed in the face of changes.
This didn't seem like an ordinary peasant family.
Their speech and behavior exuded an indescribable nobility, as if they had been immersed in a wealthy and powerful family for a long time.
She tentatively asked, "You folks come from Langya and have the surname Cheng. Do you have any marital relations with the Cheng family of Langya?"
After she said this, the table fell silent.
Sun Miaoqing stopped with her chopsticks in mid-air, forgetting to pick up food. Mrs. He also turned her head. Even Mrs. Li, who had been half - closing her eyes and looking uninterested, couldn't help but open her eyes slightly.
The Cheng family of Langya, ranked first among the Five Great Clans and Seven Prominent Families, was one of the most powerful and prestigious families in the Dacheng Dynasty!
The Cheng family had produced two imperial tutors and one empress. The current Princess Ning, the wife of the Prince with Equal Status to the King, was from this family!
Princess Ning calmly put down her chopsticks. Her voice was still soft as she said, "My husband's ancestors used to be a gatekeeper of the Cheng family. They were given the surname Cheng by the master family. As for marital relations, there are none."
Sun Miaoqing's tense shoulders relaxed. She curled her lips and said, "I knew it. The Cheng family is so wealthy and prestigious. How could they have such relatives?"
Wu Yao was so angry that he wanted to pull out her teeth!
Li Rusong was already used to the atmosphere at home and didn't think there was anything wrong. Seeing Wu Yao looking so fierce, he actually felt a sense of familiarity.
They were all just being childish!
Which family didn't have a few childish people?
He continued to chat cheerfully with Prince Ning, "I heard that your family is also made up of peasants. What do they plant in Langya?"
He had never been to Langya County before and was quite curious.
Prince Ning answered confidently, "Langya has many mountains and hills. The four seasons are distinct, and the rainfall is abundant. People there like to plant rice, wheat, sweet potatoes, and beans. However, it rains a lot in spring and is very hot in summer. If there are sudden climate changes, there may also be floods and droughts. Alas, it's really not easy for the country and the people are facing many hardships."
...
He recited it very fluently.
But Xiao Jingnan finally realized what was wrong!
His father had invited the Minister of Revenue to give him lessons. Of course, the lessons were about the country and the people!
Would the Minister of Revenue teach his father how to farm?
Obviously, what Li Rusong asked was not about this...
General Li was stunned for a moment and didn't understand how his question about what was planted in the fields of his in - laws had led to a discussion about the hardships of the people.
He scratched his head and said, "I have a small vision..."
Mrs. He pretended to be kind and said, "It's not easy for you folks to come to the capital. Later, let the third girl take you around. She knows all the good places to eat and play in the capital!"
Li Wanming put down her chopsticks.
This Mrs. He always found an opportunity to pick on her. She was really annoying!
On the surface, this was just a polite remark, but in fact, she was trying to make her look bad in front of her future mother - in - law, implying that she was always running outside and not a proper girl.
"Aunt - grandmother is right. But I wonder if you could also pay for the food and entertainment when we go out?"
Mrs. He was anxious. "Why should I pay for your outings?"
"Oh, you won't?" Li Wanming said coldly. "I thought you were so enthusiastic that you were going to pay."
Li Rusong was already immune to the verbal battles at home. He only heard the words "go out for a stroll" and happily said,
"Aunt has said a lot of things all day, but only these words make sense! Folks, since you've come to the capital with so much effort, you must stay for a few more days and have a good look around! Stay at home these days. We old fellows can have a good drink together!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Li immediately frowned and said, "Can we accommodate so many people at home? Don't think you're a great official just because others call you General. You bring all these poor relatives from who - knows - where to our home. People who don't know might think we have a mountain of gold and silver at home!"
After this meal, Prince Ning had also learned to turn a deaf ear.
He said with a smile, "I've already discussed with my cousin. We'll stay at their place these days. We won't bother Brother Li."
Just as Li Rusong was about to persuade him further, he saw a small plate in front of the distant cousin.
There were a few shelled shrimps and a piece of fish with the bones carefully removed. He was putting this plate of well - prepared food in front of his cousin.
Only then did Li Rusong notice that the three distant relatives didn't seem to eat much. Instead, they had been constantly serving food and pouring wine for their in - laws and son - in - law.
He didn't understand. "Is the food not to your taste? Why do you just peel the food and not eat it yourself?"
Butler Zhong was startled and only then realized what he had done.
Before he became a butler, he was Prince Ning's personal servant. He was used to serving the prince. Sitting next to Prince Ning today, he had unconsciously started to peel shrimps and remove fish bones.
Hearing Li Rusong's question, he suddenly realized that his behavior was inappropriate. It was extremely inappropriate!
What poor family needed someone to serve them when eating shrimp and fish?
Prince Ning was also stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "My family is poor. I've never eaten shrimp before. My cousin was afraid I didn't know how to peel them, so he helped me."
"I didn't expect your cousin to be such a considerate person!" Li Rusong laughed heartily. He picked up a shrimp and said, "I don't know how to peel them either. I just put them in my mouth and chew!"
After saying that, he stuffed the shrimp into his mouth and chewed vigorously. He spat out the indigestible shrimp shells onto the table and motioned for Prince Ning to follow his example.
Butler Zhong was extremely worried.
The shrimp whiskers were so sharp and the shrimp shells were so hard. What if they hurt the prince?
Looking at Li Rusong, Prince Ning suddenly remembered his days in the army when he was young.
In the army, meals were simple. There was no such refinement!
A surge of pride welled up in his heart. He followed Li Rusong's example, picked up the shrimp with his hands, and ate it greedily.
On the contrary, Yuan Jinqiu carefully peeled a small plate of fish and shrimp and placed it beside Princess Ning. She also said, "I was negligent. Later, I'll ask them to buy some shrimp meat and fish balls. We'll make soup."