What the Old Lady Yue said was truly venomous.
On the surface, she was praising Song Wanchu for her beauty. However, she deliberately emphasized that Song Wanchu had broken off the engagement before the Crown Prince came to Yunzhou. She also hinted to the Crown Prince that Song Wanchu had dressed up so enchantingly just to seduce him.
The Old Lady Yue spared no effort to portray Song Wanchu as a scheming woman who was promiscuous, ambitious, and trying to climb up the social ladder by virtue of her beauty.
After saying this, the Old Lady Yue felt quite relieved.
Although she was going to create an opportunity for Song Wanchu and the Crown Prince to get together, she also wanted to belittle and suppress this woman who always caused trouble.
A low - born merchant's daughter and a shameless woman who had remarried. She couldn't let her image in the Crown Prince's mind be too noble.
This was also a way to avenge her son.
If it weren't for this woman, how could her son have become what he was now!
The smile on the Old Lady Chu's face faded. Across the not - so - wide aisle, she locked eyes with the Old Lady Yue.
Wanchu had come to the banquet today in the name of the Chu family. The Old Lady Yue's sarcasm towards Wanchu was actually a disdain and contempt for the Chu family.
The Old Lady Yue cared more about the Crown Prince's attitude.
She thought that with just a few words of provocation, she could surely diminish the Crown Prince's impression of Song Wanchu.
Actually, she never thought that the Crown Prince cared much about Song Wanchu.
Beautiful women were always desired by men. The Crown Prince was the future emperor. Of course, he would want to possess the most beautiful women. Especially taking Song Wanchu away from Liang Yuzhou would be his trophy.
The wine in the Crown Prince's hand was the one poured by Yue Chengkong. After hearing what the Old Lady Yue said, he put the wine cup that was about to touch his lips back on the table.
But he deliberately placed it along the edge of the table. The cup toppled over, and a glass of wine spilled on the ground, making a clear tinkling sound.
The royal family valued etiquette highly. Breaking a wine cup during a banquet was considered a rude behavior, but an intentionally made noise was an exception.
This was a signal of anger.
The Old Lady Yue's face turned pale. She hurriedly knelt down.
The Yue family members behind her also knelt down.
Suddenly, a tense atmosphere filled the entire banquet hall.
The Crown Prince's expression seemed unchanged, but there was a hint of sharpness hidden in the corner of his eyes.
He gently raised his eyebrows and said in a calm tone, "All the women who came to the banquet today are dressed up. The invitation was sent out by your Yue family. Their elaborate dressing is a sign of respect for your family. The Old Lady Yue described Wanchu in such a bad way. Does it mean that you are also criticizing your own girls?"
Among all the trembling Yue family members, Yue Jiaojiao trembled the most and was the most conspicuous.
In terms of how elaborately dressed she was, she was the most eye - catching one today.
She was wearing a red dress and a green jacket, with her head full of pearls and jewels. Even her shoes were inlaid with Dongzhu pearls. Standing under the sun, people couldn't even open their eyes because she was too dazzling!
She just wanted to leave a deep impression on the Crown Prince and make him be attracted by her beauty!
But the Crown Prince was angry with the entire Yue family. It was almost as if he was pointing out that she was deliberately trying to seduce him!
Yue Jiaojiao began to blame her grandmother.
The Old Lady Yue had lived in the capital for decades and had almost watched the Crown Prince grow up.
The Crown Prince was known for his modesty and gentleness. This was the first time she saw the Crown Prince get angry, and it was actually for Song Wanchu!
She had underestimated the position of this woman in the Crown Prince's heart!
As the Crown Prince got angry, the entire Yue family knelt on the ground. The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
The Old Lady Chu stood up calmly and gave a wink to Chu Shangxu.
Chu Shangxu understood immediately. He quickly stepped forward and poured a new glass of wine for the Crown Prince.
After the Crown Prince picked up the wine cup, the Old Lady Chu said calmly, "Your Highness, please calm down. The Old Lady Yue is the wet - nurse of the Princess. She is a respected and noble person. It's understandable that she looks down on our merchant family like the Chu family. Please, Your Highness, for the sake of the Old Lady Yue's hard work in raising the Princess, forgive her this time."
In the tense atmosphere, Song Wanchu was extremely impressed by the wisdom of the Old Lady Chu!
Today, the Yue family was the host, but they had offended the Crown Prince at the very beginning, which made the banquet come to a standstill.
At this moment, someone with high prestige was needed to break the deadlock.
The Old Lady Chu signaled Chu Shangxu to pour wine for the Crown Prince to test his attitude.
When the Crown Prince picked up the wine cup, it meant that he was giving the Chu family face.
Then the Old Lady Chu naturally took on the task of breaking the deadlock.
The most brilliant part was her plea for the Old Lady Yue.
Every word was true and heartfelt, but each sentence hit the Crown Prince's sensitive nerves precisely.
Who in the world didn't know that the Crown Prince and the Princess were at odds with each other?
But the royal family valued their reputation, so the Crown Prince had never openly fallen out with the Princess.
By mentioning the Princess, the Old Lady Chu, with just a few words, had put the Yue family on the opposite side of the Crown Prince.
She also implicitly mocked the Old Lady Yue for looking down on merchant families like the Chu family.
The Crown Prince was inspecting Yunzhou but chose to stay in the Chu family. Didn't this imply that the Yue family even looked down on the future emperor?
After thinking it over, Song Wanchu felt warm - hearted. The Old Lady Yue despised her, but the Old Lady Chu said that the Old Lady Yue looked down on the entire Chu family, regarding her as a part of the Chu family.
The Old Lady Chu would never let her fight against the Yue family alone.
The Crown Prince showed his smile again. He stood up and nodded to the Old Lady Chu.
"The Old Lady Chu has a broad mind. Although you live in the inner courtyard, you have a vision and courage that surpass ordinary people. I am truly convinced."
He raised his glass and drank it up in one gulp.
The entire Chu family behind the Old Lady Chu also raised their glasses to toast the Crown Prince.
It was supposed to be the Yue family's show, but it had become an interaction between the Crown Prince and the Chu family.
After the Crown Prince sat down, his smile faded. Looking at the kneeling Yue family members, he said coldly, "Get up."
The Old Lady Yue had learned a hard lesson. For the rest of the time, she kept her mouth shut.
The Crown Prince hadn't even glanced at Yue Jiaojiao once. Yue Jiaojiao was extremely anxious.
But she noticed that the Crown Prince always looked at Song Wanchu intentionally or unintentionally.
Yue Jiaojiao was so angry that the corners of her mouth twitched. She crushed the neatly - arranged pastries in front of her.
That vixen! She wanted to kill this vixen!
When the banquet was halfway through, Shi Minglang suddenly showed up.
He was tall by nature. Standing in the aisle, he looked so out of place.
The Old Lady Yue looked at him kindly, with a beaming smile on her face.
"Lord Shi, I just remembered that you used to be the Crown Prince's reading companion. I thought you must have some friendship with the Crown Prince, so I hurriedly sent someone to invite you. If you don't mind, please take your seat."
Inviting someone when the banquet was already halfway through was a very disrespectful act.
The Yue family's attitude clearly showed that they didn't take this prefect seriously.
The Old Lady Yue's casual tone made it seem as if she was just summoning him to accompany them in drinking.
But Shi Minglang didn't care about the Yue family's attitude. He had come because he heard that Chu Yueying was also here.
As for the consequences of the Yue family's teasing him, the Yue family would surely bear them on their own.
The Old Lady Yue was just too arrogant to have investigated him thoroughly.
If there was anyone in the Yue family who was well - informed, they should have known that he had long been the Crown Prince's confidant.
Not taking this fourth - rank prefect seriously was a minor matter. Teasing the Crown Prince's confidant...
The Crown Prince's face darkened for a moment, but the expression passed quickly.
Shi Minglang replied with a magnanimous smile, "The Old Lady Yue is so considerate. How could I blame you? I have some kinship with the Chu family. Today, consider me a part of the Chu family."
The servants of the Yue family added a set of tables and chairs. Shi Minglang casually pointed and said, "Just put it there."
The place he pointed to was right next to Chu Yueying.
After Shi Minglang sat down, Chu Yueying felt a bit nervous and a little shy. She whispered softly,
"Cousin."
Her voice was as sweet as a clear spring, flowing into Shi Minglang's heart.
Shi Minglang tilted his head and winked at Chu Yueying. "Hello, cousin."
After the main courses, the maids filed in, carrying tea, pastries, and fruits.
Yue Chengkong was a bit tipsy. He lifted his eyelids and thought that the profile of the maid in front of him was extremely beautiful. Why hadn't he seen her in the mansion before?
The maid who was carrying the tea and pastries suddenly raised her head and gave him a charming smile.
"Ah!"
Yue Chengkong suddenly let out a scream. His burly body suddenly leaned back in fear, trembling like a sieve.