Chapter 133: Arriving One After Another

As Wen Xian’s voice trailed off, the previously bustling room fell instantly as silent as if a spell had been cast, with not even a pin dropping.

Everyone looked at her.

Xue Jiaoyue thought to herself how much she wished she could live as freely as Wen Xian, wondering how on earth she managed it.

Old Madam Xue, on the other hand, thought that although the Wen family were new favorites at court, she had heard their family discipline was quite strict. Why was this young lady so utterly incapable of reading the room?

Was she simply so accustomed to arrogance and tyranny that she regarded no one with respect?

Surely the Wen family had not yet reached such a height, had they?

Xue Fanzhi was hardly surprised by Wen Xian’s demeanor, for she knew that Wen Xian had been reborn. Years of pampered luxury, combined with the fact that she herself, as Empress, was hands-off and never kept her in check, had fostered Wen Xian’s arrogant and overbearing nature. Indeed, apart from Xiao Yi, that Noble Consort Wen in the palace held no one in any regard. It was hardly surprising at all that she wanted to sit beside the grandmother; the fact that she hadn’t told the grandmother to stand up and yield the seat of honor showed remarkable restraint on her part!

Xue Fanzhi smiled faintly and looked away from Wen Xian, lowering her gaze. Since Old Madam Xue was the master of the house and an elder to boot, it would not do for her to scold another person’s child.

With a smile, she said, "Elder Daughter Wen, please come and sit here!"

Then she instructed a maid nearby, "Go and set up an extra table!"

Wen Xian remained entirely indifferent to the gazes fixed upon her. During her years as a noble consort, she had always acted this way. She was a radiant pearl, drawing all eyes wherever she went, and she was thoroughly used to it!

Before long, the maid set up the low table, and Wen Xian swaggered over to take her seat right beside Old Madam Xue.

Since the person who should have felt awkward felt no awkwardness at all, the rest of the onlookers saw no need to feel embarrassed either, and the room resumed its previous lively atmosphere...

...

In the outer courtyard, Xiao Yi listened as Xiao Yi reported what had transpired in the inner hall.

Xiao Yi wore a look of utter disbelief. "You say the Elder Daughter Wen took the initiative to sit right next to Old Madam Xue? Who is she? A close relative of Old Madam Xue?!"

Xiao Yi shook his head. "I have never heard of such a thing."

If he had never heard of it, then it was not true; Wen Xian had no relation whatsoever to the Xue family.

Her arrival at the Xue residence was strange enough, yet she even insisted on sitting by Old Madam Xue's side?

Why, the Xue family's own biological granddaughters hadn't even taken that seat!

This Wen Xian...

In her past life, although Wen Xian had also been arrogant and overbearing, her status at the time had made it seem fitting rather than jarring, and people had even found her bold and decisive. So why did it sound so grating now?

Wait, it wasn't that it sounded grating; it was simply completely out of place. It was one thing for Wen Xian to be domineering as a noble consort, but what about Wen Xian as a mere young maiden?

He was not unacquainted with Wen Xian. The Wen Xian of this time in their previous life had been nothing like this; back then, even the Emperor himself had praised her for being well-read, courteous, and knowing the proper bounds of advance and retreat.

How had she turned out like this?

Something flashed through Xiao Yi’s mind. He reached out to catch it, managed to grasp it, but feeling it was impossible, let it go again.

Never mind, he wouldn't worry about Wen Xian for now; protecting A-Zhi was paramount.

Xiao Yi stood up and said to Xiao Yi, "The time is about right. I should go and present my gift to the Eighth Young Lady!"

...

Ming Lan looked upon Wen Xian with a degree of displeasure. To think that there was someone in this world even more brazen than herself—it was truly unbearable.

The moment Wen Xian sat down, Ming Lan asked, "Since the Elder Daughter Wen has come from afar and dares to sit right beside the Old Madam, you must surely be a close relative of the Xue family. I wonder what gifts you have brought for the Eighth Young Lady and the Seventh Young Lady? Pray bring them out for this Princess to see; I am exceedingly curious!"

Xue Fanzhi was likewise curious. What kind of gift could the reborn Wen Xian possibly offer her?

In her past life, whenever her birthday came around, Wen Xian would host banquets for her and present her with meticulously chosen gifts.

Of course, it wasn't out of any desire to curry favor, but rather to put her own capabilities as Noble Consort on display, and to please Xiao Yi.

For more than a decade, this had never ceased, so now, suddenly reborn, she truly wanted to find out.

Xue Jiaoyue glared at Ming Lan. Setting aside the matter of gifts or Wen Xian, Ming Lan was clearly the older one here, yet she deliberately singled out the Eighth Young Lady and Seventh Young Lady, drawing a sharp, distinct line between them and leaving the hierarchy crystal clear. Was that not infuriating?

Upon hearing Ming Lan's question, Wen Xian felt a sudden lurch in her chest—she had completely forgotten! Back in the palace, there were always countless people eager to flatter her, and everything was arranged by servants. How could a dignified noble consort possibly trouble herself with such trivial matters?

Yet now, not only did she lack servants capable of handling things independently, but she had also come to the Xue residence today without telling her family, merely claiming she was going out for a stroll and making no mention of attending a banquet. Naturally, she hadn't brought any gifts!

What did she have on her person that she could possibly give away?

The golden neck ring she wore was indeed a fine item, and she wouldn't begrudge giving it to Xue Fanzhi; after all, she was used to giving her far more expensive presents in past years!

However, what about that redundant seventh young lady, Xue Qiniang?!

Xue Jiaoyue thought to herself, *Why is she looking at me with that gaze? I didn't provoke her!*

Withdrawing her gaze, Wen Xian thought again that even if Xue Qiniang weren't there, she couldn't simply take off her jewelry and hand it to people. That would clearly expose the fact that she had prepared nothing!

Damn it, that damned Ming Lan—it was this unwomanly wretch who had set her up! In her past life, she hadn't bothered to engage with her, which was why that woman had lived so carefree. In this life, once she became Noble Consort, she would show her what was what.

"I handed the gift to the gatekeeper, so I presume it has already been delivered to the chambers of the Seventh and Eighth Young Ladies!" Wen Xian said, seizing upon a quick wit.

Xue Fanzhi raised an eyebrow. This Noble Consort Wen had actually failed to prepare a gift this year!

Xue Jiaoyue felt a sudden impulse to send a maid back to fetch a proper gift.

Ming Lan remarked, "Oh really? You handed it to the gatekeeper? What a coincidence!"

In truth, it wasn't much of a coincidence; it was merely a young maiden's coming-of-age ceremony, not the birthday of the Emperor or the Empress Dowager—did one really need to make a grand display of presenting gifts to show off to the world?

Unfazed, Wen Xian replied, "If the Princess does not believe me, you may go and check for yourself."

Xue Fanzhi truly feared that Ming Lan might actually insist on going to check, and demand witnesses to boot. That would indeed cause Wen Xian to lose face, but what good would it do? It would merely be petty bickering and a waste of time.

Fortunately, Ming Lan seemed to have no appetite for such petty games either. She picked up her cup of beverage, took a sip, and said no more.

The room fell into a brief silence.

Just as Old Madam Xue was about to steer the conversation elsewhere, a maid announced from outside, "Lord Qin has arrived!"

Old Madam Xue breathed a sigh of relief inwardly; the awkward topic had finally passed.

At that moment, Wen Xian inquired, "Is that Qin Jianyu, the Third Young Master of the Qin family?"

Look at that utter lack of deference—referring to a peer directly by his given name!

Yet, given that she had brazenly demanded to sit beside Old Madam Xue, the others no longer found this as peculiar as they had moments before.

Old Madam Xue smiled and nodded, asking, "How does the Elder Daughter Wen know of the Third Young Master?"

Wen Xian: "..."

Was it not because of Xue Fanzhi? Wasn't he Xue Fanzhi's betrothed, after all?

She was merely curious and wanted to see what Xue Fanzhi's future husband looked like.

However, she was destined to be disappointed, for although male guests were permitted to enter, Old Madam Xue had instructed the maids to set up a folding screen and arrange tables on the opposite side. They could hear voices, but see nothing.

After Qin Jianyu arrived, Xue Jingren and Xue Jingxiao soon followed to present gifts to their two younger sisters. The male guests' side of the courtyard was served wine, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

After another brief interval, a maid announced, "His Ninth Highness has arrived!"

Old Madam Xue hastily stood up, preparing to pay her respects, but Xiao Yi’s voice came from outside, saying, "I have merely come to pay my respects to the Old Madam. Please remain seated, Old Madam, and dispense with the formal courtesies. I shall take my seat outside!"

How wonderful it was not to put people to trouble; Old Madam Xue sat back down!