Chapter 342: I Was Just Rude

Half a year has passed since the Investiture Banquet of Y Guo; most people who weren't present have only heard the name "Princess Mingxi" and never seen her in person.

Everyone assumed Mu Youyu was a young lady from some distant aristocratic family who had won the favor of Prince Qing An with her looks, and didn't think much of it.

Mu Youyu paid no attention to the glances of others, pulling Jiang Liangjin as she walked back and forth across the banquet hall, picking out her favorite desserts on a small plate.

Seeing that their sister only wanted to eat and not socialize, the brothers obediently sat to the side and chatted among themselves.

At that moment, Jiang Liangjin's phone vibrated, the screen flashing repeatedly, but he remained expressionless and silenced it.

Mu Youyu bit into the strawberry cupcake in her hand, lifted her eyes to him, and asked softly, "Is something urgent? Should you go answer it?"

Jiang Liangjin didn't really want to answer; it was a call from Xiao Ting, surely nothing important, "I don't want to pick up."

Mu Youyu had heard the ringing since this morning; he'd said the same thing then, and now who knows how many calls have come through, "What if something important comes up?"

"You're right," Jiang Liangjin said, not refuting her, and before leaving he ruffled the top of her head, "I'll go over there to take the call, I'll be back soon—stay with your brothers for now."

The music here was loud, so Mu Youyu understood and waved her hand, "Bye-bye, I'll wait for you."

Once he left, Song Lujing approached; he was the most unnoticeable person in the group.

Mu Xi, Mu Xin, and Song Yusui all knew members of the M Guo royal family.

Only he, aside from Qing An, knew nobody else.

"Honey, this place is so boring; let's play a game," Song Lujing said, pulling out his phone and looking at his sister with anticipation.

Just as Mu Youyu was about to nod, a gentle female voice suddenly sounded beside her, carrying a hint of politeness: "Hello, may I ask who you are? You don't look like someone from here."

She blinked slightly, clearly not expecting anyone to initiate conversation, and only after a few seconds did she react, lifting her gaze to the girl before her.

The girl wore a light purple dress, her pale gold hair styled into an elegant bun, her eyes clear and devoid of any malice.

Mu Youyu set down her dessert plate and spoke softly: "Hello, I am Princess Mingxi·Sierwen."

!?

Luwei's smile froze instantly, her pupils constricted, and she widened her eyes in disbelief.

Her gaze toward Mu Youyu shifted from curiosity to shock, then to awe.

She almost reflexively stepped back one step, hands clasped in front, slightly bent her knees, and performed a standard noble curtsy.

"Princess, Princess Mingxi! I'm sorry, I didn't know it was your esteemed self honoring us with your presence!"

"I was just rude; I am the young lady of this Count's Mansion, you may call me Luwei."

The title of Princess Mingxi of Y Guo had already spread throughout the international aristocratic circle half a year ago.

She is the direct-line princess personally appointed by the Y Guo king, enjoys the highest courtesy, backed by the Mu Family and the Peiweika Duke's Mansion, and even the M Guo royal family must show her respect.

She only just recognized her a moment ago and then rashly approached to ask—truly a grave breach of etiquette!

Mu Youyu quickly reached out to steady her, smiling, "No need for so much ceremony; I'm just here to have fun, you don't have to be so formal."

Luwei stood up, her face still flushed with excitement and awe, her gaze toward Mu Youyu full of admiration.

"Princess, your M Guo language is excellent," Luwei sincerely praised.

Mu Youyu thanked her: "Thank you, I've been learning since I was young."

Luwei sat beside her, "Princess, you're truly beautiful, but I saw in the news that you had brown hair, didn't you?"

She didn't think anyone would dare impersonate the Y Guo princess, especially with Prince Qing An not far away.

Mu Youyu's little brown hairs had long been dyed a gold-pink shade, "It used to be, but not anymore."

"Oh oh..."

The two girls, similar in age, quickly found common ground, chatting happily with laughter that never ceased.

Seeing that she had found someone to talk with, the brothers also stayed put, sitting not far away.

Mu Youyu casually introduced Song Lujing beside her, but the two girls hit it off so well that Song Lujing couldn't get a word in, left only to poke at his phone screen, feeling utterly bored.

Mu Xi watched this scene, shook her head helplessly, stepped forward, grabbed Song Lujing's arm, and said, "Come over here."

Song Lujing immediately followed him away, leaving the two girls sitting over there.

Not long after, a sharp, sarcastic female voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, breaking the relaxed atmosphere: "Luwei, I wondered who you were chatting with—turns out you're hanging out with this sort of good-for-nothing, nameless nobody, really disgracing our countish family!"

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw a girl in a white dress with gorgeous makeup, striding over arrogantly.

"How did she get here? She didn't receive a formal invitation to this private banquet, did she…"

"Looks like she came to cause trouble; Miss Luwei and she have never gotten along."

"Now there's a show to watch; when those two are together, one of them is bound to embarrass herself."

"Haven't they seen Prince Qing An?"

"Prince Qing An is chatting with someone else—who would dare approach? Besides, I don't even know who the few people around him are."

……

Luwei's face darkened instantly, yet she forced back her anger, heeding her mother's words not to cause a scene at the banquet.

"Masi, who I'm chatting with is none of your business; please speak with a little more respect."

Masi is another young lady from the Count's Mansion; although their families had been friends for generations, in this generation they are constantly at odds.

"Respect?" Masi snorted, stepped forward, and looked down at Mu Youyu, "Someone who doesn't even have a banquet invitation, sneaking in here dressed informally—an outsider—does she deserve my respect? Luwei, you really have no taste anymore, befriending just anyone."

Luwei's chest heaved with anger, yet she endured.

Having grown up together, she knew Masi's nature—spoiled rotten by her family, incapable of anything, and from childhood she could not stand to see her succeed.

The more they argued, the more the other side pushed forward.

If their mother blamed them later, it would be bad.

Furthermore, Princess Mingxi was right there, so she couldn't say anything too disrespectful.

Mu Youyu initially just wanted to watch the drama, sitting quietly aside without intending to intervene, after all it was a quarrel between two girls.

But Masi kept saying more and more outrageous things, directing her barbs straight at Mu Youyu, her tone growing increasingly harsh.

Watching this, Mu Youyu blinked again and again in surprise.

Is this the manners of M Guo nobility?

How is she like a shrew?

Ma Si saw that Lu Wei didn't dare to talk back to her as usual, and now she didn't dare to retort, growing even more pleased.

She pointed at Mu Youyu and snapped, "I'm telling you, Lu Wei, keep your distance from someone of unknown background like this, or you'll get dragged down and lose all face for your manor."

"Ma Si, shut up! You're not allowed to speak like that about Princess Mingxi!" Lu Wei could no longer hold back, stepped forward, shielded Mu Youyu behind her, and shouted a rebuttal.

"She's not someone of unknown origin; she's Princess Mingxi·Si'erwen of Y Guo, my most honored guest!"

"Princess?" Ma Si, hearing her finally talk back, got energized, as if she'd heard the biggest joke, "Lu Wei, are you stupid? You just randomly pick someone and dare call her a princess? I think you've been duped and are even helping count the money!"

Her sharp laugh drew the gaze of every noble in the banquet hall.

Lu Wei saw Qing An already rising not far off, guessed Ma Si's fate, and warned, "I advise you to rein it in."

"On what basis?"

Ma Si, hearing her say such a feeble remark, became even more arrogant.

She stepped forward, extending her hand painted with bright red nail polish, intending to shove Mu Youyu, wanting to make this "imposter" embarrass herself in public.

But before her hand could touch the corner of Mu Youyu's dress, an icy voice cut off her action: "Impudent."