Chapter 296: Shallow-Visioned Things

Qi Xi heard this and hurriedly replied, "Replying to Aunt Princess Consort, some time ago my maternal grandmother was not in good health, and she was quite worried about me, so she sent someone to bring me over to stay for a while. Just now I returned to the capital!"

The Princess Consort asked with concern, "Then how is your maternal grandmother's health now? Has there been any improvement?" Qi Xi answered with a delighted expression, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Princess Consort. After these days of recuperation, my maternal grandmother's health has already improved a great deal."

The Princess Consort shifted her gaze from Qi Xi and turned it onto Yan Shuang'er's lovely face, asking with concern, "Shuang'er, how did the matchmaking go today?"

Yan Shuang'er was seen lightly biting her lower lip, her brows slightly furrowed, as if filled with endless grievance, and she slowly said, "Mother, I feel that Young Master Liu doesn't seem to have much affection for me. Although this person appears polite on the surface, that is all there is to it."

Hearing this, the Princess Consort couldn't help but feel a thread of doubt, and she hurriedly asked, "Oh? How did you come to feel that?"

Yan Shuang'er pondered briefly and replied, "Just now during the meal, I actively tried to chat with him, but he was always absent-minded, his eyes wandering, and he never seriously listened to my words."

The Princess Consort nodded lightly in agreement after hearing this. Just at this moment, a figure hurried into the room; it turned out to be Shiyi.

Shiyi quickly stepped to Qianqian's side, respectfully bowed, and called out softly, "Young Master." Qianqian smiled slightly at the sight and said gently, "You're back at just the right time. Quickly tell us about it."

Shiyi nodded in acknowledgment, and immediately recounted in detail Liu Yi's every move and word along the way after the three of them had left in the carriage.

As Shiyi's narration progressed, the expressions of everyone present grew increasingly ugly.

Especially when they heard Liu Yi say the phrase "two spendthrift things," the Princess Consort trembled with rage. She slammed the table and cursed furiously, "What an ignorant wretch! Truly from a petty family background, his vision is so shallow!

Before he was swearing vows that Shuang'er would not suffer the slightest grievance if she married over. In my view, if Shuang'er really married over, even eating one extra chicken leg would be called spendthrift by him! Simply a good-for-nothing!"

Shangguan Xingyu hurriedly comforted, "Mother Consort, don't be angry. Please sit down and catch your breath. We only ate a meal together. Fortunately Qianqian was clever and perceptive; otherwise we truly would have found it hard to detect that Liu Yi is actually such a despicable person!"

The Princess Consort, hearing this, felt Shangguan Xingyu's words were very reasonable, and couldn't help but nod slightly in agreement.

At this time, Qianqian at the side interjected, "Mother, you don't know. During the meal, where was Liu Yi absent-minded? He was clearly heartbroken to the point of death after seeing me order so many dishes!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Qi Xi at the side chimed in agreement, "Exactly! I saw it clearly! When Qianqian ordered the seventh dish, Liu Yi's face instantly darkened!"

Yan Shuang'er immediately complained indignantly, "Hmph! I'm not angry that he's stingy and miserly; I'm angry that he could speak so viciously to slander Qianqian and Xi Xi! Look at his appearance — so petty and his temper so bad! This kind of person is truly detestable to the extreme!"

After hearing everyone's discussion, the Princess Consort's anger subsided somewhat.

She turned to look at Yan Shuang'er and said tenderly, "Shuang'er, if you really can't find a satisfactory husband, not marrying is fine too. Our family has plenty of money to support you. At worst you can just enjoy life at home. Why go to another family to suffer such stifling anger?"

Hearing this, Yan Shuang'er was moved to tears, nodding repeatedly, "Right, right, right. Mother Consort still dotes on me the most!"

Shangguan Xingyan hurriedly said, "Mother Consort, you mustn't be too angry! Matters of fate have always been hard to fathom. Perhaps one day it will suddenly arrive, and you won't be able to stop it even if you want to!"

Qianqian at the side also laughed in agreement, "Exactly, Mother. Look at Second Brother in Dachang, while Second Sister-in-law was far in Dongying, separated by ten thousand eight thousand li. In the end, didn't they still end up together? So don't be anxious. What's meant to come will come."

Listening to everyone's comforting words, the Princess Consort's annoyance gradually dissipated almost entirely. She nodded slightly, then cleverly changed the subject, no longer mentioning this matter.

She smiled at Xi Xi and said, "Xi Xi, stay for dinner here tonight. Today we really have you and Qianqian to thank." Speaking, she turned to Chunxi at her side and instructed, "Chunxi, quickly go tell the kitchen to make a few more good dishes. Remember to add the chicken legs Qianqian loves most, and the braised fish Xi Xi likes to eat. Arrange them all."

Chunxi acknowledged and hurried off to the kitchen to convey the order. Qi Xi, since she often dined at the Prince's Mansion, did not decline and replied readily, "Then I'll impose today. Thank you, Aunt Princess Consort."

The Princess Consort's smile grew even more radiant upon hearing this. She waved her hand laughing, "No imposition, no imposition. You must come often in the future." At this, Qianqian also excitedly interjected, "That's right, my mother is the best!" Before her words fell, she had already snuggled close to the Princess Consort and lightly rubbed against her arm.

The Princess Consort said with a smile, "You, usually so carefree and rash, I didn't expect you to handle this matter so properly this time!"

Hearing her mother's praise, Qianqian scratched the back of her head embarrassedly, a shy blush rising on her face, and replied softly, "Mother, you praising me so suddenly, I'm really a bit unused to it!"

Her shy and adorable appearance made everyone present burst into laughter. For a moment, the whole courtyard was filled with joyful laughter, as if even the air had been infected by this happy atmosphere, becoming exceptionally relaxed and pleasant.

Time passed quickly, and in a blink it was dinner time. A group of well-trained servants lined up neatly, steadily carrying trays of delicious dishes, entering the courtyard one after another like flowing water, and gently placing these meticulously prepared dishes on the table.

Seeing the table full of sumptuous food, the Princess Consort warmly urged everyone, "Come, come, everyone eat up. Don't be polite! Especially Xi Xi, you must eat more!"