Seeing Mingyu just smiling and not saying anything, Xu Mingrui got anxious and shouted, "Are you going or not? I wouldn't call ordinary people!"
At this time, Mrs. Xu came back from outside and heard Xu Mingrui's last words. She asked, "Where are you going?"
Xu Mingrui was full of resentment towards Madam Xu because of the incident in which Madam Xu beat Hu. Seeing that Madam Xu asked, she bowed reluctantly, forced a smile, and said, "The Minister of Works Gao's family is holding a banquet. Miss Gao and I have always been good friends. She invited me to go, and I thought it would be more lively with more people, so I would just take Sister Mingyu with me."
Mingyu didn't want to go. A group of girls gathered together and chattered, and they would inevitably ask about her family background and so on. By the time it was her turn, someone would definitely know that she had been divorced. Mingyu could almost imagine that the group of noble ladies would look at her as if they were looking at a rare animal in a zoo. So she decided to give up.
"Then go ahead." Madam Xu smiled and looked at Mingyu. "Mingyu has been staying at home these days. It would be nice to go out for a walk and have some fun."
A girl of Mingyu's age should be more innocent and lively, and Mrs. Xu also wants Mingyu to take this opportunity to make some friends with girls of the same age who can talk to her. Mrs. Xu is afraid that her daughter will get sick if she is always as quiet and sensible as Mingyu.
Xu Mingrui's face lit up, and she said to Mingyu, "Okay, okay! It's settled then! I'm going to Gao's house tomorrow morning to help the second young lady. I'll tell the doorman in advance that when you get there, just say you're my sister. After the party, we'll come back together. Remember, don't go too late!"
After saying that, without waiting for Mingyu to speak, Xu Mingrui turned around and ran away with a smile on her face.
Mingyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, she hadn't even said she agreed yet!
Madam Xu smiled and said, "Go and have some fun, and see if you can meet a girl you can talk to. It's better than staying at home bored."
"I really don't..." Mingyu wanted to say that she didn't want to go. She wasn't the original Xu Mingyu. She didn't think she could meet someone of the same age who she could talk to. However, seeing Mrs. Xu's expectant and encouraging eyes, she could only smile and say, "Okay."
The next day, Lixiang carefully combed Mingyu's hair into a beautiful bun and dressed her up. They went out until the sun was high in the sky, thinking that it was almost time. Because of the last "car accident", Mingyu was still afraid of sedan chairs, so she hired a carriage this time. At least if another carriage hit her, she would not suffer any loss.
When the driver heard that they were going to the residence of Minister Gao of the Ministry of Works, he immediately smiled and said, "I know, I know."
When the carriage stopped, Lixiang thought they had arrived at Gao's house and was about to lift the curtain to jump out. When she saw a long line of carriages in front of her, she stuck out her tongue in surprise, then retracted it and said to Mingyu, "There are so many carriages waiting to enter Gao's house. It looks like we have to wait a while."
It was midsummer, the sun was blazing outside, and the carriage was a little stuffy. Lixiang fanned Mingyu and looked out anxiously from time to time. Fortunately, although there were many carriages waiting to enter the mansion, the speed was still not slow. However, even so, the impatient Lixiang could not help but frequently lift the curtain to look out.
"Okay, okay." Mingyu smiled and pulled back Lixiang who was about to stick her head out to look, "You can't go faster no matter how much you look, others are waiting." I don't know how many people the Gao family invited this time. Just looking at the carriages waiting in line to enter the mansion is scary enough.
Li Xiang took out a handkerchief and wiped Mingyu's damp temples, muttering, "This damn weather is so hot, and the Gao Mansion didn't even bother to open a few more doors."
Mingyu smiled and shook her head. When inviting guests in, of course they should enter through the main door. This would show respect. Who would want to enter through the side door? It would be disgraceful if it got out.
As they were talking, it was almost their turn to enter Gao's house. Lixiang jumped out of the carriage first, then helped Mingyu down and paid the fare to the coachman. The coachman drove the carriage away.
The person who led the way to greet the guests was a young steward. He had just sent a group of guests in when he turned around and saw Mingyu and Lixiang. He bowed first, half bowed, smiled, stretched out his hand, and said respectfully, "Miss, please show me your invitation."
Still need an invitation? Mingyu was surprised and said, "I don't have an invitation. I am Xu Mingrui's sister. She came to your house first and told your second lady that she would bring me here. Didn't anyone tell you? No one will skip a word.
The steward shook his head, stood aside to block the door, and said, "I didn't know about this, but today is a big day in our house, and the master has ordered us to be careful in reception. No one without an invitation is allowed to come in. No matter whose sister you are, if you don't have an invitation..." The steward chuckled twice, "Please forgive my rudeness, I can't let you in, please go back."
Everyone else entered the mansion very quickly, but when it was Mingyu's turn, there was a long delay. The carriages lined up behind Mingyu all showed pairs of eyes and pricked up pairs of ears. Mingyu even heard sneering sounds coming from the carriage closest to her.
Li Xiang was anxious. After a long time of hard work, they arrived at Gao's house, but the steward wanted to send them back with just one sentence. If they really left like this, wouldn't it be embarrassing? "You must have forgotten. Go in and ask Miss Mingrui. She came early in the morning." Li Xiang couldn't help shouting.
The young steward stood up straight. Although his tone was humble, his smile was full of sarcasm. "I have already made it very clear just now. Today, you need an invitation to enter our Gao Mansion. I am also following orders. Otherwise, so many people in the capital who are not presentable want to enter our Gao Mansion. I have to let them in just because they say she is the sister of so-and-so? All the people in this mansion are nobles. If there is any trouble, I can't afford it. Don't you think this is reasonable..."
This is too harsh to hear.
Mingyu's face turned stern and dark as water. She stared at the steward. The steward wanted to say a few more words, but when he met Mingyu's icy gaze, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart for no reason and could not say the words he wanted to say.
The girl in front of him was young, with a slim figure and very pretty looks, but she was not like other girls of the same age. If it were an ordinary girl, she would have cursed at him if he said such harsh words in public, and those with thin skin would have cried a long time ago. It was rare that she was not embarrassed or annoyed, but was very calm.
However, thinking of the task assigned to him by his master, the steward had no choice but to continue speaking: "Miss, please go back. There are so many people behind you, all holding invitations and waiting to enter the mansion. What are you doing blocking the way here?"
Mingyu glanced around and saw many people looking at her from behind. She could hear their whispers and giggles. She didn't know if it was her illusion, but behind the right column of the Gao Mansion gate, she seemed to see Xu Mingrui and a light yellow figure flash by.
Lixiang was extremely embarrassed and looked at Mingyu sadly. She had finally managed to go out, but she encountered such an embarrassing situation.
Mingyu had not originally planned to join in the fun. If it wasn't for Madam Xu wanting her to go out and have fun and find a friend, she would never have been willing to go to a place full of strangers. What she didn't expect was that she couldn't even get in the door at Gao's house. She was blocked at the door in public and was scolded by a doorman for a long time, as if she was really a poor girl who took the opportunity to sneak into the upper class.
"Lixiang, let's go." Mingyu suppressed her anger and felt a little embarrassed. It was one thing for her not to want to come, but it was another thing to be blocked outside the door in front of everyone. In this situation, no matter what, she would lose face. She would leave early to get rid of this embarrassing situation. If she really quarreled with the servant, it would mean that she not only did not have an invitation, but also had the audacity to force her way in, which would make the people behind her watch the show.
Just as Mingyu turned around and was about to leave with Lixiang, a cold voice rang out from behind, like a spring hitting a stone, "Second Miss Xu is a distinguished guest invited by the mansion. Who has the guts to treat a distinguished guest of the Gao Mansion like this?"
The voice sounded familiar. Mingyu turned around. Prince Qin was wearing a purple silk robe with white cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. He had a belt inlaid with white jade around his waist. He had a cold face with an indifferent expression. In his hand, he held an ivory fan decorated with a red silk pendant. The fingers that crossed the handle of the fan seemed to be three points whiter than the smooth fan itself.
Prince Qin only glanced at Mingyu indifferently, then turned his head and looked down at the steward condescendingly, as if he was looking at an ant who didn't know how to live or die.
The steward naturally recognized the noble and indifferent young man in front of him. He was so scared that he immediately knelt on the ground, cold sweat pouring out of his forehead. He begged for mercy, "I am blind, stupid, and bold! I have offended the second Miss Xu, please forgive me!" After that, he kowtowed to Mingyu repeatedly, and the sound of his kowtows rang loudly on the bluestone steps.
Mingyu glanced at Prince Qin, who hadn't looked at her again since he came over, and then looked at the steward who was kowtowing on the ground. There was a lot of whispering behind them, and Mingyu felt a little bored.
The steward kowtowed to the Prince of Qin, not to her. If the Prince of Qin hadn't come, she would have been blocked at the door and had to go home in disgrace. Besides, he was just a servant, and he had to be loyal to his master. His master had spoken, so he had to do it.
Mingyu said quietly, "Get up."
The steward quickly raised his head and looked at Mingyu, his forehead was bruised and swollen, and his face was covered with cold sweat.
"I... feel a little uncomfortable." Mingyu said slowly, "I will not go to the banquet in your mansion today. Please give my regards to Mr. Gao and Mrs. Gao in your mansion." She bowed to Prince Qin and said, "Thank you, Your Highness." Then she was about to leave with Lixiang.
Behind him, the cold voice of the Prince of Qin rang out again, with a hint of malicious ridicule, "If you don't go, he will kowtow to death here today!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to subscribe and give rewards on Qidian Mobile Network (). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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