Chapter 219 - The Battle Lines Are The Easiest To Draw When There Are Misunderstandings 1
Chapter 219 – The Battle Lines Are The Easiest To Draw When There Are Misunderstandings 1
Three days later at the Yuan family mansion.
Su Liya sat next to Lu Yaozhu on the moving carriage as they rode to the recently retired General Yuan's mansion. Su Liya straightened out her wide sleeve for the nth time, it was the most age could do the calm herself. She was very nervous to attend this garden party given her experience with Eldest madam Yuan and the Yuan family. Lu Yaozhu glanced up in concern as he observed her nervous fidgeting.
He saw the slight furrow between her eyebrows and placed his hands on hers, rubbing her palm gently. Su Liya looked up eyes wide at his sudden action, her heartwarming as he gave her a warm smile. Su Liya looked away quickly, her cheeks heating up. Lu Yaozhu placed her hands on his laps grinning as their eyes met, he moved closer to her ears and whispered.
"Don't worry about anyone out there, I have got you. If they are rude or try to make fun of you. You are allowed to go off on them, I will always support your decisions".
Su Liya gazed at him silently for some minutes before nodding, "En, I hope that you won't regret saying that to me".
He laughed softly, pecked her on the cheeks and whispered, "I won't".
Minutes later they arrived at the General's mansion, there was a long line of carriages qued up in a straight line leading to the mansion. Old Madam Yuan and Eldest madam Yuan wasted every effort to ensure that they got every single high ranking noble including senior members of the royal families invited to their house party. The party was held to celebrate the birthday party of old madam Yuan.
Although the Yuan family were not as influential as they were in the past everyone honoured the invitation to give face to old master Yuan and old madam Yuan. Everyone still remembered the contributions master Yuan made to the progress of Northern Wei in the past and Madam Yuan's powerful maternal family. Madam Yuan was the only daughter of third rank Princess Yun's household.
The recent generation of the Yuan family was not as influential as their predecessors and instead lived off the previous achievement of their parents and grandparents. The number of attending dignitaries and high ranking officials meant that the welcoming process was longer. As per social requirements, the guests were introduced by rank with the arrival of the higher ranking guests taking more precedence.
Lu Yaozhu's title as Prince Wu being a first-rank prince meant that he was to enter after the total dukes. Normally during these events, the admitting of carriages belonging to low ranking nobles were held back as are held back on the arrival of high ranking nobles. There was absolutely no exception, with the Sixth prince's death and most of the royal princesses either married into the royal families of other nations or in faraway counties.
Apart from the Crown Prince, the fifth and ninth Princes the most high ranking noble after the royal princes and their consorts was Lu Yaozhu. Prince Ye and General Yuan were close friends hence he had already arrived earlier and was inside old master Yuan's study playing Chess. A guard was sent to apologise to Lu Yaozhu in his carriage and bring him forwards to the front of the gates.
Lu Yaozhu pursed his lips at the request but agreed to avoid making things difficult for Yuan Family. They had arrived a few minutes after the Crown Prince and Crown Princess consort. Lu Yaozhu and the Crown Prince exchanged a nod as they got down from the Carriage. This was their first time meeting since Zhongshan Ling was suspended, the air around the Crown Prince was chilly.
Their strained relationship was quickly noticed by Eldest madam Yuan and Assistant minister Yuan who stood at the door to welcome the guests. A spark lit on eldest madam Yuan's heart as she observed that. Like a child that just received an early Christmas present, her lips tipped up into one of her widest smiles. The ever-ambitious eldest daughter-in-law to the enigmatic Yuan couple was finally pleased with the arrangement made by her mother-in-law to invite Su Liya ti the party.
Eldest madam Yuan stole a glance at her husband standing next to her to check if he gave off any strange reaction on meeting his bastard child. The sincere smile on his face like a shocker punch made her heart hurt, the wide smile on her face fell for a second and she glared at Su Liya. Su Liya missed the glare as she saluted the Zhongshan Ling and Xia Ying. However, Xia Ying who was closest to eldest madam Yuan failed to miss that glare. Her lips twitched at that but she maintained a serene expression.
Xia Ying immediately noted that reaction and made a plan in her mind to look into that little interaction. She glanced at Su Liya and smiled, although she had given up on her wild dreams she still didn't like this maid turned Phoenix. After both couples exchanged salutes they separated, Zhongshan Ling and Xia Ying went inside while Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya greeted the hosts at the door.
Su Liya was quiet throughout the salute, choosing not to let her true feelings show, she wore the typical small smile until the end. A young maid in plain service uniform led them into the mansion. The setting of the Yuan Family mansions was wide and Strategically designed but unlike the Duke's mansion and Prince Wu's mansion which was designed in a maze-like manner. The Yuan mansion had a simpler layout, this was due to the strong military background of the Yuan family.
Su Liya stepped closer to Lu Yaozhu eye focused on the maid leading them to the garden as she whispered, "based on the little exchange between high highness and you at the gate, looks like you he is still holding grudges about your appointment. His highness is a sad loser, with the mess he made. Did he think he would go scot-free, he was lucky he didn't lose his position".
His lips tipped up as she said, "I understand why he is angry, I would be mad if I was the first Crown Prince in the history of northern Wei to lose control of the ministry of justice. Brother Ling will come around once he understands that everything did was for his good."
They had arrived at the garden so they quickly concluded the conversation.. Su Liya took ins da eep belt before stepping away from Lu Yaozhu's side.w