Rongyao looked at Wu Wanning in confusion. “Since they’re family, we should go and see them together. Why must we leave?”
A hesitant look crossed Wu Wanning’s face. “She… I’m afraid she might…”
“Strongman, are you afraid of her?” Rongyao stared at Wu Wanning.
“Of course not! How could I possibly be afraid of her?” Wu Wanning’s face flushed crimson. She lifted her chin and loudly protested, “It’s just that Father told me to give way to her whenever possible.”
Looking at Wu Wanning, Rongyao naturally recalled what she had heard in the past.
Her mother had once said that choosing Wu Wanning as her study companion had been a good decision and that it had also helped Wu Wanning.
Her mother had said that although Wu Wanning was the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, life at home was not easy for her. Her birth mother had died of illness when she was young, and her father had soon promoted one of the household concubines to become his principal wife.
She also had younger brothers and sisters born to her stepmother.
The Vice Minister of Rites therefore paid little attention to his legitimate eldest daughter.
Over the years, Wu Wanning had lived in the palace as Rongyao’s companion. On the rare occasions when she left the palace, she would go to her maternal grandparents’ home.
She hardly ever returned to the Wu residence. Was it because life there was so difficult that she was often bullied?
Rongyao’s expression darkened. “Let’s go. To the private room.”
Wu Wanning seemed about to say something, but after meeting Rongyao’s uncompromising gaze, she fell silent.
Gu Shen’an swept his eyes indifferently over Wu Wanning, then turned his gaze to Rongyao beside him. “Of course we should go to the private room. It is ours to begin with.”
Thus, Rongyao led the way.
Gu Shen’an followed closely behind her like a wall, preventing anyone from approaching.
Hongyu walked at Rongyao’s side.
Wu Wanning quickly followed as well. She wanted to walk beside the princess, but Gu Shen’an was blocking the way in front of her, and she could not squeeze past him. He was truly an eyesore.
The innkeeper clearly had no desire to offend anyone, so he led them to the private room Wu Wanning had reserved earlier.
“Esteemed guests, this is the room.”
Hongyu strode forward and pushed open the door.
Inside the private room sat five people.
One was a woman of about thirty. Rongyao had seen her before. Four years ago, when Rongyao had selected her study companions, this woman had been sitting beside Wu Wanning.
At the time, Rongyao had assumed she was Wu Wanning’s mother. Now it seemed she must be her stepmother.
Seated beside her was another woman who bore some resemblance to Madam Tian and appeared to be around the same age. She was likely her sister.
The remaining three were two young ladies and a young boy.
They looked to be about the same age as Wu Wanning.
Every one of them was dressed with exquisite care.
Rongyao was just about to speak when Wu Wanning came over, tugged at her sleeve, and whispered, “Rongrong, my mother is here, and so is my maternal aunt, Madam Liu. They’re all elders, so perhaps we should first…”
Rongyao strode inside and calmly swept her gaze over the five people.
“Who are you? Why have you barged into our private room for no reason and disturbed our meal?” The speaker was the woman sitting beside the Vice Minister of Rites’ wife. She was evidently the sister of Madam Tian—the Madam Liu Wu Wanning had mentioned.
Hongyu stepped forward and scolded her sharply. “This private room was reserved in advance by us, and we already paid a deposit. You pretended to know us and forced your way in. Naturally, you must return the room to us!”
The woman’s eyes widened. Then she looked toward Wu Wanning behind Rongyao. “Wanning, so it’s you. Since you’re the one who reserved the room, this is easily settled. We’re all members of the Wu family. How could this be called barging in?”
“Wanning, too—now that you know it’s us, why did you make such a scene? Aren’t you worried about embarrassing your aunt and your mother? Your aunt came this time specifically to find you a match. If you behave yourself, your aunt and your mother will surely find you a fine young man.”
As she spoke, Madam Liu looked toward Rongyao behind Hongyu. “May I ask which family’s young lady you are? This is all a misunderstanding. We arrived first, and we’ve already ordered our food. You children can find somewhere else to eat.”
Rongyao’s icy gaze swept over the woman. “And what if I refuse?”
Upon hearing Rongyao’s voice, Madam Liu inexplicably shrank back. Why did this little girl possess such an imposing presence? She was rather intimidating.
Madam Tian, who had been sitting nearby, looked at the little girl standing at the front. She was about ten years old, strikingly pretty, and carried herself with extraordinary authority. Madam Tian narrowed her eyes.
Why did this girl seem so familiar? Which family did she belong to?
Madam Liu continued, “You’re a young lady from a respectable household. Though you’re small, your temper is certainly not. How can you be so ill-mannered? We’re all Wanning’s elders. The room she reserved is naturally our room as well. We merely took possession of a room belonging to our own family. Are you truly trying to snatch it from us?”
“Do you know what it means to respect your elders? It would be one thing if you failed to bow upon seeing them, but you’re being so willful and unruly. If I find out which family you belong to, I will certainly inform your parents and have them teach you proper manners!”
“How dare you!” Hongyu stepped forward and rebuked her harshly.
“Aunt!” Wu Wanning stepped forward and stood in front of Rongyao, her face full of anger. She glared at Madam Liu. “You must be out of your mind to say such things! What kind of elder are you? You’re not my elder!”
Madam Liu’s eyes widened in shock. When she realized that she had just been scolded by a junior, her face flushed scarlet. “You’ve grown up, haven’t you? Your wings have hardened, and you’ve become even more ignorant of proper etiquette! How dare you defy your elders! Are you acting so willfully because you’re the study companion of Grand Princess Fuxi and have her backing you?”
“Enough!”
Before Madam Liu could finish, her words were interrupted. She had not even realized what was happening when a sharp pain spread across her face, burning hot.
She had been slapped!
She covered her cheek and looked over in shock, only to see her own elder sister glaring at her furiously, her hand still trembling.
So that slap had come from her own sister?
Madam Liu clutched her face and asked in disbelief, “Second Sister! I was helping you discipline that disobedient daughter of yours. Why did you hit me?”
Madam Tian shot her a fierce glare, then grabbed her children and hurried forward. She dropped to her knees before Rongyao.
“Your subject’s wife pays her respects to Grand Princess Fuxi. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings.”
Rongyao’s gaze fell upon Madam Tian kneeling before her, but she did not tell her to rise.
Madam Liu, who had just been slapped, finally came to her senses as well. Trembling all over, she hurried over and knelt on the ground. Her voice shook as she said, “I—I am Madam Liu. I pay my respects to Grand Princess Fuxi. I spoke foolishly just now and disturbed Your Highness. I deserve to die ten thousand deaths!”
The other three children of roughly the same age as Wu Wanning also followed their mothers and knelt before her.
Rongyao walked past them and went straight to the seat of honor at the dining table. She sat down and calmly glanced over the group kneeling before her.
“You are all elders. How could you kneel before me? I should be the one to pay my respects to you.”
Madam Liu repeatedly knocked her forehead against the floor. “No, Your Highness! This woman was wrong—this woman was wrong! Please spare my life, Your Highness! Please spare my life!”
Madam Tian’s voice trembled. “If we had known this private room was reserved by Wanning for Your Highness, your subject’s wife would never have dared disturb you. We—we should not have occupied the private room Wu Wanning reserved.”
Rongyao asked, “You said just now that you intended to find a match for Sister Wanning?”
Madam Tian replied, “Yes, yes… Wanning is already twelve. It’s time to arrange her marriage.”
