The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 31

Chapter 031 Birthday Banquet Presentation
There were already eight long black-painted tables in the small flower hall, and the white porcelain fruit plates on the tables were filled with fruits and pastries.

Xiao Xiwei greeted the ladies and misses and just as they sat down, Cui Ping had already helped Old Madam Jun in. Because today was her birthday, the matriarch wore a dark red gown with auspicious patterns of longevity. She wore a set of scarlet gold ruby heads on her head, making her look both precious and joyful.

“Grandmother.” Xiao Xiwei hurriedly walked up to the old lady and held her other hand.

The madams and young misses also stood up to greet the matriarch and greet her with greetings as they wished her a happy birthday.

The matriarch walked to the main seat and smiled. “I’m very happy that you can come and celebrate my birthday. This is the first time my Xiwei has hosted a birthday banquet. It’s inevitable that there’s something wrong with it. Please forgive me!”

Everyone stood up and said that they didn’t dare, but they pretended to glance at Xiao Xiwei and Madam Li who had been sitting upright beside the Matriarch.

Normally speaking, this sort of birthday banquet was always arranged by the matriarch of the Marquis’ Manor. Why didn’t the matriarch come forward, instead, it was such a big girl? Moreover, the Old Lady Jun’s words were all defensive. Could it be that something had happened to the Prefecture Marquis?

The madam sitting at the table was not a human genius. After thinking for a moment, she had her own speculations, and her gaze towards Xiao Xiwei became more attentive.

Seeing this, Madam Li, who had been sitting upright in the middle of the banquet, couldn’t help but feel a little tense. Xiao Xile’s face was even more green and red, and her gaze towards Xiao Xiwei couldn’t help but be filled with a trace of resentment.

“Qingmei, what’s going on?”

Although Madam Qi knew that Madam Li had been grounded, she had never thought that on such an occasion, the old granny would actually let a girl take care of her, and openly slap Madam Li in the face in front of everyone.

Madam Li’s expression couldn’t help but turn ugly. She coldly stared at Xiao Xiwei’s delicate snow-white melon seed face and gritted her teeth. “What else can happen?” This girl’s face was full of kindness, but her intentions were actually vicious! ”

Looking at Madam Li’s ferocious expression, she really hated Xiao Xiwei. Madam Qi couldn’t help but smile and raise her eyebrows. “No matter how vicious and powerful a girl’s heart is, what’s the use of being so powerful? In the future, if she marries her mother-in-law, she will have to depend on her husband’s expression to live. When the time comes, it’s not up to us to decide whether to squeeze or rub her round!”

Madam Li glanced at Madam Qi and instantly understood what Madam Qi meant. A hint of a smile appeared on his cold face. “Sister-in-law is right.”

After everyone spoke for a while, Nanny Liu walked over to Xiao Xiwei and whispered a few words. Xiao Xi smiled and turned to look at the matriarch. “Grandmother, it’s about time for the banquet.”

The matriarch nodded.

All of a sudden, all kinds of delicacies were served like flowing water. The girls put down the dishes and retreated one by one.

After the hall quieted down, Xiao Xiwei sent someone to inform her father, Xiao Yan, and the male guests from the various families formed teams to celebrate the matriarch’s birthday.

Xiao Xiwei saw that his brother was wearing a dark purple embroidered brocade robe and his figure was tall and upright. As soon as he entered, the gazes of many ladies and young misses shifted towards him.

“Second young miss, who is this young master?” The granddaughter of the Minister of War, Miss Liao, who was sitting beside Xiao Xiwei, said to Xiao Xiwei in a low voice with a red face.

Xiao Xiyang had been in Wu City for a long time, so even the young miss and madam in the capital had never seen him.

Xiao Xiwei smiled sweetly, “He’s my brother!”

Miss Liao’s eyes lit up, and her voice did not seem to raise, “Oh, is that the eldest young master who was brought to Wu City by the old marquis?”

Xiao Xi smiled and nodded.

The ladies who heard Xiao Xiwei and Miss Liao talking looked at Xiao Ranyang with admiration.

This was the Eldest Young Master who was highly valued by the Old Marquis! Judging from the quality of his appearance, he would definitely inherit the title of Marquis Mansion in the future.

“Grandson is here to congratulate Grandmother on her blessings like the East China Sea. The sun and moon are bright. Pine Crane Changchun, Spring and Autumn are immortal, ancient and new, and her joy is long.” Xiao Xiyang stepped forward and bowed to the matriarch. He raised his head and said a string of auspicious words.

The matriarch laughed and said, “You haven’t seen me for a long time. I haven’t seen anything else for a long time. You’ve got quite a bit of glib tongue!”

Xiao Xiyang smiled brightly, revealing a mouthful of pure white teeth. “There’s nothing I can do. Grandmother loves to hear those slick words!”

“Yang’er! No nonsense!” Seeing Xiao Yan’s unruly appearance, Xiao Yan hurriedly shouted at him with a straight face.

The smile on the old lady’s face grew even wider. “Could it be that you came all the way back to congratulate me on my birthday just to say something to cheer me up? Then I won’t obey you!”

“How dare I!” Xiao Xiyang smiled and waved his hand. The attendant walked up with a mahogany box covered in red gold. Xiao Xiyang took it and opened it in front of everyone. Inside was an ivory statue of Ta Lian Guan Yin. This Guan Yin sculpture was complex and exquisite. Its lines were gentle and smooth, and its brows and eyes were dignified, carrying a trace of compassion and compassion.

The ivory was originally hard to come by, let alone such a big one. How big would it take to hunt a wild elephant to obtain such ivory? This Guan Yin is probably a rare treasure!

Everyone was secretly exclaiming in admiration when Xiao Xi Yang’s voice sounded again.

‘”Grandmother, I personally hunted the ivory for this Guan Yin, but Grandfather personally invited Master Zhang of Wu Cheng to carve it for Grandmother. Speaking of which, it was the feelings of Grandfather and me. I wonder if Grandmother is satisfied with this gift.”

Hearing Xiao Xiyang mention the Old Marquis, the Old Lady’s eyes unconsciously became slightly wet. When the others heard that the ivory used by Guan Yin was actually personally hunted by Eldest Young Master Marquis Mansion, they couldn’t help but think highly of him.

Seeing that the matriarch and the others were looking at Xiao Xi Yang differently because of his gift, Xiao Xi Le couldn’t sit still any longer. She hurriedly stood up and said, “Grandmother, Fifth Brother and I also have a gift to present to Grandmother.” After saying that, she stood up and pulled Xiao Ximing, who was only nine years old, forward to bless the old lady.

Da Yue was heading towards the eldest daughter of the Marquis. As the eldest daughter of the Marquis, Xiao Xiwei was supposed to present a congratulatory gift behind Xiao Xi Yang. Unexpectedly, she was snatched away by the children from the inheritor’s room.

The madams at the banquet did not say anything, but many thoughts flashed through their minds. The matriarch’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a trace of displeasure flashed in her eyes. However, due to the large number of people attending the banquet, she did not say anything in the end.

Xiao Xile seemed to have noticed something as well. She turned to look at Xiao Xiwei with a smile like a flower and said, “Sister, do you mind if I and Fifth Brother present a congratulatory gift to Grandmother first?”

The corner of Xiao Xiwei’s lips curved, and a faint smile appeared on his face. “How could that be? Sister, please.”

Xiao Xile jumped out so eagerly. It seemed that the birthday gift prepared by the Li family for the Matriarch had probably been invested in order to make Xiao Xile stand out in this birthday banquet.

Sure enough, after a while, two servants came up with a huge chicken bloodstone ornament. The chicken bloodstone was carved with waves and seas, and the clouds and mist mountains were carved on it. Pine trees stood upright in the mountains, and their carving techniques were extremely exquisite and exquisite.

When everyone saw this, they all praised.

Xiao Xiwei pursed his lips and smiled. Such a luxurious and precious chicken bloodstone and such a large piece. It seemed that Madam Li had really spent enough money this time.

“Granddaughter congratulates grandmother on her blessings as long as the East China Sea and her lifespan as long as the East China Sea’s Immortal Pine!” Xiao Xi Le pulled Xiao Xi Ming and bowed down to Old Madam Shan Shan who was sitting in front of her.

“You guys have the heart. All of you, get up.” The matriarch pulled the corner of her mouth and said indifferently.

Xiao Xile, who was originally filled with joy and waiting for praise, was stunned for a moment. She did not understand why Old Lady Jun had such an attitude when she saw her birthday present.

Xiao Xiwei picked up his glass and took a sip of the fruit wine. The corners of his lips curled into an imperceptible sneer.

Madam Li probably didn’t know that the Old Granny had already known about her private withholding of the silver taels from the public. If she knew, she definitely wouldn’t have given such a precious birthday gift to Xiao Xile. How could the Old Granny not know what kind of family background the Li Clan had? If Madam Li could take out such a precious birthday gift so casually, how much silver would she have to deduct from the public?

“Sister, it’s your turn now? What kind of birthday gift did you prepare for grandmother?” Seeing the old lady’s cold expression, Xiao Xile hurriedly turned her gaze to Xiao Xiwei. She blinked her big eyes, looking charming and innocent.

She didn’t believe that Xiao Xiwei’s birthday gift could be more valuable than hers!

Xiao Xile smiled and slowly stood up. “My gift is just a token of my gratitude. It really is not as precious as my sister’s.”

Xiao Xile’s lips curled into a mocking smile and her eyes brightened. “Big sister is too modest. Grandmother always praised big sister for her intelligence and agility. I’m sure big sister’s gift is extraordinary. Why don’t we broaden our horizons?”

Following Xiao Xile’s words, the madams at the banquet turned their gazes to Xiao Xiwei.

In the past, this second young miss gave everyone the impression that she was reckless and flashy, but today, she looked dignified and steady. Even if her stepsister arrogated her like this, her face still carried a gentle smile. Sihao did not get angry. She really deserved to be the daughter of the Marquis.

Xiao Xiwei smiled faintly and waved his hand. Hong Yu walked up with a painting box made of yellow pear.

“Granddaughter prepared a set of embroidery for Matriarch. Speaking of which, this birthday gift of mine and my sister’s has the wonders of a different tune.” After Xiao Xiwei finished speaking, he signaled Hong Yu and Zi Yan to take out the embroidery and slowly unfolded it in front of everyone.

The embroidery was more than a meter long. On the left, there was a huge word “longevity” embroidered with green and black threads. On the left, there were also various words “longevity” embroidered with different fonts. There were a total of a hundred of them.

“Big sister, you embroidered the word’longevity ‘so beautifully!” Xiao Xile tilted her head and sighed in admiration. Then, she frowned and said, “Sister, your birthday gift to grandmother can’t be this?” After saying that, he didn’t forget to blink his eyes.

Following Xiao Xile’s words, everyone also raised their eyes to look at Xiao Xiwei.

Indeed, compared to the expensive chicken bloodstone ornament, this Hundred Words Longevity Embroidery was somewhat incapable of being used.

“Birthday gift? It’s all about one thought. If it’s all about value, why don’t you carry a box of gold?” Seeing Xiao Xile mocking his younger sister, Xiao Xi Yang couldn’t help but say.

Everyone smiled as Xiao Xile’s face flashed with embarrassment.

Xiao Xiwei raised his eyes to look at Xiao Xiyang, and a bright smile blossomed at the corner of his mouth.

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