Old Mu had told her on New Year’s Eve that she would inevitably encounter the ladies of the Luo Family at various banquets in the Capital City. He said she shouldn’t avoid them for his sake and certainly shouldn’t respect them as relatives or elders. She should just treat them as strangers.
With Old Mu’s words, Yang Chuxia knew that Brother An only acknowledged Old Mu as his uncle in the Luo Family, as well as Linhao and his sister, with no regard for anyone else there.
Therefore, Yang Chuxia didn’t take Old Madam Luo’s words to heart.
Seeing that Yang Chuxia ignored her, Old Madam Luo’s face reddened slightly. Coming from a distinguished family herself, she could argue with the Emperor at court banquets for the sake of her children and grandchildren. However, she wouldn’t argue with Yang Chuxia to maintain the family’s dignity. Although upset, she didn’t say any more.
But not State Duchess Tong!
She was annoyed with Yang Chuxia. Her grandson had been punished in the ancestral hall because of Yang Chuxia’s child; her grandson-in-law and Secondary Princess Consort daughter were also punished because of her family. Her daughter had been ordered not to trouble the Ye Family, but the State Duke Tong’s residence had received no such command.
She was determined to regain face for her daughter, grandson, and grandson-in-law.
She cleared her throat and said, "Madam Ye, a married woman follows her husband, but here are Lord Ye’s maternal grandmother and aunts. Pretending not to see them is not good. If word gets out, others might not comnt on you, but they might say Lord Ye has no respect for his superiors, or perhaps they’ll say that Prince An, now greatly honored, looks down upon his poorer relatives?"
Her words were sowhat senseless. Not only did Yang Chuxia find them upsetting, but even Old Madam Luo’s face darkened. Impoverished relatives? Was she referring to their Luo Family?
Their Luo Family was a noble house that had existed alongside the Great Zhou for generations. Their history was even longer than that of the State Duke Tong’s family. To call them impoverished relatives?
Yang Chuxia, smiling, placed her cup on the small table beside her, and with a aningful look toward Madam Tong, she asked, "What did Madam Tong have for breakfast this morning?"
Caught off guard by the question, Madam Tong replied indifferently, "I have a light appetite; I only had so porridge."
"Oh, not much then," Yang Chuxia said with a faint smile. "One wouldn’t expect to be full after so little porridge." So why was she ddling in others’ business?
Everyone present ca from prominent households, and upon hearing this, they couldn’t help but snicker inwardly.
Madam Tong was taken aback and imdiately beca angry. Madam Ye was speaking without giving her any face.
After taking a few deep breaths, she said, "It’s not that I’m ddling, it’s just that your behavior, Madam Ye, is truly hard to ignore. We won are raised on ancient teachings, knowing etiquette and sha, respecting our elders and kin. Old Madam Luo is indeed Lord Ye’s birth grandmother, so it’s not proper to et her face-to-face without even a greeting. And speaking of Lord Prince An, as a prince of Great Zhou, he should be the model of filial piety and etiquette. As his mother, you should be all the more so, or else how will you guide Lord Prince An? How will he lead by example?"
As Yang Chuxia listened, her eyes grew colder. This old shrew! If she wanted to criticize her, fine, but what was the need to drag her son into it? If this is how it was going to be, she wouldn’t be blad for being unkind.
"Is Madam Tong jealous that my son has been ennobled as a prince, while her grandson has not? Otherwise, why does she keep bringing up my son? My son is barely five by nominal age, and in a few months, he will be five by actual age. And you expect a child not yet six years old to set an example for everyone? It seems Madam Tong not only ate too much porridge, but she must have eaten sothing wrong."
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