Chapter 304: Offending Three Families at the Same Time

At Xiao Ning’Er’s words, the lips of the Duchess of the Duke’s Mansion spontaneously curled upwards.

A few years ago, when the young Emperor began to personally manage state affairs, he first targeted their Duke’s Mansion.

Because their Duke’s Mansion was the Empress Dowager’s maternal family, and with the Empress Dowager’s tacit approval, they had not stepped forward to support her natal family. Therefore, the Duke had no choice but to relinquish his military command and live idly at home.

From that time on, the Duchess of the Duke’s Mansion began to harbor some resentment towards the Empress Dowager.

A daughter married out is like water splashed out; for her son’s benefit, she disregards the fate of her own maternal family.

These were the Duchess of the Duke’s Mansion’s true thoughts, but because the other party was the Empress Dowager, she usually only dared to whisper them secretly.

She hadn’t expected that today her daughter would be so blatantly humiliated by a Marquis’s Mansion of lower status.

I wonder if her sister-in-law, the noble Empress Dowager, feels the sting on her own face?

As the Duchess of the Duke’s Mansion was thinking this, a delicate and soft voice came from the Empress Dowager’s embrace.

"What is real power? She argued with you, so why did you come to Grandma? Grandma is so old; she can’t help you argue."

Instantly, the Duchess of the Duke’s Mansion’s face darkened, and everyone’s gaze involuntarily turned towards her.

The wife of Marquis Ting Sheng suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled.

The Empress Dowager helplessly stroked the little girl’s head.

Is this child truly innocent and unknowing? Or is she deliberately trying to help me out of this predicament?

She knew that no matter how she responded to Xiao Ning’Er’s words just now, she would inevitably offend either the Shi Family or the Xiao Family!

Now, she herself hadn’t offended anyone, but this little girl had inadvertently offended the Duke’s Mansion!

"Grandma! Why are those three older sisters just standing there? Are they going to perform an argument?"

Xiaosuisui’s innocent words once again drew astonished looks from everyone; even Song Yingxue, standing to one side, couldn’t help but glance at her.

How did this Princess drag me into this?

The Empress Dowager stroked Xiaosuisui’s head again.

This girl, she’s inadvertently diffused another awkward situation. But in doing so, she has offended three families!

"I have heard that Miss Song possesses excellent calligraphy," the Empress Dowager said. "I just wonder about your skill in composing poetry and songs. Today, could you perhaps compose a poem or a song about chrysanthemums for me?"

As soon as the Empress Dowager spoke, the people from the Duke’s Mansion and the Marquis’s Mansion all looked towards Song Yingxue, their gazes sharp as daggers.

Song Yingxue instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

Heavens, I didn’t mean to steal anyone’s thunder! Why was I suddenly singled out?

Despite the pressure, Song Yingxue still responded, "Yes."

The Empress Dowager then said, "I heard that Miss Shi has been learning to perform opera recently. Ever since Great Lady Mei’s voice was ruined, I haven’t much enjoyed listening to opera. Miss Shi, would you be willing to sing a piece for me?"

Shi Ning’s face turned pale instantly; she bit her lower lip hard.

The expressions of the people from Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion also changed.

The Empress Dowager is humiliating Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion! How dare she!

The wife of the heir of Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion was about to stand up, but before she could move, her mother-in-law grabbed her arm, pressing her down firmly.

After a while, just when everyone thought the Empress Dowager had humiliated Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion to vent spleen on behalf of the Duke’s Mansion, they heard her speak again.

"Ning’Er, I’ve also heard that a few days ago, you and Miss Shi were exchanging pointers at the Peach Blossom Garden. Why don’t you and Miss Shi sing something together for me today? Let me see if your usual studies have borne any fruit."

Once the Empress Dowager said this, not only the Shi Family but also the Xiao Family of the Duke’s Mansion broke out in a cold sweat.

What did the Empress Dowager mean by that? The Peach Blossom Garden... what kind of place was that? It was a theater! And the ’exchanging pointers’ the Empress Dowager mentioned wasn’t that at all. Instead, Shi Ning and Xiao Ning’Er had gotten into a huge fight over an actor they both fancied!