diskusbooks Chapter 207 He's actually a Duke?
Chapter 207 He's actually a Duke?
Min Wenqian pointed at her defiantly and retorted, "You call me an old man? Aren't you all human? Don't you ever grow old? You say I don't know what's good for me? What have I done to offend you by sitting here like an old geezer? It's clearly you who are self-righteous, bullying others, and snobs. How dare you insult me?"
Du Anwen's eyes reddened from his retort. She grabbed Madam Du and said angrily, "Mother, this old beggar is too hateful. We absolutely cannot let him get away with this!"
Madam Du was also furious.
When has she, the wife of the Minister of Justice, ever been subjected to such insults?
However, just as she was about to retaliate for her daughter, an unpleasant voice came from the flower bed on the side, asking, "Who is Miss Du going to deal with?"
The mother and daughter looked over gently and quickly curtsied, saying, "Your subject greets Princess Cheng!"
Ye Shishu, accompanied by her four maids—Chunliu, Xiahua, Qiuju, and Dongxue—approached them. She didn't tell them to rise, but instead continued with a stern face, "Whom did Miss Du call an old beggar?"
Without thinking twice, Du Anwen pointed at Min Wenqian in the pavilion and complained aggrievedly, "Your Highness, you've finally arrived! This old beggar who appeared out of nowhere is not only disrespectful but also arrogant and conceited. He's truly hateful! Look, even though you've come, he doesn't know how to bow. He doesn't even respect you!"
"Hmph!" Ye Shishu snorted coldly and turned to walk into the pavilion.
Just when the mother and daughter thought she was going to teach the old beggar a lesson, she suddenly put on a smiling face and asked the old beggar with concern, "Grandfather, does this tea smell good?"
Min Wenqian's angry expression was instantly replaced by a kind and gentle smile. "This tea is truly exquisite. Shu'er, you are so thoughtful to offer me such a fine gift."
"I'm glad you like it. I'll buy you this year's new tea after you've finished using it."
"well……"
Outside the pavilion.
The mother and daughter turned pale with shock.
Ye Shishu's address of "Grandfather" was like a blow to them, leaving them dumbfounded, confused, and at a loss!
“Your Highness…he…he is…” Madam Du’s tongue stammered.
Ye Shishu turned around, her face instantly turning cold again. "Madam Du, you are supposed to be the wife of a third-rank official, yet you don't even recognize the Duke of Wei?"
Duke of Wei?!
Madam Du stared wide-eyed at Min Wenqian.
It's not that she didn't recognize him; the old man in front of her was dressed in beggar's clothes. Although he looked somewhat familiar, she didn't dare to associate him with the Duke of Wei...
"Please forgive me, Your Excellency!" She snapped out of her daze, immediately pulled her daughter into the pavilion, knelt down before Min Wenqian, her pale face filled with shame, "My daughter and I were blind and didn't recognize you!"
Min Wenqian snorted with a sullen face, "Madam Du and Miss Du have quite the imposing manner; I cannot accept your courtesy!"
Madam Du anxiously explained, "Your Excellency, please calm down. Today's matter was truly a misunderstanding. My daughter and I did not intend to offend you. It's just that we haven't seen you for many years and failed to recognize you in time. Please forgive us this time, Your Excellency."
Du Anwen also shed her previous arrogance and became as gentle as a delicate flower that could not withstand the wind. "Your Excellency, it's all my fault. I was blind and didn't recognize you. I mistook you for a bad person who had trespassed into the Prince's mansion, which is why I talked back to you. I don't ask that you forgive my rashness, but I beg you not to be angry and not to ruin your health because of me."
Min Wenqian chuckled and said, "You two, mother and daughter, are truly fickle like springtime! Just because I'm dressed in rags, you call me an old beggar. Not only did you hurl insults at me, but you were also so arrogant as to throw me out! This is the Prince Cheng's residence. As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. What right do you have to drive away someone from the Prince Cheng's residence? Besides, even if I am an old beggar, I am still a human being. Do you think you can look down on poor people just because you have someone in the court?"
Du Anwen lowered her head and didn't dare to say a word, a stark contrast to her previous arrogant and domineering demeanor.
Madam Du was so ashamed and embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
Min Wenqian then gave Ye Shishu a wink.
Ye Shishu understood and stepped forward to help Min Wenqian up from the stone bench. Then she said to the mother and daughter kneeling on the ground, "Madam Du, Miss Du, the Duke is going to rest. My master is not in the manor, and I have to take care of him. If you have nothing else, please go back."
After saying that, she helped Min Wenqian walk straight out of the pavilion and left without looking back.
Chunmei stepped forward and said, "Madam Du, Miss Du, this servant will see you out."
Mrs. Du, looking pale, got up and quickly left with her daughter.
……
Yu Chi Ling, carrying Yu Chi Sheng's decree, went to the post station to receive the envoy from the Northern Lin Kingdom.
Also traveling with him was Du Youchong, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Yuchi Ling did not expose Yuchi Sheng's ulterior motives. Upon arriving at the post station, under the arrangement of the Ministry of Rites officials, he received the envoys and first discussed the purpose of their visit.
The Northern Lin Kingdom sent twelve officials and a guard of nearly one hundred people, among whom the envoy was none other than Mo Qianxiao, the fourth prince of the Northern Lin Kingdom.
Their goal was straightforward: they wanted to meet with Luo Lixian first.
Yu Chi Ling was not surprised by this, and could even understand the other party's thoughts. After all, the two countries had severed diplomatic relations for decades and fought almost every year, with countless large and small battles clashing. He would not believe it if the Northern Lin Kingdom proposed peace talks first.
It was only because of Luo Lixian, the princess who was suspected of being lost in the Kingdom of Daye, that the two countries had the opportunity to sit down and talk. If it could be confirmed that Luo Lixian was indeed the fifth princess of the Kingdom of Beilin, then there might be a possibility of peace talks between the two countries. If Luo Lixian was not the fifth princess of the Kingdom of Beilin, then the two countries would continue as before...
"Your Highness and all of you have traveled a long way and are tired from your journey. Please rest well today. We will send the Fifth Princess to the post station early tomorrow morning."
"Then thank you very much, Your Highness." Faced with his indifferent attitude, Mo Qianxiao responded in kind, showing almost no other attitude besides the proper etiquette.
Yu Chi Ling left the inn after less than a quarter of an hour.
Du Youchong, who was accompanying him, couldn't get a word in edgewise and could only leave with him.
Upon leaving the post station, seeing him about to board his carriage, Du Youchong greeted him with a smile, "Your Highness, are you returning to your residence so early?"
Yu Chi Ling looked at him expressionlessly, "Lord Du, is there something you need?"
"Your Highness, it's still early. Why don't we go to my residence for a couple of drinks?"