"Open your mouth, or I'll stuff it up your nose. I originally planned to feed you a grape without anyone noticing, but if you insist on being stubborn, who knows what rumors will spread tomorrow."
"Marquis of the Southern Sea, having offended the Regent King, personally peeled a grape and offered it to the Regent King's mouth as an apology. The Regent King, still harboring anger, bit down hard. The Marquis of the Southern Sea, with no other choice, used his mouth..."
Yi Yanting, fearing she would actually use her mouth, and with everyone watching, he wanted to maintain his dignity if she wouldn't. Thus, he ate the grape.
However, Xie Jiang's hand did not retract. Her fingers, like white jade, were stained with juice. She held her hand near his lips, gesturing to him.
"Lick it clean."
"..."
Yi Yanting was so stunned by her words that his face was a picture of disbelief.
If it were just the two of them, he wouldn't mind swallowing her finger.
But with so many eyes watching...
Did she think her reputation was already good enough?
Xie Jiang said, "It's very sweet."
Yi Yanting pulled her hand down and silently wiped it clean with the hem of his robe. "Do you want to personally create gossip?"
"At most, they'll say I'm flattering the Regent King. What's the big deal? Besides, it's easy to dispel these rumors."
Xie Jiang glanced out through the open doors and windows, spotting Xie Taihong navigating the crowd with ease. "Call Xie Taihong in. I'll personally feed him a grape, and everyone will think I'm not only filial to myself but also as filial to the Regent King as I am to my own father."
"You're filial to me? Like a father?" Yi Yanting gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. "Who wants to be your father?"
"You can call it fawning, it doesn't matter."
"I fear I don't have the good fortune of Lord Xie."
"He must have accumulated a lot of merit in his past life."
Xie Taihong, who had been busy accumulating merit in his past life, saw a glance from Xie Jiang and his pores immediately became alert.
What did that glance from the little devil mean?
Was she summoning him?
He'd better be perceptive.
Xie Taihong excused himself from those around him and stepped forward to pay his respects to the Regent King.
Yi Yanting subconsciously sat up straighter and treated Xie Taihong with exceptional gentleness and courtesy.
The two chatted idly, their conversation revolving around Xie Jiang.
Xie Taihong secretly glanced at Xie Jiang, trying to figure out her instructions. Was she planning to cause trouble at the banquet today? If so, he wouldn't hold back.
Yi Yanting also secretly looked at Xie Jiang, wondering why her father had come over at this moment. Had he seen what they were doing just now...?
Yi Yanting felt a pang of anxiety. He didn't want to leave a bad impression on her father.
"Have a grape." Xie Jiang slowly peeled a grape and gestured to Xie Taihong.
Yi Yanting hadn't expected her to actually do it!
Spreading rumors of intimacy with the Third Prince, unclear rumors with Xu Hengyan, and now rumors with her were being framed as father-daughter affection!
Did she want him to be filial?!
Yi Yanting's mood immediately soured.
Xie Taihong was even more astonished, his eyes wide as he looked at Yi Yanting. What had the Regent King done to displease the little devil?
Yi Yanting: "..."
Her sudden desire to be filial was incredible, but it shouldn't have scared her father like this?
Xie Jiang raised an eyebrow slightly. Was she waiting for him to call her "father"?
That was too much, too much...
Xie Taihong's legs felt weak as he slowly shuffled over to Xie Jiang's side. Looking at the juicy grape in Xie Jiang's hand, it was as if he were seeing a deadly venom.
"I accept Xiaojiang's filial piety, Father. Eat more if it's delicious, but don't eat too much. The banquet will start soon," Xie Taihong said with a nervous laugh.
If the Regent King was unappreciative, then torment the Regent King! Torment him to death! He knew nothing!
Whether it was too much juice, the peeled grape slipped from Xie Jiang's hand and rolled to Xie Taihong's feet.
Xie Taihong stared at the grape, wondering if he didn't need to eat it? Would the little devil peel another one? Why trouble the grape?
Just then, three more people entered together to pay their respects to Yi Yanting.
Xie Taihong silently breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he had narrowly escaped.
Xie Jiang did not continue peeling grapes. She hadn't intended to be filial to Xie Taihong in the first place; she had just said it casually. Since Xie Taihong had come over, she decided to tease both Xie Taihong and Yi Yanting.
Seeing that she had no further instructions, Xie Taihong quickly retreated as far as he could.
Soon after, Xu Hengyan returned, and the banquet in honor of Madam Xu officially began. Xu Hengyan specifically came to invite the two to be seated.
Yi Yanting, of course, took the honored seat, accompanied by the Duke of Wei himself.
Xie Jiang sat with Xie Taihong.
Xie Taihong's eyelids twitched, wondering if the little devil's mood had improved. Would she try to feed him?
Yin Boxuan and Han Zhao excitedly ran over to share good news.
They had won!
It was indeed a simultaneous landing!
They had thrown it multiple times with the same result.
Why?
Shouldn't the heavier object fall faster?
Xie Jiang patiently explained a few things to them, feeling that even a pig should understand.
"Do you understand?"
The two looked at her with confused eyes and shook their heads.
Xie Jiang told them to get lost.
The two clung to Xie Jiang, making plans to play together next time before rolling back to their seats.
Today's banquet was of high caliber, with nobles from half the capital in attendance, making it exceptionally lively.
Xie Jiang leaned lazily against the backrest, looking at the smiling guests.
To others, it seemed that Marquis Xie was in excellent spirits.
Only Xie Taihong, sitting beside her, had trembling hands as he held his wine cup.
Xu Hengyan, stealing a glance over amidst his busy schedule, couldn't help but smile when he saw her happy demeanor.
Lu Zhiheng whispered, "Your face is about to crack from smiling."
Fortunately, it was Madam Xu's birthday, so even though Xu Hengyan's smile was more frequent, it didn't arouse suspicion among the guests.
Xu Hengyan said, "Don't talk nonsense."
Lu Zhiheng wanted to hand him a mirror so he could see for himself.
"This fish soup is tender and smooth, different from our household's preparation, but it's also exceptionally fresh and delicious. Xiaojiang, you should try this fish soup too," Xie Taihong said solicitously and cautiously.
Xie Jiang didn't want to defy her stomach. Regardless of her mood, if she was hungry, she had to eat.
Seeing that she was eating and no longer emitting a deathly smile, Xie Taihong finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to return to Lanyong.
Being by the side of King Yan Xie, he was in a constant state of apprehension, even having nightmares at night.
Xie Jiang ate only a few bites before feeling full. Impatient with the need to socialize, she quietly excused herself and left.
Xie Jiang did not return to Shian Yuan to rest. She wandered aimlessly in the front courtyard.
She wanted to see how lively the Duke of Wei's mansion truly was.
Guang Bai saw her and immediately stepped forward. "Marquis Xie, why did you leave the banquet so soon? Were the dishes not to your liking?"
Xie Jiang walked with her hands behind her back and said, "There's nothing interesting on the male guests' side of the front courtyard."
Guang Bai instantly understood her intention. "It's not appropriate for you to go to the female guests' side right now."
Xie Jiang snorted.
Guang Bai appeased her, "Why don't you go to the back courtyard later to have dinner with Madam?"
Xie Jiang was not satisfied with this arrangement. "By evening, all the beautiful women will be gone."
Guang Bai said, "But my young master will be accompanying you."
With his young master there, why would she need to look at beautiful women? Marquis Xie was too fickle.
Xie Jiang turned and gave him a sideways glance. "You're getting better at talking."