"Master Tan Yin's Dharma is profound. Even Empress Dowager praises him. You must not be disrespectful to him in the future." The Old Grandma warned Li Yi.
A monk's behavior couldn't be judged by common sense. It was a blessing for the Li family that Master Tan Yin was willing to condescend to be friends with his son. He couldn't be arrogant because of this. Otherwise, he would be criticized by all his followers.
Li Yi could only nod in agreement. The Old Grandma's words were a little late. She had already been disrespectful. Moreover, Master Tan Yin, who was profound in Dharma, wasn't really above the mortal world. He ate, drank, and pooped like ordinary people. He was just a little smarter and knew how to recite scriptures better than ordinary people. He also had desires. He hadn't finished copying the scriptures he had promised. The old monk wouldn't care about the issue of disrespect.
After all, it was not a bad thing to be on good terms with Master Tan Yin. The guests were still present. The Old Grandma didn't continue to pester them on this matter. The necessary procedures had been completed. It was time to eat.
"Eat more. Look at how thin you are …" The Old Grandma put food into Miss.Liu's bowl for her. In the entire Li family, she was the only one who had such an honor.
Except for Ruyi, the table was full of elders. The atmosphere was dull. It was better to sit with the little fatty. It was free and lively.
She only took two mouthfuls of food on the plate in front of her. A steward of the Li family hurried over and whispered a few words in Second Uncle Li Mingze's ear.
"The Crown Prince of Prince Ning sent someone to congratulate the Old Grandma on her birthday?" Li Mingze stood up from his seat, looking surprised.
"Cough!" Li Yi almost spat out a mouthful of tea. He also choked. He turned around and coughed hard.
"What Crown Prince?" The Old Grandma put down her chopsticks and asked.
Li Mingze's face was full of confusion. He said, "The Crown Prince of Prince Ning, the supervisor of Gyeonggi Province appointed by His Majesty a few days ago — he sent someone to congratulate you."
The guests at the next table stopped what they were doing.
Ning Wang was the younger brother of the current Emperor and the most powerful Wang Ye in the Jing Kingdom. His fief was only slightly inferior to the capital, Qing An Fu. It was enough to show how much importance the Emperor placed on him.
A few days ago, the Crown Prince of Ning Wang had married the di daughter of the Wang family as his consort. The Wang family had been around for hundreds of years, and had gone through many dynasties to remain standing. They had a deep foundation and were one of the most powerful and wealthy families in the entire Jing Country. With such a background, the Crown Prince had actually sent someone to celebrate the birthday of the old woman of the Li family?
Could it be that the Li family and Ning Wang Fu also had relations?
Everyone had their own guesses, but they didn't know that the head of the Li family, Li Mingze, was also full of doubts. He didn't dare to delay and personally went out to welcome them.
A few black lines appeared on Li Yi's forehead. What was this fellow Li Xuan trying to do? Did he think that this old man's birthday wasn't big enough?
The only good thing was that he didn't come in person. Otherwise, he didn't know how many more "interrogations" he would have to face after the birthday.
The Crown Prince's Mansion sent a steward, which could be considered as giving enough face to the Li family. Many people were wondering who he was and why Li Mingze had to personally welcome him. Just when the steward's attitude was obviously respectful, news came from the other side.
"It's the Crown Prince of Prince Ning. How could the Li family …"
Although the Crown Prince of Prince Ning had not been in the public's sight for long, the things related to him had left a deep impression on everyone.
He married the daughter of the Wang family, was appointed as the supervisor of Gyeonggi Province, and accused Chen Yue of favoritism, causing him to be banished to another province. Next, the Crown Prince's Mansion sent someone to celebrate the Old Lady's birthday.
They thought they knew the Li family very well, but today they realized that the Li family seemed to be far more mysterious than they showed.
The guests from the Crown Prince's Mansion hadn't sat down yet when the Li family's steward walked over in a daze. He looked at Li Mingze with a stupefied expression.
"Head of the family, Princess, Princess Yongle, the people from the Princess's Mansion …"
Bang!
Li Mingze was shocked, and countless chopsticks around him fell to the ground.
Princess Yongle, the only daughter of the Emperor and the Queen, the Eldest Princess of the Jing Kingdom, had been doted on since she was a child. She was the only princess who didn't get married after she came of age and stayed in the palace. She was a real member of the royal family. Was this still the Li family that they knew was declining?
Even when the Li family was at its peak, it didn't have such a great reputation!
Li Yi put down his chopsticks and covered his face with his hands. Finally, he figured out what the strange smiles on their faces meant when they parted.
Li Yi had mixed feelings. The Princess said she had a way to solve the problem the Li family was facing. She promised that after Li Yi left, no one would dare to make trouble for the Li family. Was this the way?
The Li family's trouble was much smaller. The Crown Prince and the Princess sent gifts on the birthday of the Old Li family, which was a very obvious signal for outsiders.
The Li family was protected by the Crown Prince and the Princess. Whoever wanted to make trouble for the Li family had to think about whether they could afford to offend such a powerful force at the same time.
After the birthday banquet, the task of explaining to the whole family fell on him.
The people from the Crown Prince's Mansion and the Princess's Mansion came together. Even the Old Grandma couldn't sit still. When did the Li family have a relationship with them? Not only the guests were curious, but even the Old Grandma was very curious. This shocked them even more than Master Tan Yin.
"You two, I wonder if the Crown Prince and the Princess …" The two people from the Crown Prince's Mansion and the Princess's Mansion obviously had an appointment. Li Mingze looked at them, but he was interrupted by the young man from the Princess's Mansion before he could finish his words.
"We're just following orders. The two princes have told us not to disturb the Old Grandma's birthday banquet. Assistant Minister Li and the Old Grandma don't need to mind us."
The confusion and surprise in Li Mingze's heart were about to reach the peak.
Master Tan Yin, the Crown Prince of Prince Ning, and Princess Yongle, these three people had no connection with the Li family, but they all appeared tonight. What's more, they acted in unison. They only sent gifts and told him not to mind — how could he not mind? Among these people, which one of them could be offended by the Li family?
"Li Li, can I have a word with you?" Just when Li Mingze was at a loss, he saw the man from the Princess's Mansion step forward and speak to a young man behind the crowd.
"Yi 'er?" Li Mingze looked back at Li Yi, then at the two people in front of him. After a short moment of surprise, a trace of understanding suddenly appeared on his face.
"Second Uncle, Grandma, I'm leaving for a while," Li Yi said awkwardly and walked towards a secluded corner.
The steward of the Crown Prince's Mansion and the man from the Princess's Mansion all followed.
"Yi 'er, there are still many things we don't know about him …" the Old Grandma murmured as she watched the three people leave.
Seeing this scene, everything that happened tonight could be explained.
Master Tan Yin, the Crown Prince of Prince Ning, and Princess Yongle — these people clearly had no connection with the Li family. Why did they appear at her birthday banquet? She knew too little about this grandson whom she had met for the first time in twenty years.
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