Li Mo'er tilted her head and pouted.
Ye Qingcheng found the young girl lively and adorable. "It's alright, Mo'er and I hit it off immediately."
Li Xuan'er stepped forward respectfully. "Please forgive my sister's impoliteness, Your Highness."
Ye Qingcheng simply smiled without speaking and accompanied Li Xuan'er to the grand hall for the banquet.
This kind of banquet was not a family meal; men and women could not sit together, so they were separated, with one side for men and the other for women.
Ye Qingcheng, as the Regent's Consort, held a noble status and was seated at the head table.
When she arrived, everyone was already seated, waiting for her alone.
As soon as Madam Han saw Ye Qingcheng, she recalled the scene of her daughter being beaten and felt displeased. She then began to speak sarcastically, "Your Highness, you've arrived quite late, making us elders wait."
Ye Qingcheng had just sat down when she heard the sarcastic tone and raised her eyebrows.
Just as she was about to retort, someone spoke up in her defense.
Li Mo'er detested people like this. Everyone was pampered by their families. She herself wasn't arrogant towards the Consort, so who did this woman think her daughter was? "Madam Han, it is my fault. I was originally going to fetch Consort sister, but as soon as I saw her, I liked her and ended up chatting with Consort sister for a long time. As a loving elder, you surely won't blame me, your playful junior, will you!"
Her words left Madam Han speechless, and she awkwardly picked up her wine cup and took a sip.
Madam Li chided, "Mo'er."
Li Mo'er immediately became obedient.
Li Xuan'er stood up and bowed respectfully to Madam Han. "Madam Han, my sister is like this, spoiled by her family. She speaks without thinking. You are also a harmonious and loving elder, so you surely won't blame her, right!"
With the Li family speaking like this, what else could Madam Han say? She could only swallow her pride. After all, the Li and Han families were both in the Ministry of Personnel. She did not have the authority Ye Qingcheng possessed to reprimand another person's daughter.
Since Ye Qingcheng had arrived, Madam Li announced, "Let the banquet begin."
The musicians began their performance.
Madam Li raised her cup and spoke emotionally, "Everyone, when my father passed away, it was thanks to all of you who set up roadside mourning rituals along the way. I express my gratitude to all of you."
The crowd also raised their cups. "Not at all, not at all."
"Speaking of Master Li, he was indeed a benevolent person in his time. Now that he has passed, we are all filled with sorrow!"
"Madam Li, you need not be so formal."
Everyone drank their wine. As they set down their cups, a woman asked, "Oh? Why don't we see Old Madam Li?"
Madam Li explained, "My mother's health has been declining since my father passed away. Now that the banquet is lively, she wishes for some peace and quiet, so she won't be attending."
The crowd murmured, "Indeed, I was once enlightened by Old Madam Li! A single sentence cleared my mind!"
"Heh heh! Yes! Old Madam Li was broad-minded and a good mother!"
Madam Li also smiled, "Yes! In terms of teaching and educating, I truly fall short of my mother. When my fifth daughter was just born, I was too busy to educate my fourth daughter, so I entrusted her to my mother. Now, as you can see, my fourth daughter's demeanor is much more sensible than my fifth daughter's."
Hearing this, Li Mo'er became somewhat displeased. "Mother, I've told you not to compare me with Fifth Sister. Fifth Sister is a true noble lady of a prestigious family, with the demeanor of a proper young lady. I am not."
Madam Li shook her head with amusement. "If you are not a bright and noble lady, then what are you?"
Li Mo'er giggled, "I am a simple village maiden!"
This caused the crowd to burst into laughter.
Li Xuan'er also pursed her lips and smiled. "Mo'er, do not speak so carelessly."
One woman jested with a smile, "I see Madam Li also has her own way of educating her children! Look at Fifth Miss, she is so lively and adorable!"
Any mother would be pleased when others praised their daughter, but she feigned a teasing tone, "Don't praise her, or she'll get a swelled head."
After a round of laughter, Madam Li invited everyone to help themselves to the food.
Hearing what they said, Ye Qingcheng became even more curious about the old madam. She took a sip of ginseng soup and, as the pleasantries paused, put down her bowl and asked during the lull, "How is Old Madam's health?"
Madam Li's smile faded, and a look of sorrow appeared on her face. "We had a doctor examine her a few days ago. The doctor said it was due to excessive worry. Perhaps after my father's passing, mother misses him greatly. For over a month now, we have given her tonic medicine, but there has been no improvement. We have resigned ourselves to it; perhaps this is simply fate."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng put down her chopsticks. "When I was young, I was taught medicine by a renowned physician. If it's alright, after the banquet, I can take the old lady's pulse. How about it?"
Madam Li didn't think much of it, believing the renowned physician the Consort mentioned in her childhood was merely a casual remark. However, since the Consort dared to say so, she must know some basic pulse-taking techniques. Letting her have a look wouldn't hurt.
"Alright. After the banquet, I will bring Your Highness to visit my mother. It has been some time since I last had my mother examined, so it would be good for us to know her general condition."
Ye Qingcheng understood that Madam Li did not fully trust her medical skills but didn't say anything. People were like that; they only knew one's strength after seeing it.
Li Mo'er, on the other hand, looked surprised. "Consort sister, you know medicine too? How amazing!"
Just as Ye Qingcheng was about to speak, she heard Li Xuan'er reprimand her sister, "Mo'er, do not be rude. You are disturbing the Consort's meal."
"Oh!" Li Mo'er deflated and returned to eating her rice.
After the banquet, Ye Qingcheng followed Madam Li to Old Madam Li's courtyard.
As soon as she entered, she detected the unique scent of an elderly person in the room, a smell that, accumulated over time, was quite unpleasant.
Ye Qingcheng looked around and noticed that all four walls were sealed, allowing no air circulation.
"Why aren't the windows open?"
Madam Li explained, "My mother once caught a cold. We thought it might have been caused by the wind, so we closed the windows and stopped opening them."
Ye Qingcheng thought to herself, no wonder she's fallen ill! Putting aside the fact that even young people would find the air in a room without ventilation unpleasant if it remained closed for years, it was even worse for the elderly. However, Ye Qingcheng said nothing. If she had spoken up immediately, they would likely have thought she was putting on airs.
Madam Li entered and informed the old madam, "Mother, the Consort has come to visit you."
Ye Qingcheng heard the old madam put down her chopsticks before entering.
Before meeting the old madam, Ye Qingcheng had imagined her to be an unkempt old woman. However, her first impression was of someone polite, with a slight curve to her lips. She exuded an air of composure and magnanimity, leaving a very good impression.
"This old one greets the Consort."
Ye Qingcheng quickly moved to help her up, unable to accept a greeting from an elder. "Old Madam, there is no need for such politeness. I am a junior, how can I accept the greetings of an elder!"
"Please be seated, Old Madam. I heard you were feeling unwell and remembered that I learned some medical skills in my youth, so I came specifically to take your pulse."