"Lier, so mysterious? What exactly is the gift?"
The old madam chuckled.
By this time, everyone in the room had arrived, and they were all curious about what gift Leng Ruo Li would give.
A moment later, Leng Ruo Li, holding several shopping bags, walked in with a smile on her face. She playfully blinked her bright, lustrous apricot eyes, her presence as sharp and penetrating as a sword piercing through clouds.
The people in the room, seeing the strange items in her hands, were very curious.
"Lier, what are you holding in your hands? They look so strange, Auntie has never seen them before," Madam Jiang couldn't help but ask.
"Second Aunt, what I'm holding are called bags, and the items inside are the gifts I want to give you."
Leng Ruo Li playfully blinked her beautiful eyes at everyone, smiling mysteriously, and placed the shopping bags on the table in the inner hall.
"Lier, except for your two elder cousins from your second uncle's family who are studying abroad, everyone in the mansion is gathered. Can we see these mysterious gifts now?"
Madam An was also very curious. Looking at the never-before-seen items on the table, she was eager to see them.
"Yes, Eldest Aunt."
Leng Ruo Li replied with a smile.
"This is a pair of reading glasses for my maternal grandfather and grandmother," Leng Ruo Li explained as she opened the boxes and took out two pairs of reading glasses.
The people in the room, looking at these exquisite items, were filled with curiosity.
"Lier, why is this mirror so small? How can it clearly show the entire face?" the old madam said with a smile.
"Grandmother, these two things in Lier's hands are called reading glasses, not mirrors. If elderly people have poor eyesight, wearing these reading glasses will help them see things more clearly."
After speaking, Leng Ruo Li put the reading glasses on the old madam.
After adjusting to the glasses, the old madam scanned the room and exclaimed in surprise, "Lier, your reading glasses are truly magical! After wearing them, Grandmother can see everything in the room clearly."
This was a tremendous surprise for the old madam.
As she aged, the old madam's eyesight had gradually become blurrier, causing significant inconvenience to her movements.
Grand Tutor Xia was also experiencing the same age-related decline in vision as the old madam.
"Old woman, is that true? Can you see everything in the room clearly after wearing these reading glasses?" Grand Tutor Xia asked with a face full of anticipation.
The old madam nodded vigorously.
"Old man, what Lier has given us is truly a treasure."
The old madam was extremely pleased with the gifts Leng Ruo Li had given her, smiling so broadly her mouth could barely close.
"Lier, quickly put these reading glasses on your maternal grandfather too."
Seeing how fond the old madam was of the reading glasses, Grand Tutor Xia urged Leng Ruo Li to put them on him as well.
After both of them put on the reading glasses, they kept turning around the room, looking at everything. Her maternal grandfather even asked for a book and sat down to read.
He kept exclaiming, "These reading glasses are truly a treasure!"
Next, Leng Ruo Li took out two sets of skincare products and gave them to her two aunts. Later, she also gave a set of skincare products to her maternal grandmother.
Leng Ruo Li patiently taught them how to use these skincare products and even demonstrated how to apply a facial mask in front of everyone. The mother and daughters-in-law cherished the gifts Leng Ruo Li had given them as if they were precious jewels.
"Lier, what about the gifts for my husband and Eldest Brother?" Xia Lingxuan said with some envy.
"Second Uncle, you, Eldest Uncle, and Eldest Cousin all have a gift."
Saying that, she rummaged through another shopping bag and took out several boxes.
"These are for my two uncles. Please open them and take a look."
Upon opening them, they saw two items that resembled bracelets, and their initial reaction was slight disappointment.
"Lier, what are these things?" Xia Lingxuan asked calmly.
"Second Uncle, these are called watches. They are used to tell time and have the same function as a sundial, or even more precise."
Leng Ruo Li explained unhurriedly.
"What, that's amazing?" Xia Lingxuan and Xia Shanyi exclaimed in unison.
"Let me explain how to read this watch. These are called Arabic numerals, like 1, 2, 3... and these are the second hand, minute hand, and hour hand..." Leng Ruo Li patiently explained to everyone in the room.
After understanding Leng Ruo Li's explanation, the two of them screamed with joy.
They exclaimed, "My heavens! This is too magical! Too convenient! Thank you so much, Lier. Your uncles are very satisfied with your gifts."
"Lier, what about Eldest Brother's gift?" Xia Annan asked, his face slightly flushed, with a hint of embarrassment.
Leng Ruo Li seriously observed Xia Annan. He possessed a stunningly handsome face and wore an ice-blue, wide-sleeved robe that was spotless. His figure was slender and straight, and in his hand, he held a folding fan. His three thousand strands of black hair were not tied up with a jade crown but were neatly combed and cascaded over his shoulders, making him appear ethereal.
Leng Ruo Li was stunned on the spot.
"Cousin Lier, where is Eldest Brother's gift?" Xia Annan, seeing Leng Ruo Li staring at him in a daze, reminded her again with a hint of helplessness.
Leng Ruo Li immediately snapped back to reality.
"Eldest Brother's gift, yes, yes..."
After saying that, Leng Ruo Li took out a single item from her sleeve.
"Eldest Brother, this is the gift I've prepared for you. Quickly open it and take a look."
"No, Eldest Brother will open it in his room."
Saying that, he took the gift Leng Ruo Li handed him, turned, and walked out of the room.
"Oh, that brat! He's seen all our gifts, yet he won't let us see his."
The old madam chided him playfully.
Then, she secretly asked Leng Ruo Li, "Lier, what did you give Eldest Brother?"
Leng Ruo Li smiled and replied with two words: "A secret!"
Everyone in the room: "..."
--
Meanwhile, on the other side, Leng Ruo Shuang had been feeling uneasy all day since the incident with the black-robed figure.
Last night, she had heard from Concubine Liu that it was Leng Ruo Li's maternal grandfather's sixtieth birthday today, and she had planned to find a way to visit Grand Tutor Xia at the Xia mansion to offer birthday wishes and seize an opportunity to sow discord between the Leng family, the Xia family, and the Empress Dowager's maternal family, the Marquis of Jingyuan. Preferably, she wanted these three families to become enemies, which would be very beneficial in alienating the Empress Dowager and Leng Ruo Li.
That's why she had staged a fake injury, prompting the Emperor to release Prince Qing from his three-month confinement early, so he could accompany her to celebrate Grand Tutor Xia's birthday.
Today's events were also her idea for the Empress. The Empress had arranged for the black-robed figure to follow her into the Xia mansion and then plot to harm Princess Qing Ling to frame Leng Ruo Li.
Unexpectedly, that arrogant fool, the black-robed figure, had allowed Princess Qing Ling to see his insignia. Furthermore, he had audaciously slept with another man's maid in the Xia mansion and was caught red-handed. It was hilariously laughable.
Fortunately, nothing was traced back to her, which made her sweat profusely.
After Prince Qing and Leng Ruo Shuang got into the carriage, his entire face turned grim.
"Were you involved in today's events?" Prince Qing asked in a chilling tone.
"N-no... no... yes, yes!" Leng Ruo Shuang stammered.
"Stupid! If it weren't for the fact that it was Grand Tutor Xia's birthday banquet today, do you think Jun Moh Han wouldn't have found out about you?" Prince Qing said coldly.
"Let him find out. What can Jun Moh Han do to me? I'm carrying the Emperor's eldest grandson in my belly!"
Leng Ruo Shuang said with her head held high, a look of arrogance on her face.
Prince Qing slapped Leng Ruo Shuang. If it weren't for the fact that she was carrying his only child, he probably would have kicked her away.
"Idiot! Do you know who you've offended today? If they really make a fuss, the Emperor will personally investigate this matter."
Prince Qing scolded her harshly, ordered the coachman to stop, and dismounted, walking away.
Leaving Leng Ruo Shuang sitting alone in the carriage, tears immediately began to flow uncontrollably. Prince Qing had never treated her this way before...
"Wuwuwu... wuwuwu..."
As she thought about it, she burst into loud sobs.
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