Li Hua said she didn’t know what to do, plunging Xiao Shiqing’s future into a living hell.
She was stuck in Li Hua’s body, unable to do this or do that, and trying to go out was out of the question. If he could speak, he might intimidate those disrespectful servants using the County Princess’s identity. But as it was, unable to speak, he had no choice but to swallow the anger.
Everyone now knew he couldn’t speak, and he had learned to communicate by writing. But the fierce words carried no authority when written.
Moreover, those people paid little heed to his notes, glancing at them only when in a good mood, leaving them ignored when not, and reading them whenever they felt like it.
Bullied like this, Xiao Shiqing could only endure silently.
He spoke to Li Hua about inviting a Daoist to check things out, but that suggestion hit a roadblock with Mrs. Xiao.
"Why invite a Daoist when all’s fine? If word gets out, people might think there’s sothing wrong with Xiao Mansion, bringing in Daoists every so often. Who told you to invite a Daoist, and for what purpose?"
Faced with such a barrage of questions, Li Hua again showed Xiao Shiqing a helpless look.
Once more, Xiao Shiqing had his perception of his mother challenged; this wasn’t like how he rembered her. She was different from before, when she mostly supported his choices.
No, most of the ti, he just did what he wanted without needing his mother’s consent. Whether she agreed or disagreed hardly affected him.
Now Li Hua rely occupied his body, not him personally, so naturally couldn’t act like him.
Although he told her to persevere and ignore the complications, Li Hua still wore a troubled expression. What more could he say?
"I’ll stealthily consult a Daoist later, indirectly asking, not overtly ntioning our issues. Don’t worry." Li Hua dropped these words and left, gone for several days as there was a matter Xiao Shiqing needed to attend to, forcing her to go.
Xiao Shiqing remained at Xiao Mansion alone, feeling uneasy for the first ti.
He suggested they first send him out, sending him to the County Princess Mansion; residing safely there with her own people since he was in her body. But Li Hua said, "This is your ho, why worry? Moreover, I will have soone take good care of you. Wait for to return, so much back and forth won’t be good."
After speaking, she left, leaving the speechless Prince Xiao behind.
As soon as Li Hua walked out, Mrs. Xiao ca in.
Honestly, Xiao Shiqing was a bit afraid of encountering his mother now.
Her words full of sarcasm, the atmosphere gloomy and strange; he couldn’t argue back without speaking. Truthfully, even if he could speak, he wouldn’t know how to rebut.
After all, Prince Xiao lacked experience quarreling with won.
So upon seeing Mrs. Xiao’s figure, Xiao Shiqing wanted to turn and shut the door.
Seeing this, Mrs. Xiao scowled, "What’s the matter? Living in soone’s house, not greeting elders upon seeing them, but wanting to turn and shut the door instead. Which family taught such behavior?"
Xiao Shiqing’s face reddened.
Mrs. Xiao, seeing this, beca all the more rciless, "If you wish to beco the Xiao family’s daughter-in-law, you must abide by Xiao family’s rules. How could you not offer tea upon seeing elders? I heard you learned many rules in the palace before; how could you not understand this basic etiquette? Never mind if you don’t get it, I’ll teach you again. Soone, bring freshly brewed hot tea!"
A servant brought a newly boiled pot of tea.
Mrs. Xiao ordered "Li Hua" to serve tea to her.
In hopes of calming things down and to quickly see his mother leave, Xiao Shiqing had no choice but to comply; otherwise, who knows how many more things awaited him.
However, Prince Xiao thought too simplistically. Serving tea wasn’t just tea serving; the cup was so hot it made his palm tremble, making him wish to throw it away. Yet Mrs. Xiao, without lifting her gaze, spoke, "Stand straight, hold the cup steady, don’t shake. In a noble family’s rules, even if scalded, don’t flinch."
If Xiao Shiqing were still a man, being scalded might not make him flinch, but now he was in a woman’s body.
Mother delayed taking the cup, Xiao Shiqing was nearing his limit from the heat and wanted to put it down sowhere. Mrs. Xiao coldly glanced at him, "Why, unwilling to serve tea? I haven’t even taken it, and you want to place it down?"
Xiao Shiqing reluctantly continued holding it. If he were still in his original body, he could withstand this temperature, but a woman’s skin is delicate; holding it longer, his forehead began to sweat coldly, his body began to tremble, and he finally couldn’t resist putting the cup on the nearby table.
Then he desperately blew on his hand; it hurt too much.
Mrs. Xiao raised her hand, slamming it on the table, "Indeed raised by a small family, can’t even learn this bit of etiquette. When we got married, we learned every rule of respecting our in-laws thoroughly; serving tea was just basic. If you can’t even do this, who would marry a daughter-in-law like you?"
Xiao Shiqing watched his mother continue her harsh critique, with words he had never seen her face express before, his heart full of complex feelings.
Mrs. Xiao still fuming, "Using shady ans behind the scenes to entice my son, now you should have the capability to serve tea properly. Serve again, only return to when you can hold it steadily!"
Xiao Shiqing didn’t move, still not being Li Hua, retaining so of the man’s inherent dignity.
So things are done once just to dismiss them quickly; she wouldn’t leave but insisted on him serving tea again.
Such scalding tea, how to serve it?
Holding a boiling cup, not to say a woman’s hand can’t bear it, even a man couldn’t necessarily hold it steadily.
Xiao Shiqing could withstand a slash on the battlefield without flinching, yet facing this ticulous tea-serving ordeal, he felt tornted.
Seeing "Li Hua" not moving, Mrs. Xiao angrily laughed, "What, you wish to beco Xiao family’s daughter-in-law, yet unwilling to abide by the rules? If you hadn’t seduced my son, perhaps it’d slide. Seduced him, but shalessly moved into Xiao family, then you don’t get your way here, soone, ’invite’ her to serve tea!"
Upon Mrs. Xiao’s words, several strong matrons approached to seize Li Hua.
A weak girl like "Li Hua" couldn’t resist the matrons’ brutish force and was imdiately subdued, unable to move a muscle.
"Place the teapot in her hand, make her hold it!" Mrs. Xiao commanded.
The matrons obediently forced Li Hua to hold the boiling teapot.
The teapot landed on Xiao Shiqing, he cried out in pain, and the teapot accidentally tipped over, hot water spilling everywhere, so splattering on Mrs. Xiao’s hand as she was about to erupt in fury.
Servant reported, "Princely Heir has returned."
A trace of unexpressed sorrow crossed Xiao Shiqing’s heart; finally returned...
Before he could react, Mrs. Xiao was already up, approaching "Xiao Shiqing."
"Oh dear, this Miss Li won’t listen to , asked her to serve mother so tea, she splashed it on ..."
Such distortion of facts, Xiao Shiqing was utterly stunned watching from the side.
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