CHAPTER 270: CHAPTER 270: WHY DIDN’T YOU KNEEL AND KOWTOW TO ME?

"My humble self pays respect to the Dowager Madam Ji and Princess Chang. I apologize for any discourtesy. My absence was due to some errands outside; I did not mean to neglect our distinguished guests."

The Dowager Madam Ji listened to the insincere words from the woman of the Lin Family, her expression unchanging. She was about to utter some polite words and then seize the opportunity to address the issue of the Gu Insect, intending to solve it before returning, when the beloved granddaughter in her arms spoke.

"Nanny Zhang, last night you told me that anyone who meets me must kneel and kowtow to me. Why didn’t the pretty lady’s auntie kneel and kowtow to me?"

Silence. You could hear a pin drop. No one dared to breathe.

Nanny Zhang stood beside Dowager Madam Ji, coughed once, and looked at Xiaosuisui with surprise.

This child, whom I taught about etiquette and rules only last night, I thought she would forget them. I little expected her to apply them so adeptly!

"The Princess is of a noble status. According to the rules, commoners without official ranks, upon meeting you, must kneel, greet, and pay respect. They may only rise after the Princess has received their obeisance."

At Nanny Zhang’s words, everyone in the Flower Hall jumped in fright. When Princess Chang had brought Xie Pan’Er in earlier, they had risen. However, after seeing her rush straight into Dowager Madam Ji’s arms, they began whispering about the father and son of the Fifth House. Consequently, everyone had sat back down.

At the Nanny’s words, their faces turned ashen.

"What’s the matter? Can the Xie Family women not kneel to our Princess?" Nanny Zhang snorted through her nose, her expression icy. Her seasoned eyes landed on the woman of the Lin Family.

The woman of the Lin Family was so terrified that, with a THUD, she fell to her knees.

"Greetings, Princess. Please be merciful, Princess."

Xiaosuisui, held by Dowager Madam Ji, swung her tiny legs above the head of the woman of the Lin Family, making the woman of the Lin Family break out in a cold sweat.

"You may rise!"

After saying "You may rise!", Xiaosuisui turned her head to look at Nanny Zhang. "Nanny, is the etiquette I’ve learned correct?"

Nanny Zhang felt helpless inside but didn’t show it on her face. "The Princess’s etiquette is, of course, correct."

Who among those present would dare to say ’no’ to the Princess? I certainly wouldn’t.

The woman of the Lin Family stood up and retreated to a spot next to Dowager Madam Xie, her gaze angrily fixed on Xie Pan’Er’s family.

That glare, it was as if she wanted to devour people.

"First Daughter-in-law," Dowager Madam Xie began, "Pan’Er said that you implanted a type of Gu Insect called ’Mother-Child Gu’ into Xie Si and his son from the Fifth House to control them. Is this true?"

Having received the tip-off from Nanny Hua earlier, the woman of the Lin Family had already prepared her response.

She feigned both fear and sincerity as she stood in the middle of the crowd, then, with a THUD, knelt before Dowager Madam Xie. "Madam, please believe me, there’s no such thing!"

"You... you’re lying in broad daylight! You clearly put a Gu Insect into my father and older brother. How can you deny it?" Seeing that the woman of the Lin Family denied it, Xie Pan’Er couldn’t help but become anxious and immediately confronted her.

Upon hearing Xie Pan’Er’s words, the woman of the Lin Family scoffed, "Admit? To something I haven’t done? How can you ask me to admit to that? If you have the ability, then produce your evidence!"

"Evidence? The Gu Insects in my father and older brother’s bodies are the evidence! They’re both here. They can confront you!"

"Confrontation? How can they confront me? Just because they have some wretched Gu Insect in their bodies, they accuse me of implanting it?" The woman of the Lin Family, resolute in her denial, turned her head to look at Xie Wulang.

"Brother-in-law, I am, after all, your sister-in-law. Moreover, your wife, my fifth sister-in-law, was originally one of my personal maids! All these years, due to your disability and heavy drinking, do you know how much silver you spend each year, each month? If it weren’t for my magnanimity, do you think you could be enjoying such fine liquor every day?"