Proofread by Yin Jing

"What do you think, my sister?" Seeing that Yan Ling keeps smiling but doesn't answer her question, Yan Shuang becomes a little angry.

It is quite out of Yan Ling's expectation, but she is not surprised.

The number of the people she can use is extremely limited, so she can only ask servants in the Prime Minister's House to prepare her gift. She is very clear about why Yan Shuang got the news.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before, my sister? Are you intended to make a fool of me?" Yan Ling raises her eyebrows slightly and looks at Yan Shuang with a little doubt.

"This..." For a while, there is a lot of discussion in the hall.

At the Palace Banquet, that Yan Ling was praised by the empress for "taking care of her sister" is known by many people who attended today. In contrast, it seems that the second daughter of the Prime Minister is being difficult on purpose.

Even today's birthday star, Prime Minister Yan, frowns with a little dissatisfaction. Although he promised to help her daughter Shuang to make fool of Yan Ling at some party, he did not expect that it happened at his own birthday party.

This is no ordinary banquet. Almost all the civil and military officials are here. Yan Shuang is in an inferior position, but it will embarra.s.s him if Yan Ling becomes a laughing stock.

Anyhow, Yan Ling is always the first daughter of the prime minister's family for the outside world. Yan Ling, to a certain extent, is also linked with the Prime Minister's family.

Yan Shuang didn't expect that Yan Ling not only sees through her intention, but also says it directly in the hall. For a while, she is at a loss.

"What are you saying, Ling'er? You and Shuang'er are sisters, how could she make fool of you on purpose?" says Mrs. Yan with a smile. She is over forty years old, but still charming. Her eyes flash with discontent.

Yan Ling also comes out of her seat, slowly walking to Yan Shuang's side. She naturally pulls up Yan Shuang's hand and smiles at the people around her. "You are so worried, mother. Ling'er is just joking with my sister. We are close, and Shuang'er is gentle and clever. How can I have such an idea?"

Yan Ling says, patting Yan Shuang's hand gently, and pretending to be affectionate with Shuang. Mrs. Yan wants to say something, but Liang He cuts in, "As the outside world says, the two daughters of Yan Family are really close. They are really good examples of twin sisters."

Now that the Crown Prince has already said so, how could others express different ideas? For a while, everyone joins in, even the prime minister Yan who clearly knows it was not the case, makes a little smile.

Yan Shuang clenches her teeth, and refuses to let go of the previous topic. "As his Royal Highness said, it was just a joke. We are a family. No matter what the gift is, I think father would not mind." Yan Shuang holds Ling's arm, leaning her head obliquely on Ling's shoulder.

Yan Ling sneers in her heart. It seems that Yan Shuang has prepared something extraordinary and is determined to excel her. Now that she wants the limelight, why would she refuse?

"Of course. A birthday gift for the elder is not necessarily a treasure. What matters much is our wholehearted wishes to them." Yan Ling smiles at Yan Shuang, then waves to Liyi.

Liyi nods, turns around and leaves the hall. After a while, two servants come in with a basin of Guest-greeting Pine.

Seeing the pine with obviously dead branches, Yan Shuang could not help laughing. She thinks that Yan Ling is really ridiculous for providing this kind of thing as a birthday gift.

Although most people in the Prime Minister's House look down upon Yan Ling, no one actually has the courage to deduct her monthly money. Even if she can't find something precious, she doesn't need to use this as a stopgap.

Thinking about this, Yan Shuang no longer hides her gift and pulls down the red silk. For a while, many people gasp out of surprise.

That two foot tall bonsai is actually a very delicate red coral. It has a bright color and is just like a red jadeite. Its color saturation is high and seems to drop like blood at any time.

Even if someone who has little knowledge about coral can recognize that it's definitely a good treasure. Lady Shuang really endeavored to prepare gifts. In contrast, the gift of Lady Ling is miserable and shabby.

Although the guests cannot make any judgment, discussing in a low voice is unavoidable. However, Yan Ling remains her calm att.i.tude as if she were not aware of this situation.

After a while, an elderly official suddenly says, "Excuse me, Lady Yan. What's on the pine? Is that sarira?"

Yan Ling smiles, there really is a knowledgeable person. She says to herself while turning around and nods at the elderly man over there.

For a while, everyone is puzzled. Everyone has heard of such things as Buddhist relics, but isn't it that was left behind after the cremation of Buddhas or saintly monks? What does it have to do with this pine tree?

Yan Ling smiles without saying anything. The elderly man is a little excited, "There are things which you don't know. The pine trees are easy to rot, and sarira is the immortal branch left by pine trees after hundreds or even thousands of years of cultivation. It is very rare."

After that, everyone knows which gift is more previous.

Seeing the twisted face of Yan Shuang, Yan Ling smiles casually. She thinks you can't stand it even now. How about the next?

As she is thinking, Liyi comes in with a plate in her hands. There is a colorful peach in it.

Li Yi hands the plate to Yan Ling and bows, "This is the peach that Lady Ling prepared herself, my Lord. Lady Ling got up really early in the morning, and she put it into the steamer just before the party begins."

Yan Ling pretends to be discontented and stares at Liyi, "Don't say that here!"

"This is your fiftieth birthday, father, and Ling'er doesn't know how to express myself. I had thought of preparing some treasures, but I was afraid that they didn't match what the lords prepared. So I can only make some worthless things by myself. I wish your happiness as immense as the Eastern Sea and may you live as long as the Southern Mountains!

The party reaches its climax at this moment. Although it was arranged by Yan Shuang, at the end of the day, it was not her who made the most of the show.

Early next morning, Yan Ling asked Liyi to select some servants for her yard. Yan Ling planned to select a group of servants by herself.

Even though Yan Ling is not the favorite, she is also the eldest daughter in the Prime Minister's House. She has rights to do that. And in this period, an old woman sold a group of servants, and the housekeeper has already sent someone to inform her.

In the past years, Yan Ling felt that there was no need to have more servants. However, it will be different in future. In any case, she should have a few trustworthy people around her.