Xiao Ning’Er was not the only one with such thoughts; at this moment, the family members of many high-ranking court officials shared the same perspective.
Xiao Ning’Er emerged from the banquet. It was only when she reached the foot of the stage that she realized other young ladies from different families had also come forward.
Xiao Ning’Er recognized two of the young ladies who had come forward with her. One was Song Yingxue, the daughter of the Left Prime Minister’s household; although not his biological daughter, she was his niece.
Xiao Ning’Er frowned slightly. Song Yingxue silently took a step back and stood to one side, yielding.
The other young lady, however, seemed to lack such perception. This was Shi Ning of the Shi Family. Shi Ning was the daughter of Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion.
The Duke’s Mansion and the Marquis’s Mansion held different social standings. Normally, anyone would have yielded, just as Song Yingxue, the daughter of the Left Prime Minister’s household, had done.
However, Shi Ning was different. Although her family’s Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion was a rank lower than the Duke’s Mansion, her father was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and held substantial power.
Shi Ning and Xiao Ning’Er now stood face to face, neither yielding. Both stared at the stage steps, their gazes fiercely locked.
The two young ladies became the center of attention, their families watching with bated breath. At this moment, whoever yielded would be admitting defeat. Everyone knew that Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion and the Duke’s Mansion had a long-standing feud!
All eyes were wide, watching these two representatives of their noble families. Would the Duke’s Mansion overpower Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion today, or would Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion manage to surpass the Duke’s Mansion?
"How did these two end up confronting each other?"
The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples, quite troubled. She knew about the long-standing feud between the two families and felt anxious. The reasons for their enmity were something she found embarrassing to mention; the two families simply couldn’t stand the sight of each other.
Their conflict hadn’t escalated to a life-or-death struggle, but if one side managed to make the other lose face or gain an advantage, it would become the talk of the noble circles in the capital!
"They haven’t bumped into each other! There are still two steps between them!"
Xiaosuisui, not understanding, looked from Shi Ning to Xiao Ning’Er after hearing the Empress Dowager’s words.
Both young ladies stood at the foot of the stage steps, glaring at each other. If one ascended before the other waited, there would be no problem.
But if they both tried to step onto the stairs at the same time, they would inevitably collide!
The Empress Dowager knew Xiaosuisui was too young to understand the intricacies, so she didn’t explain further. She merely glanced lightly at Shi Ning and Xiao Ning’Er. How long would they remain deadlocked, and how would this ultimately be resolved?
It wasn’t just the Empress Dowager waiting; the guests at the banquet were also watching, of course. But the ones most anxious were the two involved, Xiao Ning’Er and Shi Ning.
"In terms of rank, the Duke’s Mansion is one level higher than Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion!"
Finally, Xiao Ning’Er couldn’t hold back any longer. Her day had been frustrating. First, at the entrance of Cining Palace, her cousin, the Emperor, had silently punished her with kneeling for not speaking cautiously.
Then, after entering Cining Palace, her aunt, the Empress Dowager, had slighted her. She was already feeling aggrieved and furious, and now, even for the performance, she had to run into this wretched Shi Ning!
"So what? Our Marquis’s Mansion may be a rank lower than your Duke’s Mansion, but my father is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War! Your father, the Duke, led troops in his early years, but didn’t he relinquish his military command and retire to a life of leisure several years ago?"
Shi Ning spoke unhurriedly, her words a thinly veiled question: so what if your father is the Duke? He holds no real power in court!
Xiao Ning’Er was so furious her chest heaved, tears welling in her eyes. She turned her head to look at Empress Dowager Xiao.
"Aunt! Look at her! She’s looking down on our Duke’s Mansion! She says our Duke’s Mansion holds no real power!"
Upon hearing Xiao Ning’Er’s words, everyone present gasped!
The Empress Dowager was so angry her chest tightened, feeling utterly stifled!