Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts-Chapter 457 - Old Madam, I Haven’t Given My Gift Yet.

As the performance concluded, thunderous applause erupted throughout the courtyard.

It seemed that quite a few people enjoyed the play.

Some were even completely absorbed in it, watching with more focus than when the courtesans were dancing earlier.

Xu Ming had no doubt that in just a few days, this play would make its way into various theaters—and perhaps even an adult version would appear in the brothels.

Xu Zheng, clearly excited, turned to Xu Ming and eagerly asked, “Son, what do you think of the play I arranged for you?”

What else could Xu Ming say? He could only force out a “Not bad.”

At this point, he was convinced that his cheap old man had either made an honest mistake or had done this on purpose.

Wu Yanhan let out a soft hum and took another sip of tea.

From the beginning of the play to the very end, she had lost count of how many times she had sipped her tea—just to suppress the fire burning inside her.

Lady Qin, watching the interaction between the princess and Xu Ming, couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of concern.

It was painfully obvious to anyone that the two shared an incredibly close relationship—one that even bordered on intimacy.

There was no way they could claim there was nothing between them.

It was as if a thin veil separated them—so fragile that a single touch could pierce right through it.

Yet, neither of them made the move to break it.

Both of them knew, without a doubt, how they felt about each other.

But for some reason, they remained apart.

However, as they spent more time together, that distance would only shrink.

And eventually, that so-called veil would mean nothing at all.

“If Ming’er and the princess are this close... then what about Qingwan?”

The princess could never be a concubine—only a legitimate wife.

But then... was her own daughter supposed to become a concubine?

What mother in the world would ever want that for her child?

The more Lady Qin thought about it, the more uneasy she felt for her daughter’s future.

—

Once the performances concluded, Old Madam Xu stepped onto the stage.

It was time for the guests to present their gifts.

The first to present a gift, of course, was Wu Yanhan.

As a member of the royal family—and as the emperor’s representative—there was no way she could be second to anyone.

“Greetings, Old Madam Xu.” Wu Yanhan stepped forward respectfully. “This time, my father has sent me to present a Mountain and River Scroll. This scroll was personally painted by His Majesty to commemorate the glorious era when Duke Xu and Duke Qin fought alongside our founding emperor to establish this nation.”

With trembling hands, Old Madam Xu personally stood up to receive the scroll. Her voice was full of emotion as she said, “It was the honor of both the Xu and Qin families to fight for the founding emperor’s cause. Not just in the past, but in the future as well—our sons and grandsons will continue to serve His Majesty until their dying breath.”

“The Xu and Qin families have produced generations of outstanding talents, living up to the legacy of their ancestors. You are the pride of our nation,” Wu Yanhan said, offering a few more words of praise.

Of course, her statement was only half true.

The false part? Xu Shuiya and Xu Zheng’s generation, who had done nothing but live off the glory of their forefathers.

The true part? The younger generation—Xu Ming and his peers—was indeed full of rising stars.

There was no need to even mention Xu Ming himself.

Xu Pangda had ranked among the top scholars and, after years of serving as an official, had already begun earning a solid reputation in the imperial court.

Xu Yi and Xu Shan had recently descended from the mountain and would soon become pillars of their sect.

And their sect, in turn, had deep ties with the Wu Kingdom’s military—often sending disciples to the imperial court for training.

Before long, the Xu family’s younger generation would become powerful enough to form their own faction within the government.

After Wu Yanhan and Old Madam Xu exchanged a few more pleasantries, she stepped down from the stage.

She truly respected the old lady—not just because she had once followed the founding ancestors into battle, proving herself a heroine among women, but also because, once she and Xu Ming were married, they would be family. It was only natural to leave a good impression on her future elders.

Likewise, Old Madam Xu felt a unique fondness for Wu Yanhan.

Of course, a big part of it was because this princess was very likely to marry Ming’er and become part of the Xu family.

Though Xu Ming would technically be marrying into the royal family, so what?

How many people dreamed of such a fate?

However, if that day truly came, Old Madam Xu knew that the Xu and Qin families would need to maintain some distance from the imperial court.

Otherwise, the emperor’s scrutiny would surely fall upon them—and that could lead to disaster.

—

After Wu Yanhan, one by one, high-ranking officials and nobles took to the stage, offering their congratulations to Old Madam Xu. Their attendants and servants followed behind, presenting lavish gifts.

“Old Madam Xu, my uncle was unable to personally attend due to pressing matters, but he has sent me in his stead with this Thousand-Snow Lingzhi to wish prosperity upon the Xu and Qin families for a thousand years.”

A refined young man, likely in his early twenties, stepped forward and spoke with a clear voice.

Xu Ming looked at the young man—his peer in age—and couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

Since when did Prime Minister Xiao send a nephew to assist him?

To Xu Ming’s knowledge, Prime Minister Xiao was someone who was very cautious about avoiding nepotism.

Xu Ming figured there were only two possibilities:

One, Prime Minister Xiao had run out of capable people.

Two, this nephew of his was so talented that, even knowing it would invite criticism, the Prime Minister still felt he was worth nurturing.

“Prime Minister Xiao is burdened with state affairs—just the fact that he still keeps our Xu and Qin families in mind is already a great kindness. How could I possibly fault him?” Old Madam Xu waved a hand dismissively. A maid stepped forward to respectfully receive the gift. “I would be grateful if you could pass along our thanks to your esteemed uncle.”

“Yes, of course.” Xiao Hui, the Prime Minister’s nephew, nodded, bowed again, and stepped down.

After him, the Minister of Rites came forward to present his gift.

From that point on, the order of gifts was no longer based on rank—it was simply determined by when each guest had arrived at the Xu estate.

As each gift was announced, murmurs spread through the crowd. Some marveled at the wealth of the gift-givers, suspecting they must have been lining their pockets for years. Others cast disdainful glances at those who prided themselves on being part of the clean government faction, feeling that their presence made the more corrupt officials stand out uncomfortably.

“So I took bribes, and you didn’t. Fine. But now you’re using your meager salary to send a gift? What, just to make me look bad?”

—

An hour passed, and with all the gifts presented and the guests well-fed, Old Madam Xu finally rose from her seat.

She was about to give a closing speech, signaling the end of the ancestral feast.

But just then—

An elderly man suddenly stood up and called out in a loud voice:

“Old Madam, I haven’t given my gift yet!”

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