As ti flew by, it was ti for the full moon banquet at the Duke Zhou Mansion.
Before leaving, Yu Tingwan did not forget to pay her respects to Ning Suxuan.
Ning Suxuan was eating bird’s nest soup, and was surprised to see her co in.
"What is it?"
"I have nothing particular to remind you of."
Despite saying so, she put down her spoon while looking at the beautiful girl in front of her.
"Although the Duke Zhou Mansion is the Empress’s natal family, our Duke Shun Mansion is not inferior. To speak loyally, it was the ancestors of the Wei Family who helped the imperial family establish this country."
"Rember your identity when you’re out. Your husband is Wei Zhao, just this point alone ans you don’t need to bow to anyone, and no one will dare embarrass you. Even if soone tries, you don’t need to give them any face."
"As a young madam of the Duke Shun Mansion, you must have this confidence."
"Don’t be afraid of causing trouble. Even if the sky falls, as long as you’re in the right, there will be soone to back you up."
She said calmly.
"Do you rember?"
Yu Tingwan: ...
Before she left Lan Garden, Wei Zhao said this.
—Don’t restrain yourself. It’s rare to go out, enjoy yourself to the fullest.
One has to say, the confidence given by this mother and son is truly ample.
"Mother-in-law, are you really not going? If you and I go together, we would have company."
"Even though it’s just a baby girl, if the mother-in-law goes personally, it indeed shows great respect to the Duke Zhou Mansion. But you haven’t left the main courtyard for a long ti, being alone and quiet, without even soone to talk to. Over ti, you might fall ill from being suppressed. Consider it a trip to relax."
How lively it would be, much better than staying indoors and writing Buddhist scriptures.
"No need."
Ning Suxuan, who never liked noise, found it too loud and clattering: "You go ahead."
Seeing her stance, Yu Tingwan didn’t persuade further. After giving Ning Suxuan a respectful courtesy, she quickly left.
Ning Suxuan watched her light and cheerful back, lost in thought for a long ti.
"Madam."
Nanny Ru called softly.
"Are you worried about the heir’s wife?"
Ning Suxuan retracted her gaze.
"Worried?"
"Though she often talks nonsense with , when steadiness is needed, she is calm and composed."
"Such a person has a plan in mind and won’t suffer losses wherever she goes."
She rarely praises people.
Although she wasn’t particularly close to Yu Tingwan, she already acknowledged and affird her.
————
Ministry of the Imperial Household, Shen Mansion.
"Who wants to go?"
Shen Zhiyi smashed a vase, bursting into a great rage.
"That young lady at the Duke Zhou Mansion is surnad Chu! She’s Chu Liulang’s full sister! Have you forgotten, Father? That beast Chu Liulang broke off our engagent, causing to beco the laughingstock of all Shangjing! Now I have to go congratulate his sister with a smile as if nothing happened?"
Mr. Shen’s face darkened: "Are you showing your attitude to !"
Standing with his hands behind his back, he looked at Shen Zhiyi with disapproval.
"It is a Duke Mansion after all! It’s a great honor for them to send us an invitation..."
Before he could finish.
"What is it?"
"It’s because the Duke Zhou Mansion has the Chu family as in-laws, and they feel ashad too."
"Hence they’re helping to clear up the ss, making swallow my grievances, and chatting with those people, to show that there are no grudges between the families?"
The main parties no longer care, so the people gossiping would stop.
Mr. Shen could only persuade with emotion and reason: "Your sister-in-law is heavily pregnant and can’t make an appearance, and your mother caught a cold yesterday. You, as the legitimate daughter of the Shen Family, have to show up. Do you expect a concubine-born sister to go instead?"
Shen Zhiyi sneered, as if waiting for this line.
"It’s so strange, Father used to know the distinction between legitimate and concubine daughters. A concubine daughter isn’t presentable, right?"
"My engagent with Chu Liulang was hastily arranged. Back then, I made a joke about being in prison, and Father, afraid to offend the Wei Family, agreed ignoring my wishes."
"Father isn’t just my father, you should be kind to my younger sisters too, but why are you bypassing , going through so much trouble to arrange a marriage for my third sister?"
She hasn’t been promised yet!
Shen Zhiyi, filled with dissatisfaction, looked at Mr. Shen.
"Was mother really in a headache due to catching a cold? Probably not."
"It’s more likely because of arguing with you about my marriage, right, Father."
Mr. Shen’s expression turned slightly awkward.
"What nonsense are you saying?"
Shen Zhiyi, dismissively, continued: "That Hu family from Jiangnan isn’t prominent. You have a benefactor’s grace with the Hu Family son, and our families know each other well. But wasn’t this supposed to be arranged for ? As a daughter whose engagent was broken, with a poor reputation, the marriage arrangent can only be chosen from lower options. Yet, because of a concubine’s persuasion, you readily changed it to a concubine sister."
"You!"
Mr. Shen was at a loss.
"I’ll definitely find soone more suitable for you."
"I’d rather not."
Shen Zhiyi: "There’s another concubine daughter under the concubine, why would it be my turn?"
"Mother is soft-hearted and keeps everything to herself. The maternal family is far away in Jizhou, and she never complains, leaving her without support, enduring half a life’s grievance, as the main wife yet constantly yielding to a concubine."
"But I can’t stand it. Let’s forget about other matters, Jiangnan is too far, and even if the Hu family son is excellent, I don’t care for him. I won’t marry far, leaving mother unprotected, to be consud until not even the bones remain."
What kind of words are these?
Does she really think the Shen Family is a den of wolves and tigers?
Though Mr. Shen usually had a good temper, he couldn’t avoid getting angry sotis with Shen Zhiyi’s indulgence.
"As your concubine mother said, I’ve really spoiled you!"
He raised his hand, about to strike.
But couldn’t bring himself to do it, his hand stayed in mid-air.
Shen Zhiyi seed to expect it, unmoved.
"Older sister’s marriage wasn’t inferior; she bore a son for her husband last year. My brother may be lacking skills, but he has a good father-in-law. As long as we, the siblings, are around, Father can never legally adopt those concubine daughters under Mother’s na."
They took her marriage, and now they aim at her mother’s position, wanting to climb up through them. They can forget about being legitimate daughters in this life!
She was curious if the Hu Family was interested in a concubine daughter.
Mr. Shen: "All are mbers of the sa family, you..."
Shen Zhiyi didn’t care to listen: "I’m heading out now."
Mr. Shen: ...
Forget it.
Go then.
The Duke Mansion’s feast is important, everything else can be discussed later.
With reluctance, Shen Zhiyi knew she had to attend the Duke Zhou Mansion.
She felt annoyed.
But just as Shen Zhiyi was about to leave, she saw the Duke Shun Mansion’s carriage parked outside.
She froze for a mont, then quickly descended the steps.
At this mont, Yu Tingwan gently lifted the curtain.
"I’m here to pick up Miss Shen to go together."
Shen Zhiyi, skeptical: "Are you... really that kind-hearted?"
Yu Tingwan indeed wanted to derive joy from her!
"It is indeed out of the way. Coming to pick you up first and then to the Duke Zhou Mansion requires a big detour."
But if she didn’t co to pick up, Shen Zhiyi would have been in trouble.
While preparing to leave, she saw images flash before her eyes again.
It was Shen Zhiyi being hit by a startled horse rushing unpredictably, thrown into the air.
Can Shen Zhiyi indeed have an accident!
If sothing happens to her, there would be an absence. The buzz would lessen!
Yu Tingwan wouldn’t ntion these to her.
Even if she did, likely none would believe it.
She kindly, sincerely stated: "But I simply wish to pick you up."
Shen Zhiyi believed it!
She originally intended to befriend Yu Tingwan, so without a second word, she hopped into the carriage.
Once in, she sat next to Yu Tingwan.
Just seated.
Yu Tingwan glanced at her complexion: "Why so angry and fiery?"
"Don’t even ntion it, the concubine mother and concubine sisters at ho are irritating beyond asure."
Shen Zhiyi: "Honestly, right now I see anyone I feel like spitting on them and giving a slap."
Upon hearing this, Yu Tingwan put on an innocent face: "I just saw Zhou Yurou from the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Industry also heading there."
Indeed, at this Shen Zhiyi beca agitated.
"Don’t ntion that bitch!"
Yu Tingwan softly reminded: "Then don’t forget, if the opportunity arises, make sure to deal with her."
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