The West Hall of Chang De Gong Fu was set aside for banquets for womenfolk so the decorations inside were mostly exquisite and bright. There were paintings and calligraphy of famous people hanging inside. It looked like this was a family with some history. But it was a pity that each generation was worse than the last. The conduct of the Duke of Chang De was even more preposterous and people laughed at him in private.
Qu Qing Ju and Qu lao taitai sat at the same table and her seat was next to Luo lao taitai. It was enough to see the attitude of the Qu Family towards her. There were people at the table who were especially flattering so the atmosphere at the table could be considered lively. But when Luo lao taitai called the Qu Family san guniang to sit on the other side, the gazes of everyone else changed. If this was a private banquet, no one would say a word about this seat. But there were a few of the womenfolk present that had higher status than Luo lao taitai. This Qu Family san guniang was a junior and didn't have a title so it wasn't appropriate for her to sit at this table.
The Marquis of Bao Rong smiled coldly as he looked at Qu lao taitai's actions. He understood that Qu lao taitai wanted the Qu Family san guniang to appear in front of the other furen. This wasn't a good time.
"This old one has always favored these two yahuan. Now that eldest yahuan is married, they are finally together," Qu lao taitai didn't know what everyone was thinking. She used a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her eyes, "Now that the yahuan are all grown up, this old woman wants to keep them by my side at all times."
A furen that was on good terms with the Qu Family smiled and followed up: "This is lao taitai's benevolence towards her granddaughters. But this girl has grown up and can't always be kept. San guniang is such a symbol … …" When she got to this point, she gave a mischievous smile.
When Qu Yue Su heard this, she quickly lowered her head, too embarrassed to raise it.
Seeing the demeanor of a little girl, Qu Qing Ju smiled at the woman who spoke. This person was from Qu lao taitai's paternal family, Wei shi. Her husband wasn't too young, but he was an assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites. But this person was only polite to Qu Yue Su. At the beginning, Qu Qing Ju and shu daughter Qu Hui Xue weren't in her eyes.
"Wei furen is joking. Right now, san meimei is the youngest and grandmother is very fond of her. how can she not spend more time with grandmother," Qu Qing Ju looked sarcastically at Wei shi. She took the handkerchief that Yin Liu presented to wipe her hands, "But er meimei is spending less time with grandmother..
Liang shi heard Qu Qing Ju's words and anger rose inside. Qu Qing Ju was ruining her daughter's marriage. Did she deliberately mention the second daughter to tell others that she, as a legitimate mother, was not kind and only cared about her own daughter and mistreated the daughter of a concubine?
Wei shi paused, as though she hadn't reacted. In the past, she had always tried to please her aunt like this. Today, she had been pushed back by Qu Qing Ju. She suddenly realized that the one sitting in front of her wasn't the eldest daughter of the Qu Family, but the high and mighty Duan Wang Fei.
Old Madam Luo smiled and looked at Madam Wei. Her eyes were full of ridicule. Who was Duan Wang? That was the second son of the Emperor. His mother, Jing Fei, wasn't as favored as Shu Fei, but she still had some face in front of the Emperor. As to Duan Wang's personality, no one knew. But in the eyes of the court, even though Duan Wang wasn't the most capable of the four princes, he definitely wasn't a useless prince.
The Emperor couldn't have more than four sons. The eldest prince, Ning Wang, had some power in the court, but his birth wasn't high. His birth mother was just a talented person. The third prince, Rui Wang's mother, Shu Fei, was the most favored by the Emperor. She also favored this prince the most. But this prince, even though he had some strategy, his methods were vicious and caused many people to be wary. The fourth prince, Cheng Wang's mother, was an average guipin. She wasn't favored by the Emperor. The Emperor's favor of the fourth prince was average. As for Cheng Wang himself, he was mediocre.
Old Madam Luo didn't understand the matters of the court, but she wasn't bad at judging people. This Duan Wang's future was limitless. Her old Luo family didn't have any intentions of taking sides, but they definitely didn't have any intentions of offending Duan Wang. To be able to do what Duan Wang did, it was either his true nature or he was unfathomable.
But which person in the Imperial Family would show their true nature? She had lived for so many years and seen many people. So she understood better which people couldn't be offended, and which people, even if they were offended, it wouldn't be a big deal.
Duan Wang was the former, Chang De Gong Fu was the latter.
But she had misjudged this Duan Wang Fei. In the past, she had only taken care of her daughter who had married into the Tian Family. Now, she felt that this Duan Wang Fei wasn't a simple woman. Thinking about it, she rejoiced. She didn't expect Duan Wang Fei to be grateful to her, but because of the care in the past, it was a good thing that Duan Wang Fei had good feelings towards the Luo Family and her daughter.
But in the blink of an eye, Old Madam Luo's thoughts turned many times. She still had a kind smile on her face as she praised: "It can be seen that Duan Wang Fei is concerned about these meimei. This old one's yahuan would occasionally argue, but they can't compare to wang fei."
"Old madam is being modest. I've seen the sisters of your fu before. Each one of them is well-educated and well-mannered. Even jiumu often praises them." Qu Qing Ju accepted Old Madam Luo's good intentions, "Usually, tell meimei to come to the wang fu when they have nothing to do. Jiumu's personality is kind and treats me very well. But she doesn't have a daughter and I couldn't even get close to a young daughter like jiumu. Luckily, I met the sisters of your fu and fulfilled my wish. Old madam, don't be reluctant to let them come out."
Old madam Luo heard Duan Wang Fei mention how well her daughter had treated her in the past, and also praised her granddaughters. The smile on her face became even brighter: "Wang fei, don't praise them. Since wang fei doesn't dislike them for being rough, this old one will definitely take them to the wang fu to visit when there is a chance."
Everyone present had heard that Xiang Qing Hou Fu had taken good care of Duan Wang Fei before she had married. Hearing Duan Wang Fei's words, they finally confirmed those rumors. It seemed that Duan Wang Fei was very close to her uncle's family. It wasn't in vain that Xiang Qing Hou Fu had taken care of her.
Everyone was a woman and naturally understood the dark secrets of the houfu. It seemed that Duan Wang Fei and Chang De Gong Fu weren't very close. Since that was the case, in the future, when they interacted with Chang De Gong Fu, they didn't have to worry too much about Duan Wang Fu.
Qu Yue Su listened to everyone's conversation, a gentle smile on her face the entire time as though she didn't know the meaning behind everyone's words. Seeing the dishes come one by one, she affectionately had a yahuan put a dish of fragrant and spicy tofu in front of Qu Qing Ju: "Meimei remembers that da jie loves this dish the most. A few days ago, mother ordered the servants to make this dish well. Da jie, try it and see if you like it."
On top of the white and tender tofu, there were green chopped onions, tender yellow peppers and red chili oil. It looked very exquisite. Qu Qing Ju smiled and nodded at Qu Yue Su: "Thank you, meimei." This san meimei of hers wasn't a simple person.
"Please, wang fei, forgive nubi for being rude. But there are some things nubi has to say," Mu Jin bent her knees, respectful and helpless, "A few days ago, you were sick for half a month. Everyone in the fu was worried for you. The taiyi said long ago that you can't eat spicy or oily food. Now that you have recovered, wang ye has allowed you to go out … … don't forget what wang ye just told you. "
Luo lao taitai heard this and hurriedly urged: "This yahuan is very loyal and protective of her mistress. Long ago, she had heard that wang fei was ill. Wang fei might be filial but you have to take care of your body."
"Fine, fine, this yahuan has served me for many years and is the most naggy. I'm afraid of her," Qu Qing Ju sighed helplessly, "Lao taitai sent a few days ago, I still haven't thanked you properly."
"To say something offensive, this old one has watched wang fei grow up. As long as your body is healthy, there's no need for thanks," Luo lao taitai pointed at a bowl of pigeon soup in front of her, "This pigeon soup is very suitable for wang fei. Let the yahuan serve you a bowl."
Watching Mu Jin serve the soup, an awkward smile appeared on Qu Yue Su's face. These words didn't just imply that Chang De Gong Fu didn't care about da jie's illness, it also implied that her mother wasn't kind to da jie. Even the Luo Family, which didn't have much connection to da jie, had sent her medicine but her mother hadn't expressed anything. If this got out, what virtuous reputation would her mother have?
Qu lao taitai listened to these words, the smile on her face not changing but she looked a few more times at her erxifu, Liang shi.
Sitting at the side, Liang shi also heard the meaning behind the words. She hadn't thought that Qu Qing Ju would be so sharp but she couldn't refute it. She could only smile and ask: "Wang fei is sick, why didn't you send a message to the fu and let me take care of you for a few days?"
"I wouldn't dare to let mother work," Qu Qing Ju finished washing her hands and was wiping the water droplets on the back of her hands. Hearing Liang shi's words, she jerked the corners of her mouth, "The common saying is, a married daughter is like water spilled. A daughter can't let mother and father worry. There are many people in the wang fu. It's just a small illness, it's not good to let everyone know. Even Luo lao taitai, it was only after jiumu sent someone to deliver something to me and learned that I was sick that she learned from jiumu. "
The words were even more obscure and ugly to hear. Duan Wang Fei mentioning the word "dare", it was enough to make people think of how Liang shi treated the daughters of other people in houyuan.
Smiling at Liang shi being pushed to the point where she had nothing to say, Qu Qing Ju started to close her mouth and eat. She wasn't afraid of damaging the reputation of her paternal family, and she wasn't afraid that her husband's family would dislike her because of her paternal family's reputation. In any case, it was a life that was picked up. She could live as long as she wanted. But she had picked up someone else's life. At least, before she could do as she pleased, she could help them resolve past grievances. If one day Duan Wang really became the Emperor, or failed in his fight for the throne and wanted her life, she wouldn't feel any regrets. If she could show off when she could, then show off. Maybe one day, she would lose her life.
Qu Yue Su looked at the elegant Qu Qing Ju, her heart unspeakably complex. Even though her mother didn't like her very much, but privately, she felt sympathy for this jie jie. So she had gifted some jewellery and toys that she didn't like to her jie jie. But the jie jie that needed her sympathy was already a wang fei that even her own grandmother had to treat politely. And in the future, she might have to be below her.
Thinking about it, Qu Yue Su's eyebrows furrowed. Why was there an unspeakable feeling of impatience?
When the banquet ended, the Qu Family led everyone to the spacious yard outside to listen to a play. The stage had already been set up. The men and women were separated by a high screen. Even though they were in the same yard, they could only see the stage on the other side.
The first play was Qu Qing Ju sitting on a chair, looking coldly at Liang shi who was walking towards her with a sandalwood box.
Was this Liang shi going to personally act?
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