Chapter 145: Du Ruo’s Public Perception

Chapter 145: Du Ruo's Public Perception

Du Ruo's brows furrowed with displeasure after listening to Liu Qingshuang's explanation, and she reached up to take off the floral hairpin from her head.

"What are you doing?!" Liu Qingping immediately admonished her.

"I don't want to be scrutinized and chosen like a piece of merchandise!" Du Ruo said boldly.

The Liu sisters frowned, looking at her with puzzled expressions. "Who treats you like merchandise?"

"Those people over there!" Du Ruo said, looking toward Lu Lingyun.

At that moment, Lu Lingyun was seated with a group of ladies and noblewomen, gathered around her, sipping tea and enjoying snacks, chatting and laughing.

Their gazes occasionally fell on this side.

"They treat us like goods, allowing others to evaluate and pass us around!" Du Ruo said indignantly.

"You're overthinking it!" Liu Qingping said directly.

"Exactly! This is a formal gathering for mutual acquaintance. The ladies here are serious; their families either have eligible young men or women. They are all carefully evaluating the character, appearance, and family background—no one is treating anyone like merchandise!" Liu Qingshuang said with a displeased look.

All of them attended the banquet sincerely.

In this era, women marry through parental arrangements and matchmakers, but the parents do their utmost.

They knew that their elders brought them to such gatherings to expand their social circles and provide more choices.

It’s nothing like what Du Ruo said, treating them like merchandise to be casually demeaned and passed around.

If that were the case, why go through all the trouble of holding these banquets? They could simply ingratiate themselves with the nobility and send their daughters to them.

There would be no need to consider matching families; just maximize the benefit.

In this era, although women had low status, parents still did their utmost within the limited choices to ensure their daughters lived well.

"I just don't like it!" Du Ruo couldn't be persuaded.

She reached up again to pull out her hairpin.

"Oh, what are you doing!"

"Don't take it off! My elder sister specially dressed you up for this."

"That’s right, see how much effort my elder sister has put into you. Your outfit is the most eye-catching in this entire garden!"

"How can you be so unappreciative!"

Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang chimed in in unison.

Hearing this, Du Ruo grew even more displeased and ripped off the hairpin, "I don’t need this kind of kindness!"

Seeing this, Liu Qingping lost her patience and thought Du Ruo was being utterly unreasonable. She sneered, "Heh! You really think just showing up will get you chosen?"

"That's right," Liu Qingshuang said, her tone turning cold, "With your attitude, which family would even consider you? Go ahead and take it off. Even if you wore a phoenix crown, no one would look at you twice!"

"What a waste of our elder sister’s efforts."

Du Ruo could not stand what she was hearing.

She disliked being judged by a group of older women, but the thought of not catching their eye was unbearable!

Especially when surrounded by girls her own age.

The stakes were high.

Du Ruo, who had always been pursued by men and had never looked highly upon other girls, believing no one could compare to her, was instantly filled with a competitive spirit.

She glanced at the group of ladies in the garden. "Heh, compared to them? How could I possibly lose?"

"Your family isn't particularly impressive. You only have two brothers who are low-ranking Imperial Guards."

"That's right. Do you have any talents besides your family background? Are you a famous talented lady in the capital, or are you proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"

Liu Qingping and Liu Qingshuang chimed in, playing good cop, bad cop.

A flush of shame and anger rose on her face.

Qingping and Qingshuang looked at each other when they saw that she was about to get angry. "If you want to know what they think, how about we go eavesdrop?"

"Yes, let’s go listen!"

At that moment.

In the parlor.

Lu Lingyun had made a group of new friends. After learning that she was the wife of the Ningyang Marquis’s heir, most attendees greeted her.

After everyone had introduced themselves, the conversation shifted to the main topic of the event.

They would glance at one young lady and inquire about another.

Due to Lu Lingyun's connection, Qingping and Qingshuang were frequently asked about.

Seizing this opportunity, Auntie Liu of the Liu family was overjoyed and eagerly introduced her daughters to everyone around.

One lady then remarked, "Who is that young lady in the pink dress who was with the Liu sisters earlier?"

Lady Wang, who was drinking tea nearby, almost choked and quickly interjected, "She's with me," coughing.

"Take it easy, Sister Wang," Lu Lingyun said with a smile, patting her on the back.

After a few coughs, Lady Wang wiped her mouth with her handkerchief and promptly smiled at the others. "She came with Lu Jiejie and has been staying at the Marquis’s mansion, under her care, these past few days."

Hearing that Du Ruo was staying at the Marquis's mansion and had been under her care, everyone became interested.

"I noticed that young lady had a striking presence the moment she arrived."

"Indeed, her attire is very tasteful."

"I also found the pink peach blossom in her hair particularly distinctive, charming yet dignified."

Listening from behind the flower hall, Du Ruo immediately glanced at the Liu sisters beside her.

Qingping and Qingshuang were secretly annoyed.

They’re not praising you; they’re complimenting our elder sister’s taste!

At this moment, they couldn't speak, so they continued listening.

They heard someone inside ask, "By the way, Lady Wang, what is your relationship with that young lady?"

"Is she a relative of yours?"

"No," Lady Wang said with a smile, "A'Ruo is my neighbor Lady Du’s niece. Her father was the commander of the South City Gate Guard. A'Ruo’s two older brothers serve as Imperial Guards in the Prefectural Commandant’s office."

After Lady Wang shared A'Ruo’s family background, the interest of the noble ladies present significantly waned.

Most of the guests today were from families of civil officials. Civil and military officials often looked down on each other, and the Du family’s positions were even less notable—only two brothers serving as Imperial Guards and an uncle who was a gate guard commander. Their status was indeed not prominent.

"What about A'Ruo’s mother?" someone still asked.

"A'Ruo is unfortunate; her mother passed away when she was very young," Lady Wang replied truthfully.

Upon hearing this, the ladies’ interest further diminished.

Back then, unmarried daughters heavily relied on their mothers’ upbringing. Even if the father’s side was less notable, a well-known mother could still be a significant advantage. But A'Ruo didn’t even have a mother!

This was the final blow!

"Miss A'Ruo is truly pitiful."

"Yes, a young girl lacking her mother’s upbringing, how will she manage?"

"What a shame for such a lovely girl."

"Who would have thought, I initially liked her so much, but her fate is so bitter."

Everyone sighed, but their words and expressions revealed indifference and contempt. They had already ruled her out as a potential daughter-in-law.

Lady Wang couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed.