02/08/2025 — 05:39

Chapter 141: The Wedding Banquet (Part 2)

Lady Zhou led Eleven Miss to her seat and immediately spotted Madam Huang. Pointing at her, she laughed, "I was wondering where you were, turns out you were hiding here. You didn’t even greet me when you saw me coming."

Madam Huang rose with a smile, "I was waiting here for you and Fourth Madam to finish talking, then it would be my turn." As she spoke, she left her seat and curtsied to Lady Zhou.

Lady Zhou promptly returned the gesture.

Lady Lin also stood up and greeted Lady Zhou.

Lady Zhou returned the greeting and, with a smile, took Lady Lin’s hand, "I was just asking about Mingyuan’s marriage, and here I run into you!"

Lady Lin smiled bitterly, "We’ve considered all the prominent families in Yanjing, but Mingyuan isn’t satisfied. If you know of any suitable matches, please think of our Mingyuan." Lady Zhou hurriedly replied, "Of course, of course." But her eyes couldn’t help but glance at Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

What is all this about!

Noticing this, Madam Huang smiled and invited Lady Zhou to sit. Maids served tea, and Madam Tang had the dishes brought out. Maids in red and green promptly served the dishes.

The Tang family’s fourth lady remained with the third lady, Yang Shi, to attend to guests. After the dishes were served, she excused herself and went to the side hall. Madam Tang personally hosted, pouring wine and encouraging everyone to eat, making the atmosphere quite lively.

After the meal, they retired to the warm pavilion behind the flower hall for tea. Madam Tang asked if they should play cards or listen to a story.

Everyone looked at the elder madam, who then turned to ask the aunts of Miss Tang, "...Cards or opera?"

Madam Tang’s maiden family in Lintong was also a prominent family, having produced a magistrate and a councilor, but compared to those present, they were far behind. The eldest aunt quickly replied, "Either is fine!"

The elder madam smiled and asked those around her, and everyone also said anything was fine.

"Then let’s play cards!" the elder madam chuckled. "At my age, I prefer quiet."

Noting the mostly elderly company, Madam Tang nodded with a smile and called the maids to set up several card tables. They brought out the southern bamboo mahjong tiles. Zheng Tai Jun, the elder madam, Madam Huang, and Lady Lin sat at one table; Lady Liang, Lady Qiao, one of Miss Tang’s aunts, and one of her aunts sat at another table; Lady Li sat to the left of the elder madam to watch the game; Lady Gan and Lady Zhou sat together, along with Lady Lin and another aunt of Miss Tang, forming another table.

Eleven Miss sat to the right of the elder madam, and Madam Huang sat to the left of Madam Huang, so the two were next to each other, occasionally discussing the merits of the game. Eleven Miss, inexperienced in this, mostly listened to Madam Huang, and gradually realized that mahjong had many intricacies, akin to a complex math problem, and became quite interested. Seeing that Eleven Miss was not just humoring her, Madam Huang spoke even more enthusiastically.

Madam Huang, seated nearby, chided her for chattering, "Why don’t you two start another table." This startled Eleven Miss, who quickly waved her hands, "I can’t do it!"

Madam Huang blushed and dared not speak again.

A housekeeper escorted a woman in a blue-green embroidered jacket.

Eleven Miss looked closely and recognized Madam Jiang.

Since Eldest Miss’s passing, Chun Ge had been in mourning, and the two families had only exchanged betrothal cards. It was uncertain if the marriage would still be considered after the mourning period.

While she pondered, Madam Jiang curtsied to the elder madam with a smile, "I heard you were here and came to pay my respects."

The elder madam looked up and smiled, "When did you arrive? Have you eaten yet?" Her demeanor was very warm.

Eleven Miss’s heart stirred.

Thinking of the low profile Madam Jiang had when they first met, and now seeing her actively coming to pay respects to the elder madam, she must be very hopeful of forming a marriage alliance with the Xu family. And the elder madam’s affection for her likely indicated an intention to continue the marriage discussion after the mourning period.

Then she heard Madam Jiang say, "I just arrived. Because we had guests at home, I had to eat before leaving."

The elder madam nodded and pointed to Eleven Miss, "Have you met? My fourth daughter-in-law!"

They had met during Eldest Miss’s funeral, but it was not appropriate to discuss it in detail now.

The two ladies exchanged greetings with smiles. Madam Jiang vaguely mentioned, "We’ve met before," and then said, "I don’t want to interrupt everyone’s fun. I still need to meet a few sisters in the side hall later. Seeing you in good health, I am relieved. I’ll head out now and come back later."

The elder madam gave a nod, and Eleven Miss escorted her to the door, where she saw the housekeeper accompanying the mother-in-law of Ten Miss, the Dowager Lady of Duke Mao's estate, entering.

She quickly stepped forward to curtsy before Dowager Lady Wang.

Dowager Lady Wang looked slightly surprised to see her: "Did your mother-in-law come with you?"

Eleven Miss smiled, "She’s in the warm pavilion playing cards!" and then asked her, "How’s Ten Sister doing?"

Dowager Lady Wang nodded, "She’s fine. It’s chilly today, so I left her at home."

Ten Miss likely wouldn’t enjoy this kind of event either.

Eleven Miss nodded and smilingly accompanied Dowager Lady Wang into the warm pavilion.

Everyone welcomed her, while the elder madam remained seated, and Madam Tang, Madam Liang, and others stood up to greet her.

Eleven Miss had already returned to the elder madam's side when Madam Li whispered to her, "Who is this lady from?"

"She is the Dowager Lady of Duke Mao's estate," she smiled, "My Ten Sister is married into their family."

Madam Li was taken aback and seemed unsure what to say. Eleven Miss couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Dowager Lady Wang had already approached, and after a round of pleasantries, she specially thanked the elder madam, "...and even sent tonic medicine. When she feels better, I will have her personally come to your estate to express her gratitude!"

"Dowager Lady Wang, you’re too generous," the elder madam smiled, "After all, she’s Eleven Miss’s sister. It's only right for me to visit!" Her polite demeanor still felt somewhat distant.

Eleven Miss recalled the list the elder madam had given—the Wang family was not on it.

She thought it was odd at the time. Everyone runs in the same social circles. How could there be no interaction... She just didn’t know what drove a wedge between the two families. Or perhaps it was related to the matters concerning Wang Lang and Xu Lingkuan?

As she pondered, Zheng Tai Jun beside her quickly asked what had happened.

The elder madam smiled without speaking, and Dowager Lady Wang mentioned Ten Miss's miscarriage.

Zheng Tai Jun couldn’t help but sigh, "Young people are inexperienced, and first pregnancies often don’t go well... Don’t be too upset, she is still young, and with some rest, she will recover." Then she remembered Madam Wu, "How is Dan County?"

The elder madam's face lit up with a smile, "We had Ji Ning Nun come to check the feng shui. She has moved to the back garden to live. Her cheeks are rosy, and she’s filling out nicely, so I think she is doing well!"

"That’s wonderful to hear," Zheng Tai Jun nodded repeatedly and mentioned that the third daughter-in-law of Deputy Minister of Rites Wei had given birth to a pair of twins.

For a moment, everyone was caught up in the conversation, leaving Dowager Lady Wang somewhat sidelined.

Madam Tang looked around and found Yang Shi beside Madam Zhou, who was watching the card game. She frowned briefly, and then she smiled and went forward to take Dowager Lady Wang's hand, "It’s been a while since we’ve caught up, old friend. How is Madam Jiang? I heard that your son-in-law opened the granary last month and was commended by the Emperor?"

Mentioning her daughter and son-in-law, Dowager Lady Wang's face was full of smiles, "My son-in-law is hardworking. Lin'er is truly blessed to have him." The two of them spoke and sat down on a low couch beside the plum blossom fence.

The carriage slowly departed from the Zhongshan Marquis's estate, and the elder madam couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, "It's truly exhausting!"

Eleven Miss smiled and handed her a cup of hot tea, "Have a sip of tea."

The elder madam took it, sipped, and her face showed a comfortable expression.

"Why don’t you rest for a bit?" Eleven Miss smiled and tucked the white fox fur blanket on the elder madam's lap, "We still have half an incense stick's time before we reach home. I'll wake you then."

"Better sleep when we get home!" the elder madam laughed, "Now that I'm old, if I fall asleep, I can't wake up, and if I'm awake, I can't sleep!" Then she asked Eleven Miss, "Today you made your official debut. Tell me, what have you observed?"

Eleven Miss was startled.

Her thoughts raced.

What was the elder madam trying to find out?

Did she understand the relationships between the households? Or the personalities and temperaments of these individuals?

As she hesitated, the elder madam smiled and reminded her, "If the Marquis asks you about your visit to the Zhonghou’s house, how would you respond to him?"

When talking to men, it’s naturally about politics, history, and economics...

She felt a spark of insight and smiled, "Madam Tang hosted us in the main hall. Among the guests were frequent visitors like Zheng Tai Jun from the Dingguo Duke's residence, Madam Huang from the Shuichang Marquis's residence, and Lady Lin from the Weibei Marquis's residence. We had lunch in the small flower hall at the back of the main hall. However, two additional guests joined us during the meal..."

The elder madam’s eyes gleamed slightly as she listened.

Eleven Miss knew she had hit the mark.

Her smile grew even more confident.

"One was the wife of Liang, the Grand Scholar of Huagai Hall and Minister of Justice, and the other was the wife of the Shanxi Commander, Li Zhong. I heard that Marquis Jianning had intended to marry his second daughter to the eldest son of the Liang family, but the eldest son became engaged to Miss Seven from the Gan family of the Enqin Earl's residence, and the second son became engaged to the second daughter of the Zhejiang Provincial Judge, Huang. Consequently, Marquis Jianning married his second daughter to the third son of the Liang family. Oddly, it was the first time we’d heard about the engagement between the Liang family’s eldest son and Miss Seven from the Enqin Earl's residence." At this point, she glanced at the elder madam.

The elder madam was beaming at her. Seeing her pause to look at her, she immediately took her hand with a smile, "Good girl. You’re really sharp." She said, full of affection, and gently patted her head, "When you see the Marquis later, just tell him this!"

Men’s intentions are often revealed through the actions of the women in their households... The elder madam wanted her to be another pair of eyes for Lord Xu!

She was capable of this task, and moreover, it was what she aimed to achieve.

Eleven Miss nodded happily, "Mother, I understand!"

The elder madam nodded, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

As they spoke, the carriage had already arrived at Lotus Lane.

Lord Xu and the Third Young Master had already received the message and led servants carrying large red lanterns to welcome them at the flower gate.

The elder madam got out of the carriage and asked curiously, "Where is Little Five?"

Lord Xu replied, "I thought the weather was cold, so I let him go back first. Fifth sister-in-law is now pregnant and shouldn't be left alone."

The elder madam nodded and was escorted by Eleven Miss through the flower gate.

The Third Madam led the maids waiting inside the gate.

The four of them, along with a large group of maids and older women, escorted the elder madam back to the house.