[Through the Book] The ancestor only wants to live a long life

The conversation between Rong Enqing and Madam Luo inside the Chuihua Gate soon reached the ears of Madam Zheng, the old lady of the Duke of Anguo.

When the messenger delivered the message, Madam Zheng's second daughter-in-law, Liu, was also there.

After hearing what the servant said, Liu said gloomily, "I told you that we shouldn't invite people from Shun'an Marquis's Mansion, right? Sister-in-law insisted on sending them invitations. Look, they dare to threaten to marry into our Duke's Mansion before this is even decided."

As she spoke, Liu looked at Madam Zheng with an aggrieved look on her face, "Mother, although Xiaowu has a leg disease, not just anyone can marry him. I'm putting this out there, if mother sets her eyes on that concubine's daughter from the Shun'an Marquis's mansion, I will never agree to it even if I die."

Madam Zheng glanced at Liu and said, "That's enough. I was the one who agreed to invite the Shun'an Marquisate. It has nothing to do with your sister-in-law."

Liu didn't refute, but quickly curled her lips.

Old Madam Zheng glanced at Liu and sighed secretly in her heart.

When she was selecting daughters-in-law for her sons, she carefully selected the eldest daughter-in-law, Wang, according to the standards of a clan wife. She was considerate in terms of how she treated people, how she managed the household, and her character and personality. However, there was a lack of affection between her and her eldest son.

The couple's relationship has been indifferent for many years. To put it nicely, they respect each other, but to put it bluntly, they live their own lives.

Over the years, the eldest son brought concubines into the house one after another, but Wang had no objection at all and just let it go.

Fortunately, they gave birth to two sons early on, and the sons have already married and had their own children.

Over the years, apart from managing the affairs of the Duke's Mansion, Wang has devoted all her attention to her son and grandson.

Perhaps when Zheng married her eldest son, she discovered that he did not like Wang very much, so when she later married her second son, she let him choose one he liked.

Then Liu, who came from an ordinary family and had modest tastes, became her second daughter-in-law.

To put it bluntly, Liu is a bit petty.

Fortunately, Liu and her second son have been a loving couple for many years. At least their relationship is not comparable to that of the eldest son and his wife.

This is also the reason why she is willing to be more tolerant of Liu.

At this moment, when Liu heard what Madam Rong of Shun'an Marquis's Mansion said, she didn't even think about it first, but started complaining about this and that, which undoubtedly exposed the stupidity of her ideas.

"Okay. If you don't want the girl from Shun'an Marquis's Mansion, then Shun'an Marquis' Mansion doesn't want to marry their girl to your son either."

Liu didn't believe it and curled her lips and said, "Madam Rong said that in public, and she said it so loudly. It's obvious that she wants to get married to us!"

"It was because she said those words so loudly that I said that Madam Rong actually didn't want to marry the girl."

Seeing that Liu was still confused, Madam Zheng shook her head helplessly and continued to explain: "Madam Rong deliberately said those words loudly. Do you think she really said them to Madam Luo? You are wrong. She said them to us!"

"If a normal person heard her brazen words, would they be disgusted like you? Would they subconsciously exclude her daughter from the group?"

Liu suddenly realized and said in surprise, "So, Madam Rong said that on purpose in order not to marry the girl from the Marquis' Mansion? But, she hasn't even met the girl yet, how can she be sure that the girl from their mansion will be chosen?"

Zheng sighed again, "Because she doesn't need to be sure. All she did was to kill the possibility of the unknown."

Liu finally understood. "Originally, our chances of falling in love with the girl from Shun'an Marquis's Mansion were slim. Now that Madam Rong is making such a fuss, it will be even more impossible for us to fall in love with the girl from their mansion. Is that what you mean?"

Zheng nodded: "Yes. So, please put away your unnecessary worries. When you see Madam Rong later, be polite to me."

Liu smiled and replied, "I understand."

Since she knew that the girl from Shun'an Marquis' Mansion would not be selected, there was no need for her to make things difficult for the people from Shun'an Marquis' Mansion, right?

***

The banquet at the Anguo Mansion was held in the back garden. The ladies and young ladies were all together, not separated.

After all, tea tasting is just a name, while visiting each other is the real meaning.

If the ladies were not around, how could they see each other? When everyone was together, it was convenient to observe the every move of the ladies from each family.

When Rong Enqing arrived, Madam Luo, who had left just one step earlier than him, was already chatting with a few ladies from aristocratic families whom she was on good terms with.

Others also gathered in groups of three or four, chatting and laughing.

When they saw Rong Enqing coming, most people just glanced at her and didn't come forward to say hello.

Just when Rong Enqing thought she was going to be left alone, Madam Yu of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, who was talking to someone, came towards her with a few people, "Madam, you are late."

Mrs. Yu's attitude was natural and her tone was cordial, as if she were meeting an old friend.

Mrs. Yu's move undoubtedly eased Rong Enqing's awkward situation and laid the foundation for her first formal social interaction.

Rong Enqing was grateful in his heart and responded with a smile: "It's my fault. I couldn't stand the bumps in the carriage, so I walked slowly along the way, so I came late. I will punish myself with a drink later, as an apology for coming late."

Madam Yu scolded, "That's too formal. We are not young anymore, so don't drink too much and hurt your health."

Rong Enqing smiled and said, "How old are we? It won't be too late to say this when we live to the age of the wife of Duke Anguo."

Rong Enqing was forty-six years old. Madam Yu was only in her fifties. Compared with the nearly seventy-year-old wife of Duke Anguo, she was still a long way behind.

"That's true." Madam Yu nodded with a smile and looked at Princess Anyang and Yun Shu standing beside her.

"I hope you are well, Princess Anyang."

The Princess of Anyang bowed and saluted, "Greetings, Madam. Thanks to the Empress Dowager, everything is fine in Anyang."

"That's good." Madam Yu had a kind attitude and gentle tone, as if nothing had happened at the flower banquet at the Shun'an Marquis' Mansion.

"Is this the fifth young lady of your family?" Madam Yu set her eyes on Yun Shu. "I remember you. You stood up for the county lady at the flower banquet last time. You were very brave."

Yun Shu bowed awkwardly and responded respectfully, "Thank you for your kind words, Madam." Her tone was gentle and soft, and she looked very well-behaved.

Madam Yu looked at Yun Shu twice more. Last time at the Shun'an Marquis's Mansion, everyone's attention was focused on the county lady, and no one paid much attention to the fifth young lady. Although she was a little shy, she looked gentle and kind, and she was not bad looking. Although she was a concubine's daughter, her dowry was generous.

Mrs. Yu began to wonder if there was a suitable candidate among her relatives from her mother's side.

After exchanging all the necessary greetings, Lady Anyang excused herself and took Yun Shu towards where the young ladies were gathered.

The young ladies were just like the ladies, gathering in groups of three or five.

Everyone was fine at first, but when they saw Princess Anyang bringing Yun Shu over here, everyone stood up and scattered.

The corner where a dozen people originally gathered became a vacuum zone in the blink of an eye.