The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

The falling snow ushered in the New Year's Eve of the 16th year of Mingde

On this day, Song Shengfu brought her family of four to the palace for a banquet. The Emperor of Chu was grateful for the good weather this year and held a grand New Year's Eve banquet, inviting all officials and their wives to the palace to congratulate them.

Song Shengfu recalled that the Earl's Mansion had participated in the banquet in the past, but due to the family's decline, its participation in the banquet every year was unknown. But this year was different, and all the families were looking at the Earl's Mansion.

Everyone knew that Marquis Duan's wife's prescription had been a success, and the Sixth Prince's health was said to be improving, so the Imperial Concubine would occasionally bestow gifts upon him. The eldest son and grandson had also become the Sixth Prince's playmate. Could this Earl's Mansion be poised for prosperity?

Song Shengfu and her family paid no attention to these things. After they sat down, Lu started to greet the ladies she had been on good terms with.

Suddenly, a sarcastic voice rang out from beside him: "Hey, isn't this the Earl's mansion that the immortals visited in my dreams a while ago? Look at the Countess's rosy complexion, she must have received true teachings from the immortals. Why don't you teach us all so that we can also get some of the immortals' energy?"

The good show is about to begin, that’s what everyone thought.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman with a head full of pearls and jade, a haughty look, and prominent cheekbones, a face full of meanness. Everyone greeted her. The visitor was Wang, the wife of the Right Prime Minister, a lady of the first rank.

Lu was unhappy, but she was only a third-class earl's wife, and the Right Prime Minister's Mansion was powerful and influential and they could not afford to offend the Earl's Mansion, so she also stood up and paid her respects.

Wang, who was about forty years old, looked at Lu, who was not far away, with disdain in her eyes. She said arrogantly, "Well, I wonder if the Countess would be willing to show us her magic."

The Right Prime Minister's Mansion had always been extremely ostentatious, and many families disliked it. Now, hearing Wang's arrogance, they secretly disdained it in their hearts: "As expected, a poor man who suddenly became rich is so superficial."

The Right Prime Minister's House was originally a minor official of the 16th rank in Dongyang. Years earlier, the eldest daughter of the family had been selected to enter the Chu Emperor's household while he was still a prince, and she gave birth to a son who is now the Crown Prince. As the saying goes, when one man prospers, his family flourishes. As the Crown Prince grew older, the Chu Emperor, taking pity on his mother's humble origins, continued to promote him, eventually leading him to the position of Right Prime Minister.

Seeing this, Mrs. Lu was overwhelmed and could only smile apologetically: "It was just a random rumor from outside. There is no such thing as immortal magic. I have debunked it before. It is just a set of boxing techniques to strengthen the body."

Wang was obviously extremely dissatisfied with this result and sneered, "Is that so? They say the Sixth Prince is in good health. I guess Sister Lu's family will be the Sixth Prince's savior from now on. The Imperial Concubine must be very grateful to the Earl Duan family. I heard that they are constantly rewarding them."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this. It was true that the Duan family had made a contribution, but to call themselves the prince's saviors was indeed overconfident. If the Sixth Prince was fine, no one would hold him accountable. But if anything happened to him, the Duan family would definitely be punished.

"Madam Right Prime Minister, you're joking. Being able to share the Imperial Concubine's worries is a blessing earned by my family for ten lifetimes. How could we dare to bear the title of savior? The person who spread this rumor is not afraid that the Emperor will punish her for disrespecting the Emperor's grace. As the Emperor's subjects, we should share His Majesty's worries without expecting anything in return. Why are you always talking about rewards? Doesn't that seem like you have ulterior motives?"

A voice as loud as a bell, with an air of majesty without even being angry, rang out, and Song Shengfu slowly came over with a cane. The imperial concubine had just called her and Kang Ge'er to talk for a while, and Kang Ge'er stayed over there to accompany the Sixth Prince. The two children hadn't seen each other for a long time, and had been whispering to each other.

Seeing that it was getting late, Song Shengfu stood up and said goodbye and went to the banquet table. From a distance, she saw Lu being surrounded there, and her face looked not very good. Song Shengfu knew that something had happened, and she hurried over and saw the scene just now.

"Greetings, Madam Duan Hou."

Seeing Song Shengfu coming, some ladies of lower ranks stood up to greet her. Song Shengfu waved her hand and asked them to sit down. She turned around and continued to look at Wang, smiling and asked, "Madam of the Right Prime Minister, right?"

Wang was stunned by the long speech that Song Shengfu just blurted out. Not only did she compliment the emperor, but she also implied that she despised the emperor's authority and had ulterior motives. Thinking of this meaning, Wang's face turned pale, and then she became even more furious when she heard Song Shengfu's words.

What the hell is this Earl's Mansion? How dare they disobey her? She is the wife of the Right Prime Minister and the aunt of the prince. If one day...

What's going on in this Earl's Mansion? Now, Lord Duan might die one day. He just flattered the imperial concubine. That sickly guy might die one day. Let's see how proud she will be then.

Wang's face was stiff, and she looked at Song Shengfu with a forced smile, saying sarcastically, "Old Madam Duan is very eloquent. It's true that having someone's support makes all the difference. I've never found Old Madam Duan so eloquent before."

Seeing that Wang was so aggressive, Lu's face turned red with anger. She said that the Right Prime Minister's Mansion was really ignorant and did not give her face in public.

Song Shengfu smiled, as if she didn't care at all, and her expression became more kind.

"No, no, we are not as powerful as the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. We are just a small Earl's Mansion. How can we compare with the Right Prime Minister's Mansion?"

Wang was so proud of this that she couldn't help but say, "Of course."

Song Shengfu's eyes flashed with sarcasm, but her expression remained unchanged. The other ladies, who had heard the hidden meaning behind her words, also sneered quietly. This Wang Shi was just a fool.

At this moment, Madam Luo arrived late and stepped forward to smooth things over. This Madam Luo was the wife of Earl Luo's family, and like Song Shengfu, she was known as Marquis Luo's wife. However, Lord Luo was highly valued, in charge of the Imperial City Military Department. Seeing this, everyone gave her face and dispersed. Madam Luo took Song Shengfu to their seats and sat down.

"Whatever you say to those guys, aren't you afraid of losing your status?" Old Madam Luo looked unhappy and looked at Song Shengfu with an angry look.

Song Shengfu remembered that this old lady Luo was named Guo Miaoting. Their two families were the only ones in the capital with hereditary titles, so she was considered a good friend of the original body. In her memory, she had helped the Earl's Mansion intentionally or unintentionally after the incident, but she did not live long and died afterwards, so the two families stopped communicating.

Song Shengfu pretended to smile bitterly: "What role do I have now? You know the situation of my family. We are all useless."

Mrs. Lu, who was standing by, was also ashamed when she heard this. She blamed them for being useless and bringing shame to her mother.

Mrs. Luo sighed upon seeing this. This section of the Earl's Mansion's descendants really had nothing outstanding to show for themselves, and they didn't have many children.

He comforted Song Shengfu and told her to relax, telling her that her children and grandchildren would have their own fortunes and to take good care of her health.

Song Shengfu knew that the old lady was saying this to her sincerely, and she couldn't help but feel a little moved. The main reason was that since she came here, there had been no old woman of the same age to talk to her. Song Shengfu finally found one who was chatting with Madam Luo.

Mrs. Luo: Why are you talking so much today, old lady?