Noble Lady

The Duke of Chen's Mansion is extremely lively today.

Those who come in and out are either high-ranking officials or dignitaries, either kings or ministers.

Anyone who can enter their house is not an ordinary person.

The carriage was parked for half the alley and there was no room to stop. Those who arrived later had to park the carriage farther away and then get off and walk slowly over.

Chen Lizhu is now the Duke's wife's capable assistant, and she is also responsible for welcoming guests at the door.

Seeing the familiar Xue family carriage from afar, her eyes lit up and she quickly asked Huangli and Cuiliu beside her to go over to greet them.

He also whispered, "When you see someone later, remember what I told you."

"Don't worry, young lady. I will never neglect Miss Xue." Huang Li said with a smile.

In the past, she had never understood why her daughter was so nervous about a girl from a marquis's mansion, as she was clearly the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion and meeting the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine in the palace was a common occurrence.

It was not until she accompanied Chen Lizhu to meet the eldest daughter of the Xue family several times that she understood.

The style of this Miss Xue's speech and actions is no less than that of other noble ladies. Moreover, she is gentle and kind, but has a kind of majesty that even young girls don't have, as if she has the aura of a superior.

Huang Li came to the Xue family's carriage with a smile.

Xue Chenyu just happened to get out of the car holding Yuzhu's hand, followed by Xue Luoyan and Weng Xuemei.

In the car at the back sat Qiuhua, Xiahe, Yumei, and Xue Luoyan's maid, a little girl named Yuyan, who was one year older than her.

Normally, Xue Luoyan doesn't bring her maid with her, but today she came to the Duke of Chen's Mansion.

Xue Chenyu was also afraid that there might be things she couldn't take care of, so she wanted her to get used to having a maid with her, so she let her bring a maid with her.

"Your servant greets Miss Xue." Huangli and Cuiliu bowed respectfully.

Xue Chenyu raised her hand and her gaze fell on Chen Lizhu who was standing at the gate of the Duke's Mansion not far away.

"Why are you here? I saw Miss Chen San helping the Duke's wife welcome guests at the door. How could you be so lazy as to not go and help?" she said half-jokingly.

"Miss Xue, please stop teasing me." Huang Li covered her mouth and laughed, "It was our young lady who asked us two servants to come and welcome Miss Xue."

"The Fifth Young Master's wife who came in today is a close friend of yours, Miss Xue, and so is our daughter. So the two of them discussed and prepared a table specially for you at today's wedding banquet."

Xue Chenyu: “Hmm?”

Huangli thought of the instructions given by the girl she married, and said nervously: "...Our girl said she wants to bring a friend to sit with you. Other than that, the whole table is left to you to arrange."

Xue Chenyu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: She really did this at Du Jingyuan's wedding. She had seen the occasion today and knew that the Duke's wife wouldn't dare to beat her, right?

Well, her reputation as a divorcee is already bad enough, so she doesn't care about the reputation of hogging a table at someone else's wedding banquet.

"Okay, you lead the way."

When she passed Chen Lizhu by the gate of the Duke's Mansion, Miss Chen San winked at her.

Xue Chenyu couldn't bear to watch.

Huang Li led Xue Chenyu and his group into the mansion and went to the banquet hall.

The newlyweds have already performed the ceremony and entered the bridal chamber.

Today's banquet also has separate seats for men and women.

Chen Lizhu arranged a table that was neither too conspicuous nor too remote, just a decent location.

The other guests had almost arrived, and Xue Chenyu also took Xue Luoyan and the others to sit down.

Yuzhu and several other maids stood obediently behind Xue Chenyu and her sister.

Some ladies and noble girls nearby looked unhappy when they saw Xue Chenyu and her sister occupying a table, and started whispering to each other.

Someone asked, who is this?

Some people also revealed Xue Chenyu's identity.

Immediately, the eyes of the people around her changed when they looked at her: How could a divorced woman, instead of staying at home and starving, have the nerve to come out and show off in public, and not feel ashamed?

Xue Chenyu stood still, even drinking a bowl of tea contentedly, and couldn't let go of the dried fruit snack in front of her.

Xue Luoyan was so angry that her cheeks puffed up. "These people are just looking for trouble because they have nothing better to do than to get scolded. What does it have to do with them whether my sister goes out or not?!"

Weng Xuemei also clenched her fists and said, "Sometimes, if words can't solve the problem, I can also use my fists."

Without even looking up, Xue Chenyu said in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, "Today is your sister Ayuan's wedding day. You all should restrain yourself and stop causing trouble."

Her voice was heard not only at this table, but also at the tables next to it.

Xue Chenyu is like this, her voice is gentle, but she can easily make others hear her voice.

"Pretentious." Someone mocked.

Xue Chenyu curled the corner of her mouth but was not angry.

Chen Lizhu, along with Huang Li, led other guests in. Just then, she heard this and stepped forward. "Madam, both you and Miss Xue are guests of our Duke's Mansion."

"No matter how noble your status is or how powerful you are, once you enter this room, I hope you will abide by the rules of our Duke's Mansion and respect the other guests who come to the banquet."

The lady was about to say something when someone around her pulled her sleeve, signaling her to stop.

Seeing that they understood what was going on, Chen Lizhu didn't say anything else. After all, they were guests of the Duke's Mansion, and it would be embarrassing if they made a scene.

She took a deep breath, calmed her urge to curse, and led the new guest to Xue Chenyu.

"Sister Xue, I brought two friends here. Do you mind?"

Xue Chenyu stood up and sighed helplessly, "This is your family's banquet. I came here to ask for a glass of wedding wine. You say that, and I feel ashamed."

Chen Lizhu showed a relaxed smile on her face. "That's good, Sister Xue, let me introduce you. This is Eight..."

"Sister Xue, you can just call me Taotao. That's what the elders in my family call me." The guest interrupted Chen Lizhu's explanation.

Chen Lizhu paused, then agreed, "It's also good to call her Taotao, it's easier to remember."

Xue Chenyu obeyed respectfully and called her "Miss Taotao".

Miss Taotao herself had no objection, but the maid beside her glared at Xue Chenyu with some displeasure, as if to say: Are you worthy?

Of course, Xue Chenyu ignored her.

This girl Taotao is about fifteen years old, a little younger than Chen Lizhu. She also has a fair face and rosy cheeks, and is pretty and lovely.

But she has a relaxed and generous temperament, which gives people the feeling that she is extraordinary. Even if she doesn't speak, just sitting there she is a beauty that people can't help but look at a few more times.

However, she gave Xue Chenyu a familiar feeling, as if he had seen her somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where for a moment.

Miss Taotao also loves to eat. After taking a sip of tea, she started to eat the dried fruits on the table.

After taking a few bites, she pouted and looked at Chen Lizhu: "Sister Li, why are these plums so dry?"

Chen Lizhu: Ah?

Xue Chenyu smiled and said, "The month of this plum was chosen very well, and the drying was also very good. The reason why the preserved fruit tastes too dry is probably because we rushed it, and the sugar and salt didn't fully absorb into it."

"If you like this kind of food, you can try Sipinzhai next time."

Tao Tao's eyes lit up and she nodded repeatedly, "Where is Sipinzhai?"

This look that couldn't be more familiar reflects the nature of a foodie who lights up when seeing food.

Xue Chenyu's smile remained unchanged. "Sipinzhai is closed for the Lunar New Year. If you want to buy preserved fruits, you have to wait until after the Lunar New Year."

Taotao wailed unwillingly, "Why did I just find out about this shop?"

Xue Chenyu continued, "I have prepared dozens of kilograms of dried fruits for the New Year at home. They are all from Sipinzhai. If you want to eat some, just come with me after the wedding banquet."

"Okay, okay!" Taotao's eyes lit up.

Chen Lizhu resisted the urge to hold her forehead, "Then, please, Sister Xue, take care of Taotao. I still have to go to the front to take care of something."

"Okay." She could see that Chen Lizhu sent her here personally because she was worried that she would have a conflict with this little ancestor. Seeing that they got along well, she dared to leave.

"Sister Xue...can I call you that?"

Xue Chenyu smiled and said, "Of course."

"Then I have two friends. Can we ask them to come and sit here as well?" Tao Tao's eyes were full of hope, as if Xue Chenyu didn't agree, her bright black eyes would be filled with tears.

"Okay, Miss Chen San said, I'll be the boss at this table."

"Okay, I'll be back soon." Taotao was so excited that she almost jumped up and pulled the maid away.

Xue Chenyu gave Qiuhua a look, and Qiuhua followed.

After Chen Lizhu handed the person over to Xue Chenyu, she had to ensure the girl's safety.