freenovelworld Chapter 183: I figured it out!
Chapter 183: I figured it out!
Because of Mu Changping's return to the capital, the Mu family was naturally bustling for several days, with relatives visiting almost every day.
That day, the old lady saw that almost all the women from the inner quarters who had come to pay their respects had arrived at Rongyuan Courtyard, and she said with a smile, "Eldest daughter-in-law, the second son's family has just returned to the capital. Shouldn't we hold a banquet or something? It doesn't necessarily have to be a celebration. Changping is alright; she goes out to socialize every day and naturally gets along well with outsiders. But the second son's wife is not like that. We can't let her go to every single family."
Madam Li understood that the old lady was paving the way for this Jin woman. It wasn't a big deal, since they were still family, so she didn't think much of it. "Yes, then when would be a suitable day, Mother?"
The old lady hesitated for a moment, then said, "How about three days from now? What do you think?"
How could Li not see that the old lady had clearly chosen the date long ago? She was just waiting for Li's approval!
Hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan slightly curled the corners of her lips. A banquet? Great! Just don't regret it later!
"Grandmother, should we hold the banquet for Second Aunt in the west courtyard or here?" Mu Xin Nuan reminded her. "If it's here, the preparations will be easier. However, from what you've said, Grandmother, it seems that in order to allow Second Aunt to interact more with the ladies of the capital, it would be more appropriate to hold it in the west courtyard."
The old lady thought about it and agreed. If the banquet were held in the main courtyard, wouldn't all the guests be going to see Madam Li? Madam Jin was born out of wedlock and hadn't been to the capital for many years. How many ladies could she possibly know?
"Then let's do it in the west courtyard. If we don't have enough manpower, we can transfer some people over there."
"Yes, mother."
After leaving Rongyuan, Mu Xinnuan walked slowly with Madam Li. "Mother, how do you plan to arrange Second Aunt's banquet?"
Li snorted coldly, "What else can we do? The more magnificent the better! Didn't you see how biased your grandmother was? She wished that Jin would become a well-known noble lady in the entire capital overnight."
"Pfft!" Mu Xin Nuan laughed. "She's just a fourth-rank lady, how can she be called a noble lady? Besides, I heard that the emperor has never granted Second Aunt any imperial decree, so she has nothing to do with being a noble lady."
"That's true, but it only works if the person has the self-awareness to back it up! If she considers herself a noblewoman, then that's it! No one else's opinion matters!"
“Mother, then let’s do as Grandmother says. It’s just a matter of spending more money. Since Grandmother wants to give Second Aunt some face, then you should give her that. At least, you should make sure that Grandmother has no reason to punish you.”
"Yes, you're right. It's just a matter of a few coins, no need to upset the old lady."
Once the mother and daughter had agreed, they began preparing for the banquet.
Sure enough, everything was very particular – the teacups, the fruit plates, the cushions on the chairs, the incense in the room, and so on. Jin was naturally pleased to see how much her sister-in-law cared.
Overjoyed, Jin naturally behaved even better in front of the old lady!
Jin was a shrewd woman, so how could she not see that Li was only spending money so lavishly because of the old lady's face?
On the day of the banquet, Mu Xin Nuan had no intention of giving Jin Shi any face. Using the excuse of teaching her teacher, she didn't go to the west courtyard. The others all followed Mu Xin Nuan's example. Since she didn't go, they naturally couldn't go either.
Mu Xinyao originally wanted to go, but then she thought that it was still unknown what position the second branch of the family held in the entire Mu family. In addition, the day the second branch of the family returned to the mansion, her grandfather gave them a scolding. She had a feeling that the second branch of the family was not easy to deal with, and she was afraid that they would not have a good time if they went against them.
After much deliberation, Mu Xinyao still felt that she couldn't afford to offend Mu Xinnuan for the sake of the Jin family. The relationship between the two sisters had only recently improved somewhat, and considering her cooperation with the Second Young Master Jin, she couldn't afford to be careless.
Going against Mu Xin Nuan would not benefit his plans in the slightest, so naturally he decided not to go.
Jin didn't think it was excessive that the children hadn't come; on the contrary, she even thought it was a good thing! Mu Xin Nuan was clearly a capable child, and she was also beautiful, always the center of attention wherever she went. If she had come, these ladies would have had to focus their attention on her again!
Now that she hasn't come, it's not like she forbade her to come; Jin Shi is actually quite happy about it.
The children don't have to come, but Madam Li absolutely cannot be absent. Of course, the old lady will also be coming.
After some introductions and a few drinks at the table, the atmosphere was fairly harmonious.
Jin was always eloquent and persuasive. Before the banquet was even over, she had already established relationships with several of the ladies and even started calling each other sisters.
During the banquet, one of the ladies glanced at a fine Ru ware eight-treasure vase on the display shelf and said with some suspicion, "Hmm? This eight-treasure vase looks familiar to me."
A lady nearby looked at it and pondered for a moment, "Yes, it looks familiar too. Have we seen it somewhere before?"
Their reaction quickly drew the attention of the other ladies to the eight-treasure vase.
“I remember now, isn’t this the one that used to be displayed in the First Madam’s room? I remember it was placed in the east side room back then.”
"Yes, yes, yes! Now that you mention it, I remember too. Isn't that right? I saw it at the First Madam's place."
"Hey? Doesn't this 'Announcement of Good News' painting look familiar to you? It should also be from the First Madam's courtyard, right?"
"Yes, that's right. I can tell. Look, the seals on these are all exactly the same. So they must be the same piece."
Once someone started talking, the conversation grew louder and louder, and people found more and more of the things that originally belonged to the Li family in the hallway.
At first, Madam Jin and the old lady didn't pay any attention, but later, as they heard them muttering more and more, they felt that something was wrong.
"I've heard that the old lady of the Mu family has always been domineering and favors the second branch of the family. It seems that this was most likely forcibly taken from the first branch of the family."
"Isn't that right? Otherwise, how could there be so many? If this mourning cap were placed on top of us, even the First Madam wouldn't dare to refuse."
Jin clearly sensed the growing disdain in their eyes, but she didn't know how to explain it, making her wish she could disappear into a crack in the ground!