vrcanaries Chapter 411: Proposing Marriage Again
Chapter 411: Proposing Marriage Again
Two days later, there was a dinner at the Censor's residence.
When Li Taohua appeared with her two beautiful daughters, many people came forward to greet her, and those who took the initiative to talk to her were all wives of fourth and fifth rank officials.
At such a banquet, the lowest rank is the fourth or fifth grade, and those lower than that are not eligible to receive an invitation.
The circle of noble ladies is also divided into different levels. Looking at these small groups, others are afraid that they don’t know how these noble ladies form cliques.
In fact, the relationships between the men in the court can be seen from the interactions between the ladies. The men in the court are sworn enemies, and the ladies will fight each other to the death at various banquets.
"Is that the stepmother of Chief Censor Tang?" Madam Zhu asked the person next to her.
The man said, "It's her."
"There are two girls next to her. Which one is the one she gave birth to?"
"That's the bright-looking one. The other one is Master Tang's biological sister."
The ladies nearby looked at each other in bewilderment. One of them was from the Gong family, the eldest wife of the Gong family, Gong Qianmiao's biological mother. The others were the wives of officials from the Ministry of Personnel.
The news that the eldest son of the Zhu family had fallen for the stepsister of the upstart Tang Yichen had spread. Some had been secretly lingering outside the Tang residence these days, hoping to catch a glimpse of Qin Huiyin. Others were seeking paintings, eager to see what this woman, whose fame had spread far and wide since arriving in Beijing, actually looked like. However, within a few days, those individuals had their hands or legs broken, and were completely obedient.
"He is indeed good-looking." Mrs. Zhu said calmly.
"Not only is she good-looking, but I heard she's also a fortune teller and good at business." The lady next to her said, "If a family marries a mistress like this, would they still worry about the family not prospering?"
"Who among our aristocratic families doesn't have a strong financial foundation? Marrying a virtuous wife is the key to everlasting prosperity." Madam Zhu said calmly, "How can you hope to build a family by relying solely on business?"
The lady wanted to flatter the horse, but ended up hitting the horse's hoof. She smiled awkwardly and dared not say anything.
Mrs. Zhu signaled to the old nanny next to her, who understood her meaning and quietly retreated.
"I'm going to go somewhere else, you guys can do whatever you want."
"Take care, Madam Zhu."
Li Taohua took Qin Huiyin and Tang Luwu for a walk in the mansion, enjoying the scenery and feeding the fish. When they met someone who took the initiative to talk to them, they introduced themselves to each other and got to know each other.
When the Zhu family's servants came over, Runiang, the maid behind Li Taohua, was the first to notice.
It just so happened that Zhu Hongxiu and others came to play with them. She sent the two girls away and waited there for the old nanny to approach. Then she accepted the other party's invitation and followed the old nanny to the pavilion.
"This must be Mrs. Zhu. Nice to meet you." Li Taohua saluted.
Mrs. Zhu nodded and pointed to the opposite side: "Please sit down."
Li Taohua thanked her and sat opposite her.
The old nanny brought tea and snacks, then stood behind Madam Zhu, as straight as a pole.
"Let's be frank. Madam Tang should know why I'm here and what I want to say. My son Xuan is a very filial child with a kind heart, and his talent is comparable to that of the top scholar. He is the legitimate son of the family, and he will inherit the family fortune in the future. Such a good match, but your family has been reluctant to accept it. Could it be that you are like those vulgar people who only care about appearances? With all due respect, even the most beautiful appearance will eventually fade with age. Your daughter is indeed good-looking, but what this world lacks most is young and beautiful girls. How many years can your daughter stay young?"
"Madam, I don't agree with what you said. If looks weren't important, why would men have three wives and four concubines? Don't men take concubines because they want good looks? If looks weren't important, why would ladies eat bird's nest and shark's fin and use the finest beauty creams? Of course looks are important, and my daughter is beautiful, so of course she should find a perfect match with a good husband."
"So, your family is really going to reject this marriage?" Madam Zhu's face turned grim. "The reason is so ridiculous."
"This marriage is unsuitable, so of course I must refuse it. Your family should find another good match! My family's wild nature is really not suitable for being a noble lady."
"Mrs. Zhu, I came here to look for you, and you actually came here to seek some peace and quiet." A laughing voice sounded.
Madam Zhu turned around when she heard the voice. When she saw the person coming, her anger disappeared. She stood up and saluted the lady. "Madam Chen."
Li Taohua pinched the embroidered handkerchief, stood up with Madam Zhu, and turned to look at Madam Chen.
When Mrs. Chen saw Li Taohua, a strange look flashed in her eyes. She didn't seem surprised at all, clearly having anticipated such a scene. Or perhaps, she had come over simply because she saw her.
When Li Taohua met Madam Gong that day, she knew that the old woman would go back to report to her master. She had also calculated various scenes of their farewell, but it turned out not to be as grand as she had imagined. She felt very calm, after all, those past events had become a thing of the past.
"Who is this..." Mrs. Chen asked doubtfully.
Mrs. Chen was a middle-aged woman of ordinary appearance. Yes, ordinary. After all, she had been ordinary in her youth, and now that she was old, she was even more ordinary.
Li Taohua is only five years younger than her, but standing in front of her, it feels like they are two generations apart.
"Madam Tang, this is Madam Chen from the Earl's Mansion." Madam Zhu introduced the unexpected guest to Li Taohua. "Madam Chen, this is Madam Tang, the mother of the Chief Censor, Lord Tang."
"Chief Censor? Could he be the one who is currently enjoying the emperor's favor?" Madam Chen looked at Li Taohua with an unfriendly look.
"Yes, it's that person." A look of anticipation flashed in Mrs. Zhu's eyes.
Lord Tang was young and fearless, and he offended many people in the court. Earl Chen was one of them.
"What were you talking about? Did you stop talking because you saw me coming?" Mrs. Chen sat down.
Li Taohua couldn't leave at this time. If she left, it would make her look guilty. She saw Madam Zhu sitting down, so she sat down too.
"When we women get together, we talk about makeup, men and children. I just chatted with Mrs. Zhu about children." Li Taohua said with a smile.
"Speaking of children, how many does Madam Tang have?" Madam Chen asked. "Madam Tang looks exactly like someone I know, but she didn't have Madam Tang's good fortune; she was just a lowly concubine. It's amazing how people interact with one another. They may look similar, but their fates can be so different. Madam Tang was able to raise a young talent like Lord Tang, so her own talent must be extraordinary!"
"Mrs. Chen, you're too kind. I'm sure many people know my situation, so I won't hide it. I only have one biological child. Her father's surname is Qin. I have a deep affection for him, and even after I remarried, I didn't want her to change her surname. My current husband has three children, and I wish them to be my own. They are filial and treat me like their own mother. Even my eldest son, who is an official, treats me with special respect. As for talent and learning, how can a country woman like me understand what talent and learning are? My late husband was a scholar and taught me a few words, which is enough to keep me from becoming blind."