The Wedding Feast

"Yes, that's right," Gu Wanning nodded, then said to her Third Concubine, "That's enough. I don't want the main seat; let someone else have it."

The more they value it, the more face the woman feels.

Gu Wanning didn't care where she sat; she was full no matter where she sat.

Moreover, being in the main seat, she was afraid of being toasted by others.

Let her stay quietly and enjoy her food and drinks; it saves her face, so why not?

When the Second Concubine found out, she didn't object; she just smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Gu Wanning waved her hand, "We're celebrating our own family's happy occasion, there's nothing to feel aggrieved about."

Just then, a maid rushed in to report that Miss Shi had sent someone to look for the Second Concubine's younger brother.

Gu Wanning and her Third Concubine exchanged a glance.

Is this normal?

Chapter 258 Feast

After all, the two are not married yet, and their private interactions are actually criticized.

The Second Concubine glared at the maid, "What nonsense are you spouting! You're clearly here to see me."

Clearly, she realized something was amiss, since the people coming and going in the courtyard were all busy helping with the arrangements.

People talk a lot, and once the story gets out, it sounds terrible.

The maidservant quickly lowered her head and admitted her mistake, "Yes, it was a slip of the tongue, I deserve to be punished."

"Go ahead and take the person to the Painting Spring Pavilion. Also, inform the young master that I will be there shortly."

The maidservant obeyed and left.

The Second Concubine pulled Gu Wanning and the Third Concubine into the house, then whispered, "To be honest, sisters, Miss Shi is extremely satisfied with Hua Yu. The two exchange letters privately, but absolutely nothing inappropriate has happened."

Gu Wanning laughed and said, "I'm not old-fashioned. They'll be husband and wife soon, so it's no big deal for them to exchange letters. They have a good relationship, so you won't have to worry about them in the future."

That's how it is.

"You should go and take a look, even if it's just to pretend."

Pretend that the person who came is really looking for her, not her brother.

The Second Concubine left in a hurry, running all the way.

"Her legs must be sore from running around these past few days," Gu Wanning said to her Third Concubine. "It's only because she's in high spirits that she's managing; otherwise, she would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago."

When her younger brother got married, the Second Concubine was practically skinned alive.

The Third Concubine did not respond, her face showing a thoughtful expression.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," the Third Concubine said calmly. "Perhaps I'm overthinking it."

"What's wrong? I don't like it when people speak in a way that leaves things unsaid, making me want to know more."

I feel a little... uncomfortable.

"Um?"

"Isn't Miss Shi's maidservant being a bit too impetuous?"

Since it's a private meeting, it should be done discreetly.

As a result, the other party directly sent someone to inform them.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Wanning said, "Perhaps it was a mistake by one of our maids; she was too flamboyant."

"Sister Rongrong is very strict with her household," said the Third Concubine. "Perhaps I'm being cynical, but I feel she's a bit bossy."

"Really?" Gu Wanning indicated that she hadn't felt anything.

She wasn't born and raised here, so she didn't quite understand many things, especially when it came to rules.

Perhaps I'm overthinking it.

After a while, the Second Concubine returned, her face looking rather grim.

There are some things I can't say to anyone else, I can only talk about with my girlfriends.

"Sister, Hua Ying, I'm really upset about this. Can you help me figure out if I should pay for it?"

It turns out that the Shi family's daughter and Jin Huayu, the Second Concubine's younger brother, were having a secret affair, which the Second Concubine actually welcomed.

A good life requires mutual affection.

The younger brother had previously withdrawn several thousand taels of silver from the accounting office to buy things for the woman.

Second Concubine thought it was all normal.

"... She sent her maid today to say that she's getting married, and her aunt doesn't have any decent clothes or jewelry, so she wants us to help prepare some."

Gu Wanning: "..."

Speechless.

Are they so poor they can't afford to wear these clothes?

That's embarrassing.

This is still considered marrying down!

Is he putting on airs while begging?

"I don't think it's a big deal. When we prepared things for their family before, their aunt also received a generous gift. But today, that maid said that preparing jewelry and clothes worth two or three thousand taels would be fine. Judging from her tone, it sounded like our money grew out of thin air, and I was a little unhappy."

Gu Wanning: "How much?"

Two or three thousand taels?

She couldn't help but say, "What, is she going to marry into the family too? If I remember correctly, she was just a maidservant who was promoted to concubine. Her worth probably wasn't even twenty or thirty taels of silver. Now she's asking for two or three thousand taels?"

"You also think it's inappropriate, don't you? I'm just afraid I'm being too petty."

Third Concubine said, "Rongrong, calm down first. Let's find out who asked for these two or three thousand taels?"

Was it Miss Shi, or her aunt?

If it's the latter, then we should stay far away from each other in the future.

My aunt wasn't a proper relative, so no one criticized whether we kept in touch or not. At most, she'd give me a few dozen taels of silver a year to get rid of me, which was already quite reasonable.

However, if this is Miss Shi's wish, then this marriage is open to discussion.

"It was Shi Xin's idea." The Second Concubine bit her lip.

This is why she felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water over her head.

Her younger brother surprisingly agreed immediately, saying it was no big deal.

Two or three thousand taels of silver, and it's not a big deal?

The Second Concubine objected at the time, but she phrased it very tactfully.

She told the maid to go back and tell Shi Xin that this was inappropriate.

"After all, there is still the legal mother above us. To speak beyond her authority in this way is really inappropriate."

Unexpectedly, the maid who had been holding her head high and not even glancing at her since entering the room said, "Our young lady has already thought about this. Since the concubine can't overstep our mistress, let's prepare something even more expensive for her, around three or four thousand taels of silver."