I'm a Professional at Dragging People Down
Lady Zhu understood the maid's intention in trying to smooth things over. Their Earl of Suiping's Residence had finally received such an invitation, and they should have swallowed their anger and let it go. The old lady of the Earl of Suiping's Residence shared the same sentiment, so she kept giving her daughter-in-law meaningful glances, urging her to be patient.
But Lady Zhu knew in her heart that her family was able to attend this banquet because of her daughter; her husband was able to catch the eye of the Heir of the Marquis of Pingnan because of her daughter; and the future of the household and her son also depended on her daughter.
Therefore, even if she can no longer attend such banquets in the future, her daughter's reputation must not be ruined.
She nodded slightly to the maid, then smiled lightly at the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan and said, "My daughter is a child who respects her elders above all else; otherwise, she wouldn't have caught the eye of Mister Kumu and been accepted as his last disciple. You said she 'ignores you and turns away without a second thought,' which must be because your words were unpleasant, just like those you just said. My daughter is being polite and doesn't want to argue with you, so she ignores you, right?"
"Madam, coming to me to say these things, and making sure everyone in the courtyard could hear, doesn't seem like the behavior of a well-mannered person. My daughter has just been brought back to the manor, and this is her first banquet. I really can't bear to see you ruining her reputation like this. I think you should never speak to my daughter again. You should talk to someone else. Others have good reputations and strong backgrounds; perhaps they can withstand your slander and avoid being implicated."
Her voice was no less powerful than that of the ladies and young women in the small courtyard of the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan. They hadn't quite grasped what was going on when they heard the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan's words, but now, upon hearing her words, they all turned to look in her direction.
Some people found Lady Zhu's words amusing and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Because she didn't fit in with the ladies of noble families, Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan rarely attended such banquets. Even if she did, few people paid her any attention, so she couldn't cause any trouble.
Now, in front of so many people, she was being humiliated by Lady Zhu and couldn't save face. Her true nature as a village woman couldn't help but show, and she rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight Lady Zhu.
Princess of Zhennan sent so many maids and servants to guard various places because she was worried that someone would cause trouble.
The two ladies were already arguing, and the maids and servants were on edge. Seeing the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan's posture, the Daya waved her hand, and two burly servants immediately stepped forward, grabbed the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan's arms, and lifted her up.
"Madam, our Princess is calling you from ahead, you must go quickly." The old woman said, and before the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan could react, she pulled her away.
Some of the ladies who only now learned the whole story were all speechless upon seeing this scene.
Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan rose from an illiterate village woman to the rank of Marquis, becoming arrogant and tactless, offending many people. The emperor's support for new nobles and suppression of established families naturally placed them on opposing sides. Therefore, she was despised by countless noble ladies.
Seeing how Lady Zhu carried the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan so easily, some people immediately respected her as a hero and came over to curry favor with her.
Those who had previously been annoyed by the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan now not only came to befriend Lady Zhu, but also praised Zhao Ruxi without reservation.
Their logic was simple: anyone who was belittled by the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan was their natural ally, and therefore they had to be praised and protected so that the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan could not succeed and have her reputation ruined.
Anyway, there's no conflict with the Earl of Suiping's Residence, so saying a few nice words won't cost anything.
Besides, didn't you see that the Prince of Prince of Zhennan's Residence is biased? The wife of the Earl of Suiping's Residence is related by marriage to the Wife of the Duke of Wei and the Lady of the Peng Family. Most people present are on the same side as them, so there's no need to rack your brains to think about the pros and cons. Just praise Fifth Miss Zhao directly.
In the front courtyard, Fu Yunkai, who had come to the banquet, was putting in a lot of effort to flatter Zhao Yuanxun. His idea was simple: to win Zhao Yuanxun over before proposing marriage. That way, the Earl of Suiping's Residence would not only agree to the marriage, but would probably also agree to marry Zhao Ruxi off to their family as soon as she came of age next year.
In that case, he would only need to wait a year.
Marrying other girls would take at least half a year for the betrothal ceremony; since Fifth Miss Zhao is to my liking, waiting a few more months is nothing.
Just as he was flattering Zhao Yuanxun until he was all smiles, a servant rushed over and whispered a few words in his ear.
Fu Yunkai's face immediately darkened.
He led the servant aside and whispered, "Have Fu Gui's wife take two old women and tell them that the madam is unwell and to invite her home. For the next six months, she should claim to be ill. There's no need to deliver these banquet invitations to her; have Fu Gui's wife politely decline them directly."
Fu Gui was an attendant to the Marquis of Pingnan. His wife was shrewd and capable, and had become the head of the household. Fu Yunkai thought that with Fu Gui's wife watching over his mother, she wouldn't cause him any more trouble.
This time, however, they offended Fifth Miss Zhao and Wife of the Earl of Suiping...
Fu Yunkai suddenly felt an unusual headache.
Although it's said that a son doesn't despise his mother for being ugly, wanting to change his mother is extremely unfilial. But he genuinely wanted to change his mother.
"What's wrong, my dear nephew?" Zhao Yuanxun asked with concern when he saw Fu Yunkai return with a strange expression.
He had always addressed Fu Yunkai as "Little General," but after Fu Yunkai said it several times and he repeatedly referred to himself as "Little Nephew" in front of him, Zhao Yuanxun changed his way of addressing him.
Seeing the concern in Zhao Yuanxun's eyes, Fu Yunkai's heart stirred, and he sighed, "Uncle, I am truly sorry. I will definitely come to your door tomorrow to apologize."
Zhao Yuanxun asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Fu Yunkai then told Zhao Yuanxun everything he had heard from the servant, his attitude very sincere.
He said, "My mother is shallow and has been instigated by someone to say some unpleasant things to my aunt and Fifth Miss Zhao. My father has always had a headache with her. But before, I was too young to get married, so she had to be in charge of the household. My father said that once I get married, my wife will be in charge, and my mother, who has worked hard all her life, can enjoy her retirement in the back room. She won't have to worry about anything inside or outside the house."
He took charge from the moment he entered the house, not letting his mother-in-law dominate him. If he did that, even if his mother offended Wife of the Earl of Suiping and Fifth Miss Zhao today, Wife of the Earl of Suiping would still be willing to marry her daughter into the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, right?
Thinking about it this way, Fu Yunkai felt even more that he had made the right decision to first try to please his father-in-law and cultivate a relationship with him. What was wrong with him and his mother? At least he had a place to appeal and some room for maneuver, so he wouldn't be completely crushed.