Xu Zhi couldn't help but look over at Granny Lu. Seeing that Granny Lu was also frowning and thinking, she knew that the Qin family was not so simple.

The third prince's mother, Consort Wan, came from the Yong'an Marquis's mansion. However, the Yong'an Marquis's mansion declined due to a lack of talent. Later, Consort Wan's elder brother, Wan Weiyong, worked hard and won the imperial examination, becoming the top scholar of his year. When Emperor Liang Cheng was still a prince, he took the initiative to befriend him and married his younger sister, Consort Wan, to Emperor Liang Cheng as a concubine. When Emperor Liang Cheng was vying for the throne, Consort Wan contributed money and effort, thus gaining merit for supporting the emperor.

The Wan family rose to prominence because Wan Weiyong made the right bet. However, the Wan family lacked skilled business people and could not provide much financial support to the Third Prince. To win in this life-or-death struggle, they needed a lot of money. With money, they could get people to do things for them. Therefore, when Xu Zhi heard Lin Mama say that the Yuezhou Prefect's household was managed by his concubine, she immediately thought of the Third Prince.

Lin Mama said, "The Fifth Young Master of the manor is a well-known young talent in Yuezhou City. He is good-looking, well-educated, and his painting skills have been praised by famous teachers. All the unmarried girls in Yuezhou City like the Fifth Young Master."

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "So, this Miss Qin must have seen your fifth young master talking to our young lady. But how can she come over and scold a young lady for being shameless in public?"

Lin Mama said, "Just now, our young lady and Miss Zheng were sitting in this pavilion when the Fifth Young Master came over and said that he had run into Miss Zheng on the street last night. Miss Zheng didn't say anything. Then Miss Qin, Miss Sun, and the Seventh Young Lady from the manor came over together. This Miss Qin, relying on her father being the prefect, is used to acting arrogantly and domineeringly in Yuezhou City."

Xu Zhi sighed and said, "Don't your parents discipline a girl like this?"

Lin Mama said, "In the state government, the concubines are in charge of the household. They don't really discipline their children. Even if they know that their children are doing something wrong, they won't say much. First of all, the wife of Prefect Qin is still in the mansion. If she interferes too much, it will always cause some trouble. So she simply stops meddling in other people's business and gets some peace and quiet."

Xu Zhi gently shook her head. Zheng Yuanyuan said, "So this is how the young ladies of Yuezhou behave. In that case, I won't have much contact with them in the future. I don't think there's any point in having too much contact with them."

Granny Lin said, "There are always girls who act differently from them. Miss Zheng has come to Yuezhou City, so she should make more close friends. There are some scenic spots outside Yuezhou City. Wouldn't it be wonderful to go on an outing with a few friends?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan smiled and said, "Granny Lin, you have lived in Yuezhou City for so many years, you must know where there are fun places. I will have to rely on Granny Lin to tell me in the future."

Since they were all familiar with each other, they spoke with less restraint. It wasn't until the old lady's people came to urge them to take their seats that the group reluctantly got up.

Zheng Yuanyuan followed behind Xu Zhi, and said in a low voice as they walked: "Just now, Miss Qin came over and scolded me, and even wanted her maid to come and grab me. Sister Qinglian threw one of her maids to the ground. Miss Qin probably felt that we had hurt her people and lost face. Later, the fifth young master of the Shen family even said that she let her servant commit violence. She couldn't stand it and cried there."

Xu Zhi said, "It's alright, we're not afraid of trouble."

Zheng Yuanyuan said, "But her father is the prefect, the highest-ranking official in Yuezhou City."

Xu Zhi smiled and said, "We're not afraid of the prefect. Don't worry, if there are people like that again in the future, we'll just have them beaten back."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanyuan's eyes lit up immediately. She grabbed Xu Zhi's arm and gently shook it, saying, "Sister-in-law, can we really fight back?"

Xu Zhi said, "We can eat anything, but we can't suffer a loss. We won't suffer a loss from anyone. Even if we can't fight back now, we will fight back when we find an opportunity in the future."

Zheng Yuanyuan said, "Then I'll remember that. I don't cause trouble, but if anyone messes with me, I'll definitely get my revenge."

Xu Zhi said, "Although we have come from afar, it does not mean that we should let others bully us. As long as we are in the right, it is justified to fight back."

Zheng Yuanyuan nodded and said, "Sister-in-law, I understand."

Hearing Xu Zhi's words, Granny Wang felt the veins on her forehead throb. The Xu family had a rich heritage, but the Zheng family did not, especially Zheng Boyuan and Zheng Yuanyuan. The siblings were no longer considered children of the Marquis of Pingxi's family. Although they shared the same ancestor as the Marquis of Pingxi, they were now descendants of the Marquis of Pingxi's second branch. Even if something happened, the Marquis of Pingxi probably wouldn't lend a hand.

Seeing that Zheng Yuanyuan had taken her words to heart, Xu Zhi didn't say anything more. They had just arrived at the side hall where the banquet was being held. Several maids dressed in the same clothes were standing in front of the hall. When they saw Xu Zhi, Zheng Yuanyuan, and Feng Wan'er, they quickly stepped forward to greet them and invited the three mistresses into the side hall. The servants who served the three women went to a hall next door, where a banquet was set up specifically for the servants who served the ladies and young ladies.

Xu Zhi and the other two were seated at a table. Xu Zhi looked around and saw that Miss Qin was sitting at the next table, with Miss Sun and the seventh daughter of the Shen family sitting next to her. Miss Qin's eyes were red, and Miss Sun and the seventh daughter of the Shen family were trying to comfort her. When Miss Qin saw Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan, she glared at Xu Zhi with red eyes, but Xu Zhi ignored her.

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