Chapter 314: Drunk (2)

"I'll write a few more invitations later," Chen Ruoqiu said, "and you ask someone to deliver them to each lady's residence." The more people who come to watch the fun, the better.

…

Two days later, there was a family dinner at the Shen Mansion.

Ever since Ren Wanyun went crazy, those noble ladies had cut off all contact with her. After all, it wasn't a glorious thing to tell others about a girl who was pregnant before marriage. Although no one knew what became of Ren Wanyun, as monkeys scatter when the tree falls, no one asked about her.

The ladies who had previously been on good terms with Ren Wanyun gradually became close to Chen Ruoqiu. Although Ren Wanyun could no longer be associated with them, the Shen family still had to maintain their relationship. The Shen family had more than one mistress, and compared to Luo Xueyan, who was often absent from Dingjing and had a reputation for being vulgar, Chen Ruoqiu, who came from a scholarly family, was clearly easier to curry favor with.

Madam Yi and Madam Jiang arrived early. Jiang Xiaoxuan and Yi Peilan pulled Shen Yue aside to talk, saying, "We won't go to Guangwen Hall until after the New Year. It's so boring being locked up in the mansion these days."

They chatted, completely forgetting Shen Qing's death, forgetting that they had been true friends with Shen Qing not long ago. The friendship between the noble ladies in Dingjing City was also so cold and frosty. After all, friends were not as important as interests. What they interacted with was not just a person, but the power behind that person.

Chen Yue also smiled and responded to them, and thus, Shen Qing's matter was tacitly forgotten by everyone. However, Bai Wei looked at the figure in the distance and said, "Hey, who is that? Is that the cousin you mentioned?"

She raised her chin and pointed at the girl standing not far away. She was wearing an apricot dress with simple and plain clothes. She was standing and talking to the maid beside her.

"That's my third sister Dong Ling," Chen Yue said with a smile, "She was born to my aunt. She was not in good health before and didn't come out. It's natural that you haven't seen her." She deliberately emphasized the word "aunt".

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxuan and the others looked at each other with disdain. Yi Peilan said, "What's wrong with her health? It's just... coming out. These concubines are the most cunning. Yue Niang, don't let her fool you."

Chen Yue smiled and said, "Third sister rarely leaves the yard. Look, that's my cousin."

While Chen Yuan was speaking, he saw Jing Chuchu walk by. She probably hadn't noticed Chen Yue and the other two were there, so she didn't come over to say hello. Bai Wei, however, was sharp-eyed and asked in confusion, "Mother Yue, didn't you say your cousin is from Suzhou? Just now, I saw her clothes and jewelry, and they seemed very expensive. Look at that bracelet she's wearing, it's even better than yours."

Bai Wei's words were unintentional, but Shen Yue's face turned pale and she forced a smile, "I don't know either. Maybe it was given by my grandmother."

"What's there to see?" Jiang Xiaoxuan said, "She's from Suzhou, how can she compare to the girls in Dingjing? She can show off her clothes and jewelry, but her taste and temperament are not up to par. Look at her delicate and timid appearance, how can she be presentable?"

Shen Yue shook her head and said, "Don't talk about my cousin like that."

"You're just too kindhearted." Yi Peilan was disappointed. "You're close to everyone. You even protected that idiot in your house. Now that he's successful, he still doesn't take you seriously. Anyway, why haven't I seen that idiot?"

The "straw bag" she was talking about was naturally Shen Miao. Ever since Guang Wentang and Shen Miao had a verbal dispute, Yi Peilan had regarded Shen Miao as her number one enemy, wishing she could step on her every now and then.

And the Shen Miao she was talking about was currently in the west courtyard watching Shen Qiu drinking tea.

"Grandmother, what's going on?" Shen Qiu frowned and asked, "Why are there so many women at the banquet? Wherever you go, there's chattering and it's so noisy."