After staying in Fanghuayuan for a long time, Xue Huichun left reluctantly.
She knew that although this place was full of memories of her unmarried period, she was now a member of the Jiang family and she needed to go back to face her new life.
After returning to the Jiang Mansion, Xue Huichun handed the Fan family's chrysanthemum banquet invitation to her mother-in-law, Qiao.
After seeing this, Mrs. Qiao smiled and nodded. "The Fan family's chrysanthemum banquet is indeed quite famous in the capital. Since you've been invited, then go. Remember to perform well and don't lose face for our Jiang family."
Xue Huichun answered yes respectfully. Although she was born in a marquis's mansion, she knew that her identity and status had changed dramatically after marrying into the Jiang family. She needed to work harder to adapt to the new environment and win the recognition and respect of her mother-in-law and husband.
The next day, Xue Huichun stepped into Fan's house. What caught her eyes were the colorful chrysanthemums blooming all over the yard, and the rich fragrance filled the air.
Many guests had arrived early. They were enjoying the flowers and drinking tea in a warm atmosphere with everyone chatting and laughing.
Among the crowd was Cui Yuping, the wife of Jiang Lun's good friend Yang Yulin. Today was a gathering for the women, and when she saw Xue Huichun slowly approaching, supporting the elderly lady Hong Yingrong, she immediately stepped forward and respectfully greeted them.
Mrs. Fan said with a smile on her face, "Mrs. Xue, you are glad to be here. The chrysanthemums are in full bloom, waiting for you to come and enjoy them."
Hong Yingrong smiled kindly, "Mrs. Fan, the chrysanthemums in your house are truly renowned. I can hardly take in all the flowers."
Xue Huichun also chimed in: "Yes, there are so many varieties of chrysanthemums, each with its own unique charm. It's really eye-opening."
While the three of them were chatting and laughing, other female relatives had already gathered around, greeting the old lady and Xue Huichun, and warmly welcoming them into the inner hall.
In the inner hall, exquisite snacks and fragrant tea have been prepared.
The women sat together, drinking tea and admiring the flowers in a harmonious atmosphere. They talked about various interesting things and laughed from time to time.
Xue Huichun looked at the scene in front of her and felt very happy.
The wife of the commander-in-chief of the military command asked Mrs. Fan curiously, "I heard the house next to yours was sold. Who bought it?"
Mrs. Fan's expression changed slightly when she heard this question, but then she smiled again and replied, "It's the Liang family from the former Zhanshi Mansion."
"Oh? They have moved here for about half a year, right? Why haven't we seen them walking around in the capital?" The wife of the commander-in-chief of the military department continued to ask, sparking discussions from others nearby.
Cui Yuping noticed that Xue Huichun was accompanying her mother Hong Yingrong and did not seem to be very interested in these topics, so she invited her to go to the corridor to appreciate the chrysanthemums.
Hong Yingrong also considerately let them go by themselves and didn't have to insist on accompanying her.
In the inner hall, the topic about the Liang family continued.
"Since we live so close, why not invite the women of the Liang family to come over and enjoy the chrysanthemums together today?"
Someone raised a question. Mrs. Fan gently put down the teacup in her hand and explained, "I did send a visiting card, but the Liang family replied that there was a patient at home and it was inconvenient for them to go out."
"Indeed, his wife is old, and it is difficult for all the women in the house to be taken care of by Sir Liang, the stepson."
This sentence sounds reasonable, but those who know the situation know that there is a certain sarcasm in it.
"If you ask me, the Ning Anbo Zhang family and their Liang family are destined to be together. There are as many Zhang family daughters as there are Zhang family men."
Mrs. Fan frowned slightly. Although they had no contact with the Liang family, Liang Fushan was an official in the court after all, and her husband was the censor. It was inappropriate to arrange an official's wife in the back house.
She cleared her throat. "The stage in the backyard is already set up. We've invited the famous Xiaochun Troupe from Beijing. We can watch the play and admire the chrysanthemums at the same time."
Mrs. Fan's proposal was unanimously agreed upon by all the female members of the family. Everyone stood up and followed Mrs. Fan to the backyard.
In the backyard, an exquisite stage has been built. The stage is beautifully decorated and surrounded by chrysanthemums of various colors, adding a touch of elegance.
The actors of Xiaochun's troupe are ready and will start the performance as soon as the guests are seated.
The female family members took their seats in order, and Xue Huichun and old lady Hong Yingrong were arranged to sit in the front row.
With the sound of gongs and drums, the performance on the stage officially began.
The superb acting skills and beautiful singing of the male and female actors won rounds of applause from the audience.
Although Xue Huichun was not particularly well-versed in opera, she was captivated by the graceful singing and watched with great interest. From time to time, she turned to whisper to Hong Yingrong, sharing her feelings.
Seeing that everyone was seated and the performance on the stage was gradually gaining momentum, Mrs. Fan turned to Mrs. Hong Yingrong with a smile and said, "Madam, the atmosphere of chrysanthemum viewing is cheerful today. I wonder if you would be willing to select two plays for us to enjoy together?"
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Hong Yingrong's eyes flashed with surprise. After a brief thought, she nodded and smiled, "Since Madam Fan is so kind, I will recommend two plays. One is 'Chasing the Fish' and the other is 'The Fairy of the Magpie Bridge', both of which are popular with the ladies."
After hearing this, Mrs. Fan immediately clapped her hands and cheered: "Old Madam, you really have good taste. I love watching these two plays. I am sure everyone will enjoy them."
Following Mrs. Fan's instructions, the stage was quickly replaced with the scenery of "Chasing the Fish".
The music was melodious, and the female roles, dressed in gorgeous costumes, came in one after another. After the performance of "Chasing the Fish", the prelude of "Magpie Bridge" slowly began.
Just as the female members of the family were immersed in the touching story of "The Magpie Bridge Fairy", a shrill female voice suddenly pierced the sky, followed by a mixture of wailing and unbridled laughter. This sudden change made the female members present look at each other in confusion, and the performance on the stage came to an abrupt end.
"Where does this sound come from?" Someone frowned and looked towards the source of the sound.
Someone else immediately realized, "It sounds like it's coming from the Liang family's house next door."
Upon hearing this, the female relatives began to discuss the matter.
Xue Huichun also looked at Hong Yingrong in surprise and doubt, and saw that her face changed slightly, and she was obviously also disturbed by this sudden change.
Mrs. Fan quickly stood up and said, "Everyone, please be patient. I'll send someone to check on the situation."
She immediately ordered the servants in the mansion to go to the Liang family to inquire about the situation.
At this moment, the sounds coming from the Liang family's house became more and more weird, with wailing and laughter intertwined. The curiosity and uneasiness in the hearts of the female family members were intertwined, and they all speculated about what had happened in the Liang family.
Some people said that a patient in the Liang family might have fallen ill, while others speculated that the Liang family had some unknown secret that was covered up.
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