Just as everyone was talking, the servants of the Fan Mansion hurried back.
"Madam, there's indeed something wrong at the Liang family next door," the servant reported breathlessly. "The Liang family's servants said that one of their maids has gone crazy and is crying and laughing in the yard."
After hearing this, Mrs. Fan frowned and asked, "Do you want to see the doctor?"
"We've sent someone to ask her to come back, but that maid is so crazy that the Liang family is almost helpless," the servant replied.
Hearing it was a maid, some of the clever female family members covered their faces with their round fans and whispered to each other. Indeed, the Liang family was considered a middle-class family, and the rules and etiquette in the mansion should be comprehensive. How could they tolerate a maid being so presumptuous and noisy in the mansion?
"If she really had a seizure, shouldn't the dentist be scolded? Why would she be allowed to make such a fuss in the backyard?" Someone murmured in confusion.
"If she was a child born in the family, her parents should have sent her to the farm to be raised. That would be considered a mercy. But they actually kept her in the backyard. What on earth was the Liang family thinking?" Another person shook his head and sighed.
Although the discussion was muffled, everyone present could hear it clearly. Xue Huichun also felt that the matter seemed complicated. She turned to look at Hong Yingrong and saw that she was frowning, obviously thinking about this problem.
Mrs. Fan also realized the seriousness of the matter. She stood up and said to the female relatives, "Today's events are indeed a bit strange. However, we are outsiders after all and don't know the specific situation of the Liang family. Perhaps they have their own considerations and difficulties. It is inconvenient for us to speculate too much."
Upon hearing this, the women nodded in agreement. Although they still had doubts in their hearts, they also knew that now was not the time to delve into it.
Xue Huichun thought to herself: This matter is indeed not simple, and the Liang family's actions are difficult to understand.
As time went by, this little incident at the chrysanthemum viewing banquet was gradually forgotten by everyone. However, Xue Huichun never forgot it. She had been secretly keeping an eye on the Liang family's movements, hoping to find the truth.
When Xue Huichun returned home, her husband Jiang Lun had just returned from the Hanlin Academy. He smiled gently and asked, "My wife, how was the chrysanthemum viewing banquet today? Did you encounter anything interesting?"
Xue Huichun took off her outer garments and changed into a light dress. Then she sat down beside Jiang Lun and spoke slowly, "Today's chrysanthemum viewing banquet was supposed to be wonderful, with all the chrysanthemums blooming in all their splendor, and the women's poetry was also very interesting. However, something rather strange happened."
She paused, as if trying to organize her words, and then continued, "A maid from the Liang family next door suddenly went crazy in the mansion, crying and laughing, making a huge commotion. I heard from the servants at the Fan residence that the Liang family has sent for a doctor, but the maid's madness seems to be quite serious."
Jiang Lun frowned slightly after hearing this. "The Liang family is considered a middle-class family with strict rules. How could they allow a maid to act so presumptuously in the mansion?"
Xue Huichun nodded. "I also find this strange. If the maid had truly gone insane, the Liang family should have sent her to the manor to recuperate, or held the broker responsible for the transaction accountable. But they allowed her to cause trouble in the backyard. This is truly incomprehensible."
After listening to Xue Huichun's narration, Jiang Lun pondered for a moment and suddenly remembered his travel experience two years ago.
"My dear, when I was traveling through Mingchuan two years ago, I passed through Qingzhou County and visited Liang Fushan." Jiang Lun spoke slowly, his eyes revealing a hint of reminiscence. "He lived in the backyard of the county government office at the time. I wanted to pay his respects to his wife, but Liang Fushan said she had a cold and was not in a position to see guests. Now that I think about it, I seem to have heard strange screams in the backyard as well."
Xue Huichun perked up immediately after hearing this: "Screaming? Could it be related to the Liang family's crazy maid today?"
Jiang Lun nodded. "If the person screaming is the same one who went crazy today, then the reason behind this becomes even more intriguing. Why would the Liang family bring such a clearly problematic maid back to the capital and keep her in the mansion, instead of letting her recuperate at the farm and have her treated by a doctor?"
Xue Huichun was also very confused. "Yes, if it really is the same maid, then the Liang family's actions are indeed incomprehensible. Why did they bring her back to the capital with such fanfare and then let her go crazy in the mansion?"
Jiang Lun sighed, "There must be a reason. Perhaps the Liang family has some unspeakable secret, or perhaps this maid holds special meaning to them."
Xue Huichun nodded, agreeing with Jiang Lun's suggestion, but at the same time, a troubling thought welled up in her mind. She looked up at Jiang Lun, her brows furrowed slightly, and said, "My dear, there's something that has been puzzling me. Liang Fushan's wife seems to have never appeared in the capital. Why is that?"
Jiang Lun, upon hearing this, also revealed a thoughtful expression: "Now that you mention it, I also remember. Indeed, we have some friendship with the Liang family, but I have never met Madam Liang."
Xue Huichun had a flash of inspiration and recalled Zhang Ruowan's instructions - if she had any questions, she could go to Chunlin Poetry Society.
She immediately had an idea and ordered her servants to deliver an exquisite invitation to the Qi Mansion, sincerely inviting Zhang Ruowan to meet at the Chunlin Poetry Society the next day.
Inside the Qi residence, the invitation sent by Xue Huichun was respectfully presented to Mr. Qi. After reading it, Mr. Qi showed an unconcealable joy on his face.
"I can't believe you and the Jiang family's young mistress have such a good relationship." Master Qi sighed, his tone revealing his approval of Zhang Ruowan. "The Jiang family has now become one of the new nobles. Being able to form an in-law relationship with the Xingyuan Marquisate, they will surely be a leader among the prestigious families in the future."
Zhang Ruowan stood aside, listening to her husband's praise, but couldn't help but sneer in her heart. She knew that behind these flattering words was Master Qi's desire for power and status.
At this moment, a slightly disdainful voice echoed from the hall. It was the son of Master Qi's late first wife. He curled his lips and said disapprovingly, "Mother is now in charge of the rear house, and father is already old. I should stay home to take care of him. Why go out and show my face in public?"
Zhang Ruowan glanced at her stepson, who was two years older than her, and felt the same disgust in her heart.
She knew very well that her stepson had always harbored a grudge against her and was always confronting her openly and covertly.
"Since the eldest master said so, then let's reject this post." Zhang Ruowan said lightly, with a hint of disdain in her tone.
"Oh, this is absolutely impossible!" Master Qi heard this and waved his hands hurriedly, saying, "How can we easily refuse the Jiang family's invitation? If word gets out, people might think that we in the Qi family don't know etiquette."
"Yongzhou, how could you be so disrespectful to your mother?" Master Qi glared at his son and scolded him harshly, "Apologize to your mother now!"
Qi Yongzhou's face suddenly turned ugly after being scolded by his father. Although he was unwilling, under his father's majestic gaze, he could only reluctantly bow to Zhang Ruowan as an apology.
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