Chapter 201 Uninvited Guest
Hosting a banquet is a big event. Although it was just a small tea tasting banquet, it was still a rare good thing for the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion in a long time.
Madam Min was too old to handle things herself.
Originally, Lady Wu was the most suitable candidate to be the wife of the Marquis.
But Wu was useless, and Min Qiao didn't bother to look for her.
Zhou Shi was older than her, and since Zhou Shi wasn't a proper mistress of the Marquis's mansion, it wasn't appropriate.
Qiao Yuanyao would be even less suitable.
Su Rongrong wanted to help, but her position was equally awkward. Besides, she didn't have the ability to handle such a large undertaking.
Just as Madam Min Qiao was pondering and preparing to take charge herself, Min Yuexi volunteered to take over the task of organizing the banquet.
Min Qiaoshi was not unaware of Min Yuexi's attempt to curry favor.
With Wei Jia's encouragement, Min Qiaoshi readily agreed.
And so, the responsibility of organizing the banquet fell to Min Yuexi.
Min Yuexi rarely had the opportunity to curry favor with Min Qiaoshi, so she put in her best effort to prepare for the banquet.
Soon, the day of the banquet arrived.
Early in the morning, the Xuanping Marquis's residence was cleaned and tidied from the inside out, just waiting for the guests to arrive.
Min Yuexi was responsible for overall coordination and handling emergencies. Therefore, Su Rongrong and Wei Jia were responsible for greeting people at the door.
The first person to arrive was Madam Zheng. After she arrived, she was led to Songhe Hall to speak with Madam Min Qiao.
Another half hour passed before people began to arrive one after another.
As expected, none of the guests were from prominent or wealthy families.
The highest rank is only third grade, and most others are sixth or seventh grade.
Seeing that most of the guests had arrived, Madam Min Qiao and Madam Zheng led Madam Zhou and Qiao Yuanyao to the banquet hall.
After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, the conversation turned to Qiao Yuanyao.
Some of the people who came today were curious to see who Min Qiao's niece was.
Some were there to watch the show and see who would be so fearless as to associate themselves with the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion.
Of course, there are also those who genuinely want to get married.
However, these people were either drawn by the power of the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion or by the wealth of Lady Min Qiao.
When the Marquis of Xuanping's family was fighting over the division of property, it was already widely known how much private property Madam Min Qiao possessed.
Even if she only managed to squeeze a little money out of her own pocket when her niece got married, it would be enough for an ordinary minor official's family to live a life of comfort and ease.
In short, the guests had different intentions.
Min Qiao didn't care what these people were thinking, nor did she care whether she could find a suitable family today.
As long as Qiao Yuanyao makes an appearance in front of everyone today and gains some good reputation, her goal will be achieved.
Therefore, she didn't try to promote Qiao Yuanyao too much. She simply mentioned Qiao Yuanyao briefly before shifting the topic to the theme of today's banquet.
If it's called a tea tasting banquet, then it truly is a tea tasting banquet.
Fine tea was served cup after cup, and even those who didn't know much about tea could sense Min Qiao's extravagance from the occasional exclamations of those who did.
So, halfway through the tea tasting, many people began racking their brains to introduce their younger relatives or their family's children. Even those who weren't initially interested joined in promoting their own younger relatives.
In no time, Qiao Yuanyao became a highly sought-after prize.
Just as everyone was praising Qiao Yuanyao for her elegant appearance and virtuous character, a servant rushed in to report that the old lady of the Dali Temple Minister's mansion had arrived with her third daughter-in-law.
Upon hearing this, Min Qiao felt helpless. Just as she was about to say, "Please ask them to go back," she saw that the Wu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had already entered uninvited.
Everyone in the flower hall was taken aback, and soon some people adopted an expression of waiting to see a good show.
A while ago, Madam Min Qiao did not hide the fact that the third wife of the Wu family had come to the door to demand the hot spring estate under the guise of the Crown Princess.
Therefore, most people who are even slightly gossipy know that Min Qiaoshi and the Wu family have a history of conflict.
The fact that the Wu family has come uninvited is definitely not a good thing.
Guests are guests. Since they've already entered, it would be wrong of her to try and send them away.
Madam Min Qiao had no choice but to suppress her anger, and with a smile, invited them to sit down and had some fine tea served.
The old lady of the Wu family also had a warm smile on her face, as if the unpleasantness between the two families a few days ago did not exist.
After sitting down, Old Mrs. Wu took Min Qiao's hand and said affectionately, "Oh dear, please don't think I'm an old woman who came uninvited. I heard you wanted to find a husband for your niece, so I came all the way here."
Madam Min smiled and said, "I'm overjoyed that the old lady could come, how could I possibly find fault with her?"
"However, this banquet is not for arranging a marriage for my niece; it is a tea tasting banquet."
"Why don't you try some of my tea and see what you think?"
Grandma Wu picked up her teacup, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea." Then she turned the conversation back to Qiao Yuanyao.
"Speaking of which, my eldest grandson has been married for almost five years, and he only has one daughter so far."
“I was just thinking of finding a concubine for my eldest grandson. But then I heard that Madam Qiao was going to find a match for her niece.”
"That's why I'm personally visiting them."
The old lady of the Wu family looked at Madam Min Qiao with a sincere expression, "Madam Qiao, what do you think?"
Upon hearing this, everyone stared wide-eyed at the two of them.
Good heavens, this old lady from the Wu family is definitely up to no good!
Even if Min Qiao's own niece was not the worst, she shouldn't have become someone's concubine, right?
Moreover, the old lady of the Wu family is only a few years older than Madam Min. For her grandson to take Madam Min's niece as a concubine is to suppress her by a whole generation.
If she were to take the woman back as a concubine, not only would Madam Min be a generation below her, but she wouldn't even be considered a proper relative.
Everyone present knew that Old Mrs. Wu's words were intended to humiliate someone.
As expected, Madam Min's face immediately darkened.
"I thought Old Madam Wu had come to apologize for the extortion she caused me a few days ago. I never expected she would come to humiliate this old woman!"
Madam Min sighed and said aggrievedly, "Alas, it's pitiful that I don't have a granddaughter who is the Crown Princess to support me, and now people are bullying me."
This sarcastic tone caught everyone's attention.
"Why are you bringing up the Crown Princess?"
When Mrs. Wu heard Min Qiao bring up her granddaughter, she immediately flew into a rage.
Previously, because of the hot spring resort incident, the Crown Princess was thoroughly humiliated by the Seventh Princess. The Crown Princess then went back to her parents' home and threw a huge tantrum.
Even she, the grandmother, was scolded by her granddaughter.
At this point, she dared not provoke her granddaughter any further.
But it was absolutely impossible for her to easily forgive the culprit, Min Qiaoshi.
Even if she can't do anything to Min Qiao Shi, she still wants to annoy her.
“Your niece has been rejected by several suitors and is still unmarried at twenty years old. It’s hard to say that there might be something wrong with her.”
"I only allowed my eldest grandson to take her as a concubine because of the favor shown by the Marquis of Xuanping's family."
"What do you have to be dissatisfied with?"
Grandma Wu had an expression that said, "You guys got a great deal."
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