Chapter 241 Taking Sides
"How dare you!" Old Mrs. Wu roared in anger.
Madam Liu, however, instinctively flinched. But then, remembering that they were at the Yongning Marquis's residence, not the Xuanping Marquis's residence, she immediately mustered her courage and sneered, "Madam Qiao, this is not your Xuanping Marquis's residence. If you want to show off your power, you'd better go back to your own residence. Don't disturb their banquet and offend people you shouldn't."
"Weren't you and your mother-in-law the ones who disrupted someone else's banquet?"
Madam Zheng looked at the two of them speechlessly, "Do you think everyone else is blind and deaf?"
"It was clearly you mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who started the trouble first, how dare you accuse Madam Qiao of disrupting the host's banquet?"
"Madam Zheng, my mother-in-law and I are talking to Madam Qiao. Please don't meddle in our business."
Old Mrs. Wu gave Madam Zheng a warning look, "After all, even the Empress Dowager can't protect you forever, can she?"
As soon as Old Madam Wu said this, Third Madam Liu immediately chimed in: "Before, because of Madam Zheng's matter, the Empress Dowager had already displeased the Emperor."
"Does Madam Zheng not want the Empress Dowager to completely fall out of favor with the Emperor because of your matter?"
Mrs. Liu's words were a blatant threat.
Everyone gasped again, their eyes fixed on Madam Zheng, waiting to see her reaction.
The next moment, Madam Zheng flung the teacup in her hand at the Wu family mother and daughter-in-law.
In an instant, the teacup shattered, and tea splashed everywhere.
Fortunately, there were no other people between Madam Zheng and Madam Min's table and the Wu family's table. Madam Zheng's cup was not aimed at anyone either.
The moment the teacup shattered at their feet, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law jumped up in fright.
"What, what are you doing?" Old Mrs. Wu clutched her chest, trying her best to calm her frantic heartbeat, her face as black as the bottom of a pot.
Madam Zheng gave a cold laugh, "Ha, you dare to spout nonsense about the relationship between His Majesty and the Empress Dowager?"
The Empress Dowager cannot compare to the Crown Prince's position in Emperor Xiaozhao's heart, so how could she be inferior to a mere Crown Princess?
Did he think that because he was the Crown Princess, he could be so arrogant as to slander the Empress Dowager?
Based on what she learned about the Crown Prince from the Empress Dowager, he was definitely not someone who was sentimental.
They're being so lenient with the Crown Princess and her family now; who knows what they're really up to!
Ah, they'll have their day to cry later.
Upon hearing this, the Wu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, who were still furious, calmed down a bit.
"Madam Zheng, don't make false accusations! When have we ever slandered His Majesty or the Empress Dowager? We're talking about you!"
Grandma Wu argued defiantly, "We were just joking around with Madam Qiao, and you threw a teacup at us? Are you trying to kill us, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?"
"Is there no law left in this world? People can't even speak their minds?"
Just then, a voice came from the entrance of the flower hall.
"Oh dear, why is it so lively? Am I late?"
As the words were spoken, Lady Annan, led by the second young mistress of the Yongning Marquis's mansion, entered the flower hall.
Upon seeing the Earl of Annam, the Wu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law's eyes lit up.
“Madam, you’ve come at just the right time. Look at our clothes.”
The Wu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stepped forward, showing off their skirts that were wet from the tea.
"Oh dear, what happened?" Lady Annam exclaimed. "It's getting chilly. You two should go and change into clean clothes so you don't catch a cold."
He then instructed the second young mistress to lead someone to change clothes.
Unexpectedly, the Wu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law waved their hands and refused, saying, "No rush. Let's clarify things first before we go."
Lady Annam smiled. "What's the rush? Couldn't you change into some clean clothes before you come to argue?"
"That won't do!"
The old lady of the Wu family refused righteously and firmly, saying, "This is evidence of their bullying. I will not change my clothes until the matter is clarified."
As he spoke, he grabbed Lady Annam's hand and complained, "Lady Annam, please come and judge this for us."
"Alright, alright, please don't get agitated, let's talk this out." The Duchess of Annan kindly helped Old Madam Wu sit down.
Old Mrs. Wu glanced at Madam Zheng and Madam Min before saying, "We, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, were sitting and talking peacefully when we didn't know what we said that angered the Madam of Xuanping Marquis, who then had the Madam of Jin State throw teacups at us."
"I've always known that the two of them are close, but this is too domineering! They won't even let them speak?"
"Oh dear, luckily my mother-in-law and I escaped quickly, otherwise, that cup would have hit us on the head."
Goodness, this lie just comes out of his mouth so easily?
Luckily, they escaped quickly! Madam Zheng's cup wasn't even aimed at anyone!
Lady Annan patted Old Madam Wu's hand, turned to look at Madam Min and Madam Qiao, curtsied, and then said with an unfriendly expression, "Madam Qiao disrupted the banquet of the Prince of Chang'an's Mansion before the New Year, and not long ago she disrupted the banquet of our Mansion. Now she is preparing to disrupt the banquet of the Marquis of Yongning's Mansion?"
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate? After all, this is the first banquet held by the Dowager Lady of Yongning Marquis since she returned to the capital after many years."
"Isn't what you're doing disrespectful to the Dowager Lady of Yongning Marquis?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze towards Madam Min became strange.
Some people in the crowd whispered among themselves, "It seems that's really the case!"
"Why is it that wherever Madam Qiao goes, things become unsettled?"
"Why is this Madam Qiao always causing so much trouble? Can't she just behave herself?"
Of course, some clear-headed people quietly retorted: "Wasn't it the Wu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who started the trouble first?"
"That's right! Madam Qiao and Madam Zheng were sitting there peacefully, not causing any trouble. How come it's all Madam Qiao's fault in the end?"
"This Lady Annam is clearly taking sides!"
"That goes without saying. Madam Qiao caused a scene at the Marquis of Annan's residence before, and the relationship between the two families is far from good now."
"Wait a minute, aren't the Annam Earl's Mansion and the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion related by marriage? Speaking of which, didn't the Annam Earl's daughter, Miss Feng Wu, marry the third son of Madam Qiao?"
"Oh dear, things are complicated here. It is said that..."
The discussion veered further and further away from the topic, but Madam Min Qiao did not care at all.
She looked at Lady Annan with a half-smile, "The Sun family is observing mourning at home, while the Annan Marquis's mansion is rising in status. Tsk tsk!"
Think about it carefully.
They were all from the same boat as the Lu family. Some people's status plummeted after the death of their elders, while others rose steadily by taking advantage of the situation.
These words clearly imply that the death of Old Madam Sun is inextricably linked to the Annam Earl's Mansion.
Of course, these words were more meant to sow discord.
After all, the two families, once evenly matched, are now worlds apart. Whether the Sun family will still have a place in the imperial court three years from now is entirely uncertain.
As long as her words reach the ears of the Sun family, it's hard to guarantee that their hearts won't be stirred.
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