In just three to five days, everyone knew that Princess Kangle of Suijintan was blessed with great fortune.
Even the gossipy women on the streets, you could grab any one of them and they'd spout off a few lines...
Whether it's good or bad, it's worrying to see a young woman receiving so much attention.
So, Madam Jia sent a servant to deliver a bucket of live fish to the Li family.
Old Mrs. Li pulled the old woman aside for a short sit-down chat.
The old woman was also quite talkative, telling Old Lady Li a lot about the latest happenings in the city, and adding a couple more comments at the end.
"The most talked-about topic in the city lately is your esteemed princess."
Everyone says that the princess is very lucky, and that she can find flowers blooming everywhere she goes, even if she just walks around in the wasteland.
"My wife attended a family friend's child's first birthday party yesterday and heard a lot about it from them."
"That's why I sent this old servant over today to give the old lady a heads-up."
Old Mrs. Li frowned as she listened; this was truly a spectacle that had reached right to her own doorstep.
"When did this happen? How did it suddenly become a rumor that my princess is blessed?"
The old woman replied, "It should have been four or five days. It seems that at the Gu family's flower-viewing banquet, the princess saved a little maid who was almost drowning. Many people saw it, and then the word spread that the princess was capable and blessed."
"After that, it got more and more outrageous and exciting, and almost everyone in the city knew about it."
Grandma Li suddenly remembered that her second son seemed to have never returned to the old house since that day.
She wondered what her son had been so busy with lately, only to find out that this was what had happened, but he had been keeping it from her!
After sending the old woman away, Old Lady Li felt increasingly uneasy. Just as she was about to send someone to the Princess's residence to call her granddaughter over, Madam Liu also sent her personal maid over with some things.
This time, the Liu family sent two cages of pheasants, their tail feathers particularly beautiful.
The old woman from the Liu family was also quick-witted; after all, someone sent out by their master couldn't be stupid.
"Madam, my master went hiking with his friends, and the guards caught so many pheasants on the way."
"Our lady said the pheasant meat was tough and not tasty, but it made a very good soup."
"Moreover, the pheasant's tail feathers are also beautiful. Perhaps the princess will like them, so she urged this old servant to send over two cages as soon as possible."
Old Mrs. Li nodded quickly and said with a smile, "Your wife is so thoughtful. Our princess likes these strange and unusual things."
"Yesterday I went to the chicken farm and caught a few roosters to pluck their feathers, so I can make shuttlecocks for Xingxing and Yueya'er."
"It's a pity she didn't find one she liked; she did scare those roosters half to death. But now she's all set, she'll be happy."
“Oh, what a coincidence! When I get back, I’ll tell our lady about it, and she’ll be very happy. She said she’s been busy these past few days, otherwise she would have come over in person today.”
The old woman continued, "I've been hearing a lot about the princess lately, and people are praising her endlessly. Our lady misses the princess very much, and she'll definitely come over for a visit when she has some free time in a few days."
Old Mrs. Li immediately understood from the tone of his voice.
This was because Madam Liu had also heard the rumors about Jia Yin and sent someone to remind her.
She immediately became anxious and asked a few questions carefully.
The old woman was very forthcoming and finally said, "Our mistress sensed something was wrong and was worried that the princess would suffer, so she sent this old servant to investigate."
Grandma Li quickly called someone to pick a basket of melons from the field and had Liu's wife carry them back. Then, she immediately called her daughter-in-law and granddaughter back to discuss the matter.
Tao Hongying takes care of a large family, young and old, every day, which is very hard work.
Although she has hired two young women from the second village to work as maids in the past two years, and they help her with laundry, cooking, and cleaning, she, as the head of the household, still has to worry and exert herself.
Today she finally had some free time to go to the Second Village and chat with Xiao Cui'er.
She hadn't been sitting for long when she heard that her mother-in-law was looking for her.
She quickly said goodbye to Xiao Cui and headed home.
Old Mrs. Li strolled under the eaves with her hands behind her back, holding a pipe she hadn't taken out in a long time.
Tao Hongying saw it as soon as she entered the hospital and was very puzzled.
You should know that my mother-in-law only smokes tobacco when she has worries on her mind.
Things have been peaceful at home lately, nothing much has happened, so why did we find the pipe?
Old Mrs. Li had been eagerly awaiting the return of her daughter-in-law, and she pulled her into the house and began to ask her questions.
"You've heard it lately, haven't you? There's been a lot of gossip going around in town about our Fu Niu'er."
"What gossip? I didn't know anything about it!" Tao Hongying was completely baffled.
Old Mrs. Li pinched her daughter-in-law's arm in anger, and said irritably, "You stay at home all day, hiding in the kitchen and never coming out, you never go to the city, what do you know!"
Feeling guilty, Tao Hongying didn't dare to answer.
Logically speaking, the Li family only has two daughters-in-law, her and Zhao Yuru. Zhao Yuru lives in Luo'an and doesn't come back often, so she is the only one in charge of the household.
She should frequently go to the city to socialize and entertain guests.
But the thought of sitting with those wealthy ladies, wearing fake smiles and exchanging compliments made her feel exhausted.
Instead of wasting her free time, she might as well come up with some new dishes. Her family would enjoy them, and she could even sell them at a restaurant for money...
Therefore, for a long time, she has avoided these social engagements whenever possible.
Fortunately, Wan'er was there to support the Earl's Mansion, the Princess's Mansion had her daughter personally stepping in, and the eldest uncle was also handling matters on his side.
The old house usually only interacted with a few families, including the Liu, Jia, and Guo families, and its life was very simple.
Grandma Li knew her daughter-in-law's temper well.
Ultimately, they all came from humble backgrounds and weren't really suited to a life of luxury...
She sighed and quickly recounted what had happened.
Tao Hongying didn't react at first, after all, it couldn't be a bad thing to hear someone praising her child.
Grandma Li broke it down and explained it to her daughter-in-law in detail.
"You fool, everything in excess is bad! Our Fu Niu'er isn't money, how can everyone like her and praise her?"
"Moreover, this rumor suddenly appeared, as if it wanted the whole of Kyoto to know, and to firmly attach the word 'lucky' to Fu Niu'er!"
"Someone must be up to something behind this!"
Tao Hongying frowned, also sensing that something was amiss!
"Mother, if someone is really up to something, what's their motive?" she asked in a low voice. "They wouldn't be trying to force Fu Niu'er to marry into the palace, would they? After all, only members of the royal family dare to claim great fortune!"
"However, the Emperor's eldest son died young, the second prince is sickly, and the third prince is only two years old. None of them are suitable!"
"It can't be..."
Old Mrs. Li's face darkened upon hearing this. She quickly interrupted her daughter-in-law, whispering a rebuke: "What nonsense are you talking about! Fu Niu is only ten years old, who would dare to have such a thought?!"
She lowered her voice even more in anger and said, "I heard there's a rule by the sea that when the Dragon King gets angry and there's a continuous storm at sea, the most beautiful girl from the fishing family has to be thrown into the sea as a sacrifice to appease the Dragon King's anger."
"Nowadays, some people are deliberately spreading rumors that our lucky girl is blessed everywhere, so that everyone knows and believes them."
"What if one day there is an earthquake or drought and flood, and someone cries out that God is angry and needs to make sacrifices? Should we sacrifice Fu Niu'er, who is the most blessed one?!"
“Our family just doesn’t agree. They say that only the most blessed person can quell the disasters sent down by heaven, and that’s how they put our family on the opposite side of everyone else.”
"No matter how powerful our family is, can we stand against the entire Tianwu Sect?!"
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