Chapter 42 Chapter 42 If not, how could she have...
The Duke didn't even glance at the mother and daughter from the Meng family. His face was frosty and he was obviously extremely angry.
The old lady knew that today's banquet was ruined, but she decided to sacrifice the car to save the king.
The old lady pinched Nanny Qian's sleeve, and Nanny Qian immediately understood. She walked behind the Duke and whispered a few words.
Madam Qian whispered to Auntie again, "Auntie, please bear with me."
Jasmine understood and immediately pleaded with the Duke, "Master, I'm fine. Today is the Old Madam's great day, please don't be angry."
Look at my aunt, she's so sensible. Yet there are still people finding fault with her.
The old lady also saw this scene. After praising the concubine for her kindness and gentleness, she secretly sighed that the Meng family girl was not even as good as a concubine!
As expected, a small family is a small family!
If she and Qu Lianxi hadn't grown up together and had a close relationship, she would never have been given the position of Tongpanfu!
But right now, she doesn't want to think about this family anymore.
It was almost time for the dinner to start, and Mrs. Meng wanted to defend her daughter, but the old lady used the excuse of the dinner starting and told her to talk later.
The concubine also wanted to ask the palace doctor to examine her injuries. The Duke said something to the old lady and left with the concubine.
It was obvious that the old lady wanted to keep the peace. The Duke, being filial to the old lady, did not intend to argue with the Meng family mother and daughter any further.
As for what Meng Rufan said, that her aunt scolded her first and then she broke in, everyone was not sure whether it was true.
But looking at my aunt, it didn't look like she was cursing anyone. Besides, no one else would curse my aunt, so why would she curse me, and she just happened to hear it.
Everyone was no longer curious. After all, the fault lay with Madam Meng Er.
When the aunt appeared in front of everyone again, she had changed into a light blue cross-collared skirt.
Due to her status, Jasmine could only sit near the door.
When the Duke saw his concubine sitting down, he only glanced at her and then walked straight forward. He had originally planned to greet the main table and then go to the front yard.
Unexpectedly, the old lady asked, "Does this purse look good to you, Lord?"
The Duke took a serious look at the purse and said earnestly, "It looks good. It suits mother very well."
The old lady smiled and said, "Guess which young lady here wrote this?"
The Duke couldn't just casually look at the young lady, so he replied to the old lady: "My son doesn't know."
The old lady revealed the answer: "It's the young lady from the Liang family!"
As the old lady spoke, the pretty young lady sitting on the side slowly stood up and said, "Thank you for the compliment, old lady. As long as you like it, I'm glad."
Then Liang Zhuzhu lowered her eyebrows and saluted the Duke.
The Duke said, "Madam Liang, there's no need to be so polite."
The Duke finally came to see him. The old lady's face flushed with excitement, and then she let the Duke leave.
How could Madam Meng not understand what this meant? Madam Meng was about to vomit to death. Was the old lady giving up on her Fan Er? Where were the good sisters they had promised to be?
But she was the old lady. No matter how angry Madam Meng was, she had to swallow it down and watch Madam Liang be so happy.
Mrs. Liang once again whispered to Liang Zhuzhu: "Smile more, stare less at the food, pay attention to your manners, and don't make any wrong steps. It will be done today."
Liang Zhuzhu nodded: "My daughter knows." She was not like Meng Rufan, who was not presentable. She went to find her aunt to cause bad luck, but ended up being bitten by a snake herself.
Bitten by a snake? Thinking of something, Liang Zhuzhu curiously turned around and looked at the Duke's concubine who was several round tables away.
Is it a coincidence?
Liang Zhuzhu watched as her aunt picked up a piece of braised pork and put it directly into her mouth, then covered her mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed it. She was sure it was just a coincidence.
Meng Rufan is so stupid! He actually shot himself in the foot! I'm afraid no one else can do that.
But this braised pork with soy sauce looks delicious. Liang Zhuzhu swallowed her saliva and tried hard to hold back her hand from reaching out.
Then she looked at her aunt. She took another piece! Liang Zhuzhu was envious.
Of course, there was no shortage of meat in the prefectural government. However, she took after Madam Liang and was a bit plump.
In order to come all the way to attend the old lady's birthday and leave a good impression on the Duke and the old lady, Mrs. Liang ordered Liang Zhuzhu to eat only two meals a day, and they were pure vegetarian meals, since she received the invitation from the Duke's Mansion.
Liang Zhuzhu hasn't tasted meat for a month.
Especially in the past three days, she had only drunk water. Now she was starving.
Jasmine noticed that the Liang family lady was always stealing glances at her. The way she looked at her was indescribably strange.
Afraid of being caught, Jasmine put down her chopsticks reluctantly.
After the banquet, it was time to watch a play. The Duke's Mansion had invited the most popular Ruyilou in Kyoto to perform.
Jasmine returned from changing her clothes and bumped into the Liang family lady at the corner of the corridor.
The lady from the Liang family was tall and stronger than her, but strangely, Jasmine actually knocked her down.
Jasmine gasped and stepped forward to help: "Is Madam Liang okay?"
"I feel dizzy."
Jasmine and the Liang family's maid helped her up.
"But you're not feeling well?"
The Liang family lady would never talk much to the Duke's concubine, so she shook her head. However, her eyes accidentally strayed to the handful of walnuts held by the maid behind the concubine.
Jasmine had been hungry before, and she understood the look in the Liang family lady's eyes too well. But she didn't understand, so how could the Liang family lady do that?
Jasmine didn't have time to think about it and reached out to Shancha, who gave her two walnut kernels.
Jasmine was then handed over to the wife of the Liang family.
Mrs. Liang stared at the walnut in her hand in disbelief, almost crying.
The maid behind her snatched it away and put her fist holding the walnut kernel behind her back: "Madam, you can't do this. You have forgotten what the lady told you."
Mrs. Liang was in tears.
Jasmine began to understand what was happening.
The little girl was afraid that the lady would forcefully snatch it away, so she tried to appease her: "Lady, please bear with it for a while. After today, do you want to eat anything?"
"But I'm going to die here today!" It would have been fine if I hadn't been hit, but I was hit.
She was even knocked away by her aunt, who was half a head shorter than her! What a shame!
The little girl coaxed him again: "Then the servant will get you some water. You will not be hungry if you drink some water. Madam, please do not forget what the lady said. Let's go back."
The little girl said this, bowed to Jasmine, and was about to help the lady from the Liang family leave.
Jasmine spoke softly from behind the Liang family lady, "Madam, you don't have to worry about the old lady and the Duke disliking you for not being slim enough."
The Liang family lady turned around.
Jasmine continued, "Since the old lady chose you, and saw you again today, she didn't say anything bad about you. She even showed off the purse you gave her to the Duke. I'm sure she's satisfied. Maybe she just likes women with plump and soft figures like you."
Madam Liang and the little girl beside her looked at Jasmine warily.
The little girl spoke for her wife, "But the Duke may not like it. Men all like thin beauties with slim waists. Please don't deceive my wife anymore."
Jasmine shook her head. "How could that be? I'm not lying. I was very thin when I first came in, and later I gained some weight. The Duke once said one day that it would be better if I gained some weight, and that it would be even better if I gained more."
The Liang family's wife was stunned. "Are you serious?"
The little girl pulled the lady's arm and whispered, "Don't be fooled, lady. She is the Duke's concubine."
Jasmine added, "It's up to you whether you believe it or not. Everything Jasmine said is true. I'll take my leave."
Jasmine bowed and left.
The little girl tried to persuade her again after seeing her aunt walking away.
The Liang family lady ignored him. She suddenly remembered her aunt feasting at the table.
If the Duke really doesn't like it, how could I dare to eat it like this?
And Auntie is not too thin. She is telling the truth!
...
Jasmine was attending an opera with the old lady. She had never heard one before, so of course she didn't understand. But sitting there, enjoying tea and snacks was quite pleasant.
At this moment, a little girl rushed into the crowd and stopped behind Mrs. Liang.
A flash of fear crossed Mrs. Liang's face, and then she stood up and followed the little girl.
Jasmine and the eldest young lady's wife looked over at the same time. The eldest young lady's wife asked her, "Where is Madam Liang in such a hurry to go?"
Jasmine gasped as she thought of something, covered her mouth, and said, "Could it be that Madam Liang fainted?"
The old lady heard the noise and looked towards them.
The eldest young lady's wife asked loudly, "What happened? Why did Miss Liang faint for no reason?"
Now everyone heard it.
The Liang family lady was the one I had chosen! Nothing can happen to her!
At that moment, the old lady stopped watching the show and asked Nanny Qian to support her as she chased after Madam Liang to find out what was going on.
Seeing this, the others followed suit.
A group of female relatives followed him to the kitchen in such a grand manner.
Yes, the place Mrs. Liang was looking for was the kitchen!
When the old lady and the others arrived, they saw the current scene.
Mrs. Liang was squatting under a window in the kitchen, gnawing on a big bone. Her mouth was full of oil, as if she hadn't eaten meat for eight hundred years.
Mrs. Liang tried to grab the meat bones from her hand, but Mrs. Liang was not even half full, so of course she refused.
The fight was so intense that the situation became stalemate. Then, Miss Liang excitedly said, "The Duke likes fat girls like me. If I were thinner, he might dislike me!"
Mrs. Liang: "Who told you that? There are no men in this world who like fat girls!"
Madam Liang: "Just because my father doesn't like it doesn't mean the Duke won't like it either! My aunt said it all, the Duke doesn't like her being thin and wants her to eat more meat!"
Everyone looked at Jasmine.
Jasmine first waved her hands in panic, then became discouraged, lowered her head, and looked like she knew she was wrong.
It is hard not to suspect that my aunt has ulterior motives when she behaves like this.
But when the Duke rushed over after hearing the news and learned what had happened, he heard the Liang family lady, who was in a panic after being caught eating meat, say that it was the concubine who told him that the Duke liked fat girls. The Duke nodded and admitted without hesitation: "Yes, I did tell the concubine."
The Duke actually admitted it!
The lady of the Liang family looked at her mother and said excitedly, "Mom, did you hear that? The Duke said it himself." Then, if she married into the Duke's Mansion, she would be able to eat as much meat as she wanted for the rest of her life and would not have to lose weight!
Mrs. Liang looked at the situation but couldn't smile.
The old lady glanced at the unlucky Liang family lady with an unpleasant expression. No matter how selfish she was, she couldn't do it at the cost of losing the reputation of the Duke's Mansion!
The Liang family lady became even more excited and asked the Duke, "Does the Duke really like plump ladies, and isn't this just a coaxing prank?"
The Duke glanced at his concubine, put his hands behind his back, and said solemnly, "Of course it's true."
"That……"
The Liang family lady was interrupted by the old lady: "Since there is nothing else, let's go back and continue watching the show."
The old lady then hypocritically said to Madam Liang, "My lady is still young, so it's a good thing that she has a good appetite. You can stay with her until she's full. There's no need to rush back."
"Madam..., I..."
The old lady had already turned her head away. She looked at the Duke kindly, "Duke, please go back and have fun with the gentlemen. Don't neglect them."
"yes."
The Duke strode away.
Jasmine left with the old lady.
Only the Liang family mother and daughter were left in the kitchen.
The Liang family lady foolishly tried to take her big bone again, but was poked in the head by Madam Liang with a finger: "Why did I give birth to such a stupid thing like you!"
...
Jasmine looked at the old lady who was always surrounded by the female guests, and then turned to look at the young ladies.
Jasmine finally understood the old lady's intention.
The old lady wants to use the birthday banquet to show herself to the Duke.
There are many foreign officials here today, and high-ranking families are not within the old lady's range of choice.
A lady from a noble family also came with her daughter, hoping to get close to the Duke, but the old lady either pretended to be confused or said that the Duke was a warrior and she was afraid that he would neglect your family.
The ladies of high-ranking families were not stupid. They were all very noble, so how could they be so shameless as to repeatedly embarrass others?
Therefore, most of the women surrounding the old lady were from outside the family of the emperor, and they had all reached a tacit understanding with the old lady long ago.
Jasmine, who understood everything, didn't know whether she should feel sorry for her grandfather.
The frail and good-tempered Miss Lin was called away by a nanny.
Soon, the sound of lively conversation and laughter came from the old lady's end.
"Excuse me, Auntie."
"Mrs. Meng, please do as you please."
Jasmine watched Meng Ruyue leave in a hurry, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.
Meng Ruyue is the niece of Magistrate Meng. Madam Meng already has a daughter, Meng Rufan, so how could she be willing to bring another Meng Ruyue to compete with her daughter?
In other words, Meng Ruyue took the initiative to get it.
The party was about to end.
The old lady didn't like her either and chose the lady from the Lin family.
Jasmine was petty-minded. She always felt that Meng Ruyue would not be willing to walk out of the Duke's Mansion like this.
What will she do?
Could it be that they are plotting against the Duke?
A cup of tea passed and Meng Ruyue still hadn't come back.
Jasmine and the lady beside her excused themselves and got up to leave.
The Duke is not in the front yard.
Jasmine's heart skipped a beat. She passed by Zuo He and said to Chun Li, "I have something urgent to discuss with you. Could Lieutenant General Han help me find someone?"
"You are too polite, Auntie. I have found my master and I will send someone to inform you." Chunli said, turned around and ran away with his confidant.
Just a short while later, Chunli sent someone to inform him that the Duke was talking to someone beside the rockery.
Jasmine hurried over.
The person standing before the Duke and speaking was Meng Ruyue. Meng Ruyue actually took action.
Meng Ruyue held a piece of colorful letter paper in her hand. Her hand was raised flatly. She seemed to have finished what she wanted to say and was waiting for the Duke's response.
Jasmine thought she was a step too late. She wondered what Meng Ruyue had said.
Jasmine looked at the Duke.
The Duke said, his hands behind his back, "It's the parents' order and the matchmaker's words. I hope Madam Meng will respect herself."
The Duke took a step back and then a step to the right, preparing to leave.
Meng Ruyue also took a step to the right, blocking the person. Meng Ruyue did not give up: "Even if I am a concubine, it is not possible?"
Just as the Duke was about to speak, Meng Ruyue quickly said, "I can't stay at home any longer. I beg you to take me in!"
The Duke frowned, and his expression was extremely ugly.
Meng Ruyue knew the Duke's attitude without needing to speak. But she still held onto hope. What if?
Unexpectedly, the Duke turned around and walked away without saying a word.
Meng Ruyue chased after him for two steps, then squatted on the ground and cried silently.
Her grandfather is still as soft-hearted as ever.
Even though he was very angry, facing a young lady like Meng Ruyue, the Duke would just turn around and leave.
Jasmine felt sad.
But then she thought, if it weren't for this, how could she have gotten the chance in the first place?
Jasmine waved to Shancha, signaling them to leave as well.
When Jasmine returned to the living room in the backyard, her grandfather was there too.
The old lady smiled and said to the Duke, "Mrs. Lin gave me this purse. What do you think of it, Duke?"
The old lady handed the purse to the Duke directly. The Duke couldn't refuse it. After taking a look at it, he nodded and said, "It's very exquisite."
Well, if it can be presented to the old lady, how can it not be exquisite?
The old lady smiled from ear to ear and nodded: "As long as you are satisfied!"
Mrs. Lin's face was about to bleed.
After the Duke left, the guest hall was filled with compliments. Those who brought their daughters were just pretending to be flattering, while those who didn't have daughters were all smiling and congratulating the old lady and Madam Lin.
"It seems that soon, we sisters will be able to meet here again!"
"Mrs. Lin is a blessed woman!"
Jasmine smiled at the Lin family's wife, whose ears were already flushed red. She followed everyone and said, "Madam is very lucky. If you don't mind, please let Jasmine call you sister from now on."
Mrs. Lin sat there motionless, silent, with her head down, and all the skin exposed looked like freshly baked iron.
Jasmine had seen shy people before, but she had never seen anyone as shy as this. She was lost in thought.
At this moment, a sudden and messy sound of footsteps approached, and it was Yan Pu.
Yan Pu looked solemn. When he arrived at the door of the guest hall, he did not dare to approach rashly. It was Nanny Qian who noticed him.
I don’t know what Nanny Qian heard. She widened her eyes, said nothing, and quickly ran into the room and whispered in the old lady’s ear.
The old lady's expression was even uglier. She stood up suddenly, the smile on her face gone, and she walked out quickly.
The female guests naturally followed closely behind.
Could it be the Duke?
Jasmine quickly followed.
...
What did they see?!
The Duke had actually climbed up a tree. He was squatting among the branches, peering out. When he saw the old lady, he solemnly called out, "Mother!"
Looking at the situation, Jasmine thought he would shout "Mom, help me!"
The Duke was on the tree, and under the tree stood Meng Ruyue, looking up at the Duke and begging him to get down from the tree.
When Meng Ruyue saw the old lady bringing many people with her, she panicked and fell to her knees at a loss.
"My Lord! Why is my Lord up in the tree? Come quickly, Yan Pu, get the ladder..."
Before Yan Pu could say anything, the Duke said, "Mother, there's no need to trouble yourself," and then he climbed up the tree several feet high and slid down.
In a blink of an eye, the man was already under the tree.
"Mother arrived just in time." The Duke saluted the old lady.
"But what happened?"
Upon hearing this, the Duke turned his head and glanced at the eldest lady of the Meng family. "This woman is so bold and presumptuous. Leave this to mother. I'll go to the front yard."
After saying this, the Duke seemed to have no intention of staying any longer and walked away with big strides.
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