Guests flocked to the Prince of Runan's mansion, and the lights were on even in broad daylight, shining brightly and golden.
The Prince of Runan sat in the main seat with his elderly mother, receiving so many gifts that his hands were sore from holding them. Gifts piled up like mountains in the side hall next to the main hall.
Li Ruo walked next to Song Zhijing, and her appearance caused a commotion.
The old lady and her son looked rather grim, because Zhang Shuer was walking behind them.
Zhang Shuer bit her lip, looking aggrieved: "Hmph, Li Ruo will get what's coming to her later."
Soon her sisters surrounded her, and Zhang Shuer pretended to be generous and said, "Sister, come with us to the women's side."
Li Ruo turned her gaze away from the side hall entrance and smiled sweetly, "Okay."
At the women's banquet, the ladies were surprisingly enthusiastic and spoke very kindly.
"Oh dear, it's our first meeting, Madam Prefect. This golden sparrow hairpin is just a small token of my respect." That was Miss Zhu, the eldest daughter of the most prominent merchant family in Yuzhou.
"How could I possibly accept that?" Li Ruo took it.
Miss Zhu smiled and said, "Don't be so polite. I've wanted to get to know you for a long time, and now my wish has come true."
Li Ruo: "Then I won't stand on ceremony."
The others, including Zhang Shuer, exchanged glances as they watched Li Ruo put the hairpin into her sleeve.
Miss Qiu, from one of the four great families of Yuzhou, stepped forward. “I have long wished to meet you, Madam, but unfortunately you were ill and I was unable to do so. It is truly an honor to meet you today. This is a collection of poems in Li Dabai’s manuscript. I hope you will not find it offensive.”
Wow, this is a family of scholars and gentlemen. They speak with such refinement. "Thank you, but it would be impolite of me to refuse. I'll just have to accept it." Li Ru rolled up the poetry collection and put it into her sleeve.
Miss Qiu's lips twitched slightly, then she smiled again.
Fortunately, Li Ruo was wearing wide sleeves today, and then Miss Sun from a restaurant family, Miss Yun from a jewelry family, the lady from a shipping family... all sent her gifts.
This scene is strikingly similar to an official's wife secretly accepting gifts behind her husband's back.
Zhang Shu'er smiled as she looked at Li Ruo's greedy face.
If she's discovered in front of everyone, let's see how she explains it.
Given Song Zhijing's personality, he would definitely deny it, and would also scold her in public and return the gift. At that time, Li Ruo would be condemned by everyone, lose face in front of others, and the General's Mansion would also be disgraced.
Although it would also damage Song Zhijing's reputation, she would ask her grandmother and father to say a few good words for him. In that case, even if he was angry with Li Ruo, he would still be grateful to her.
If I go back and whisper sweet nothings in her ear, won't Li Ruo be divorced?
In a power struggle within a family, how could Li Ruo, from a rough and uncouth family of martial arts practitioners, possibly be her match?
The Great Yin Dynasty always valued literature over martial arts, and the other noble ladies looked at Li Ruo with disdain, seeing her as someone who had never seen the world.
Everyone says that General Li was ambitious and loved glory, and that he made a wrong judgment and died in battle. It's no wonder that His Majesty didn't even give them a cenotaph. It's a pity that his daughter is also a good-for-nothing.
At this moment—
"Madam Prefect, how could you do this?" It was Madam Zhou who spoke.
Madam Zhou's husband had served as an imperial censor in the capital, known for his integrity and incorruptibility. Even after retiring to his hometown, Madam Zhou would occasionally suffer from the effects of his professional habit and submit memorials impeaching Song Zhijing. Although most of these memorials were intercepted by Song, it did not stop him from continuing to impeach Song.
Influenced by her husband, Madam Zhou couldn't stand these things and loudly summoned him. When Old Master Zhou arrived, the others were also alerted and came over.
The Prince of Runan, the old lady, Song Zhijing, and Madam Xu also arrived.
Li Ruo: That's good, all we need to do is set a fire.
"What's going on?" Song Zhijing stared at Li Ruo.
Censor Zhou fired off a flurry of words.
The Prince of Runan looked at Zhang Shuer and the other noble ladies, his voice booming, "Is it true? Li Ruo, how could you do such a disgraceful thing at my banquet? Do you have any respect for General Li's lifelong reputation?"
The Prince of Runan had long disliked the father and son, and even after they died, he still wanted to "whip their corpses."
The guests were all talking amongst themselves, and their gazes toward Li Ruo were filled with disdain and contempt.
Madam Xu thought to herself, "This is great! I can go home and divorce her. I won't have to return the dowry money." She immediately said with great distress, "How could you do such a thing behind Jing'er's back?"
Li Ruo looked them over and asked, "Are you all finished? If you're done, I'll say a few words, but where's the evidence?"
The noble ladies chuckled, and one of them said, "If you want evidence, just search her sleeves."
Mrs. Zhou, who had been used as a pawn, stepped forward herself.
Suddenly, she exclaimed "Huh?"
The previously excited crowd fell silent instantly.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Mrs. Zhou touched it a couple more times: "This... I clearly saw it too..."
Li Ruo was already secretly laughing to herself.
Those who think they can get rid of what's in my space are probably still dreaming.
She patiently rolled up her sleeves, saying, "What kind of hospitality is this, Prince Runan? You like to roll up a young lady's sleeves. What do you take me, Li Ruo, for? What do you take the General's Mansion for?"
Everyone was stunned.
The ladies' jaws dropped.
"Impossible, this is impossible!" Zhang Shu'er also lost her composure.
Li Ruo remained calm and composed. "Prefect Song, the woman you married in your second marriage is no good. She's not only ruined me, but she's also dragged you down with her."
Song Zhijing instantly understood, his face darkening. "Zhang—" But considering it was the birthday of the Prince of Runan's mother, he didn't utter the curse.
Li Ruo knew.
She sneered. Xie Xiao and his brothers should be ready by now.
"Alright, I'm not playing with you anymore. Do as you please."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a woman screamed, "Ahhh, a snake! There's a snake!"
Everyone looked and saw that a snake was wrapped around the feet of Miss Gu, a woman from a prominent family in the canal transport industry.
No, there are a lot of snakes on the ground.
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