Lady Yang had never met this young prince's wife before, and was even hearing the name for the first time.
If Shen Jialu and Shen Jiaqing went to the Hollyhock Banquet together, they would discover that the young master's wife was none other than Madam Bai, whom they had unintentionally given a handful of hawthorns five years ago.
Lili's warm little hand rested in Yang's hand, easing Yang's tension somewhat.
“A few days ago, Ningning had a conflict with those two young ladies because of us. Will they go to the young master’s wife to complain?”
Lili doesn't know if they'll tell on her, but even if they do, she's not afraid, because it wasn't their fault in the first place.
Besides, she is a young lady from a wealthy family, so she can't very well go to the young master's wife to complain about that, can she?
Lili didn't even dare to think about what Yu Siting should say. Should she say it was because she had taken a fancy to a handsome young man?
According to the ancients' thinking, even if Miss Yu was obsessed with looks, she wouldn't act like this in front of her elders.
"Mother, don't overthink it. Besides, isn't Madam Qin still here?"
Madam Yang responded, and Lili kept her company all the way before the magistrate's carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the prefectural government office.
Cui Liu lifted the curtain: "Madam, Miss, we've arrived."
It was already quite lively outside; even through the carriage, Lili could hear the laughter of the ladies and young women from various families.
Yang and Lili got off the carriage one after the other, only to find that many carriages were already parked in front of the prefectural government office.
This was Lili's first time attending such a banquet. She figured it was because there was a "VIP" at this Hollyhock Banquet that so many people came, all wanting to show their faces in front of the VIP.
If someone of high status were to glance at you even a few times, that would bring you immense wealth and honor.
A man who looked like a manager quickly came over, read Yang's invitation, respectfully greeted the group, and then pointed to a maid to lead the way.
"Madam Shen, Miss Shen, this way please."
The maid led the group inside. Perhaps Qin Renjie also disliked the courtyard where Zhou Wukui had lived because it was too unlucky. The prefectural government office had been completely transformed, with everything renovated and no longer resembling its former appearance.
After turning left and right, we finally came to a wide-open space and saw the courtyard where the banquet was being held.
On one side of the courtyard is a small bamboo grove, with tall and straight bamboo stalks and rustling bamboo leaves.
Beside the bamboo grove, there is a small pavilion with a stone table and several stone stools inside. On the table is an exquisite tea set.
On the other side is a shallow pond.
Inside the pavilion is a peach wood chair, clearly the main seat.
In front of the pavilion were about twenty low tables, where many ladies and young women had already taken their seats. On the low tables were exquisite tea and snacks, and several familiar young ladies were chatting in twos and threes.
The banquet was supposed to be a hollyhock feast, but instead of hollyhocks, there were only delicate pink lotus flowers in the pond.
Just as Lili was wondering what was going on, Qin Fu, who had seen Lili, rushed over like a whirlwind, lifting her skirt.
"Pear pear pear pear!"
Qin Fu and Li Li are about the same age. Li Li has always admired Qin Fu because of the time when Qin Fu kicked Qi Zheng two meters away.
"Sister Afu!"
Qin Fu was a sweet and lovely girl. Dressed in pink with two little braids, she greeted Madam Yang very politely.
There was still a while before the banquet started, so after getting Yang's approval, he took Lili to play nearby.
Qin Fu pulled Lili along, scolding her playfully, "Lili, you haven't come to play with me in so long. And I'm still that kind of wholesaler at your shop, what kind of wholesaler?"
“VIP!” Lili smiled.
"Yes, yes, that's it. People have been patronizing your family's businesses so much that the entire prefectural government is full of your family's things, yet Lili still refuses to come and play with her older sister?"
"I'm sorry, Sister Afu. I've been very busy before. To be honest, I've only recently found some free time."
"Okay, okay, I was just kidding."
Qin Fu and Li Li were close, so she naturally knew what Li Li was doing.
She didn't know any of these things and thought Lili was very capable. She once wanted to join Lili, but she really couldn't understand what Lili was saying, so she could only support her with money and often went to the Shen family's shop to buy things.
"You know that several young ladies from the capital came today?"
Lili nodded obediently: "Yes, I know."
He harbored resentment in his heart; he not only knew it, but a grudge had already been formed.
Qin Fu, oblivious, pulled her towards the garden, saying to herself, "I met them yesterday. How should I put it? The most noble one certainly fits my image of a noble lady from the capital—generous, dignified, and without any airs. The other two, on the other hand, just felt a bit strange, though I can't quite put my finger on why."
Lili listened silently, already recognizing the faces of these people.
"So where do we go now?"
"Go catch butterflies in the garden! Miss Xia and the others stayed at the prefectural government office last night and are catching butterflies in the garden now. I was just playing with them there when I heard the servant say you were here, so I came to find you."
As soon as they finished speaking, the two had passed through the archway, where several little girls were chasing butterflies with small fans amidst the lush flowers.
Lili recognized at a glance that the one in the white dress was Bai Weiwei, whom she had seen a few days ago.
It looks like a group of little girls chasing butterflies, but in reality, they are surrounding Bai Weiwei as she chases butterflies.
Every time a butterfly landed on a petal, Bai Weiwei would rush over with her small fan, while the other ladies, including Yu Siting, would move their legs along with it, but their hand movements were merely feints.
Lili looked around but didn't see Xia Ning.
It seems Xia Ning didn't want to get involved.
Qin Fu paused, muttering, "Sigh, this is so boring. It was much more fun climbing trees and picking osmanthus flowers at the east end of the city."
After muttering to herself, Qin Fu turned to Lili and whispered, "See that girl in the white dress? She's the cousin of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. And the one in the orange dress next to her is her cousin. Don't think twice when these two talk, just agree with them."
After saying that, Qin Fu, with a look of grim determination, led Lili towards the group of girls chasing butterflies.
Lili laughed.
As soon as Lili approached, Bai Weiwei, who had been intently chasing butterflies, looked over as if she had a sensor.
Today, Lili is wearing a light blue dress and a matching headdress, which makes her look fair and rosy-cheeked, fresh and lovely, and complements the spring scenery of the garden.
Pear blossoms, like snow, herald the arrival of spring; jade-like stamens bloom with affection and smiles.
A cryptic glint flashed in Bai Weiwei's eyes. She put down the small fan in her hand and stopped chasing butterflies.
Lili... Shen Lili...
Bai Weiwei's right hand, holding the small fan, tightened slightly, her heart filled with vexation.
Others might not know, but she did.
The missing eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was nicknamed Lili!
Although she had never seen the child's face, Lili's appearance, temperament, and figure were not at all like something that could be raised in such a small place.
That shouldn't be the case, Shen Lili is a child of the Shen family.
Is it a coincidence, or...?
The young ladies around her were all the same age and very perceptive; they followed Bai Weiwei's gaze and looked over.
Qin Fu smiled and was about to introduce Lili to everyone when she heard Bai Weiwei's slightly surprised voice.
"Oh, Miss Chen?"
Qin Fu was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Huh, you two know each other?"
Lili felt a strange sense of rejection, but she knew the situation well and smiled, saying, "We've met once."
The ladies next to them were very quick-witted and immediately started to chime in.
"What a coincidence!"
"yes."
Bai Weiwei smiled but remained silent. Just as Lili was thinking about what to say next, Yu Siting crossed her arms and glanced behind Lili, scoffing, "Where's your follower today? Did he quit his job as your bodyguard?"
Apart from the three people who knew the truth, everyone else was confused about what Yu Siting meant and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Lili's smile faded; she had originally intended to pretend nothing had happened in this situation.
But she also has a temper. Since Yu Siting is looking for trouble, then she shouldn't blame her for fighting back.
Qin Fu looked bewildered. Although she didn't understand, she could still sense the hostility in Yu Siting's words.
"Miss Yu, what are you saying?"
“I didn’t say anything. I just said that Miss Shen has a loyal and good dog.” Yu Siting blinked innocently.
Qin Fu frowned. According to rank, a prefect was in charge of a prefecture and was a fifth-rank official, which was higher than Yu Siting's father's rank.
The problem is that there's also Bai Weiwei. If she confronts Yu Siting now, she's afraid Bai Weiwei will make things difficult for her father when she returns to Beijing.
But this person's words were so sarcastic and obscure that it was obvious to anyone with eyes that she was targeting Lili.
The atmosphere froze. Qin Fu was conflicted for a moment. Li Li held her hand and chuckled, "Miss Yu has a terrible memory. I explained it to you clearly when you tried to forcibly take Brother Chen Ye that day. You kept saying 'just a guard,' but your tone was so strange. Could it be that you can't forget 'just a guard'?"
"you!"
Yu Siting was furious and embarrassed. How could she possibly hold a grudge against a mere guard!
However, what others heard was the phrase "attempted to rob".
Holy crap, what a bombshell! A noblewoman from the capital tried to abduct a commoner?!
Yu Siting realized what was happening, her face flushed red, and she angrily shouted, "What are you thinking? Don't you dare think such things!"
The young ladies were all daughters of various county magistrates, and they couldn't afford to offend Yu Siting. They could only take a half step back, obediently lower their heads, and exchange glances secretly after Yu Siting looked away.
"What nonsense are you talking about? When did I forcibly take a man from the common people? At first, I thought you were the maid and he was the young master!" Yu Siting glared at Lili angrily.
Lili smiled nonchalantly and looked back at her innocently: "Oh, so that's how it is. So Miss Yu treats me like a maid and that's why she bosses me around. In that case, I'm better off than Miss Yu having to spend fifty taels of silver to buy someone?"
That's nonsense; anyone can talk nonsense.
Bai Weiwei clenched her fists, adjusted her mindset, and gently covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a soft, bell-like laugh.
"Miss Shen is so humorous, no wonder I liked her the moment I saw her."
Bai Weiwei's eyes sparkled with a gentle light, as if they could melt hearts.
Lili stared at her quietly for two seconds, then suddenly smiled.
What a humorous remark! What a masterful use of retreat to advance!
If Lili were to say anything more, it would seem that she lacked tact.
If you do that, I'll start to go crazy.
"Miss Bai, you flatter me. When it comes to humor, I can't compare to you." Lili paused for two seconds deliberately, revealing a somewhat flustered smile. "After all... oh, no, no, Lili misspoke."
Bai Weiwei's eyes sharpened.
The ladies around them whispered among themselves.
Lili only said half of what she meant, as if she dared not say the other half, which made people even more eager to know what was going on.
After all, everyone knows that Bai Weiwei and Yu Siting are cousins, and it's no secret that they spent a day in Liucheng a few days ago.
When Yu Siting forcibly took a man from the countryside, what did Bai Weiwei do?
Lili didn't say anything, but others would still speculate.
In just a short while, the eyes of the girls next to me subtly changed.
Bai Weiwei frowned and said coldly, "Nonsense!"
Lili tilted her head: "Miss Bai, what are you doing? Lili is just joking. Miss Bai also said that Lili is very humorous."
Bai Weiwei flicked her long sleeves, clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white, and the tassels on her small fan swayed incessantly.
Bai Weiwei pursed her lips tightly, a strange emotion welling up inside her.
How dare she!
She's just the daughter of a county magistrate; how dare they oppose her like this?
Every young lady here fawns over her; she is the most esteemed person here. Why does this damned Shen Lili have to go against her?
In the eyes of others, Bai Weiwei has always been gentle and considerate. What Bai Weiwei is most proud of is her ability to easily conceal her emotions in front of outsiders, thereby maintaining her aloof and uncontested attitude.
But ever since she met Shen Lili, it was as if her inner emotions were under a spell, as if all the negative emotions she hadn't dared to express for so many years were easily brought out all at once.
Bai Weiwei didn't know what was wrong with her; perhaps it was because Shen Lili's face really resembled her aunt's.
She was afraid.
She was really scared.
That child is long dead, long dead!
Her aunt doted on Bai Weiwei; that child would never come back.
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion only has one son now. Without that child, she could continue to be favored by her aunt. Perhaps, in a few years, her aunt would bring her to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to raise her. At that time, she would be the only legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
She's been having this dream for years.
She had been dreaming this dream with a clear conscience for so many years, and she absolutely could not tolerate any mishap.
Bai Weiwei naturally wouldn't absurdly believe that Shen Lili had any connection with the missing eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
That child was abducted as soon as he learned to walk; there was absolutely no way he could have survived.
But no matter what her background was, she just didn't like her.
There's a kind of magnetic field between women, it's very mysterious. Some women, you can tell at first glance that you're not on the same wavelength as them.
Bai Weiwei narrowed her eyes slightly, her body exuding a profoundness beyond her years, a fleeting look of disgust and disdain.
Lili was somewhat displeased. Bai Weiwei's gaze was too strange; she could almost directly sense the other party's dislike and hostility.
Damn it, she'd never found such pure gold in over twenty years of playing Gold Miner.
baffling.
Lili ignored her and gave a slight bow: "I won't disturb your fun any longer. Have fun, everyone."
Lili turned and left without stopping for a moment.
What a joke! If she didn't leave soon, she felt like a battle between women was about to break out.
This Bai Weiwei is interesting.
Despite being favored by the wife of the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion as a cousin, she harbors considerable ambitions.
Qin Fu frowned and glanced at the crowd before following Li Li.
Once they were far from the garden, Qin Fu said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Lili, I didn't know about this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought you here."
“It has nothing to do with Sister Afu.” Lili smiled.
"But is it true, the thing you mentioned?" Qin Fu asked curiously, then answered herself, "I think it should be true, otherwise why would she react so strongly? Did you see her expression just now? These past two days, Miss Bai hasn't shown any expression other than smiling, and they were the ones who started the trouble first, yet she blamed you?"
“No.” Lili shook her head. “She’s not blaming me, she’s just nervous.”
"Nervous? Nervous about what?"
Lili smiled but didn't say anything.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com