Wen Zhu was slightly startled, then slowly walked over and asked softly, "This Dongting Biluochun tea is this year's new tea, with a pleasant fragrance. I wonder if you are used to it, Miss Third, and if you like it?"
"The tea is fine."
Fu Shulan's thin fingers gently gripped the edge of the teacup, trembling slightly with nervousness, as if the small cup in her hand was carrying too much pressure and anxiety. "I'm just not used to this atmosphere."
"How about I go get some more cakes?"
Seeing Shulan so nervous, Wen Zhu couldn't help but feel a little pity in her heart, so she quietly offered her suggestions, hoping to ease the depressing atmosphere a little.
"No, don't leave anymore."
Fu Shulan's voice was pleading, and her eyes revealed a hint of help, as if she was seeking a little comfort from the other party.
"Third sister, you are too timid. What is there to be afraid of? I have even seen dead people being beheaded! Such a small thing frightens you like this?"
Fu Shuyan spoke in a sarcastic tone, not hiding her contempt for her sister's behavior.
"I'm not as good as my second sister."
Fu Shulan held the teacup in her hand, lowered her head and dared not look directly at the person opposite her. Her words were full of helplessness and self-blame.
Wen Zhu watched all this silently and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Aunt Zhou has always been overprotective of her daughter, almost never allowing her to participate in any social occasions, and sometimes even deliberately avoided the opportunities that the mistress wanted to communicate closely with her.
Seeing Fu Shulan's cautious and timid look, a cold smile flashed across Fu Shuyan's eyes. She was obviously extremely dissatisfied with the behavior of her half-sister.
After a while, Fu Shuyan felt that the scene was extremely boring, so she stood up and walked straight to Fu Shulan's side. She looked her up and down carefully, then said with a half-smile, "Hey, look at the embroidered shoes on my little sister's feet. They are quite beautiful. Which skillful embroiderer made them?"
"Yes, I made it myself."
Fu Shulan responded softly, with a hint of nervousness and uneasiness in her tone.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be so good at this. Then make a pair for me and my aunt."
Fu Shuyan said with a gentle smile, her tone showing both surprise and a hint of provocation.
Seeing that the other party seemed a little embarrassed, Fu Shulan finally nodded and agreed, although she was a little reluctant in her heart: "Okay."
"Remember to measure me. I'll make it according to the style you're wearing now. As for Auntie, her legs and feet aren't very good, so the shoes I make for her need to be softer."
Fu Shuyan raised her chin slightly, and her words were filled with an authority that could not be refused.
"Yeah, okay."
Fu Shulan lowered her head, her face slightly red, and nodded shyly. She felt that this task was a little difficult to complete, but she had to accept it.
Ever since the snake incident, Concubine Liu was ordered by the Duke's wife to be beaten with a stick, and her leg is still lame and has not recovered.
Now, she can no longer act as domineeringly as before. She has to be careful even when she speaks, for fear of offending the Duke's wife and being punished more severely.
After going through all that, even if Concubine Liu was dissatisfied, she dared not show any disrespect to the Duke's wife openly, and could only endure it and spend every day.
The second young lady actually asked the third young lady to make shoes for her, which undoubtedly belittled the third young lady's status.
Doing this is simply treating people as non-human beings!
Moreover, his stepmother was present, but he didn't care about the difference in status. Instead of thinking about doing things for his stepmother, he went to care about his concubine?
Thinking of this, Wen Zhu was filled with confusion and puzzlement. He felt that the Third Young Lady was too weak and submissive, had no opinions of her own, and allowed herself to be manipulated by others.
The servants responsible for replying to the messages were now gathered outside the courtyard gate, each of them looking a little at a loss. No one dared to enter the room without permission to disturb Su Xiawei and others who were busy, for fear of causing trouble.
About half an hour later, after Su Xiawei used tough measures to solve almost all the problems and reappointed new candidates, the maids began to clean up the place in an orderly manner and invited the managers who had been waiting outside for a long time into the room to prepare to report on their recent work.
After everything was arranged, Wen Zhu led the two young ladies out of the room and listened to Su Xiawei taking care of household chores.
At this moment, there seemed to be a hint of oppression in the air in the room.
Su Xiawei still had a serious expression on her face, and her subordinates were very cautious in their answers.
Her eyes were sharp and firm, as if they could see through all disguises and hypocrisy.
At this time, Madam Lu stood up. She was an old lady with considerable experience in the mansion, and her voice was low and respectful.
"Normally, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion has no special dealings with us, but now that their old lady is celebrating her birthday, they've specially invited us to be their guests."
At this point, Madam Lu paused, clearly puzzled by this unusual behavior. "Should I just send a gift to express my congratulations, or would it be better to come and pay my respects in person?"
Hearing this, Su Xiawei glanced at the second young lady beside her - there was a hint of melancholy on her young and beautiful face.
Then he turned to Madam Lu and asked, "What do you think is appropriate?"
Her eyes were fixed on the other person's face, as if observing every tiny change in expression.
"I'd like to venture a guess... perhaps we can ask the young mistress to represent the family at this gathering?"
After thinking about it, Madam Lu carefully expressed her thoughts.
“That’s just confusing!”
Su Xiawei interrupted her almost immediately, "Isn't this clear enough? Go and inform the eldest wife and ask her to bring the second young lady along!"
After saying that, Su Xiawei glared at her fiercely, with a look of dissatisfaction and disappointment in her eyes, as if Aunt Lu did not meet her expectations.
After this sudden harsh attitude, Nanny Lu finally reacted - it seemed that the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery not only wanted to maintain superficial harmony between the two families, but also had deeper purposes.
Perhaps he was trying to build a bridge between the next generation of the two families.
This tacit understanding was obviously recognized and promoted by parents on both sides.
Fu Shuyan, who was listening quietly at the side, couldn't help but curl her lips when she heard this.
To be honest, deep down, she really couldn't muster the slightest interest or admiration for the second young master of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery.
According to the traditional inheritance system of the Marquisate, power was not his to hold; and in terms of talent and knowledge, he had not shown any outstanding performance, and in any way could not be compared with the young man she admired so much...
After this brief silence, Madam Lu broke the silence again, "The wife of Fu Erzhu, a branch of our family, recently came to the capital. She wanted to find an opportunity to come and pay her respects to the masters and grandmothers. I wonder if we should let her come?"
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