Chapter 188 Attending a birthday banquet and being looked down upon.
Two days later, in the afternoon, inside Chengrui Courtyard.
Dong Rou walked in with a worried look on her face, holding an exquisite invitation card. She whispered to Lu Zhaoruo, who was grooming Abao, "Madam, the Meng family has sent an invitation card. The day after tomorrow is Madam Meng's birthday, and they invite you to the mansion for a banquet."
She asked softly, "Is my wife going or not?"
Lu Zhaoruo put Abao down and her gaze fell on the invitation: "Lord Meng was demoted from the fourth rank to the sixth rank two months ago, and his household has long been deserted. Aside from a few close relatives with whom he has no other choice, I'm afraid there won't be many prominent guests attending this birthday banquet. As the matriarch of the Meng family, Madam Geng's hosting of this banquet is probably..."
"Then you won't go?"
Dongrou continued.
“No,” Lu Zhaoruo’s lips curled into a cold smile, “I’m going to this banquet anyway.”
Dongrou was taken aback: "Wife?"
Lu Zhaoruo's eyes suddenly darkened: "I was just about to go and ask her directly why the jade pendant that I personally carved and gave to Shen Rongzhi ended up in her hands."
She stood up, her gaze sharp: "We should ask her, Shen Rongzhi is clearly alive and well, why did she fabricate a lie and say that he died at the hands of Japanese pirates at sea!"
After Lu Zhaoruo decided to attend the banquet, Dongrou followed the rules of the household and first reported the matter to the matriarch, Madam Xiao.
The following afternoon, Lu Zhaoruo was grooming Abao in Chengrui Courtyard when she heard a familiar sound of footsteps coming from outside.
Then, Zhang, the old nanny beside Madam Xiao, led in two maids carrying brocade boxes, her face beaming with joy.
Upon seeing that it was her, Lu Zhaoruo quickly stood up to greet her and gave a bow, saying, "Greetings, Granny Zhang."
Granny Zhang stepped aside to avoid the full curtsy, and returned the curtsy.
Her face was always stern and she rarely smiled. Her brows exuded an air of composure that commanded respect without anger. However, when she spoke, she deliberately lowered her voice to a soft tone: "Madam Lu, please don't be so polite. You're making this old servant feel uncomfortable."
Her gaze swept over Lu Zhaoruo briefly, seemingly sharp but actually filled with concern: "Madam has been concerned since she heard that you are attending the banquet at the Meng residence tomorrow. She said that since this is your first time attending a banquet alone in the capital, you must not tarnish the dignity of our Xiao family."
After speaking, she turned to the side and gestured. The maid behind her, who was holding a brocade box, immediately stepped forward, opened the box one by one, and said, "Madam specially asked this old servant to open the storeroom and personally select a few suitable items to send over, to add some glory to Madam."
Inside the first brocade box, neatly folded, was a jacket made of sandalwood-colored silk with cloud patterns. The silk was smooth and the color was deep and calm. The cloud patterns were faintly visible in the light, exuding an understated noble air.
The second box contained a set of gold and kingfisher feather jewelry inlaid with pearls. The gold wire was cut into a floral pattern, with round and full South Sea pearls embedded in the center, and kingfisher feathers added as embellishments. The jewelry was exquisite and understated, yet perfectly appropriate and showed the wearer's status.
The third box contained several bolts of fine soft gauze, light and soft as clouds, in elegant colors such as sky blue after rain and autumn fragrance, which were the fabrics favored by noble ladies in the capital at the time.
"Madam specifically instructed..."
Granny Zhang lowered her voice, "Madam, you are going there representing the face of our Xiao family. Please dress appropriately. Madam will support you in everything."
Looking at the carefully selected items, Lu Zhaoruo solemnly expressed her gratitude: "Zhaoruo thanks Madam for her kindness and thanks the nanny for taking care of everything."
The next day.
Lu Zhaoruo, accompanied by Dong Rou, rode in a small blue silk carriage prepared by the Xiao family to the Meng family residence.
When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Meng residence, it was deserted, unlike the bustling scene at other officials' homes when they held banquets.
Only a few old cars were parked in the corner, and the gatekeeper looked rather listless.
The master and servant handed over the invitation and entered, but although the courtyard was clean and tidy, it could not hide the desolate atmosphere.
There were indeed not many guests who came to offer birthday wishes, and most of them were distant relatives or female relatives of colleagues of low rank who were dressed in ordinary clothes. They chatted in hushed tones in small groups, which made the scene seem rather cold and quiet.
However, despite being in a somewhat desolate courtyard, Geng Qionghua exuded an air of noble elegance.
Her clothes and accessories, without a trace of ostentatious glamour, exuded understated luxury and extraordinary confidence. Her composed and dignified demeanor was far beyond the reach of the other female guests present.
She was talking with several ladies when she caught sight of Lu Zhaoruo entering out of the corner of her eye. Her face immediately lit up with an extremely warm smile, and she personally hurried over to greet her, affectionately taking Lu Zhaoruo's hand and raising her voice so that everyone around could hear: "Oh! Sister Lu! You've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you like the stars and the moon!"
Lu Zhaoruo naturally knew that she was deliberately trying to be friendly.
What's even more subtle is that, thanks to the gifts from Madam Xiao, her demeanor was calm and composed, and the exquisite workmanship of her clothes made her appear even more noble than Geng Qionghua, who was trying to put on a show.
Geng Qionghua glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, and felt a lump in her throat, extremely uncomfortable.
Now that the Meng family has been demoted, although he tries to maintain his dignity, he is overshadowed by this merchant's daughter.
However, the warm smile on her face did not diminish in the slightest. She then introduced the woman to the curious ladies around her, her tone filled with pride and intimacy: "Ladies, this is my dear friend Lu Zhaoruo, whom I often mention! She is a well-known model of chastity in our Jizhou City! When she first married into the family, her husband went abroad to do business for the family's livelihood and was unfortunately killed by Japanese pirates... She became a widow at a young age, but she remained steadfast in her loyalty, fulfilling her filial duties to her husband, serving her parents-in-law, and protecting the Shen family."
She paused briefly, her smile deepening: "As you all know, when the Empress heard about this, she was deeply moved and personally petitioned the Emperor to bestow upon her the plaque of 'Chastity' to commend her virtue! I personally delivered that plaque to Jizhou City."
Finally, she affectionately took Lu Zhaoruo's arm and declared loudly, "I am also deeply proud of my relationship with her!"
Upon hearing this, the ladies' gazes immediately focused on Lu Zhaoruo, their expressions varying.
A round-faced lady immediately covered her mouth with a handkerchief and exclaimed softly, "Oh! So this is the Lu family of Shenmen! I have heard of her before, but to meet her today is truly... truly a hardship for you."
Another thin lady chimed in, shaking her head and sighing, "Tsk tsk, such looks, such age, and yet... alas..."
The woman in the middle, who was slightly shorter, smiled and said, "Madam Meng often talks to us about my sister's virtue. She also said that you yourself have come out to run the shop. Seeing you today, I can see that you are indeed extraordinary and truly admirable!"
For a moment, the ladies chatted amongst themselves, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
What is it that Lu Zhaoruo can't see?
They clearly looked down on her, a merchant's daughter who had lost her husband and had no prominent family background to rely on.
At this moment.
A gentle and kind voice rang out with a smile: "Madam Meng is naturally kind-hearted. This kindness towards an old friend is truly rare."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged woman walking gracefully towards them.
Her hair was neatly combed, her demeanor was dignified, and her face was delicate and gentle.
She was Lady Jiang, the wife of Qi, the fifth-rank official in the Imperial Academy.
She was also Qi Liang's mother!
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