Chapter 189 Lu Zhaoruo, are you not going to repay the immense favor of the Chastity Arch?
Lu Zhaoruo looked at Jiang Shi and thought of Li Nian'er.
This Jiang woman, isn't she Li Nian'er's aunt? A powerful patron in the capital.
Jiang first nodded slightly to everyone, her smile friendly and her manners impeccable.
He then cast a look of admiration and affirmation at Geng Qionghua.
Geng Qionghua understood immediately, and her face instantly revealed just the right amount of humility and emotion.
Jiang then turned her gaze to Lu Zhaoruo, her tone still gentle: "To be honest, today, Madam Lu has gained such a reputation for 'chastity' and can stand firmly in Jizhou. We who know the truth should all remember Madam Meng's kindness on her behalf."
She nodded slightly and continued unhurriedly, "This imperial chastity arch is such a solemn honor. In our country, the rules have always been strict. Ordinary chaste women have to endure more than twenty years of hardship and undergo numerous checks before they have even a slight chance of receiving this honor."
She paused, her gentle gaze concealing a sharp scrutiny: "Yet Lady Lu has only been widowed for a mere three years, yet she was granted this 'Chastity' plaque by special decree from the Empress... In this, Madam Meng's efforts in pleading with the Empress, considering our close friendship, were truly crucial. This act of kindness, turning the impossible into the possible, is truly touching."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo merely smiled faintly and did not respond.
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Geng Qionghua added with a smile, her tone full of pride: "My younger sister is devoted to the country and has made great contributions! The recent naval victory in Linhai was partly due to her donation of a large quantity of military supplies and medicines! She will soon be going to the palace to meet the Emperor and receive a reward!"
She changed the subject, sighing with a hint of helplessness, "I originally thought that she could stay at my Meng residence so that we could look after each other. But General Xiao of the Xiao family said that Sister Lu had done him a favor and that it would be best to invite her to stay at the Xiao residence."
Upon hearing the words "meeting the Emperor" and "General Xiao," the female guests around Lu Zhaoruo's initial disdain immediately turned into enthusiasm, and they all stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with her.
Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Geng Qionghua's smile grew even brighter: "Sister, come with me inside and take a seat. Let's have a good chat."
Lu Zhaoruo nodded slightly and followed her.
The ladies exchanged glances, and one of them, a round-faced woman, lowered her voice and said, "This Geng woman... she's really something. I thought that with the Meng family demoted and the Empress distancing herself from her, she would fade into obscurity. I never expected that she would be able to use this Lady Lu to quickly regain the opportunity to meet the Emperor and establish connections with the Xiao family..."
After everyone was seated, Madam Jiang spoke again, making her point even clearer: "If you ask me, although Madam Lu has done righteous deeds with a heart for the country and has won General Xiao's favor and the honor of meeting the Emperor, it is ultimately inseparable from the good deeds sown by Madam Meng."
Geng Qionghua was secretly pleased, but on the surface she pretended to be humble and coughed lightly: "Madam Qi, please don't say that. It's all because my sister is so capable."
Jiang smiled meaningfully and said, "If you hadn't first secured that chastity arch for her, giving her a foundation to make a living and gain a reputation for virtue, how could a widowed woman have shown her face in public and accumulated such a substantial fortune to donate to the military?"
She turned her gaze to Lu Zhaoruo: "Don't you agree with the principle of remembering the source of one's blessings, Madam Lu?"
Standing behind Lu Zhaoruo, Dong Rou couldn't help but frown.
However, she suddenly felt an urgent need to urinate, so she turned to Lu Zhaoruo and whispered in her ear, "My lady, I must take my leave to change."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo nodded slightly.
Having received the signal, Dong Rou quietly slipped away from the side and rear of the crowd.
Jiang raised her voice, her words carrying a clear warning: "Madam Shen, when you meet the Emperor one day and recount your achievements, please do not forget the immense kindness of Madam Meng."
Gratitude?
Upon hearing those two words, Lu Zhaoruo chuckled softly.
Geng Qionghua, Madam Jiang, and all the ladies present were taken aback, their faces showing confusion.
Jiang's smile faded slightly, but her tone remained composed: "What is Madam Chen laughing at? Everyone here is a respectable person. Such a loss of composure is hardly proper."
Lu Zhaoruo stopped laughing, looked at Jiang Shi with clear eyes, and said slowly, "I think that Madam Qi is the one who is very close to Madam Meng, and her words are all for Madam Meng's sake. This sentiment is really touching."
She changed the subject, her tone full of admiration: "I vaguely remember hearing that Lord Qi had once provided timely assistance to the Empress Dowager's maternal family in her early years. The Empress Dowager is still grateful to this day and has specially bestowed upon Lady Qi a phoenix token, allowing you to enter the palace at any time for a chat. Such a great favor is a unique honor among the women of the capital."
After saying this, she looked earnest: "Since Lady Qi and Lady Meng are like sisters, and you have such a direct channel to the Emperor, why not find an opportunity to speak well of the Meng family to the Empress Dowager? If you can help Lord Meng regain his official position, wouldn't that be much more worthwhile than keeping this 'favor' that came out of nowhere?"
Jiang's composure shattered instantly, her face stiffened, and her lips parted slightly, leaving her speechless for a moment.
The ladies had varying expressions; some lowered their heads to hide their embarrassment, while others exchanged surprised glances.
Lu Zhaoruo, however, seemed oblivious, still looking at Madam Jiang, and slowly asked, "What? Madam Qi is unwilling? It seems that your relationship with Madam Meng is... nothing special."
Geng Qionghua's face had already turned ashen, but she had no choice but to force a smile and interrupt, "Sister Lu! These words... these words are very inappropriate. Today is..."
Lu Zhaoruo suddenly turned her head, her gaze fixed on Geng Qionghua: "Not appropriate? Then is it appropriate for Madam Qi to imply that I owe Madam Meng a 'great favor'?"
Geng Qionghua was taken aback by the sudden questioning, her eyes flickering.
Lu Zhaoruo scoffed, "Then I'll ask you directly today. May I ask Madam Meng, where exactly does this 'kindness' you speak of to me come from?"
Seeing all eyes on her, Geng Qionghua cleared her throat, trying to remain calm: "I...I pleaded with the Empress on your behalf and obtained that 'Chastity Arch' for you, which was sent all the way to Jizhou! I thought of you, a young widow with no one to rely on. Isn't this an act of kindness?"
Lu Zhaoruo met her gaze and said, word by word, "Are you trying to help me, or are you trying to gain a reputation for being 'loyal and righteous' in front of the ladies?"
Geng Qionghua's most secret scheme was suddenly exposed, and her face turned deathly pale.
She never expected that Lu Zhaoruo, who seemed to be of lowly status and gentle nature, would have such a sharp eye!
She immediately covered her face with her sleeve, and when she spoke again, her voice was choked with sobs: "You... how could you misunderstand me like this! I treated you with all my heart! I exchanged handkerchiefs with you because I thought of your unfortunate fate in marrying into your husband's family. On your wedding night, your husband went overseas, leaving you alone in an empty room. I thought we could be reunited, but who knew he would die tragically at the hands of Japanese pirates! When I heard the news, I was heartbroken, so I told the Empress about your situation and asked for someone to rely on for you! How could you... how could you take all my good intentions for granted!"
This emotional and poignant plea immediately moved the ladies around her, and their gazes toward Lu Zhaoruo were filled with obvious reproach and dissatisfaction. Some even whispered, "She's really... ungrateful."
Amidst the whispers, Lu Zhaoruo took a slow breath. Far from being annoyed, a faint smile bloomed on her face as she spoke softly, "What you said, Madam, is deeply moving, but..."
She paused deliberately before clearly stating, "I am not a widow."
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