Chapter 716: Storm
Lu Qinniang's words were well-reasoned and she mentioned her two outstanding sons-in-law. The Duke of Yingguo was suddenly speechless.
At the full moon banquet at the Duke's Mansion, who would dare to refute the Crown Prince to his face that he is not a good match?
That's just asking for trouble.
A storm was quietly resolved by Lu Qiniang with ease.
The Duchess of England was embarrassed and could only snort coldly, turning around to talk to others to hide her embarrassment.
Erya was very angry and wanted to argue, but Lu Qiniang found an excuse to pull her to the corridor.
"Mom, you are too polite to her!" Erya muttered.
"Today is a great day for our family. It will look good if you make a fuss and get red in the face." Lu Qiniang patted her daughter's hand and said, "Don't take it to heart."
The Duchess of England is so senior and simple-minded that she would say it openly.
Little did they know that many people in the audience were thinking the same thing, but they just didn't say it out loud.
She looked at the bustling crowd in the courtyard, her tone calm but firm, "Since we've decided to do this, we've anticipated the difficulties ahead. So what does this little criticism mean now? We can't retreat because of this stumbling block."
Erya looked at her mother's quiet profile, and suddenly she looked proud: "Mom, you are really different from before."
Today, Lu Qinniang exudes a calmness and confidence that emanates from within, a radiance she has never had in the past.
Lu Qi's mother was delighted by her daughter's praise and couldn't help but laugh: "Really? Your mother also feels that she is quite capable!"
She deeply realized that power and responsibility can indeed nourish people.
Many things seem difficult before we do them, and many people seem unattainable before we come into contact with them.
But when I actually did it and got involved in it, I found that I was not necessarily worse than others.
Especially when she stopped competing with others and focused on practical matters, she felt that the world was vast and no one was nobler than anyone else.
As they were talking, Jiang Yi and Lu Huan, the sister-in-law, arrived.
Lu Qinniang and Erya hurried over and spoke to her warmly.
After the banquet was held lively and smoothly, Erya decided to stay in the capital.
Although she may have to go out in the future, most of the time she hopes to stay with her parents and accompany her son as he grows up.
From Yun Ting's perspective, the old lady of the Duke's Mansion and the Empress Dowager are both very old, and he will not be able to accompany the two elderly people for a few more years.
The fact of having a child gave Erya a new understanding of life, and her life plans also changed accordingly.
Life goes on.
Everyone continues to be busy.
However, the old difficulties have not yet been completely resolved, and new storms have quietly arrived.
Lu Qiniang didn't expect that in addition to the open attacks from the conservatives, more insidious attacks would also follow.
Suddenly, many rumors about her personal morality spread in the market, and people speculated that her relationship with Prime Minister Zhang Heyao, who strongly supported her, and her husband Xiao Yan was "unclean". The cause she worked hard to promote was maliciously portrayed as a product of relying on the "pillow talk" of male power.
A good effort was turned into a crime of thieves and prostitutes in the mouths of some people.
Lu Qiniang didn't care about this at first, and even said optimistically to those who were worried about her, "This shows that what we did really touched their sore spot. They have no other choice but to use this despicable method to throw dirty water on us. This actually proves that we have succeeded!"
However, she underestimated the destructive power of rumors.
What hurt her even more was that the rumor caused new problems among the young women who were deeply inspired by her and followed her wholeheartedly.
Some radical young followers believe that the pace of change is too slow and have begun to adopt more extreme ways to express their demands - some scold men in the streets, and some completely reject all traditional female moral norms.
Some people even believe that if Lu Qiniang wants to prove her innocence, she should divorce Xiao Yan and completely cut off contact with Zhang Heyao to show the "purity" of her career.
The development of the matter to this point was completely beyond Lu Qiniang's expectations, leaving her shocked and heartbroken.
Things shouldn't and can't go to extremes!
This was a scene she had never thought of and didn't want to see before.
Even the Queen felt difficult in the face of such a complicated situation - although these girls behaved in an extreme way, they were indeed an important force in supporting the new policy, and she could not use force to suppress them.
The Queen summoned Lu Qiniang to discuss countermeasures.
Lu Qiniang decided to stand up and face them directly.
Erya was very angry when she heard this.
"Mother, at a time like this, shouldn't the Queen, as the mother of a country, stand up and speak for you?"
At least she had to make her attitude clear, she firmly supported Lu Qiniang.
Instead of what is happening now, Lu Qiniang has to face all the criticism and those women who are out of control of their emotions alone.
Lu Qiniang said calmly, "Since ancient times, ministers have been the sword in the hands of the king. Isn't your father like that? I am the same now."
Even if she was used as a knife, she would still cut through this chaotic situation.
Someone has to deal with things and guide public opinion, so let her do it.
In the face of justice, she does not care about personal gains and losses.
She was ready to confront the angry girls directly.
"Mom—" Erya said, "I'll go with you!"
"You don't have to go."
Erya is now the Crown Prince's Consort of the Duke's Mansion. No matter what she does, she has to consider the Duke's Mansion.
Lu Qiniang persisted to the end because she felt that this matter was meaningful.
But she won't drag neutral people into this.
She couldn't let her daughter have a harder time in her husband's family because of her.
"Take Chi Chi with you." Teng Wenfu arrived at some point, accompanied by Si Ya, who was already tall and looked vaguely like a young girl.
Si Ya's unparalleled beauty has accompanied her in almost every stage of her life.
"Uncle Teng, why are you here? If not bringing her, what else can you bring her for?" Lu Qiniang asked with a smile.
She could imagine how excited those girls were.
She is not afraid.
But don't scare her little Si Ya.
This girl is really lovable.
"Let her see the big picture," Teng Wenfu said, "She can't hide behind you all her life."
Erya also said, "Mother, please take Fourth Sister with you."
Si Ya said, "Mother, I won't cause you any trouble, and I won't say anything. I'll just listen."
She went there to learn from her mother.
"Well, okay." Lu Qiniang nodded.
In fact, there were some differences between her and Teng Wenfu regarding the issue of Si Ya.
For example, Liu Yu likes to be close to Si Ya.
I don’t know if it’s because the Liu family has a thick skin that they inherited from their ancestors, but this little King Jin always comes to visit.
Lu Qiniang felt something was not very good.
She didn't want her daughter to have anything to do with the royal family, so she wanted Si Ya to stay away.
But Teng Wenfu said, "There's nothing to avoid. Royal or not is not important, talent is the most important thing."
Lu Qiniang didn't quite understand, but after discussing with Xiao Yan and Daya, she decided to listen to Teng Wenfu.
Teng Wenfu taught Si Ya so well.
So, Lu Qiniang took Si Ya's hand and went out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
