Chapter 57 Attending the Banquet
On the day they were to attend the banquet at the Duke of Liang's house, Li San Niang was still fast asleep, cuddling her precious Lu Zhu'er, when she was woken up by her mother and sister-in-law.
“Mother, sister-in-law, didn’t the invitation say that it only needs to arrive before 9:00 AM? It’s still early morning, no rush, let me sleep a little longer.”
Li San Niang's words completely ignored Li's mother and sister-in-law. They forcibly pulled Li San Niang up. Little Dewdrop was woken up, and after seeing the situation, she quickly ignored her mother and turned over to go back to sleep.
"Keep your voice down, don't wake up the dewdrop."
Li San Niang carefully looked around, then quickly and quietly got up, lowered the bed curtains, and let Lu Zhu'er sleep a little longer.
It had been planned beforehand that only Li San Niang would go, and Li Er Xiong would escort her on the way. They agreed that Li Er Xiong would wait for her in front of the Liang Guo Gong Mansion at 1-3 PM.
Although the post stated that one guest could be brought along, both Li's mother and Li San Niang felt that it was really inappropriate for their family to force a connection in that kind of setting. Since they weren't in the same social circle, it was better not to force it.
Li San Niang went this time only to give face to the Duke of Liang's mansion; otherwise, she would not have been interested in attending such a banquet for the powerful and wealthy.
Li San Niang was manipulated by her mother and sister-in-law for quite some time. They had to comb her single bun three times. Although Li San Niang thought it was perfect the first time, her sister-in-law was not satisfied and insisted on taking it apart and redoing it. After three times, they finally managed to comb it to her satisfaction.
Finally, Li San Niang was freed from the situation of being dressed up like a doll by her mother and sister-in-law. She had bought a small porcelain box of rouge with a peach blossom scent from a rouge and powder shop that Li Da Sao had specially gone to buy for her.
Having finally escaped being manipulated, Li San Niang urged Li Er Xiong to hurry up and leave.
"Third Sister looks really good today!"
Li's mother and sister-in-law were very happy to hear this, and it was worth getting up early to dress up Li San Niang.
Maintaining his stern fatherly authority, Li's father didn't offer any praise, but he still reminded Li San Niang before she left to speak less, think more, and come home early.
Just as she was about to get on the donkey cart with Li Erxiong, Luzhu ran over and asked, "Where are you going, Mother? Why aren't you taking Zhu'er with you?"
Li San Niang squatted down and said slowly to Lu Zhu'er, "Mother is going to a banquet today and will be back this afternoon. When Mother comes back, I will bring Lu Zhu'er some candy."
Dewdrop was very well-behaved. She nodded, just like how her mother usually told the four little ones when they went to school. "Then Dewdrop will wait for Mother to come back at home. Mother, don't play on the way. Come home soon."
Li's mother usually said these words to her four children: "Eldest son, keep an eye on your brothers. Don't play around on the road, and come home early."
"Haha, Mother knows now, she'll definitely be back soon."
When the donkey cart slowly arrived at the gate of the Duke of Liang's mansion, there was still more than half an hour before 9:00 AM. However, judging from the sight of carriages and sedan chairs at the gate, many people were much more eager to come than Li San Niang.
"Third Sister, listen to Father, speak less and think more, come out as soon as possible, I will come to this door to wait for you at noon."
"Don't worry, Second Brother, Third Sister understands."
However, it is rare to see a woman like Li San Niang without a maidservant behind her. Most of the women coming and going have one or two maidservants behind them, and some even have three or four maidservants surrounding them.
Upon reaching the gate, Li San Niang handed the invitation to the servant at the gate. The servant glanced at it and winked at another servant beside him. Then, he bowed to Li San Niang and said, "So it's Li San Niang. The old lady instructed that since Li San Niang has arrived, please go to the backyard first. My young lady wants to thank you in person."
Then, the servant next to her bowed and gestured to lead the way to Li San Niang's side.
Li San Niang didn't think much of it. She considered herself to be just a female doctor who hadn't yet joined the alliance, just an ordinary commoner. She had no dealings with such high-ranking nobles and had only come to this banquet by chance. She believed that no one would harm her, and since she had said those words in front of everyone at the entrance, there shouldn't be any trouble. So she went along with them.
As expected of the Duke's mansion, Li San Niang followed the servant through the middle gate, winding her way through two pavilions and a small bridge. Indeed, the Duke's mansion had an artificial river with flowing water. After passing through a sizable garden, they walked along a long corridor. After waiting outside the corridor for a while, they were informed and then invited into the house.
As the maid called her into the house, Li San Niang was still thinking that she had walked for almost half an hour from the main gate of the Duke of Liang's mansion to the back courtyard where the women lived. She really couldn't imagine how big the Duke's mansion was.
Upon entering the room, one is immediately struck by its magnificent and opulent appearance.
Sitting at the head of the table was an old woman with gray hair. Li San Niang thought this must be the old lady of the Duke of Liang. Upon closer inspection, the young woman next to her, dressed in a pomegranate red dress, was none other than Qi Bi Ya Tong, whom Li San Niang had once rescued on the banks of the Yu River.
Alas, even if Li San Niang could be said to be Qi Bi Ya Tong's savior, Li San Niang, who has no official position, must first pay her respects and greet her!
In this dog-eat-dog world, knowing when to bow your head is the mark of a wise person.
"Third Sister Li pays her respects to the Old Madam and Miss of the Duke of Liang."
As Li San Niang spoke, she also bowed and paid her respects. Fortunately, this Qibi woman had a conscience. When Li San Niang bowed, she stood up and stepped aside, avoiding the bow.
"Please rise, Madam Li. We were so rude. We should have invited you sooner. Thank you so much for saving my little wretch that day. Otherwise, she wouldn't be alive. Tong'er, why don't you thank Madam Li for saving your life!"
Before Li San Niang could even react and figure out how to respond, Qi Bi Ya Tong actually knelt down and bowed deeply to her!
Li San Niang was stunned; was this for real?
"No, no, Madam." As she spoke, Li San Niang was about to step forward to help Qi Bi Ya Tong, but it was just a pretense. She stopped three or four steps away, while Qi Bi Ya Tong had already gotten up on her own.
Li San Niang didn't realize it just now, but actually today's scene is also a play, a play that must be performed.
If they were truly grateful to Li Sanniang, they wouldn't have just sent a servant to deliver gifts. Even though the Duke's family and a commoner like Li Sanniang are incomparable in the present day, Li Sanniang saved Qibi Yatong's life. Such a great favor deserves to be repaid.
Qi Bi Ya Tong was ill and unable to get up at the time. The old lady of the Duke of Liang was too noble, so the first lady of the Duke of Liang's mansion could not make a visit.
Although Li San Niang did not expect anything in return for saving the people, compared to the actions of the Qian and Gao families whom she saved, the Liangguo Duke's Mansion was still a bit arrogant.
However, it's understandable, after all, they are a Duke's mansion. Although they don't have much military power now, they still have some of the glory of their ancestors.
Therefore, at this moment, only the old lady of the Duke of Liang, Qibi Yatong, Li Sanniang, and two maids were in the hall, which explains Qibi Yatong's kneeling.
When you are weak, you should naturally keep a low profile. After Li San Niang understood this, she naturally cooperated quite well and wanted to perfectly perform this act of gratitude.
Having received such a courtesy, they considered it as repayment for Li San Niang's life-saving grace.
Even a noble lady like Qibi Yatong from the Liangguo Duke's Mansion kneels and bows to Li Sanniang, a commoner from the city. How could Li Sanniang possibly ask for anything else?
Li San Niang risked her entire family's lives to save people, yet even the young lady from the Liang State Duke's mansion knelt down to thank her.
Li San Niang deliberately acted as if she was flattered. After being given a brocade stool, she forced a smile and answered the old lady of the Liang State Duke's family inquiries one by one. After a quarter of an hour, the old lady of the Liang State Duke finally spoke: "The banquet will be held in the garden. Li San Niang, you must have a good time today. The flowers in our mansion are in full bloom. I will have Bi Tao take you to see them later."
After bowing again to thank the old lady of the Duke of Liang for her kindness, Li San Niang was led to the garden by the maid named Bi Tao.
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