Xu Zhi's attention was now focused on the main table. Sitting with the old lady of the Shen family were the matriarchs of the most prestigious families in Yuezhou City. The old lady had already done Xu Zhi a great favor by calling her to her room and introducing her to the ladies of Yuezhou City. Now, the main table at the head of this side hall was not a place for Xu Zhi, the wife of a military officer, to sit at.
Old Madam Shen took the main seat, and the head wife of the Shen family took the next seat. The most prominent positions were occupied by the concubine of Prefect Qin. Xu Zhi remembered that when she was introduced to her, she was called Madam Meng. She didn't know if it was the surname Meng or the dream.
The concubine had a round face and a gentle demeanor, appearing completely harmless. She was currently chatting and laughing, raising her wine cup to toast Old Madam Shen, while Madam Xi, sitting next to her, was smiling as she spoke to Prefect Qin's concubine. The scene looked quite lively.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the banquet was coming to an end. Zheng Yuanyuan was happily enjoying the famous Yuezhou dishes.
Although Feng Wan'er hadn't been to Yuezhou many times, her mother was from Yuezhou and there was a chef in her family who specialized in Yuezhou cuisine. Therefore, she was very familiar with the Yuezhou dishes on the table. Seeing that Zheng Yuanyuan liked them, she introduced them one by one, which aroused Zheng Yuanyuan's interest in eating.
Seeing that Zheng Yuanyuan was eating rather unrestrainedly, and wondering if Granny Wang was around, Xu Zhi whispered, "Yuanyuan, just taste it, don't eat too much. Your stomach is weak, and eating too much will make you feel uncomfortable."
Zheng Yuanyuan listened to Xu Zhi's words, agreed, and obediently put down her chopsticks.
Seeing this, Feng Wan'er smiled and whispered to Xu Zhi, "Why does your aunt listen to you so much?"
Xu Zhi said, "An elder sister-in-law is like a mother. I am not only her sister-in-law now, but I also bear the responsibilities of a mother."
Xu Zhi and Feng Wan'er truly shared similar interests. Back in the capital, although they had only met a few times, they would always chat together whenever they met. Both of them had traveled far and wide with their parents, and their knowledge and open-mindedness were incomparable to those young ladies in the capital who had always lived in their own little world. Sometimes, their emotions were only understood by the other person. Both Xu Zhi and Feng Wan'er cherished this close friend with whom they could not meet often.
Xu Zhi had been planning to write a proper letter to Feng Wan'er once she had settled down, but who knew that Feng Wan'er would encounter such a thing? Fortunately, Feng Wan'er's father met Xu Di on the way, which gave Feng Wan'er a chance to escape.
Now that they've met again, the two of them naturally cherish each other very much.
Seeing Xu Zhi and Feng Wan'er chatting happily at the next table, Qin Qingqing, the young lady, clenched her handkerchief in anger. Sun Muxue, the young lady, followed Qin Qingqing's gaze and saw Feng Wan'er and Xu Zhi. She then said to Shen Ming'e, the seventh young lady of the Shen family, who was beside her, "What's wrong with your third sister? She clearly knows that the Zheng family sisters-in-law are bullying our Qingqing, yet she still gets so close to them."
Hearing Sun Muxue's words, Shen Ming'e, who was eating with her chopsticks, gripped them tightly in anger. Although the three of them often got together, Qin Qingqing was the daughter of the prefect, and a legitimate daughter at that. Sun Muxue was the daughter of the assistant prefect. Although Shen Ming'e was a legitimate daughter of the Shen family, the Shen family were merchants, and the social hierarchy was scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. The reason Qin Qingqing, Sun Muxue, and Shen Ming'e were together was simply because Shen Ming'e had money and they could have someone pay for their outings.
Shen Ming'e gritted her teeth and said, "My third sister has never been home. She only came back because of Grandmother's birthday. As you know, my third uncle has been traveling since my third aunt passed away. Grandmother felt sorry for my third sister, so after she came back, she always gave her the best things first. She even let my third sister stay in Qingxin Xiaozhu in the garden. Grandmother wouldn't let my eldest sister stay there back then."
Upon hearing this, Sun Muxue exclaimed in surprise, "Qingxin Xiaozhu? Is that the small courtyard in the garden that you pass through the moon gate?"
Shen Ming'e said, "Yes, that's the place. I heard that it was where my aunt used to live. After my aunt got married, the courtyard was sealed off. My grandmother sent people to maintain it carefully. None of us in this generation could live there. Who knew that when my third sister came back, she would arrange for her to live there."
Qin Qingqing's attention was drawn to Shen Ming'e's words, and she asked somewhat curiously, "Isn't it just a courtyard?"
Shen Ming'e said softly, "It's not just a simple matter of a courtyard. I heard that a master came to our house to help with the feng shui and specially built this courtyard in the back garden. After my aunt moved in, she later married into the Feng family. Everyone in the family said that my aunt was able to marry so well because she had lived in this courtyard."
Shen Ming'e's aunt was Feng Wan'er's mother, Madam Feng.
Everyone in Yuezhou knew that the Shen family had formed several close relationships with relatives, the most powerful of which was the Feng family, the family of the chief minister.
Not only Sun Muxue listened intently, but Qin Qingqing also put down her handkerchief. Shen Ming'e whispered, "After Aunt got married, not long after, Chief Minister Feng was promoted to the position of Chief Minister. Grandmother then sealed off this courtyard. Even when my eldest uncle and aunt went to beg Grandmother, she didn't agree. Who knew that my third sister was away from home all year round, and when she came back, Grandmother gave the courtyard to her to live in."
Sun Muxue said, "Then why is your grandmother so good to your third sister?"
Shen Ming'e shook her head and said, "I don't know. Oh dear, let's eat quickly. Today's dishes were prepared by the chef from the best restaurant in Yuezhou City. Although we can usually eat at those restaurants, it's not so easy to eat the master chef's signature dishes."
Sun Muxue and Qin Qingqing are both very interested in how well Shen Ming'e's aunt married. They are also very interested in Qingxin Xiaozhu. Even if they can't live there, they can come over often to get some of the good luck there. Maybe they can marry a good husband that way.
Thinking of this, Qin Qingqing's face brightened as she pictured Shen Mingyuan's handsome appearance. Even Sun Muxue, for some unknown reason, smiled and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
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