Madam Dai came over and asked, "Mrs. Jin, what's wrong? Are you choking? Quickly drink some wine, I'll toast you with this glass."
He then handed a wine glass to Mrs. Jin.
Mrs. Jin: "..."
Madam Jin looked at Qin Yuan with a troubled expression.
Qin Yuan's lips curled slightly as she stared intently at her.
The generous Mr. Dai had already downed his drink in one gulp and was staring at her expectantly.
Madam Jin had no choice but to raise her glass and drink. Immediately, she felt a fiery sensation burning from her throat to her stomach, both choking and burning. After finally regaining her composure, she heard Madam Dai beside her laugh and say, "You have a good capacity for alcohol. I knew Madam Jin was a generous person. Let's get to know each other better. There won't be any more battles to fight in the future, so we'll have plenty of opportunities to interact."
Upon hearing this, the women at the table became much more attentive in their conversations and toasts.
Qin Yuan smiled slightly, thinking that Dai Shi was insightful and spoke directly. It was perfect to have someone like her by her side, as it would save her a lot of trouble.
Dai Shijing's wine had a strong aftereffect, and Madam Jin sat blankly to the side, trying to catch her breath, seemingly a little tipsy.
After resting for a while, he couldn't help but pull Qin Yuan aside and complain, "I really didn't expect Sister-in-law Cheng to be so enthusiastic. I've been drinking... Madam, it doesn't matter what outsiders say. Our Lao Jin has been following the Marquis for so many years. He always finds a way to get involved in everything the Marquis does, and he never hides anything from me. If you're talking about managing a husband, I'm the one..."
Madam Jin shook her thumb and said with a grin, "No matter how many concubines he takes, they can't escape my grasp. Concubines are all there to serve me and give birth to my men. No matter what, they can never surpass me. I'm telling you, it's all thanks to the good deeds of my ancestors for eighteen generations that I was able to marry that clumsy bear."
Qin Yuan couldn't help but laugh, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
Madam Jin should sober up by now. She asked Mozhu and Cuiming to help Madam Jin out of the flower hall and find a pavilion to sit down.
"Go and bring tea and snacks to help Madam Jin sober up."
Mo Zhu hurriedly took the little maidservant who served Madam Jin with her.
Madam Jin, who sat down next to Qin Yuan, said happily to herself, "Old Jin said that the person he admires most is our Marquis. The Marquis is really something else. Before he married you, he was still a virgin and never got close to women."
Madam, how lucky you are! Not long ago, Old Jin was scratching his head and writing a pamphlet for the Marquis to see, telling him to learn how to please women. Don't let my Old Jin's rough appearance and clumsy looks fool you, he's actually very good at winning women's hearts. All the young ladies in the house are completely smitten by him. That's a skill, isn't it?
"If I hadn't distinguished myself in battle alongside the Marquis, I could have lived comfortably as a son-in-law, supported by women."
Cuiming listened in disbelief. Everyone said that soldiers were rough, but their women were no less so. What woman would speak like that in everyday life?
But Qin Yuan laughed heartily, "That's right, I really wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't told me, sister."
Madam Jin leaned closer and said, "If I tell Old Jin to go east, he would never dare to go west. If you want to know anything about the Marquis, I'll have Old Jin tell you everything. My family has a long-standing tradition of husband-taming techniques. If you want to learn, I can teach you."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Then it's a deal. Sister, you must teach me."
By the time Mo Zhu and the others brought tea, snacks, and hangover soup, the two had become so close that they were about to become sworn brothers.
Finally, Madam Dai came over and stopped her, saying, "Madam, please go inside quickly. Brother Cheng and Sister Yu are about to come and greet our guests."
Qin Yuan was worried, so she left someone to look after Madam Jin before following Madam Dai inside. As soon as she sat down, she saw Madam Ma looking at her sideways with a gloomy expression.
Qin Yuan ignored the man and spoke only to the people around her. Hongye had already received the news and ordered a banquet to be set up at the head of the table. Not long after, Rong Mama arrived with Old Madam Gu, accompanied by Cheng Ge'er and Yu Jie'er, who were dressed in new clothes.
The two children were dressed in new clothes made of luxurious fabric with exquisite embroidery. They wore gold-threaded necklaces with longevity locks hanging from them, and jade pendants around their waists. Not to mention sachets, pouches, and other such items, it was clear at a glance that they were children raised in a wealthy family.
Qin Yuan had already gone to greet them, and she and Madam Dai accompanied Old Madam Gu to sit at the head of the table. Cheng Ge'er and Yu Jie'er also took their seats.
The noisy hall quieted down.
Madam Gu said, "Today is the children's family reunion banquet. We were a little late in speaking and arrived late, so please let them offer toasts to everyone as an apology."
Qin Yuan sat with Old Madam Gu, while Madam Dai led the two children to each table to identify people.
The wine cups they held were filled with plain water, and the ladies at the table merely raised their cups to touch their lips, which was considered to be fulfilling their etiquette.
When Madam Dai brought the twins to offer toasts, it was to tell everyone that from now on they were her children, and she hoped that everyone would take care of them in the future because of Gu Jingcheng.
The ladies gave small gifts according to their relationship with the women, and the little maids following behind carried trays full of them. Lady Dai wrote them all down so she could repay the favors later.
After completing the rounds and returning to the table, Madam Dai's face was flushed from drinking. From now on, she was a woman with a son.
Madam Gu said, "Why did you drink so much? Isn't it enough for everyone to just have a sip?"
Madam Dai said, “Aunt, I’m so happy to have children. How could I not drink? If it weren’t for you and the Marquis thinking of us, this would not have happened. My husband said he fell in love with the two children at first sight and will definitely treat them well in the future.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Gu sighed and looked at Cheng Ge'er and Yu Jie'er, instructing them: "This is also your fate and blessing. In the future, you must be filial to your parents and not become estranged from the Marquis's mansion. You should visit us often."
Qin Yuan glanced at the two children.
Cheng Ge'er pulled Yu Jie'er to her feet and said, "Grandmother, godmother, and mother, we will definitely take good care of you in the future and repay your kindness in raising us."
As he spoke, he respectfully kowtowed three times.
Qin Yuan quickly helped them up and said with a smile, "The Marquis has said everything he needed to say at noon, so I have nothing more to say. We are all neighbors, so please visit each other often in the future."
Now that they're practically family, it would be embarrassing for the Dai family to ask for help with such matters. So Qin Yuan naturally wouldn't say anything like that.
Cheng Ge'er said, "Don't worry, godmother. We understand the good intentions of godfather and godmother."
Qin Yuan merely listened to these words.
She never liked the two children, and the two children didn't like her either. If it weren't for Zhao's trouble, they would have lived their lives in peace.
The two children did not kowtow at Wutong Garden, but they still harbored resentment in their hearts, so nothing she said would be appropriate.
Fortunately, Gu Shiliu came over and informed the old lady that she would be taking them to the front hall to meet the guests, so she didn't have to rack her brains for topics to talk about.
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