Chapter 134 The Zhang Family: A Feast for the Eyes and Beasts
The mention of Yunfang only fueled Ji Chen's anger. He couldn't understand what she was thinking. She had always wanted to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy, but now she had changed her mind and was clinging to him. She insisted that he had taken her virginity and therefore she was his, and that it was the Prince Heng who had made the decision for her to be his wife.
Yunfang ran to Old Madam Su and cried her heart out, and she became a member of the Su family. Now that Old Madam Su wants to support him in taking the imperial examination, he has no choice but to acknowledge Yunfang as his wife.
At this moment, he dared not offend Jiang Fenghua, after all, she had manipulated him and Yunfang without anyone noticing and had caught them red-handed.
Before Ji Chen could speak, Madam Zhang's expression turned sour. It turned out that she had already gotten married, and the man she married was a maid from the Prince Heng's mansion.
Madam Zhang said, "Please come in, Madam Su."
Madam Zhang also gave Jiang Fenghua a slight bow, saying, "Your Highness, Madam Jiang, please come in as well!" She clearly didn't like Jiang Fenghua and the Jiang family.
As soon as Old Madam Su left, Jiang Fenghua seemed to be at a disadvantage, lagging behind her by a step.
She didn't care, but Feng Jingyuan was so angry that her chest ached. What kind of people were these! Having to be related to someone like Madam Zhang the Second by marriage was worse than swallowing a hundred flies.
Thankfully, she wasn't Yu Mo's mother. Yu Mo is truly pitiful to have such an aunt.
Jiang Fenghua knew that since Xie Shang was not in the capital, even if she was the Princess Consort of Heng, she had no reason to show off at someone else's birthday banquet.
Ao Xue held a soft sword and followed closely beside Jiang Fenghua. Lian Ye also moved closer to her. She had seen Ao Xue practice swordsmanship with her own eyes. It was fast, ruthless, and accurate. She seemed to be very powerful.
The Third Princess and the Fourth Princess had also arrived long ago. When they saw Jiang Fenghua waving at her, they said, "Fenghua, over here." They naturally sat in the main seats, but Feng Jingyuan, Jiang Rumeng, and the others were not seated there.
Jiang Fenghua greeted them briefly and then sat down with Feng Jingyuan and the others in the second seat.
She thought that only Madam Zhang Er could divide positions according to status and rank in this way, and she wasn't afraid of offending anyone.
Zhang Yumo said apologetically, "Aunt Jiang, Sister Rumeng, Princess, I..." She couldn't argue with Madam Zhang, and it was her grandfather's seventieth birthday, so she didn't want to cause any unpleasantness.
Feng Jingyuan pulled her hand and sat her down beside her. "It's okay. We're happiest when our family is together. I'll go see your grandmother later and ask her to make a decision for you and Jinyan. Let's settle things today."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yumo's cheeks flushed. That day, after returning from the Jiang residence, she hadn't even seen Jiang Jinyan; he had gone with Prince Heng to provide disaster relief.
Jiang Rumeng also whispered, "I only came because of Yu Mo, so I'm giving you face."
Jiang Zhiqin was dragged here by his mother. He wasn't stupid; it was obvious that his future sister-in-law wasn't well-liked in the Zhang family. He said, "I'm here to support my sister-in-law, to use my face."
Zhang Yumo was initially very embarrassed, but now she was being comforted by them. She said, "Thank you. My grandfather is old and has difficulty moving around. My grandmother should accompany him. Actually, my grandparents didn't want to have a birthday celebration. It was my second uncle and aunt who wanted to..."
It was quite a lively affair. After all, Master Zhang was an official in the court, and everyone would come as long as he said so, out of respect for Duke Zhang. Moreover, the palace had taken the lead in sending birthday gifts.
When the banquet began, Duke Zhang and his wife appeared, accompanied by several younger members of the Zhang family. After everyone offered their birthday wishes and exchanged pleasantries, they took their seats.
Jiang Fenghua saw that the old lady of the Su family and the old lady of the Zhang family were indeed sitting at the same table inside, like close friends.
Just then, Madam Zhang said excitedly, "Today is my master's seventieth birthday. Thank you all for coming to my humble abode. Please enjoy yourselves and don't stand on ceremony."
Madam Zhang glanced at Zhang Yumo, walked to her side, and said gently, "Mo'er, why don't you go and kowtow to your grandfather to wish him a happy birthday? What are you doing sitting here like an idiot?"
Zhang Yumo greeted the Jiang family, and Jiang's mother said, "Go ahead."
She quickly got up and walked towards Duke Zhang, kneeling before him and kowtowing three times. "Yu Mo wishes Grandfather a long and happy life, may his fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and his longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains..."
The children were raised by Duke Zhang and Madam Zhang, so they naturally doted on them. "Get up quickly."
Zhang Yumo walked to the Duke of Zhang's side and said softly, "Grandfather, Aunt Jiang has also come. She wants to see you and Grandmother alone."
Duke Zhang was stunned. Because Mo'er was involved with Jiang Jinyan, it was now difficult to speak ill of her. If Jiang Jinyan was unwilling, then he would not force him.
Because Jiang Jinyan didn't come to propose marriage, Zhang Yumo didn't explain his thoughts to her parents. She was also worried that he might change his mind since he left in such a hurry. But just now, Aunt Jiang told her that they could finalize things today.
Madam Zhang said, "Mo'er, the Su family has also come to propose marriage to us. You shouldn't wait for that man anymore. You can't warm his heart. Your grandfather and I have already agreed." They are old and don't want to leave her alone and miserable after they pass away.
Zhang Yumo seemed to have been struck by lightning: "Grandmother, Grandfather, I will not marry anyone else. Jiang Jinyan has already promised to marry me."
"It's your parents' decision and the matchmaker's word; you have no choice but to agree." Madam Zhang Er stared at her with a cold smile. From a young age, she had been favored by the Duke and the Old Madam. They even prevented her from getting married when she was almost twenty. People from her maternal family had come to propose marriage before, but the two old folks refused. Later, she learned that the Old Madam had gone to the Jiang family to propose several times, but they still refused, fearing that Zhang Yumo would never be able to get married.
"I've heard all the rumors circulating outside, but I believe Miss Mo'er is innocent. My Xuan'er and Miss Zhang are about the same age, just the right age to get married..." said Madam Su.
“No need. I’m already engaged to Jiang Jinyan. He’ll come to marry me when he returns.” Zhang Yumo refused outright. “I won’t marry anyone but Jiang Jinyan.”
At this moment, Madam Li spoke up from the next table: "So it turns out that Miss Zhang and the eldest son of the Jiang family really had an affair all along. Poor Cheng'er got beaten up for no reason."
For a moment, Zhang Yumo felt as if they had forced her into a fire or put her in a steamer. She felt extremely uncomfortable. "Grandmother, you know perfectly well that Aunt Jiang is sitting in the seats outside."
Because she had no parents, she was raised by her grandparents. Even if the aunts, uncles and other relatives in the family mistreated her, she never complained. Until she met Jiang Jinyan, her life had hope. He was very good at studying, and she wanted to keep up with him. So she studied hard and tried to become the kind of person he admired. But he didn't like her.
Now that he's willing to marry her, she feels happy regardless of whether he likes her or not. But now even her grandparents aren't on her side anymore.
Tears streamed down Zhang Yumo's face; she could only weep silently.
At this moment, Feng Jingyuan suddenly walked to her side, hugged her and comforted her, "Aunt Jiang will stand up for you, don't be sad. If you cry and look ugly in front of so many people, how can you be my Jiang family's daughter-in-law?"
Zhang Yumo nestled into a warm embrace, feeling a sense of security, like being nestled in her mother's arms, which she found captivating.
She longed to call out "Mother".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
