Wasn't it precisely because of her poor but talented nature that Lady Xing was able to firmly grasp the Marquis's heart?
Qin Sheng had Jade present the gifts she had brought.
Xue, the old nanny who served Rong, accepted it personally.
The women in the flower hall all turned their attention to Qin Sheng, and couldn't help but wonder about her identity.
Lady Wuping did not introduce her to the others. After chatting with Qin Sheng for a few words, she continued to talk to the lady next to her.
Qin Sheng knew that many people in the flower hall were looking at her.
She felt uncomfortable with so many eyes on her.
But considering that he would still have to do business in Ningzhou Prefecture in the future, he endured it.
Fortunately, they didn't sit for long before moving to the garden and sitting down in the places they had been assigned.
Qin Sheng was surprised to find that Madam Rong was sitting right next to her.
By this time, almost all the guests had arrived.
There were so many people, it was almost as lively as a banquet in the palace. The young wives and girls were all dressed in red and green, and it was quite a sight to behold.
The women's hushed, excited chatter filled the air.
"I heard we have distinguished guests from the capital today. I wonder which family they are from."
"It must be a male relative. I just saw the Marquis rushing to the front yard to greet them."
"I wonder what kind of high position and power someone must hold to be able to get the Marquis to personally come and greet them."
The distinguished guest from the capital, who even required the Marquis to personally greet him, must be of extraordinary status, so everyone was very curious.
Qin Sheng listened intently to the gossip, and couldn't help but become curious herself.
However, at this moment, Rong suddenly turned around and spoke to her.
“Mrs. Qin… Oh dear, it’s too formal to call you that. If you don’t mind, I’ll call you Asheng.”
"Of course I don't mind," Qin Sheng said.
Madam Rong then turned slightly to the side and said, "Ah Sheng, as a woman, you have to manage the household and run the business yourself. Isn't it very hard?"
"It's alright," Qin Sheng said. "It's been tough, but it's all worth it."
"Sigh, you're still young, you don't know how hard it is for a woman to do things alone, and besides, you're so beautiful, what will happen in the future—"
"..."
These hesitant words aroused a faint sense of wariness in Qin Sheng's heart.
She was no longer an innocent young girl. Having experienced so much, Qin Sheng, though not particularly sharp-minded, was not stupid either.
“A woman still needs a man to shelter her from the wind and rain,” said Madam Rong.
Qin Sheng smiled, picked up his teacup, and drank his tea.
At this moment, a maid came over and whispered something in Rong Shi's ear, causing Rong Shi's expression to change.
"Something minor happened up ahead, I'll go take a look."
As she said this, Madam Rong patted Qin Sheng's hand and then led her maid out through the small gate in the garden.
"My lady---"
Jade couldn't help but whisper, "Lady Wuping, she..."
Qin Sheng quickly gave her a look, signaling her to stop talking.
Even if you see something, you can't say it, because you're still in someone else's house.
"..."
With a mind as sharp as jade, how could she not understand the meaning behind Rong's words? She wanted to act as a matchmaker for her mistress!
The Rong family did not disturb the other guests, so everyone continued to chat and gossip in a relaxed and comfortable manner.
Qin Sheng also heard her own name called.
She almost spat out her tea and immediately perked up her ears again.
"...So Qin Sheng is really pitiful."
"Who can argue with that? But the Yin family really courted death. I heard that the Ye family member isn't a princess at all; she's just an imposter."
"Ha, this is what they call mistaking a stone for gold, and in the end losing the gem."
"..."
Qin Sheng was a little speechless, but after thinking about it, she felt that the metaphor was actually quite vivid.
"It's just a pity about that eldest daughter of the Qin family. She's so young. After the divorce, her illustrious status is useless. If she wants to marry, she can only marry down."
"Sigh, it's such a pity that she came from such a good family."
"Speaking of the Qin family, I heard that General Qin has won another victory on the front lines. The Western Rong people have been driven back behind Lion Mountain."
Lion Mountain straddles the northern part of Da Xiang and the city of Tuolan in Xi Rong. Its peaks soar into the clouds and it has been known as the most dangerous mountain in the world since ancient times.
Qin Sheng had, of course, heard about these things.
She wanted to listen some more when suddenly a girl in green walked towards her from the side.
This is Wu Jin'er, the fourth daughter of the Marquis of Wuping, who was greatly favored by the Marquis of Wuping. She just came of age at the end of last year.
"You are Lady Qin?" Wu Jin'er's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and those who were nearby all looked over when they heard her.
Some people recognized Wu Jin'er's identity and called her Fourth Miss.
Qin Sheng stood up and greeted the other party, "Hello, Miss Wu Si."
"Pah! Shameless!" Wu Jin'er sneered. "A mere divorced woman dares to try and marry my father as a concubine. How utterly shameless!"
"..."
"What did you say?" Qiao'er couldn't help but step forward and say, "Do you even know who my wife is before you dare to spout such nonsense?"
Become a concubine for Marquis Wuping? What a joke!
"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that!" Wu Jin'er, used to being domineering, immediately shouted to the servants behind her, "Beat her mouth up!"
"Give it a try," Qin Sheng said calmly, looking at her.
Having been a matriarch before, she possessed a composure and sharpness that young girls of marriageable age could not match.
"you……"
Wu Jin'er refused to admit defeat, but the nanny beside her whispered, "Fourth Miss, today is the spring banquet hosted by Madam. You should consider Madam's feelings."
After all, while the Marquis dotes on the Fourth Miss, ultimately, her marriage is still in the hands of the Madam.
Moreover, the Fourth Miss's personality is really too impulsive.
"snort!"
Wu Jin'er had just heard her third sister say that the owner of Qin's Pastry Shop wanted to marry her father as a concubine. She said that the young and beautiful Qin was dignified and well-mannered, and that once she married into the family, she would definitely be the father's favorite.
As her father's most beloved daughter, Wu Jin'er couldn't stand it and angrily went to cause trouble for Qin Sheng.
Qin Sheng was still looking at her, but his heart was already filled with turbulent emotions.
So that's what Lady Wuping was planning.
Wu Jin'er was persuaded to leave by the nanny, after all, this was a distinguished guest of the mansion, and it was not good to make things too ugly.
But after she made such a scene, how could Qin Sheng stay any longer?
The ladies looked at him with either disdain or scrutiny, and for the first time in his life, Qin Sheng experienced what it meant to be embarrassed.
She turned to the maidservant behind her and said, "Please tell Madam that I am feeling unwell and will take my leave now. I will write to Madam to apologize another day."
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