Chapter 39 Invitation
After Xiao Jinshan finished telling her sweet troubles in Jiyunzhai, she returned to her own yard, not caring whether the cousin behind her was really blessing her or jealous.
She is the pampered third daughter of the Duke's Mansion, but ever since her two cousins arrived, most people have been praising them for their outstanding looks.
Xiao Jinshan was actually feeling quite angry inside.
Wang Jingcheng and Mrs. Hou's actions this time allowed her to win both the inside and the outside.
Regardless of whether the prince was really as outstanding as others said, his keen eye for talent really pleased her.
After her third cousin left, Xu Shuyao felt a little sad, but she didn't take it to heart.
Ultimately, it has nothing to do with her.
But even the third daughter of the Xiao family is about to get married. From now on, besides her and Liu Qingwan, there will only be the young fourth daughter left in the mansion.
Xu Shuyao is not opposed to getting married, but she doesn't have much desire for it either.
After all, with her current conditions and Chen's attitude, no one knows what kind of family she will be matched with!
Xu Shuyao had no confidence in Chen, but she got along well with Old Madam Xiao. She liked this old lady from the Duke's Mansion.
She can also feel from the bottom of her heart that the old man is close to her day after day.
This made Xu Shuyao feel fortunate for her original decision.
After her mother passed away, she rarely felt this kind of kindness from others.
Therefore, Xu Shuyao not only saw the kindness of the old man with her own eyes and kept it in her heart, but also showed it through her actions.
For example, when she came to Songhe Hall today, she asked the maid to bring over a bowl of cooked divine porridge.
There are yam and water chestnuts in the porridge.
The yam needs to be steamed and then cooked with soaked water chestnuts. It can nourish the spleen and stomach and promote digestion.
Nanny Liu took the porridge from the maid, and heard her cousin say that she saw the old lady had no appetite for breakfast yesterday, so she started preparing the ingredients after returning home. She also admired her attentiveness in her heart, so don't blame the master for treating her differently.
Aunt Liu smiled as she placed the porridge on the table and opened the lid, saying, "Madam, please try it. It's said to stimulate the appetite and aid digestion."
Liu Qingwan was sitting in the seat next to her, drinking porridge with her head down. Her hand paused noticeably, but no one paid any attention to her.
Ever since her marriage was snatched away, this cousin has become noticeably depressed.
At first everyone thought she would die of illness like before, but this time she managed to hold on.
Not only did he not fall ill, he also came to Songhetang every day, and most of the time he arrived earlier than Xu Shuyao.
But a person's spirit and energy cannot be faked. Every time the maids saw her alone and depressed, they dared to come forward to join in the fun, so even if someone came, she would sit there alone.
Fortunately, the old lady would sometimes talk to her to break the awkwardness.
After breakfast, Madam Xiao asked the two of them to copy something as usual, but this time they were not copying Buddhist scriptures, but a piece of calligraphy.
While I was copying, I heard the voice of the guests coming from outside.
Nanny Liu, who came in to report the news, had a subtle expression on her face. "It's Madam Ruan and the young lady from the Shen Mansion."
Madam Xiao didn't show any expression. She turned around and saw Xu Liu and the others looking at her. She said on impulse, "You two should put down your pens for a while and come out with me to receive the guests."
A few of them walked out from the inner room together, and saw Wang coming over, with Madam Ruan and Shen Jingshu standing in front of her.
Mrs. Ruan wore a brown headband today, a double-breasted satin gown of the same color on her upper body, and an indigo blue horse-faced skirt on her lower body.
There was no clue about her clothes, but her brows were slightly furrowed, and she was not as calm and composed as she was the last time she came.
Looking at Shen Jingshu again, her complexion was not as rosy as last time, and even a little pale.
Xu Shuyao just glanced at them and walked over to greet them.
With Lady Wang, the Duke's wife, present, she would not interfere, but she still had to observe proper etiquette.
Otherwise, why would the old lady ask the two of them to come out?
Shen Jingshu was a little surprised that she met her two cousins as soon as she arrived today. Last time, she just casually called them over, but this time, she came out directly with the old lady from the Duke's Mansion.
Moreover, the old man's expression when he looked at Miss Xu and spoke to her was gentle and loving, as if he was talking to a younger member of his own family.
Shen Jingshu felt that this scene was a bit dazzling, but she had something important to do today.
Both parties sat down with their own thoughts. Mrs. Ruan then explained her purpose. It turned out that she wanted to hold a small banquet in advance of her daughter's admission to the Second Prince's Mansion, and she wanted to invite the young men and women of the Duke's Mansion to attend.
After Madam Ruan finished speaking, Shen Jingshu also looked at Xu and Liu who were present and said, “Cousin Liu and Cousin Xu, please come along when the time comes!”
Xu Shuyao was just wondering what to say when she heard Old Madam Xiao, who was sitting at the top of the table, say, "I'll just agree on their behalf. These are just small matters. What's wrong with the children going over there to have some fun? It's a big deal for you to come all this way. Just send someone to send the invitation."
The words were naturally directed at Ruan.
Seeing that the old lady of the Duke's Mansion had spoken, Ruan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Now people are saying that the second prince stole the eldest prince's marriage, and this reputation is not good for Yu Shuer.
But her daughter would be entering the Second Prince's residence in a month, and would be given the title of concubine, so a grand ceremony was not possible. That was why she decided to hold a small banquet for Shu'er and invite some familiar brothers and sisters to the house for a gathering.
I was afraid that the old lady would not agree.
Ruan expressed her gratitude to Old Madam Xiao with a grateful look on her face.
When she mentioned her daughter, she sighed, and Mrs. Xiao looked at Ruan with confusion.
The eldest grandson said that the Shen family wanted to curry favor with the rich and powerful, but it seems that Ruan is completely unaware of it. What went wrong?
The old man unconsciously turned his gaze to the woman sitting next to Ruan. Although her face was a little pale, she did not show any resistance to changing the marriage like her mother.
A hint of deep thought gradually appeared in Old Madam Xiao's eyes.
Xu Shuyao once again witnessed Mrs. Ruan's behavior of not sparing her face to plan for her daughter's long-term future, and sighed in her heart.
After Ruan's mother and daughter left, Wang couldn't help but ask, "Should we really go and give them face?"
Madam Xiao snorted, "Go ahead! Do you want others to say that your son was dumped? Besides, weren't you good friends with the Ruan family before? If you can't be in-laws, don't make them enemies."
When the Duke's wife listened to her mother-in-law's words, she thought of her eldest son again. Later, she observed carefully and did not see Xiao Mo behave in any depressed manner.
Probably... he never liked this girl from the Shen family.
That’s fine!
Wang Shi thought it through and said, "My son is such a good boy, he should go! Why not? Not only should he go, but he should also go to see the young lady at the banquet with great fanfare."
After saying this, she looked at Xu Shuyao and Liu Qingwan, "You too, dress smartly! Treat this as a normal social event. Maybe your marriage will be settled this way."
This sentence made everyone smile, and Xu Shuyao also lowered her eyes shyly.
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