Chapter 108 We sisters are just chatting
Of course, the gossip that these ladies want to hear the most is the little boy named Ruan Qinghuan's mother. As everyone knows, she has been married for several months and there has been no movement in her belly. Suddenly, she has an adopted child, which inevitably makes people think of something.
But no one dares to ask such a sensitive question.
Compared to Ruan Qinghuan who was treated like a star, Ruan Xiaoyue's situation was a bit awkward. Some of the wives of officials sitting at the same table with her were not familiar with her. They only knew that she was the new bride of the Pei family and the cousin of Madam He Shao.
The Pei family today is not what it was in the past. Not only are there fewer people, but there are also no high-ranking officials. Although Pei Chong is the commander of the Southern Camp of the City Defense Army, it is difficult for him to accumulate military merits in today's peaceful and prosperous times, and there is almost no possibility of promotion.
Ruan Xiaoyue felt that she was somewhat out of tune with the current environment. Now that she had become an official's wife, she realized how difficult it was to integrate into this circle. Everyone looked friendly and cheerful on the surface, but deep down they had already divided people into different classes.
Those who don't like it are too lazy to say anything more.
Ruan Qinghuan also noticed her. Although Ruan Xiaoyue's face remained expressionless, Ruan Qinghuan could see the anger in her eyes. She had heard from Wei Mingxi about her coming to the Ruan Mansion and causing trouble a few days ago. Fortunately, she did not disturb her grandmother, so she did not intend to pursue the matter.
Just when Ruan Qinghuan was thinking about each other being well and not disturbing each other, Ruan Xiaoyue suddenly came over with a wine glass in hand, with a smile on her face: "Sister, I haven't seen you for a long time. Xiaoyue wants to toast you a glass."
She called her sister, not cousin... Ruan Xiaoyue had always been arrogant, so normally, she would never take the initiative to show kindness to her.
Last time at the garden party at the Prince's Mansion, it was unreasonable for her to take the initiative to get close to him. I think Pei Chong instructed her to do so.
What's going on today?
Ruan Qinghuan raised his glass and clinked it with hers: "Okay."
After drinking, Ruan Xiaoyue did not leave, but stood beside Ruan Qinghuan: "Sister, you and Master have been married for so long, but you are still not pregnant. But you adopted Zimo because you were anxious?"
She spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, enough for the people sitting around in the ladies' seats to hear.
When these words were spoken, everyone had different expressions. There were some rumors about the discord between the Ruan cousins, but no one expected that Ruan Xiaoyue would dare to discredit the Prime Minister's wife in public under such circumstances.
I thought I would see Ruan Qinghuan looking uneasy and ashamed, but she just smiled faintly and said, "I originally wanted to raise Zimo in the Ruan family. It was your decision to keep him in the He family."
Everyone was surprised. Was this the child that the Prime Minister proposed to adopt?
Ruan Xiaoyue sneered and said, "Sister, you take advantage of the adults' favor and dare to say anything." The implication was that Ruan Xiaoyue was using He'an as an excuse.
"I thought all the ladies had left, but it turns out everyone was just watching a joke." Chu Li didn't want to come, but after receiving a letter from Ruan Qinghuan saying that Brother He insisted that she attend the banquet, she came to join her.
As a result, he heard Ruan Xiaoyue's provocative words while standing behind the screen, and his face immediately turned cold.
Chu Li was the daughter of a duke, the cousin of the crown princess, and the female tyrant of the capital, so the ladies naturally did not dare to neglect her. The servants came over and added a stool for her next to Ruan Qinghuan.
Ruan Xiaoyue's eyebrows moved slightly. The word "joke" from Chu Li's mouth was clearly referring to her. Although she was angry, she still calmed down and said, "Miss Chu, what are you talking about? We sisters are just chatting."
Chu Li came over and looked at Ruan Xiaoyue with a stern look: "That's right, sisters should talk more. Oh, I heard that General Pei's concubine should be giving birth soon. But you don't have to worry. After the child is born, she will call you mother."
Ruan Xiaoyue's face immediately darkened: "You..."
"What's wrong with me? I'm just chatting. Can't you afford to chat?" Chu Li sat down while talking and brought the topic back to Zimo: "Everyone is curious about Zimo's identity. As a fellow traveler from Lucheng, I have the most say in this matter. The child has a tragic fate, which is both unfortunate and lucky to have met us. If my sister-in-law hadn't recognized the child before me, I would have taken him back to the Duke's Mansion."
"Then I am an unmarried girl, and I adopted a child. Alas... wouldn't you be more curious about his identity and my intention in adopting him?"
"No, no." Seeing that the situation was not good, a lady at the same table hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "The child was brought back from Lucheng. We all heard that the Prime Minister's wife was kind-hearted. The child had no father or mother, and she couldn't bear to see him wandering on the streets, so she brought him back. We admire such a kind act, so how could we think of it in a wrong way?"
Someone echoed, "That's right. Madam He and Miss Chu personally participated in the disaster relief work in Lucheng this time. They did their best and were highly praised by the Emperor. How can they be criticized by those with ulterior motives?"
"This topic was brought up by the second Miss Ruan. I shouldn't say this, but even though we are cousins, this statement does sound a bit ambiguous." The person who said this was Madam Ji, Ji Lingchuan's mother.
Everyone nodded when they heard this. All the ladies were used to backyard fights. Ruan Xiaoyue's unpresentable tactics were like shooting herself in the foot. The way they looked at her became more and more contemptuous.
Madam Ji continued, "Not to mention that this child was adopted by the Prime Minister's Mansion, even if he was adopted by Li'er, I, as his mother-in-law, will tolerate him having the last name Ji and calling me grandmother. I believe that Madam He and Master He should have the same idea as me on this point."
"Cough cough..." Chu Li couldn't help but cough twice after taking a sip of tea.
Everyone also heard that this was Mrs. Ji defending her daughter-in-law in public.
In the corner, Pei Wen, whose face turned pale with anger, put down her chopsticks. Is Ruan Xiaoyue a fool? Isn't she afraid of implicating the Pei family by causing trouble on an occasion like this?
Some of the noble ladies around laughed at her openly: "Ms. Pei, your sister-in-law is so jealous, your backyard must be in chaos."
"Maybe not. I heard that General Pei's concubine is about to give birth, but she hasn't caused any big trouble."
"How can it be the same? The concubine is pregnant, so she is favored by General Pei. And looking at her behavior as a resentful woman, I'm afraid she is not living as well as the concubine. Otherwise, why would she be so resentful?"
"Pei Wen, both are daughters of merchants, why are your sister-in-law and the prime minister's wife so different?"
“…”
Pei Wen was so angry that she gritted her teeth and her face turned red. Because of Ruan Xiaoyue, she had lost all her face. But the atmosphere was so awkward that she couldn't just walk away. She could only sulk in her heart.
Ruan Xiaoyue originally wanted to use He Zimo's matter to insinuate that Ruan Qinghuan was pregnant. Even the dumbest person could see that. If she wasn't in a hurry, how could she suddenly adopt a son?
As a result, Chu Li showed up halfway. Ruan Xiaoyue couldn't afford to offend the daughter of the Duke, so she could only grit her teeth and swallow it.