Chapter 183: Li Dai Tao Jiang
"Madam, regardless of whether it is a rumor or not, we should not get involved in this mess anymore. Otherwise, we will end up getting into trouble instead of getting into trouble. The Marquis of Jinyuan was at fault in this matter. Madam, even if you don't care about it anymore, the Marquis of Jinyuan's wife will not blame you."
Madam Wang thought for a moment and said, "That's right, then let's go to the Lu family and explain it to Madam Lu."
She was really wronged.
Compared with the last time she came to the Lu Mansion, this time Mrs. Wang clearly felt that Madam Lu's attitude had become colder. If it weren't for her husband being the Minister of the Dali Temple, Madam Lu probably wouldn't even let her in.
Mrs. Wang smiled and apologized so much that she felt her lips were worn out. She tried to force the old lady to believe that she really didn't know about the matter at first.
It was thought that the Marquis of Jinyuan's Mansion gave up on this marriage because they felt guilty about this matter. Fortunately, only Mrs. Wang came to propose it once, and the two families had never compared their horoscopes, so there was no impact at all.
Unexpectedly, a few days later, General Shen's wife sent an invitation to the old lady, inviting her to bring Lu Xiang and Lu Qiao to the Shen Mansion for fun.
The old lady looked at the post in her hand, the wrinkles on her face almost twisted into pimples, and she kept calculating the intention of Madam Shen’s move in her heart.
Mrs. Shen’s husband was General Weiyuan. It was her son, Shen Chi, also known as General Little Shen, who escorted Concubine Zhen back to Yangning City.
"Mother Wen, why am I feeling a little panicked?"
If it were any other time, Mrs. Shen's invitation would be a good thing, but the Zhang family's affairs are making a lot of noise, and the old lady is now a little nervous.
Mother Wen: "Why not refuse it?"
The old lady shook her head: "It's not good either. The Shen family is a prominent family in Beijing. If I don't go, it will be a slap in Mr. Shen's face. It doesn't matter to me as an old woman. I can avoid trouble by staying in the backyard without leaving the house. But Xiangxiang and Qiao'er will find it difficult to gain a foothold among the noble ladies in Beijing in the future."
Although there is a difference between legitimate and illegitimate daughters, illegitimate daughters also have their own social circles.
I can't let my granddaughter be ostracized by others.
"Send the invitation to Miss Three and Miss Six. We can't reject Madam Shen's invitation."
"Yes." Mother Wen replied and sent the invitations to Qixia Courtyard and Haitang Courtyard respectively.
The next day, the old lady took Lu Xiang and Lu Qiao to the Shen family.
The large mansion is clearly divided into black and white, with blue panels, vermilion pillars, and carved railings with intricate crabapple flower patterns.
Madam Shen met the old lady and the other two in the main hall.
The purple gold incense burner on the table is made into the shape of an exquisite little beast, and the incense it exhales is water wood fragrance, which smells particularly refreshing.
"I hope Madam Lu is well." Madam Shen greeted her with a smile, bowed to the old lady, and said.
"Mrs. Shen is well."
Lu Xiang and Lu Qiao greeted Madam Shen: "Madam Shen, good luck."
"Okay, okay, please take a seat." Madam Shen nodded with a smile, and then said to Shen Pin beside her: "Pin'er, come and meet Madam Lu."
Chen Pin wore a light red cross-collared skirt embroidered with jasmine, and a set of tortoise-shell headgear on her head. Her eyebrows were flying and her eyes were looking around.
"Meet Madam Lu."
Then he sat down next to Madam Shen.
Lu Qiao sat down nervously, lowering her head slightly and not daring to look around casually, for fear that she might not do well enough and be looked down upon by Madam Shen.
Lu Xiang had never figured out the purpose of Madam Shen's sudden invitation to them, but her expression was calm. She held the teacup and sipped it, waiting for Madam Shen to speak.
Madam Shen exchanged a few pleasantries with the old lady before getting to the point.
"Madam Lu, to be honest, I invited you here today because I was asked by the wife of Marquis Jinyuan to explain to you the rumors that have been circulating in the capital recently. She is my sister in the boudoir. Although we are not blood relatives, we are better than sisters. I have always treated her children as my own. Miss Lu San is gentle and virtuous. It is really a blessing for Xiaowen to marry you to the Zhang family."
The old lady was suddenly startled and looked at Madam Shen in a daze: "Madam Shen, this... Xiangxiang is young and not calm enough. I'm afraid it's difficult for her to be the daughter-in-law of the Zhang family."
Even Lu Xiang was a little surprised.
Madam Shen asked them to come because of Zhang's marriage?
The relationship between the officials' families in the capital is really hard to guard against.
Shen Pin was good friends with Song Zhenzhen, and the Jinyuan Marquis's Mansion attached itself to Concubine Shu and stood behind the Second Prince. It just so happened that Madam Shen and Madam Jinyuan Marquis were very good friends.
This is indeed the Zhang family's style. They can always keep secret what they don't want others to know.
Lu Qiao glanced at Lu Xiang quickly, then lowered her head quietly.
The news about Zhang Xiaowen spread all over the capital, so she naturally heard about it in the mansion. From what Madam Shen said, how come the Zhang family came to propose marriage to the third sister?
My grandmother and father never told me about it.
A marriage to the Earl's Mansion is the best possible thing, but everyone says that Zhang Xiaowen is a fool. Who would want to marry him?
My grandmother has always loved my third sister, so how could she agree?
"I understand your concerns. Recently, rumors have been spreading outside, which are extremely unfavorable to the Jinyuan Marquis's Mansion. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell that they are malicious rumors spread by political enemies. You don't have to pay attention to them, old lady."
“This…” The old lady frowned, thinking about how to refuse without offending Mr. Shen.
According to Madam Shen, the Zhang family must marry Lu Xiang?
Even if it was deliberately slandered by political opponents, the old lady did not want to climb this high branch.
Who knows what other messy problems will arise after entering the Zhang family in the future.
Lu Xiang was furious, biting his lips with his white teeth, his eyes filled with dark anger.
At this moment, Madam Shen suddenly said, “Xiao Wen, come and see Madam Lu and Miss Lu.”
Lu Xiang was stunned. Zhang Xiaowen is here?
As soon as Mrs. Shen finished speaking, a handsome young man walked out of the inner room. He was wearing a blue brocade robe, with a jade ring hanging around his waist. He was tall and slender, handsome, with a faint smile in his eyes. His every move was calm and elegant, and his eyes were full of spirit.
He smiled at everyone, and paused for a moment when he looked at Lu Xiang. His smile became even stronger, and he bowed to Madam Shen and said, "My nephew greets my aunt."
The old lady looked at the young man in front of her with surprise in her eyes. Is this Zhang Xiaowen?
This means that the rumors outside are not true.
"Junior has met Madam Lu."
He smiled and nodded to Lu Xiang and Lu Qiao.
Lu Qiao looked at the young man in a daze. Is this the fool of the Zhang family?
You must be kidding. He is obviously a gentle and elegant gentleman.
Lu Xiang lowered his eyes, but there was a deep chill in his eyes.
Oh--
What a good substitute.
The Zhang family had a good idea. They found someone else to replace their son and asked Mrs. Shen to bring him out for her and her grandmother to meet, in order to dispel the rumor that Zhang Xiaowen was a fool.
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