Chapter 569: Tearing Face in Public (Two Chapters in One)
The day after attending the Guo family's banquet, Mrs. Li received an invitation from the Jiang family.
Daohua looked at the address on the invitation and her eyebrows jumped.
The Guo Mansion was located on the street in front of Xiao Yeyang's residence, while the Jiang Mansion was on the street behind it. The two families surrounded Xiao Yeyang from the front and the back.
Thinking of this, Daohua felt a little annoyed.
Anyone who knows that someone is thinking about their loved ones would probably feel uncomfortable.
When this thought came to her mind, Daohua's heart was shocked.
Your own people
It turns out that deep in her heart, Xiao Yeyang has already been one of her own.
In a daze, Daohua forgot that she was in Mrs. Li's room at the moment. She swung the invitation in her hand, but she lost control of the force and threw it directly to the ground.
When Mrs. Li saw this, she immediately frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"
Daohua came back to her senses and quickly stood up to pick up the invitation and put it next to Madam Li: "Mother, I just don't want to attend the Jiang family's banquet."
Mrs. Li didn't treat Daohua well this time. She said with a hint of blame, "Even if you don't want to do this, you shouldn't show it. If people know what you're thinking right away, won't they be able to control you?"
As he spoke, his face turned serious.
"Since we've come to this point today, mother has something to tell you."
"You didn't like attending parties before, and Mom often let you do as you pleased. But now you're grown up, and you can't just follow your temper anymore."
"Every family cannot avoid gatherings and banquets. When you get married and take charge of the household, you'll be exposed to even more. Don't underestimate gatherings between women. They are not only an important means of maintaining relationships with other families, but also a vital channel for gathering information from other families."
"We live in the inner house, so we don't have many channels to learn about the outside world. A lot of information is heard or learned at parties and banquets. Therefore, you must learn to navigate various banquets with ease."
Daohua was silent for a moment, stirring the handkerchief in her hand, and said in a muffled voice, "Mother, I know."
Madam Li patted her daughter's head and said, "The arrival of the Jiang and Guo families is actually quite good in my opinion. It's a good opportunity for you to see how the noble ladies of the capital interact and behave."
As he spoke, he picked up the invitation from the Jiang family.
"The Jiang family is holding a banquet on April 25th. This is quite tight. It seems that the relationship between the Guo and Jiang families is even more tense than we imagined."
Hearing this, Daohua looked surprised: "Mom, how did you know that?"
Madam Li smiled. "Madam Guo and her daughter just arrived, and Madam Jiang and her daughter moved in here. In this situation, either the two families have a good relationship, or they are competing with each other. Based on what happened at the banquet yesterday, which one do you think is the case?"
"Since they're competing, they definitely can't lose. If one party treats everyone to a banquet, the other party won't be left behind. The fact that the two families' banquets are so close together clearly suggests they're trying to compete. Look, the Jiang family's banquet will definitely be even grander than the Guo family's, so they can outdo the Guo family."
Daohua shook her head in disagreement: "Your life is your own, why live it for others to see?"
Madam Li chuckled and sighed, "You're still young. You don't know that many things are beyond your control. Some things you have to fight for."
"The Guo and Jiang families are both prominent families in the capital. The rivalry between Madam Guo and Madam Jiang is no longer just their own business; it also concerns the two families behind them."
Daohua fell silent, and finally uttered two words: "I'm so tired."
Madam Li laughed and said, "That's right. Being the daughter-in-law of a prominent family is not easy. Of course, not everyone can take on the role."
Upon hearing this, the silk handkerchief in Daohua's hand was stirred even more violently.
It was indeed as Mrs. Li said. The Jiang family's banquet on April 25 was exceptionally grand. Not only did they invite the most famous Shuangxi troupe in the provincial government to perform, but the dishes on the table were also top-notch. Everyone was amazed at the Jiang family's strong financial resources.
In addition to these, what surprised everyone the most was that Aunt Jia, who was sent by the Queen Mother to take care of Xiao Yeyang, appeared at the banquet.
As soon as this nanny arrived, she attracted everyone's attention.
Daohua also took a closer look. This Aunt Jia looked to be in her forties. Her hair was combed meticulously, her dress was neatly dressed without a wrinkle, and her behavior was neither humble nor arrogant. One couldn't help but secretly praise her for her good manners.
The ladies present did not dare to treat the old man around the empress dowager as an ordinary servant. Even Mrs. Guo, who came to the banquet reluctantly, had to give him some face.
"I heard that the maids in the palace are very strict. They teach the princesses and the princesses the rules and etiquette. If they don't follow the rules, they will beat them directly with a stick."
"So fierce?"
"Isn't it? The little prince is really miserable. Now he has two more disciplinary maids."
Nanny Jia didn't stay long. She chatted with Madam Jiang and Madam Guo for a few words before saying goodbye. "There are many things in the young prince's mansion that are not in accordance with the rules. Sister Zeng and I have been ordered by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to come here to take care of the young prince. These things must be corrected one by one."
Mrs. Jiang took over the conversation with a smile and sighed, "Who says it's not true? Yeyang lives alone outside, and no one takes care of his daily life. His life is indeed not very good. Fortunately, now that Nanny is here, we can rest assured."
Jia Ma Ma said modestly, "I will do my best to fulfill the Queen Mother's instructions."
Madam Jiang asked again, "By the way, Madam, is Yeyang not back yet?"
Aunt Jia shook her head and said, "We have been here for quite some time, but we haven't seen the young prince in this period."
Hearing this, Madam Jiang suddenly looked at Madam Li and said with a smile, "I heard that Madam's son and nephew have been following Ye Yang all the time. I wonder if they have been home recently?"
Seeing everyone's eyes turned to her, Madam Li glanced at Madam Jiang and said with a smile, "He hasn't been back for a few days. He said he went to the military camp with the young prince for training."
Jia Mama, who was about to leave, suddenly interrupted and said, "I heard that the young prince and Lady Yan have been very close in recent years?"
Hearing this inquiring question and Aunt Jia's scrutinizing gaze, Madam Li frowned slightly, but quickly smiled and said, "My children were classmates with the young prince at Wangyue Academy."
Seeing that Madam Li dismissed her with just one sentence, Aunt Jia felt a little unhappy. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I wonder if the daughter of the Yan family has arrived. Let me see her too."
These officials who come from the lower classes are the most studious and are capable of doing things like selling their daughters for fame and fortune.
As soon as these words were spoken, the smile on Mrs. Li's face almost couldn't be maintained. This Aunt Jia first said that the young prince was close to their family, and now she specifically asked to see the girl from their family. What does this mean?
Glancing at the subtle gazes of the ladies present, Mrs. Li suppressed her anger and was about to say something when she saw her daughter standing up beside her.
"The eldest daughter of the Ningmen Prefecture prefect greets Aunt Jia!"
Daohua took two steps forward, bowed gracefully, and then smiled: "I wonder why Aunt Jia wants to see my daughter?"
Seeing that Daohua was not at all shy and was not afraid to look her in the eye, with no trace of awe between her brows, Jia Mama, who always prided herself on her status as an elder in the Empress Dowager's palace, felt offended and suddenly felt unhappy. She looked at Daohua unscrupulously for a while and gave a light comment: "She is indeed a beautiful color."
In the palace, even the princes and princesses would affectionately call her "Madam Jia" when they saw her. But this girl from a fourth-rank official's family dared to ignore her. So, she had to teach her a lesson on how to behave.
As soon as Aunt Jia said this, Madam Li's face immediately darkened.
Who would say that an unmarried girl is "good-looking"? It's as if she is saying that her daughter will use her beauty to seduce men. This Aunt Jia is simply going too far.
Just as Madam Li was about to stand up and argue, Daohua spoke again, "I've heard that the maids in the palace are all well-mannered and polite. Madam Jia is indeed very well-mannered."
Seeing Daohua smiling lightly and responding to Aunt Jia neither lightly nor harshly, the ladies present couldn't help but open their eyes wide.
Guo Xueming and Jiang Wanying also looked at Daohua, with obvious surprise and astonishment in their eyes.
This eldest daughter of the Yan family actually openly confronted the maid in the Empress Dowager's palace. She is so brave!
Daohua ignored everyone's reactions, and didn't even look at the shocked Aunt Jia. Instead, she turned around and smiled at Madam Jiang and Madam Guo.
"I have never been to the capital, and I have a question that I would like to ask you two ladies to explain."
Mrs. Jiang frowned slightly and did not respond.
Mrs. Guo smiled and said, "What's your doubt? Tell me quickly. If I don't know, there is still Mrs. Jiang." The enemy of my enemy is my friend. What's more, the Yan family has helped the master, so she is happy to help the eldest daughter of the Yan family out of trouble.
Daohua smiled and said, "Are all people in the capital city complimenting others like this? I heard there are so many noble ladies in the capital, all of them are extraordinary in appearance. Compared to them, someone like me is simply far behind."
"Just now, Aunt Jia called my humble figure 'good-looking'. Then, are the noble ladies in the capital even more 'good-looking'?"
Looking at Daohua's eyes full of curiosity, Mrs. Guo was speechless for a moment. How should she answer?
Saying that a girl has good complexion in public is not a compliment, it even carries a certain amount of malice.
Mrs. Jiang and Aunt Jia, who were standing by, were surprised and angry when they heard Daohua say this.
Nanny Jia was stunned for a moment before she began to deny: "When did I ever say that the noble ladies in the capital were 'good-looking'?" She was not arrogant enough to openly make up stories about the noble ladies in the capital.
Daohua looked at Aunt Jia with a half-smile: "Why, did I misunderstand what you meant, Aunt? But you even praised me, so why would you be so stingy in praising the noble ladies in the capital? Others are fine, but those who can enter the palace to pay homage to the Queen Mother, you won't praise them a few words?"
Aunt Jia looked at Daohua in surprise and anger as she confronted her without fear. She was a member of the Empress Dowager's palace. Wasn't she afraid of offending her?
She was silent, but Daohua continued, "Madam Jia, you've lived in the palace for so long that you might not know who my father is. So listen carefully now."
"My father is the prefect of Ningmen Prefecture, appointed by the current emperor himself. You may not think he is as high-ranking as the high-ranking officials you see in the palace, but he has been diligent and dedicated to serving the emperor since he took office. Even though he is a fourth-rank official, he is still an imperial official appointed by the emperor."
As he said this, he patted his chest.
"I am the eldest daughter of the Ningmen Prefecture Governor. Today is my first time meeting Aunt Jia. I don't know how I have offended you to humiliate you like this."
Hearing Daohua's straightforward questioning, Aunt Jia was completely stunned.
In the capital, even if the ladies suffered injustice, they would endure it silently. Even if they couldn't swallow it, at most they would just retaliate with a few euphemistic and vague remarks. How could they be like the eldest lady of the Yan family in front of them, who would directly tear her face off in public?
Openly humiliating the daughter of an imperial official, who had not done anything wrong before, if this matter were to become public, she would be punished even if she was a member of the Empress Dowager's palace.
Nanny Jia suddenly felt that she was in a difficult situation and glanced at Madam Jiang.
Mrs. Jiang was also a little confused. After receiving Nanny Jia's call for help, she was thinking about how to smooth things over. At this time, a maid came over quickly.
When Mrs. Jiang saw this, she immediately asked, trying to change the subject: "But what's the matter?"
The maid who came was newly bought by Madam Jiang after she moved to Ningmen Mansion. This was her first time delivering a message. Seeing Madam Jiang asking, she didn't think much and immediately answered everything in detail:
"Madam, Magistrate Yan and two young masters of the Yan family have come to see Master. They heard the commotion over here when they were passing through the garden just now. Master has learned that someone has bumped into Miss Yan, and would like you to bring the person over so that he and Master Yan can inquire about what happened."
Hearing the answer, Mrs. Jiang was stunned. Why were the Master and Lord Yan here?
Also, where did this maid come from? She can't even answer a question. Do we want her to send Aunt Jia to the front yard for questioning?
It was only then that Mrs. Jiang noticed that the maid who answered her was unfamiliar, and she immediately felt extremely regretful.
We moved here in a hurry and didn't have enough staff, so we bought a new maid. Otherwise, such a mistake would never have happened.
Compared to Mrs. Jiang's anger, Mrs. Guo immediately grasped the key point: "Young Master Yan, but the Third Young Master Yan and the Fourth Young Master Yan?"
The maid nodded: "It is the two young masters."
Upon hearing this, Madam Li and Daohua's faces lit up with joy, while Madam Guo suddenly stood up and asked anxiously, "Young Master Yan is back, so is Yeyang back too?"
The maid looked confused and shook her head: "I don't know about this."
Mrs. Jiang had come back to her senses and waved to the maid who answered: "You can go down." Thinking of the good relationship between Ye Yang and the two brothers of the Yan family, she couldn't help but glance at Aunt Jia and gave her a conciliatory look.
As early as when Aunt Jia heard Madam Guo say that Xiao Yeyang might come back, she didn't want to stay here any longer. When she saw the look in Madam Jiang's eyes, although she was very reluctant, her years of life in the palace had made her flexible and adaptable, so she immediately walked up to Daohua and bowed.
"It was this old servant who said the wrong thing. Please don't blame me, Miss Yan."
Daohua looked at the squatting Jia Mama, stared at her for a while, and suddenly laughed, "Mama, do you know what the sharpest weapon in the world is?"
Aunt Jia looked up in surprise, with anger in her eyes. She had already apologized in public, but this eldest daughter of the Yan family still kept chasing her. She was too ungrateful.
Daohua ignored her and continued, "It's a human mouth. Every time you open and close your mouth, I've earned the reputation of being 'a bitch'. Now you're just casually saying you were wrong and trying to cover it up. I can forgive you, but can you guarantee that others won't spread rumors?"
(End of this chapter)
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