As soon as Su Li left the main courtyard, Yinzhu, the maidservant of the old lady, walked in.
"Madam, just now Nanny Guixiang from the courtyard told me that she happened to see the young mistress and the lady from Furong Courtyard talking in the garden."
Nanny Guixiang is the maid in the old lady's courtyard. She has a good relationship with Jinzhu and Yinzhu and will tell them anything she hears.
Since this matter concerns the future Crown Prince's wife, Yinzhu must talk to the old lady about it, no matter whether it is good or bad.
"Hmm?" The old lady frowned, her face full of displeasure. "What is that woman up to again?"
Wouldn't she want to bully her granddaughter-in-law again?
"Madame Guixiang said..."
Yinzhu told Nanny Guixiang everything she heard in the garden.
The old lady nodded repeatedly in satisfaction after hearing this, especially when she heard Su Li, when being humiliated about her background, didn't give in to Liu Furong at all and directly pointed out her status as a co-wife. She praised her highly, "Excellent, excellent! This is the courage that the future mistress of our mansion should have! Hahaha, excellent!"
Originally, she was worried that Ali was born into a commoner family and had not received careful training from an aristocratic family since childhood. She would not be able to deal with a woman like Liu Furong who was vicious and good at using tricks in the inner chamber, let alone take on the responsibility of being the future wife of a duke. However, she did not expect that at such a young age, she already had such means and courage.
Yinzhu also laughed: "Young Madam was able to raise such a smart and well-behaved child like Little Gongsun, so she can't be bad!"
The old lady laughed: "You are right. I was overthinking it before."
Now she felt relieved. Her grandson and granddaughter-in-law were both capable. In the future, the Duke's Mansion would be handed over to them, and she and the Duke could enjoy their old age in peace.
She smiled and said, "By the way, where is the hairpin that A Li gave me?"
"Here it is, old lady." Yinzhu brought forward the birthday gift she had just received from Su Li.
"Put it on my hair quickly..."
Men and women attending the birthday banquet sat separately, with male guests sitting in the outer courtyard and female guests sitting in the inner courtyard.
Su Li brought Nanny Jin to receive guests in front of the mansion, and Ji Jingxu was responsible for receiving male guests in front of the mansion.
The two simply exchanged greetings and didn't communicate further.
Nanny Jin, who came out with Su She, was very dedicated. Every time she received a female guest, she would inform the visitor of her identity in advance and introduce Su Li's identity to the visitor.
The female members of the family had naturally heard about the Duke's eldest son and grandson coming back to recognize his relatives. Seeing that Nanny Jin, the Duke's wife's most trusted woman, was accompanying Su Li, and knowing that she was very fond of this prince's wife, they all treated her very friendly.
As for Su Li, she had at least studied the rules and etiquette of the aristocratic family. She did not make any mistakes in dealing with people throughout the whole morning. Even Nanny Jin could not help but secretly admire her.
Ji Jingxu, who was standing by, found what Nanny Jin said very irritating.
The attitude that Su Li was treated as the mistress of the Duke's Mansion also showed the attitude of his parents. They had begun to train this country woman as the future wife of the Duke. But it was obvious that the title of Duke was his, and his Rong'er was the future mistress of the Duke's Mansion!
Why, why did they take away what belonged to him without his consent!
Just wait, he will soon let them know that some things belong only to him and no one can take them away!
Su Li was chatting with Nanny Jin and naturally did not notice Ji Jingxu's sinister expression.
Two more carriages stopped in front of the mansion. A middle-aged man got out of the first carriage, and an elderly lady and Xu Rouning got out of the other carriage.
Nanny Jin said, "Young Madam, the one next to your cousin is from the Duke's Mansion. She is Old Madam Xu, the wife of the Minister of Rites. The man is her eldest son, Xu Chongning, and your cousin's eldest brother."
Su Li nodded to indicate that she knew. The cousin that Nanny Jin mentioned was Xu Rouning. Her mother was the younger sister of the Duke. Now that she had divorced Ji Jingxu, the people in the mansion naturally changed her name from Madam back to cousin.
Ji Jingxu was just about to bow and greet a few people, but unexpectedly, Madam Xu didn't even look at him and passed him by.
She had long hated this nephew who had bullied her daughter for many years. If it weren't for her eldest brother, the Duke, and his wife being so kind to Aning and Tingyou, she would probably have been so angry that she would have severed her ties with the Duke's Mansion.
She doesn't like such a person who favors his concubine but kills his wife and children.
Not to mention Xu Rouning, she didn't even bother to look at him.
Xu Chongning, who was behind them, greeted them. In fact, he didn't like him either, but he had to save face for his uncle after all.
Su Li quickly met Old Madam Xu and Xu Rouning as they walked towards her, and said with a smile, "Grandma, Cousin, you're here!"
Xu Rouning responded with a gentle nod and smile.
Madam Xu smiled kindly and said, "You are Ah Li, right?"
"Yes, great-aunt."
Madam Xu held her hand and patted it gently: "I heard from Aning that it was you who saved Tingyou last year. Good child, you are a good child..."
Ji Jingxu's expression froze. These people always deliberately mentioned Ji Tingyou in front of him, and always deliberately reminded him how he condoned his beloved woman and almost killed Ji Tingyou. It was really hateful!
He is just a minister of the Ministry of Rites. How can he compare with the Duke's Mansion?
When he takes the throne of the Duke in the future, no matter what position he holds, such as the Minister of Rites or the Lady of the Duke's Mansion, they will all cling to him, right?
Su Li smiled and said, "Grandaunt, Ji Tingyou is Pei Ji's younger brother, and also my younger brother. We are family and we should keep our distance. Please stop saying these polite words of thanks."
"Okay, okay, you're right, we are a family, a family..."
Old Madam Xu was the last person on the birthday party invitation list. After picking her up, several people entered the inner courtyard together.
When they arrived at the main courtyard, the old lady once again solemnly introduced Su Li to the ladies of each family. Everyone present was more certain that this grandson's wife who had just returned home was very much liked by the old lady.
Previously, many of them speculated that this young lady from a remote mountain village would not be worthy of Pei Ji, the future Duke, nor could she serve as the head of the Guofu family. They believed that the Duke's wife would definitely find another noble lady from an aristocratic family for Pei Ji to be the Crown Prince's wife. Now it seems that this is not the case.
I think this young lady has some extraordinary qualities.
Among the people present, the one with the highest status is the wife of the Duke. The person she values will also be the wife of the Duke in the future. Naturally, no one dares to offend her and they all show their goodwill to her in a friendly manner.
The birthday banquet was about to begin. Liu Furong, who had come in person to invite everyone to take their seats, was so jealous that her hands and feet were shaking when she saw Su Li being the center of attention.
In the past, it was that bitch Xu Rouning who enjoyed these treatments. After finally getting her kicked out of the Duke's Mansion, another bitch comes along! And she's a bitch who's hard to handle and too smart!
No! She's not angry!
This bitch will soon lose the capital to be arrogant, so let her be proud for a few days.
Thinking of this, Liu Furong finally felt much better. She put on a smile and stepped forward and said, "Old Madam, it's almost time. Shall we invite all the ladies to take their seats?"
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