At this moment, the once bustling and noisy courtyard has fallen silent.
Everyone held their breath and looked towards the entrance, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the grandmaster.
As the most honored woman in the Southern Kingdom, her prominence far surpassed that of the current empress, so naturally no one wanted to offend her.
As a member of the General's family, Jiang Mingwei naturally knelt in the front row. When she heard footsteps, she couldn't help but look up.
The newcomer wore an elaborate and gorgeous palace dress, with a gold background embroidered with a large number of dazzling peonies and butterflies. From a distance, the dress looked like a cluster of flowers, as if they were leaping out of the eyes, both gorgeous and exquisite.
The woman, who is over forty, is well-maintained, and the years have not left many marks on her face.
The gold hairpin further accentuated her noble appearance, and every gesture she made exuded a captivating charm and awe.
Just one glance from her made her feel immense pressure.
Jiang Mingwei couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "This big lady really has an imposing presence!"
However, what creates a charming contrast is the little toddler nestled next to the big sister.
With her hair tied in a small bun, wearing a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and a peach blossom decoration on her forehead, she was already a stunning beauty even without makeup.
She must be the daughter of the Great ***, Princess Anning.
"Everyone is here. The General's Mansion is truly bustling today. My trip was worthwhile."
The woman smiled gently, her tone soft, and she seemed to be in a good mood.
Zhou smiled obsequiously and looked up: "It is truly an honor for the General's Mansion that Your Excellency has graced my humble abode with your presence. I am deeply grateful."
"Madam, there's no need for that."
The Empress smiled and nodded, “Your son has made great contributions to the country on the battlefield and deserves respect. I was born into a family of commoners and should admire heroes the most.”
These words were so comforting and made me feel very good.
Upon hearing this, Zhou was slightly taken aback. She forced a smile, though she had unspeakable bitterness in her heart.
If these words had been spoken to her eldest son, Wei Zhi, Zhou would probably have burst into tears.
But the person praising the eldest daughter was Wei Jing.
That lowly illegitimate son who had no blood relation to him!
Unfortunately, in front of all the guests, Madam Zhou couldn't speak her mind directly and could only swallow her anger...
"You must be Jiang Mingwei, the legitimate wife of General Wei Xiaolang and the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister?"
As her thoughts wandered, the big sister suddenly pointed at Jiang Mingwei. She looked up and met a pair of quiet eyes.
She quickly bowed her head and replied, "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's concern; I am humbled."
"General Wei also sacrificed his life for the country. It's hard on you, losing your husband at such a young age."
The older woman spoke with a regretful tone, looking Jiang Mingwei up and down as she dressed.
Her outfit was unique and appropriate for the occasion, yet simple and understated, showing that she was still remembering her husband.
She was elegant and beautiful, and the lady nodded in satisfaction.
"You chose a great outfit today. It suits both heavy and light makeup. Nobody says you have to dress up extravagantly to be beautiful at a banquet. You look great as you are."
After hearing these words, everyone's attention immediately turned to Jiang Mingwei.
Many young ladies had already noticed Jiang Mingwei's clothes, but out of politeness, they didn't dare to ask her where she bought them.
Now that even the top leader has praised it, many people are eager to try it out and are just waiting for a moment to ask Jiang Mingwei.
After all, the Grand Duchess was the fashion icon among the noblewomen of Bianjing.
She said it looks good, how could it be false?!
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I dressed simply today to remember my husband. I was worried that I might offend you, but I am comforted by Your Highness's compliment."
Jiang Mingwei lowered her head and spoke softly, explaining the reason for her attire and unintentionally elevating the image of the magistrate as kind and generous.
As expected, this made her beam with joy and she nodded repeatedly.
After all, she was the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister, and the Empress Dowager had heard some rumors about Jiang Mingwei before.
It is said that she has always been arrogant and domineering, disregarding others and ruining her brother's marriage several times. Now it seems that hearing is believing and seeing is believing.
Jiang Mingwei is a very good girl; she knows right from wrong and knows when to advance and when to retreat. She likes her very much.
"Your presence at the General's Mansion today is truly an honor to this humble abode. I thank Your Highness for your presence!"
Just as they were exchanging a few more pleasantries and preparing to leave, a discordant voice broke into their ears.
The woman frowned slightly. Who dared to speak before her?
Following the sound, they saw Lu Yun kneeling to Zhou's right, dressed in a completely different style from Jiang Mingwei.
When the princess visits, it is natural to extend greetings on behalf of the royal family.
Therefore, before coming, the Grand Master first inquired about the General's Mansion.
She knew that the Wei family was small, consisting of Wei Jing, who had made great contributions, his stepmother Zhou, and Jiang Mingwei, the widow of his deceased brother.
I've never heard of anyone else in this backyard!
Judging from her splendid attire and the fact that she was kneeling to Zhou's right, she must have held a high status in the household.
The sudden outburst was clearly an attempt to attract attention.
The woman's eyes showed displeasure, and she asked in a deep voice, "And who is this...?"
Zhou clenched her fists and glared fiercely at Lu Yun, wishing she could sew her mouth shut.
They're really something that can't be brought to the table, and they're not even as sensible as Jiang Mingwei!
She quickly smiled apologetically and explained to the princess, "Your Highness, she is a distant niece of mine. Since the general's mansion is short of people, we asked her to come and manage the affairs."
"I see. It seems the old lady dotes on this niece."
The woman smiled faintly, her tone calm and unreadable, but those who knew her well knew that she was somewhat unhappy at the moment.
"Alright, everyone, let's not gather here anymore. Go and have some fun! The Emperor put a lot of effort into building this General's Mansion. It would be a shame not to visit it."
After everyone answered yes, they dispersed.
The eldest sister turned her head to look at Princess Anning beside her, squatted down and gestured to her.
"Anning, shall I show you around, Mother?"
Anning pouted and looked around timidly, without responding.
Jiang Mingwei understood what was happening as she watched this scene.
She already knew from the original owner's memories that the eldest daughter-in-law had a deaf-mute daughter.
An Ningsheng was so beautiful, like a porcelain doll, it's unbelievable that she suffered such a misfortune, it's truly pitiful.
Fortunately, he was a scholar living in the royal family, enjoying a life of luxury, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune...
While everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts, no one noticed that Lu Yun was glaring at Jiang Mingwei with resentment.
Lu Yun felt really resentful that the big boss had only seen Jiang Mingwei and hadn't paid any attention to her!
She decided to speak up and wanted the big sister to get to know her.
Unexpectedly, he saw disdain and doubt in her eyes.
Lu Yun was already very unhappy, and since she had already decided to kill Jiang Mingwei, she certainly wouldn't change her mind!
When no one was watching, she subtly moved closer to Jiang Mingwei...
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