Xie Yushu herself was impatient with these social interactions, but since she planned to open a shop in the capital, she would inevitably have to deal with these officials' wives. She couldn't afford to offend them all, so she had the manager register the gifts and put them into the warehouse.
As for Han Zhongyu's family, it was Han Zhongyu's sister-in-law who brought Niu Niu directly to their door to offer congratulations. Xie Yushu personally entertained them and gave Niu Niu a string of red coral beads as a gift.
While the story of Xie Yushu rising from a humble peasant girl to a first-rank princess in just half a year was spreading like wildfire, a piece of good news sent back from the Northwest by express courier ignited the gossip in the capital!
The messenger shouted loudly as he entered the city.
"A great victory in the Northwest! General Xiao decisively defeated the Tatars, beheading their general amidst a vast army. The Tatars surrendered, retreating thirty li on their own, and promised to send a Tatar princess for a marriage alliance!"
Upon hearing the news of the victory, everyone was extremely excited. Although the border was far from the capital, the people all had a patriotic heart and believed that not an inch of land should be given away to others. Hearing that the enemy who would cause trouble on their own land had been driven away was still very gratifying!
Of course, the Emperor was also overjoyed and immediately issued an edict ordering Xiao Yi to return to the capital to report on his duties, along with escorting the princess to the capital for the marriage alliance!
General Xiao Yi, who had just won a battle, suddenly became the hottest topic in the capital.
As a result, some observant people discovered that Xie Yushu, the legendary woman who had been the talk of the town these past two days, was actually from the same hometown as General Xiao Yi!
A new round of gossip has begun. Some speculate whether Xie Yushu and Xiao Yi know each other, while others simply say that a princess and a general are a match made in heaven!
As the story spread, it reached the ears of Chu Mingzhu and her mother, Old Mrs. Xiao. Chu Mingzhu was so angry that she smashed two cups, while Old Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Yan were extremely distressed!
For no other reason than that they had heard that Xie Yushu's rank was higher than Chu Mingzhu's! Even if Chu Mingzhu met Xie Yushu, she would still have to pay her respects!
The mother and daughter were so nauseous they almost vomited blood! They nearly got into a fight with someone!
This all started with Xiao Yan's marriage.
Xiao Yan came to rely on Chu Mingzhu with great confidence, hoping to find a son of an official to marry through Chu Mingzhu's connections!
As a result, Chu Mingzhu never took her anywhere. Not only did she not take her to the palace, but she also never took her to occasional tea parties, poetry gatherings, temple fairs, or similar events, saying that it was inappropriate for a married woman to attend gatherings of young girls.
Grandma Xiao was anxious and urged Chu Mingzhu twice, but Chu Mingzhu used the excuse that "she has already asked a lady to keep an eye out for suitable candidates and will tell Xiao Yan if there are any" to brush her off.
Almost a month has passed, and there's still no sign of Xiao Yan's marriage!
Grandma Xiao and Xiao Yan understood that Chu Mingzhu disliked Xiao Yan for being divorced and was unwilling to take care of her!
So the mother and daughter decided to take matters into their own hands and no longer bother with Chu Mingzhu!
So, after the Lantern Festival, Old Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Yan started dressing up in fancy clothes and going out to find a partner themselves.
However, the two of them were unfamiliar with the capital city. Ordinary people were unwilling to marry outsiders, let alone wealthy young men. Moreover, Xiao Yan was a divorced woman who had been sent back to her hometown. Which family would want to talk to them?
The mother and daughter then took a different approach, going to the theater to select people and directly using their beauty to seduce them!
The mother and daughter had a simple idea: those who went to see the opera must be rich and noble, and most of them must be young gentlemen. She would take Xiao Yan to see the opera, and if she took a fancy to a particular one, she would let Xiao Yan get to know him. Once she was captivated by him, she wouldn't have to worry about not being able to get married.
These young noblemen are all the darlings of their families. If they want to marry, their families have no choice but to allow it!
As a result, the mother and daughter went for several days and did find a few good-looking girls from good families. However, these young men were all frequent visitors to the flower garden. They had seen all kinds of beauties, from plump to slender and talented. How could they possibly be interested in Xiao Yan? The first time Xiao Yan tried to chat them up, she was treated like a little actress. They teased her for being neither sophisticated nor rustic, which made Xiao Yan furious!
The second time, the mother and daughter learned their lesson better. They told Xiao Yan to be more reserved, and the old lady Xiao went to introduce her to the other party, saying that her son was a general, her daughter-in-law was Princess Rong'an, and her daughter was the general's sister. She was beautiful and unmarried. She asked the other party how old they were and whether they were interested in marrying her.
When the young master saw her, this old hag, dressed like a brothel madam, and yet claimed to be the general's mother, he almost burst out laughing!
He bluntly stated that the mother and daughter were much more interesting than the play on stage!
Grandma Xiao and Xiao Yan were so embarrassed by the laughter that they slunk back home. After waiting a few days, they realized that the people watching the play were all good people, just spendthrift sons of their families. Of course, they wouldn't speak properly. If they wanted to find husbands, they would have to go to poetry gatherings. Only those who could read would be groomed by their families to become officials.
So the mother and daughter went to great lengths to find out about a poetry gathering of literary figures!
As soon as I entered, I heard people talking about Xie Yushu, a first-rank princess and such!
Occasionally, there would be a line or two about Xiao Yi escorting the princess back for a political marriage!
Grandma Xiao and Xiao Yan thought they had misheard and asked incredulously.
"Who do you think is the First-Rank Princess?"
"Princess Jingde! So you are Lady Jingde. A few days ago, you presented the Emperor with a method for making glass and a diagram that you said was for weapons, but we don't know what kind of weapons they are!"
But a weapon that could so delight the Emperor, earning him both rewards and a residence, must surely be no ordinary weapon!
Although they didn't know the old lady and her daughter, scholars are known for their politeness, so someone still answered them.
Xiao Yan screamed immediately upon hearing this.
"Impossible! Xie Yushu is just a discarded woman, what does she know about weapons, especially glass!"
Xiao Yan's shout, though many were curious whether what she said was true, still remembered that Xie Yushu was now a first-rank princess, and speaking ill of her was a grave offense. Therefore, they spoke up in displeasure.
"Young lady, don't talk nonsense. To speak ill of a first-rank princess is extremely disrespectful. If you want to be punished, don't drag us into it!"
Xiao Yan and Old Madam Xiao simply couldn't accept that their divorced wife had become a first-rank princess. Xiao Yan confidently declared...
"Xie Yushu is a discarded wife. She married my second brother, but less than half a year later, my mother divorced her and kicked her out of the house!"
These words were hard for everyone to accept. A first-rank princess had actually been married and divorced. They asked in disbelief...
"Are you all crazy? Who is your second brother? He is a first-rank princess, and you guys divorced him!"
If you keep spouting nonsense, don't blame us for kicking you out!
Seeing that the mother and daughter were talking more and more unreliable, the group of scholars told them to leave.
Xiao Yan shouted, her face flushed red.
"My second brother is Xiao Yi, a great general, who is going to marry Princess Rong'an. Xie Yushu is someone our family doesn't want. Why should she be a princess? You've all been deceived!"
"Shut up! Stop talking nonsense! The Emperor's decree has been issued. If you don't believe me, go and find out for yourself. This place is not suitable for you. Guards, take these two out!"
At the poetry gathering, an older man finally couldn't stand it anymore and ordered his men to drag the mother and daughter out.
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