Just as the two were deciding to choose a date for their marriage, the banquet at the Sochoro residence was fast approaching.
That day, the entire Sochoro was filled with joy. The second wife, Madam Tong, was very happy. Her mother-in-law was someone who didn't care about anything, and her husband was no match for the eldest brother-in-law of the first wife.
There were no separate households in this mansion, so the job of managing the household naturally fell to Li Jia. However, Li Jia was not a generous person. When she was in charge of the household, she was a little harsh on the second branch of the family, but she did not make any major mistakes.
This was a trivial matter for a man, but Madam Tong remembered it all! So she was overjoyed when Madam Li lost her power to manage the household.
Of course, the generous Lian Yu wanted him to be well, because as long as he was well, Li Jia would be in trouble, and the second branch of the family could also benefit from it.
Therefore, she naturally did her best in every aspect of the banquet.
The result was indeed good. Tong's background was much higher than Li's, and she was a very good housekeeper. She made very proper arrangements, and everyone in the mansion trusted her arrangements.
This made Li Jia extremely resentful.
"Sister-in-law, you've arrived! Please take a look and see if I've overlooked anything. Today is a joyous occasion for the eldest son's family, and I'm afraid there might be something I haven't done properly."
Li Jia's smile didn't reach her eyes: "Sister-in-law is usually very reliable, so there's nothing wrong with that. You're very thoughtful."
"I feel relieved to hear your words, sister-in-law."
The two interacted back and forth, but on the surface, they seemed to be in perfect harmony.
Looking at the people behind Li Jia, Tong couldn't help but say, "This must be your sister-in-law's niece. She looks like a lucky girl. Your sister-in-law is very devoted to her family."
Li Jia said, "We brought the child out to meet people. Hui'er is a timid child, so please forgive her for making us laugh."
"What are you saying, sister-in-law..."
After Li Jia left, Tong felt something was wrong.
"Granny, what is the origin of this niece of my sister-in-law and her daughter?"
"Replying to Madam, we have been here for about a month now."
"It's been a month or so? I think that girl is already past the age of marriage. Why isn't she staying at home waiting to be married? What is she doing in our mansion?"
Upon hearing this, the old nanny suddenly said, "The First Madam wouldn't be thinking of finding a husband for her cousin in our household, would she?"
Tong was taken aback upon hearing this, and said uncertainly, "Really?!"
Li Jia was able to enter the Suochuoluo Mansion because of their relationship and because she was a second wife. However, the Li family was not of high social standing, and it was said that Li Jia's brothers were all good-for-nothings. Was Li Jia crazy?
If that's the case, Li Jia would certainly not betroth her niece from a humble family to her son. The children of her second wife are not yet of marriageable age, so there is only one candidate left.
"Is my sister-in-law planning to make a move on Lian Yu?!"
Tong's tone was filled with disbelief; how could Li Jia dare to do that?
The scholar who was personally selected by His Majesty has recently been promoted and has a bright future. Lian Yu is promising, which is good for the entire Suochuoluo clan. How could Li Jia be so clueless?
"The First Madam has always been short-sighted. She didn't treat the Eldest Young Master very well in the early years. If it weren't for the kindness of the First Madam's family, who took the Eldest Young Master to study in Jiangnan, he might not have such great success now. Now that the Eldest Young Master is successful, the Eldest Madam's own son is becoming more and more useless. The First Madam is probably afraid that the Eldest Young Master will be too successful and make it difficult for her to have a good life in the mansion."
Tong thought about it and agreed. Li Jia was not a proper wife from a respectable family. She came from a humble background and did things that were not respectable.
Thinking of this, Madam Tong could no longer sit still.
She couldn't let Li Jia succeed. If she generously married Li Jia's niece, especially on such an auspicious day when she was forced to do so in a dishonorable way, who would dare to marry into the Suochuoluo family in the future?
Even for the sake of her own children, the reputation of the Suochuoluo family cannot be ruined.
Furthermore, she also wanted to curry favor with Lian Yu, since she didn't want to lose control of the household management.
Thinking this, Madam Tong said, "Granny, go and tell the eldest young master to be careful."
Many schemes succeed because they are planned with intention but not with intention. If Lian Yu had been more attentive, Li Jia's plans would have been in vain.
"Yes, madam."
At this moment, Li Jia was unaware that her little scheme had been seen through. She was still waiting for today's big show! It's just a pity that it's highly unlikely that things will go as she wishes.
Lian Yu was busy when a servant said, "Young Master, the Second Madam's maidservant has come over and says she has something to say."
Lian Yu didn't know much about the second wife's family, but he still had to give them face.
"Let her in!"
"yes"
The old nanny came in, greeted Lian Yu, and then explained her purpose: "Young Master, just now Madam noticed that the young lady's niece has been in the manor for some time now. The girl has already passed the age of coming of age. Madam is afraid that the young lady is thinking of keeping her niece in the manor for a long time, so she specially asked me to come and tell you that although it is a joyous occasion, you should not drink too much."
Lian Yu was taken aback when he heard this. He hadn't really noticed that the First Madam was her niece.
However, since they had given him a reminder, Lian Yu wasn't one to be ungrateful.
"Thank you for making this trip, Granny. Please tell Auntie when you get back that I appreciate your reminder."
The old woman smiled upon hearing this: "As long as the young master doesn't think I'm being paranoid, I won't disturb your business any longer." With that, she left.
Lian Yu specially asked a servant to escort her.
Then Lian Yu ordered someone to listen to Li Jia's niece. If Li Jia really dared to do such a disgusting thing, he would make sure she could never return to the manor.
This person really gave her too much credit.
"Young master, things are indeed a bit off with Madam."
"knew."
Lian Yu is not exactly an easy person to get along with.
The banquet began, and as the main character of the banquet, Lian Yu was naturally busy.
Even though Lian Yu drank wine that had been diluted with a lot of water, he still felt unwell.
Just then, the servant beside him disappeared and was replaced by another person. Lian Yu paused in his hand holding the wine cup, pretended to drink the wine, but actually poured the wine into the handkerchief in his sleeve.
He then casually put down his wine glass.
"Who are you? I've never seen you before."
"This servant is new and we are short-handed, so the steward specially sent this servant to pour the wine."
Where is Wang De?
Wang De was Lian Yu's servant, someone he was used to.
"The maid slipped while serving the dishes, and Brother Wang got splashed with soup. He's gone to change his clothes now."
Upon hearing this, Lian Yu thought to himself, "That's really Li Jia's style."
"I have a bit of a headache, I'm going out for some fresh air, I don't need any more pampering."
The banquet was already halfway through, and Lian Yu had already offered his toast. Now it was perfectly acceptable for them to leave.
The servant boy had seen him drink wine, so he left without worry.
After leaving the front yard, the servant went to Li Jia's place.
"Madam, I saw the eldest son drink that wine with my own eyes."
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