The old lady had long stopped caring about the affairs of the mansion. Glancing at the ladies inside, she furrowed her brows and said, "Where is Lady Meng? Why isn't she here?"
Just as she opened her mouth to ask, Lady Meng came hurriedly to the Rongxī Hall.
Before she even entered the house, her voice already carried into the room.
"Mother, is there something you're looking for me about, daughter-in-law?"
The voice was filled with joy and pleasure, with no trace of the recent melancholy.
Seeing Lady Meng's joyful expression, the ladies in Rongxī Hall were puzzled. What could the mother and daughter be chatting about inside the house, making them so happy?
The old lady saw Lady Meng entering the room, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Take a look at how we should arrange the dinner banquet this noon?"
Lady Meng smiled and said, "Let's just have it in the Tīngyǔ Pavilion. The Tīngyǔ Pavilion is spacious and we're all family, so there's no need for men and women to sit separately."
Although the old lady felt that it was not good for men and women to sit together, she thought about being a family and didn't say anything.
"Qiushuang, go and see if Marquis Hou is ready."
Lady Meng instructed her maid standing by her side.
The maid quickly left.
Lady Meng shifted her gaze to the ladies inside the room, "It will take some time to set up the banquet. You can all go back and freshen up. It's not too late to come over in fifteen minutes."
Her gaze swept over Yúyáo, thinking of her daughter's words, a glint of sympathy flashed in her eyes.
This concubine daughter is destined to spend her life as a widow, so there's no need to waste much thought on her in the future.
Yúyáo did not miss the fleeting sympathy in Lady Meng's eyes, and instantly froze.
Sympathy?
Is she okay? What is there to sympathize with?
She guessed that it must be Yu Wan who told Meng something.
She muttered to herself and didn't put much thought into it.
After the crowd dispersed, Yúyáo also returned to Táoyí Jū to take a look.
This was the courtyard where the original owner had lived. Now it was just an empty courtyard, occasionally attended by old women to clean up, and there wasn't much to look at.
But she did not leave immediately either; she was preparing to go over later when the time came.
She walked to the magnolia tree under which the courtyard and sat down.
Just then, Ms. Si Qin entered hurriedly, stopping in front of her. Seeing no one else inside the Taoyiju, she hesitated for a moment and couldn't help but say, "Madam Shirei, just now Miss Ju secretly found me."
Due to the reason of the heart talisman, even though Miss Ju had been her former master, Ms. Si Qin did not want to hide anything from Yúyáo.
Yúyáo's eyelids fluttered, she gently brushed off the fallen magnolia petals on her clothes, and whispered, "What did she want to find you for?"
Ms. Si Qin looked at her and said, "Miss Ju asked me if you and the Marquis have had sex, I thought there was nothing to hide, so I said yes."
She furrowed her brows, it was normal for Ms. Si Qin to answer like that, so she asked again, "And how did she react?"
"Miss Ju was very angry, like she had been shocked, and kept shaking her head saying it was impossible."
After saying that, Ms. Si Qin also looked puzzled, "Miss Ju is really strange. She is the one who arranged the marriage, but she is unhappy too. She keeps asking if you and the Marquis have had sex. It's really confusing."
Yúyáo's eyes flickered with sarcasm, Yu Wan must be feeling very uncomfortable right now.
Think about it, she spent her whole life as a widow in the Prince's Mansion. She originally thought that when she got married, she would be like herself, living a life of widowhood.
But things suddenly changed, and it's imaginable how much pain is in her heart.
"What did she ask you to do?"
Yúyáo asked Ms. Si Qin.
She didn't think that Yu Wan would do nothing upon hearing about her and Nan Gong Yan's intimate union.
That woman has a small heart, she can't bear to see others doing better than her.
Ms. Si Qin shook her head slightly, "Miss Ju was in a very bad mood at that time, and her whole being was in a state of collapse. I dare not stay there either, so I left quickly."
Yúyáo nodded slightly, then said nothing more.
Just let Ms. Si Qin pay attention to the situation there, and report any news as soon as possible.
She estimated the time for the banquet to start, and left Taoyiju, taking Ms. Si Qin and Ms. Sihua to Tīngyǔ Pavilion.
When they arrived, the banquet was already set up, with Marquis Yongling and his two sons-in-law, Nan Gong Yan and Li Luoshu, already seated.
Yú Xiao, Yú Xuan, Yú Hui and other princely brothers from the Prince's Mansion were there to accompany them.
The table was laden with fine wines, delicious dishes, and fresh fruits of the season.
"Hehe, Yú Yǎojiě, if you come to sit here, will you sit next to your father?"
Marquis Yongling saw Yúyáo appear, very happy and cheerfully greeted her.
Yúyáo smiled gracefully, "Since you men are going to drink, I don't want to sit with you. I'll go over to the ladies' side."
She said that, and walked over to the table next door.
By the time the old lady and Meng arrived, everyone started to sit down for the formal meal.
Yu Wan kept looking at her with a resentful and envious gaze.
Yúyáo just pretended not to see it and continued eating and drinking as usual.
Yu Wan was so angry that she couldn't control her temper. She kept stabbing the fish in her bowl with her chopsticks, trying to relieve her frustration.
It was as if the fish in her bowl were Yúyáo herself.
Yúyáo naturally saw it, her eyes flashed with sarcasm, but pretended not to see it.
Although they were sitting together, there was still a curtain with tassel beads separating the two tables. Besides obscuring the view, it did not interfere with their conversation.
"Yan'er, I heard you're quite close to the Third Prince?"
Marquis Yongling drank his wine and ate his food, asking casually, "Yan'er, I heard you're quite close to the Third Prince?"
"Yes, my son-in-law has grown up with the Third Prince since they were young, so their relationship is naturally closer."
Nan Gong Yan did not hide it; because they were the same age and got along well, their relationship was naturally better.
Marquis Yongling furrowed his brows and couldn't help but remind, "Although the emperor has already established the crown prince, the other princes have also grown up. Born into royalty, how many of them will not have ambitions? If you get involved, the consequences are unpredictable."
This was a reminder to Nan Gong Yan not to get too close to those princes, unless he has really chosen to support one.
Nan Gong Yan was stunned, and his gaze turned to Marquis Yongling, also realizing this.
Whether he will have a team in the future or not, others will automatically associate him with the Third Prince.
Who else would he be close to if not the Third Prince, having grown up with him?
"Thank you, my father-in-law, I understand now."
Nan Gong Yan stood up, seriously toasting Marquis Yongling a cup, sincerely saying.
Upon finishing his words, he drained the cup of wine in one go.
He father knows nothing but to coo with his mother every day, paying no attention to anything else. It's a wonder no one has ever told him these things before.
"Hehe, we are a family, Yan'er doesn't need to be so formal."
Marquis Yongling saw that he had taken it to heart and felt much more at ease.
He was afraid that his son-in-law might unintentionally get involved in the struggle for the throne and get caught up in it.
The Jin Mansion has already reached the level of Prince. As long as there are no mistakes in the future, glory and wealth will always be there, and there is no need to get involved in those things.
Li Luoshu saw it in his eyes, the dark light in his eyes flashed, and he stood up, smiling and generously toasting Marquis Yongling a cup.
"My son-in-law has just entered the court and many things are still unclear to me. I hope my father-in-law can point me in the right direction."
He spoke sincerely, and he was the first to finish his drink.
Marquis Yongling smiled and watched him, naturally understanding his meaning but not pointing it out.
"Hehe, your wisdom and talent are very good. Serve the emperor diligently, and the emperor will see it for himself."
Upon finishing his words, he also smiled and drank the cup of wine.
Some things don't need to be explained, as long as he drank this cup of wine, it means that he has agreed.
Li Luoshu naturally understood it too, feeling relieved in his heart, he smiled and sat back down.
But to Yu Wan, who overheard it, it seemed as if her father was unwilling to help. Unhappy, she stood up and looked over towards this side through the curtain.
"Father, my husband is very talented and has ambitions. If he has to climb slowly on his own, how long will it take? As long as you say a word, his position will be promoted."
Marquis Yongling's face instantly turned grave, and his gaze turned towards this side. "What nonsense are you talking about? If Luoshu has the ability, the emperor will see it sooner or later. How can a father interfere?"
This fool, does she even know what she's saying?
If the people of the Yizhi Bureau heard it, the petition to accuse him might arrive in the palace tomorrow.
Li Luoshu was also startled; he had never expected his wife to say such daring words.
Even though they were all family, this kind of thing cannot be casually said out.
"Father-in-law, please don't be angry. Wan'er, being a woman, knows nothing. Don't pay her any mind."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly smiled to Marquis Yongling in apology.
