0p0 Chapter 340 Flower Appreciation Banquet
Chapter 340 Flower Appreciation Banquet
It rained for several days in a row.
It's finally sunny today.
The sun was shining and the breeze was warm.
The courtyard was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.
The chrysanthemums, in particular, are blooming exceptionally well, with a wide variety of types and colors.
After coaxing the two old ladies, Jiang Miaomiao strolled around the garden.
Xiuxiu was worried, so she followed them out.
The main reason was that Old Madam Lu had invited many distinguished guests, including the Duchess of the State, the Lady of a Marquis, and the Lady of a Grand Tutor...
All sorts of celebrities and socialites came.
This little guy needs to be kept in eye on; you can't leave him alone.
I'm not afraid she'll get lost, I'm afraid she'll cause trouble.
If they offend those women, causing more trouble for the Lu family, the Lu family might not be able to withstand any more storms.
Jiang Miaomiao always felt like there was a pair of burning eyes staring at her from behind.
I guess it's because I usually let myself go too much, which is why my mother and aunt are so worried about me.
She simply turned back, took her aunt's hand, and giggled.
Xiuxiu looked down and asked, "Why did Miaomiao come back?"
"Auntie, I feel uncomfortable if you keep an eye on me from behind. Let's walk together."
Xiuxiu: ...
That kid is incredibly clever.
I was hoping to sneak a peek at what she was up to, but I got caught.
If someone really wanted to follow her, her whereabouts wouldn't be so easily detected.
This little guy probably has a dog's nose.
The two walked together on the lakeside path.
The pebbles crunched underfoot.
Then, I took a small path and went around to the flower path. From a distance, I could see a group of ladies chatting.
They were vying for attention and beauty.
The maids who were supposed to serve them were all sent away.
Wow! Coming all this way to chat about everyday things, whose gossip are you talking about?
Jiang Miaomiao peeked around cautiously. Since no one knew her, she thought she might as well go and join in the fun.
Xiuxiu couldn't hold on to him, and the little guy ran away again.
She was unsure whether to stay or leave, so she wandered around the courtyard, watching from a distance.
Xi'er instinctively followed quickly.
The girl was like a rabbit released into the wild; she hopped away and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
We need to keep up.
Jiang Miaomiao swaggered up to the pavilion, found an empty seat, swung her legs, and leisurely ate the fruit and sunflower seeds on the table.
Definitely just bystanders.
She gave people a sweet smile while eating.
The ladies were engrossed in their conversation when they suddenly noticed a little baby sitting next to them.
She was a very pretty young girl.
That dress looked incredibly expensive.
The little guy was smiling at the ladies; without a doubt, he was one of their children.
So without thinking much about it or being on guard, they continued their chattering.
Xi'er was dumbfounded.
The girl sat there brazenly, eavesdropping.
Those people didn't even chase her away.
She couldn't go over there, so she stood at a distance, just like the other maids.
Jiang Miaomiao's eyes were fixed on the fruits on the table, but her ears were perked up.
I'm curious about what these women are talking about in private.
Then she discovered that these women were actually talking about the Lu family and about her cousin Yun.
She seems no different from the gossipy women of Taoxi Village.
"Madam Du, your son just happened to be looking for a wife, why don't you bring her over to meet him? I've heard that Miss Lu is well-educated and very beautiful, though she is a bit older. But as the saying goes, 'A woman three years older is a lucky charm.'"
"Isn't Madam Shen's third son also preparing to remarry? How come he hasn't found a suitable family yet?" Madam Du said bluntly.
Everyone knows that Shen Jia Sanlang is searching everywhere for someone to marry.
However, families with better social standing were unwilling to let their daughters marry into the Shen family.
Not to mention the Lu family, even if she were to marry down, they probably wouldn't be willing to become Shen Sanlang's second wife.
This person is being sarcastic and unsettling; he's just trying to test me.
Her father-in-law was Grand Tutor Du, and her visit was at the behest of her parents-in-law.
The old man greatly admired General Lu's character and had high hopes for the Lu family.
He said that if it were any other family holding military power, and they had suffered such a great injustice, they probably would have rebelled long ago.
And his daughter was able to donate food to the front lines at a critical moment.
This is a righteous act, showing that the family has a very upright character and is a family of loyalty and integrity.
Girls raised in families like that are bound to be good.
So they let her bring her son to their home for a consultation.
If the girl from the Lu family is a good one, and the son takes a liking to her, then he should marry her.
She didn't have any objections at first.
The youngest son was spoiled and spent his days either chasing dogs and fighting cocks or frequenting brothels.
We've hit him and scolded him, but he just won't learn his lesson.
It would be good to find a daughter of a military family to keep things in check.
Just as he was about to leave, he overheard some unpleasant rumors, which quickly spread among the ladies.
Everyone knew it, but no one said it aloud.
After all, saying such things would be tantamount to telling a girl to die.
They had no grudge against each other, so they wouldn't be so vicious.
Although rumors may not be true, public opinion can be a powerful force, and it can damage a young woman's reputation to some extent.
There was no point in listening any further, so Madam Du got up to leave.
"Madam Du, are you leaving without even taking another look?" Madam Shen looked at her coldly, her smile insincere.
It's obvious that the Du family wants to find a wife for their纨绔子弟 (a spoiled brat) and wants to marry Lu Zhiyun. It just depends on whether they can swallow this half-cooked rice.
Her daughter is now a Consort Shu, and although her grandson is still young, he has a chance to compete for that position.
She was determined to win this match, but she never expected to hear such rumors.
In that case, we can only wait and see.
"I think that Miss Lu is quite nice, dignified and generous, it's a pity my son is already married." The speaker was Madam Fang, the sister-in-law of Consort Chen.
The crowd agreed with a half-smile, "What a pity."
Everyone knows that Madam Fang came to find a husband for her brother-in-law.
Despite their humble origins, the Fang family produced a noblewoman named Chen, who also gave birth to a prince named Chen.
The one with the highest prestige now is Prince Chen.
After all, a prince like him doesn't seem destined for a long life.
Can't say...
In short, no one dared to offend her, but no one wanted to have any interaction with her either; they just kept a distance from her.
While everyone remained silent.
A lady chimed in, "What do you mean, 'not bad'? The Lu family has been exiled for so many years. Miss Lu went with them to that desolate place. I heard the climate was hot and humid. I wonder what she went through along the way. Did she get sick? Did she…?"
The woman didn't continue, but everyone understood.
"What can they endure? The Lu family has so many men. If they can't even protect their own children, what are they supposed to do on the battlefield? Getting sick is nothing. People eat grains and vegetables; how can they not get sick?" Madam Du had returned sometime earlier.
Looking at the woman, he retorted directly.
An untimely round-faced woman chimed in, "I think Miss Lu is quite lovely, dignified and poised, like a figure straight out of a painting..."
Before she could finish speaking, everyone's gaze was fixed intently on her face.
She swallowed hard, shut her mouth, and stepped aside.
This was her first time attending such a banquet.
A few days ago, the Lu family sent an invitation to her home, saying they were thanking her nephew for protecting her all the way and inviting her to a banquet.
She also wanted to broaden her horizons.
Unexpectedly, everyone there was there to have their fortune told, and all of them were either rich or powerful.
She's just a country bumpkin; she doesn't even know what she's doing here.
She saw the Lu family girl; she was like a fairy, with red lips and white teeth, like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.
I had originally been thinking of finding a husband for my nephew, but now that I see him, I don't dare to even ask.
I was trying to go back, but I got lost.
She happened to run into this group of elegant ladies, who were being sarcastic and eccentric, and she couldn't help but chime in.
I almost got glared to death by those people's eyes.
When everyone realized that an outsider had intruded, they all dispersed.
……