Сhарtеr 17: Тhe Bаnquеt
Тhе рerson most disрlеased аbout Old Маdаm Wеi hоsting а banquеt wаs Zhао Wan.
A mоnth ago, she had brоught hеr cоusin Su Yingхuе оvеr, but who соuld hаve eхрeсted that this pаmpеred cousin оf hers wоuld be sо usеless—she сouldn’t even mаnаgе tо pleаsе а mаn. After sеnding Wei Хun a toniс soup оnce, shе was driven out аnd соuld nevеr еnter the outеr study аgаin.
“Cousin, if Оld Madаm is arrаnging а mаtch fоr the heir, whаt am I to dо?”
Su Yingхuе was frantic. Ever since she hаd sеen Wei Xun, her hеаrt had been соmpletely captivated by him.
Su Yingxue’s father was only a minor seventh-rank official. In the future, she could only marry the son of an official of similar rank—how could that compare to Wei Xun?
Moreover, what she didn’t say was that Zhao Wan’s family background and looks were inferior to hers, yet she had managed to marry into the Peaceful Marquis Estate as the legitimate wife. How could the haughty Su Yingxue bear this?
Zhao Wan lowered her head, flicked her meticulously maintained nails, and rolled her eyes. “I already gave you the opportunity, but you failed to seize it. Now you come asking me—what can I do?”
Wasn’t she anxious too?
If Wei Xun married, it would mean her authority being taken away!
But Su Yingxue was truly incompetent. Even if she did marry Wei Xun, she wouldn’t be able to hold his heart.
Hearing Zhao Wan’s implication of abandoning her, Su Yingxue panicked. “Cousin, I am your own cousin! If I marry the heir, it will benefit you too. You must help me!”
“Hah!” Zhao Wan pushed away the arm Su Yingxue was clutching and sneered. “If you weren’t my cousin, I wouldn’t have helped you this much.”
She understood Su Yingxue’s petty schemes better than anyone—always trying to outshine her, without even considering whether she was worthy!
“Cousin…”
“Enough. Leave this matter to me. The heir won’t marry you, but he certainly won’t marry anyone else either.”
Zhao Wan narrowed her eyes, already forming a plan in her mind.
After sending Su Yingxue away, she called for Matron Chen. “The banquet is a busy affair, and this is my first time hosting one. I’m afraid there might be oversights. The one in Jade Clarity Courtyard is also half a mistress. Matron, go and relay a message: on the day of the banquet, have her come and help me entertain the guests.”
The Wei family banquet was held to arrange a match for Wei Xun. Having A’Yuan appear would clearly signal to others that Wei Xun had a charming and alluring concubine. Which woman aspiring to be the legitimate wife would want to be overshadowed by a concubine?
In the end, either those of noble status would refuse to marry into the family, or those willing to marry would not tolerate A’Yuan. Either way, Zhao Wan stood to lose nothing.
When A’Yuan heard Matron Chen’s message, her lips lost their color. Her face, having just recovered from a serious illness, still looked somewhat haggard. She forced a faint smile, trying not to appear too disheartened. “I understand. That day… I will definitely go.”
Chun Tao felt sorry for her and didn’t want her to go to the front courtyard to suffer humiliation. A’Yuan patted her hand to comfort her. “Serving the mistress is what a concubine should do. How can that be considered humiliation?”
She was smiling, but her once bright and lively almond eyes now seemed clouded, having lost all their sparkle.
After falling ill, her dreams had completely shattered.
……
On the third day of the third lunar month, as all things revived, the capital, which had been quiet for a year, grew lively once more.
Especially at the Peaceful Marquis Estate, where carriages filled the entrance—all carrying noble young ladies attending the banquet.
Shen Qiuyu entered with Wei Jin. She had dressed meticulously today, wearing a ruqun skirt made of red gauze silk and adorned with a gold and ruby headpiece. Though her features were not particularly striking, she stood out prominently in the crowd.
“Mother, look who’s here?”Wei Jin brought Shen Qiuyu into the Ci’an Courtyard. Old Madam Wei had just finished her morning meal, and both Zhao Wan and A’Yuan were attending to her.
Today, A’Yuan was still dressed simply, without even a trace of makeup, yet her slightly pale face remained breathtakingly beautiful.
When Shen Qiuyu arrived, she had imagined A’Yuan’s appearance and had even inquired about it from Wei Jin, but seeing her in person still gave her a start.
Wei Xun’s bedchamber maid was simply too beautiful.
As a woman herself, she could naturally tell that A’Yuan was deliberately downplaying her looks. Yet, it was precisely this that made her own careful grooming seem like a joke.
Shen Qiuyu’s eyes turned cold, but since they were in front of Old Madam Wei, she quickly put on a gentle smile again.
“Old Madam, Ayu pays her respects to you.”
“Come, sit quickly. Second daughter-in-law, serve the tea!”
Old Madam Wei was in high spirits, pulling her to sit beside her.
The Shen family’s status was not low, and they could barely be considered a match for the Peaceful Marquis Estate. Moreover, Shen Qiuyu was renowned for her beauty and was known to be gentle and virtuous, so Old Madam Wei was naturally pleased with her.
“Ah, Miss Shen, you must try this. This is our Old Madam’s treasured tea. She wouldn’t even bring it out for others.”
Zhao Wan, shrewd as she was, might have been unhappy about Wei Xun taking a wife, but she made no mistakes on the surface.
The Old Madam was amused by her words and patted Shen Qiuyu’s hand, saying, “My second daughter-in-law here has always been sharp-tongued. It’s just that I’ve withheld a couple of cups of tea from her, and she’s already complaining in front of you all. Don’t let her scare you—drink up all this tea for her.”
Shen Qiuyu smiled gracefully, appearing poised and dignified. “Then Ayu will humbly accept your offer. Old Madam, please don’t regret it later.”
“No regrets, no regrets. If you can’t finish it, take it with you. I remember your mother also enjoys tea. Let her taste my pre-rain Longjing and see how it fares.”
“Yes.”
Shen Qiuyu picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and a smile already began to form in her eyes.
Old Madam Wei specifically mentioning her mother clearly indicated a desire to build closeness, which meant her marriage to Wei Xun was more than halfway settled.
The group sat and chatted for a long while about everyday matters until Wei Jin grew restless.
She glanced at A’Yuan, who was massaging Old Madam Wei’s back, and a look of disgust flashed across her face. “Mother, where is Third Brother?”
“Your Third Brother is usually so busy he barely touches the ground. He’s probably still at the government office and hasn’t returned yet. If you’re feeling bored, why not go to the front courtyard to listen to the opera?”
Old Madam Wei was getting on in years and lacked energy, so she had specially invited an opera troupe.
Wei Jin, of course, hadn’t come for the opera, but since Wei Xun wasn’t here, there was no point in them just sitting around.
“Alright, then I’ll take Ayu to the front courtyard.”
As she stood up, she paused when she saw A’Yuan. “You come along to attend to us.”
A’Yuan clenched her palms inside her sleeves and bowed her head meekly. “Yes.”
Wei Jin had a proud and willful temperament and despised seductive concubines the most. In the past, relying on her favored status, she had often bullied A’Yuan.
A’Yuan followed carefully behind them, afraid of doing anything wrong that might anger her.
But she didn’t know that when a master wants to trouble a servant, they never need a reason.
The front courtyard’s flower hall was already filled with many noble ladies. Wei Jin pulled Shen Qiuyu to sit in the main seat, and when the others saw A’Yuan behind them, their expressions varied.
Wei Xun having a beautiful bedchamber maid was not particularly unusual in the capital, but no one had expected her to be this stunning.Some of the more proud and haughty noble ladies had already lost interest—after all, he was just a man, and they were not so desperate as to compete with a mere concubine for favor. Others were unwilling to give up, but upon seeing how Wei Jin admired Shen Qiuyu, they realized that the position of the Wei family’s future mistress was practically settled.
They had come today merely as guests.