The ladies from various families all expressed that there were many matters at the Dingguo Gongfu today, and since they had already offered their birthday wishes to the old madam, it would be inappropriate for them to linger and disturb further.
Thus, with Madam Shangguan’s apologies, the ladies from each family, supported by their maids, quickly departed.
As for the people from Wudinghoufu, they were also pushed and shoved by Dongmai and the many matrons, leaving the Dingguo Gongfu.
However, upon leaving, their hair buns were disheveled, and their faces had been scratched by Dongmai.
Even the ruby hair ornaments were scattered and in disarray.
Madam Shangguan watched with satisfaction as the Marchioness of Wuding departed.
Originally intending to visit Old Madam Shen in the rear courtyard, she couldn’t help but nod after Dongmai whispered something in her ear.
“With all of you here, I am very much at ease.
Take good care of your young lady; I shall return first.”
Madam Shangguan was also anxious—she was eager to share all the information she had gathered with her husband and the old master!
After bidding farewell to Madam Shangguan, Dongmai looked at the suddenly empty courtyard, pondering what to do next but unsure.
She had no choice but to go to the rear courtyard to find Shangguan Jin.
Meanwhile, Shangguan Jin was holding Old Madam Shen’s hand, her face filled with remorse.
“Mother, I’ve caused you to suffer.”
“What suffering is there for an old woman like me?
Causing a scene like this is actually good—it prevents others from treating our Guogongfu as if it were some minor household.
Our ancestors may have been commoners, but this Guogongfu was earned by Huaichen on horseback.
Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Old Madam Shen said with a smile.
It turned out that when Chuntao came earlier to fetch the old madam, Dongmai had whispered in her ear to make a big scene.
Chuntao, being clever, had already figured out how to stir up trouble during the short walk from the guest banquet area in the front courtyard to the rear courtyard.
While supporting the old madam, she simply whispered, “Old Madam, could you pretend to faint?”
Old Madam Shen was very receptive to advice, especially since Chuntao was Shangguan Jin’s personal maid.
This might very well be her daughter-in-law’s intention!
Thus, Old Madam Shen immediately rolled her eyes back and made sure to collapse onto Mama Qiu behind her…
And then…
Shangguan Jin sighed and was about to comfort Old Madam Shen further when the old madam grasped her hand.
“Jin’er, you did the right thing. This year, we shouldn’t go looking for Huaichen.”
Shangguan Jin was taken aback, about to say that she intended to avoid making a grand spectacle of the search.
Even if they were to search, it would certainly be done discreetly.
“You’re right—if it were time for him to return, he would have come back long ago.
Three years have passed without his return; something must be holding him back.
His mother, wife, and children are here—there’s no reason for him not to return.
So, we just need to wait patiently,” Old Madam Shen said softly.
This left Shangguan Jin unsure how to respond.
After chatting a bit more with Old Madam Shen and watching her drink a bowl of porridge and eat two pieces of pastry, Shangguan Jin finally returned to the front courtyard with Dongmai and the others.
Seeing the chaotic state of the front courtyard, Shangguan Jin merely frowned slightly.
“Steward, set up two large long tables at the entrance of the Guogongfu. Distribute all the food prepared for the midday banquet to the public, except for what is normally eaten by the household.
Additionally, display all the congratulatory gifts sent by Wudinghoufu.
As for the coarse cloth, if any beggars come to watch the commotion, give them a few feet of it.”
“Remember, pick a few eloquent young servants to hand them out,” Shangguan Jin said.
“Madam, are we to set out all the dishes?
Because of Old Madam’s birthday banquet, the mansion has already prepared some steamed buns and was planning to distribute them outside!” Steward Shen replied.
“Send out the steamed buns as usual, and do the same with those dishes.
The key is the cloth—it must be given to those who are good with words, understand?” Shangguan Jin said with a smile.
Steward Shen immediately grasped what Shangguan Jin meant.
Soon, two long tables were set up beside the main gate of Dingguo Gongfu.
There were quite a few beggars in Jingcheng. Whenever any household held an event, whether a funeral or a celebration, many beggars would gather outside, hoping to receive some food.
Today was Old Madam of Dingguo Gongfu’s birthday banquet, so many beggars had been waiting there since early morning.
Watching the loads of congratulatory gifts being carried into Dingguo Gongfu, they wondered how many steamed buns the mansion would give out today and whether there would be enough for each of them to grab two.
However, before the steamed buns were distributed at mealtime, they saw the ladies from various mansions hurriedly returning home in their sedan chairs.
Everyone began to wonder if something had happened at Dingguo Gongfu.
Could it be that today’s steamed buns were off the table?
Before they could figure it out, Dingguo Gongfu’s steward led a group of young servants to set up outside the gate.
Two long tables were laid out, not only with steaming hot steamed buns but also with various dishes.
Not just pickled radish or salted vegetables, but proper banquet fare:
Cold dishes, hot dishes, peanuts, pig ears, whole roasted chickens and ducks, and glossy, red-braised pork knuckles…
The crowd waiting for steamed buns couldn’t help but swallow their saliva.
“Sir, are all these for us to eat?” a bold beggar asked, pointing at the dishes on the tables while swallowing hard.
“Yes, they’re for everyone. No pushing—line up, and everyone will get their share. No line, no food!” Steward Shen shouted at the crowd, who were about to rush forward.
For food they rarely got to eat all year, these people obediently and quickly formed an orderly line.
Each person received three large steamed buns and a big piece of meat—either chicken, duck, or pork from the knuckle…
Everyone ate until their mouths were shiny with grease.
Of course, after eating, the steward also gave each person several feet of coarse cloth.
“This cloth was sent by Wudinghoufu as a congratulatory gift for our Old Madam’s birthday.
Our Old Madam doesn’t wear such fabric, so she said it would be a pity to leave it in the storeroom. Might as well share it with everyone.”
Seeing that Steward Shen didn’t look down on them like stewards from other households, the beggar leader understood the situation.
Moreover, the young servants distributing the food were quick-witted, explaining in just a few words what had just happened at Dingguo Gongfu.
The crowd, who loved to join in on the excitement, immediately understood.
Oh, so that’s what happened!
It seemed Wudinghoufu and Dingguo Gongfu were about to fall out.
Looking at the steamed buns and meat in his hand, the beggar leader felt a surge of righteous indignation.
Dingguogong was a man of integrity, having pacified the border and rendered great service to Dayu.
Wudinghoufu, on the other hand, had bullied Dingguogong’s family after his disappearance.
This was truly infuriating.
The beggar leader insisted that he wasn’t siding with Dingguo Gongfu just for the steamed buns and meat.
Thus, with bellies full and each carrying a piece of cloth, everyone scattered throughout Jingcheng.
As for whether Wudinghoufu had already fallen into such poverty that they couldn’t even lift the pot lid, or if they had deliberately gone to humiliate Dingguo Gongfu, the lower-class people of Jingcheng launched a heated debate.
And there was a tendency for the discussion to spread even further.
The already not-so-high reputation of Wudinghoufu suffered another heavy blow.
While every corner of Jingcheng buzzed with fervent discussions, the ladies from various households who had suddenly returned from Dingguo Gongfu also immediately sought out the masters of their homes upon their return.
Whether it was those cuddling with concubines while listening to tunes, or those holding the hands of their secondary wives while teaching them to write—no matter who it was, they were all startled upon hearing that their wives had summoned them.
“So soon? Did Dingguo Gongfu serve an early banquet?”
“Master, please hurry. The mistress is in a great rush. From the look of it, the matter is extremely urgent.”
Thus, the masters of each household had no choice but to leave behind their resentful-looking secondary wives and concubines, rushing swiftly to their wives’ chambers.