Chapter 138

Gu Jiu Ling brought Jiu Yue to rest in the warm pavilion on the east side of the flower hall, while the betrothal feast was mainly held in the flower hall.

Although the various clans sneered at the Gu Minister's Residence for holding such a large betrothal feast for a daughter taken as a concubine, they still sent people to attend, thereby saving face for the Gu family.

Thus, at this moment the flower hall was full of guests, waiting only for someone from the An Guo Gong's residence to come and take Gu Nanxiang away, after which they could begin the feast.

According to custom, before the banquet begins, they usually send some seasonal fruits, tea and snacks, since there is still a while to wait for the main feast to start.

Who would have thought that the attendees were all the disregarded scions of the various clans, and the servants of the Gu Minister's Residence who liked to step on others to rise also did not serve wholeheartedly, merely bringing tea.

These days the situation at the Gu Minister's Residence has been quite straitened; only after obtaining a sum of silver from Gu Kang from Tuoba Heng's side could they afford to hold a banquet of this scale.

Originally Lin Qingxue had hoped to use this banquet to win over the noble daughters of the clans, but instead the guests turned out to be nothing but misshapen melons and cracked dates.

Being stingy by nature, she ordered that the more expensive fruits and snacks not be served, saving every penny she could.

After all, they were nothing presentable; just going through the motions.

By rights, a concubine is taken in the daytime and a wife at dusk, but seeing that it is already past noon, the Duke's residence has sent only a set of clothes and no one else.

Seeing the guests in the flower hall down three pots of tea, hungry enough that their chests stuck to their backs, the An Guo Gong's residence still sent no one, and without them the Gu Minister's Residence banquet could not begin.

Gu Jiu Ling, citing her pregnancy, rested alone in the warm pavilion next to the flower hall, and the cook from the Rui Wangfu brought a food box to the pavilion.

Gu Jiu Ling looked at the large table piled high with dishes before her and couldn't help but wryly smile.

Actually she could have eaten at the Gu Minister's Residence, but Xiao Yin said her unborn child was important, fearing someone might poison them, so all the dishes, even the tea for rinsing her mouth, were sent from the Rui Wangfu.

Sending the food was fine enough, but Xiao Yin liked to make a show; dozens of people came, marching grandly past the flower hall, as if afraid no one would notice.

In the guests' eyes it seemed the Gu family constantly mistreated the eldest daughter, not even feeding her properly, requiring Prince Rui himself to inquire about these trifles.

Adding to their dissatisfaction with the Gu family's hospitality, seeing those delicious dishes sent to Gu Jiu Ling stirred the guests' emotions into a chaotic uproar.

If it weren't for saving face, these people would have already flicked their sleeves and left.

Since they're afraid people will eat, why prepare a banquet at all? It's not a free meal—everyone brought gifts and money when they came, so what is this supposed to be?

As the saying goes, when beating a dog you still look to its master.

You Gu family probably look down on these people, which is tantamount to looking down on the clans of Shang Jing; after all, Lin Shi is merely a concubine, not presentable, and she has messed up hosting the banquet like this.

Xiao Yin did not come to the Gu residence; as the esteemed Ninth Imperial Uncle, a betrothal banquet for a Gu family concubine-to-be could not move this great deity.

Gu Jiu Ling, however, came with the idea of watching a show.

Seeing the sun's shadow shift westward, another two hours passed, and finally the guests in the flower hall could no longer sit still; some bold ones, unafraid of losing face, rose and began to curse.

"Are you Gu family trying to starve us to death?"

"Will you marry off the daughter or not? If not, just say so—why torment us like this?"

"Yes! The invitation originally said the betrothal would be sent before noon and the feast would begin; now so much time has passed—are we supposed to keep wasting time with you Gu family?"

"Your Gu family's hospitality is truly… rather… disgraceful, isn't it?"

Gu Jiu Ling had eaten and drunk her fill, leaned sideways on the couch, and passed the time with the storybook Xiao Yin had sent someone to bring.

Beside her, Jiu Yue whispered, "Master, a commotion has broken out in the flower hall; Lady Lin has been severely scolded by the Shangshu."

"The Shangshu and the eldest son are discussing matters in the Qian Ting and haven't had time to come over to the flower hall; they didn't expect Lady Lin to cause such a huge disturbance."

Gu Jiu Ling gave a cold snort. What big matters are they discussing? It's simply because those seated in the flower hall are the junior sons and distant relatives of the various clans, of low status.

Her snobbish father looks down on these people and simply doesn't want to go over to greet them; now Lady Lin has overdone things, caused a big scene, and can't bear to look.

Jiu Yue laughed softly, "Lady Lin, after being scolded, panicked and ordered snacks to be sent first; she didn't expect them to be the cheapest kind, which is bad enough, and she even found that some snacks had already been bitten into but were served up without a careful check."

"The bastard son of the Dingnan Marquis's residence overturned the table and started arguing with the steward; this mess is simply unbearable to watch, and now half the guests have left."

"The other half probably stays out of concern for family face, too timid to leave, but they'll be gone soon too, and no one knows when the An Guo Gong Fu will come to fetch people."

"The Second Miss hasn't even gone over yet, and she's already been served a dish."

Gu Jiu Ling snorted coldly, "Gu Nanxiang has utterly ruined the poor Heir Apparent at the An Guo Gong Fu; Lin Heir Apparent is the old matriarch's beloved, and having been harmed like this, this anger must be vented."

"Never mind, I'll nap a bit; tell me if anything happens."

Gu Jiu Ling felt in high spirits, just put down the storybook and was about to rest when a matron's greeting came from outside; Zhang Mamam, the most capable aide beside Lady Lin, accompanied her with a smile and said, "Princess Consort? This old servant begs an audience with the Princess Consort!"

Since the last time Gu Jiu Ling was arrested and put in danger in the Imperial Clan Office, Xiao Yin has doubled the number of dark guards stationed beside her.

At this moment the dark guard stood stiffly at the pavilion's doorway, coldly staring at Zhang Mamam, whose heart gave a slight tremble, yet she still forced a smile and said, "Madam Lin has sent this old servant to invite the Princess Consort to the flower hall to catch up."

Gu Jiu Ling inside couldn't help but coldly snort; surely the guests in the flower hall are about to leave, and the Gu family's face is completely gone.

Now Lady Lin, unable to clean up this mess, thought of her status as Princess Consort of Rui.

After all, Prince Rui is currently in the limelight; if she, as his Princess Consort, steps forward, those guests in the flower hall will still give her some face.

Lady Lin is quite capable!

Usually they call her a servant when nothing is happening, but when they need something they call her the eldest daughter, the Princess Consort, treating her as if she had no temper.

Gu Jiu Ling turned over, slept a bit more comfortably, and gestured to Jiu Yue.

Jiu Yue pushed open the door and went out.

"\"Miss Jiu Yue, Madam Lin requests the Princess Consort come over, \" Zhang Mamam hastily put on a smile, though inside she felt ill at ease toward Jiu Yue."

Who would have thought that the former firewood girl of the Gu household has now become a prominent figure beside the Princess Consort of Rui, returning to the Gu household with the airs of half a master—this lowly person's fate is truly good.

Jiu Yue set her face and coldly laughed, "The Princess Consort has finished her meal and is resting; she's not going over."

Zhang Mamam's face instantly turned pale, her voice tinged with anger as she said, "This won't do; Madam Lin insists that the Princess Consort must be invited over."

Jiu Yue immediately raised her voice and shouted, "Pah! What is Lady Lin supposed to be, that the master must go just because she says so?"

"She doesn't even weigh her own worth—how could a mere concubine of the minister's residence overturn the heavens?"

"My master is the principal wife of the Rui Wangfu; does she even deserve to give orders?"

"What sort of thing is she! Does she not understand human speech or what?"

"The Princess Consort is resting—don't go! Get lost!"

Gu Jiu Ling burst out laughing with a "pfft," this girl's tongue has become ever more eloquent.