Chapter 153: Wang Wang Ruofu: Aiyo

"Cough, cough!"

The watching Third Miss Hong covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed, then rolled her eyes to signal toward the doorway.

The Second Miss Qi understood the hint, turned around, and saw Sheng Hualan; yet her face showed no embarrassment at having been caught speaking ill of others. Instead, she looked Sheng Hualan up and down, rolled her eyes, and made an expression meaning "nothing special."

Sheng Hualan smiled at the room full of girls dressed in costly clothes and adorned with splendid jewelry, acting as if nothing had just happened.

Third Miss Hong stood up, beaming, and said, "Sister Sheng Hualan, you have arrived."

"What were you all chatting about just now?" Sheng Hualan asked with a smile.

"We were discussing that ancestor of the Gao Imperial Scholar's family who is worthy of enshrinement in the Imperial Ancestral Temple! Alas~~~ such a fine family status is not something a 'broomstar' could ever dare to dream of," Second Miss Qi interjected, finishing with a smile directed at Sheng Hualan.

Sheng Hualan stopped Hearing Rulan, who was about to speak, and said smilingly to Second Miss Qi:

"Indeed! Sister is right! Just like my own family: my maternal grandfather is worthy of enshrinement in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, yet he only ranks equal to their ancestor; my uncle is merely the Department Magistrate of Runzhou; my paternal grandfather was a Tanhua scholar, my grandmother was the daughter of Marquis Marquis Yongyi, and my father is but an Assistant Prefect about to be promoted to Bianjing; my elder female cousin married the legitimate eldest son of the Lady Ningyuan Hou Fu, and her brothers are merely legitimate sons of a marquisate."

As Sheng Hualan spoke, Hearing Rulan beside her looked at everyone with an air of great pride.

Speaking thus, Sheng Hualan glanced at Third Miss Hong, broke into a bright smile, and said, "For a family status as 'good' as the Gao family, it is understandable that some people who stick scallions in a pig's snout to pretend to be an elephant would entertain such thoughts; how can one call it delusion? After all, summer insects cannot speak of ice, and cicadas know nothing of spring and autumn. Am I not right, two sisters?"

Third Miss Hong forced out an awkward smile; her maternal family was merely a distant relative of the Fu'an Marquis.

Second Miss Qi's face fell; her family had never denied their connection to the Duke of Qi's household. Just as she was about to say something,

"If this household enters Bianjing, I wonder if that Ducal Mansion will even acknowledge her as a relative," Hearing Rulan said to Gu Gu Tingyi while standing beside Sheng Hualan.

Gu Gu Tingyi cooperated by frowning, his eyes full of question marks, signaling: "Which Ducal Mansion?"

Second Miss Qi's complexion turned extremely ugly; she tried several times to retort, but seeing Gu Gu Tingyi nearby, she did not open her mouth.

"Oh, right! Just now, passing by where the Da Da Niangzi were gathered, I heard the Da Da Niangzi of Imperial Scholar Gao say that the Young Master Gao from Laizhou has become engaged to Sister Qi! Truly a cause for celebration!" Having said this, Sheng Hualan smiled and performed a squatting bow to Second Miss Qi to offer congratulations.

Third Miss Hong's smile vanished; she nearly crushed the handkerchief in her hand as she looked at Second Miss Qi with utter disbelief.

Feeling the surprised gazes from all around, Second Miss Qi's expression improved somewhat.

Sheng Hualan's words also stirred up discussion among the girls attending the birthday celebration; the looks they cast upon Sheng Hualan now held something different from usual, for in the past Sheng Hualan had never before so openly displayed her family background.

At this moment, Sister Danju, who looked little older than Seeing Qingcao, arrived at the doorway and said, "Eldest Miss, the dishes are about to be served; please ask the honored guests to take their seats."

"Very well, sisters, be seated! Sister Danju, serve the dishes quickly."

"Yes, Miss."

Gu Gu Tingyi remained silent throughout, watching this elder sister Sheng Hualan simply state the facts while maneuvering skillfully within the room.

In the room where the Da Da Niangzi were located, the fire walls and floor heating burned hot, with the doors open facing the opera stage in the courtyard,

and since the path to the room where the official families' daughters were staying happened to pass right by this spot,

when the Da Da Niangzi of Imperial Scholar Gao saw Sheng Hualan leading Gu Gu Tingyi and the others passing by, she raised her voice and said to Wang Wang Ruofu, "Da Da Niangzi, the good news regarding my relative from Laizhou is settled! It is with the family of Salt Controller Qi!"

Wang Wang Ruofu was currently forcing a smile; she was worrying about lacking a topic to start a conversation with the room full of Da Da Niangzi. Upon hearing the words of the Da Da Niangzi of Imperial Scholar Gao, her face froze for a moment, then filled with a genuinely heartfelt smile. Delighted, she stamped her foot and clapped her hands: "Aiyo! Heavens! This, this—"

The Da Da Niangzi of Imperial Scholar Gao was also stunned: 'Such a reaction; it clearly shows genuine happiness. Could it be that I judged a gentleman with the heart of a petty man????'

The nearly twenty Da Da Niangzi of the Yang Zhou officialdom in this room were all drawn by Wang Wang Ruofu's clap; they looked over with faces full of confusion. Feeling the gazes of the crowd, Wang Wang Ruofu asked in a tone even higher than that Da Da Niangzi Gao, "Your relative from Laizhou has become engaged to the daughter of Salt Controller Qi's family? Truly a 'joyous event'!"

Hearing these words, many Da Da Niangzi of secretariat officials and various bureau officials turned to look at the Da Da Niangzi of Salt Controller Qi's family; the official wives sitting beside the Eldest Lady Qi immediately crowded around her, asking this and that.

The Da Da Niangzi at other tables nearby in the room also cast looks of curiosity, gossip, envy, or disdain.

This Eldest Lady Qi smiled proudly and reservedly, constantly nodding and smiling at the official wives whose eyes met hers; maintaining her demeanor, she occasionally smiled and spoke to the inquiring Da Da Niangzi:

"It was just settled a moment ago."

"Perhaps it is because my daughter is gentle and virtuous."

"She never speaks ill of others behind their backs."

"No sooner had she entered the Sheng family gate than this happened."

"You flatter me; it is the girl herself who has earned this."

"Indeed, the Sheng family is truly a land of fortune!"

Saying this, she smiled at Wang Wang Ruofu, while Wang Wang Ruofu, the Eldest Lady Wang, not only returned the smile but laughed so hard she forgot to keep her teeth hidden.

Eldest Lady Qi was stunned, thinking to herself, 'Could this Wang Wang Ruofu have been angered into stupidity?' Not seeing Wang Wang Ruofu lose her composure made her somewhat displeased.

Meanwhile, the Da Da Niangzi of the Judicial Intendant, the Ever-Normal Intendant, the Tea and Salt Intendant, and other surveillance commissioners sitting beside Da Da Niangzi Peng looked at her with complete surprise; Da Da Niangzi Peng herself was also surprised and caught off guard, for just moments ago she had mentioned the possibility of marrying into the Gao family of Laizhou, and now...

This slap in the face came rather quickly.

The gazes from the many Da Da Niangzi at the banquet made her feel extremely uncomfortable, so Da Da Niangzi Peng took her handkerchief, wiped her mouth, and said, "I heard that the first to visit the Gao family was our own Eldest Lady Wang of the Sheng family. I don't know what she has to be so happy about."

"Indeed, her daughter is rumored to be a 'broomstar,' yet she is still sitting there giggling foolishly," said this Da Da Niangzi, whose husband was a subordinate of the Department Magistrate and also held a grudge against Wang Wang Ruofu.

Just as the two were speaking, Eldest Lady Qi suddenly stood up; this sudden rise from the focal point of everyone's attention caused the room to fall silent for a moment.

"Eldest Lady Wang, this sister knows that you visited the Gao family first; alas, your sister has snatched the prize ahead of you. Do not be unhappy, Eldest Lady!"

Wang Wang Ruofu smiled and said, "No, no, I am only too delighted!"

Eldest Lady Qi said, "This sister has heard that Da Da Niangzi Peng has a younger male cousin in Bianjing seeking to take a second wife; as for your eldest daughter..."

The moment these words were spoken, the air in the room instantly froze.

The Da Da Niangzi of the Gao family also frowned.

Wang Wang Ruofu had been showing great magnanimity today, but Eldest Lady Qi's words were going too far.

Wang Wang Ruofu's smile stiffened on her face, her eyes narrowed, and she was nearly about to tear off all pretense and scold loudly when Sheng Hualan's voice from the girls' side drifted over from afar:

"My maternal grandfather is worthy of enshrinement in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, yet... equal rank; my uncle... Department Magistrate; my grandfather was a Tanhua scholar, my grandmother a marquis's daughter. My father... is an... promoted to Bianjing... married... legitimate eldest son of a marquisate, and the cousins are merely legitimate sons of a marquisate."

Because Hearing Rulan was closer to the doorway, her transmitted words were even clearer.

"... will they even acknowledge this relative..."

These few sentences had an even greater effect than if Wang Wang Ruofu had said them herself, after all, children speak without taboo.

Among the banquet tables, female relatives who were on bad terms with this Eldest Lady Qi began to laugh into their handkerchiefs; discussing the long and short of others' affairs, which woman among them had not spoken of another family's messy business?

Eldest Lady Qi's complexion was far worse than her daughter's.

Da Da Niangzi Peng even let out a scoffing laugh, drawing an angry glare from Eldest Lady Qi.

In the room, the wives of the secretarial officials, the heads of various bureaus, the inspectors, and the supervisors—these great ladies—secretly rejoiced in their hearts, whispering to one another with bowed heads!

Listening to her daughter's words, Wang Wang Ruofu proudly lifted her chin, just about to say something.

At this moment, Nurse Liu approached Wang Wang Ruofu and said, "Da Da Niangzi, it is time to serve the dishes."

Wang Wang Ruofu was still somewhat angry; she opened her mouth to speak, but Nurse Liu tugged at her, whispered something in her ear.

A smile appeared on Wang Wang Ruofu's face once again as she said:

"Good, good, good! Quick, all you sisters, please be seated; let us serve the dishes."

Watching Wang Wang Ruofu's triumphant appearance, Qi Da Da Niangzi felt so stifled she suffered internal injury, for usually it was Wang Wang Ruofu who was the one furious beyond measure.

Thus, borrowing this remark, the great ladies one after another began discussing other topics.

Dishes began to be brought to the tables in a steady stream like flowing water,

The Sheng household set off firecrackers once again,

The longevity banquet commenced!

Two quarters of an hour later, whether in the Misses' room or the great ladies' room, the atmosphere gradually grew lively; everyone unanimously avoided topics related to marriage.

Accompanied by Old Lady Wang, Old Lady Sheng, who was seated with the highest-generation guests come to offer birthday wishes, also carried her cup of drink and came to the north hall where the great ladies were gathered.

Seeing Old Lady Sheng, everyone rose from their seats one after another.

"May the Old Ancestress enjoy good fortune and health!"

"Old Lady!"

Smiling, Old Lady Sheng waved her hand downward and said, "Be seated, all of you be seated! Why has everyone stood up!"

Although she had previously fainted due to Wang Wang Ruofu's accidental provocation, the Old Lady had now recovered considerably, and her voice remained loud and clear.

"I thank everyone for attending this old woman's birthday banquet; let me offer this tea in place of wine and drink a cup with you all."

Regardless of how sword-drawing and bow-bending the situation had been just before, now seeing the star of the longevity celebration, everyone raised the wine cups in their hands.

Wang Wang Ruofu looked at Old Lady Sheng.

Old Lady Sheng also looked at the guests in the spacious Dadezhengtang, nodded slightly, then glanced at Wang Wang Ruofu.

Receiving the cue, Wang Wang Ruofu loudly announced, "Mother, just now I heard the wife of High Scholar Gao say that her relative from Laizhou has settled a marriage match; it is with the second Miss of the Qi Salt Commissioner's family!"

"Oh! Good, a good thing indeed!"

Saying this, the Old Lady turned around, filled a cup of drink, and toasted the two from afar.

"Distinguished guests, our Sheng family also has a joyful event; my niece-by-marriage from my maiden family at Hou Fu of Marquis Marquis Yongyi has sent a letter saying she wishes to seek my Sheng Hualan in marriage for Xu Zaizhang, the legitimate second son of the Xu family."

Old Lady Sheng's loud voice echoed throughout this north hall used for receiving guests.

The expressions of the great ladies present were even more remarkable than before.

Just at this moment, several people suddenly rushed into the area outside the main hall with a whoosh.

Leading them was a man dressed in informal attire who, guided by the steward, arrived at the spot between the entrance to the north guest hall and the opera stage.

"Xu Zaiduan, the legitimate eldest son of the Xu family of Hou Fu of Marquis Marquis Yongyi, offers birthday wishes to the Old Ancestress!"

As the steward spoke, Xu Zaiduan knelt down.

"Cao Zhao, the legitimate fourth son of the Cao family of Hou Fu of Marquis Marquis Tuoxi, offers birthday wishes to the Old Ancestress!"

This Cao family was, of course, the Cao family of the Empress's maiden house.

This young master of the Cao family bowed deeply in salute.

Behind them stood a handsome, bearded middle-aged man of about thirty, his face showing some fatigue; upon hearing the steward announce, "The Qi family of the Duke's Manor offers birthday wishes to the Old Ancestress," he too bowed deeply in salute.

"Aiyo! This..." Such a spectacle left Wang Shi somewhat overwhelmed.

Tomorrow's update may be slightly late.

If there are any typos or awkward passages, respected readers are kindly requested to point them out without hesitation.

(⁎˃ᴗ˂⁎) Sending love.

If I don't freeze like a dog tomorrow, it will be the second failed attempt to hit 10,000 characters daily! Tomorrow marks the third attempt!

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(End of Chapter)