Chapter 245: Raising the price for Jing Ge'er. [Thank you all for your support! Again!]

Tingyi smiled slightly and whispered:

"Minglan, the two of us, don't hide your skills. Let them see what an expert is!"

Minglan looked to the side. The noblewomen watching them were either curious or smiling faintly, and there was one blinking her eyes as she looked at her.

Minglan nodded while weighing the arrow.

Immediately, Tingyi and Minglan threw their arrows one after another.

Fifth Da Niangzi was sitting beside Anmei. Anmei was holding Fifth Da Niangzi's left hand with both hands, stroking it carefully. If Minglan hadn't said it, Anmei really wouldn't have noticed that this Zhang family younger sister's hand was so beautiful and delicate.

And Fifth Da Niangzi's right hand was being held and observed by Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi on the other side.

Watching Chai Zhengzheng's gaze toward Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi, Hai Chaoyun whispered beside her: "Li family younger sister likes to read books, and her vision is a bit nearsighted. She can't see clearly from far away."

Hearing Hai Chaoyun's words, Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi smiled embarrassedly.

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi's attention, however, was not on the two young ladies looking at her hands,

but on the two "contestants" in the field who hit every shot and were terrifyingly steady.

"Tingyi sister! So you were practicing techniques when you played pitch-pot with me?"

Hearing Fifth Da Niangzi's words, Tingyi looked over and smiled, not denying it.

Chai Zhengzheng to the side looked at the "battle situation" in the field and said:

"Minglan younger sister, only with such strength can one see beautiful scenery and beauties that others cannot easily discover."

Minglan, who was throwing the arrow, pursed her lips embarrassedly.

Tingyi, who had just hit an arrow, looked over and said:

"Zhengzheng, this is even praising yourself."

Hearing this, the noblewomen in the pavilion chuckled one after another.

Chai Zhengzheng pretended to be angry and "scolded" Gu Tingyi.

Rong Feiyan to the side also smiled, then looked at Chai Zhengzheng with full appreciation and some inquiry, and then looked at her own waist and legs.

The arrows in the pot were all thrown.

There was no need for the official to announce it, because both of them hit all of them.

At the banquet table,

Kang Wangshi Wang Ruoyu looked at the four young ladies from the Kang family who looked like masters and servants under the corridor at the door,

and then looked at Minglan, who was playing with the noble daughters not far away,

then rolled her eyes with some disgust at her younger sister Wang Ruofu, who was giggling and listening to other officials' wives talking.

This eye-roll happened to be seen by Rulan. Rulan frowned and pursed her lips tightly.

Wang Ruoyu pulled Wang Ruofu's clothes forcefully and whispered:

"You still have the leisure to listen to other people's gossip! Don't you look at that concubine-born Sixth girl in your family!"

Wang Ruofu looked at Minglan not far away and said:

"Sister, what's wrong? Seeing that the young ladies are all laughing, the Sixth girl shouldn't have offended them."

Hearing this, Wang Ruoyu was even more disgusted:

"Pfft, you really have no schemes! This kind of concubine-born girl must have learned the fox-like skills of hooking men from that cheap concubine mother of theirs!"

"You don't even look at the status of that group of legitimate daughters. She can really have the nerve to play with them! Really."

Wang Ruofu said somewhat puzzled:

"This, they are all young girls, just at the age of being playful. And it was also the Gu family Eldest Da Niangzi who invited her..."

Wang Ruoyu frowned, took her handkerchief, and pointed at Wang Ruofu:

"Pfft, you! Think about it! This Sixth girl is so young and can win the favor of the Ningyuan Marquis Prefecture's Eldest Da Niangzi. Can her schemes be shallow?"

Looking at her younger sister who was speechless, Wang Ruoyu glanced sideways at Seeing Mo Lan, who was lowering her head, and continued:

"I think, she is just trying to get familiar in front of the Gu family Eldest Da Niangzi... Tsk tsk, maybe she is planning to be a concubine for the Marquis Prefecture's young master in the future!"

Kang family's legitimate daughter Kang Yuan'er heard this, exchanged glances with her sister, and looked at the two concubine-born younger sisters together.

Seeing Mo Lan to the side heard this, glanced at the pavilion not far away with disgust, and said nothing.

Rulan frowned and said:

"Wei Wei Yima! Sixth younger sister is good at pitch-pot, that's why Tingyi sister invited her to play! How could it be what you said..."

Wang Ruoyu glared at Rulan, pointed at Rulan's arm, and said:

"You are also a dull one!"

Rulan: "I!"

Wang Ruoyu continued:

"Look at that group of legitimate daughters, whose family background is poor? No matter which family that Sixth girl enters to be a concubine, look at whether she shares your mother's dowry!"

"Those should all be for you and your brother!"

Rulan tilted her neck slightly and held her chin high:

"Sixth younger sister has Grandmother to worry about, no need for Mother."

"I think Wei Wei Yima, you are looking at the Kang family's daughters, and because people don't bother to interact with you and you can't get close, that's why..."

Wang Ruofu had just been thinking about Changbai and Rulan when she heard this, and her eyes were full of thoughtful expressions.

Hearing Rulan's words, Wang Ruofu said:

"Rulan, shut up! How can you talk about relatives like that!"

"Sister, then what do you say we should do?"

Wang Ruofu's first sentence directly made Wang Ruoyu's expression awkward.

The three words "how could you" were already on the tip of her tongue,

but hearing the second sentence and seeing Wang Ruofu's expression of asking for advice,

Wang Ruoyu knew she had misunderstood the meaning and said:

"Naturally, it is to make that Sixth girl roll back, interact less with legitimate daughters, and save from losing your Sheng family's face."

Wang Ruofu nodded, stood up, and came to the door of the hall.

Kang family's Qi Mama, who was standing at the door, caught a glimpse of Wang Ruofu coming out, made a "tsk" sound at the right time, and looked at Minglan not far away with contempt, shaking her head.

Wang Ruofu glanced at Qi Mama somewhat awkwardly and hurriedly beckoned to Liu Mama.

Liu Mama hurriedly leaned over.

"Go, drag the Sixth girl back!"

"A concubine-born daughter squeezing among the noble legitimate daughters! It will be shameful if it spreads out!"

Hearing the first sentence, Liu Mama was startled.

After listening to Wang Ruofu finish speaking,

Liu Mama immediately glanced inside the hall at Kang Wangshi, who was smiling and raising her cup triumphantly with other noble ladies, and then rolled her eyes at Qi Mama.

She lowered her head and said beside Wang Ruofu:

"Madam, this servant dares to say one thing: Sixth Da Niangzi is raised in the Old Madam's room."

Wang Ruofu: "I know!"

Liu Mama said:

"Gu family Eldest Da Niangzi and Sixth Da Niangzi are on good terms because of the relative relationship between the Old Madam and the Marquis Prefecture."

Wang Ruofu shook her head, her eyes full of confusion: So what?

"Madam! In our Sheng family, the Old Madam is a legitimate daughter of the Marquis Prefecture."

"Eldest Da Niangzi is even the Second Madam of the Marquis Yongyi Prefecture!"

Wang Ruofu's chin and corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily, and she nodded.

"Our family is neither a low-class family that mistreats concubine-born daughters, nor a household where the Master has no official position."

"The Master is a key official in the Ministry of Personnel."

Wang Ruofu frowned and said: "I know these, but she is a concubine-born daughter. Going there, who knows if she has any bad intentions of being a concubine!"

Liu Mama said:

"Madam, Sixth Da Niangzi is raised before the Old Madam. Do you think the Old Madam would raise a child who wants to be a concubine?"

"Just now when Sixth Da Niangzi went over, she wanted to pull Ru-jie'er along, but Ru-jie'er said..."

Wang Ruofu nodded and asked: "Said what?"

"Said she wasn't good at pitch-pot, and hadn't eaten enough roast duck at the banquet. That's why Sixth Da Niangzi was thinking of her sister."

Wang Ruofu turned her head and looked at Rulan at the banquet table with sharp eyes.

"Madam, Sixth Da Niangzi's father is a key official in the Ministry of Personnel, and her sister is the Second Madam of the Marquis Prefecture! With this status, she didn't lick her face to get close, but was invited over. What's shameful about that!"

After speaking, Liu Mama straightened her back and glanced at Qi Mama.

Wang Ruofu frowned and nodded: "But, my sister, she..."

"Just now, she was pushing her own daughter to build relationships! When it comes to our Sixth Da Niangzi, why is it shameful?"

Wang Ruofu had a sudden realization:

"Oh my!! Just now I was only thinking about the things Changbai and Rulan might encounter in the future, how..."

Immediately, she returned to the hall, first pointed fiercely at Rulan, who was looking at her, and then sat down in her seat.

Wang Ruoyu asked: "Did you send someone?"

Wang Ruofu smiled and raised her cup with a noble lady who was looking at her, and said:

"Sister, I forgot, just now you let your Yun'er and Yuan'er go over there. Why are you talking about me!"

"I..."

On the other side,

The second round of pitch-pot between Minglan and Tingyi had already reached its end.

Tingyi glanced at Minglan, who was focused on pitch-pot, then exchanged glances with Chai Zhengzheng and Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi to the side, and then raised her chin toward Minglan.

Everyone didn't understand what was going on yet.

Tingyi said:

"Minglan, I just realized, your skin is so white! Your hair is also much blacker than when you were in Yang Zhou!"

Minglan, who was preparing to throw the pitch-pot: "Hmm? Tingyi sister?"

Hearing Gu Tingyi's voice, Chai Zhengzheng to the side rolled her eyes and said:

"Yes! Minglan, why are you so white!"

Rong Feiyan also said: "Skin is so moist."

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi: "Hands are really white."

"Eyes are really beautiful!"

"Minglan, are your clothes and jewelry matched by yourself? They match really well!"

Tingyi looked at Minglan, whose face was gradually turning red from the praise and who was somewhat at a loss. Her eyes were full of the appearance of "schemes" succeeding, and she threw the arrow sideways: Hit!

To the side,

Minglan faced the praise and words full of admiration around her, and she waved her hand somewhat shyly:

"Sisters, I was wrong. I won't speak nonsense in the future!"

Hearing this, the noblewomen around laughed again.

"Minglan, what we said is also the truth!"

"When you step off the field, I must touch your little face!"

"Hahaha."

Tingyi said with a mischievous smile: "Minglan, you throw first!"

Minglan tried a few times in a daze, then threw it out reflexively.

Ding.

Thud.

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi shouted in surprise:

"Leaning on the rod!"

Little Xiaotao to the side looked at Minglan in a daze.

Minglan looked at the arrow leaning against the mouth of the pitch-pot and thought to herself: Terrible! I was so praised that I forgot the concubine mother's instructions.

"Hahahaha."

"Tingyi sister, you are... haha."

The young ladies around covered their mouths and laughed.

Minglan to the side was stunned for a moment, then followed suit and laughed, saying while laughing:

"Coincidence, coincidence."

At this time,

More than a dozen maids from the Duke Qi Prefecture carried trays and lined up, entering the courtyard one after another.

It attracted the attention of the young ladies who were laughing.

They saw the maids entering each room in an orderly manner.

Soon, a maid came under the pavilion, holding a tray, and squatted in a salute, saying:

"Noble guests, this is the iced watermelon and watermelon juice prepared by the prefecture. Please enjoy."

The young ladies, who were slightly thirsty, picked up the porcelain plates from the trays one after another. In the white porcelain plates were pieces of cold watermelon that had been cut into blocks.

Minglan was pulled by Gu Tingyi and came to the side of the Duke Prefecture maid.

She took the porcelain plate from Chai Zhengzheng's hand. On the porcelain plate was also a spoon.

The watermelon of the Duke Prefecture was naturally carefully selected and very sweet.

After Minglan ate a few pieces, she looked at the porcelain plate that still had three or four pieces of watermelon left. She looked left and right, and quickly stuffed a piece of watermelon into Little Xiaotao's mouth.

When Little Xiaotao was eating watermelon with her cheeks bulging,

she saw that among the noblewomen around, several directly gave their porcelain plates to the personal maids beside them.

Maids like Ye'er beside Anmei, Ningxiang beside Rong Feiyan, and Seeing Xi Bu were also eating with porcelain plates.

The sharp-eyed Duke Prefecture maid saw that Minglan's porcelain plate was almost finished and immediately walked over, placing the tray in front of Minglan.

There were several whole plates of watermelon in the tray.

Minglan took out a plate and put it in Little Xiaotao's hand:

"Eat!"

At the banquet table of the noble ladies,

iced watermelon was also being served.

Wang Ruoyu put down the porcelain plate in her hand,

wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, looked at Wang Ruofu, and whispered:

"We have been doing business for so long. Younger sister, what do you think of this business of usury?"

Wang Ruofu nodded with satisfaction:

"It's still quite good!"

"Younger sister, you can actually continue to invest more! No need for you to worry; I will help you look after it. At that time, you only need to share some hard-earned money with me, your sister."

Wang Ruofu said somewhat embarrassedly: "Nowadays, the silver money in my hands is not much. If I want to invest more..."

Wang Ruoyu looked around and, seeing no one paying attention to her, said:

"The business of your Sheng family's main branch is doing so big now. The money given to your Sheng family's second branch in the past half year, isn't it there?"

Wang Ruofu said embarrassedly: "This, how can this be done!"

"Why can't it be done? That money is useless in the public treasury. If we take it and lend it out, isn't it money making money? This is the way to manage a family and make a fortune!"

Wang Ruoyu continued: "Besides, with the power of our Wang family, plus the relationship between the Kang family and the Sheng family..."

"Nowadays, your in-laws are very popular, and there is also a fierce and combative little son. With these in-laws and old acquaintances, what are you afraid of!?"

"Money, once lent out, no matter who they are, who would dare not return it?"

Wang Ruofu put down the porcelain plate in her hand: "Then I will take some out?"

Kang Wangshi smiled and patted Wang Ruofu's hand: "A bit more, it definitely won't let you lose."

On the other side,

At the table of Princess Pingning, the British Duke's wife, and other noble ladies,

Chai family's maids came from time to time to tell Madam Chai about Chai Zhengzheng's situation.

Listening to Chai Zhengzheng playing happily with the noble daughters of various families, the smile on Madam Chai's face became more and more sincere.

Madam Chai looked at Xie Shi, who was holding the Xu family's eldest grandson, and then looked at the Marquis Yongyi's Madam Sun and Hualan, who had a graceful temperament beside her.

From the morning until now, this banquet, Madam Chai could see that the relationship between the Xu family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was quite harmonious and compatible in their speech and actions.

And the eldest sister who has married out—no, the eldest young lady, Pingmei—

was talking from time to time beside the Ningyuan Marquis's Madam Bai.

The style in her gestures was somewhat different from her mother, Madam Sun,

but quite similar to her mother-in-law, Madam Bai.

Xu family's youngest daughter, Anmei...

Through the news revealed by Princess Pingning,

Madam Chai looked at the very low-key Madam Pan, who was at the end of the banquet table.

With the matter of the Jin Kingdom, the future of the Pan family in Dengzhou would only go up a level.

Moreover, the Xu family did not break off the engagement because of the Huyan family's accident; they were people who valued integrity.

As the mistress of the Chai family, Madam Chai's thoughts began to change slowly after seeing the Xu family, from the previous gratitude and thanks.

Thinking of these, Madam Chai whispered to Madam Wu beside her:

"Sister, I forgot to ask before, is there any arrangement for the marriage of this Xu family's Jing Ge'er?"

Madam Wu was startled, then looked at Madam Sun, and after careful consideration, said:

"Before, there were indeed people who asked me."

Madam Chai nodded. With such a good family background, it would be strange if no one asked.

"My sister told me that they are waiting for their youngest son to finish the metropolitan examination before talking about it."

Madam Chai looked at Madam Wu with some surprise:

"So, it hasn't been discussed yet?"

Madam Wu nodded: "However, asking about this, it has been quite a while. Shall I go ask again?"

Madam Chai patted Madam Wu's hand gratefully.

Madam Chai and Madam Wu were talking without avoiding Princess Pingning to the side.

After the two finished talking, Madam Wu stood up to find Madam Sun.

Princess Pingning said in Madam Chai's ear:

"Jing Ge'er and Madam Sun know about Zhengzheng's matter. If the marriage really happens and she marries over, she will be a head lower for no reason."

Madam Chai looked at Madam Wu, who was walking over, and said:

"Whether it happens or not is still unknown, but I see the Xu family as a good family."

"Moreover, if we don't ask about such a good family, it will be said that there is something wrong even if there isn't."

"Even if it doesn't happen, it can raise the price for the Xu family's young master."

As she spoke, Madam Chai glanced at the Rong family's Madam, who was talking to other families.

Madam Chai knew all the words her daughter had heard.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 246 =====