Chapter 75: Saving Face Before Even Entering the Gate [Many Thanks for Readers' Support

Guozi Lane

Jinghai Marquis Manor

Because the old marquis was still alive, the Hu Yan family had not divided the household.

Those without illness or disaster all ate meals together.

After the meal, the daughters-in-law of the Hu Yan family accompanied the Old Lady in the main hall, chatting.

The wife of the eldest branch surnamed Bao was a relative of the Marquis's Lady, similar to the situation of the Yuan family of the Zhongqin Count Manor (the son had married a young lady from the maternal clan).

"I only heard upon returning to the manor today that Sister Pan went to the Xu family on Quyuan Street to taste tea; I wonder if their tea is any good?" asked the wife of the eldest branch, Lady Bao.

"Replying to Sister-in-law, it is naturally excellent," Lady Pan Da said with a smile.

"Oh? Sister, I heard that the Sun Da Da Niangzi of the Xu family comes from a family that is merely a low-ranking military officer in the capital; I cannot imagine what good tea they could have."

"It would be better to bring Jiong-er to our Ruyang Marquis Manor in a few days to taste some real famous tea."

Lady Pan Da cursed silently in her heart, but on her face, she still smiled like a spring breeze:

"Sister-in-law is perhaps too busy with household affairs to know that the Xu family is on very good terms with the two Da Da Niangzi of the Liang and Gu families; yesterday, the tea we tasted together received nothing but praise."

"Heh, the Bai Shi of the Gu family; I heard they are merely the dregs of merchants from Yang Zhou," Lady Bao said with a laugh.

The wives of the other two branches looked at Lady Bao as she spoke, their brows slightly furrowed.

"Sister-in-law was not in the manor yesterday and does not know that when I returned, I brought back a black jade watermelon; Mother liked it very much," Lady Pan Da said.

Seeing Lady Pan not taking the bait, Lady Bao continued: "These watermelons can be seen everywhere in the Eastern Capital; what is so rare about them?"

"Wife of Gu Dalang, speak with caution," Lady Bao, the Marquis's Lady, said.

Lady Bao looked at the Old Lady in confusion.

It was the fourth branch who reminded her: "Sister-in-law, that watermelon was a reward bestowed by the Empress upon the Xu family."

"Hmph, which family has not received imperial rewards? You speak as if it were something incredibly precious. That Xu family marquis merely holds the post of Army Commandant in the Western Army, whereas our Bao family holds the post of Army Commandant in the Upper Four Armies."

Lady Pan Da smiled on her face but thought in her heart: You do not know that this watermelon was delivered specifically to block my entry into the Xu family's gate.

However, regarding military posts, she was also slightly stifled; the military position of this future in-law family indeed could not compare to that of the Army Commandant of the Tianwu Army, one of the Upper Four Armies.

"Having good tea at home but not tasting it, insisting on seeking it from outside—truly!"

"And that Sun Da Da Niangzi of the Xu family does not even have an imperial title,"

"while the eldest lady of our Bao family holds the fourth-rank title of Lady."

"Whether the tea is good or bad should be obvious at a glance."

The wife of the fifth branch secretly rolled her eyes, thinking in her heart: Who is "our"?

"Wife of Han Wulang, your sister-in-law's words are rough but the reasoning is not; if there is a chance, you might as well visit my dilapidated maternal home to have a look," the Old Lady spoke.

Lady Pan Da hurriedly stood up: "Yes, Mother-in-law. How can the Ruyang Marquis Manor, which is currently flourishing, be called dilapidated?"

Lady Bao Da Da Niangzi of the eldest branch looked at her sister-in-law with her head bowed, feeling very satisfied; her eyes were full of pride, and a mocking smile played on her lips.

The business in Dengzhou was originally meant to be handled jointly by the in-laws of the Ruyang Marquis Manor and Han Wulang of the Hu Yan family—a business yielding mountains of gold and silver.

As the maternal grandparents' family, who could object to us taking some profit from the Hu Yan family?

But what happened?

It was utterly cut off by this sister-in-law's natal family; I heard that the Pan family nearly caused the Bao family's in-laws to perish beneath the waves, scaring those in-laws directly back to Bianjing, and the business was swallowed by the fifth branch and the Pan family themselves.

Hmph!

"Then tomorrow, my niece—"

Her words were interrupted by Lady Pan Da's personal nursemaid, who rushed in; after paying respects to the several people present, this nursemaid whispered a few words into Lady Pan Da's ear.

"Oh, what secret is it that we, a room full of Hu Yan family daughters-in-law, cannot hear?"

The personal nursemaid was waved off by Lady Pan Da, who said: "It is nothing; it need only be told to the elders present."

After performing a perfectly courteous bow, the nursemaid said:

"Honored elders, just now the steward in the front courtyard said that the palace has issued a reward to the Xu family, Marquis of Marquis Yongyi."

"In this Bianjing, since when has receiving a reward from the imperial palace been worth such boasting?"

After Lady Bao Da Da Niangzi finished speaking, Lady Pan Da said: "Continue."

The steward nursemaid: "Regarding the palace reward, someone counted them; there are ninety-nine litters."

After speaking, the steward nursemaid glanced at her own Da Da Niangzi.

Lady Bao Da Da Niangzi sneered:

"Oh, for the sake of your Da Da Niangzi's face, you dare to tell any lie you want; why have no other nannies in the manor come to report? Why is it only your fifth branch coming? Ninety-nine litters—you really dare to—"

Before her voice fell, several nannies rushed hurriedly into the main hall.

They each whispered to their own Da Da Niangzi.

The wife of the fourth branch picked up her handkerchief and covered her face; she could not hold back, unable to maintain a calm demeanor because it was simply too much, so she could only cover her face and secretly enjoy the moment.

The Old Lady of Jinghai Marquis Manor pondered for a moment and said:

"Wife of Gu Dalang, sit down first. We must find some connections to ask what is going on."

Although this Old Lady Bao said "we," her gaze was directed at Lady Pan Da.

"Mother-in-law, I will send someone to inquire," Lady Pan Da said.

She beckoned to the personal nursemaid in the main hall: "Go, have Jiong-er visit the Xu family."

The personal nursemaid went out to convey her Da Da Niangzi's instructions.

As she exited the main hall, she happened to pass a steward's wife who had come as part of the Bao family's dowry; she entered the main hall, looked at everyone, and asked the Old Lady Bao with her eyes.

"Just speak; there are no outsiders in the room."

Hearing the Old Lady's words, Lady Bao Da Da Niangzi rolled her eyes at the wives of the other three branches.

"Old Lady, the Bao family has sent someone; they say a new Box Army Commandant will arrive for the Tianwu Army and want our family to establish a connection."

The new appointment had to go through the Great Zhou's government offices, and since the palace had not ordered secrecy, the news naturally leaked out.

Old Lady Bao, who also understood military affairs slightly, asked:

"The Left and Right Wings—which wing?"

"Replying to Old Lady, it is said he holds concurrent command of both the Left and Right Wings."

Hearing this, everyone in the main hall wore expressions of surprise.

The Heavenly Martial Army was divided into Left and Right Wings, each wing comprising three armies; the Bao family's member served as the Army Commander of one of the Right Wing's three armies, commanding two thousand five hundred imperial guards.

Yet this incoming Commander of Both Left and Right Wings would command both wings, six armies, and thirty-three commands, totaling over sixteen thousand imperial guards.

"Good, we must certainly cultivate ties; but which family is he from? Do our two families have any prior acquaintance?"

"Replying to Old Lady, he is from the Xu family of Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu, having earned merit in the west. Since the Bao family could find no mutual acquaintance, they came asking us."

Upon hearing this, Wu Da Da Niangzi froze for a moment, then clenched her teeth tightly, squeezing the handkerchief in her grip with all her strength, striving desperately to suppress three bursts of loud laughter and her triumphant expression, enduring with great difficulty.

At the same time, she had to feign surprise and furrow her brows, which truly made things difficult for her.

The Da Da Niangzi of the third and fourth branches exchanged a glance, then together looked at Wu Da Da Niangzi, who was sitting and struggling hard to contain herself.

The entire rear courtyard main hall of Jinghai Hou Fu fell silent.

On the face of Bao Da Da Niangzi, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Hu Yan family's first branch, it seemed as though two heavy slaps had been struck, flushing it intensely red.

Old Lady Bao's complexion also appeared ashamed and awkward.

After all, an old tree has thick bark; cough, cough, cough—Old Lady adjusted herself and said:

"Wife of Han Wulang, I reckon the Xu family's tea must be excellent; we should visit them more often in the future."

"Yes, Mother-in-law."

After the eldest lady of the Wu family spoke, another elderly nurse entered the main hall of the Jinghai Marquis's residence, approaching Old Lady, who said with some irritation:

"Just say it openly in front of these daughters-in-law; why always hide and evade? From whom did you learn such habits?"

"Yes, Old Lady; just now, the outer courtyard gate received an official notice from the government stating that Sun Da Da Niangzi of the Xu family, Marquis Marquis Yongyi's household, manages domestic affairs with skill and has been elevated in her title of nobility; she is now a Lady of Grade 3."

Hearing this, Wu Da Da Niangzi looked toward her eldest sister-in-law, blinking her eyes several times with an expression full of innocence.

Bao Da Da Niangzi painfully closed her eyes, refusing to look at Wu Da Da Niangzi, then squatted to perform a bow, saying, "Mother-in-law, your daughter-in-law feels unwell and will take her leave first."

"Go, go."

"I am also weary; you daughters-in-law may depart on your own."

"Yes."

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(End of Chapter)