Chapter 93: and translation of chapter title

Du Ruo first went to Du Fu to feel things out; there they said the Zheng Clan wasn't at Du Fu, and had followed Du Ren Mei to Li Xianling's manor to attend the family banquet.

Pah, I don't believe you a bit!

Leaving aside other matters, just speaking of Du Ren Mei's current wife, Madame Jiang, could she possibly allow her own husband to bring his former wife to such an important occasion?

Isn't that equivalent to rubbing her face in the ground?

It's quite obvious that this is a lie; the purpose is to lure her to Li manor, where a plot has surely been laid, waiting for her to walk right into it.

After thinking it over, Du Ruo did not go directly to Li manor.

Instead, she first went to the Xian Ya to look for Jiang Li.

Having Jiang Li accompany her was like having a flower guardian; she needn't worry about mishaps.

The result was that the gatekeeper Ya Men guard told her, 'Jiang Bu Tou isn't here; he's gone to Li Xianling's manor to enjoy the feast.'

Is this a coincidence or not?

In that case, Du Ruo had no choice but to go to Li manor to look for someone.

Many carriages and sedan chairs were parked at the gate of Li manor, showing that those attending the banquet today were all prominent figures.

The servant in charge of reception still remembered Du Ruo, the lifesaver of their young master, and could not neglect her: 'Du Niang Zi, you've come? The mistress is currently accompanying guests in the flower hall; I'll have someone take you there right away.'

Du Ruo hurriedly thanked them.

She could rely on her status, but Zheng Qinghe could not.

'I'm really sorry, Du Niang Zi, but your older brother has no invitation; according to the rules I cannot let you pass,' the attendant said, looking embarrassed.

Zheng Qinghe grew anxious: 'How can this be? A Man, I can't feel at ease letting you go in alone.'

Du Ruo smiled and comforted her: 'It's fine; my husband is still inside, he'll protect me.'

Furthermore, she trusted Li Xianling and Su Wanjun; they would never side with evil and join forces with Du Mingzhu to deal with her.

'Third Brother, wait outside for me; if I haven't come out by the hours of 3 to 5 p. m., go to the Ya Men to report to the officials.' This was also a precaution; if both of them went in and something truly unexpected happened, it wouldn't mean total annihilation.

Having given those instructions, Du Ruo lifted her foot and stepped over the threshold.

The one leading the way was a servant wearing an apricot-yellow silk robe, called Qi Guan'er; his attitude toward Du Ruo was very respectful, and he led her all the way to the flower hall.

Just as they reached the covered walkway, a black cat suddenly fell from the sky.

Meow!

It swiped at Du Ruo's face.

The cat's speed was extreme; Du Ruo had no time to react, and it looked like her eyeball was about to be injured.

'Where did this little beast come from? Get lost!' Fortunately, Qi Guan'er was sharp-eyed and quick-handed, swiftly blocking in front of Du Ruo and kicking the cat in the belly; the cat yelped and ran off.

Then he hurriedly turned his head and asked, 'Du Niang Zi, are you all right?'

Du Ruo shook her head. 'I'm fine.'

She was unharmed, but Qi Guan'er's hand back now had a long gash that had broken the skin, clearly from the cat's scratch.

'Is this cat raised in the manor?'

'No.' Qi Guan'er explained, 'Our Madam Lu doesn't like cats, so the manor hasn't had any cats for several years; perhaps it's a wild cat that climbed over the wall.'

Du Ruo made an acknowledging sound and did not pursue the question further.

She harbored a slight suspicion, wondering if this cat was related to Du Mingzhu.

Otherwise, she had been walking along just fine without provoking it—why would the cat ignore everyone and single her out to attack? It couldn't possibly have gone mad, could it?

Thinking this, Du Ruo subtly touched Qi Guan'er.

In her mind, the system had already completed the scan: 'Rest easy, it's not carrying a virus, no need for a vaccine.'

But the wound still needed treatment, otherwise it could easily become infected.

Du Ruo gratefully said, 'Thank you for protecting me; you should hurry and rinse the wound with water—I can go to the flower hall myself.'

Qi Guan'er, however, refused: 'How can that be…'

Before he could finish speaking, a somewhat dark and thin young man suddenly walked up from ahead, wearing the same apricot-yellow silk robe.

Evidently he was also a servant responsible for receiving guests in the manor.

He just looked somewhat unfamiliar.

But soon he realized that, for this banquet, the mistress had specially summoned over a dozen people from the estate for temporary duty; he must be one of them.

'Come here.'

Qi Guan'er waved at that person and instructed, 'This Du Niang Zi is our guest; lead her to the flower hall and inform the mistress.'

The dark and thin man agreed, leading Du Ruo onward.

But soon Du Ruo noticed something was off.

'This doesn't seem to be the way to the flower hall,' she eyed him suspiciously.

Du Ruo had been here once before, waiting for Jiang Li while Su Wanjun led her around the manor several times; she still retained a rough sense of direction.

'That's right; our mistress ordered that, to avoid disturbing the esteemed guest, anyone whose attire is improper must first go to the guest rooms to change. Du Niang Zi, rest assured, the guest rooms have already been prepared with clothing.'

Du Ruo couldn't help but chuckle.

If before she had only been slightly doubtful, now she could basically be certain.

The person before her was definitely not a servant of Li manor.

If Su Wanjun cared about status and clothing, she wouldn't have associated with someone like her, a rustic village woman.

Du Ruo snorted coldly: 'Was it Du Mingzhu who sent you here?'

The man's eyes flickered with a hint of panic, but his face feigned confusion: 'What are you saying, Du Niang Zi? I, your humble servant, don't understand.'

'You don't understand, huh?' Du Ruo rolled her eyes. 'Fine, I'll put it another way: Du Mingzhu had you bring me to the guest rooms—what do you intend to do?'

The man continued to make excuses: 'It really is the mistress…'

Seeing that she couldn't get any answers from him, Du Ruo grew tired of listening to his nonsense, turned on her heel, and prepared to leave.

The man's expression was complicated; he gritted his teeth and still caught up to block her.

"Du Niang Zi, you can't go......"

Du Ruo abruptly stepped back several paces, her gaze sweeping around, then she warily fixed her eyes on him, "If you don't move aside, I'll shout harassment!"

Not far away in the small flower garden, several gardeners were weeding and pruning.

The man could only watch helplessly as Du Ruo ran off.

He sighed in defeat, turned his head, and took a detour to the flower hall, walking quickly.

Seeing the man not giving chase, Du Ruo finally relaxed.

Sure enough, the flower hall was lively: male guests on the left, female guests on the right, with several screens separating the middle.

Du Ruo did not go straight in.

Going either way was inappropriate; if she went to the women's side, Du Mingzhu and the Jiang Clan would be there, surely alerting the enemy, and without evidence, Su Wan Jun couldn't possibly speak up for her.

Going to the men's side would be even worse; if she barged in so recklessly, she'd only embarrass Jiang Li.

Respectable people would say she lacked proper upbringing.

Du Ruo had no choice but to call over a servant refilling tea, asking him to fetch Jiang Li.

Jiang Li soon came out.

He was both surprised and delighted, stepped forward and took her hand, "My lady, how did you come here?"

The tension in Du Ruo's heart finally eased considerably; seeing her own man, her tone inexplicably carried a hint of grievance: "Hmph, it's all because of Du Mingzhu."

This place, with people coming and going, is not suitable for talking.

Thus she tugged Jiang Li's sleeve to find a quiet spot, recounted everything in detail, and finally asked: "The Du Fu says my mother is here; did you see her at the banquet?"

"None." Jiang Li shook his head. "In my view, the mother-in-law's status is awkward; she shouldn't appear in this setting."

Du Ruo thought the same.

That good-for-nothing doesn't have the guts; if he really dared to bring the Zheng Clan, the Jiang Clan would have torn him apart.

The urgent task is to first locate the Zheng Clan.

Jiang Li comforted: "Don't worry, my lady; Du Mingzhu's target is you, so your mother-in-law should be safe for now. I'll go find Sir Li and Du Ren Mei to have the Du Fu release her."

"Just release her and that's it? There's no such easy thing."

Du Ruo sneered: "This time I won't easily let Du Mingzhu off; I'll file a lawsuit, accusing the Du Fu of abducting a respectable woman and detaining her without return."

Jiang Li stared for a moment, then laughed.

"Fine, since they want to cause trouble, let's go all out and see who loses."

Seeing the young wife's face flush with anger, Jiang Li drew her into his embrace, gently patting her back: "All right, don't be angry; it's not worth ruining your health over such a person. Wait here, I'll go find Sir Li now......"

His words had not yet faded.

Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out from behind.

"What are you two doing?!"

Du Mingzhu was very annoyed.

She had everything arranged: she would have someone lure Du Ruo to the guest room, then try to trick that lover over as well, so that a lone woman and widow would be alone together—perfect to catch the turtle in the jar, to capture the female lover in the room.

Then have the proprietor of Zui Meng Ju come as a witness to prove they weren't meeting for the first time.

That would utterly ruin Du Ruo's reputation; she'd end up like her mother, cast out by her husband, becoming a pitiful divorced woman, lonely and destitute for life.

Things were fine—who knew that lowlife would be so alert, yet she saw through him?

"You can't even handle a small task—how will you ever take over your father's position?" Du Mingzhu snapped, her face cold.

Liu Ya lowered his head, silent.

The maid Xia He added fuel to the fire: "I've long thought he's useless; I've never seen him accomplish anything, a mute gourd—nowhere near his father."

Liu Ya's fist, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tight, veins bulging.

His face showed no sign: "Miss, rest assured, next time I'll definitely get things done perfectly."

By now there was nothing to be done; Du Mingzhu had no choice but to lead the party back to continue the banquet. After just a few steps, Xia He suddenly tugged excitedly at her sleeve.

"Miss, look quick—is that the Du Clan?"

Du Mingzhu lifted her gaze to look.

In the small flower garden's central pavilion stood a man and a woman: the man tall and handsome, exceptionally good-looking; the woman stout, her face full of pits, their heads close together, very intimate.

Could it not be that lowlife and her lover?

Well, after searching high and low, it came easily—never expected that the lowlife, upon arriving here, would first seek not her husband but her own female lover.

Having handed over the evidence herself, she had no one to blame but herself.

Du Mingzhu curled the corner of her mouth in a triumphant smile, then gave Xia He a look; Xia He understood and immediately turned to run toward the flower hall.

After waiting a while, feeling the time was right, she stepped forward and let out a startled cry.

"What are you two doing?!"

Hearing that wail, like one mourning dead parents, Du Ruo and Jiang Li both turned their faces.

Du Ruo raised her eyebrows.

What a coincidence, Du Mingzhu? Speaking of which, this was the first time she'd seen that expression on Du Mingzhu's face.

Shocked, disbelieving, and feeling pity.

Before, whenever I saw the Original Owner, she always put on an aloof, spiteful, vicious look—how could she suddenly change her nature?

"My lady, do you know her?" Jiang Li asked doubtfully.

Du Ruo then recalled that Jiang Li had never met Du Mingzhu before, and she chuckled: "She's none other than Du Ren Mei's beloved daughter."

Jiang Li's face instantly turned cold; his gaze at Du Mingzhu even carried obvious disgust.

Du Mingzhu's heart inexplicably clenched.

This man is so good-looking for nothing, he must be an idiot?

In terms of family background, I am the rightful daughter of the County Magistrate, while Du Ruo is merely a lowly offspring born of a divorced wife—she doesn't even compare to an illegitimate daughter; in terms of looks, I am hundreds or thousands of times more beautiful than her. So why is he so gentle and attentive toward Du Ruo, yet puts on such a face toward me?

Needless to say, that lowly one must have spoken many ill words of me to his face……

Thinking of this, Du Mingzhu harbored secret resentment.

She stepped forward gracefully, secretly pinching herself, then with reddened eyes she said, "Older sister, how can you face your brother-in-law after doing this? Your brother-in-law treats you so well, yet you hide from him and stay with his close friend—if he found out, how heartbroken he would be!"

Ugh, Du Ruo almost vomited.

The word "Sister" really gave her goosebumps all over.

Moreover, her affected posture made Du Ruo feel physically uncomfortable to the extreme; she would rather see her arrogant, vicious true face.

However, Du Mingzhu's words were quite interesting.

Brother-in-law? Close friend?

Du Ruo vaguely understood something; inspiration struck, she quietly reached out and scratched Jiang Li's palm, signaling him not to speak, then feigned panic and quickly stepped two meters away from Jiang Li.

"You, what are you saying? I and he… we haven't done anything……

Just as she finished speaking, she saw Xia He panting while leading a large group of people over here.

Sure enough, everyone who was supposed to come has come.

Du Mingzhu naturally saw it too, her heart leapt with joy, and she immediately urged loudly, "Sister, I know you despise your brother-in-law's crudeness and have always looked down on him. But even if you dislike him, you shouldn't do something like cheating on him! You're being so imprudent—where will you put your father's face? And how can your brother-in-law bear it?"

Jiang Li turned his face away, unable to bear looking.

Du Ruo wanted to speak but held back.

Du Ren Mei arrived first; hearing these words, her face turned green. "Mingzhu, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Father, why are you here?" Du Mingzhu seemed startled, hastily waving her hands, "No, I didn't say anything, I didn't say anything……

"Oh dear, Miss!" Xia He stamped her foot, "At this point, you're still covering up for the eldest miss—this isn't helping her, it's harming her!"

Saying this, Xia He plopped down on her knees and swore, "Sir, Madam, I really can't stand by any longer. Just now I and the miss were out here getting some air—who would have thought I'd see the eldest miss being all lovey-dovey with this man in the pavilion, cuddling and embracing? When the miss tried to advise her, the eldest miss scolded her instead! I swear on heaven, every word I say is true."