Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty-Four

The ladies present aren't stupid, so how could they not see that Li Jiao and Lu Bao'er have some tension? The two families rarely interact, so how did they end up facing each other?

After thinking, Li Jiao used to be a heavenly gifted lady, now married to a seventh-rank Hanlin Academy examiner, Shen Yun, while Lu Bao'er, though of rural origin, is the beloved wife of a seventh-rank Hanlin Academy editor. As the saying goes, a higher official rank can crush a person.

No matter how unwilling Li Jiao may be, now that she's married to Shen Yun she must rely on her husband's family's influence—there's bound to be some drama to watch.

Lin Yudie also entered the bridal chamber with a servant; she had always been nervous when entering the Gu residence, fearful of offending anyone. Now that the haughty Li Jiao has married Shen Yun, although she is also a superior's wife, they both work in the Hanlin Academy. What good is a fine pedigree then? She's hardly any different from me.

Thinking this through, Lin Yudie felt completely at ease. Her thoughts became lively; she smiled and patted Li Jiao's hand, saying: 'From now on, Madam Xie, I, and Madam Shen's husband all work together in the Hanlin Academy; we three are somewhat fated. In a few days I'll send Madam Shen a visiting card to invite you to my residence for fun.'

Li Jiao considered herself a talented lady; how could she associate with a vulgar woman who can't even compose poetry? She found Lin Yudie meddlesome, lumping her with Lu Bao'er's ilk, and thus withdrew her hand without a word, politely refusing: 'I'm afraid I can't free myself just yet; if the chance arises I'll visit your residence.'

Her words weren't heavy, but the subtext made the refusal unmistakable.

Lin Yudie felt she had been slighted, and inwardly snorted: 'Do you still think you're the Gu family's cousin? What arrogance!'

She no longer wanted to embarrass herself, made an excuse of a headache, and left the bridal chamber. The ladies went through the motions in the chamber, then followed the servant to the Flower Hall, the ladies' dining area, to eat the wedding feast.

Several ladies who had previously failed to find Lu Bao'er now saw her present and affectionately drew near.

Wherever women gather, it's like the martial world. Seeing the partition screens drawn tight and the servants keeping their distance, they whispered among themselves: 'Do you know how the Gu family's cousin came to marry Sir Shen?'

Lu Bao'er had heard this matter from Xie Junling; fearing these people might speak indiscreetly and bring up Xie Junling, she pricked up her ears to listen.

Lin Yudie, seeing others interested, felt delighted and whispered: 'I hear that the cousin deliberately fell into the water to wet herself, so that passing Sir Shen would see her, then she cried, threw a tantrum, and even threatened to hang herself to force him to marry her.'

Since they didn't mention Xie Junling, Lu Bao'er breathed a sigh of relief, relieved.

The other ladies, hearing this, scoffed: 'Really? Such shameless behavior? Even the courtesans of Chun Yuan aren't as brazen!'

Lin Yudie, afraid of being doubted, also replied softly: 'Indeed, which well-bred lady would do such a thing? This is absolutely true; a maid of mine has an aunt who works in the Gu family's inner kitchen, and her word cannot be false.'

Upon hearing this, those present believed it a bit more.

Lin Yudie eagerly wanted to drag Lu Bao'er into the matter, lest her gossiping make her seem malicious, so she asked: 'Madam Xie, what do you think of this?'

Lu Bao'er, not wanting to get involved, took a piece of sweet pastry and stuffed it in her mouth, saying: 'I don't really understand these matters; hearsay is false, seeing is believing—one must see for oneself to know.'

Lin Yudie saw Lu Bao'er's cautious, self-preserving attitude and curled her lip: 'I've never seen Lu Bao'er so timid! She dares neither to speak nor to get involved, and I don't know what Old Lady Su sees in her to give her that hairpin!'

Lin Yudie inquired at home and found that Old Lady Su's jade hairpin is of great origin; selling it alone could buy a large residence in Jingdu with three courtyards front and back! Giving it to Lu Bao'er to wear is truly a waste.