Chapter 34: Chapter Thirty-Four

Lu Bao'er was very surprised that Old Lady Su would come looking for her, but Old Lady Su is not a mistress who likes to make things difficult, and she isn't alone. Perhaps the claim that she wanted Lu Bao'er to serve was false, while the desire to see her was genuine. So Lu Bao'er got up and went over with Qiuju.

Because of their rank, Li Jiao and Cui Shi happened to sit diagonally opposite Lu Bao'er. She saw Old Lady Su's personal maid looking for Lu Bao'er and felt intense jealousy.

Yet Madam Cui, who was enjoying the high‑born daughter‑in‑law serving her like a servant, would not even let her sit, insisting she learn propriety, know when to advance or retreat, and pick up each piece of meat and vegetable with a chopstick into Cui's bowl.

Li Jiao, being a daughter‑in‑law, dared not argue. She clenched her teeth and kept working. Madam Cui, coming from a modest family, actually didn't understand how the matriarchs of official families behaved.

In fact, the more prestigious the matriarch, the less she would make life hard for a daughter‑in‑law; if she liked her, she would shower gifts, if not, she would send her away early, not keep making her stand there enforcing rules. It's unbearably annoying.

Thus, Madam Cui's way of grinding down the daughter‑in‑law gave her no dignity at all, and privately people laughed that she had no manners—being a guest in someone's house without a maid to serve, yet forced to have the daughter‑in‑law do it.

Li Jiao felt uneasy, constantly thinking everyone was watching her, and she felt embarrassed; unable to bear it any longer, she whispered to Madam Cui: "Mother, this is the Fu Residence; if you want someone to serve you dishes, let the maid by my side do it. If I don't take a seat, it would be improper."

Madam Cui had been happily enjoying the daughter‑in‑law's eager flattery, assuming that the surrounding ladies looked on enviously of her good fortune. Hearing Li Jiao's words, she suddenly blushed and felt flustered.

Li Jiao, a lady from the Minister of Revenue's residence, naturally knew the rules far better; her remark was essentially mocking her as a rustic peasant woman who didn't understand propriety. Madam Cui had only recently risen in wealth with her son, her value soaring, and Li Jiao's words cut her, as if reverting her to her original state.

Deep down Madam Cui was still insecure, so she became superstitious, always thinking Li Jiao deliberately omitted the rules to mock her! "Fine, it must be that Li Jiao, unruly in the Shen family, wants to humiliate her in front of everyone at the Fu Residence!" She wondered how Madam Cui would torment her later—could there be such a harsh, difficult daughter‑in‑law?!

Speaking like that indeed wronged Li Jiao; if she had warned Madam Cui before entering the residence not to be petty, Cui would surely think she was taking the chance to mock her once she left, and not be a good companion.

After saying that, Madam Cui hissed venomously: "Now that you know, why don't you sit down quickly! It's one thing to lack decorum at home, but you're disgracing me abroad! Is this deliberate on your part, trying to make people call me a cruel, vicious matriarch? And to torment the daughter‑in‑law? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking; curb your scheming!"

Her words were a classic case of kicking the can down the road; Li Jiao stared at Madam Cui in disbelief, angry but with nowhere to vent. It was Madam Cui who had asked her to serve up close, yet now she accused her of a plot.

Li Jiao felt deeply sorrowful; she looked around, hearing the ladies chatting merrily, and felt melancholy. In a daze, her gaze fell on Lu Bao'er and Old Lady Su at the front.

It was said that Lu Bao'er was summoned to serve the meal, yet she sat upright beside Old Lady Su, not needing to set out chopsticks at all. That's not service; it's clearly pampering!

How could this country girl earn Old Lady Su's favor? Even if she pleases the matriarch again, what good is it? After all, she married a low‑ranking Hanlin Academy editor!

Thinking of this, Li Jiao's resentment surged. What right does she have to speak of Lu Bao'er? Her husband is still a subordinate of Xie Junling!

Li Jiao wore a worried frown; though she was a newly joined daughter‑in‑law, she seemed to have aged several years.

Lu Bao'er also seemed to notice someone watching her, but there were so many ladies at the venison banquet that the sight was a dazzling array of jewels and flowers, straining the eyes and making it impossible to pick out any individual.

Old Lady Su was delighted; she personally lifted her chopsticks and picked a slice of venison coated with sesame and cumin for Lu Bao'er, saying, "Madam Xie, please try this; the venison is excellent for replenishing blood!"

"How could an elder lady serve a junior with a dish?" Lu Bao'er replied, trembling with fear.

"You and I need not be so formal; seeing Madam Xie makes my heart bright and joyful!"

Lu Bao'er didn't know why she had won Old Lady Su's favor, but being cared for by such a kind, gentle old lady reminded her of childhood. When she was young, she envied playmates who had grandparents at home; the elders would always have candy in hand, offering a sweet treat to the grandchildren.

Since Old Lady Su treated her well, Lu Bao'er knew to return the favor; she passed a piece of meat to Su, even carefully cutting it into small pieces with clean scissors and placing them in Su's bowl: "I'm afraid your teeth aren't strong; these bite‑size pieces will be easier for you."

Lu Bao'er feared her unsolicited affection might be overstepping, but Old Lady Su was truly moved; she grasped Lu Bao'er's hand tightly and said, "Madam Xie, you are truly thoughtful!"

Seeing this back‑and‑forth, the official's wife below was puzzled. They had heard that Lu Bao'er had won Old Lady Su's favor, but didn't expect the two to be so close. It seemed that, compared with Su's most beloved granddaughter Cheng Lingyan, the bond was not far behind!

Speaking of Cheng Lingyan, for today's venison banquet she had dressed up nicely, hoping to show off at the feast. Yet Old Lady Lu never allowed the younger members of the inner courtyard to come out and play.

It wasn't only Cheng Lingyan; even the third branch's own granddaughter did not attend, as Old Lady Su instructed the servants to distribute the roasted venison piece by piece to each household.

After all, it was a reception for outsiders, very noisy, and Su did not want her own family to be busy. If the third branch's daughter‑in‑law handled the venison, the banquet would become a Fu family reception, much more restrained, which Su did not wish to see.

In the meantime, Su harbored a private motive: she did not want her own granddaughter Lu Bao'er and the pretended granddaughter Cheng Lingyan to clash, lest the hierarchy and closeness become problematic.

Fearing she might misjudge and hurt Lu Bao'er's feelings, she chose not to summon the younger ones to the front for the reception.

Cheng Lingyan had lived in the mansion for years and had been spoiled. She even considered herself superior, higher than Su's own granddaughter. So it was normal that Fu Wan and others did not attend the venison banquet; she was Su's most beloved, how could she not go?

It must have been the servants' oversight, forgetting to call her!

At this thought, Cheng Lingyan adjusted the golden threaded floral hairpin on her head, was steadied by a maid, and charged toward the bustling venison banquet: "Come on! Let's go see the feast!"