Chapter 2: Flower Appreciation Banquet
In the second month of the tenth year of Chun Jia.
The second branch of the Ru Yang Bo Mansion held a grand Flower Appreciation Banquet.
In the back garden, there was a double-colored peony over four hundred years old. It had not bloomed for several years, but this spring, it suddenly burst into over a hundred blossoms.
Everyone said this was a great auspicious omen and that it must be celebrated properly.
Currently, Concubine Song managed the household affairs. She had set the date early and invited many friends and relatives to the flower appreciation.
The weather on this day was excellent. People were already waiting at the mansion gates early on, and guests arrived one after another, gradually filling the entrance with carriages and horses.
At this moment, a horse carriage with a straw mat canopy slowly approached.
The horse was old, emaciated, with mange-covered fur.
The carriage was old, its paint faded and shafts rotten, almost falling apart.
The one driving the carriage was an old woman with a face full of coarse flesh, stout, dark, ugly, and peculiar.
Yet, the carriage stopped right in front of the gate and refused to move.
“This is not a place to stop, hurry up, hurry up!” the gatekeeper immediately shouted, “Don’t get in our way!”
The old woman rolled her triangular eyes, snorted through her nostrils, and straightened her neck to curse, “You barking guard dog, go screw your mother! You incompetent idiot! If this isn’t a place to stop, then why are so many carriages stopped here?”
The gatekeeper was angered by the scolding and immediately stepped forward, shouting, “I think you’re looking for death! A beggar dares to come to a noble’s gate to cause trouble, I’ll beat you to death if you don’t move!”
The other gatekeepers also followed behind him, surrounding the carriage with a clamor.
The old woman, however, was not flustered at all and continued to say arrogantly, “What? Are you going to make a move?”
“Country folk don’t understand the rules, why argue with her? Tell her to leave quickly! Lest she disturb the guests.” The butler came out from inside, clearly not wanting to bother with the old woman.
The old woman, however, did not back down. She tilted her nose and said, “It’s true that I am a country person, but my master is not.”
“Alright, alright, I misspoke. Please bear with me, and kindly drive the carriage away!” the butler said with a smile.
The Changrong Marquis Mansion’s carriage had already appeared at the alley entrance. They could not lose face because of such a foolish woman.
“Leave?” The old woman immediately shouted and cried out, “Where to leave?!”
“We don’t care where you go, but you can’t stop here and block the road,” the butler said patiently and kindly, “Please move your esteemed self, I’m begging you.”
“We’re not going anywhere else,” the old woman suddenly changed to a smiling face, making her seem even more peculiar, “We are going into this mansion. You are wise to open the main gate for us quickly.”
At this point, the butler could no longer tolerate it and said with a stern face, “Our mansion has not invited guests like you. Stop making trouble. Otherwise, if we report you to the authorities, you’ll regret it!”
“Steward Chen, we are not guests,” the old woman finally got down from the carriage shaft and pointed to the inside, “The Madam and Young Master of this mansion are in the carriage. They are your true masters. Are you going to stop them from entering?”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
They had not mentioned these two people for many years.
As the old woman lifted the carriage curtain slightly, they saw a young woman and a boy of seven or eight years old sitting inside.
The butler was stunned for a moment before saying, “Madam… Madam has been in seclusion at her hometown for many years. We never heard she was returning to the Capital…”
“It’s true that Madam is in seclusion, but she’s not in exile. Is she not allowed to return to the Capital?” the old woman retorted, dropping the carriage curtain, “Do I need to discuss it with you?”
“This… this is truly too sudden…” The butler found it difficult to elaborate and could only say vaguely, “Please allow me to go in and report.”
“Report to whom?” the old woman sneered, “Second Master is definitely not at home today. Just have Concubine Song come out to greet them.”
At this moment, the Changrong Marquis Mansion’s carriage also arrived nearby. On board were his Madam, the First Madam, and the Fourth Miss.
The butler hurried forward and cordially helped the three of them alight from the carriage.
The old woman, however, could not wait and urged, “Steward, don’t forget to have Concubine Song arrange the seating properly. Madam has been away from the Capital for seven years, it’s a good opportunity to catch up with friends and relatives.”
The butler had no choice but to usher the three guests into the mansion while vaguely agreeing.
Concubine Song was dressed very festively today, her smiling face exuding warmth.
Although she was a concubine, she was educated and literate. More importantly, she had a son by her side, was deeply favored by her lord, possessed a dignified appearance, was clever, and understood etiquette and flattery.
Therefore, Second Master Gong Xu entrusted all the inner chamber affairs to her, and even ordered the servants to call her “Little Madam” instead of “Concubine” to show respect.
Consort Song herself was also capable, managing everything in the household smoothly over the years without any mishaps.
Seeing the butler’s unusual expression, she excused herself from the crowd and went to a secluded spot.
“Little Madam,” the butler followed and said in a low voice, “The one from our hometown has suddenly returned.”
“Who?” Consort Song’s brow twitched, and the smile on her face instantly vanished, “Are you talking about Wen Mingqian?”
The butler nodded, “Indeed, and she brought the Fourth Young Master back too.”
Consort Song was stunned for a moment; it was truly too sudden.
Granny Yang, her trusted confidante, said sternly, “She still has the nerve to come back?!”
“She’s blocking the entrance now, and with so many people coming and going, it’s not very presentable,” the butler said.
“Have them come in through the back door! There are many guests today, it’s quite unsightly,” Consort Song said, “Who allowed her to come back on her own accord?”
“Little Madam, that might not be possible,” the butler said, watching Consort Song’s expression, “Not only do they refuse to use the back door, but they also want you to come out and greet them!”
“Has she lost her mind?!” Granny Yang’s eyes widened, “She killed Little Madam’s biological son, and she dares to come back on her own accord, and still wants to act like a master?!”
In the past, the Gong Family publicly stated that the Second Master’s wife, Madam Wen, had chosen to live in seclusion and avoid worldly affairs, which was why she did not reside in the Capital and had returned to her hometown.
In reality, it was because she had poisoned her illegitimate son, and to avoid public scandal, this was the course of action taken.
If this matter were to be made public, not only would Gong Xu and his brothers’ careers be hindered, but even the marriages of their descendants would be greatly affected.
Out of helplessness, they resorted to this compromise, sending Madam Wen back to her hometown, Shuangxi, for penance. Although she was not divorced, she was not allowed to stay in the mansion.
Those who knew the truth believed that Wen Mingqian, from a reputable family, should have atoned with her life for such a scandal.
Even if she didn’t die, she would surely be too ashamed to return to the Capital.
Among them, Consort Song’s faction hated Wen Mingqian intensely, believing she would spend her life in her hometown, guarding her son by the dim lamp until old age.
Who would have thought that after only seven years, she would return like a ghost.
“It’s no wonder Little Madam is angry and feels wronged; even we can’t stand it,” the butler said, “They brought back a shrewish old woman, extremely vulgar and shrewish, who was throwing a tantrum and making a scene at the mansion gates, which was very unseemly. The servants, out of consideration for their reputation, dared not do anything to her.”
“That’s it,” Consort Song, who had been silent for a long time, said with a cold smile, “They must have chosen today, when the mansion is hosting guests, specifically to disgust us. They know that on any other day, they wouldn’t be allowed to make such a fuss.”
“That’s true, but the current matter needs to be dealt with quickly,” the butler said, “Who told us we have to maintain our reputation!”
Consort Song was naturally unwilling, but she knew the priorities and understood that she could not act impulsively now, or the losses would outweigh the gains.
She said, “Since that’s the case, then let’s welcome her in. After all, the grievances I’ve suffered over the years are not limited to this one.”
“Little Madam is magnanimous; it’s no wonder Master values you,” the butler flattered her naturally, “Let’s take a step back and see how long they will continue to make a scene.”
Finally, a new book is here! The first day of August, wishing us all the courage to always walk on new paths…
