Chapter 77:Marquis Dingyuans Longevity Feast (2)

This chapter has been stolen from volarenovels. Please read from the original source!

Matriarch He picked up her teacup and took a sip. Dalangs wife, its your grandfathers longevity feast tomorrow, isnt it?

Madam Zou smiled as she nodded. It is! Grandmother still remembers such a date! Granddaughter-in-Law thanks Grandmother in place of Grandfather.

Child, youre being too polite.

While sitting on the other side, Chu Lian hadnt expected the topic to be diverted to the feast. She tried to shrink into her seat and hide her presence.

Why dont you guys attend the longevity feast by yourselves? Please, please, please dont remember to invite me along!

However, the heavens didnt listen to her pleas.

Matriarch He suddenly changed the discussion. Sanlangs wife has just married into the family, but lately, shes only spent time alone at home. Why dont you bring her along with you when the time comes?

Matriarch He would be attending the feast as well, but the old madams had their own circles. It wasnt suitable for a young lady to join them.

Since Chu Lian was a newlywed and Madam Zou was still young, it would be better for Madam Zou to introduce some of the young madams of the capital to Chu Lian.

Chu Lians body stiffened. She hadnt expected Matriarch He to suggest that she follow Madam Zou to the feast.

She wanted to speak up and reject the offer, but this wasnt the right time for her to speak.

She could only pray silently in her heart. Madam Zou, please dont agree to it!

Madam Zou was a sweet-tempered person, so she didnt hesitate as she replied, Yes, Grandmother. Please dont worry. Ill bring Third Sister-in-Law with me tomorrow and take care of her.

Matriarch He nodded in satisfaction.

He Changdi had just left home, and there hadnt been any news of him yet. She wanted to help Chu Lian take her mind off her missing husband, so she had made the suggestion to Madam Zou. However, her good intentions had actually caused more trouble instead.

Chu Lian was suffering inwardly beyond words, but she couldnt show any of it.

She could only brace herself and agree to the outing.

The two granddaughters-in-law sat with the matriarch for a while longer before they took their leave to visit their mother-in-law.

Countess Jingans condition wasnt too good today. When Chu Lian arrived for her visit, the countess was still asleep. Madam Zou and Chu Lian sat in the outer room for ten minutes before leaving and returning to their respective courtyards.

The next day, Chu Lian was to follow her sister-in-law, Madam Zou, to the Dingyuan Estate for the longevity feast.

When she woke up in the morning, Senior Servant Gui and Xiyan helped Chu Lian into the dress they had already picked out. Since she was still a newlywed madam, they had chosen a brightly coloured dress. It matched perfectly with the ruby hair ornament Chu Lian had.

Before leaving Songtao Court, Senior Servant Zhong suddenly coughed once. Chu Lian turned around and gave Senior Servant Zhong a weird look before realisation dawned on her. She then ordered, Xiyan and Wenqing will serve me at the Dingyuan Estate today!

The two maidservants obediently agreed. Senior Servant Zhong shot a look at Wenqing. Before they left the courtyard, she even whispered a reminder into Wenqings ear. Remember what I said last night. If you slip up, just wait for your punishment when you return.

Wenqing nodded fervently. Rest assured, she wouldnt let any men near Third Young Madam at all. For the sake of her delicious meals, she was going to fight with all her might. Any shameless man who wanted to snatch her Third Young Madam away would be beaten down without mercy!

Luckily, Senior Servant Zhong wasnt able to read Wenqings thoughts. Otherwise, she probably would have puked up a mouthful of blood.

Girl, that wasnt what she instructed you to do last night!

When they reached the screen at the entrance of their estate, Chu Lian was invited by Senior Servant Liu to take Matriarch Hes carriage. Madam Zou boarded another carriage with her two daughters, Little An and Little Lin, while her husband, He Dalang, followed next to the carriage on horseback with the guards.

Their party left the Jingan Estate and made their way towards Marquis Dingyuans estate.

Matriarch Hes carriage wasnt very big, but it was comfortable inside. Senior Servant Liu sat by the matriarch while Chu Lian sat opposite them.

Senior Servant Liu had a round fan in hand and was gently fanning the matriarch. Matriarch He was wearing a dark purple eight-bolt dress, as well as an emerald green headband embroidered with a pattern for fortune tied around her head. Her white hair was held up by a long hairpin made out of carved jade. She looked like a noble old madam, subtle and dignified.

Sanlangs wife, have you visited the Dingyuan Estate before?

When Matriarch He spoke up, Chu Lian realised why the matriarch had invited her to share her carriage today.

The matriarch wanted to give her some pointers on the connections between the people of the Dingyuan Estate.

Although she knew a little about the events of the novel, there was a limit to how much could be conveyed without diverting too much from the plot. She couldnt possibly know about the relations of every single family in the capital, so she shook her head honestly.

Matriarch He was very satisfied with her honesty, so she quietly revealed everything she could.

House Dingyuan was Madam Zous maiden family. They were flourishing in terms of population, and Madam Zou was Old Marquis Dingyuans eldest legitimate granddaughter. Imperial Consort De had come from the Dingyuan Estate, and was Old Marquis Dingyuans daughter.

However, it had been many years since Consort De had entered the palace. She had only given birth to a single daughter, who had unfortunately passed away at the age of five.

Princess Leyao looked quite similar to Consort Des deceased daughter, so amongst the many princes and princesses in the palace, Consort Des favourite one was the ten-year-old Leyao.

By the time they reached the Dingyuan Estate, Chu Lian had already been given a clear picture of House Dingyuans situation.

In summary, Marquis Dingyuan was one of the Emperors most trusted officials, and they couldnt afford to offend them

When Matriarch He noticed the slightly overwhelmed expression on Chu Lians face, she smiled and patted Chu Lians hand in comfort. Dont worry, Grandmother told you all this just to let you understand whats going on in the Dingyuan Estate. As for the rest, dont think about it. Just follow your sister-in-law. Shell take good care of you.