Chapter 734 - 736: Back and Forth
Chapter 734: Chapter 736: Back and Forth
After punishing herself with three cups of wine, Jin Qianqian began to chat with the people around her. Everyone was unsure whether this meant the incident was over. These lingering doubts made the banquet’s atmosphere especially cautious. However, Jin Qianqian seemed completely oblivious to it all. She ate and drank as usual, and was even in the mood to tell a few small jokes.
Just as they finished a joke and were chuckling softly, Mrs. Liang He suddenly spoke up. "Mrs. Gu, although we know you are quite wealthy, we are all official’s wives. We can’t bring the stench of merchants’ money among us. This isn’t elegant for Mr. Gu, either. It’s better if you show some restraint normally."
These words were rather impolite, causing the previously cheerful table to suddenly fall silent.
Jin Qianqian picked up her cup and raised it across the air in a toast to Lady Liang. "Lady Liang is so thoughtful, considering things that I hadn’t even thought of."
Beside them, someone immediately couldn’t hold back and almost laughed out loud. Jin Qianqian was just short of pointing at Lady Liang’s nose and scolding her for being a busybody. Couldn’t they see Mrs. Liang He’s expression had already darkened?
Jin Qianqian toyed with the bracelet on her wrist. It was probably the least valuable thing on her person, a cultured pearl bracelet she had dug out from her spatial dimension. It was just that these people didn’t know about cultured pearls. Looking at the perfectly round pearls of identical size and shape, their eyes widened in shock. To casually play with such a priceless treasure was truly a waste of God’s gifts.
"Sigh, all the ladies sitting here know that I am an Imperial Merchant appointed by the Holy Emperor. The ’stench of money’ Lady Liang mentioned probably can’t be washed off." Jin Qianqian paused here and deliberately glanced at Lady Liang, who sat diagonally above her. "I’m not as noble and unsullied as you, my lady, able to survive on just wind and dew.
"I am a vulgar person, incredibly vulgar at that. Living in this world, all I seek is freedom. Whether for myself or others, as long as I have a clear conscience, this life will be enough.
"Today, I, this vulgar person, will borrow Mrs. Xun’s treasured land to apologize to everyone here. In the future, as long as you all aren’t afraid of being suffocated by the stench of my money, we can still discuss the art of business together."
Hearing this, many felt a stir in their hearts. If being vulgar meant living like Jin Qianqian, everyone would want to be a vulgar person. Listening to her tone, did Mrs. Gu want to share her business experience with them?
Among the ladies present, who didn’t have some properties or a dowry to manage? The expenses of a whole household, plus the future marriages of children and grandchildren, were endless bottomless pits. They looked glamorous on the outside, but in secret, they had to budget strictly. Last time, the couple had managed to develop such a huge plot of land in East City. Although they had fenced off the best part for themselves, they had at least left a large area for everyone else to operate in. This had added properties to all their official families’ mansions, and everyone was well aware of this favor.
It was just that if Mrs. Gu had made this offer in a different setting, they might have immediately stood up and accepted it. But right now, under Lady Liang’s fierce gaze, no one truly dared to stick their neck out.
Seeing no response, Jin Qianqian didn’t mind. The opportunity was laid out right here; if these people missed it, then they missed it. If they ever thought of coming to her for ideas in the future, she wouldn’t be so agreeable, and could use this very moment as an excuse to turn them all away.
Jin Qianqian enjoyed herself throughout the rest of the banquet. With her senior maids taking good care of her food and drink, she ended up making the other ladies around her feel even more uncomfortable.
After seeing off all the guests, Mrs. Xun slumped onto the soft couch without any care for her image. "Finally, those high-and-mighty ladies are gone."
"Madam, why did this Mrs. Gu suddenly decide on a whim to come to our place today? And act so high-profile at that?" her trusted senior maid asked in a low voice while massaging her shoulders. As the most trusted servant by her side, she knew Mrs. Xun was full of complaints right now, so she quickly spoke up to draw out the topic.
"Who knows? I’m truly puzzled as well," Mrs. Xun said. "In fact, everyone knows the relationship between Lady Liang and me. Our mansion is attached to the governor’s mansion, so naturally, we follow the Liang Mansion’s lead. Previously, my invitations were merely formalities. I thought this Mrs. Gu wouldn’t show up, but I never expected her to pull a surprise move today. We really lost face today. I hadn’t even prepared a seat for her, yet she actually came."
This made her, the hostess, look incompetent. Even though she tried hard to remedy it later, such a huge mistake simply couldn’t be covered up.
Mrs. Xun let out a long breath. "I still can’t figure out why she came today, and why she dressed so extravagantly, completely contrary to her usual style.
"This Mrs. Gu is truly worthy of being an Imperial Merchant. I might not even be able to afford any random little trinket on her person."
At this point, Mrs. Xun’s tone became somewhat sour. "Comparing oneself to others will only make one mad with envy. If I had her wealth, why would I need to spend all day flattering that..."
As soon as Mrs. Liang He sat in her carriage, her face immediately darkened.
"This is outrageous! This Mrs. Gu Jin is clearly going against me. Reeking of money, yet she has the nerve to come out and show off."
The accompanying maid serving beside her didn’t dare to make a sound, trying her best to shrink into the corner. As a heavy object was hurled at her, she only felt a sharp pain on her forehead. She didn’t even dare to cover the wound with her hands, trembling as she knelt in the carriage.
"Useless thing," Mrs. Liang He sneered, though she immediately regretted throwing the object. When they got out of the carriage later, if people saw this maid’s bleeding forehead, who knew what rumors would spread outside. "Hurry up and clean yourself. If anything shows later, I won’t spare you."
As soon as Jin Qianqian got into her carriage, she immediately had Ming Shi and the others help take off her heavy headpieces. Only then did she let out a long sigh of relief.
"They were so heavy my neck is a bit sore." Jin Qianqian rolled her neck, finally feeling like she was recovering.
"Madam, we didn’t even provoke that Lady Liang. Why does she target us at every turn?" Ming Yuan asked, her big round eyes full of curiosity.
"I suppose it’s what they call lacking an affinity," Jin Qianqian shook her head, not explaining further.
In reality, she had a guess in her heart. Her age was quite similar to Mrs. Liang He’s. However, as a second wife to Governor Liang, who was already nearing seventy, Mrs. Liang He had to deal with stepchildren in the mansion. Her situation naturally couldn’t compare to Jin Qianqian’s. Gu Wenheng was young and promising with infinite possibilities ahead. Their backyard was peaceful, and Jin Qianqian had two legitimate sons by her side. This had likely sparked a sense of rivalry in Mrs. Liang He.
That day, inviting Luo Luo to study at the Liang Mansion was nothing more than an attempt to gain the upper hand. By controlling the child, she wanted to satisfy her vanity. As for any ulterior motives regarding officialdom, Jin Qianqian felt she probably didn’t have that deep an awareness to plan so much for Governor Liang. Since she dared to secretly pull strings to make certain families ostracize her, then she couldn’t blame her for striking back.
Ming Yuan asked, "Then will we attend all future banquets just like today?"