When Duke Anyuan and the Duchess left the palace gate, Qin Shu chased after them, saluted and said, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law."
The Duchess frowned when she saw Qin Shu.
Considering the friendship between the two families, Duke Anyuan said politely, "You don't have to be so polite, Son-in-law."
Qin Shu said, "Ruoyun has been troubling you for a long time, so I'd like to take her back home. Moreover, my grandmother's birthday banquet is approaching. As my wife, she is supposed to show up at the birthday banquet."
The Duchess sneered and said, "I don't mind Ruoyun staying in the Duke Mansion. We can afford a daughter. Didn't your grandmother and mother prefer to make you two divorce than punish your concubine maid?
"My daughter finally got pregnant, but because of your family, she almost lost her life. How can I let you take her back so easily? Although I did not give birth to her, she is still my precious daughter who stayed with me for 16 years. She is not someone your Qin family can humiliate at will!"
When Qin Shu heard this, he hurriedly promised, "I will be good to Ruoyun in the future. I've never looked down upon her because of her change in identity…"
The duchess snorted. "Let your grandmother and mother come and talk about this matter with me. If they don't admit their mistakes, we'd rather let you divorce!"
Qin Shu sighed, and Qin Miaomiao stepped forward and said, "Brother, it'll be Ruoyi and Ruofeng's coming-of-age ceremony in a few days. I will take the chance to go to the Duke Mansion to talk to Ruoyun. She's good-tempered. If she is willing to come back, I don't think the Duchess will stop her."
Qin Shu nodded helplessly.
…
On the day after the Dragon Boat Festival, it rained. Chang'an rained less than Lin'an.
Jinniang held her umbrella and went to the Duchess's courtyard. When she entered, she heard Qiao Ruoshui crying bitterly.
"Mother, if you hold a grand coming-of-age ceremony for that little b*tch, Qiao Ruoyi, it'll be a slap on my face!"
"She seduced His Royal Highness and made me look like a joke! That concubine-born slut! How is she deserving of such a grand coming-of-age ceremony? It's almost as grand as mine."
"Boohoo, it's all Qiao Jinniang's fault. Mother, the little imperial grandson likes me and His Royal Highness even let me ride in his carriage. It must be because of Qiao Jinniang, that village woman, causing His Royal Highness to change his attitude towards our family.
"If I marry into the East Palace, I can at least become the Crown Prince's first concubine, but if it's Qiao Ruoyi, she'll just be a concubine of the lowest rank!"
Hearing it at the door, Qiao Jinniang was helpless. Did this have anything to do with her? She stepped inside and said, "Mother."
Seeing her, the Duchess said, "It's cold and raining today. You should wear more clothes. Are you cold? Cui'er, serve hot tea for the miss."
Qiao Jinniang shook her head and said, "I'm not cold. The rain today has dispelled the sultry heat of yesterday."
The Duchess looked at Qiao Ruoshuidao coldly. "Your father has discussed with Deputy General Liu who is guarding the southwest border. In a few days, Deputy General Liu will have the betrothal gift sent over! After Jinniang is engaged, you'll be married off!"
Qiao Ruoshui cried and said, "Mother, you've always loved me the most. Why do you have to treat me like this?"
The Duchess sighed. "It's my fault. I had been fighting with that b*tch all this while and neglected your education, causing you to become such a foolish and self-willed person. It's for your own good to marry you off to the Southwest.
"Your third sister is the daughter-in-law of the Southwest Governor. Moreover, you have the Duke Anyuan's Mansion behind you, and there are generals who used to be your father's subordinates there. Your life won't be hard in the Southwest."
Qiao Ruoshui glared at Qiao Jinniang fiercely and ran away crying. Qiao Jinniang literally ruined her life! Everything changed after she came back.
After watching Qiao Ruoshui leave, Qiao Jinniang said to the Duchess, "Mother, I'd like to ask about the matter of Father recognizing my foster father as his sworn brother I mentioned last time…"
The Duchess said, "I've mentioned this to your father, but let's talk about it when the people we sent to Lin'an come back."
The Duchess still had some concerns. If, as Qiao Jinniang said, the chef and his wife treated Qiao Jinniang very well, she didn't mind the Duke acknowledging the chef as his sworn brother. By doing that, at least people wouldn't laugh at Qiao Jinniang and Qiao Ruoyun's identities anymore.
But if they were bad people, it might cause trouble.
Most importantly, those annoying kinsmen of the Qiao Family must be resolved.
"Oh, I couldn't have come at a better time!" Suddenly, Second Madam's voice came.
Qiao Jinniang got up and saluted. "Second Aunt."
Second Aunt smiled and said to the Duchess, "My brother-in-law has returned to Chang'an today and is inviting our family to dinner. They've just returned to Chang'an, and they planned to have their dinner in the Tasty Pavilion. They would like to invite you to dinner. Since Jinniang is already here, let's go together."
Looking at the smiling face of Second Madam, the Duchess remembered her third nephew she had mentioned last time. It would be nice to go and see that lad.
"Jinniang, do you have anything up for today?"
Qiao Jinniang shook her head. "No."
"Okay, let's go together then. I haven't been to the Tasty Pavilion yet. I can take this chance to visit your restaurant."
Qiao Jinniang nodded. She didn't think it was to save money that Second Madam invited her to dinner in the Tasty Pavilion.
From the Duchess's attitude, she guessed that this was probably a blind-date dinner for her.
"Then go back and prepare." the Duchess said to her.
Qiao Jinniang saluted and said yes.
After seeing Qiao Jinniang leave, Second Madam said to the Duchess, "I told my sister that Jinniang has a child, and she seemed to be a little uncomfortable with it.
"But it happened that my sister's mother-in-law was there. She heard that Jinniang was a sensible and filial girl, and she felt pity for Jinniang's misfortune, so she said it would be good to let the two children meet and see each other."
"My sister's husband's family name is Li, and at first he was just an ordinary scholar. But over the years, his mother helped him marry the daughter of a powerful family, helping him to become a high-ranking official. His mother is a very shrewd and clever woman.
The Duchess said to Second Madam, "From what Ruoyun has experienced, I understand that it's not enough if a woman's husband is nice to her. Her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law are important too.
"Since Old Madam Li has agreed, let the two children meet. If they're interested in each other, isn't it good to cement the old ties of our two families?"
If Jinniang was married to a strange family, the Duchess was afraid that Jinniang might not be treated well.
…
In the No.1 private room of the Tasty Pavilion.
Junior Duke Rong took Fulu's exclusive private room without any guilt. When he saw the person at the door, he said, "Siming, come on in and take a seat. It's really difficult to order a private room in this Tasty Pavilion. But fortunately, Fulu gave me her private room."
Zhou Siming shook his fan and said, "How dare you snatch her private room? Be careful of Princess Shou'an's anger being directed towards you."
Junior Duke Rong sat down. "How come Lin Mo hasn't arrived yet?"
Speak of the devil. Lin Mo entered the door and said, "I ran into my dad's protégé when I was going upstairs. We talked for a while, so it took me some time.
"However, if the matter he is up to today can succeed, we won't have to steal the No.1 Private Room from Fulu when we come to the Tasty Pavilion in the future…"
Junior Duke Rong asked, "Your father's protégé? Is that Li Yun, the person most likely to win the first prize in this Imperial Examination?"
Lin Mo nodded and said, "Exactly, I heard that he seemed to be here for a blind date with the owner of the Tasty Pavilion. Li Yun's aunt is the Second Madam of Duke Anyuan's Mansion. So if they get married, the two families can cement their old ties.
"Plus, he calls me Senior Brother. If they click together well, won't it be a breeze to ask for a private room from him?"
The tea in Junior Duke Rong's mouth suddenly spurted onto Lin Mo's face and he coughed hard. "What did you say?! Who will marry whom?"