The Spring Banquet at Cheng Wang's residence turned into a major incident, with the Black Armored Guards barging in, causing quite a stir. Many onlookers were peeking in, and by the time the guests left, they discovered that half of the grand entrance to the Cheng Wang residence had collapsed. The golden plaque hanging over the entrance was barely holding on.
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Was this what they meant by "first show courtesy, then bring the troops"? Such courtesy was indeed heavy—if they had delayed any longer, the whole Cheng Wang residence might have crumbled.
The Black Armored Guards were gathered at the entrance, and Xiao Yan stood there with Song Tangning by his side. No one dared to pass them; instead, they scattered and waited at the entrance for them to leave.
Tangning, watching the people trickling out, whispered to Xiao Yan, "Brother, wait for me a moment." She stepped forward to the entrance and stopped before Madam Wenxin and her companions, bowing deeply to them.
"Thank you all for your righteous words today. Without your help, my aunt and I would have been trapped inside the Wang residence. I will remember your kindness, and if I have the chance in the future, I will repay it."
Madam Wenxin, full of compassion, reached out to help her up. "I have been friends with your aunt for many years, and you should call me Aunt Jun. I didn’t know about your situation before and couldn’t help you, but in the future, if you encounter any troubles, feel free to come to me." Madam Wenxin's maiden name was Wang Yujun, and her husband's family name was Zhou.
Tangning glanced at Princess Cheng.
Princess Cheng, looking a bit pale, smiled and said, "Your Aunt Jun is just like me; you don’t need to be so formal with her."
Madam Wenxin glared at her friend. "You always spoil the young girls!" She turned back to Tangning with a gentle expression. "Good child, whatever happened in the past is behind you now. After leaving the Song family, live your life well and don’t let outsiders disturb you. Your aunt and I will always be here for you."
Tangning’s eyes grew warm. "Thank you, Aunt Jun."
Old Madam Fu, however, remained stoic, her expression unchanged. Even her words were stern. "Your parents were both very good people, and so was Grand Tutor Rong. My Fu family once owed the Rong family a favor. If anyone dares to bully you with their power in the future, just send a message to the Fu family. Though I may not be able to help much, I can have my brother impeach those who abuse their status."
The onlookers felt a chill down their spines. The Censorate's impeachment reports and Lord Cao’s sharp tongue were like invisible daggers, capable of stripping a person down to their core.
Old Madam Fu wasn’t good with words but tried her best to be gentle. "The matter with the Song family has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to concern yourself with their disgraceful behavior. As for what Song Hong did, the court will deal with it. Don’t blame yourself for other people's wrongs."
Qian Qiyue, standing nearby, couldn’t help but agree. "Old Madam Fu is right. The whole Song family doesn’t act like decent people. It’s good that you’ve distanced yourself from them. And make sure to draw a clear line when it comes to the things your parents left behind—don’t let those shameless people take advantage of you. And as for that third son of the Lu family..." She couldn’t help but look disgusted as she continued, "I never liked how you always lowered yourself and tried to please him. You’re doing the right thing now. We women must have self-respect. Otherwise, some people with their heads held high will really believe all the praise about them being unmatched in this world..."
"Ah Yue!"
Madam Qian, seeing the Lu family’s elders coming out, quickly tapped her daughter on the arm. "Don’t speak recklessly."
Qian Qiyue huffed. "I’m not speaking recklessly. Everyone in the capital used to mock her for lowering her status, clinging to Lu Zhinian despite being a noble daughter of the Duke's household. Mother, you didn’t see how she practically treated herself like a servant, worshipping Lu Zhinian as if he were placed on a shrine for daily offerings."
Lu Zhinian’s face darkened at the comparison. Shrines were for the dead—was this girl cursing him?
"Miss Qian, watch your words. Tangning and I grew up together and share a bond of deep friendship..."
"A bond where you abandoned her? Or nearly caused her death? Don’t use that line to make us laugh," Qian Qiyue retorted, rolling her eyes without a hint of respect.
"You’ve been engaged to her for years, and I don’t believe for a second that you were unaware of the ridicule she faced because of you. Everyone mocked her for desperately clinging to you while your family coldly ignored her. You knew all too well how people talked about her, but did you ever defend her? Not even once. You didn’t offer her a single word of protection in public. All you did was enjoy her devotion while maintaining your lofty stance as a noble son."
"A bond of deep friendship, ha!" She was just a breath away from spitting in disgust.
Qian Qiyue, with her striking facial features, was nothing like the demure Tangning. Her bold features were full of disdain as she sneered, "Song Tangning, you better open your eyes. This kind of heartless man could cost you your life."
What was meant as a mocking jibe fell heavily on Song Tangning, who remained silent. After all, the Lu family really had almost cost her her life.
"You’re being outrageous!" Old Madam Lu, seeing her beloved grandson being insulted, was so furious her face turned ashen. She shouted, "You’re an unmarried girl, and yet you dare to speak ill of a noble son. What does the marriage between the Lu and Rong families have to do with you? Madam Qian, is this the kind of upbringing your daughter has received?"
"My daughter’s upbringing can’t compare to the Lu family’s, where you raise nothing but hypocrites," Madam Qian retorted without backing down.
"You...!" Old Madam Lu had never been spoken to so bluntly by a junior. She was so angry she stumbled backward.
Madam Qian pulled her daughter behind her, shielding her from the furious stares of the Lu family. Though she was annoyed with her daughter, she still protected her. "My daughter is young and impulsive, with a straightforward temperament. She spoke out of frustration for Miss Song’s plight, and I apologize on her behalf. But given Young Master Lu’s renowned magnanimity and Old Madam Lu’s reputation for fairness, I’m sure you won’t hold it against us."
Hearing this, the onlookers couldn’t help but stifle their laughter. Old Madam Lu was so angry she nearly ground her teeth to dust, while Lu Zhinian clenched his jaw in frustration. He wanted to reprimand Qian Qiyue for her disrespect, but with her mother’s words, doing so would make him seem petty.
But if he let it go, it would be as if he was tacitly admitting to everything Qian Qiyue had said about him.
Seeing his pale face, Madam Qian smiled warmly and added, "Young Master Lu is truly gracious, not at all like that despicable Young Master Song who only knows how to bully young girls." She concluded the matter by saying, "Qiyue, why are you just standing there? Thank Old Madam Lu for her generosity."
Qian Qiyue flashed a big, toothy grin. "Thank you, Old Madam."
Old Madam Lu: "???"
She hadn’t even had a chance to scold them, and now they were thanking her for her supposed forgiveness! How could the Qian family be so shameless?
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[You can read ahead to chapterr 111 here]
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