Chapter 313 - 314: Looking for Trouble

Chapter 313: Chapter 314: Looking for Trouble

Yang Wenlan leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Madam Ning and her mother-in-law have arrived. When you see the mother-in-law, try not to be too surprised."

Jin Qianqian knew she was kindly giving her a heads-up, so she blinked and asked, "Is there something wrong with her?"

Yang Wenlan pointed to her own eyes. "There’s something wrong with her eyes. It seems she can’t see very clearly. I’ve never seen her at any of the previous banquets. I wonder why she decided to come out this time."

Jin Qianqian replied, "...Isn’t the real question *why* she came out this time?"

"It’s the same difference. Besides, from the look on Madam Ning’s face, she seems rather disdainful of her mother-in-law."

Jin Qianqian could already imagine several versions of the mother-and-daughter-in-law drama playing out in her head, but she kept her thoughts to herself and continued walking quietly.

Looking at this estate, which was even larger than her own residence, she saw elegance and refinement in every detail. Jin Qianqian knew this was what it meant to have a deep-rooted heritage—the heritage of a scholarly, aristocratic family.

"Don’t be fooled by how big the estate seems now," Yang Wenlan said, guessing her thoughts. "In a few days, when the whole extended family arrives, these courtyards will start to feel quite crowded."

Even with four courtyards, once you divided the space among so many masters and servants, there wasn’t much left for anyone.

Jin Qianqian deeply agreed. This was another downside of large clans: everyone was tied together, and the family would not be divided until the elders passed away.

More people meant more trouble. Jin Qianqian once again felt a secret sense of relief. ’Thankfully, the Gu family divided the households early. It saved us a lot of trouble.’

After passing through a covered walkway, a pavilion appeared before them. A group of people was already sitting there, chatting.

The other young ladies were laughing and greeting one another. Among all the fresh, youthful faces, an old woman in their midst stood out conspicuously.

"Mrs. Gu," Fang Yuan said, helping her mother-in-law to her feet to offer a salute. After all, Jin Qianqian’s husband held a higher official rank than her own.

"Old Mrs. Ning, you’re being too formal. Our little family gatherings don’t call for the stiff etiquette from outside." Jin Qianqian suppressed her discomfort and forced a smile as she spoke.

There was more to Old Mrs. Ning’s condition than just "bad eyes." One of her eyeballs had turned white and was bulging from its socket, and the vision in her other eye seemed poor as well, as she squinted with it to stare at Jin Qianqian.

"Etiquette must be observed. The top scholar outranks my son by two official ranks. This is only proper."

’Why does her tone sound so resentful?’ Jin Qianqian wondered. ’And why do those two words, "top scholar," sound so sarcastic?’

Fang Yuan immediately sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere and said with a shy smile, "My mother means that etiquette is essential."

"Hmph," Old Mrs. Ning snorted, but she didn’t say anything more.

However, because of this behavior, her impression in the eyes of Jin Qianqian and Yang Wenlan plummeted even further.

Jin Qianqian had initially felt some sympathy for the old woman because of her eyes, but now she merely shot her a glance before turning to chat and laugh with the young ladies she knew nearby.

Old Mrs. Ning squinted at Jin Qianqian. Fang Yuan, who was beside her, tried to get her attention several times, but she stubbornly ignored her.

"Mother, if you keep this up, I’ll tell my husband when we get home."

"Is tattling all you’re good for?

That woman’s husband stole the top scholar title from your husband, yet here you are, laughing and chatting with her."

Fang Yuan pressed her lips together. "My husband himself said his essay was not as good as his. Besides, the title of top scholar is personally bestowed by the Holy Emperor. How can you talk about it being ’stolen’?

If anyone else heard you say that, it would cause a huge scandal."

"Scandal? Hasn’t my son become enough of a laughingstock? Marrying you, the daughter of a landlord’s concubine, was humiliating enough.

He clearly had the talent to be the top scholar, but someone else used their connections to snatch the title away. And here you are, bowing and scraping before them. My son has had truly terrible luck."

Seeing her mother-in-law’s voice grow louder and louder, Fang Yuan quickly stood up and took her arm to lead her toward the inner courtyard, where there was a room for guests to freshen up. "Mother, let me take you to the dressing room."

The old woman was about to fly into a rage, but when she felt everyone’s curious gazes on them, she gritted her teeth and followed her daughter-in-law to the back courtyard.

"What new trick are you playing, dragging me back here?"

Fang Yuan said, "I’ve explained this to you many times at home. Husband even told you himself never to bring this up again. If you offend them, how do you expect him to get along with them in the court?"

It wasn’t that Old Mrs. Ning didn’t understand the logic. "I just can’t stomach it! All the fortune-tellers said my son had the makings of a top scholar. If it weren’t for some villain’s machinations, the title would have surely been his this time."

"Mother!" Fang Yuan cried out, her voice sharp. She was truly losing her patience with her mother-in-law.

"If you cause another scene like this, I won’t bring you out with me anymore. And I *will* tell my husband when we get back."

As soon as Fang Yuan brought up her son, the old woman cursed resentfully, "You jinx! If you were any good at bringing your husband luck, would you have let him suffer such an injustice?"

Fang Yuan retorted, "I know you look down on me now, but don’t forget, my family was the one who funded my husband’s journey to the capital for the imperial examinations.

Besides, I have given this family a legitimate son and daughter. For the good of your own grandchildren, you had better stop humiliating me in public. Otherwise, it’s the Ning family’s reputation that will ultimately be damaged."

Hearing her daughter-in-law’s gritted-teeth warning, Old Mrs. Ning stared hard at Fang Yuan with her terrifying eyes. "If I had known what kind of person you were back then, I never would have let you marry into this family.

Even without you, we could have tightened our belts and sent my son to Shangjing ourselves!"

Fang Yuan laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes. "Has Mother forgotten that the Ning family was at the end of its rope back then? Without the dowry I brought, could my husband have successfully become a scholar? Without my family’s financial support, could he have traveled to the capital for the exams?

By constantly putting me down now, are you trying to make my husband out to be a heartless, ungrateful man who abandons those who helped him?"

Old Mrs. Ning thought of all the well-bred young ladies from prestigious families, adorned in pearls and jade, who could speak in eloquent verses. Her heart filled with regret. If it weren’t for this daughter-in-law, her son could have married one of them.

Fang Yuan, who had long ago seen through her mother-in-law’s thoughts, shook her head. ’It’s a good thing my husband made me a promise, or I really wouldn’t be willing to put up with this old woman any longer.’

She spent some time coaxing the old woman with soft, kind words. Seeing that her mother-in-law was no longer trying to stir up trouble, she finally helped her walk back outside.

After they left, Li Qiu emerged awkwardly from a side room. She really hadn’t meant to eavesdrop; they had been blocking the doorway, and she couldn’t very well burst out while they were in the middle of a private conversation.

She went to a corner to catch her breath, and only after making sure the two had gone far away did she slowly head toward the front courtyard.

Jin Qianqian endured Old Mrs. Ning’s faint yet persistent stares, somehow managing to get through the rest of the gathering.

"As it happens, a few of my orchids at home have just bloomed. Sisters, why don’t you come to my estate the day after tomorrow to admire the flowers? You can also sample some new pastries my shop has developed and give me some suggestions." Jin Qianqian knew it was her turn to host and had already come up with the perfect reason.