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Chapter 101: Enemies Meet Again
Chapter 101: Enemies Meet Again
Seeing Meng Qianqian's embarrassed and awkward expression, Madam Wang chuckled and said, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore."
Meng Qianqian responded with an 'oh.'
Madam Wang continued proudly, "When I found out that you are Meng Xiaojiao, I felt even more pleased. The Lu family must be regretting their decision to the core. To give up such an excellent daughter-in-law as you for a mute girl from the borderlands, if I were them, I would be spitting blood!"
Meng Qianqian felt embarrassed and said, "Madam is joking."
Madam Wang held her hand and said sincerely, "I'm not joking, Qianqian. You are a good girl, and the Lu family doesn't deserve you. Consider those five years of sincerity as having fed the dogs. You're still young, and there's a long road ahead. You will definitely meet a man who truly cherishes you."
As she spoke, she reached out and tidied the hair by Meng Qianqian's temples. "I don't have a son, otherwise, I would beg to have you as my daughter-in-law. But with Wang Danian's character, you probably wouldn't fancy his son either."
Meng Qianqian couldn't help but laugh out loud, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
Madam Wang said comfortingly, "That's more like it. There's no need to be so mature and stoic at such a young age."
Madam Wang truly liked Meng Qianqian, not only because she had saved her life at the shop, but also because Meng Qianqian possessed a rare courage and tenacity. She was the bravest young lady Madam Wang had ever met.
Due to the Flower Appreciation Banquet at Wan Hualou, the festivities along the river were even more bustling than before. The long street was packed with onlookers, and the shops, lined up one after another, were filled to capacity. The peddlers' hawking voices overlapped in a lively chorus.
As the carriage couldn't get through, Meng Qianqian and Madam Wang, along with their respective maids, disembarked and proceeded on foot.
Tan'er was immediately attracted to the sugar hawthorn sticks sold by a street vendor, so Meng Qianqian bought four sticks—two for herself, and one each for Madam Wang's maid and Tan'er.
The maid dared not accept it.
"Go on, eat," Madam Wang urged.
The maid smiled and took one stick, mainly because she couldn't finish more.
"You should eat too," Madam Wang said as she handed the fourth sugar hawthorn stick to Meng Qianqian.
"Ah?" Meng Qianqian was taken aback and whispered, "This is for children."
Madam Wang burst out laughing.
The two women made their way through the bustling street and arrived at the riverbank, where they boarded an exquisite and luxurious painted boat.
The boat had two levels: the first level was a spacious hall with jade and gem bead curtains hanging all around for ventilation, while the second level consisted of elegant and exquisite private rooms.
Madam Wang led Meng Qianqian upstairs and turned left into the private room marked with the character 'Lan.'
Surprisingly, the room was already filled with guests.
Madam Wang was taken aback. "Didn't we say we'd meet at the hour of the rooster? Why is everyone here so early?"
Everyone looked a little embarrassed.
"You came early too," Mrs. Zhou pointed out.
Madam Wang cleared her throat. "I was afraid that if I came too late, I'd miss the lantern festival."
Was she afraid of missing the festival, or was she afraid of missing the queen of flowers?
Everyone understood, but they didn't say anything.
Mrs. Zhou's gaze fell on Meng Qianqian, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "This must be Miss Meng?"
The last time they met at the palace, Meng Qianqian had been dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, exuding a heroic spirit. Now, she wore a feminine white silk skirt with a pink waist sash, her black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her beauty was indescribable.
Moreover, her every movement exuded grace and elegance, and her demeanor was dignified and refined, leaving no room for criticism.
"What are all of you looking at?"
Madam Wang glared at the others for their blatant appraisal of Meng Qianqian and introduced, "Qianqian, let me introduce you. This is Mrs. Zhou, the wife of General Zhou of the Capital's Cavalry Camp, and this is Mrs. Xing, whom you met at the Liu family's place last time. It was Mrs. Xing's husband who handled your case with the Lu family."
Meng Qianqian remembered and greeted the two ladies respectfully.
Mrs. Zhou reached out to support her, saying, "We are the ones who should be paying respects to you, Miss Meng. You are a true heroine, and we, as women of military households, should not be receiving your bow."
"Meng Qianqian spoke sincerely, "I, Meng Qianqian, pay my respects to both of you, esteemed madams."
Mrs. Xing nodded her approval. With her graceful and modest demeanor, she exuded an air of cultivated elegance, her every action reflecting her refined character.
"Oh dear, am I late?"
A boisterous and cheerful voice drew their attention to a plump and vibrant-looking madam who had just ascended the stairs, followed by Miss Zhou.
Miss Zhou took a deep breath and exclaimed, "I've got her!"
As soon as she entered the room, her eyes landed on Meng Qianqian, and she excitedly rushed forward, taking Meng Qianqian's hand in hers. "Sister Meng? My mother wasn't lying; you really came!"
Meng Qianqian was taken aback.
Mrs. Zhou chided, "You little monkey, how dare you frighten Miss Meng!"
Miss Zhou retorted, "Sister Meng wouldn't be scared so easily. It's Wang's sister who can't take a scare!"
Mrs. Zhou felt a twinge of embarrassment.
With a smile, Mrs. Wang said, "Yanyan isn't wrong. That girl has such a timid heart that she ran off to her maternal grandparents' house after the broken engagement. She's nothing like me or her father."
Whoever said that dragons give birth to dragons, and phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, and that the children of mice will know how to dig holes? The fearless and audacious Royal Censor Wang had given birth to a daughter as timid as a mouse.
Miss Zhou said, "Mother, Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Lin, you ladies chat. Sister Meng and I will go outside and enjoy the lake view!"
Meng Qianqian was led away by the enthusiastic Miss Zhou.
"Sister Meng, my name is Zhou Nanyin. From now on, just call me Yanyan like Sister Wang does."
"Alright."
"Sister Meng, let's go downstairs and have some fun!"
"Mhm."
Today, Mrs. Wang had invited influential and virtuous ladies from the capital, and Meng Qianqian could tell that Mrs. Wang was paving the way for her. Since she didn't want to return to Youzhou, Mrs. Wang was doing her best to expand her social connections in the capital.
Meng Qianqian was truly grateful.
The two of them went downstairs.
Ever since Miss Zhou had learned about Meng Qianqian's past from Tan'er and Banxia, she had felt both heartache and admiration for her. Coupled with her lively and outgoing personality, there was no awkwardness between them, even though Meng Qianqian wasn't very talkative.
"Meng Qianqian, if only I were a man. If I were, I would definitely go to your house and propose marriage! Although, I'm not sure if you would like me, but I would strive to make myself worthy of you."
Meng Qianqian smiled faintly, "If Miss Zhou were a man, you would undoubtedly be a man of great integrity and honor."
Zhou Nanyin said, "Of course! I would never be unfaithful or bring home some disreputable woman!"
"Who are you calling disreputable?"
A furious female voice rang out from behind them.
The two women turned around to see Zhou Nanyin smiling coldly, "If it isn't Miss Lu. You've become like a rat that everyone on the street wants to chase away. Why don't you stay at home and behave instead of parading around and embarrassing your family even further?"
"You—"
Lu Linglong was furious.
She had indeed suffered a significant blow recently. First, her close friends from her maiden days had distanced themselves from her one by one, and then all the suitors who had been vying for her hand in marriage had disappeared without a trace, citing incompatibility and moving on to other prospects.
Lu Linglong's popularity had plummeted, and she felt extremely depressed. That was why she had come out to the lantern festival to clear her mind.
Who would have thought that as soon as she boarded the boat, she would be ridiculed?
Unable to argue with Zhou Nanyin, Lu Linglong turned her anger towards Meng Qianqian, "You poisonous woman! All of Lu family's troubles are because of you. How dare you still show your face here?"
Meng Qianqian smiled faintly, "If you can show your face, why can't I?"
Lu Linglong huffed angrily, "My brother has rejected you. You're nothing but a discarded wife. What do you have to be proud of? So what if you can fight? You're unchaste and flirtatious. I'd like to see which man would dare to marry you in the future!"
(End of Chapter)
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