Chapter 150
Chapter 150: Tugging, Clothes in Disarray
The wine was rich and fragrant, the dishes plentiful. The Wang family’s banquet was lively and bustling.
Led by the Madam of the Marquis of Jian Ning, Bai Ci Rong came over to the women’s side to greet the noble ladies.
She also came to Luo Ning’s table.
Madam Wang laughed and said: “As for all the rights and wrongs in the past, A’Rong says she does not hold any of it against anyone. She is a good child, broad-minded, and that is why she suits my temper so well.”
Luo Wan almost rolled her eyes.
[What is that supposed to mean?]
[Are all of Bai Ci Rong’s ugly affairs now being blamed on the Luo family for harming her?]
Madam Bai smiled and followed up: “A’Rong really is a good child. A peony should not be left in the wild countryside. It needs to be raised in a greenhouse. She has only been with the Wang family for a few days, and already her complexion looks more rosy.”
Madam Wang, Bai Ci Rong, and Madam Bai all laughed.
Madam Bai was belittling the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor only to lift Bai Ci Rong up.
Bai Ci Rong was their only hope.
Almost all the female guests heard their conversation and looked over.
The ones who had seen Bai Ci Rong make a fool of herself were only the Zhou family’s madam and young miss, and some relatives of the Luo family. Those Luo family relatives and friends were not qualified to appear at the Marquis of Jian Ning’s banquet.
Madam Bai once again explained things on Bai Ci Rong’s behalf.
The guests each had their own thoughts as they turned their eyes this way. Apart from the Zhou family’s madam and miss, who secretly despised her, the others were more or less swayed.
“If you are born beautiful, it is easy to provoke resentment.”
“Matters of the inner residence are hard to sum up in a few words.”
Luo Wan was about to lose control. Luo Ning glanced back at her, and only then did she sit still.
Madam Wang and Bai Ci Rong did not speak to Luo Ning, deliberately skipping over her.
Luo Ning also did not hurry to respond.
Halfway through the banquet, some of the female guests wanted to go to the Wang family’s rear courtyard greenhouse to admire the flowers.
Someone said: “I have heard the Wang family’s gardener is remarkable. It is already autumn, yet there are still peonies blooming in the greenhouse.”
Peonies were beautiful but had a short blooming period. To keep them blooming in a greenhouse in late autumn really was rare.
Only prestigious clans could hire such skilled craftsmen to cultivate this kind of miracle.
Luo Xuan said to Luo Ning: “Elder sister, I am feeling a bit unwell. Could you go out for a walk with me?”
She spoke a little loudly: “Please, elder sister.”
Some people looked over.
Luo Ning smiled and said: “What feels uncomfortable? Come on, let us ask the Wang family’s steward to find a physician to take a look.”
She helped Luo Xuan to her feet.
The two sisters walked out together.
Sitting in the seat of honor, Bai Ci Rong had already seen this, and Madam Bai had seen it too.
The atmosphere of the banquet was excellent.
The wine was mellow, so rich it could make one drunk just from the smell. In the beam of sunlight spilling down from the glazed tiles on the roof, tiny dust motes floated and spun in the air.
Bai Ci Rong sat quietly, her posture elegant. She knew many of the men at the other tables were looking at her, admiring her beauty and weighing her value.
She did not care.
What she wanted had never been the admiration of these common men.
She had been beautiful since she was young. Wherever she went, amazed gazes would follow her. She knew she was no ordinary person and would not spend her life tangled up with such vulgar men.
Yu Zhuo was also looking at her.
Bai Ci Rong looked back at him.
Their gazes met. Yu Zhuo quietly lifted his wine cup. Some people around them noticed, but Bai Ci Rong still raised her own cup in response.
In that instant, Yu Zhuo’s face lit up with joy.
[He must be madly in love with me.]
Back when Bai Ci Rong was still just a merchant’s daughter, Yu Zhuo had already been willing to marry her.
Her beauty and her rich dowry made up for the lowliness of her birth. Now that she had become the Wang family’s adopted daughter, her status was noble. Yu Zhuo would only be even more overjoyed.
[Luo Ning, no matter how capable you become, the man you have adored since childhood has never regretted abandoning you. He has never had you in his eyes.]
Thinking on Luo Ning’s behalf, Bai Ci Rong felt she must be in pain.
This pain was like a hidden illness in the heart, something she could explain to no one and that nothing could replace.
Bai Ci Rong thought that if she and Yu Zhuo had been childhood sweethearts and Yu Zhuo changed his heart, she would have to kill Yu Zhuo and make him disappear forever before the imbalance in her heart could be settled.
From this, one could imagine how long-lasting Luo Ning’s pain must be.
Bai Ci Rong took another light sip of wine.
A gaze fell on her face. It was not admiring, not probing, but cold and warning.
Following it, Bai Ci Rong looked over and saw Wang Tang Yao, the Marquis of Jian Ning’s younger brother.
Wang Tang Yao’s looks were outstanding, extraordinarily handsome, but his bearing was stern, making people not dare to offend him.
His gaze seemed almost solid, as if saying: “Be more proper. Do not embarrass the Wang family.”
Bai Ci Rong felt as if she had been slapped. Her cheeks burned.
She sat up straight, lowering her eyes, not daring to look around again.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yu Zhuo stand up and leave.
[Good.]
The plan was going smoothly. Yu Zhuo wanted her to bear all the consequences of today.
Luo Xuan was the same.
A moment later, Bai Ci Rong stood up and said she was going out for some air.
The Madam of the Marquis of Jian Ning smiled and said: “Come back soon.”
Bai Ci Rong agreed.
The Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor was very generous. Madam Wang told the maidservants to cut the peonies in the greenhouse and share them out among the guests.
When Luo Ning came back from outside, she happened to catch them handing out the peonies.
“So pretty.” Luo Ning took one and praised it again and again.
A madam beside her answered: “Only the Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor has the breadth to do this. Peonies blooming at Mid-Autumn, and tree peonies blooming in the twelfth month. It is truly astonishing.”
Luo Ning also praised: “Remarkable.”
Madam Bai heard and frowned slightly: “Do not act so affected.”
It made her look as if she had never seen the world.
Luo Ning did not speak again.
The Madam of the Marquis of Jian Ning looked around for a while but did not see Bai Ci Rong.
“Where is Fifth Miss?” someone asked.
Bai Ci Rong had been out for most of the day.
Just then, Luo Ning’s younger half sister, Luo Xuan, stumbled in and shouted loudly: “Something bad has happened, something bad has happened, elder sister!”
In an instant, all the guests turned their eyes to her.
Earlier, she had gone out together with Luo Ning, and then Luo Ning had come back first.
Madam Bai’s brows knit: “What are you making such a fuss for? Sit down at once.”
But Luo Xuan paid her no mind, too frightened: “Elder sister, Third Sister is in trouble. The Valiant Cavalry General wants to kill her!”
The Second Madam suddenly stood up: “What? Where?”
Madam Zhou, who was beside her, also rose and said: “Do not panic. Children speak nonsense. This is the Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor. How could anyone kill someone here?”
Luo Ning also looked panic-stricken and said: “Aunt, Prince Yong gave me something. Third Sister was curious and wanted to see it, so I gave it to her. Could it be that this thing has brought disaster?”
“Where is she? Take me there quickly,” the Second Madam said loudly.
Luo Xuan agreed, turned, and walked out, her steps still unsteady.
Madam Bai sat there, sensing something was wrong. Today was the Wang family’s Fifth Miss’s hairpin ceremony. Could it be that Luo Ning meant to scheme against her?
She also stood up.
The Madam of the Marquis of Jian Ning frowned and said: “What kind of behavior is this? Truly from a poor family…”
These upstarts who would never amount to much were really clumsy. Even as guests in someone else’s home, they behaved like this.
She had no choice but to stand up.
As soon as she moved, some busybodies followed along. On the men’s side, there were plenty of idle fops who loved to chase after any excitement.
When the noisy crowd reached the small side courtyard used for resting, they saw Luo Wan holding Bai Ci Rong’s outer jacket in her arms, pulling and tugging at Bai Ci Rong.
Yu Zhuo was beside them, his long sword drawn, actually looking ready to strike.
“You bastard, you dare kill someone?” The Second Madam was both shocked and furious. She rushed forward and shoved Yu Zhuo hard, saying: “If you want to kill my daughter, you might as well kill me first!”
Seeing so many people, Bai Ci Rong panicked.
“That is not what happened.”
“Why are your clothes all in disarray?” Luo Ning hurried over and asked.
Bai Ci Rong’s face looked extremely ugly: “It was Luo Wan. She insisted on searching me, saying I stole her things. That is why we were pulling and tugging.”
Luo Ning let out a meaningful: “Oh…”
The guests behind them were speechless.
“A’Rong, mind your manners and get inside at once!” the Madam of the Marquis of Jian Ning scolded sharply.