Chapter 170: The Scandal of the Saintess
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“Yuan Ze hasn’t returned to the manor lately; it must have been hard on you. I will speak to him more often…” The Old Madam nodded as she spoke.
“Don’t overwork yourself. Tomorrow is the Stabilizing Duke Manor’s birthday banquet, and you mustn’t miss the appointed time.”
Madam Pei smiled and agreed.
After sending off the Old Madam, Madam Pei entered the Buddha Hall.
The maid shut the doors, plunging the room into darkness.
A monk secretly clasped Madam Pei’s palm. “Jiao Jiao, your move is brilliant. Our family can finally live peacefully together.”
The man’s rough hand brushed across Madam Pei’s cheek.
A tingling sensation crept over Madam Pei’s face. She loathed Lu Yuan Ze for his cold indifference after marrying her. Now, he didn’t even return home for ten or fifteen days, choosing instead to stay elsewhere, leaving her as the subject of ridicule.
Driven by a vengeful heart, she brought the man into the manor.
The two indulged themselves before the Buddha statue, separated from the Old Madam by only a single wall.
As dawn broke, Madam Pei’s body was sore all over.
She forced herself to stand on shaky legs. “Hurry and tidy up so no one notices anything unusual.”
She dismissed the maid and returned to the main courtyard.
Lu Jing Huai was already standing in the courtyard.
“Mother, where have you come from?” His scrutinizing gaze fell on the tip of her ear, sharp as a blade.
Madam Pei’s heart raced. She suppressed her panic and steadied herself.
“Your grandmother had me pray and recite sutras at Virtue and Kindness Hall. I’ve only just returned after an all-night vigil.” She lowered her hand, which had been rubbing her waist.
She knew Lu Jing Huai was intensely opposed to that man. He would never allow her to associate with him.
Madam Pei deliberately avoided having him meet the monk. To this day, he had never seen the monk’s face.
Lu Jing Huai withdrew his gaze, though a trace of suspicion lingered in his eyes.
“Jing Huai, have you been distant toward Yun Jin lately?” Madam Pei asked softly.
“Jiang Yun Jin’s father is a second-ranked official. This will benefit your career. Treat Yun Jin kindly. She has affection for you, so indulge her a little. Don’t spend all your time following the Saintess Jing Li… The Jiang family is displeased.”
Lu Jing Huai had already stirred discontent in the Jiang family by losing to Lu Yan Shu in the examinations.
Lu Jing Huai frowned slightly. “Has Jiang Yun Jin complained to you?”
“Hmph, it’s nothing but regrets after seeing Lu Yan Shu’s prospects…” Lu Jing Huai chuckled coldly to himself.
“You needn’t worry, Mother. Jiang Yun Jin is already my woman. Apart from marrying me, she has no other choice,” Lu Jing Huai said lightly, his tone full of disdain.
“You must take care of your health and ensure you don’t fall ill before the metropolitan examination. Mother is counting on you to excel in the palace examination and secure a top-three ranking,” Madam Pei urged earnestly.
“Otherwise, your father won’t be pleased.” Madam Pei’s tone was filled with expectation.
“My position is precarious, Jing Huai. You must strive and not let the children of Madam Xu surpass you.” Madam Pei’s words carried an unspoken rivalry with Madam Xu.
She refused to lose to Madam Xu.
Lu Jing Huai responded softly, “I’ll accompany Mother to the Stabilizing Duke Manor’s banquet today.”
The Stabilizing Duke Manor held immense prestige, and the Saintess Jing Li would also be present.
Madam Pei freshened up and departed with Lu Jing Huai and Lu Jing Yao.
When they arrived, carriages already lined the entrance of the Stabilizing Duke Manor.
Lu Chao Chao, riding a dog, asked the gatekeeper, “Where should my dog park?”
The gatekeeper looked perplexed. “This… dog of yours, should it be counted as a pet or a mount?”
Lu Chao Chao scratched her head while Yu Shu laughed so hard she almost doubled over, hurriedly carrying Windchaser back to the carriage.
“Windchaser is so plump and strong, be careful or someone might butcher it for meat.”
Lu Chao Chao patted her own belly, thinking, [I feel like Yu Shu is implying something about me.]
Madam Xu almost burst out laughing.
As soon as Madam Xu alighted from the carriage, Rong Che himself came out to greet her. Madam Xu’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“Quite a few young ladies have come for your sake today…” Madam Xu teased as she glanced at him.
Rong Che gave her a sidelong glance. “My heart already belongs to someone. It doesn’t matter who comes for me.”
Madam Xu was momentarily speechless.
Upon entering, Madam Xu immediately drew numerous gazes.
“Greetings to Princess Sunshine,” the crowd greeted Lu Chao Chao with deep bows.
After they rose, their eyes began darting between Rong Che and Madam Xu. How peculiar—Rong Che, the Stabilizing General, had a notorious reputation for being curt with women. Yet, before Madam Xu, he seemed so attentive?
The old matron of the Rong family warmly took Madam Xu’s hand. “Shi Yun is my savior; you all must treat her with utmost respect.” The old matron’s words instantly elevated Madam Xu’s status.
Everyone suddenly understood—so it was because Madam Xu had saved the old matron.
Seated among the other noblewomen, Madam Xu carried a gentle, composed smile.
“Madam Xu, you are truly blessed! Your eldest son topped the provincial exam; surely, becoming the top scholar is only a matter of time.”
Madam Xu modestly shook her head. “Nothing is certain yet; let’s not jump to conclusions.”
“Oh dear, I wonder if Miss Jiang regrets her choices.”
Madam Xu responded mildly, “It was merely a lack of fate between them.”
Lu Chao Chao piped up in her soft, childish voice, “She just didn’t have the fortune for it…”
The crowd marveled at Princess Sunshine’s candidness.
“Ah, such innocent words from a child,” the old matron chuckled, covering for her. She adored how Lu Chao Chao’s youthful bluntness could leave others speechless without repercussions.
Madam Jiang’s expression stiffened as she lowered her head to sip tea.
Jiang Yun Jin, at home embroidering her bridal garments, had not attended. Madam Jiang inwardly seethed at Lu Jing Huai’s failure. It was bad enough to lose, but losing to Lu Yan Shu was unforgivable. Outwardly smiling, she was fuming inside.
[That smug look on Madam Xu’s face is unbearable,] she thought. Meanwhile, Madam Pei’s shabby attire—clearly old—only worsened her irritation. Madam Jiang grew more infuriated the more she thought about how much the Jiang family had gambled on Lu Jing Huai, only to lose everything. She’d even sacrificed her entire personal fortune. The memory alone made her want to vomit blood.
Seated beside her mother, Lu Chao Chao noticed Madam Jiang’s irritation toward Madam Pei and quietly smirked. [They’re already at odds before the marriage even begins. What will it be like afterward?]
[Ah, Jiang Yun Jin, in her quest to become the Top Scholar’s wife, abandoned my elder brother to marry Lu Jing Huai. Little does she know, Lu Jing Huai plagiarized my brother’s writings…]
[Heh, when my brother wins as the Top Scholar, Jiang Yun Jin will be seething with rage…]
…
At the banquet.
Everyone took their seats. Madam Xu, holding an imperial title, was naturally seated among the prominent figures.
“Madam Pei, you cannot sit here. Coming from a humble background, you may not understand the rules of noble families. Each seat follows strict etiquette,” remarked the Eldest Princess, holding her children with a gracious smile.
“Madam Xu’s children bring her honor, earning her this seat at the main table.”
“You, however, should sit near the entrance.”
Madam Pei’s face turned ashen, her heart brimming with humiliation.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao, seeing Lu Jing Huai leave the table, seized the opportunity. Sneaking away unnoticed by Madam Xu, she quickly followed.
Yu Shu hurried after her.
“Shhh… I’ll show you something big,” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled like starlight, dazzling with excitement.
Yu Shu immediately silenced herself.
Such was the power of gossip.
The two of them crept behind Lu Jing Huai.
Lu Jing Huai, dressed particularly dashing that day, avoided the attendants and made his way to the back courtyard of the Stabilizing Duke’s Manor.
“I overheard that Saintess Jing Li is slightly drunk and resting in the rear chambers,” a servant had said earlier.
“He wouldn’t dare… would he?” Yu Shu’s eyes widened in shock.
“Is he actually planning something against the Saintess?”
Lu Chao Chao chuckled. [Planning something? What a joke. This might become the nightmare of his life.]
Recently, Lu Jing Huai had been quite familiar with Saintess Jing Li. Using the token she had given him, he dismissed her maids.
After cautiously looking around, he entered the room.
Yu Shu’s heart leapt to her throat.
With her short legs, Lu Chao Chao had to lie flat to peek through the door crack.
Sure enough, Saintess Jing Li lay sprawled on the bed, her face flushed red with drunkenness.
“Saintess, I’ve come…” whispered Lu Jing Huai.
Oh my, another drama is brewing