Chapter 238: The Hundred Duck Banquet
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Rong Zhen Zhen took a sudden step back, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at her elder brother.
Her brother was a ruthless man, and in her entire life, she feared him the most.
She silently wiped away her tears, afraid that if she were too slow, a slap from her brother would land on her face.
“I just feel sorry for Che’er. Che’er…”
“That was Che’er’s own choice! He remained chaste for Shi Yun until the age of thirty-five. What more do you want? If he can’t marry Shi Yun, the Rong family will have no descendants!”
“Do you not know Che’er’s nature? He will never settle for less in this lifetime!”
“Don’t use sibling bonds to manipulate me!”
“At worst, I will disown you as my sister!”
“Do you believe that I will go to your husband’s house and hang myself?” The Old Stabilizing Duke’s words made Rong Zhen Zhen shudder.
“You have both a son and a daughter. Your eldest son married early and enjoys family bliss, but what about me? One foot in the coffin, and I haven’t even seen a daughter-in-law yet!” The Old Stabilizing Duke stiffened his neck in frustration.
Rong Zhen Zhen guiltily shrank her neck.
“But you can’t have Che’er marry into another family! He is our only son!”
The Old Stabilizing Duke gave her a glance. “So what if he’s the only son? Your mother and I are willing to go with him…”
“We’re just afraid Shi Yun will dislike it…”
“Whoever marries into another family doesn’t usually bring their parents along…” The Old Stabilizing Duke sighed regretfully.
Rong Zhen Zhen: ??
“Mother, why are you looking for Uncle again?” As they spoke, a strikingly heroic young woman strode forward.
She was dressed in a red long dress. Though wearing a skirt, her movements carried a bold and valiant air.
Her brows and eyes were as picturesque as a painting, exuding a sharp presence.
“It’s all for you!”
“Che’er wants to propose to Madam Xu. Madam Xu has three sons and a daughter. In what way are you inferior to her?” Rong Zhen Zhen began to wipe her tears as she spoke.
“Mother, what happened to Shi Yun was not her fault. She has three sons and a daughter, yet Cousin still loves her. That proves she has extraordinary qualities!”
“I don’t like Cousin. I never thought of marrying him,” the young woman, Zhou Shu Yao, said helplessly.
“In this world, life is already hard for women. You must not make things more difficult for them!”
“Stop meddling in marriages! If you ruin Cousin’s engagement, I won’t help you.”
“Uncle, don’t believe my mother’s nonsense. As for Cousin…” Zhou Shu Yao’s expression showed a hint of disdain.
“I have never met Sister Shi Yun, but her children are incredibly intelligent. Cousin marrying Sister Shi Yun is already a high match. Isn’t this raising the quality of our Rong family’s bloodline? The children will be even smarter…”
Rong Zhen Zhen glared at her daughter angrily.
Seeing that she was truly uninterested, she could only sigh.
“Fine, fine. I can’t control you.”
“Seventeen years old and still not engaged—I want to see who you’ll marry in the future!”
Zhou Shu Yao didn’t care. She accompanied her uncle for lunch before riding away on horseback.
She arrived outside Rong Che’s residence.
“Cousin, Cousin! I heard you’re going to propose? How could you abandon your cousin?!” Zhou Shu Yao looked at Rong Che with a pained expression.
“If you get married, they will start pressuring me next!!”
“You’re seventeen. It’s time for you to get engaged.” Rong Che gave her a glance, full of disdain.
“Engaged? To whom? I don’t want to be engaged. Men always have multiple wives and concubines. Why should I be one of them?”
“Besides, why should I give up an entire forest for one tree?”
“The young men at Plain Cloud Hall are so handsome!” Zhou Shu Yao clasped her cheeks, her face turning pink, eyes sparkling like stars.
Rong Che slammed the door shut in anger.
“Don’t let me hear the name Plain Cloud Hall! A group of men… men…” Rong Che’s face turned ashen as he pointed at her but couldn’t finish his sentence.
“Male courtesans… You can also call them ducks!” Zhou Shu Yao waved dismissively, unconcerned.
“I’m just looking, not doing anything. Can’t I appreciate beauty?”
“The legitimate granddaughter of the Minister of Rites frequenting Plain Cloud Hall—what a disgrace! Be careful not to anger Aunt to death!” Rong Che was nearly at his wit’s end.
“Also, don’t mention Plain Cloud Hall in front of Shi Yun! If you corrupt Shi Yun, I will not forgive you! One day, I will tear down Plain Cloud Hall!”
Zhou Shu Yao pouted in boredom.
“Fine, fine, I won’t mention it. But Plain Cloud Hall is not something just anyone can tear down!” she said smugly.
Plain Cloud Hall had undergone countless investigations but remained standing strong. Its backing was formidable.
“Stay away from me! I’m about to propose marriage, so keep your distance!” Rong Che extended a finger, motioning her to step back.
“Cousin and cousin sounds too ambiguous. Stay away from me! I can’t let Shi Yun misunderstand!”
Zhou Shu Yao was stunned.
We’re three meters apart, Cousin!!
“Then I’ll leave?” Zhou Shu Yao pointed at the door.
Rong Che gave a dismissive expression, showing not a single hint of reluctance.
Zhou Shu Yao ground her teeth as she walked away. “Rong Che, you’re already practicing male virtue before even getting married?”
“I’m not even interested in you. Aren’t the ‘ducks’ at Plain Cloud Hall more attractive?”
As she left, she continued grumbling.
Suddenly…
She halted and turned back, spotting Lu Chao Chao holding a dog, eyes gleaming as he looked at her.
“Big Sister, where are the ducks? Chao Chao wants to go too!”
Zhou Shu Yao: ??
“P-Princess Sunshine…” She hurriedly saluted.
Her face remained calm, but inside, she was in turmoil.
Oh no, she was doomed! Talking about this in front of Princess Sunshine—would His Majesty silence her?!
The two maidservants behind Lu Chao Chao already had cold glints in their eyes.
Yu Shu subtly moved to the back, seemingly whispering to the secret guards.
“Big Sister, take me with you!”
“Is it the Plain Cloud Hall?”
“Why have I never heard of this restaurant before?” Lu Chao Chao had just finished lessons when she saw Zhou Shu Yao muttering as she left the Rong residence.
Zhou Shu Yao was dumbfounded. A restaurant?!
“Come on, Big Sister… Hurry! Chao Chao hasn’t had lunch yet.” Lu Chao Chao rubbed her stomach.
“Which family are you from, Big Sister?”
Zhou Shu Yao wanted to cry but had no tears. “I am Rong Che’s cousin, named Shu Yao, Princess Sunshine…”
“Sister Shu Yao, thank you! I love Eight-Treasure Duck!” Lu Chao Chao only cared about food.
Knowing she was an acquaintance, she smiled even sweeter.
Half an hour later.
Zhou Shu Yao sat in Plain Cloud Hall, staring expressionlessly at a grand feast of a hundred duck dishes.
“Eight-Treasure Gourd Duck, Fish-Fragrant Whole Duck, Sesame-Crisp Duck, Suzhou Marinated Duck, Jinling Roast Duck, and even Old Duck Soup…”
“Sister Shu Yao, you’re amazing!!”
“This Hundred Duck Banquet is so delicious. Try some! Why is that handsome young man at the entrance crying?” Lu Chao Chao pointed at the weeping greeter.
He was strikingly handsome…
Zhou Shu Yao wiped away her tears.
“Probably celebrating the restaurant’s grand opening.”
Heavens, in just half an hour, Plain Cloud Hall had been completely cleared out.
Where was the powerful backing now?
Her Plain Cloud Hall had turned into a restaurant the moment Lu Chao Chao arrived!
Her joy was gone!