The spring banquet at the Duke Cheng's Mansion had become the most talked-about event since the beginning of this year. In just a few days, everyone in the streets and alleys of the capital, from the elderly in their eighties to teenagers, was talking about the Xu family.
Xiao Cui from Desheng class first testified that the Zhang family had secretly hooked up with the Cheng Guogong Mansion before breaking off the engagement. Then the gossiping ladies made up various versions of this matter. Then even more explosive news came out - the eldest daughter of the Zhang family became the concubine of Prince Zhuang!
This is really new.
The first and second wives of the Zhang family both had sons, and they didn't even have a concubine's daughter, so the first girl in the Zhang family was born from the third wife. Unexpectedly, this eldest lady would have such an adventure.
Some people who were curious about this made a sound of "tsk tsk" and stroked their chins in amazement: "Is there really something magical about the daughters of the Zhang family? Otherwise, why are they so popular among the rich and powerful families?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
The restaurant was instantly filled with happy laughter.
The guys were walking back and forth, and someone shouted back, "Why don't you know this? It's because of their family background! Otherwise, how could one of them become the wife of the prince of the Duke's Mansion, and the other the concubine of Prince Zhuang?!"
Some people even slammed their hands on the table in protest, and started a heated discussion: "Maybe the girl from the Zhang family is pretty..."
In the peaceful atmosphere, the window of the private room on the second floor was slammed shut.
"Shameless!" Tian Rui's lips moved, and her cheeks puffed up with anger, just like a goldfish. She closed the window angrily, feeling that her whole body was blazing with anger: "The family tradition is corrupt, and you are not ashamed of it, but proud of it!"
She was so angry that she almost died.
Her second sister Tian Xun elegantly held the cup and drank tea, turning a deaf ear to her anger. After a pause, she laughed lightly: "It's really funny. What does it have to do with you if they are shameless?"
Tian Rui glared at her.
"I know." Tian Xun was not afraid of her at all. He said with a click of the tongue, "It's because you thought Su Yao was the biggest worry, but you didn't expect that in the end, this woman from the Zhang family took advantage of you. Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Different from ordinary sisters.
Tian Xun and Tian Rui went in and out of the palace and fawned on the empress dowager. They were never well-behaved young ladies.
It doesn't really matter to them whether the things they like have someone else. If they do, they'll just let him be.
Therefore, after raising his eyebrows and taking a look at the lively scene downstairs, Tian Xun said slowly: "Why are you in such a hurry? If you really don't like her, then don't let her be the boss."
Tian Rui's eyes were dark and unclear.
Someone downstairs started to scold those people again: "Be careful, aren't you afraid that your words will cause trouble?"
Can the Duke of Chengguo's Mansion be discussed casually? They are really not afraid of breaking taboos at all.
Only at this moment did Tian Rui snort.
Does the Xu family still have time to investigate these matters
The Chengguo Mansion really does not have time to care about what these people say. Whether their reputation is ruined or not is one thing, and now they are involved in a lawsuit.
Xu Rui came back from outside in a hurry again, without his usual elegance and carelessness, and without any regard for etiquette and rules. He walked through the screen wall, around the front yard, and saw two half-grown children, one tall and one short, at a glance.
He paused, Xu Rui's expression did not change, but his tone was indifferent: "What are you doing standing here?"
He and Zhang Linghui's two children, Xu Tongzhou and Xu Tongji, ran over to him tremblingly and saluted.
Xu Tongzhou was the elder brother. Seeing him waving his hand impatiently to leave, he hurried over and grabbed his sleeve: "Dad! Mom is sick, please go see her..."
The children were in a state of panic, something had happened at home, and the relationship between their parents had taken a sharp turn for the worse, and no one knew this better than them.
Xu Rui frowned even more tightly, and turned around and left without saying a word after hearing this.
When things are going well, his lovely wife is like a flower in the mirror and the moon in the sky, and he wishes he could stick to her every day.
But when everyone despises this flower, and he still loves her like a treasure, what do other people think of him and how will they view him
Xu Tongzhou didn't hold him back. He just stared at the sleeve that was floating away, feeling lost.
Xu Tongji, who was only seven years old, finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears.
The two children returned to their mother's yard in a daze. As soon as they entered the door, they smelled a strong aroma of medicine. They walked through the busy yard and entered the door. Xu Tongji broke free from his brother's hand and ran to his mother, saying aggrievedly: "Mom! Dad ignored us..."
Zhang Linghui closed her eyes.
Although this was actually something that was expected, and no one knew the temperament of the person next to you better than yourself, it was still difficult to accept this cruel reality when it was placed before you.
Her face turned red due to excessive excitement. Seeing Xu Tongji looking at her with fear and anxiety, her heart was broken.
No matter how cruel a mother animal is, she will show all her fangs when her cubs are in danger.
"It's okay, it's okay." She patted her son's hand, smiled gently, and comforted them: "Your father is too busy. Many things have happened in our house. He..."
Xu Tongzhou was older. When he heard his mother say this, he was stunned for a moment before looking at her. He seemed to be hesitating and hesitant. After a while, he asked her, "Mom, is my cousin going to be the concubine of Prince Zhuang?"
Zhang Linghui's face suddenly darkened. She rolled her hands and coughed violently for a while before asking, "Who said that?"
"It's all over the place." Xu Tongzhou's voice sounded very low, as if he couldn't understand: "Why do they all say that my cousin is the same as you..."
These words actually reached the ears of the child!
For the first time, Zhang Linghui hated herself for going too far and forcing the Su family into a desperate situation.
It would have been better if I hadn’t provoked Su Rong at that time.
Bitterness spread in her mouth. She hugged her youngest son with one hand and held her eldest son's hand with the other. She shook her head weakly: "Don't listen to these nonsense. Just study hard with the teacher..."
Then he panted and said, "Don't worry, after this busy period, your father will not be angry anymore."
Xu Tongji was busy asking why.
Xu Tongzhou was calmer. He looked at his mother's pale face, hesitated for a moment, and then comforted her: "Don't worry, Dad must be too busy. When he is done, everything will be the same as before."
Zhang Linghui's heart ached even more as her sons were so well-behaved and sensible. She was just thinking about how to win back Xu Rui's heart when she saw Aunt Zhang rushing in and reported in panic, "Oh no, oh no, Madam, the prince was just taken away by the Royal Guards!"