RPAGF Chapter 320 High-profile style
Chapter 320 High-profile style
Upon arriving at Qizhen Courtyard, where Pei Shijing resided, the two lingered for a short while before Wen Ruohuan and Shen Funian arrived.
Wen Jiayue took Zhaozhao and said, "Husband, let's go somewhere else."
Shen Fuhan naturally couldn't easily enter the woman's courtyard.
He nodded slightly. With his third sister here, even if Pei Huaijin came over, he wouldn't have a chance to speak with Wen Jiayue, so he had nothing to worry about and strode away.
Seeing her brother-in-law leave without even saying goodbye, Wen Ruohuan couldn't help but pout, looking utterly dejected.
Shen Funian snorted: "Your pout is so thick you could hang an oil gourd on it."
Worried that they would start arguing again, Wen Jiayue asked, "What's wrong with Huan'er?"
Wen Ruohuan quickly composed herself, looking exhausted, and said, "The Duke's mansion is really big; I'm so tired from walking around."
Wen Jiayue didn't expose her, but just smiled and said, "Let's go in and take a look."
Qizhen Courtyard was bustling with activity, with maids hurrying back and forth, busy with the coming-of-age ceremony, afraid of any mishap.
Despite being busy, the maids did not forget to bow and even remembered whose young ladies or mistresses they were.
Upon hearing the maid call out "Madam Shen," Pei Shijing, who was inside, quickly said, "Madam Shen, come in quickly!"
The bedroom was packed with people, with several kind-looking ladies surrounding Pei Shijing, giving her instructions on various matters.
Wen Jiayue didn't recognize her, but one of the women looked about five parts like Pei Shijing and had a graceful demeanor, so she figured she must be the Duchess of Qi.
She stepped forward, and the Duchess of Qi looked her up and down before smiling and saying, "This must be the Lady of the Marquis of Jing'an. May I call you Jiayue?"
Wen Jiayue was somewhat surprised that the Duchess of the State actually knew her maiden name.
Since they were already so intimate, she naturally couldn't address her as "Duchess" any more formally, so she smiled and nodded, saying, "Greetings, Auntie."
"You've grown into a truly gentle and charming woman," the Duchess of Qi praised. "No wonder Xiao Jing talks about you to me all the time, saying that I would definitely like your personality and appearance. She's so unreliable, but I didn't expect her to be right."
It turned out that Pei Shijing had said it. Wen Jiayue said shyly, "Auntie, you flatter me."
Lady Qi shook her head and chuckled: "Every word is the truth. I would never do something like a smiling tiger."
Before Wen Jiayue could reply, Wen Ruohuan spoke first: "Auntie is right, my sister is gentle and charming, everyone knows that."
The Duchess of Qi slowly turned her head and asked, "And who is this?"
Wen Ruohuan proudly announced her family background: "I am Wen Ruohuan, the younger sister of the Lady of Jing'an Marquis. Aunt, you can call me Huan'er."
She was confident that the Duchess of Qi would remember her, and once she became her brother-in-law's woman, countless people would try to curry favor with her.
She has now given the Duchess of Qi an opportunity; it remains to be seen whether she can seize it.
Lady Qi smiled and said, "Miss Wen, I was talking to your sister. It seems inappropriate to interrupt abruptly."
Shen Funian almost burst out laughing.
She knew Wen Ruohuan had been plotting something ever since she entered the room, so she didn't stop her and waited to see what would happen.
Hearing the Qi State Duke's wife's merciless words, he immediately felt a sense of satisfaction.
Wen Ruohuan, that idiot, really thinks she can do whatever she wants?
Without her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Qi wouldn't even glance at her.
Wen Ruohuan's smile froze; this was not what she had imagined!
"Stop with the pleasantries," Pei Shijing said. "Madam Shen, let me hold Zhaozhao."
Seeing her daughter's playful mood, the Duchess of Qi frowned and said earnestly, "Xiao Jing, your posture is not good enough, and your movements are not standard enough. Practice better first."
“No,” Pei Shijing said stubbornly, “I need to hold Zhaozhao for a while before I have the energy to practice.”
As she spoke, she pulled Zhao Zhao into her arms and gave her a big kiss.
Lady Qi shook her head helplessly, clearly at a loss with her playful daughter.
Wen Jiayue advised, "Xiao Jing is intelligent, and it's still early for her coming-of-age ceremony. She'll definitely be able to learn. Auntie, please sit down and rest for a while."
Lady Qi sat down, took a sip of tea, glanced casually at Shen Funian, and suddenly paused in surprise.
"Nian Nian?"
Shen Funian nodded: "Auntie still remembers me."
"How could I not remember? I used to hold you when you were little," the Duchess of Qi exclaimed. "You've grown so much in the blink of an eye... Why don't you come to the Duke's mansion to play anymore?"
Shen Funian laughed and said, "How could I have the face to come here? You know I did some foolish things in the past, so I haven't dared to leave the manor for several years, for fear of being scolded."
She casually revealed her past wounds, clearly indicating that the Duchess of Qi was a respected elder.
“Nonsense, it’s just that you don’t know people well,” the Duchess of Qi comforted her. “If anyone insults you, I will stand up for you.”
Wen Ruohuan looked at the Duchess of Qi in disbelief. Why was she so tolerant of Shen Funian, who had eloped and had a child, but treated her with such indifference?
But no matter how angry she was, there was nothing she could do. She felt frustrated and thought that it must be because her status was not noble enough, and that the Duchess of Qi was looking down on her.
Just wait, when the Princess arrives, she'll make her regret what she just said!
After chatting for a while, Pei Shijing took the initiative to return Zhaozhao to Wen Jiayue.
"Mother, I will definitely study hard this time," Pei Shijing said coquettishly, "Please have the nanny teach me two more times."
Lady Qi waved her hand helplessly, telling the nanny to teach her.
Everything is ready, and the auspicious time is almost here.
The group proceeded to the main courtyard to prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony.
As soon as Wen Jiayue entered the courtyard, she looked up and saw Shen Fuhan striding towards her.
The men were either sitting or standing, all motionless, while the women walked in the same direction, except for Shen Fuhan, who was walking against the flow.
For a moment, almost everyone's eyes were on him.
Including Pei Huaijin.
He was chatting and laughing with someone when he saw this, and his smile faded and slowly disappeared as he looked at Wen Jiayue.
Wen Jiayue was a little flustered. With so many people around, why did Shen Fuhan come here?
They must be looking for Shen Funian; please don't let them be looking for her.
But her pleas were to no avail; Shen Fuhan's gaze remained fixed on her, leaving her nowhere to hide.
As he approached, Shen Fuhan stopped in front of her.
He asked in a low voice, "Why did it take you so long to get here?"
The gaze that was originally focused on Shen Fuhan has now also included Wen Jiayue.
People around them were whispering and discussing their matching outfits.
“Even their daughters’ clothes are the same.”
"They even embroidered twin lotus flowers; they're so loving."
"Lord Shen is simply a role model for all married men in Chang'an."
"With a husband like this, what more could a woman ask for!"
Wen Jiayue was not used to being watched by so many people, and after hearing these words, her ears burned even more.
Caught off guard, she just wanted to end things quickly, so she urged, "Husband, you should go back now."
"What's wrong?" Shen Fuhan raised his eyebrows slightly, seemingly puzzled.
Lady Qi, the Duchess of Qi, interjected with a smile: "Lord Shen is quite amusing. Jia Yue is just shy. Can't you tell?"
Wen Jiayue's face turned bright red, and she couldn't utter a single word.
This is completely unlike Shen Fuhan's style. Why is he suddenly being so high-profile?