Chapter 548: Chapter 549: Reluctant Heart
"Oh, oh, I love children the most!" Dai Hanmi said with a giggling smile.
This made the Countess Xuanping very happy.
When Ruan Wanrong arrived, seeing the three of them so cheerful, she first paid her respects to the Countess Xuanping before asking, "What are you discussing that has made you all so joyful? Tell me, I want to hear as well!"
"It’s a letter from Sister Hu, she’s pregnant!" Dai Hanmi said, carefully observing Ruan Wanrong’s expression.
Ruan Wanrong’s face stiffened upon hearing this, but she quickly smiled and said, "That is wonderful news indeed. Marchioness, whenever you send gifts to Sister Hu, remember to let me know. I’d like to prepare something for her as well!"
"Sure, sure!"
The four of them talked happily among themselves, inevitably bringing up Yun Jinnian.
All they knew was that Yun Jinnian could never cleanse himself of the Auspicious Water stigma, and not much else, so they didn’t gossip further.
Yun Muyou, now the Marchioness, attended such a formal and grand banquet for the first time. She felt both excited and somewhat nervous, looking around in all directions. She tried to strike up conversations several times, but the others were polite yet distant, showing reluctance to become friendly with her.
This made her feel very embarrassed, but she dared not make a scene.
Seeing Dai Hanmi and the others, she hurried over with a smile.
Upon seeing Yun Muyou, Dai Hanmi’s face changed slightly. Many knew about Mrs. He replacing Yun Zihan’s dowry. Although they did not say it openly, behind her back, they looked down on Mrs. He.
As a stepmother, keeping a portion of the dowry was not improper, but to brazenly switch it for her own biological daughter was a clear message.
Who would want to be close with such a woman?
To speak frankly, it was Mrs. He who dragged Yun Muyou down, but the reputation of Marquis Yuanshen’s residence wasn’t much better.
Yun Muyou had merely fallen from one dirty ditch into another.
Notorious indeed.
"Countess Xuanping, Mrs. Duan, Miss Dai, Miss Chen, you’re all here!" Yun Muyou said with a smile.
She felt a bit shaky inside.
Fearing that Dai Hanmi and the others would outright ignore her.
That would be truly humiliating.
"We weren’t discussing anything much, did the Marchioness come alone?" the Countess Xuanping asked.
Although by the rank of title Marquis Yuanshen’s residence was higher, when it came to the official rank of their husbands, Weng Jianrui was somewhat inferior, not to mention the degree to which he was favored by the emperor.
Moreover, in private, Yun Muyou had a semblance of an acquaintance with Hu Shuiling. It was surprising for the Countess that Yun Muyou did not pay her respects upon seeing her.
"No, I came with others!" Yun Muyou said, her face slightly reddening.
In reality, she had come alone; it was impossible for her mother-in-law to accompany her. Her young brother-in-law did come, but as a man, it was inappropriate for him to come to the women’s quarters. Her sister-in-law was unwell and did not come, still not having recovered from the cold shoulder she received at the Mid-Autumn Palace banquet a few days earlier.
"Well, if the Marchioness came with others, then please wait for them. We will go over there to talk, so as to not disturb the Marchioness anymore!" The Countess Xuanping said, nodding towards Yun Muyou before turning to leave.
Dai Hanmi and the others felt amused inside, struggling not to look at Yun Muyou’s face which suddenly turned pale then bluish.
They followed the Countess Xuanping and left.
Yun Muyou stood in the same spot for a long time before snapping back to reality.
She realized her face was burning hot, and when she touched it, she found tears.
Startled, she quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe them away.
In today’s setting, she couldn’t afford to cry.
If anyone saw her in tears, the Princess would hold a grudge against her for life.
She took a deep breath.
If she couldn’t join the lofty circles, she could always mingle with the lower ones.
There were plenty of people from lesser households who would be eager to ingratiate themselves with her!