Chapter 183 - The Difference Between The Real And The Fake

“Yuru, you and Miss Qi may go, Wanru doesn’t want to go. Let her stay with me!” Shui Ruolan smiled and said.

Qin Yuru heaved a deep sigh of relief, because she was really afraid that Shui Ruolan would make her stay. If so, that would be terrible. It was not easy to get such an opportunity to show off, and she could not afford to waste it.

She felt happy, but deliberately showed some unwillingness on her face. After a moment of hesitation, she said meekly, “Yes!”

Today, Qi Rongzhi’s manners were quite faultless. Before leaving with Qin Yuru, she even made a special bow to Shui Ruolan, then walked out with Qin Yuru.

Both could be counted as outstanding beauties, had manners, were of the same height, and had their unique styles. So, they attracted the attention of those madams, who secretly asked about who they were exactly, and their engagement statuses.

Qin Wanru and Shui Ruolan sat on the seats that were allocated to them by an old maid. She sat beside Shui Ruolan, and Madam of Duke Xing went about her routine of entertaining some guests. She was afraid the two newcomers would be unfamiliar with the situation, so she specially arranged for the smart old maid to be their guide.

Seated at a distance, Countess Yong gave them a cold glance, an enigmatic smile on her face, as she chatted with several madams around her. Instantly, these madams turned to Shui Ruolan, with a little ridicule on their faces.

A remarried widow who still thinks she was someone important, and even making Madam of Duke Xing welcome her at the gate. She didn’t know she did not deserve this kind of treatment.

All these madams thought themselves as highly born, and would not treat a remarried widow as one of their kind. Just now, Madam of Duke Xing treated her with high respect, but when they arrived, they did not receive such a grand welcome!

Their eyes that looked at Qin Wanru were filled with ridicule. “Did this girl beg to come along?”

Two girl servants came out with two big basins of fruits. Putting the basins down in front of Shui Ruolan respectfully, they said, “Madam Shui, our madam is concerned that you are not used to the capital’s fruits. These are Jiangzhou’s local products, but they might not be so fresh, due to their having been sent over by freight.”

“Help me thank your madam!” Shui Ruolan said, but she had a frown on her face.

Qin Wanru remained silent, looking around at the crowd at Madam of Duke Xing, and a slightly cold smile appeared on her face. The madam showered them with undue respect time and again, in front of so many people. Her good intentions seemed not as sincere as it appeared to be!

She discovered that when Madam of Duke Xing saw the bluegrass pattern on several people’s garments, her eyes narrowed slightly, although her smile did not change. Did this mean Madam of Duke Xing was familiar with this pattern? Or was she aware of the seal?

Today, she, Qin Yuru’s, and Qi Rongzhi’s embroidery patterns looked similar, but the most similar one was Qin Yuru’s, then hers. Qi Rongzhi’s had been changed slightly, and the least similar one was her pattern.

Generally speaking, the three patterns looked very much like the real one, but Qin Yuru’s looked like the actual one, and her and Qi Rongzhi’s looked like fakes.

Using the fakes as a comparison, the real one was no doubt extremely eminent. Blinking her watery eyes, she really expected to see something different today!

If the seal was really related to the Duke Xing’s Mansion, an incident was bound to happen at today’s banquet.

“Madam Shui, I’ve heard you are a remarried woman?” Madam of Duke Xing’s repetitive show of respect finally annoyed several noble madams, especially those in Duke Yong’s Mansion, who were closer. Now, a madam craned her head to look at Shui Ruolan, as she asked with a faint smile. The scorn on her lips could clearly be seen.

Since she was well prepared, Shui Ruolan nodded naturally, “Right!”

“Madam Shui, you are really lucky!” The madam covered her mouth with her handkerchief, speaking in a sarcastic tone. A remarried woman who thinks of herself as someone so important.

“My mother is really lucky and also kind-hearted!” Qin Wanru had long witnessed everything. Seeing several madams around them chatting in twos and threes, she raised her head and smiled. “If it was not because she had to look after me, she would entered the nunnery!”

Since the topic was started, she wanted to say more.

Her words made the people around her, confused. They studied her several times, and one of them asked curiously, “What do you mean by “look after you? Didn’t your father have other concubines?”

Earlier, they heard from the several madams around Countess Yong, saying that the Qin’s Mansion was the one which Madam Di of the Duke Yong’s Mansion, was wedded into.

“Right, my father also has Madam Di, but she has to look after my big sister, manage the affairs of the house, as well as the business of our shops. She could not spare the time to look after me. So, after a talk, my father and Madam asked my mother to enter the mansion to look after me.”

Qin Wanru explained with a slight smile.

She only looked after her own daughter, not the other girl. She could not spare the time? These words were just an excuse, but everyone knew what they meant!

Did Madam Di allow this widow to join the mansion only because she was unwilling to look after another woman’s child? But it did not seem to be the case. They had never come across such things, but they had heard about them. It was unreasonable to make one’s husband marry one more wife, to solely look after the child that his concubine had given birth to.

She was also a wife, not a common concubine, so it would not be easy to deal with her. Who wanted to bring herself against such a powerful rival? Shui Ruolan was also exceptionally beautiful. So, everyone was confused, and some even sneaked a peek at Countess Yong’s face.

There were still things that they were not aware of.

Countess Yong never thought Qin Wanru would speak out on such an occasion. Angered, she flushed, but knew this was not the time to say anything. That Shui Ruolan joined the family should not be discussed openly, without thinking about the end result. It was said that the witness was still missing. If this topic was discussed, it would not look good on her.

Initially, she only used Madam of Duke Xing’s influence to persuade and secretly provoke these madams, making them, who always had a high opinion of themselves, stir up trouble out of anger, but she never thought the plot would hurt herself in the end.

Tilting her face to one side, she pretended she did not hear anything.

“Do you mean your mother didn’t know your father beforehand?” another madam said sarcastically.

Shui Ruolan’s expression changed slightly. When she was ready to answer, Qin Wanru stopped her. “Sure, my father knew my mother!”

“If so, what was the proof that she was taking care of you? It could be that she wanted to join the mansion and said so!” The madam looked mean and sounded very harsh. Laughing sarcastically, she raised her chin to look at Shui Ruolan, with an air of obvious provocation.

“Madam, what do you mean?” Qin Wanru’s watery eyes blinked and turned cold. She was but a child, but her demeanor quietened the murmurs near her.

“I don’t mean anything, but I am curious. Second Miss, you are only a child and don’t really understand! In this world, too many people use others. If we are not careful enough, we will become an excuse for others.” The madam said dismissively, meaning Qin Wanru was fooled by Shui Ruolan, who had relations with Qin Huaiyong a long time ago, but used the reason of looking after her, as an excuse.

Countess Yong smiled, raised her eyebrows, and continued to pretend that she did not hear anything.

Far away, Madam of Duke Xing also smiled happily, chatting with another madam about some trivial household chores, as if she was not aware about the trivial gossip.

“This madam, if you don’t believe it, go to Jiangzhou and make your enquiries. The whole of Jiangzhou knows it! Shouldn’t all the Jiangzhou people be as as wise as you?” Qin Wanru said calmly, in a higher-pitched voice.

Countess Yong’s face turned stiff, and her smile lessened. Her face looked like she could not take it any more.

Reprimanded, the madam blushed instantly. “Naive child, you don’t know you’ve been deceived!”

“Madam, you think too much. It is admirable that you care so much for a child!” Shui Ruolan squeezed Qin Wanru’s hand lightly, and raised her bright eyes to look at the unkind madam.

Apparently, she had been rude to Qian Wanru, but Shui Ruolan said it was because she cared for her. The unkind madam’s face became redder, and she never thought the mother and her daughter could be so sharp tongued.

“What? Did something happen?” Madam of Duke Xing’s gentle voice asked.

Madam of Duke Xing felt slightly anxious, and walked over. Seeing this, Qin Wanru’s eyes glistened. The dispute had been so loud, but Madam of Duke Xing apparently did not hear it. She was putting on too much of an act.

“Nothing serious, everyone is joking!” one madam tried to mediate the dispute.

“Madam Shui, are you really all right?” Madam of Duke Xing looked at Shui Ruolan, asking her in a caring tone

“I am okay. A few madams had questions. If anyone is still curious, come straight to me. Wanru is still young and naive. If she said something wrong, madams, please forgive her!” Shui Ruolan stood up, bowed slightly to the surroundings, then sat down again.

“Good, good, Second Miss is such a cute child. How could anyone blame her?” Madam of Duke Xing smiled and said, with a relaxed air. The words she spoke sounded pleasant, and it seemed that she treated everyone the same, regardless of status.

Qin Wanru simply turned her eyes away from Madam of Duke Xing’s face. Either in this life or in Qin’s preexistence, Madam of Duke Xing appeared smooth and slick. Only when they were alone, did she show her disgusting manners.

Since Madam of Duke Xing spoke so, everyone had to listen to her and sat down again. But just as they sat down, they saw an old maid run toward them hurriedly and whisper in Madam of Duke Xing’s ear. Then madam’s teacup dropped to the floor. She screamed in a low voice, “What? Fighting again?”