FID – Chapter 567

Chapter 567: Now, I don’t want to give it anymore! (Bonus update 2)

After some laughter and chaos, once they learned the reason the two of them had come, Liu Zhixia personally escorted them to the tea party venue.

The Ding residence, a prominent household in the city.

As a major southern state, Yunzhou had no shortage of notable families and wealthy merchants, but only four families truly held significant power and status: the Ding, Zhao, Gu, and Guo families.

There used to be the Liang and Hou families, but after the Liang family’s involvement in a corruption scandal, they fell out of the upper circles and have been gradually neglected.

As for the Hou family, due to Hou Deye’s demotion and transfer, they swiftly lost their position at the top. During their time in disgrace, no one dared to offer them favors, and without connections, their downfall was inevitable.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Ding residence, where a servant immediately stepped forward to greet them and assist them, showing great courtesy.

After Liu Yusheng and Fu Yuzheng were helped off the carriage, Liu Zhixia hurried back to the yamen to deal with the official matters his predecessor had left unresolved. He planned to pick them up after the gathering had ended.

Standing at the entrance of the Ding residence and surveying the magnificent estate before them, Liu Yusheng then helped Fu Yuzheng inside.

As they passed the front courtyard’s screen wall, they could already hear the sounds of light laughter coming from the front hall.

Inside, a number of noble young ladies had already gathered, dressed in fine clothing and wearing exquisite makeup.

When the young servant led the guests in, noticing the unfamiliar faces, one of them, a young woman dressed in the attire of a married woman and noticeably pregnant, immediately realized, “It’s the Prefect’s wife and the Lady Ruyi!”

A group of noble ladies quickly rose and went out to greet them.

Although they were all noblewomen, they held no official rank and were more local in status, thus lower than the two newcomers in terms of standing.

Not to mention that they needed to flatter the Prefect’s wife, but the Ruyi County Lady was especially respected, being betrothed to the King of Nanling, making her a future princess.

The first young lady to step forward, about sixteen or seventeen years old, elegant and graceful, was Miss Ding Wenxuan, the second daughter of the Ding family.

“Miss Ding Wenxuan, along with the other noble ladies, pays her respects to the Madam Lu and Lady Ruyi,” Ding Wenxuan said, bowing. The other noble ladies quickly followed suit.

Among the four great families of Yunzhou, the Ding family ranked first.

They held a leadership position.

As such, no one would dare to disregard Miss Ding Wenxuan.

Since she had already bowed, how could anyone dare to stand on ceremony?

“Miss Ding, no need for such formality. Today’s gathering will be treated as peers; Lady Ruyi and I are of similar age as you,” Fu Yuzheng smiled and said.

Liu Yusheng, standing beside her, nodded in acknowledgment as well.

The gathering today was centered around Fu Yuzheng, as she was to help build diplomatic relations.

In the future, she would have to interact with these young ladies often.

Following Ding Wenxuan’s invitation, they sat down in the hall, and Liu Yusheng took the chance to scan the room full of noble young ladies. She was startled to see that Kang Ziyu was also present, though sitting in a more remote spot.

After a moment of thought, she understood. While Kang Ziyu was the daughter of a county magistrate, her status could not compare to the noble ladies of the prefecture capital.

This was the difference between a small place and a big place.

What puzzled her, though, was why Kang Ziyu was here. Wasn’t she supposed to be in Xiangshan County before marriage?

Kang Ziyu, noticing Liu Yusheng’s gaze, quickly turned her face away. Upon closer inspection, her eyes flickered slightly.

After tea was served, Ding Wenxuan began introducing the people present, all from the four great families. Finally, she mentioned Kang Ziyu, “Miss Kang is the daughter of Magistrate Kang from Xiangshan County. Lady Ruyi should be familiar with her. Miss Kang has mentioned that you and she have old ties and a good relationship.”

Liu Yusheng thought, “…” 

No wonder her eyes flickered. She’s trying to show off in front of all these noble ladies? 

A good relationship, huh?

“Miss Ding must be joking,” Fu Yuzheng replied with a faint smile. “Our girl, Nannan, and Miss Kang have only met a few times, due to the connection between the Liu family’s winery and Magistrate Kang’s family. As for their relationship, I wouldn’t call it anything special. Rumors can’t always be trusted.”

Her gaze towards Kang Ziyu grew somewhat cold.

Her response caused a brief pause among the group, and the way they looked at Kang Ziyu subtly shifted.

Ding Wenxuan blushed, “So that’s the case. It’s my fault for not asking clearly, causing a misunderstanding. Please don’t mind, Madam and Lady Ruyi.”

“Not at all, it’s no big deal. We’ve encountered similar situations before,” Fu Yuzheng replied. 

This eased the awkwardness in the room with a casual tone. Naturally, this also made Kang Ziyu’s situation even more uncomfortable.

It felt as if she was being caught in a lie, exposed right there.

Afterwards, the ladies engaged in small talk, and the noble ladies subtly ignored Kang Ziyu, with only Ding Wenxuan occasionally showing her some attention.

“Yunzhou City is quite far from the capital. I heard a message from the capital recently, saying that Lady Ruyi and the current King of Nanling have already been betrothed. Is that true?” Ding Wenxuan asked with a smile.

“It’s true,” Liu Yusheng nodded. When the betrothal took place, the two families had not made a big fuss about it, so the news did not spread quickly.

However, these noble families in the capital had their own channels for gathering news. Ding Wenxuan’s question was just a polite confirmation.

“In that case, we here would like to congratulate my lady. May you and His Highness soon be united in marriage.”

“Congratulations Lady Ruyi!”

The ladies all offered their congratulations, and Liu Yusheng responded with a smile to each of them.

This gathering was much more harmonious than the previous one. At least no one was overtly scheming, and although gatherings like this were meant to build connections, such things were common in high society. As long as no one caused trouble, Liu Yusheng didn’t find it too unpleasant.

Fu Yuzheng had been wary of this situation as well. The gathering was full of unmarried noble ladies, and she worried that someone might be jealous of Nannan’s good fortune and say something unpleasant.

If that happened, as Grandma Liu had said, she wouldn’t hesitate to use her status to put them in their place.

“It’s just an engagement, not a marriage yet. Isn’t it too soon for congratulations? People get married and still end up divorced. Who knows if she’ll truly become a phoenix perched on the parasol tree, or just a pheasant that fell from the branches?”

Just as Fu Yuzheng had that thought, a sharp and mocking voice rang out.

Her eyes turned cold as she looked straight at Kang Ziyu.

Liu Yusheng, sensing her tension, gently squeezed her hand in reassurance and then turned to the speaker with a faint smile. “Becoming a phoenix doesn’t require perching on a parasol tree. Even if I’m not married yet, Miss Kang, you still have to bow when you see me, because I am the Ruyi County Lady. My status is equal to your father’s.”

Kang Ziyu glared at Liu Yusheng; her eyes welled up with jealousy.

In the past, she had always been the center of attention. Now, in the prefecture capital, she was overlooked—but that was because the noble ladies here had naturally higher status than her, and she had accepted it. But what about Liu Yusheng?

She was just a mere peasant girl!

If she hadn’t clung to the King of Nanling, how would she dare act so arrogant? It was because of her that Liu Zhixia had replaced her father as governor!

“You only became a county lady because of luck. Do you really think you have any actual ability?” she sneered.

Liu Yusheng tilted her head slightly. “It’s fine if I don’t have ability. I have luck. Do you?”

“You! Liu Yusheng! I am at least the daughter of a county magistrate. You never dared to speak to me like this before!”

Liu Yusheng’s gaze turned icy as she looked at her.

“It wasn’t that I didn’t dare. I was just being polite and giving you face. Now, I don’t feel like it anymore.”