At this moment, the tables had already been set in the side hall while the twelve large windows had already been opened . The decoration in this room was still not in a luxury style . The waist-high Ruyao (T/N: rare variety of chinaware) white vases with bamboo patterns in which inserted colorful fresh flowers made the room look unsophisticated but also graceful .

The spring in May was warm and humid . A light breeze was blowing to the side hall from the lotus pool . The water which was flowing with a murmuring sound had a few petals of the gardenia and leaves on its surface . The hall was pleasantly cool with fragrance diffused all around . The women guests all got relaxed while uttering sighs of admiration unceasingly .

The fruits and appetizer had already been served on the tables . After Minglan had arranged all the guests on their seats, she ordered the maids to serve the dishes and warm wine . For the ladies, she had prepared the light fruit wine and the fresh fruit juice . After that, the servants came in succession to serve the dishes . Everyone started to dine .

Since it was the first time that Gu’s mansion held a feast, Mama Ge had spared no pains in cooking the dishes and shown her specialties . The common fine dishes were served without doubt . The delicacies of all kind were also presented . There were fried duck gizzard with mushrooms, ribs with sweet and sour pineapple, eel thick soup with sesame served in bamboo tubes and braised pork fillet with mushrooms on each of the tables . Every course tasted extremely palatable and everyone enjoyed the meal very much .

Women guests didn’t do finger-crossing games like men did when they drank wine . What’s more, since there were female guests from other families, those from Gu family felt inappropriate to ply Minglan with wines . Also, with the elders present at the table, the girls were quite reserved . No one suggested to do the drinkers wager game . As a result, everyone only chatted gently over the meal .

After the meal went on for a while, Minglan ordered the theatrical troupe to start the opera in the little octagonal pavilion . The musicians got ready with their drums, flutes and three stringed instruments . Then a few female performers in costume took their place in the pavilion . After the elder guests requested which play they wanted to see, the show began . The musicians started to play the music while the performers started to sing .

There was only a pond between the pavilion and the hall with a two-feet width slate bridge above . The guests watched the play on the other side of the pool while hearing the rippling sound of the water . Through the blurred shadows of the flowers and the trees, guests could enjoy both the beautiful scenery and the melodic music .

After a while, Old Madam Qin couldn’t help praising, “You did have invited great performers . Nice music, nice place . The play has feasted our ears, the scenery has feasted our eyes . ”

Hearing that, Minglan stood up right away and expressed her thanks with a smile . Second Madam Di said bitterly, “It’s all the grace from His Majesty . Sister-in-law, you truly are a lucky woman . ”

Sister-Xuan-in-law, who was sitting opposite, grinned and said immediately, “But it also requires many of the thoughts . I wouldn’t think of such a good idea even if I got such a nice place! A scholar’s family truly has raised you well, sister-in-law!”

Hearing that compliments, w.a.n.g shi who got quite complacent couldn’t help but smile . Minglan blushed and said modestly, “Sister Xuan-in-law, I’m so flattered . But I’m not the one who has come up with that idea . Official Xiong Linshan who used to live here left us an arrangement drawing . I only copied his idea . ”

Sister Xuan-in-law couldn’t help complaining, “You honest girl! I was making a boast of you! Why did you expose yourself?”

The whole room burst into laughter . Minglan lowered her head shyly . Second Madam Bing seized the chance and said, “Sister-in-law, I really like your mansion and don’t even want to leave! Look how s.p.a.cious this place is, I don’t know if I could have the chance to keep your company? Isn’t this place going to be livelier if we can all live together?”

Minglan smiled while looking at other guests from Gu’s family, finding them all putting on awkward looks on their faces . Most of the Gu’s women even glared at Second Madam Bing with reproachful looks . However, the latter pretended not to see that and still waited for Minglan’s answer .

Sister Xuan-in-law, with her face burning now, was the one who felt the most embarra.s.sed . The reason why she behaved like that was that Second Madam Bing’s conduct had not only humiliated Gu’s family in front of other families, but also humiliated the Fourth Family in front of the Gu families .

She pulled Second Madam Bing’s arms violently and said in a low voice with a forced smile on her face, “Stop talking nonsense! Your elders are still in the family, where are you going to move?!” Second Madam Bing who was either playing dumb or really dumb said straightly, “Then all of my families can move here . ”

Hearing that, even Old Madam Qin was displeased . As Fourth Old Madam, in a towering rage, was about to curse Second Madam Bing, Rulan who was sitting next to Yuan Wenying suddenly approached the latter and said, “Haven’t they already divided up the family property? Why do they still live together? Don’t you think they want to save the meal expenses?” After she said that, Yuan Wenying pushed her fiercely while winking at her to let her shut up .

Rulan’s voice was not too loud but also not too low . Although it seemed that she had only whispered to Yuan Wenying, others still managed to hear her words clearly . At present, the guests from other families all laughed while waiting to watch the fun in Gu’s mansion . They thought secretly, ‘Even if someone would move into this mansion, it should be Madam Shao or Zhu shi who belong to the First family of the Gu’s . You are only Gu Tingye’s cousin’s wife who belongs to the Fourth Family, how shameless you are to make that request?’

Gu Tingyu, being t.i.tled as Marquis Ningyuan, couldn’t move out from Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion . And Gu Tingwei, as a blood son of Old Madam Qin, had to take care of her mother and couldn’t move either . The people from the First Family had said nothing about living here, Second Madam Bing who was from the Fourth Family had already coveted Gu’s mansion . How barefaced was that!

After Rulan had said that, Gu’s women except for Old Madam Qin and Zhu shi all got very embarra.s.sed and couldn’t help glowering at Second Madam Bing . Fourth Old Madam was the most furious one . Just now when she had talked with other guests, a few n.o.ble madams had already shown favor toward the graceful and eloquent Tingying . It was very likely that Tingying might be introduced to the excellent nephews of those n.o.ble madams . Now Second Madam Bing had disgraced their family, Tingying’s engagement would fall through . Fourth Old Madam only wanted to eat Second Madam Bing alive!

Being gazed by so many people, Second Madam Bing had to lower her head and shut up no matter how thick-skinned she was .

Minglan remained silent . Actually, she had only known about the details about how the Gus had divided up the family property until lately .

When Gu’s family had been involved in a felony, Grand Old Maser Gu, fearing that the whole family would be implicated, decided to divide up the family property so that some of their family property could still be reserved . However, after a few months, Bai shi had married into the Gu family and their crisis had been solved . Since Old Master Gu had been garrisoning the frontier all year round, the Fourth and the Fifth family still lived in Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion, and no one had even mentioned about dividing up the family property and moving out after Old Master Gu returned to the capital, .

Right at this moment, Old Madam Lu who had been listening intently to the play with her eyes squinted the whole time suddenly murmured something feebly, “Alas . . . I am an old woman who couldn’t hear things clearly . I don’t even know what they are singing now because you guys kept talking . ”

Fourth Old Madam finally got relieved and said instantly, “Pardon us for disturbing you . ” Then she gave a fierce stare at Second Madam Bing and said in a heavy voice with a fake smile on her face, “Stop talking now! Listen to the song!”

Only after that did the room fall in silence . Minglan shook her head secretly and sighed . Then she turned her head to look at the pavilion on the water . Now she only wanted to ignore those women and enjoy the play quietly .

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