Chapter 148: A very awkward family dinner 3 (1/2)
The Duke's mansion
”The Lu family does not keep concubines, madam Jiang. If you are so concerned about your niece's future, you can marry her to A'Yong. That way you can be at ease and her future can be set. Your daughter had the supportive Fu and Jiang family behind her, if you are gone nobody can bully her”
”Wha_what, I don't understand”
Madam Jiang never expected such a response from Madam Lu, her breath hitched when she heard that. She placed at her daughter, Jiang Hua looked back at her with a gradually paling face and bulging eyes. She bit her lips gently and stole glances at the three married women in the Lu family luckily the young miss wasn't her to experience her embarrassment.
Madam Lu was running short of patience when it came to this in-law of hers. Her first interaction with madam Jiang was when she was still an unmarried Young lady. Back then she was still the eldest miss of the He family, back then madam Jiang's Fu family was very influential. She was irritated by the level of arrogance this Fu family processed. That arrogance fueled her dislike of madam Jiang.
However, she was forced to relate with her since their husbands were close, if it was left to her, the engagement between the two families would never stand. Back then, she had been against the union but her husband had insisted. The Jiang family just lost their bedrock and needed a form of protection. Protection that he sought to give them until they could stand on their own.
Madam Lu sighed when she remembered the promise, she made her husband before he had gone on his last battle. No matter how much Madam Jiang irritated her, she would still honour her husband's decisions.
”What is there not to understand. Madam Jiang, I will pretend that I never heard any of this.” She brought her hand to her temple, ”it is getting late and I am feeling a little tired_.”
Madam Jiang didn't allow her completes her sentence, there was no need for that since she understood what Madam Lu was aiming at. She needed to leave before she lost what little was left of her pride. She stood with a forced smile, her daughter and niece both stood as she did. She glanced at Madam Lu and replied in a hurried tone,
”I have kept you here for too long. It is almost time for morning court to be adjourned for the day. I should better get home before Er'san gets home”
Madam Lu nodded, ”Mm, I won't see you off”.
”Thanks for having us,” Madam Jiang said owing and turning around. She had only taken a step forward when a male steward rushed inside and bowing at Madam Lu reported,
”Madam, the second young master is standing outside. He asks to come in”.
Madam Lu pulsed her lips, she glanced at the three Jiang women and rubbed her temple gently with her index finger. There was no point in keeping Lu Yaozhu from Madam Jiang and her party of two. If she stopped him from coming in, it could be seen the wrong way. She wasn't about to feed the gossip rags with detrimental information about her family.
”Let him in”, her eyes widened as if she had suddenly remembered something and continued, ”Instruct the kitchen to send over some refreshments for Xiao Zhu.”
”Yes,” her steward said and rushed out.
Su Liya paid no mind to any interactions between her mother-in-law and madam Jiang. She had a lot in her mind, She had never felt the need to properly evaluate her emotions until now. She was, however, drawn out of her thoughts when the main focus of her thoughts walked in.
Su Liya wasn't the only one affected by Lu Yaozhu's arrival, so was Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang never expected to receive such a response from Madam Lu. It took her by surprise was on her way out, Stars appeared in her eyes as she heard the servants outside chorus greetings at the General.
It was like she had hit jackpot, her ill feelings towards madam Lu fell away as there was still a way for her to succeed. She stood by the side to wait for Lu Yaozhu to come in. Although Chen Yao didn't possess the flamboyant beauty of Su Liya, she was still quite attractive. Her beauty was gentler and innocent-looking, as opposed to Su Liya's bold beauty.
She had the kind of face that touched men hearts, General Lu was a gently born man and as such his taste would be similar to that of most noblemen of his class. Noblemen married Gentile and soft beauties, those were the types you were such of their loyalties.