Chapter 604 - Chapter 604: Chapter 610 (2/2)

“Miss Liu flatters me,” Su Wenyue replied with a serene smile, not feeling elated or vain from everyone’s compliments and praises. If this had been her from her previous life, perhaps she would have felt superior and boastful, but now, finding herself in this situation, she found it uninteresting. People only understand after experiencing life what is significant and what is merely vanity. These people who compliment her when she is in favor would likely change their tune if she were to fall from grace.

Such an unflappable response from Su Wenyue won the favor and agreement of some of the ladies present. Those who attended the Flower Viewing Banquet were not merely there for leisure. Apart from showing face to the City Lord’s wife, they were also there to gather information to help their husbands make decisions. Sometimes, the dynamics of the inner court could reveal a lot that couldn’t be seen from the outside, making social interactions within the inner court a profound art in themselves.

In Peicheng, the City Lord Mansion was considered the most influential, but there were various other local forces. While these forces might not compare to the City Lord Mansion, they were still significant powers to be reckoned with. Not everyone was aligned with the City Lord, so even though Liu Wenyong had made his stance regarding Liu Xiu and Han Yu clear, there were still those opposed, with many adopting a wait-and-see approach, pondering whether Liu Xiu and Han Yu were worth their support.

Liu Xiu and Han Yu were well-known not only for their external reputations but also for their apparent capabilities, which demanded serious consideration. Yet, these were only aspects visible on the surface. The behavior within the inner court also reflected many underlying truths, and the demeanor of Yin Lihua and Su Wenyue had already provided the ladies with much food for thought.

Those with a bit of insight were well aware of the City Lord’s calculations, but with Yin Lihua not being an ordinary wife, whether the City Lord would get his way was still uncertain. They didn’t want to get involved and risk offending someone, potentially causing trouble. Yet, fostering good relations with Su Wenyue didn’t carry the same concerns.

Prior to arriving, Su Wenyue had received a hint from Han Yu. She responded to the overtures from these ladies, paying particular attention to a few from the City Lord Mansion and the main players among Peicheng’s ladies. She aimed to amass as much useful information as possible to assist Han Yu.

Of course, not everyone shared these thoughts, and there were discordant voices. Just as Liu Xinru had begun to praise Su Wenyue, someone openly contradicted her.

“Sister, I must disagree. Madame Han is indeed as lovely as a flower, but as for being ‘virtuous and well-behaved,’ I fear that description doesn’t quite fit her. Everyone knows how jealous General Han’s wife is, monopolizing General Han all to herself, with not even a single concubine in the backyard, the epitome of a jealous wife, hardly worthy of ‘virtuous and well-behaved.’ Sister, please don’t make such amusing jokes, hehe!” A woman, also dressed brightly but in the style of a matron, said with a laugh, her tone blatantly mocking.

The place fell silent, as all eyes turned to this outspoken young lady who disrespected the only legitimate daughter of the City Lord Mansion and insulted Madam Han. She was none other than the City Lord Mansion’s Second Young Lady, Mrs. Shao.

Although the City Lord’s second son, Liu Xuan, was not the legitimate heir, he was highly regarded by the City Lord and adept at winning people over, wielding considerable influence in Peicheng. He had married Mrs. Shao, a Socialite Lady from Peicheng.

With a formidable husband and a powerful mother’s family, Mrs. Shao was full of confidence. She was known for her boldness and sometimes even the City Lord’s wife had to handle her with caution. Peicheng likely had no one but her daring to speak such words at this moment. That the speaker was Mrs. Shao didn’t surprise anyone, but with the City Lord Mansion having shown its stance, it was unclear why Mrs. Shao targeted Su Wenyue in such a manner.