Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Chapter 328: The Elegant Young Master (1/2)
Chapter 320: Chapter 328: The Elegant Young Master
“What Madam, that feral woman who clings to the General’s Mansion without name or distinction also deserves to be compared with me, has the Governor’s Wife lost her mind?”
The soft and gentle voice was actually full of lethal power, not only leaving Hongling in utter disgrace but also causing the Governor’s Wife’s heart to feel uneasy. Ye Xinxin had initially wanted to add “old” in front of “confused,” but considering this wasn’t Chang’an, and although the general magistrate wasn’t a very high official, he was the local authority in Yiyang Prefecture, she decided to cut some slack.
Hongling was so infuriated by Ye Xinxin’s words that she stomped her foot, although she was well aware that her status was questionable. But with General An’s name to back her and no other woman by his side, outsiders were unaware of her situation in the General’s Mansion, thus even someone of her standing was treated with courtesy. Now, being so bluntly humiliated was a huge embarrassment.
“Don’t overstep your bounds!” Hongling, her face somewhat contorted with anger, had some wits about her and knew she couldn’t win an argument against Ye Xinxin, so she turned to the Governor’s Wife with a threatening tone.
“Governor’s Wife, I attended this banquet in light of your reputation, only to be insulted by others. If I don’t get an explanation today, I will not let this matter rest, and the General won’t stand idly by while I am bullied. No matter what my status, I am here representing the General’s Mansion today. Are you slapping the face of the General’s Mansion?”
For Hongling, bullying others with power was nothing new, and her words did indeed cause the Governor’s Wife’s heart to tremble. Although the Governor’s Wife was infuriated that a mere wild woman, not even fit to be a concubine, dared to threaten her like this, she had to acquiesce to Hongling’s pressure. Hongling hadn’t spoken falsely; by attending, she indeed represented the General’s Mansion, and General An was not someone the Governor’s Wife could afford to offend.
“Having some wild woman out of nowhere represent the General’s Mansion, you’ve already lost all face; what dignity is there to speak of? Besides, as I understand, isn’t General An currently dispatching people everywhere to look for his wife and child? She is the rightful Mistress of the General’s Mansion. What place do you, a wild woman, hold in the hierarchy to claim representation of the General’s Mansion? When I see General An someday, I truly want to inquire what he means by sending a wild, unmanageable woman to wreak havoc at the Governor’s Wife’s banquet!”
The Governor’s Wife wanted to intervene several times but failed to say anything effective. After all, neither of the two disputants was someone she could afford to offend, making her quite agitated internally.
Mrs. Pei wasn’t known for meddling, but since she had come to the Governor’s Wife’s banquet, her purpose was mostly to support her niece. She was well aware of the feud between her niece and the Magistrate’s wife, and the most beneficial course was to curry favor with the Governor’s Wife. Seeing that the Governor’s Wife was unable to control the situation, Mrs. Pei spoke up.
“Enough, this is a banquet. What kind of conduct is this shouting and brawling, where have the decorum and manners gone? Those who want to stay should speak properly, or don’t blame me for asking you to leave!” Mrs. Pei’s cold reprimand showed the authority of a Marquess.
Seeing that Mrs. Pei had spoken, Ye Xinxin didn’t say anything further, continuing to attack her delicacies instead. After all, she had already lashed out at that wild woman, venting her feelings and now enjoying her food in a wonderful mood.