Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 158: What Do You Say (1/2)

Chapter 159: Chapter 158: What Do You Say

Translator: 549690339

Su Wenyue hadn’t expected Zhou Wang to possess such ability, managing to ingratiate herself with the County government and even cozy up to the General’s Lady in such a short time. Since the General’s Lady was willing to let her follow, she must have viewed Zhou Wang with some amount of favoritism. What’s more, the General’s Lady even introduced Zhou Wang to the County magistrate’s wife.

Just as the County magistrate’s wife had introduced Su Wenyue to the General’s Lady, the General’s Lady seemed to have the intention for the County magistrate’s wife to look after Zhou Wang a bit. It wasn’t clear what fortune had caused the General’s Lady to be so supportive of Zhou Wang, especially since the County magistrate’s wife’s support for Su Wenyue stemmed not only from Su Wenyue herself but also from her connection to the An Family, with over a decade of friendship. Zhou Wang seemed to have just met the General’s Lady, and she had previously mentioned the General’s Lady to Su Wenyue as though she were a stranger.

“I have had the honor to meet the County magistrate’s wife,” Zhou Wang said gracefully after being introduced by the General’s Lady, performing a respectful greeting that was not lacking in etiquette.

The County magistrate’s wife, unaware of the earlier trickery outside the County government, had no dissatisfaction with Zhou Wang. Moreover, she did not want to snub the General’s Lady’s face, so she spoke warmly to Zhou Wang and even offered her praise.

Seeing the County magistrate’s wife give her face thus, the General’s Lady was also pleasant toward Su Wenyue, particularly when she heard that Su Wenyue was Han Yu’s wife, treating Su Wenyue with additional kindness.

Her husband had told her that Captain Han was a young man with a promising future, not only skilled in martial arts but also smart and grateful. It was only a matter of time before such a young man would rise through the ranks, and moreover, he had youth on his side. With the Imperial Court in turmoil, trouble was bound to arise. If a war broke out and he earned military commendations, he would quickly climb the ranks.

The General’s Lady’s impression of Su Wenyue was also quite favorable. She thought that Su Wenyue not only had a better demeanor than the other ladies but also carried herself with the grace of a noble household. Her etiquette was impeccable, her smile clean, clear, and sincere, making her a delightful sight.

As a woman herself, if she were someone else, she might have been jealous. But the General’s Lady, as the wife of a military official, had a bold nature and was not the sort to be petty and begrudge others’ superior status. Therefore, she admired Su Wenyue, and given Han Yu’s situation, she had the additional intent to establish a connection. Since Han Yu would eventually climb higher, possibly even surpassing her husband, befriending her now would be beneficial for her future.

With this mindset, the General’s Lady treated Su Wenyue as an equal, without looking down upon her from above, unlike her approach to Zhou Wang. Although her attitude toward Zhou Wang was also not bad, and she had deliberately given her a boost, her relationship with Zhou Wang was not equal—it was more of charity.

Zhou Wang had felt proud when she followed the General’s Lady into the event to celebrate the County magistrate’s birthday, her thoughts wandering to Madam Fang Chen, Su Wenyue, and Madame Liu Zhao, giving rise to various emotions, and she felt a sense of vindication. She wondered if Su Wenyue and the others would be surprised and jealous when they saw her. Zhou Wang had known that Su Wenyue may have been acquainted with the County magistrate’s wife but was unaware of their close relationship. She thought that by cozying up to the General’s Lady, she was now above Su Wenyue and the rest, who would have to ingratiate themselves with her from now on.

So, when Zhou Wang entered and saw Su Wenyue following behind the County magistrate’s wife, her heart twisted uncomfortably. Especially upon seeing the General’s Lady’s pleasant demeanor toward Su Wenyue, her unease deepened. It was Zhou Wang who had nearly ruined her looks and leveraged herself just to curry favor with the General’s Lady and earn a second glance. Why should Su Wenyue effortlessly receive all this without doing anything? However, Zhou Wang was a smart person; in such a setting, she would not behave improperly.