When the servant reported that Zhao Luoyue had come, Mrs. Jiang curled her lips. This Zhao Luoyue was like a piece of sticky candy. Even though others disliked her, she still insisted on getting close.
Mrs. Jiang curled her lips and said, "Just tell her I'm not at home."
The gatekeeper nodded and retreated to deliver the message.
Mrs. Jiang discussed with the maid beside her, "Zhao Luoyue coming at this time probably wants to inquire about the Imperial Ennobled Lady."
The maid served tea to Mrs. Jiang while replying, "Yes. Now the whole Huangcheng is talking about this. No one knows who this Imperial Ennobled Lady is."
Mrs. Jiang thought for a while and asked, "We've sent a visiting card to Mrs. Ye. Haven't we received a reply yet?"
The maid sighed and said, "Madam, you know her temper. She wasn't born into a proper noble family. She has the least sense of etiquette. We've approached her many times before, but every time it was like a stone sinking into the sea."
Mrs. Jiang frowned. "It's different now. We could ignore her before, but if she really becomes the Imperial Ennobled Lady, even if she slaps us in the face, we'll have to take it with a smile."
The Imperial Ennobled Lady receives a monthly stipend from the state. As long as one can curry favor with her, the whole family will benefit.
Although Mrs. Jiang said so, she wasn't very confident.
"However, I always feel that Mrs. Ye isn't the Imperial Ennobled Lady."
"Why do you say so, Madam?"
"If Mrs. Ye were really the Imperial Ennobled Lady, her official rank would be higher than her husband's. It would be normal if she had made great contributions, but she's just a woman who takes care of the children at home. Her greatest achievement is probably marrying the right man. Even if she were to be ennobled, how could her official rank be higher than her husband's?"
"But besides Mrs. Ye, which other lady in Huangcheng could deserve such an honor?"
Mrs. Jiang knew it very well.
Although in the eyes of outsiders, she seemed to be enjoying a glorious life in the circle of noble ladies, this glory was only on the surface. The three major families in Huangcheng, the Ji, Zhao, and Shu families, none of them had she managed to get in good with.
Let's not talk about the Shu family. After they moved their whole family away, although they still had some influence in Huangcheng, there were hardly any of them left here.
As for the Zhao family, Mrs. Jiang regretted it deeply.
Back then, her relationship with the second mistress of the Zhao family was quite good. But who would have thought that it was actually the eldest branch, which seemed to have no real power, that was in charge of the Zhao family. At that time, she was eager to marry her daughter to Zhao Luoming so as to climb up to one of the three major families in Huangcheng.
But just as she was about to propose this idea, she witnessed with her own eyes Zhao Luoming making a big scene at home for a maid.
Before getting married, he dared to disobey his elders for a concubine. He was a dissolute young master.
Because of this, she had always suppressed the idea of a marriage alliance. Thinking that the Zhao and Ji families were in - law families, she hoped to get in touch with the Ji family through the second mistress of the Zhao family. It would also be good to marry her daughter to the third young master of the Ji family.
This time, Mrs. Jiang didn't misjudge the person. The third young master of the Ji family was a capable man and had even become a great general.
But who would have thought that the heavens were jealous of his talent and he died on the battlefield.
At that time, the second mistress of the Zhao family was divorced and came to Mrs. Jiang, hoping that she could act as a peace - maker and help her get back in touch with Mr. Zhao.
It was only then that Mrs. Jiang learned that the Zhao family had fallen into decline. The Zhao family had divided their property, and now all the money was in the hands of the second young master of the Zhao family.
Mrs. Jiang had always looked down on Zhao Luojing.
After all, he was a well - known invalid, relying on medicine to sustain his life.
Who would be willing to marry their daughter to a man who might die at any time?
But he was rich!
His two elder sisters, one was the eldest mistress of the Ji family, and the other was the second mistress of the Ji family. Although the second mistress had passed away, the eldest mistress was still alive!
It was said that the eldest mistress was a tough character who had complete control over the eldest young master of the Ji family. She just didn't like to socialize and rarely interacted with the noble ladies. Mrs. Jiang had never had the chance to meet her.
Because of this, Mrs. Jiang had to look at Zhao Luojing with new eyes.
Zhao Luojing had a deep connection with the Ji family and was rich himself. Even if he were to die one day, at least her daughter would get a large inheritance. If she could give Zhao Luojing an heir, then all the wealth of the Zhao family would surely fall into her daughter's hands.
Mrs. Jiang's mind was spinning like a well - oiled machine. She couldn't sit still for a moment.
She stood up and ordered, "No, I still have to go to the county yamen to find out some information."
Just as Mrs. Jiang stood up, a young servant came in to report.
"Madam, the imperial carriage, the imperial carriage."
"What imperial carriage?"
"The imperial carriage for the ennoblement ceremony. It has already left the county yamen. The vice - minister himself is leading the procession. It's so grand."
Hearing this, Mrs. Jiang became anxious. She quickly ordered, "Hurry, change my clothes. Let's go and have a look."
A moment later, the side door of the Jiang Mansion opened. A servant led a carriage and was about to go out.
Suddenly, two people rushed out from the side.
"Where are you going, Madam?"
The servant stopped.
They didn't expect that Zhao Luoyue was still there and was blocking their way.
Mrs. Jiang in the carriage cursed secretly, "Such a persistent ghost."
When she lifted the curtain, she still put on a fake smile.
She wasn't really afraid of Zhao Luoyue. Although Zhao Luoyue was down and out now, she was from the Zhao family and had once been the second mistress of the Ning family. If she didn't give her some face when they met, she was afraid that the Zhao and Ning families would come to settle accounts with her in the future.
"Yo, isn't this my niece Luoyue? Why are you here?" As she spoke, Mrs. Jiang pretended to scold the maid beside her. "You! My niece is here. Why didn't you report it to me?"
The maid was smart and quickly apologized.
"Sorry, Madam. I saw that you were just resting, so I made my own decision."
Mrs. Jiang pretended to scold the maid a few more times, and then asked, "My dear niece, it's really unfortunate. I have something to do and need to go out. How about I invite you for tea another day? I can only neglect you today."
"Madam, are you going to meet the Imperial Ennobled Lady? Oh, I was just about to go too. Since that's the case, could you please take me with you?"
Without waiting for Mrs. Jiang's invitation, Zhao Luoyue had already got on the carriage on her own.
Her uninvited action stunned Mrs. Jiang.
Since she was already on the carriage, Mrs. Jiang couldn't really kick her out.
She rolled her eyes and thought of a good excuse.
"Oh, I'm not going to meet the Imperial Ennobled Lady. I'm going to discuss a marriage with your elder brother. You see, it wouldn't be appropriate to take you with me."
Mrs. Jiang knew that the eldest and second branches of the Zhao family had always been at odds. In the past, as soon as Zhao Luoyue heard about the people from the eldest branch of the Zhao family, she would show a look of disgust. She deliberately said that she was going to see Zhao Luochun just to get rid of Zhao Luoyue.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Luoyue's reaction this time exceeded her expectations.
"Going to see my elder brother? That's just right. I haven't seen him for a long time. Then I'll have to trouble you, Madam."
As she spoke, Zhao Luoyue had squeezed in and was sitting upright in the carriage, waiting.
Zhao Luoyue had made up her mind.
This time, she would cling to Mrs. Jiang even if it meant losing her dignity.