TRBDM -Chapter 57 Birthday Banquet

In a side hall of the Marquis’s residence, Shen Zhizhi stood beside Dou Shuyao. Ever since the household doctor had taken her pulse, she no longer pretended to be frail or delicate. She held her chin high and hadn’t said a word to Dou Shuyao.

Yet her social skills were impeccable—she chatted animatedly with the visiting ladies, many of whom were delighted to strike up conversations with her.

Her voice barely stopped, floating through the side hall like a gentle breeze.

“Look at these folding screens—aren’t they exquisite? They’re all ink paintings that Third Brother likes.”

“Oh, Third Brother? He’s currently studying under Mr. Dong. Yes, yes, his future is bright indeed.”

“Everyone, try the freshly brewed jasmine tea. The flowers were picked just this morning and still carry the morning dew. There’s a refreshing brightness to the first sip.”

Shen Zhizhi moved gracefully among the ladies, attending to each guest with practiced ease.

“Ah—Second Madam, this jasmine tea is marvelous! It tastes completely different from any I’ve had before. You must have gone to great lengths to find such fine tea. Ah, the Old Madam is so fortunate to have a daughter-in-law like you—it really eases so many worries.”

“Yes, yes, Sister Shen, please teach me too. Mother has me handling the household affairs, and it feels like my head is about to burst.”

Shen Zhizhi smiled and replied, “No problem. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just send someone to ask me.”

“Thank you so much, Sister Shen.”

Silently, Shen Zhizhi took credit for all of Dou Shuyao’s hard work over the past several days.

The ladies invited to the banquet had all visited the residence before. Previously, Wei Zhaorong had taken Shen Zhizhi around to greet everyone, giving the impression that Shen Zhizhi was being groomed as the future matriarch.

Naturally, everyone still held that impression.

Dou Shuyao’s personality wasn’t particularly likable, and she couldn’t blend in immediately, so she was left standing to the side, largely ignored.

A hand pressed lightly against Dou Shuyao’s waist, giving her a gentle push.

The familiar scent reached her—without turning around, Dou Shuyao knew her mother had arrived.

“Why are you standing there like a fool, staring at your hard work being stolen?”

Dou Shuyao, of course, felt reluctant, but she had her reasons. “Today is Third Brother’s birthday banquet. I don’t want to ruin the mood.”

“No need to worry about that. A small gesture can carry great weight. If she laughs, you laugh. If she speaks, you speak—perhaps even in greater detail. Things like which farmer harvested the jasmine, how many taels of silver it cost, how many days it took to transport to the capital—these are all things you arranged. You know them better than anyone.”

Dou Shuyao wasn’t as eloquent as Shen Zhizhi, but she was far from unintelligent.

After her mother’s subtle guidance, she now knew how to handle the situation.

“Dou Shuyao, stay behind me. Today, we’ll go through the motions. Whoever speaks to me, you memorize them all, understand?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Dou Shuyao straightened her posture, adjusted her smile, and followed Wei Zhaorong closely.

“Old Madam.”

“Old Madam, you’ve arrived.”

“The Marquis’s Old Madam has come.”

The ladies all stood, greeting Wei Zhaorong respectfully.

Lin Juehui was among them. From a distance, she blinked at Wei Zhaorong but didn’t approach.

Wei Zhaorong spoke to everyone without leaving anyone out, and Dou Shuyao trailed closely behind her, naturally drawing some attention.

“Greetings, Madam.”

Someone greeted her, and Dou Shuyao did her best to assume the demeanor of a hostess, returning the pleasantries.

When encountering older or higher-ranking ladies, she proactively greeted them first.

The ladies of the capital were sharp-eyed; it didn’t take long for them to notice something unusual.

Earlier, Second Madam Shen Zhizhi—who had been chatting warmly with them—was now left on a cold bench, seated far from Wei Zhaorong.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law seemed to have some hidden discord.

Naturally, the ladies couldn’t resist gossiping among themselves.

“Did you see? The old Madam of the Hou Mansion didn’t bring the Second Madam today.”

“Yes, we noticed that.”

“How strange… why favor the eldest daughter-in-law, who is known for her cold temperament, instead of the dexterous and charming Second Madam?”

“What’s so strange about that? The eldest son is the legitimate heir. Once the old Marquis’s mourning period is over, the eldest household will inherit the title. Then the eldest daughter-in-law will be the head matron of the house.”

Another voice chimed in with a different opinion: “Being the head matron isn’t something just anyone can do. Look at Second Madam—she’s not skilled at long conversations; even her smile looks stiff.”

Someone else rebutted: “She’s the legitimate daughter of the Xiang family. I imagine she learned a lot about managing a household before. She just lacks practical experience. That’s why the old Madam brought her along—so she could get some training.”

“You’re right about that.”

They hadn’t lowered their voices, so every word reached Shen Zhizhi’s ears, not missing a single syllable.

Even outsiders could see it because Wei Zhaorong’s actions were so obvious. In front of everyone, she hadn’t even spoken to Shen Zhizhi once.

The resentment in Shen Zhizhi’s heart swelled, yet she forced a fake smile onto her face, not dropping it for a moment.

That was Shen Zhizhi’s skill—two faces, capable of deceiving everyone.

In the previous life, Wei Zhaorong had been fooled by her, giving her the full measure of trust, and it ended in a tragic death.

In this life, Shen Zhizhi showed no sign of repentance; she still made her covert moves, but she could no longer shake Wei Zhaorong in the slightest.

As for the affairs of the Hou Mansion’s inner residence, Shen Zhizhi had no hope of touching them.

While Wei Zhaorong and the women of the household chatted in the side hall, in the main hall, the third son of the Xie family was entertaining other distinguished guests.

Xie Lan didn’t know many people and stood quietly to the side.

Luckily, it wasn’t long before Mr. Dong arrived, and Xie Lan immediately went to greet him.

“Mr. Dong, you’re here.”

“Hm.” Mr. Dong was usually strict, but today, attending the birthday banquet, there was a hint of a smile on his face as he looked at Xie Lan.

Having heard much about the Hou Mansion from his own wife, Mr. Dong knew that Xie Lan, an unrecognized illegitimate son, rarely appeared at such grand occasions, and many would probably not know him.

Xie Lan had no father figure, but as the saying went, “A teacher for a day is a father for life.” Mr. Dong said, “Xie Lan, follow me. I’ll introduce you to the distinguished guests at the banquet.”

Xie Lan immediately bowed: “Thank you, sir.”

Mr. Dong often went in and out of the imperial palace. Not only did he know many court ministers, but he was also acquainted with several princes. With him guiding Xie Lan, he could meet a great many people.

Elsewhere, Xie Chuan was chatting for a long while with a few young gentlemen from the capital, almost forgetting his duties.

Last night, Dou Shuyao had repeatedly reminded him to keep Xie Lan close. Suddenly, he remembered.

Turning his head, he saw Xie Lan seated next to a third-rank minister, and from a distance, the two seemed to be having a lively conversation.

“Huh? When did Xie Lan meet a third-rank minister?”

Just as the thought crossed Xie Chuan’s mind, someone called him away. By the time he looked back, the fleeting question had already slipped from his mind.

Meanwhile, Xie Sheng, who had been hosting guests in the east wing, noticed this too. He walked over without showing any emotion:

“Third brother, so you’re here—made it hard for me to find you. Ah, Minister Cui, I’ve long admired you. I am Xie Sheng.”