Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 72 - 2: Banquet Invitation (Part 1)

After sending the betrothal gifts, the next step was to set the date. The Princely Heir’s wedding date was finally confirmed, set for October 18th, after the imperial examination, leaving two months for the preparations to begin.

However, the Old Madam was not in a hurry to prepare for the wedding, but was busy with another matter. This was the first diplomatic event after returning to the Capital, the palace banquet not counting since this time it was hosting guests at home.

The Old Madam had always disliked socializing, but now that she was in the Capital, social diplomacy among the ladies was imperative. Not to mention anything else, the grandchildren were growing up, so it was good to plan ahead; besides, it would give the granddaughters some exposure, preventing them from being like frogs at the bottom of a well and limiting themselves.

Previously, the Shun’an Earl Mansion had also hosted guests, with the First Madam and Second Madam only sending invitations to the influential nobles, but few masters actually came, only sending stewards with gifts, which turned the Song Family into a great joke. Not to mention, the issue of the concubine-born eldest son’s status was also unearthed!

This angered Princess Consort Xi into scolding them thoroughly, and only then did the two madams behave more sensibly.

Now, the Old Madam was extremely cautious in sending out invitations! Aside from a few ladies whose husbands were close to the Master, only two noble families were invited: one was the Wenchang Marquis Mansion, which needed no explanation as it was the family of the future heir’s wife; the other was the Changle Earl Mansion, perhaps not well-known, but previously mentioned as the family of the Second Miss’s future husband.

The Great Chu Dynasty’s superior titles include dukes, marquises, and earls, each divided into three classes: the first class includes the founding dukes, marquises, and earls, granted directly by the Founding Saint Martial Emperor and are hereditary without downgrading; the second class includes those with significant contributions, granted titles that may be downgraded with succession; the third class includes support nobility, marquises, and earls, at the Emperor’s discretion, descending over five generations before ending.

The first two classes have red books and iron certificates that can exempt them from capital punishment, which is why Duke Li’s Mansion wasn’t completely wiped out despite the current Emperor’s anger—not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.

The full title of the Shun’an Earl is Support Country Shun’an Earl. If the Song Family doesn’t have any major developments, then when the Princely Heir inherits the title, it will be as a First Rank Viscount. This is also why the Song Family is choosing sides.

Having expended great effort to obtain a third-class earl title, only to see it downgraded before settling in, would be awkward for anyone.

Among these issues is the matter Susu could never understand. Logically, Duke Li was initially a first-class founding duke, to remain such generation after generation unless something catastrophic occurred. So why was Duke Li behaving so self-destructively? Susu couldn’t fathom it.

Ultimately, it could only be attributed to the plot’s overwhelming influence, an absurd reasoning!

Heh, after discussing so much, the point was to say that the Changle Earl Mansion was one of the Eight Great Earl Mansions at the founding, though the later generations lacked eminence, none had self-destructed either! Despite its current decline, it remains a founding earl mansion, which is why the Master and Old Madam were willing to accept this marriage alliance!

This time, inviting guests and extending invitations to future in-laws also served to meet Madam Changle. The Old Madam analyzed two possible reasons for agreeing on this marriage with the Second Madam: either Madam Changle was just as frivolous, or she had ulterior motives regarding the Song Family.

The Old Madam always imagined the worst but hoped for the best, planning ahead!

Ultimately, five families were invited, besides the two in-laws: the Minister of Revenue’s Zhou Family, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who worked at the same level with the Master, the Sun Family, and another family, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, close with the Song Family.

The invitations were sent, setting the date for August 22nd, soon receiving responses that they would attend.

The Old Madam had others busy with preparations in the flower hall and theatre, setting the menu and thoroughly instructing the maids and old servants to not embarrass themselves.

The Song Family had two large gardens, one behind Sui’an Hall and another between the Second Wife and Third Wife’s quarters, hosting a sizable lake filled with lotus flowers and two wooden boats by the shore for the family to admire and pick lotuses from.

With the lotus flowers in full bloom, soon such a "boundless expanse of green lotus leaves and exceptionally red lotuses in the sun" scene would be gone!

Therefore, the Old Madam arranged for the ladies to be seated in the waterside pavilion by the lotus lake, surrounded by lotuses with a refreshing breeze for a cool respite.

The Madams’ banquet was held in the flower hall behind Sui’an Hall, a place to admire the flowers and enjoy the performance.

For this, the Old Madam specially enlisted a troupe of young performers, the oldest no more than thirteen or fourteen, and the youngest, eight or nine, all bearing delicate, handsome features. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

One of the younger performers caught Susu’s attention, the smallest of them, only eight and named Fang Guan. Even at a young age, he stood out. Seeing her, Yang Liu couldn’t help but remark: "This child is quite a beauty; upon closer look, she actually resembles Susu when she was young, especially those eyes!"

The little girl shrank to the side, silent, though eight, her body seemed frail, invoking pity. Hearing Yang Liu, Susu didn’t overthink it, simply giving her some fruits to eat.

Come August 22nd, everyone at Sui’an Hall rose early, some to clean, others to dress up.

A family with heritage typically eschews flaunting wealth too ostentatiously. But today, being the Old Madam’s first time hosting guests as the family head in the Capital, it should be a grand occasion to demonstrate seriousness.

The Old Madam wore a front-opening robe with embroidered ginger-yellow twining lotus designs, an ivory inner garment, and a magnificent skirt with gold embroideries on a yellow base beneath a gold filigree inlaid with gemstones.

Because the attire was already quite dazzling, the jewelry selection was limited to a set of jade pieces.

Yun Duo being chosen by Bisi was not just because of her attentiveness but also her skilled hands. Regardless of the hairstyle complexity, she could manage it deftly. This ability earned Susu’s genuine admiration!

Today, Yun Duo styled the Old Madam’s hair into a crabapple-shaped floral bun, with two green jade lotus pins on the left, a red silk flower inlaid with pearls on the right, and a jade butterfly holding down the hair at the back. On the forehead, she wore a pine-green gem-inlaid headband with character motifs, and matched with jade bead ear pendants and a jade bead necklace and bracelets.

The jewelry set appeared as though crafted from the same jade source, an old mine of glass-type jade, and its color was the classic imperial green!

This ensemble, though not as showy as the Earl Madam’s grand dowry attire, was more benevolent and wealthy. With the Old Madam having gained some weight over the years, her plump and ruddy appearance made her quite amiable at a glance.

"Second Madam, Second Miss, Third Miss, Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, Sixth Miss have arrived!" announced a small maid, ushering in the Second Madam and several young misses who were all glowing with jewels, appearing extraordinary.

Having engaged, Second Miss was not the focus today, wearing an outfit that was seven or eight-tenths new, but even a set of gold filigree inlaid with gemstone hairpins was still quite stunning.

Third Miss, known for her gentle temperament, donned a snow-white coat embroidered with lotus flowers, a pale pink embroidered shirt with a lotus pattern, and a pink-purple skirt, styled with dangling twin-bun hair, adorned with a pink pearl jewelry set, enhancing her soft and gentle beauty.

Fourth Miss, lively and cheerful, was dressed in a pomegranate red and ivory outfit, though beautiful, lacked formality.

Fifth Miss often liked to present herself delicately, usually in elegant colors like moon white or water blue; today, she dressed in a light blue jacket with white folded branches and gold-edged embroidery, an aloe-colored long skirt, and styled a single spiral bun with minimal jewelry. The Old Madam’s face showed no emotion, but her eyes grew cold.

Sixth Miss wore a goose-yellow half-sleeve paired with a light green chest-length ruqun, looking playful and adorable.

Second Madam’s attire was also appropriate today, clearly showing that the Second Master hadn’t wronged this legitimate wife.