That shout immediately drew the gaze of all the women in the room.

The woman was tall and curvaceous, dressed in opulence, and her striking appearance truly complemented her attire.

Standing among the women, she was particularly conspicuous; despite being stared at by so many women, she was composed, showing no signs of stage fright.

Especially when Wang Yongzhu looked over, she graciously made a curtsy to Wang Yongzhu, "I have always been straightforward and outspoken. Please, Madam, be magnanimous and do not take offense!"

Wang Yongzhu was still composed, but the women beside her were anxious, particularly an older woman who, unable to care about the public setting, tugged the woman’s sleeve and anxiously said a few words.

Wang Yongzhu’s hearing was astonishing; she heard everything, "Yang’s wife, how can you speak to Madam this way? Hurry and apologize to Madam!"

The woman named Yang’s wife straightened her chest and, with an expression of candid innocence, said, "I haven’t said anything wrong, and Madam hasn’t asked me to apologize, so why are you worried?"

The female counterpart was so angry she almost fainted, "You... you, knowing your nature, I wouldn’t have brought you in!"

Saying this, the woman flicked her sleeve, took several steps back with a furious expression, indicating her total disassociation from Yang’s wife.

The women beside her glanced at each other and quietly retreated as well.

Only Yang’s wife was left standing there, not at all flustered, with eyes carrying a hint of defiance as she looked at Wang Yongzhu.

Lady Qu’s face darkened as she turned her head to ask, "Which family does this young lady belong to, speaking and acting in such an unseemly manner?"

Someone below answered, "She was brought in by Lady Qin, said to be her niece, here to gain some worldly experience."

That Lady Qin was indeed the older woman from earlier.

Being pointed out, Lady Qin shivered and turned pale, stepping forward and kneeling on the ground in grievance, "Madam, Madam! It’s a misunderstanding! This Yang’s wife is not my niece; she’s the newly married co-wife of a business associate of my husband’s. Her master also has an invitation; since Yang’s wife had never seen such a spectacle, fearing she might breach etiquette, they asked me to look after her a bit. She truly has nothing to do with my family! I didn’t know that Yang’s wife would be so rude and reckless! If I had known, even with a hundred nerves, neither I nor my husband would have dared!"

Saying this, she prostrated herself and started crying despairingly.

Most women present were primary wives. In scholar and official households it was better, but those from merchant families knew the bad habits prevalent in commerce today.

Merchant families were wealthy, and with money, countless beauties were within reach. Many merchants who traveled often left their homes in the care of the primary wife, parents, and children, while seeking beautiful companionship outside.

Thus typically, they had a primary wife at home and a secondary wife outside, often referred to as "Missus" or "Lady", managing affairs, attending social functions, and known to merchants as co-wives.

But this was merely an unspoken rule among merchants; outside, it was unacknowledged.

Thus, at tonight’s grand feast, anyone with a decent mind knew that those qualified to attend were only the primary wives or legally married wives and children.

Those so-called co-wives, regardless of their everyday praise, in front of outsiders are just concubines or more bluntly, outside mistresses, utterly unfit for formal occasions.

In general settings, it might be passable, but at such an occasion, having a concubine sit among primary wives is excessively disrespectful and insulting.

Especially with Wang Yongzhu present, letting her share a room with a merchant’s concubine, audaciously questioning Wang Yongzhu, a First-Rank Enjoin Lady, would only suggest she was courting death?

Some timid ones were already paling and faintly swaying, wishing they could pass out right there.

The previous pride and satisfaction at being able to attend this banquet had now turned into cold sweat.

Lady Qu and Lady Chen, utterly shocked upon hearing this, immediately apologized to Wang Yongzhu, then loudly instructed everyone to have Yang’s wife thrown out, and have cloth and water brought to clean the floor.

The servants tending to the guests were indeed scared senseless, rushing forward to seize and drag away Yang’s wife.

Unexpectedly, Yang’s wife, not only tall but also possessing some martial skill, avoided the hands of numerous maids and matrons, instead kicking down several of them, leaving them wailing on the ground.

The women present were thrown into panic, unaccustomed to such scenes, each shouting impressively, scrambling and crawling to hide in corners, shaking behind tables.

Hearing the commotion, the rough nursemaids from outside also rushed in, throwing the room into turmoil.

Wang Yongzhu watched Yang’s wife grow increasingly fierce, among the women present, only she and the serenely seated Old Granny Zhang, besides Lady Qu and Lady Chen who barely kept their composure, while most of the women were pale-eyed with fear, their screams echoing continuously.

The maids and matrons they had brought were scrambling out, shielding Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang behind them.

Moreover, the clever Gu Yu took advantage of the chaos to slip out unnoticed to find help.

Honestly, had it not been for the unbearable screaming of the women, Wang Yongzhu initially intended to see what other skills Yang’s wife might possess.

But with her ears nearly deafened, Wang Yongzhu first looked at Old Granny Zhang’s expression, only to find her not panicked but rather carrying a grudge against the girls for their incompetence, wishing she could personally step in and vent.

Sighing, dear heavens, Yang’s wife wasn’t just a coarse laborer; she had genuine martial skills, didn’t she?

Then observing Yang’s wife further, the matrons encircling her were almost subdued, leaving just a few who hesitated to approach, staying afar and murmuring chaotic words advising her to be obedient.

Yang’s wife let out a cold laugh, raising her voice, "Just a bunch of useless fools; do you think you can block—" the words behind were garbled and indistinct.

She cast a strange smile toward Wang Yongzhu, her eyes seemingly flickering, and then suddenly lunged at Wang Yongzhu.

The maids and matrons guarding Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang, including Lady Qu and Lady Chen, were originally vigilant toward Yang’s wife, instinctively maintaining a protective stance.

Yet when Yang’s wife charged forward, they stood motionless, not reacting in the slightest, allowing Yang’s wife to pass through them, almost reaching Wang Yongzhu.

The women hiding in corners and under tables, some witnessing this scene, saw Yang’s wife reverse her hand to rip open her dress and draw out a flashing dagger, and couldn’t resist letting out sharper cries, "Murder—"

Yang’s wife, upon seeing she had reached Wang Yongzhu, seemed not to comprehend, involuntarily curling her lips in pride, as long as she took one more step, she could seize this Lady of the First Rank.

Step, move forward, lift the dagger, but then felt a sudden sharp pain in her nose, stars flashing before her eyes, and suddenly, not knowing how, she lay on the ground with two hot streams flowing from her nose.