When the accessory case was opened, a sleek flash of light shone from within. All the spectating noble madams and ladies gasped in unison.
A set of smooth, bright white pearl accessories was lying within the case, composed of a headdress, a necklace, a bracelet, a pair of earrings, and rings.
The noble ladies gathered here had seen plenty of pearl accessories, but they had never seen such an elegant and eye-catching set before.
The pearls weren't one-of-a-kind, but the designs were enough to stun each and every one of the onlookers.
The pearl necklace was the most impressive. On either side of the thin silver chain, there were white pearls interchanged with intricate little golden flowers, while two complicated-looking golden lotus flowers were entwined with each other and dangling from the center of the chain.
Sitting in the center at the linking point of the lotus flower pattern was a smooth, silky golden pearl about the size of a thumbnail. Despite being surrounded by gold, the golden pearl didn't lose any bit of its own glow and instead looked even more lustrous, adding an aura of elegant luxury to the necklace.
Actually, in this entire set of pearl accessories, this golden pearl was the main focus. It was also due to this golden pearl that the other normal pearls on the other accessories seemed even more white and ornate.
The ladies were all stunned. They had never seen pearl accessories like these before. Even the accessories from the imperial palace couldn't match up to this!
In a short moment, all the noble ladies were so entranced by the glowing pearls that they had forgotten to speak.
Madam Zou's pleased expression had instantly flipped the moment the accessory case had been opened. Though she had previously been able to keep her rage well-hidden, this time, it was just too much.
Irrespective of their ages, the ladies here lived luxurious lives, so they were naturally most interested in accessories and the like. While a rare hundred-year-old ginseng might be able to make them gasp in surprise, a novel set of accessories would be able to make them go crazy.
Countess Jing'an hadn't looked at the accessory case yet. When she noticed the expressions of the crowd surrounding her didn't look right, she turned to look at her side.
Now it was her turn to be stunned.
Countess Jing’an quickly came up with a light reprimand. "Sanlang's wife! Dear child, how could you give me something so expensive?"
There weren't many women who didn't like dressing up in pretty clothes and jewellery. Everyone liked beautiful things. Even the sickly Countess Jing'an wasn't an exception.
Countess Jing'an wouldn't have blamed Chu Lian if her gift had been ordinary. However, if her gift could make others envious, then of course she would be even more pleased with the gift.
Now Countess Jing'an felt that the love and effort she had spent on her youngest daughter-in-law hadn't been wasted at all. Chu Lian was a good child who knew how to repay kindness.
After getting praised by her mother-in-law in front of a crowd, Chu Lian didn't reply with some nice-sounding empty words to win even more of her favour like Madam Zou had.
She stood up and curtsied towards Countess Jing'an first before explaining with a smile, "Mother, please rest assured. This accessory set isn't as expensive as it looks. The pearls are all easily bought from Jinshi Pavilion. It's only the designs that were personally drawn by me. I had one of Jinshi Pavilion's master craftsmen make it for me."
Chu Lian really hadn't spent much on it. For two sets of pearl accessories and a few bracelets, it hadn't even cost five hundred taels. Not only that, Jinshi Pavilion's manager had even given her quite a few free gifts in addition.
Jinshi Pavilion's manager wanted to keep the novel design she had given them and research it!
After hearing Chu Lian's explanation, Countess Jing'an's heart melted. Her eyes were full of affection and helplessness. "You silly child. You're just too honest."
The noble madams here weren't empty-headed. They knew that it was precisely because of the novel design that Jinshi Pavilion would have specially made these accessories at a low price, just for Honoured Lady Jinyi.
They really wanted a set of those accessories for themselves. However, it would probably cost at least a thousand taels at Jinshi Pavilion.
The crowd became even more envious.
One of the madams in the crowd even smiled and said, "Even so, it's even more rare that Honoured Lady Jinyi could personally draw some new designs for the Countess. Furthermore, pearls aren't like those precious jewels, or even gold or silver. As we know, pearls nurture the health. I hear that when worn over a long period of time, they might even have calming and beautifying effects!"
Countess Jing'an felt even more happier and touched after listening to this noble madam's words. The gaze she sent towards Chu Lian turned even warmer.
The now completely ignored Madam Zou gritted her teeth as the dissatisfaction in her heart grew even more.
Her anger didn’t fade after the gift giving was over. Perhaps due to the grudge in her heart, she even made a few mistakes while preparing the seating arrangements for the banquet later, causing a few jokes at her expense.
In the end, Matriarch He couldn't continue watching and sent Senior Servant Liu to help her. It was only then that the birthday banquet was completed successfully.
When the guests had all departed and it was only their family left, the main branch was ordered to stay behind by Matriarch He and Countess Jing'an, right in front of the rest of the family.
Chu Lian returned to Songtao Court with her servants.
On the way back, Fuyan couldn't resist complaining next to Chu Lian's side.
"Third Young Madam, Eldest Young Madam went overboard today! Do you think the matriarch kept Eldest Young Madam behind to give her a scolding?"
Chu Lian turned back to look at Fuyan. "What Grandmother wants to say to Eldest Sister-in-Law has nothing to do with our third branch. We just have to keep our own consciences clear in our actions."
Her expression was indifferent; it was clear that she wasn't happy with Fuyan for gossiping. Fuyan also knew that Third Young Madam was angry, so she immediately lowered her head and kept silent.
It didn't matter if Fuyan gossiped about these matters within the confines of Songtao Court. However, if this were to spread out of their courtyard, then others would be able to reprimand her for not managing her servants properly.
Furthermore, careless talk invites disaster. Being talkative wasn't necessarily a good thing, especially when it was one of her personal handmaids.
Actually, she had already guessed why Matriarch He and Countess Jing'an had kept the main branch behind just now.
This was something that was supposed to have happened earlier. It was only because she had interfered with Madam Zou's fate and saved her from that kitchen fire that this matter had been delayed. She had thought that this event wouldn't happen now that Madam Zou was hale and hearty. However, who could have known that some things would still run their course?
Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, the trouble broiling in the main branch hadn't suddenly come into existence with her arrival.
Chu Lian sighed. Now that things had progressed to this stage, it was already out of her hands.
At this time, He Dalang had just walked out of Countess Jing'an's courtyard. However, it wasn't just him and his wife now; a young lady was following behind them with her head lowered and a blush on her cheeks.
This lady was Countess Jing'an's handmaid, Miaozhen.
Miaozhen was no longer Countess Jing'an's handmaid, and was now Dalang's bed servant- essentially, a concubine.
This was something that Matriarch He had personally decided. The matriarch had even ordered He Dalang to consummate their relationship this very night.
He Changqi had a cold expression on his face now. His looks had taken after Count Jing'an- a square face and a tall, strong body with tanned skin. When he put on such an expression, it was hard for others to get close to him.
Right behind He Changqi was the pale Madam Zou. Halfway back to their courtyard, she wanted to tug at her husband's sleeve. However, even though she reached out a few times, she couldn't bear to lower her dignity to do it in the end. By the time they reached home, the couple still hadn't exchanged a single word.
Matriarch He's Senior Servant Liu was following behind the couple. She observed the couple indifferently before shifting her gaze away, remaining silent as well.
When they reached the parlour, instead of trying to plead with He Changqi, she simply continued standing there with a ghastly pale face. This action made He Changqi press his lips together in empty disappointment.
Even Senior Servant Liu who was not far behind shook her head secretly. Madam Zou was just too much of a failure as a wife. When the steadfast loyalty of her relationship with her husband was being tested, she was still unwilling to lower her head and only tried to keep up a strong and haughty pretense. What sort of result could that action get her?
Senior Servant Liu hadn't spoken at all on the way here in order to give Dalang and his wife a chance. This was also something that Matriarch He had instructed her to do in secret. Unfortunately, Madam Zou hadn't been able to grasp this chance.
In the parlour of their courtyard, husband and wife kept silent and waged a cold war with each other. He Changqi was originally a more traditional kind of person. How could he lower himself to coax his wife? Thus, the cold war brewed even fiercer.
Finally, Senior Servant Liu had to step up to break this stalemate.
"Eldest Young Madam, it's getting late. You've been busy the whole day, so why don't you rest a little earlier? This old servant will help arrange matters for Heir Jing'an." Although Senior Servant Liu spoke politely, it was clear in her tone that she wasn't going to accept any refusal.
Frustration had been brewing in Madam Zou's belly for a long time. Senior Servant Liu's words were like the spark to light the fuse. While in front of her mother-in-law, Countess Jing'an, she had to control herself and suppress her emotions, but now that it was just an old servant in front of her, she could no longer continue holding herself back.
Madam Zou abruptly stood up and pushed Senior Servant Liu with a burst of strength that had come out of nowhere. "You old servant! What are you?! When has it been up to you to dictate matters in our branch?!"
How could Senior Servant Liu have expected the normally dignified Madam Zou to have lost her temper? What’s more, she was acting like an immoral and unreasonable shrew. After getting pushed by Madam Zou, Senior Servant Liu lost her balance and fell right onto the floor on her behind.
Senior Servant Liu was no longer young. How could her body bear such a fall? She cried out in pain, unable to get up.
It was only when Madam Zou noticed the extremely pained expression on the servant's face that she realised what she had done. She froze on the spot, not knowing what to do.
He Changqi's eyes widened in shock. By the time he could finally react, he was about to try catching Senior Servant Liu, but she had already fallen to the ground.
He strode over quickly and asked, "Momo, are you alright?"
He Changqi had already been angry with Madam Zou. Now that he had watched her personally push down his grandmother's trusted old servant, he was beside himself with rage.
He glared fiercely at Madam Zou and shouted, "Madam Zou! Look at what you've done! Calling you a shrew would be letting you off lightly!"
Madam Zou had already been frightened by this turn of events. Now that her husband was shouting at her, she immediately switched gears. "He Changqi, who are you calling a shrew?!"
"I'm talking about you!"
"Good, very good. He Changqi, you traitor! You bastard! How dare you scold me like that?!"
How could Madam Zou bear with such insult? Furthermore, this was someone she had walked hand in hand with for close to ten years.
Her rage turned her face white; her chest heaved as she swept everything off the nearby table.
Clatter, crash, went the porcelain teapots and cups as they met with the floor.
That wasn't enough to quell her rage, so she picked up a cup that had been spared from the carnage and threw it at He Changqi. He Changqi stood there without dodging it, glaring at her with an icy expression. Thus, the cup smashed against the corner of He Changqi's forehead. In the next second, crimson blood dripped down from the cut, dyeing half of his face red.