Chapter 646: Chapter 582, Zhu Qiyun_1 Chapter 646: Chapter 582, Zhu Qiyun_1 As soon as Xiao Yeyang and his companions left, the women began to gossip.

The Madams Guo and Jiang, who had previously paid little attention to Madam Li, suddenly became very proactive in striking up a conversation with her after seeing that Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai had arrived with Xiao Yeyang.

The other madams, seeing the exceptional Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai, also warmly chatted with Madam Li, frequently inquiring whether the two had engagements set.

Watching all the madams interact so warmly, Su Madam Three, who had previously felt that her daughter had been slighted, now felt a hint of relief. Fortunately, both families had taken a liking to each other and had a verbal agreement in place.

Not to mention, upon seeing young Wenkai again, she found herself liking him more and more.

Madam Dong witnessed the expression on Su Madam Three’s face and kept it in mind. She had heard about the planned marriage alliance between the Yan Family and the Su Family. Knowing that to marry Su Shiyu, the Yan family had agreed to not let Yan Wenkai take concubines, Madam Dong genuinely felt this was an excellent match.

With a marriage to the Su Family, the Yan Family could ascend even further.

Thinking about her eldest son’s enthusiastic persuasion to attend the gathering at Ningmen Prefecture, Madam Dong couldn’t help but glance over at Daohua, who was whispering and laughing with her daughter and Su Shiyu.

A fine girl, yet not fated to be with their family.

In March, the old Marquis wrote a letter suggesting a match for Yuanxuan with the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis Residence of Zhaode, asking if they were willing.

She had asked her family and well-connected friends about the girl. The marquis’s daughter was deemed suitable; her looks, character, and family background all matched Yuanxuan perfectly.

After careful consideration with her husband, they were very satisfied with the match and agreed to it.

Madam Dong looked towards the men’s side, observing her son standing out among the young masters, and thought to herself that her son deserved a girl from an even better family.

While everyone was engaged in lively conversation, more guests arrived.

Daohua’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the newcomers and she paused slightly.

“Do you know them?” Dong Yuanyao noticed Daohua’s change in expression and looked in the direction she was gazing at.

Daohua nodded, “The leading lady’s husband, Zhu Jiaoyu, was once a subordinate of my father, and the girl behind her, I’ve met her once before.”

On the other hand, Madam Zhu, upon seeing Madam Li, looked slightly uncomfortable. She had used to look down on Madam Li’s merchant background. Now, the latter had become a fourth-ranked imperial commandant’s wife bestowed by the Emperor himself, while she remained merely a Jiaoyu’s wife.

Madam Li was somewhat surprised to see Madam Zhu, but she did not show it. When Madam Zhu looked her way, she smiled and nodded, thus acknowledging her presence.

After exchanging greetings with the other madams, Madam Zhu sat next to the Prefectural Governor’s wife from Pingzhou, along with another lady and a girl about fifteen or sixteen years old.

“Madam Tang, this is my good-for-nothing niece, Qiyun,” Madam Zhu introduced the girl beside her warmly to the Prefectural Governor’s wife from Pingzhou, “Qiyun, Madam Tang’s teacup is almost empty, go and refill it for her.”

The Prefectural Governor’s wife from Pingzhou scrutinized Zhu Qiyun with a smile, her eyes filled with undisguised pickiness and judgment.

Zhu Qiyun felt embarrassed and flushed under the scrutiny, as if she were merchandise, and reluctantly went to the Prefectural Governor’s wife from Pingzhou’s side to pour the tea, taking the teapot from the servant.

Perhaps due to excessive tension, Zhu Qiyun didn’t pay attention, tilting the teapot too much, causing the tea to spill out.

“Oh dear!”

The spill of hot water reached the Prefectural Governor’s wife from Pingzhou’s hand, making her cry out.

The sound was loud and it startled Zhu Qiyun, who then lost her grip on the teapot, causing it to crash to the ground and shatter with a ‘clang.’
The tea drenched the Prefectural Governor’s wife from Pingzhou’s shoes and skirt, and her gaze towards Zhu Qiyun was filled with anger and frustration, “Miss Zhu, what are you doing? Can’t you even pour tea properly?”

Zhu Qiyun tried to help the Prefectural Governor’s wife from Pingzhou wipe the water off, but she was pushed to the ground by the latter.

The commotion here soon caught the attention of others, even the men on the other side heard the noise and glanced in this direction.

Zhu Qiyun fell to the ground and, feeling the strange gazes on her, hung her head low, wishing she could just disappear into the ground.

“There’s a dressing room nearby, Madam Tang, go change your clothes,”
a lady suggested aloud.

Upon hearing this, Madam Tang, supported by her maid, left the scene cursing and swearing.

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao were also watching the situation unfold. Seeing Zhu Qiyun sitting on the ground without anyone helping her up, they immediately glanced at Wang Manman.

Once Wang Manman caught the cue, she approached Zhu Qiyun, “Miss, your dress is wet too. My young mistress has spare clothes for you to change into; please come with me.”

Zhu Qiyun, filled with gratitude, looked at Wang Manman, who had offered a solution to her dilemma, and stood up with her help, “Who is your young mistress?”

Wang Manman glanced in Daohua’s direction.

Zhu Qiyun followed her gaze, and when she saw Daohua, her expression slightly shook.

Wang Manman said, “Miss, everyone is watching; let’s go change your clothes first.”

Zhu Qiyun nodded and followed Wang Manman.

After Wang Manman had taken Zhu Qiyun away, Madam Zhu and the lady who came with her finally snapped out of their shock, hastily calling their still-dazed maids to follow them.

Seeing Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu looking at her, Daohua thought for a moment and then quietly shared the story of how she came to know Zhu Qiyun.

After hearing Daohua’s story, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu both opened their mouths in surprise.

“On the day of the big wedding, the groom and another woman took their own lives for love; that Miss Zhu really couldn’t have worse luck,” Dong Yuanyao said with a sigh.

Su Shiyu also sighed, “Madam Zhu is still bringing Miss Zhu out to meet guests; it seems that the marriage must have been called off.”

“Of course it had to be called off,” Dong Yuanyao replied, “to marry a man who was so desperate for another woman that he tried to die for her, how could one possibly live a good life after that?”

Su Shiyu shook her head, “The days after breaking off an engagement are not necessarily any better.” Saying this, she exchanged a glance with Daohua, then both looked toward Madam Zhu together.

By this time, Madam Tang had already returned, dressed in fresh clothes, and was smiling with an apologetic look to the others.

Before long, Wang Manman also returned with Zhu Qiyun, now wearing clean clothing.

Looking at the well-dressed and graceful Zhu Qiyun, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her.

“I am greatly thankful for Miss Yan’s help, Qiyun is extremely grateful.”

Zhu Qiyun gratefully bowed towards Daohua.

Daohua quickly stood up to return the courtesy, “Miss Zhu, you’re being too polite, it was merely a trivial effort.”

Seeing Zhu Qiyun still standing, Daohua thought of Madam Zhu’s attitude just now and said with a smile, “It seems there is no more room over there with Madam Zhu, but we still have plenty of space here. If Miss Zhu is willing, why not join us to watch the dragon boat races?”

Zhu Qiyun immediately nodded, “I would like that, thank you.”

On the other hand, Ms. Zhu Si, Zhu Qiyun’s mother, saw her daughter sitting with the girls from the Magistrate and Provincial Governor’s families and felt slightly relieved as her daughter was no longer subjected to the odd glances of others.