CHAPTER 137: COUNTERATTACK 1

"Lady Fu, I’m rather baffled because the last time I checked, I was also given a dress quite similar to Lady Chu Ming’s, and they were all gotten from the first wife. Yet, the first wife is dressed in such a demure way. I kind of suspected that maybe I just escaped being embarrassed myself!"

The entire hall went silent again.

Everyone’s head slowly turned toward Lin Xu, some in shock, some in curiosity, and some in disbelief that a concubine would openly speak like that in front of Lady Fu.

Mo Lan’s mouth almost dropped open.

Madame Mo stiffened.

San Na’s fingers, hidden inside her sleeve, twitched.

Lady Fu blinked, confused for a moment, then looked down at San Na, who indeed wore a very simple and plain gown compared to Chu Ming’s overly extravagant one.

Lin Xu’s words had been sharp, but they were also logical.

If the first wife had gifted the other concubines an extravagant dress, then why was she wearing a rather plain one despite knowing that Lady Fu wasn’t a fan of extravagant things...?

Whispers erupted again.

"Wait... does that mean the first wife didn’t give Chu Ming permission to dress like that?"

"Then she embarrassed herself?"

"I thought the first wife supported her... so why is she dressed so plainly compared to the concubine?"

"Maybe someone wanted Chu Ming to lose face..."

The murmurs spread like wildfire.

San Na clenched her teeth so hard her jaw almost trembled. But her face remained calm.

Chu Ming’s eyes widened as she looked at San Na, finally realizing something was wrong.

"So all this was your plan, you wench... you wanted me to lose face so you..." Chu Ming shouted as she charged toward San Na, wanting to rip her apart.

But Lady Fu quickly alerted her guards, and they blocked Chu Ming. Her actions caused the hall to go silent once more.

"Such insolence! Since when does a concubine openly insult and threaten her superior!" Lady Fu shouted.

She then turned to Mo Ying, who was busy playing with Lin Xu’s hair, completely lost in his own fantasies.

"And you!" she shouted at him. "You sit there while that concubine of yours causes so much trouble... you don’t even say anything to her."

She then stood up. "If you can’t properly discipline your concubines, then I’ll properly discipline them for you."

"But I’m not his concubine," Lin Xu suddenly said, causing all eyes to fall on her, Lady Fu’s eyebrows twitching in confusion.

Mo Ying’s expression changed as he also stared at Lin Xu.

"What are you talking about?" Mo Lan asked, the question everyone wanted to know.

"I mean what I said. I am not yet his concubine. I was brought here to be wedded, but I have yet to be, and so has Lady Chu Ming. So punishing us is something no one else can do at this moment because I know my right," Lin Xu said and then stood up.

The guards holding Chu Ming released her. She yanked their hands away, walking back to her seat as pain helped her.

"You have quite a sharp tongue, don’t you?" Lady Fu exchanged stern glances with Lin Xu, who stood unwavering.

"Lady Fu," Lin Xu bowed. "I am just a woman from a village. I am unaware of the likes and dislikes of noble ladies like yourself. Lady San Na, on the other hand, has lived in the capital for more than three years now. Being the fairy wife, isn’t she supposed to advise us on things most of us don’t know?"

Lin Xu’s words caused Lady Fu to think deeply.

"Lady Fu, I am not accusing anyone of anything, but when I look at Lady Xu... she wore a completely different dress from the one that had been given to her because she is aware of your likes and dislikes. I, on the other hand, wore this dress because it was given to me by the general. Lady San Na wore that dress because it complemented your tastes. But Chu Ming, unaware of your likes and dislikes, wore merely a beautiful dress given to her by the first wife."

Saying that, Lin Xu bowed once again and sat back in her seat.

Lady Fu thought about Lin Xu’s words and gave San Na a stern look before turning back to her seat.

"Whatever! Let us forget about all this... my mood is already ruined. Start the entertainment!"

Lady Fu announced loudly.

Musicians hurried forward, dancers stepped into the center, and servants rushed around to calm the chaos. The atmosphere slowly shifted, but the tension in the room didn’t disappear completely.

Lin Xu let out a quiet breath, thinking the matter was finally over... until she felt a warm hand slip around her waist.

Her eyes widened.

She turned and glared at Mo Ying sharply.

He only leaned in closer, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered,

"My wife is so fierce."

Lin Xu almost choked.

She elbowed him lightly. "Who is your wife? Are you crazy? Don’t say nonsense in front of these people."

Mo Ying just smiled, completely ignoring her glare. His thumb brushed her waist boldly.

"Soon," he whispered again, "you’ll have no choice but to call yourself that."

Lin Xu’s face heated up instantly.

She quickly pushed his hand off, looking away before anyone else noticed.

But it was too late.

Some nearby ladies had already seen their closeness and were whispering even more.

"So bold!"

"The general is treating her like... like his real wife!"

"He never even looked at San Na that way..."

San Na’s fingers tightened around her cup. The veins on her hand were showing, but her expression remained calm and elegant on the surface.

Inside, she was burning.

Meanwhile, Chu Ming sat with a face dark as the bottom of a pot. She glared at San Na with hatred and glared at Lin Xu with even more hatred. She didn’t even know who she wanted to strangle first.

The musicians began to play, dancers stepped forward, and the hall tried to return to normal.

Lin Xu, still a little embarrassed, finally whispered to Mo Ying,

"You better behave. I’m serious."

Mo Ying nodded... then leaned in again.

"I’m behaving."

She shot him another glare.

He grinned like a mischievous wolf.

While all this was going on, Chu Ming was ready to commence with her plan and ruin Lin Xu completely.

So with stiff steps, she stood up and walked toward the center of the hall.

She bowed toward Lady Fu and said loudly, "Lady Fu, if you are already hungry, we can start serving the food now."

Her voice was polite, but her eyes were sharp, clearly trying to play the role of the "proper" concubine.

Lady Fu glanced at her lazily, still irritated from earlier.

"...Fine," she said. "Serve the food. I’m not in the mood to wait."

Servants immediately rushed out to prepare the dishes.

Lin Xu only stared at Chu Ming, a heavy disappointment settling in her eyes.

’After everything that happened today... this is what she decides to do?’ Lin Xu thought quietly.

Chu Ming met her gaze for a moment and instead of looking ashamed, she smirked proudly, as if she had gained back some imaginary dignity.

Lin Xu exhaled slowly, turning her head away.

This woman wasn’t only foolish... she had no self-awareness at all.

Even with the whole hall laughing at her inside, she still dared to act like she was in charge.

Mo Ying noticed Lin Xu’s expression and leaned close again.

"Don’t waste your thoughts on her," he whispered.

"Don’t worry, I know better!" Lin Xu responded as she gave a quick glance at Rulan, who knew what that look meant and gradually disappeared from the gathering.

Meanwhile, after some time, the servants who had gone out of the hall to bring the dishes came back empty-handed, bowing slightly with their head chef leading them.

The head chef stepped forward and dropped to his knees, bowing low.

Everyone in the hall froze.

The music stopped again.

The dancers paused mid-step.

Even Mo Ying raised an eyebrow.

Lady Fu frowned deeply. "What are you doing here? Why are you bowing instead of serving the dishes?"

The head chef swallowed hard. His voice trembled.

"F-Forgive me, Lady Fu... but the food... it has not been fully prepared yet. Everyone will need to wait a little longer."

The hall exploded instantly.

Gasps filled the air.

Whispers spread like fire.

Some people even stood up in shock.

"What?! The food isn’t ready?!"

"How is that possible at a grand banquet like this?"

"What kind of carelessness is this?!"

Chu Ming’s eyes lit up with excitement.

San Na calmly sipped her tea, but her lips curled slightly.

Madame Mo’s face darkened with shame.

Mo Lan smirked.

Lady Fu’s expression turned thunderous.

She slammed her hand on the table. "Are you tired of living?! How dare you ruin my mood even further?!"

The head chef trembled harder and hit his head on the floor.

"Lady Fu, this lowly one is innocent! I am not responsible for today’s dishes!"

Lady Fu narrowed her eyes. "Then who is responsible? Speak!"

The head chef lifted his shaking hand and pointed.

"...Lady Lin Xu."