Chapter 1253: Chapter 1252: Invitation

The eldest lady of the Gu Family knew this young sister-in-law of hers. She had been preoccupied with Wang Yongzhu at the Gu Family these past few days.

Not seeing each other after so many days led to a bit of loss of composure, but the deep bond between mother and daughter is only natural.

Worried that Lady Gao might look displeased, she hurriedly patched up the situation: “Duchess, please don’t blame her. My sister hasn’t been separated from Yongzhu for so many years. It’s been many days since they last saw each other, and she’s a bit out of sorts—”

How could Lady Gao take offense? Not only did she not take offense, but she even intentionally left them some time alone to allow the mother and daughter to speak privately.

This left the eldest lady of the Gu Family feeling puzzled because Lady Gao’s thoughtfulness seemed somewhat unusual. However, seeing Wang Yongzhu’s normal expression, she suppressed her multitude of questions and simply exchanged polite and congratulatory words with Lady Gao.

Lady Gao knew full well that the Gu Family was now practically Song Chongjin’s wife’s family. Considering Gu Zikai’s success as a Tanhua, there was no shortage of flattering words between them, making for a harmonious and cordial atmosphere throughout the hall.

Old Granny Zhang, having shown concern for her daughter, couldn’t help but quietly ask Wang Yongzhu as she observed Lady Gao’s demeanor, “What on earth did your cheap mother-in-law take? Seeing her attitude, anyone would think her own son was declared the heir! Her attitude is so good? Maybe she has some plans?”

Wang Yongzhu smiled and whispered close to Old Granny Zhang’s ear about the matter with the butler, upon which Granny Zhang suddenly understood, “I was wondering why your cheap mother-in-law was smiling like a weasel that stole the chicken!”

After she spoke, she felt something was wrong and wanted to say more, but by then Lady Gao and the eldest lady of the Gu Family had already finished their conversation. Lady Gao specifically called Wang Yongzhu over to tell her that she should exclusively accompany the eldest lady of the Gu Family and Granny Zhang for the seating, and not bother herself with attending to the other guests.

Wang Yongzhu thanked Lady Gao with a smile and led the two to sit aside.

Along the way, many familiar official family’s ladies came up to greet the eldest lady of the Gu Family, frequently glancing subconsciously at Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu beside her.

Some, who were relatively close to the eldest lady of the Gu Family, would directly ask, “Is this the aunt who was lost from your family years ago?”

The eldest lady of the Gu Family replied boldly, “Indeed it is! This is our family’s aunt. She was lost due to an inadvertence long ago, but heaven has blessed us, and we’ve found her again!”

Then, some ladies who were not on good terms with the Gu Family muttered quietly, “It’s been decades since she went missing; who knows if the one they found is their own flesh and blood?”

The eldest lady of the Gu Family cast a glance at the lady who spoke and laughed coldly, “The bloodline of our Gu Family naturally has ways to verify. Moreover, everyone saw our old lady before. Our family’s aunt looks exactly like our old lady and our old master; how could it be false?”

Her words reminded many who had indeed seen the Old Lady Gu back in the day. They found Granny Zhang somewhat familiar, and upon hearing the eldest lady of the Gu Family, they looked more closely and found it to be increasingly so.

Such resemblance, it should be Gu Family’s bloodline, right? Everyone was mostly convinced.

Some spirited lady then said, “This is indeed a rare joyous event. The rarest part is this coincidence; only those of one family can recognize each other by fate.”

“Indeed, it’s quite serendipitous. The world is so big, yet it’s possible to find back a lost one; it’s more legendary than a storybook.”

Then some quietly pulled the eldest lady of the Gu Family aside and asked, “Suddenly returning an aunt to your house, I heard before that the reputation of your family’s aunt wasn’t very good; she grew up in the countryside, ignorant of etiquette and quite vulgar.”

“Now that she’s back, your family’s old lady surely treats her like a treasure, giving you a hard time, right? They used to say you were lucky to marry into the Gu Family, with a kind mother-in-law and no troublesome young sister-in-law. But now, at this age, a young sister-in-law falls from the sky, enough to shake up your household?”

The one speaking seemed to be trying to speak up for the eldest lady of the Gu Family but was dripping with sarcasm.

The eldest lady of the Gu Family smiled, “My sister has a straightforward personality, everyone in our mansion likes her very much, and she is most dear to me. I’ve been looking forward to having such a sister for decades, and now that it’s finally come true, I’m thrilled!”

This retort sent the person back in silence.

Having said that, she turned to familiar acquaintances and mentioned, “In a few days, our mansion will be sending out invitations, inviting everyone to bear witness. We will formally recognize our family’s aunt in front of everyone. Consider this advance notice; do keep that day open, or I shall be rather displeased.”

Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the ladies changed, and they gazed at Granny Zhang with a few more serious glances.

Quietly recognizing someone without sending out invitations to guests and without a formal ancestral ceremony sounded good, but it essentially meant it wasn’t considered a big deal.

However, making a grand spectacle of inviting guests to witness it proved they truly cherished this lost daughter and wanted to legitimise her identity!

Once this was public, this countrywoman would legitimately be the only rightful eldest young lady of the Old Master of the Gu Family’s generation.

Considering further, this countrywoman not only transformed into the rightful eldest young lady of the Gu Family but also became the mother-in-law of the Heir’s Wife of Duke of Weiguo. Her status was even higher than many of the official family’s ladies present.

It is said that a woman should follow her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her son after her husband’s death.

This countrywoman did not benefit from her husband but gained advantages from her maiden family and her daughter’s family.

A countrywoman, yet luckier than them, made quite a few official family ladies present feel especially uncomfortable.

After a brief silence, the ladies, having recovered, began offering congratulations without mentioning anything else, promising to make time on that day to personally witness the occasion, noting it as a lovely story.

Song Chongjuan, Song Chongxiu, and Song Chongqi, the three sisters, had also been instructed by Lady Gao to accompany the unmarried young ladies in the adjacent flower hall today.

They faintly heard what was happening over here.

Some discontented young lady curled her lips; who would have thought that just last month they still looked down upon and laughed at this mother and daughter in their circle? In just two months, they’d flipped their status and now became the targets of envy.

Not mentioning the mother, it was enough to say that this Heir’s Wife of Duke of Weiguo, this country girl, even as a graduate’s wife wouldn’t be worthy to carry their shoes.

Yet, by sheer luck, she married a country scholar, unexpectedly stricken by fortune, as this country scholar turned out to be the son of Duke of Weiguo.

Not only did she become the daughter-in-law of Duke of Weiguo, but her status rose with the tide, and now she is the Heir’s Wife.

Among these noble young ladies, daughters of wealthy families raised with care, hardly any married better than this country girl, indeed provoking dissatisfaction whenever thought about.

Especially the girls from the Ruan Family, embarrassed by the Ruan Family’s disgrace at the Song Family’s last time, hadn’t dared to go out for a long while.

They originally didn’t want to come today, but since the Ruan Family and Song Family are family, without breaking off relations, missing such an event would lead to gossip from outsiders. How would Lady Ruan cope in the Song Family afterward?

Ultimately, Madam Ruan brought the girls, considering their age and lack of confirmed engagements, such social occasions were opportunities for exposure and match-making nonetheless.

Listening to the commotion from the hall where the ladies were gathered, they watched Wang Yongzhu’s mother and daughter’s striking presence, pondering their own frustrations, twisting their handkerchiefs tightly in their hands with resentment.