On the other side of the banquet, the noblewomen sat gathered around the Old Madam of the State Duke Manor, chatting away.
The Old Madam scanned the group, observing each person present before remarking, "Why does it feel like someone is missing?"
Madam Chengen, who was managing the banquet, looked around at the sight. "Is it that the scenery here is not to your liking?"
The Old Madam shook her head. "The scenery is magnificent, but..."
Lady Zhenguo had a sudden realization. "Is the Old Madam feeling that someone is absent?"
The other ladies glanced at one another. "Is anyone really missing? Aren't they all here?"
"It must be that girl, Shen Mingzhu, right?" said the Minister of Revenue's Wife.
"Yes, yes, that’s it. Where is Mingzhu? Did she not come today?" The Old Madam tapped her dragon-headed cane against the ground.
In the past, at gatherings like this, Shen Mingzhu would always sit with the elders for a while, chatting or telling amusing stories that would make the Old Madam and the other ladies roar with laughter.
Without her there today, the atmosphere felt strangely cold.
Madam Shen offered an awkward smile, not knowing how to respond.
"Old Madam, you spend your days chanting scriptures and eating vegetarian meals, so perhaps you haven't heard—our Mingzhu, in the blink of an eye, has become the daughter of a merchant family!" the Minister of Revenue's Wife teased with a beaming smile directed at Madam Shen.
"Isn't that right, Madam Shen? Why don't you take this opportunity, while everyone is here, to tell us how you discovered that Mingzhu was not your biological daughter?"
"Is this true?" Even the Old Madam of the State Duke Manor looked surprised for a moment.
Madam Shen forced a smile. "It is indeed true."
Before she could finish, Lady Li chimed in, "I heard it was your biological daughter who sought you out, and that's when you discovered the two children had been swapped by accident? Won't you give us the details, Madam Shen?"
Shen Jiaojiao had just walked over when she heard people discussing her affairs.
She sensed something was wrong and instinctively wanted to slip away, but she was spotted by an observant lady.
"This girl looks a bit unfamiliar. Could she be the legitimate daughter of the Jian'an Marquis Manor?"
"Her features are quite pretty, though she falls just a little short compared to Mingzhu."
Before Madam Shen could speak, the ladies began to discuss among themselves.
In the crowd, Madam Xiao sat quietly, lifting her teacup, her gaze lowered, saying nothing.
Shen Jiaojiao gradually steadied herself. She stepped forward and offered a bow. "Greetings to all the ladies."
Madam Shen felt a weight lift from her heart and beckoned her over. "Come, hurry over and meet the ladies."
Shen Jiaojiao walked forward obediently. The ladies who had been gossiping lowered their voices.
"This is the Old Madam of the State Duke Manor..."
"Greetings, Old Madam."
"And this is the Prime Minister's wife, Lady Xue..."
"Greetings, Lady Xue."
Madam Shen made the introductions one by one, and Shen Jiaojiao greeted them each in turn.
"She seems like a well-behaved girl," one of the ladies remarked.
Another added, "It really is a pity. Madam Xiao had originally set her sights on Mingzhu as a daughter-in-law."
"Not just Madam Xiao; even I had thought of having Mingzhu as my daughter-in-law."
"Oh, save it! When a family has a daughter, a hundred families come to woo her. There’s no way Mingzhu would ever end up in your house!" someone teased.
Shen Jiaojiao glanced at Madam Xiao, noting that she showed no reaction to these comments.
"Why is Madam Xiao so quiet?"
"Our Madam Xiao must be heartbroken that the daughter-in-law she had in her sights has flown away!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Madam Xiao offered a slight smile. "You all just like to tease me to amuse the Old Madam."
The Old Madam of the State Duke Manor smiled kindly. "If you truly want Mingzhu as your daughter-in-law, you had better go and propose soon. If you wait too long, someone else will snatch her up!"
Madam Xiao replied, "Look at that, even you are joining the others in making me a laughingstock."
The group erupted in laughter again. Only Madam Shen sat with her eyes cast down, sipping her tea, lost in thought.
Shen Jiaojiao began to lose her patience. What were these people talking about in such circles?
Although she knew she would be compared to Shen Mingzhu at this banquet, facing it head-on still made her feel aggrieved. Especially Madam Xiao's ambiguous words—they left her feeling restless and annoyed.
Madam Shen gently patted her hand and shook her head at her.
"Is this the cousin from the Duke Xiao Manor?" someone asked, noticing Pu Ying and questioning Madam Xiao.
Madam Xiao took a sip of tea, either not hearing or choosing to ignore the question, and offered no response.
Others exchanged knowing glances.
Pu Ying glanced at Madam Xiao, then stood up and bowed.
"Pu Ying pays her respects to the ladies."
"She is also a very elegant-looking girl."
"If you ask me, Madam Xiao, there’s no need to keep pining for Mingzhu to be your daughter-in-law. Look at these two girls, Pu Ying and Jiaojiao—they are hardly lacking," someone joked.
Shen Jiaojiao frowned, contemplating this. It didn't sound like a compliment to her. It was just another way of saying she wasn't as outstanding as Shen Mingzhu.
Madam Xiao gave that person a sharp look and spoke in a cool, detached tone. "Pu Ying and Jiaojiao are naturally fine girls. However, I watched Mingzhu grow up, so naturally, I have a greater fondness for her."
"Besides, the position of young mistress of the Duke Xiao Manor is not something just anyone can hold."
As she spoke, Madam Xiao's gaze lingered on Shen Jiaojiao for a moment before shifting to Pu Ying.
The lady whose intentions had been laid bare gave an awkward laugh and dared not speak again. She had hoped to use the opportunity to climb the social ladder of the Duke Xiao Manor for her own daughter, but Madam Xiao was not only discerning, she had exposed her schemes in one sentence.
"Madam Xiao is right. In the few days I have spent with Sister Mingzhu, I have discovered that she is not only learned and well-versed in the arts, but also quick-witted and courageous. It truly makes me feel quite inadequate by comparison," Shen Jiaojiao said.
Madam Shen looked at her, stunned that she could actually bring herself to say such a thing.
Madam Xiao also looked slightly surprised and gave Shen Jiaojiao a second glance. "Being able to recognize the strengths in others shows that you are not lacking yourself."
Upon hearing the praise from Madam Xiao, Shen Jiaojiao was nearly overcome with joy. Heaven knows it had taken two lifetimes of experience and every bit of her acting ability to come up with that compliment for Shen Mingzhu.
But to earn a word of praise from Madam Xiao—it was worth it!
As Shen Jiaojiao beamed with delight, Pu Ying cast an envious glance at her. For Pu Ying, Madam Xiao had never given her a kind look; or rather, Madam Xiao had always treated her as if she didn't exist. Even when she introduced herself to outsiders as a cousin of the Duke Xiao Manor, Madam Xiao never gave her a second look.
Yet, the daughter of the Jian'an Marquis Manor always seemed to catch Madam Xiao's attention so easily. First, it was Shen Mingzhu, and now, a Shen Jiaojiao.
Thinking of this, Pu Ying's expression darkened, and her hands clenched slightly beneath her sleeves.
As the banquet dispersed, Shen Jiaojiao touched the jade bracelet on her wrist, unable to hide her smile.
"Compose yourself," Madam Shen said, tapping Shen Jiaojiao on the forehead.
Shen Jiaojiao giggled foolishly.
Once they were inside the carriage, Shen Jiaojiao could no longer hold back. "Mother, what do you think Madam Xiao meant by that?"