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Chapter 1001: Famous
....Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Everyone smiled and s.h.i.+fted the conversation to a different topic. Madame Lin instructed the maids to bring more tea and snacks, greeted everyone, and headed to the kitchen to check on the progress of the dishes.
Madame Qin, who had intended to leave, was convinced to stay and returned to her seat.
Madame Han’s face was still flushed with embarra.s.sment, but she didn’t want to leave on a sour note. It was her first invitation from her husband’s wife, after all. Casting a sharp glance at Qiao Xuan, she reluctantly sat back down.
Even Mrs. Zhou felt a sense of unease. She made a silent promise to herself to never interfere in others’ affairs again.
Qiao Xuan had gained a newfound reputation after this confrontation, and even Madame Qin couldn’t help but view her in a different light. Qiao Xuan carried herself with even more confidence than before. Eventually, a couple of madames exchanged pleasantries with her.
Qiao Xuan reciprocated the greetings.
Many of those who had initially planned to ridicule Qiao Xuan decided to drop the idea after witnessing her resilience. No one wanted to be embarra.s.sed in return.
Three women bargaining in a market turned into a gathering of over ten women engaged in lively conversation.
Although their husbands held modest positions, and Madame Qin’s husband was only ranked fifth, he possessed extensive knowledge about the n.o.ble families, princes, kings, and monarchs. Madame Qin was thrilled to engage in discussions on such topics.
They shared stories about conflicts between concubines in the household, which young masters kept mistresses and clashed with their first wives. They delved into discussions about fas.h.i.+on, jewelry, cosmetics, and various hobbies. They also shared information about stores offering affordable items, expensive snacks, and the trickiest department stores to navigate.
Qiao Xuan was captivated by the gossip, despite not fully understanding the context. The sudden mention of the Empress Dowager’s peony piqued her curiosity.
One of the women continued, “I heard that the peony withered just a few days ago. The news spread like wildfire within the palace walls. The Emperor’s anger was so intense that he punished the eunuchs responsible for the imperial garden. He even issued a decree that anyone in charge of the garden would be buried with the peony if it died. The tension in the palace is palpable, and everyone is walking on eggsh.e.l.ls, afraid of incurring the Emperor’s wrath!”
Gossip related to the royal family always held a special allure, and Madame Qin, too, was captivated by the story.
“Is this really true?”
“Are you certain?”
“It must be true. My cousin has close ties with the Seventh Young Mistress of Lord Jian’s third household, and she’s the one who shared this information with me. She wouldn’t spread false rumors.”
“It does sound plausible. During the Empress Dowager’s lifetime, she had a deep affection for peonies. The Emperor himself personally planted a peony for her, symbolizing their mother-son relations.h.i.+p. The Empress Dowager personally cared for it while she was alive. Even after her pa.s.sing, the Emperor would visit the peony and reminisce about her. If the peony were to wither, the Emperor would undoubtedly be infuriated.”
The women exchanged intrigued glances, engrossed in the tale of palace intrigue.
They all sighed.
“Those gardeners in the imperial garden are so useless. They can’t even take care of one flower!”
“True!”
“If they can’t be saved, then the palace…”
“Just drop it!”
“Right!”
So the gossips soon turned to the topic on which princess in the palace was favored and whether she would be selected next year.
