Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Invitation Dilemma

Although the Third Branch Matriarch’s handling of Xue Jiaoyue was deeply satisfying, both Xue Fanzhi and the Old Madam were nonetheless angered that a minor branch dared to oppress the main line. Fortunately, the matters they had discussed had all been left with contingencies.

Sure enough, after the Third Branch Matriarch returned home with her spoils, news quickly spread that the main branch had given the fourth branch two invitations to the Xie family banquet.

The Xie family’s banquet—ever since their arrival in Jiankang, countless eyes had been watching for news of this event. It was easy to imagine: the elite of the great clans would gather in one place. For insignificant little noble families like theirs, only feats of arms or marriage alliances could change their fortunes.

And although the third branch bore the Xue family name, they were engaged in trade, completely lacking standing among the gentry now. The Third Branch Matriarch could not help but covet those invitations. She wanted to ask the Old Madam for one, but the gold and silver ornaments glittering about her room made it plain—she would not be entertained.

What now? The Third Branch Matriarch paced her room in agitation. Suddenly, she thought of a plan and went to the fourth branch.

At the time, the Fourth Branch Matriarch was teaching Fourth Young Lady and Sixth Young Lady embroidery. Relying on her status as elder sister-in-law, the Third Branch Matriarch barged in without so much as a greeting, launching straight into her argument: “Your Fourth Daughter is plain of appearance—sending her would only waste an invitation. Do you really think she could catch the eye of someone important? Why not give it to Fifth Daughter? She is both beautiful and talented, clearly destined for greater things. Should she attain wealth and honor, our two branches are closely tied—surely the fourth branch would not be left without its share of benefits!”

Fourth Daughter stared blankly at her grandmother, speechless at the comments on her looks.

But the Fourth Branch Matriarch was no fool and didn’t believe a word of it. She merely replied with four words: “See yourself out.” Then she ordered the servants to drive the Third Branch Matriarch away.

The Third Branch Matriarch stood at the fourth branch’s door, cursing for a long time in her rage.

Compared to the Xie family’s invitations, what were the trinkets she had wrung from Xue Jiaoyue? Being a merchant, she naturally knew what truly mattered. So she returned everything she had taken from Xue Jiaoyue to the Old Madam, apologized, and admitted her fault.

The Old Madam had always intended to bring her to heel, so when she finally yielded, the Old Madam handed her the other invitation.

That left only one invitation remaining.

When Xue Jiaoyue sent her maid, Luyi, to spy on the household and learned about the invitations, she was so furious she nearly coughed up blood. How could the Old Madam have received an invitation? It must have been Minglan who gave one to Xue Fanzhi. That Xue Ba—having obtained the invitation, she hadn’t given it to her own elder sister, but to someone else.

Outrageous!

But now that Xue Fanzhi had changed, Xue Jiaoyue dared not go to her directly and instead sought out Madam Jin.