When Chu Tianjiao saw Chu Yun'er looking so conflicted that she was scratching her head in frustration, she remembered.
In her previous life, her step-maternal grandmother had schemed at this very banquet to marry Chu Yun'er off to her nephew.
Chu Tianjiao's step-maternal grandmother's maiden name was Sun, from a fallen noble family.
Lady Sun wanted to elevate her own family, so she set her sights on the prestigious Chu family.
She didn't dare touch Chu Tianjiao, and although Chu Yun'er was from the second branch, Chu Ye was still a fourth-rank official. So Lady Sun targeted Chu Yun'er.
After that banquet, Chu Yun'er and the Sun family quickly became engaged.
Chu Yun'er was only thirteen, not yet of age, but Lady Sun had no qualms. Thinking of this, Chu Tianjiao felt her teeth itch with hatred.
Two years later, Chu Yun'er married into the Sun family.
At first, the Sun family treated Chu Yun'er like a goddess, reaping many benefits from the Chu family.
Later, as the Chu family gradually lost power, the Sun family showed their true colors and began mistreating Chu Yun'er.
When Chu Yun'er took the blame for Chu Tianjiao and was beaten thirty times by Lu Zhaoling, the Sun family mercilessly divorced her.
Such an in-law family was neither kind nor righteous.
In this life, Chu Tianjiao was determined not to let her cousin marry into such a family.
"Second sister, you should stay home and study. Don't go," Chu Tianjiao suggested kindly.
Chu Yun'er had been hesitating about whether to go, but hearing Chu Tianjiao say this, she immediately jumped up:
"Why can't I go? If you don't want me to go, I'll definitely go!"
Chu Tianjiao held her head, secretly regretting how she had forgotten Chu Yun'er's nature to oppose her on everything.
"Fine, go! But let's make this clear in front of Grandmother: once we're at the Zheng Family, you must follow my every instruction. Otherwise, when we return, I'll beat you so badly you won't be able to get out of bed for half a month!"
Hearing this, Chu Yun'er turned to Old Madam Chu for help:
"Grandmother, listen to this! This is how Big Sister bullies me all the time! She's threatening to beat me right in front of you today. Please punish her!"
Old Madam Chu raised her eyes to Chu Tianjiao. After receiving her subtle hint, she immediately realized that Chu Yun'er must have made some mistake at the Zheng Family's banquet.
Old Madam Chu's expression turned stern as she scolded, "You sisters are going out together. If you don't listen to your elder sister, what do you think you're doing?"
"I don't think I'm doing anything, Grandmother..." Chu Yun'er stammered in protest.
Wasn't Grandmother missing the point? Shouldn't they be talking about how Big Sister was bullying her?
Old Madam Chu issued a solemn order: "If you dare to leave your elder sister's sight, I'll break your legs when you return!"
Chu Yun'er burst into tears, "Grandmother, you're so biased!"
On the day of the birthday banquet, Chu Tianjiao left early with Chu Yun'er.
As they neared Marquis Wuning's Mansion, they saw carriages already starting to crowd at the mansion gates.
Chu Tianjiao thought to herself, "This step-maternal grandmother of mine really does have a wide social circle!"
Since Madam Zheng's death, Chu Tianjiao had observed three years of mourning and hadn't attended any banquets.
Her connection with Lu Zhaoling had begun when Marquis Liyang returned to the Capital City and took her to participate in the Emperor's autumn hunt.
At that time, Chu Tianjiao was dressed as a man, mingling among the noble sons, riding horses and shooting arrows. Somehow, Lu Zhaoling had recognized her.
After returning to the camp, Lu Zhaoling had painted a portrait of Chu Tianjiao in her dashing appearance and secretly sent it to her tent.
That was how they began their private correspondence.
When Lu Zhaoling requested the Emperor's permission for marriage, Chu Tianjiao herself was startled.
At that time, she didn't understand love, but felt that being admired by the much-praised Fourth Prince was a very happy and prestigious thing.
Little did she know that this bit of vanity would ruin her life.
Chu Tianjiao guessed that Marquis Wuning's Mansion probably couldn't invite Lu Zhaoling.
Today was her first return to the Capital City's social circle. Not seeing him meant there would be fewer things to be wary of, which lightened her heart a bit.
Chu Tianjiao was led to the flower hall by the housekeeper. As they approached Lady Sun, Chu Tianjiao was still reminding Chu Yun'er to stay close to her.
Chu Yun'er pouted impatiently, but she was truly afraid that Chu Tianjiao might beat her when they returned home. So her legs, as if out of her control, followed Chu Tianjiao step by step.
Lady Sun sat high in the place of honor, with several ladies she was close to already seated around her.
Chu Tianjiao walked to the center of the room and cupped her hands in salute to Lady Sun: "I wish maternal grandmother blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains."
Chu Yun'er had just placed her hand on her waist, preparing to curtsy as befitting a young lady, when she saw her elder sister not following the usual etiquette. She had no choice but to imitate, cupping her hands in salute and offering congratulations.
Today was Lady Sun's fortieth birthday by the traditional counting method. She wore a wide-sleeved, waist-cinching red robe embroidered with gold, her round face heavily made up, and her head adorned with an extravagant display of pearls and jewelry.
Seeing Chu Tianjiao's perfunctory greeting, she felt some displeasure, but her smile grew even more exaggerated.
The eldest daughter of the Marquis of Liyang Mansion was not someone she could easily manipulate.
Lady Sun beckoned to Chu Tianjiao:
"Jiao'er, come here! Let your maternal grandmother have a look at you. My, how you've grown! I almost didn't recognize you!"
"Your maternal grandfather has been missing you terribly. It's been three years, and you haven't thought to come visit him."
These words were somewhat pointed. Chu Tianjiao had been observing mourning at home, but the way Lady Sun said it made it sound as if Chu Tianjiao didn't respect her maternal family and lacked filial piety.
The ladies sitting next to Lady Sun began to look at Chu Tianjiao with disdain.
The eldest daughter of the Marquis of Liyang Mansion was known for roaming the streets of the Capital City since childhood, playing with cats and dogs, and getting into fights every few days. She was infamous as the "Little Tyrant" of the Capital City.
How could such a girl understand propriety and shame? It was only because the Marquis of Liyang Mansion was powerful that she was betrothed to the Fourth Prince. Otherwise, it was feared that no one in the Capital City would dare to marry her.
Chu Tianjiao only moved forward a little, not approaching Lady Sun.
She understood the hidden meaning in Lady Sun's words but pretended not to, putting on a simple and straightforward manner:
"Maternal grandmother is right. I've been observing mourning at home and haven't visited my birth maternal grandfather for a long time. I should also go and offer incense to my birth maternal grandmother. I'll go find maternal grandfather now and ask him to take me to the ancestral hall to offer incense to my birth maternal grandmother."
What Lady Sun hated most was being reminded that she was a second wife.
The pair of children left by the first wife - one the heir of Marquis Wuning's Mansion, the other married to Marquis Liyang - were far more noble than the children she bore later.
Once the Marquis of Wuning passed away and the heir inherited the title, where would there be a place for her and her children in this vast marquis mansion?
Now Chu Tianjiao was mentioning her birth maternal grandmother in front of guests and wanted to drag the Marquis to offer incense. Wasn't this slapping her face?
Lady Sun's face darkened with anger, her false smile finally crumbling. She coldly dismissed them: "Then go!"
Chu Tianjiao paid no attention to how unpleasant Lady Sun's expression was. She grabbed Chu Yun'er's hand and strode away.
Chu Yun'er followed behind, asking curiously: "Big Sister, I thought the Marchioness seemed quite nice. Why did you provoke her for no reason?"
Chu Tianjiao replied as they walked: "Nice? The dog that bites doesn't bark. Today, I'll let you see clearly the black heart of this step-maternal grandmother of mine."
Hearing there was drama to watch, Chu Yun'er's steps following Chu Tianjiao became much lighter.
