Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 979 - 977_1

"I’m grateful for your kindness, Princess Xian. You should know that I’m not one to shy away from extending courtesies. I’ll surely pay you a visit," Miss Zhu replied with a cheeky grin, maintaining her composure.

Her half-joking, half-serious tone did not give the impression of someone seeking to curry favor, but rather someone who was witty and humorous.

"Miss Zhu, I’ve heard Xiao’er speak often about you. Meeting you in person indeed far exceeds her praise. Do remember to drop by the King of Qi’s mansion. Xiao’er brought back a roll of golden embroidered silk recently, which I believe your newly opened silk mill produces. I’m absolutely smitten with it. Please let me know if there are new fabrics in the future!" Gu Qiqi chimed in.

"Miss Zhu, as Rui’s sister-in-law, you’re now part of our extended family. Please feel free to visit Prince An’s mansion in your spare time. Don’t hesitate to put up with me when I drop by for a chat!"

"Miss Zhu, as Fifth Princess, we are now family. If anyone ever bothers you, be sure to tell me. I’ll make sure to bully them back for you!"

...

"With Fifth Princess’s assurance, I feel like a crab in the Imperial City!"

"Why a crab?" Ruan Weizhen seemed puzzled.

"Because a crab can walk sideways!" Miss Zhu winked.

Everyone in the room burst into laughter at her comment.

Zhu gracefully acknowledged and thanked everyone for their kindness. Her light and humorous conversation, unprejudiced view towards individuals of higher status, and her ability to interact confidently as if with old friends, made everyone feel at ease.

Despite stares of surprise, Zhu maintained her composed smile, graciously responding to everyone’s invitations without being perturbed. She had won over everyone who, to begin with, were simply acting out of respect for Xiao’er.

Ruan Weizhen and others’ fondness for Zhu grew by the minute.

Seeing everyone rallying behind Zhu, Xiao’er showed gratitude, jokingly exclaiming, "Everyone seems to have forgotten me upon finding a new favorite! You’ve all invited Sister Yan and left me hanging. I’m getting a bit jealous!"

"No wonder I smelled something sour! Looks like someone has spilled the vinegar!" Ruan Weizhen joked.

"I’m afraid I might die from the sourness. We should exclude you from future events and only invite Miss Zhu!" Gu Qiqi joined in the banter.

"That’s awful! Next time any of you shop at my store, there’ll be no discounts!" Xiao’er threatened.

"Miss Zhu, we’ve offended Princess Rui for you, remember to say good things about me to your husband after you marry Minze’s youngest top scholar and youngest Magistrate. I hope I can get some discounts at your shop then! For a hundred-tael item, a fifty-tael discount will do. For a thousand-tael merchandise, just charge me four or five hundred taels!" Ruan Weizhen reciprocated the jest.

Hearing this, Xiao’er promptly pulled Zhu aside, "Sister Yan, let’s keep our distance from this cunning friend!"

"Remember, people like Princess Qi, Crown Princess of Prince An’s mansion, Fifth Princess, and Princess Ranhui are all wealthy, so charge them one hundred and fifty taels for every hundred-tael item they purchase from your shop!"

Princess Qi, Fu Ranhui, Crown Princess of Prince An’s Mansion, Fifth Princess, hearing Xiao’er words, couldn’t help but laugh, "You are indeed a scrooge! Not just in not sharing, but also intent on making double profit!"

Fu Ranhui feigned a grieving face, "The biggest culprit is right here! You only take advantage of your close acquaintances!"

Yun’er chimed in seriously, "Princess, are you only realizing this now? My sister has always only taken advantage of those close to her!"

Everyone couldn’t help laughing again.

"Ladies, aren’t you ashamed to be currying favor with a mere merchant’s daughter? Isn’t this demeaning for members of the royal family?" Princess Ling’er complained. She couldn’t stand that a merchant’s daughter was receiving preferential treatment that even she, a county princess, didn’t receive.

Not just Princess Ling’er, all the other ladies envied Zhu were envious and jealous too.

The most esteemed women in the entire Imperial City, or rather in the whole of Minze, were courting a mere merchant’s daughter, which led to a slew of mixed feelings among them.

They had never been collectively invited by princesses and queens as Zhu had.

Princess Ling’er was right in claiming that it was inappropriate of these royal women to acknowledge her worth and not theirs. What was Zhu’s extraordinary ability, despite being a merchant’s daughter, that didn’t demean the royal family’s status?

Upon hearing these words, Du Yijin turned towards Princess Ling’er, "Miss Zhu is the soon-to-be wife of Marquis Shengping’s eldest son! In half a month, she’ll become the youngest Madam Magistrate of the Minze Dynasty! As a fourth-rank decree wife, Mrs. Jiang, her rank will be above yours! What’s wrong with us befriending her?"

"Miss Zhu is not just a fourth-rank decree wife, after her marriage, she can also be granted the title of Crown Princess! She’s a proper Crown Princess! Mrs. Jiang, haven’t you heard of ’a wife’s status is reflected by her husband’s’?" Gu Qiqi also retorted.

Upon hearing their comments, everyone realized the imminent reality: Marquis Shengping’s eldest son’s wedding is in half a month, and whoever marries him would become the wife of a fourth-rank official!

In terms of rank equivalence, apart from the Princess and the Crown Princess, there wasn’t any woman who could surpass her! ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Moreover, she also happens to be a Crown Princess!

No matter how much they detested her merchant background, they were all forced to admit that her fate had played out better than theirs; regardless of her humble origins, she was marrying a good husband, just like the Princess Rui. Her life was bound to be full of sweetness, enough to make others green with envy!

Princess Ling’er’s face turned various colors, just like a palette! The thought of being rivaled by a merchant’s daughter was suffocating her!

Upon hearing Gu Qiqi refer to her as ’Princess’, and realizing their common disdain for Zhu, Fang Wanping decided to align with Princess Ling’er, "The fourth-rank decree is bestowed by the emperor himself. Whether she will confer it or not is doubtful. Besides, Miss Zhu hasn’t married Shen yet. Isn’t it too early to discuss this?"

"Indeed, within half a month, anything could happen. Even the eldest son of Marquis Shengping might not get to marry her! Natural disasters and accidents can happen anywhere, right?" Princess Ling’er agreed, finding Ruan Weizhen, who usually disregarded others, annoyingly likable for the first time. The circumstances were more comforting to the ear!