Chapter 319: 327: Just Chop it Off

As Su Wenyue thought this, her intentions were kind, feeling that the young girl was spirited and adorable. However, her focused way of eating caught not only Su Wenyue’s eyes. When the others looked on, reactions varied. Most, though looking down on the girl, chose to ignore it but there was one woman whose attire drew the eyes. She watched the young girl with a cold laugh.

“Glutton, acting as if she hasn’t eaten in eight hundred lifetimes—truly vulgar!”

Su Wenyue’s brows furrowed upon hearing such a spiteful voice, yet she had no place to speak up. After all, she was not acquainted with the young girl, and she could sit there without trouble only because of Aunt Mrs. Pei. Furthermore, she didn’t know who that woman was, and it wasn’t wise to get involved, lest she offend someone she couldn’t afford to and cause trouble for Han Yu. Nevertheless, her gaze turned towards the young girl.

The young girl seemed unperturbed, as if she hadn’t heard the woman’s remarks at all, continuing to eat her own food, completely disregarding the woman’s sarcasm. It was uncertain whether she was too engrossed in eating to hear or if she pretended not to hear on purpose.

“Hey, I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear? Such a lack of manners!”

Listenting to the woman’s continued provocation left Su Wenyue speechless. Wasn’t this just looking for trouble where there was none? How one ate was none of her business, yet she persisted relentlessly, leading Su Wenyue to look again for the young girl’s reaction.

This time, the young girl didn’t ignore the woman. Though still holding a piece of fruit, she had lifted her head and looked at the woman, appearing somewhat stunned but with a cold gaze.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Did I say something wrong? I’ve never seen anyone behave so rudely as a guest in someone else’s house!”

Su Wenyue truly wanted to say, It’s you who are rude, girl! People around them seemed to share the same thought, but none dared to create trouble at the Governor’s Wife’s banquet. So, they just watched silently, waiting to see how the young girl would respond.

Su Wenyue was concerned that the young girl might be bullied, hardly expecting the girl, who seemed demure and lovely, to shatter her previous impression once she spoke.

“Where did this stray dog come from, barking at the Governor’s Wife’s banquet? Nobody seems to know who the dog’s owner is, nor does the dog have any public decency. I’m trying to eat here, you know, eat! Isn’t this affecting my mood? Shouldn’t someone take a stick and drive it out!” The young girl’s voice was soft and delicate, but her words were remarkably aggressive and harsh, not considering the woman at all, straight up calling her a dog.

Su Wenyue glanced over at the Governor’s Wife’s expression, somewhat worried for the young girl, afraid she might have offended someone. However, although the Governor’s Wife looked somewhat displeased, she remarkably held back. Su Wenyue thought it over and concluded that both women’s identities must be extraordinary.

Feng Ruolin saw her sister-in-law looking at the two confronting women with darting eyes, realizing she might be unclear about their identities, so she explained quietly on the side.

“These two, the woman in the red Clothes who’s provoking is from General An’s Mansion, while the other is the Wife of Shangguan Wuyou. Both have considerable backgrounds which is why the Governor’s Wife doesn’t want to offend them. Otherwise, who would dare cause a scene at the Governor’s Wife’s banquet? Watch, even if she’s annoyed, she’ll only try to smooth things over. She wouldn’t actually confront either of them,” she explained.

Hearing this, Su Wenyue understood. They were indeed big shots, and that’s why they dared to be so bold. But something about the woman from General An’s Mansion didn’t sound right to her. “Sister-in-law, the General An you’re talking about, isn’t he General Hu Wei An Chenhu, the highest-ranking officer in Yiyang’s military camp?”

“Exactly, it’s that General An. The woman is called Hongling; she lives in General An’s Mansion but has no title. Yet she dares to be so arrogant, clearly leveraging General An’s influence,” Feng Ruolin said with disdain, obviously holding such a woman in contempt.

As Su Wenyue learned about Hongling’s identity, she felt puzzled. In her previous life, General An had no concubines by his side until he found his family, and they lived happily ever after. Su Wenyue had even admired General An’s affection for his First Wife. Who was this Hongling that she had never even heard of, and where had she come from?

Su Wenyue was curious but didn’t dare to inquire further, to avoid slipping up. She thought maybe Hongling wasn’t such a significant figure. After all, her sister-in-law mentioned that Hongling was without name or status, not even regarded as a concubine. Deep down, Su Wenyue felt somewhat bitter. She had believed General An to be a Good man, yet he wasn’t as devoted as she thought. But perhaps there was more to the story; after all, with General An’s Social Status, if he wished, he could provide a woman with a title or even marry her without anyone questioning it. There was no need for deception.

But when it came to the young Girl, she turned out to be the Daughter-in-law of the Shangguan Family, an identity indeed of great significance. No wonder she had enough confidence to disregard those around her; after all, the Shangguan Family’s presence in Chang’an was second only to the Sikong Family.

“What did you say? You dare call me a dog? What are you, to dare to insult me like this? Aren’t you afraid General An will find out and give you a piece of his mind!” Although Hongling’s Social Status was not distinguished, with An Chenhu’s backing, she had always been held in high esteem. Now, being humiliated by a young girl, she promptly invoked General An’s name.

“So what about General An? He can’t just let his dogs out to bite people! Want to bully people with your power? Have General An come over then. Do you think my Shangguan Family is easy to push around?”

“You actually dare to disrespect even General An, how bold of you!” Hongling, who lacked insight, didn’t understand the dealings of high society and thus overlooked the words ‘Shangguan Family,’ only perceiving the young girl’s contempt and disdain, anger written all over her as she pointed at Ye Xinxin.

“Why are you pointing at me? Don’t want your fingers anymore? If you don’t, might as well chop them off!”

As Su Wenyue listened, she felt the young girl was truly quite fierce, not sure whether it was just talk or if she really meant it. There she was, having initially thought the young girl was gentle and sweet, but how wrong she had been.

At this moment, Su Wenyue had completely lost any worry for the young girl, calmly sitting there to watch the drama unfold, certain that no matter what happened, it wouldn’t affect her.

Ye Xinxin’s fearlessness against Hongling using General An’s name to intimidate didn’t mean others weren’t afraid, especially the Governor’s Wife. The banquet was held in her Mansion, and the guests were invited by her. If a commotion were stirred up and General An blamed her, Ye Xinxin might be safe with the support of the Shangguan Family, but she would certainly be in trouble.

“Enough, enough, it’s not such a big deal, no need for such a fuss. For my sake, how about both Madams take a step back?” The Governor’s Wife said with a forced smile on her face, feeling humiliated inside. She would have accepted it if it were a Marquess with a distinguished status, but there she was, forced to coax two younger women of lesser status than herself.