After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

"How dare you speak like that?" Choi Ryeo-won wasn't stupid; she immediately recognized that Rong Yingluo was being sarcastic towards her mother. Her face flushed with anger as she questioned her.

"Miss Cui, I didn't say anything wrong. I need to bow to the ladies in front of me; that's the proper etiquette. The Marquis of Dingxi also has a wife in front of him. Your mother is a woman who knows proper etiquette, so naturally she would bow to the former wife just like I do. Isn't that perfectly normal?" Rong Yinglu blinked innocently.

Her bewildered expression, seemingly oblivious to Choi Ryeo-won's anger, made one want to laugh but dared not.

Gu Qingyin was struggling to hold back, but for the sake of the bigger picture, she tugged at Rong Yingluo and greeted Cui Liyuan: "Third Miss Cui, you've misunderstood your sister-in-law. Your sister-in-law just thinks that what the Lady of Dingxi Marquis said is absolutely right."

It would have been better not to say it; saying it only added fuel to the fire.

"What right do you have to talk, you illegitimate daughter?" Choi Ryeo-won hated it most when people said she was born to a second wife.

Although a second wife is technically the legal wife, she is still considered to be of lower status than the first wife.

If the first wife leaves behind her eldest son, the sons born to the second wife cannot inherit the family business and can only be treated like other second sons.

Therefore, noble ladies in the capital generally would not become concubines of men with legitimate sons.

The Su family took advantage of this loophole in their search for a good son-in-law.

"Madam of Xiding, Miss Cui, you are all guests. We were just joking around. Please come in." Rong Yingluo felt that arguing was pointless.

Today, the Gu family is the host family, and we must not have any conflicts with the guests.

Rong Yingluo's generosity and poise left Su Jingyan speechless, and she was led to the main hall to pay her respects to her cousin.

Many ladies and young women were already seated in the main hall.

Rong Yingluo and Gu Qingyin came out to greet them again.

This time, she was greeted by an acquaintance, none other than her only friend, Ke Miaoran.

"Greetings, Madam Qi and Sister Ke." Rong Yingluo was delighted to see familiar faces.

"You're too kind, Madam Gu. The invitation from the Gu family was originally for the second branch of the family, but my sister-in-law is unwell, so she sent me, her aunt, with my nephew. Miaoran even shamelessly came along." Madam Qi smiled and held Rong Yingluo's hand affectionately.

She no longer has any unmarried children under her name, but her second wife does.

She had already heard from her younger daughter-in-law that Madam Gu was secretly helping her prepare for pregnancy. If all went well, she should be able to conceive in a few months.

This was an immense favor to the Qi family.

"I'm so happy that Sister Ke can come." Rong Yingluo was overjoyed. She hadn't expected Ke Miaoran to come. "Let's go to the main hall first and say hello to our mother-in-law. Second sister, you wait here for a bit. My mother will probably be here soon."

Rong Yingluo hurriedly gave a few instructions and helped Madam Qi head towards the main hall.

"Madam Qi, I have a favor to ask." Although Rong Yingluo had only met Madam Qi once, she could entrust people who were friendly to her without being too familiar with them.

"You're welcome. I'll do my best to help in any way I can," said Madam Qi, patting Rong Yingluo's hand affectionately.

"My mother will be coming soon, but she rarely attends banquets like this. I would like to ask you to look after her for me," Rong Yingluo pleaded.

"Don't worry about that, I will definitely take good care of your mother." Madam Qi understood immediately.

As a merchant's wife, if Madam Rong were to suddenly enter a gathering of wives and young ladies of officials, she would certainly be looked down upon, ostracized, or even ridiculed.

Having received approval, Rong Yingluo smiled brightly: "Thank you, Madam Qi."

After leading the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to the main hall, Rong Yingluo quickly returned to the second gate.

Just then, I saw Madam Rong come in with her maid.

"Mother." Rong Yingluo jogged a few steps.

"Greetings, Aunt Rong." Gu Qingyin didn't recognize Madam Rong. She only realized who the visitor was when she heard her sister-in-law call her "Mother."

"You need to watch your temper, don't be so rude," Madam Rong said, scolding him, but with a smile on her face. "And this gentleman is?"

"This is my second younger sister, Qingyin," Rong Yingluo introduced.

"So it's Miss Gu, the second young lady of the Gu family. Here, this is a small gift for our meeting. Take it and play with it." Madam Rong generously took off a smooth, white jade bracelet from her hand and put it on Gu Qingyin's wrist.

"Auntie, you mustn't accept this." Gu Qingyin was too embarrassed to accept such an expensive gift.

This was the first time in her life she had received such an expensive bracelet, and she was a little overwhelmed.

"Liuli told me that in the Gu family, you and she are the closest. She is fortunate to have a sister-in-law like you. Please accept this and don't be shy." Madam Rong brooked no refusal.

"Second sister, don't worry, just keep it. My mother has plenty of good things." Rong Yingluo added.

Gu Qingyin then stopped refusing. Besides, one should not refuse a gift from an elder.

"Mother, did you come alone, or with my eldest brother?" Rong Yingluo asked.

"Your elder brother came with me. He was taken away by the second young master of the Gu family," Madam Rong said gently.

Rong Yingluo didn't actually want her elder brother to come; these rich young men loved to abuse their status and disrespect others. However, she thought that her brother was shrewd and worldly-wise, so he probably wouldn't suffer any losses.

Rong Yingluo led Madam Rong to the main hall.

Upon entering the main hall of the courtyard, Su Jingyi was chatting and laughing with the ladies of various families.

Upon seeing Rong Yingluo lead in an unfamiliar woman, everyone stopped talking and laughing.

"This humble woman, Madam Rong Ye, pays her respects to the Duchess." Madam Rong, supported by her daughter, performed a curtsy. Her real name was Ye Jie.

"My dear in-law, you've arrived. Please, no need for formalities." Su Jingyi had her maidservant step forward to help her up. "Liuli has married into my Gu family, but we haven't met yet. I've specially invited you here today so we can get to know each other."

Su Jingyi's words seemed innocuous at first glance, but upon closer examination, it became clear that she was belittling the Rong family.

The two families became in-laws and lived in the same capital, yet they did not know each other.

Logically, the two families should meet to discuss the marriage before the wedding takes place.

Throughout the entire process, the two families never even met, which shows how much they looked down on the Rong family, who were supposed to be the home of merchants.

Madam Rong wasn't stupid; she immediately understood what the Duchess meant. But for her daughter's sake, she pretended not to understand and instead took a box from the maid following behind her.

"This is my first visit to your residence. I've brought a small gift to express my gratitude." With that, Madam Rong opened the box. "These are thirty pearls that my husband brought back from the Eastern Yue Kingdom. They are large, lustrous, and extremely valuable. They can be used to make some jewelry for the young ladies in your household."

As the box was opened, the ladies and young women in the main hall stared in disbelief.

These are such beautiful pearls, they are rarely available in the market. The Rong family actually managed to produce thirty of them at once, what a generous gesture!

Su Jingyi was also dazzled by the thirty pearls.

"Oh, my dear mother-in-law, you're too kind." Su Jingyi smiled sincerely, without the slightest hint of reluctance.

Granny Zhao smiled broadly, took the box, and handed it to Su Jingyi.

Rong Yingluo looked at everyone's expressions and felt contempt in her heart.

Even if they are noble ladies, they still bow down to rare and valuable possessions.

Wealth has always been a powerful motivator.

To avoid being looked down upon, the mother brought this box of good things to clear the way.

My mother is so clever.

It only benefited the Su family.

"Madam Rong, do you still have any pearls like these in your Rong family?" The Lady of Dingxi asked shamelessly, her eyes filled with longing.

Her daughter has come of age, and today is the perfect opportunity to find a suitable husband for her. To ensure her daughter marries well, the dowry must be substantial.

But she couldn't buy such a good thing even if she wanted to.