"Chun Tao, how is it?" Chen Jinyu asked the personal maid that was given to her by Madam Liu.
"It was just as you said young Mistress, the disaster relief funds have failed and there is barely anything left in the granaries." Chun Tao said and Chen Jinyu nodded in glee.
"What about what I asked you to inquire about in the Chen Residence?" Chen Jinyu asked Chun Tao.
"It was as you said again," Chun Tao said with a smile.
"Chen Wenjin has been drawing up plans to quell the disaster in the South." Chun Tao said with a smile.
"Excellent." Chen Jinyu said as she laughed.
"Simply excellent." Chen Jinyu said as she cackled.
"Empress Dowager's banquet will be held soon and she is inviting all the noble ladies from each prominent house." Chen Jinyu said as she walked around her living quarters.
"Chen Wenjin will be invited and I will also be invited as the new Mrs of the Marquis house and using the offering of gifts, I will use the chance to present Chen Wenjin's plan as my own and turn my sinking reputation around." Chen Jinyu said as she clapped in glee.
"But how are you so sure that Miss Chen Wenjin's plan will work?" Chun Tao asked in confusion.
"Whether it will work or not it doesn't matter." Chen Jinyu said and Chun Tao looked at her in shock.
"What matters is that the Emperor's loyal subject Chen Jinyu is willing to share the emperor's burdens and has worked days and nights to come up with a plan that can offer him some peace." Chen Jinyu said with a smirk.
"Young Mistress is wise." Chun Tao said with a shrewd smile and a bow.
The Empress Dowager's banquet
The Empress Dowager's banquet was held within a vast palace hall adorned with silk draperies, lacquered screens, and golden lanterns that cast a warm, imperial glow. Noble ladies were arranged opposite each other and court musicians playing soft melodies on zithers and flutes were settled in the midst of the noble ladies. On each table were small jade plates with rice cakes and honey coated fruit with persimmon at the side.
At the center of the hall, lied a vacant elevated throne meant for the Empress Dowager's who was yet to appear and light conversation filled the air but the subject of the conversation however was in a noble woman with a soft and dainty expression in a light green hanfu and light green hair accessories.
"How shameless can one be to sit in front of their cousin like they did nothing?" a noble woman said, uncaring how loud she was.
"That's right." said another noble woman.
"Not only did she steal her husband to be, she also got pregnant for him before marriage. If that is not desperation than I wonder what is." another noble woman said and laughter filled the air.
"You all seem to be enjoying yourselves." The Empress Dowager said as she stepped into the venue in a dark blue hanfu with golden accessories on her hair and all the noble women stood up.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager." the noble women said simultaneously as they bowed.
"You may rise." the Empress Dowager said as she took her seat and the noble women bowed once more before sitting.
"I was late today because Chen Jinyu," the Empress Dowager said and Chen Jinyu smiled bashfully.
"Handed me a plan that could help quell the disaster in the South." the Empress Dowager said and everyone except Chen Wenjin gasped.
"The disaster in the South?!" noble women whispered in shock because the disaster in the south was now common knowledge.
"I have submitted it to the Emperor and even the Emperor says it has promise." the Empress said and the noble ladies except Chen Wenjin gasped once more.
"Cousin," Chen Wenjin said with a smile and Chen Jinyu smiled back.
"I didn't know you had such profound knowledge in disaster relief that you could write up a plan to solve the disaster in the South." Chen Wenjin said with a smile.
"This is my chance!" thought Chen Jinyu.
"Chen Jinyu's plan for disaster relief comes from days and nights of endless learning and inquiries on kingdoms with similar disasters." Chen Jinyu said in a pitiful tone.
"As the wife of the future Marquis, my heart couldn't sit still when I heard that the disaster at the South grew worse so I made sure to start learning and after endless days and nights," Chen Jinyu said, emphasizing on the words "days" and "nights"
"I have managed to come up with this humble plan of mine." Chen Jinyu finished her statement pitifully.
"Could she have a good heart after all?" a noble woman whispered.
"No." said another noble woman.
"I refuse to believe that someone who could steal her cousin's husband to be is a good person." said the noble woman.
"If you don't mind me asking, what are the details of your plan?" Chen Wenjin asked as she sipped her cup of tea.
"Isnmy cousin so curious that she can't wait for it to be announced by the Emperor?" Chen Jinyu asked with an innocent smile with a slight edge to it.
"Fine," Chen Jinyu said with a smile.
"My plan entailed-" Chen Jinyu said, before repeating Chen Wenjin's plan word for word with a beautiful smile on her face.
"Miss Chen Jinyu is so smart." said a couple of noble women and Chen Wenjin gripped her cup tightly.
"Cousin," Chen Wenjin said with a tight smile.
"Are you saying you wrote this?" Chen Wenjin asked, emphasizing on the word "you" as Chen Jinyu sipped her tea.
"After countless days and nights" Chen Jinyu said with an innocent smile.
"Could it be that she is jealous?" a noble lady asked referring to Chen Wenjin.
"Who wouldn't be?" asked another.
"Her husband to be was stolen by her and now she has come up with a plan that even the Emperor approves of." said a noble lady.
"If I were her I would be green with envy." the noble woman said and light laughter filled the air.
"Do you have something to say Chen Wenjin?" the Empress asked and all eyes fell on Chen Wenjin.
"My apologies," Chen Wenjin said as she got up and bowed.
"I was just surprised by my cousin's keen insight." Chen Wenjin said with a tight smile.