The Liu's family banquet
The red wooden pillars carved with dragons and clouds in the Marquis family hall were polished until they shone and silk banners painted with symbols of fortune and longevity hung from the rafters. The Marquis seat faced south showing the position of the highest honor and his seat along with his wife's were the highest in the room. The table closest to the Marquis table contained his son and his son's bride and their seats were the second most elevated in the room and lower tables that showed slight elevation to separate honoured guests from honoured guests were kept alongside the lower tables that surrounded the left and right of the banquet hall. Court musicians were kept in the middle of the banquet hall and as guests ranging from local officials to scholars to allied nobles, and honored visitors arrived they were assisted to their seats by the Liu family servants and as light conversation began, the last guests to arrive were the Chen family.
"Coming so late to an occasion like this," whispered a noble woman to her husband.
"Doesn't it mean that the Chen family completely disregards the Liu family?" the noble woman asked her husband and her husband nodded in agreement.
"Wait," her husband said as he nodded to where the Chen family were told to sit.
"Aren't the Chen family seated too far from the Marquis table?" the husband asked his wife.
"Doesn't that mean that the Liu family disregards them too?" The husband asked and his wife nodded.
"What a bitter display between two in laws." the wife muttered to her husband and another couple butted into their gossip.
"What can you expect," said the husband.
"Chen Jinyu stole their daughter's husband to be." said the wife and the other couple gasped.
The Marquis stood up and all conversation ceased immediately.
Raising up his cup of rice wine, the Marquis said "This celebration was made to honor my daughter in law who was awarded the honorary title "Defender of the Lands" by the Emperor himself in court not too long ago." and the people who weren't part of the court began to whisper.
"Their daughter in law was awarded a title?" a noble woman asked.
"And such a grand one like that?" asked a male scholar.
"My daughter in law, Chen Jinyu, has offered a meticulous service to the people of the South due to her disaster relief plan and we couldn't be prouder." Madam Liu said and guests began to clap as Chen Jinyu smiled bashfully.
"She came up with a plan for the south?" a man whispered.
"What a virtuous young woman." another man said as she nodded his head.
"She has the Empire's best interest at heart." muttered a woman.
"I wouldn't want to be in Chen Wenjin's position" a noble woman whispered and her friend nodded.
"Her husband to be was stolen by her cousin and now her cousin is being honored by the Emperor himself. If I were her I would barricade myself in my room and not come out." the noble woman said with a laugh and guests who heard her let out a laugh too.
Acting like she didn't hear a word, Chen Wenjin sipped her rice wine on her table without a care in the world.
After a toast to the great fortune of the Liu family, court musicians resumed their music and guests were allowed to mingle as the feast was slowly being ushered in.
Getting up from her table, Chen Jinyu moved to the Chen family table.
"Greetings to mother and father." Chen Jinyu said but Chen Lihua and Chen Zixuan ignored her and were wicked away by other people.
"Sister," Chen Jinyu said as she came to stand beside her.
"I hope sister doesn't blame me for what happened in the past." Chen Jinyu said and other guests around them began to listen in on the conversation.
"Chen Jinyu was wrong and hopes sister could find it in her heart to forgive her." Chen Jinyu said pitifully.
"If sister doesn't forgive Chen Jinyu, Chen Jinyu will slap herself until sister is satisfied." Chen Jinyu said as she raised her hands to slap herself.
"What exactly are you playing at?" Chen Wenjin asked as she calmly dusted off her hands.
"I am trying to show my sincerity to sister," Chen Jinyu said in a pitiful tone.
"Could it be that sister doesn't want to forgive me?" Chen Jinyu asked as her eyes began to water.
"Is Chen Wenjin really so ruthless that she can't even forgive her cousin who is going out of her way to apologize to her?" asked a male scholar.
"That's right." said another male scholar.
"It's not Chen Jinyu's fault that Liu Tiancheng never loved her." muttered the male scholar.
"I think it's exactly because she is like that that Liu Tiancheng never loved her." said another man.
"Look at Chen Jinyu, quiet and dainty and looks like a fairy. Anyone would want to marry her." a man said and Chen Jinyu tried her best not to smile.
"But look at Chen Wenjin cold and unforgiven." the man said with a scoff.
"Who would want to marry a woman like her?" a low ranked official said and Liu Tiancheng smiled, seeing Chen Wenjin humiliated.
To add more fire to the flames, Chen Jinyu said "Sister, Even if Liu Tiancheng didn't love you, I marrying Liu Tiancheng must have hurt you. Chen Jinyu really hopes sister can forgive her." Chen Jinyu said as she grabbed Chen Wenjin's hand.
"That's right," a noble man said in the crowd.
"Chen Wenjin was the one that always used to chase after Liu Tiancheng, no wonder she is so bitter." the noble man said and Liu Tiancheng puffed his chest in pride that Chen Wenjin couldn't forget him as light laughter filled the air
Undisturbed by the light mocking of the crowd, Chen Wenjin turned to Chen Jinyu and asked "What should I forgive you for?"
"Wh- what?" Chen Jinyu asked as she stumbled over her words.
"Liu Tiancheng is a despicable human who is worth less to me than the shoes that I throw away on occasion." Chen Wenjin said as she took a bite of another rice cake.
"Why should I forgive you for taking away the man who almost ruined my life?" Chen Wenjin asked in confusion and Chen Jinyu looked at her in shock.
"If anything I should thank you." Chen Wenjin said with a bright smile.
"You have done well Chen Jinyu." Chen Wenjin said with a clap and light laughter directed at Chen Jinyu and Liu Tiancheng filled the air.
"You-" Chen Jinyu wanted to yell but clamped her mouth shut quickly.
Dropping her cup right when Chen Wenjin was about to go for another rice cake, Chen Jinyu made sure her hand touched Chen Wenjin's as she dramatically threw herself to the floor.
"Ah!" Chen Jinyu cried in pain and everyone quickly turned around to see what was going on.
"Chen Wenjin I know that you don't like me but how could you push me knowing full well that I am with child." Chen Jinyu said in sorrow as she held her stomach.