Aunt Zhou followed the third prince and fled to Xuzhou at high speed.
Not long after they left the city, it started to rain heavily in Cheng'an County.
Because of the heavy rain, the emperor postponed his return to the capital and could not leave until three days later.
Zhou Ruiyuan also roughly guessed that the emperor already knew their identities.
He and Du Wanchun had been waiting for news from Cheng'an County. When they heard that the third prince and Aunt Zhou had not met the emperor, they were relieved.
A few days ago, Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan received invitations to Lu Da's life banquet in the capital.
These days, they are worried about Aunt Zhou's safety and have no intention of attending the birthday banquet.
Mr. Lu was a veteran of the court, and they had always looked down upon Zhou Ruiyuan, who came from a humble background.
Zhou Ruiyuan had just come to the court. Although Lord Zheng and some confidants were taking care of him, he could not openly offend him.
The Lu family specially sent a young man from Mr. Lu's side to the banquet, just to tell them that the couple must attend this birthday banquet. ?.?????.ℂ??
After Du Wanchun received the letter that Aunt Zhou was safe, he began to attend the birthday banquet.
On this day, Du Wanchun specially handed over the children to Mr. Yuan and Hai Qingyang, and then the two took the gifts and got on the carriage to Lu's house.
Three generations of the Lu family have been officials, so the family is naturally bigger than Zhou Ruiyuan, the new official who just took office.
When the two were in the carriage, they heard someone whispering outside the carriage, "Have you heard that Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou will also come?"
Most of the officials in the court were descendants of aristocratic families, and a few with scientific backgrounds were serving as county magistrates or prefects in various prefectures. There were almost no people like Zhou Ruiyuan who had been promoted to several ranks at such a young age.
These women have always looked down on farmers who were born in the bitter cold. On weekdays, they look down on them and they are generous, but when no one is around, they still can't help but make up a few sentences.
"When they first came to the capital, I met Feng several times at General Mo's house. Although Mrs. Zhou was born as a peasant woman, her appearance and figure are no worse than those of noble ladies in the capital."
"So what if she has a good figure? She is not a peasant woman. If the emperor had not recognized her as the second son of the Zhou family, there would be no place for them in today's birthday banquet."
The person who spoke was the eldest lady of the Lu family.
The eldest daughter of the Lu family is already married, and she happens to be married to a scholar. Although she is in high school this year, her official position is only fifth rank, so she is naturally not as good as Zhou Ruiyuan.
The dignified eldest daughter of the Lu family was not as good as this peasant woman, so her heart was naturally filled with resentment.
Several other ladies and ladies immediately followed with some flattering words, saying that Zhou's family was just lucky, otherwise they would not be where they are today with their knowledge.
The few people standing at the back had good eyesight and saw the Zhou family's carriage when they raised their heads. They immediately whispered a few reminders to them to stop talking.
Miss Lu didn't take it seriously, and even said a few insinuations about Du Wanchun to Du Wanchun's carriage.
Du Wanchun listened in the carriage and didn't pay attention at all.
Zhou Ruiyuan held her hand and said comfortingly: "In the future, we will not come to such banquets."
Du Wanchun smiled and shook his head: "Nothing, the more we don't come, the more they will look down on us."
After that, he took Zhou Ruiyuan's hand and slowly got off the carriage.
Du Wanchun was dressed very simply today, wearing light blue clothes and only a pearl hairpin on his head.
This pearl hairpin looks ordinary at first glance, but in the sunlight you can vaguely see the large pearls on it shining with a faint blue light.
It's like the deep blue sea is engraved on it.
Ruiyuan spent a lot of money to find this pearl. If it were sold, it would be worth at least several cities.
These women have seen many precious ornaments, but this is the first time they have seen such rare and priceless pearls.
They all cast shocked and envious looks.
But there are also some ladies who don't know the goods, such as Miss Lu.
Miss Lu glanced at Du Wanchun and said sarcastically: "My father is holding a birthday banquet today, and Mrs. Zhou is wearing this outfit. For those who don't know, she thought there was a funeral in our house."
There was nothing wrong with Du Wanchun's clothes today, it was just too plain.
Miss Lu deliberately grasped this point and talked about it.
Du Wanchun saluted them and said with a soft smile: "Miss Lu, please don't say that. Be careful that the passing guests really think that the Lu family is having a funeral. Miss Lu may not be able to explain clearly if she wants to explain it later. "
After all, Miss Lu is a married daughter. Naturally, she came to attend her father's birthday party today just to curry favor with her father. If it is true as Du Wanchun said.
Mr. Lu was afraid that he would be blamed.
She was angry and annoyed, so she had to endure it.
Du Wanchun saluted the other ladies and then followed Zhou Ruiyuan into the Lu Mansion.
Miss Lu looked at Du Wanchun's back coldly, holding the handkerchief tightly.
At this time, the lady on the side couldn't help but exclaimed: "This Madam Zhou is really low-key. Although she is dressed more plainly, the beads on her head are enough for us to buy several outfits."
Miss Lu's expression changed, "Really? Are those beads so valuable?"
