"Master, the Su Mansion has sent an invitation, inviting you to bring the eldest miss and the eldest young madam, among others, to attend Old Mrs. Su’s birthday banquet at the Su Mansion in five days."
During the day, when Tong Huaqiong was inspecting the fur market, the Su Mansion sent someone to deliver the invitation to her.
She had just returned home when Su Qing presented the invitation to her.
Tong Huaqiong felt puzzled. Although Taohua and Su Chengmin were engaged, the interactions were all with the Min Family, having no dealings with the Su Family.
Moreover, she had driven Su Shihang away with a dog-beating stick, and Nie Xiaofeng had made Su Shihang faint.
The Su Family has remained silent these days and has not reported Nie Xiaofeng in court.
This matter was originally Su Shihang’s fault; getting beaten while breaking off an engagement with the woman’s family would earn no sympathy and might even make the Su Family a laughingstock.
Su Shihang had to bear it!
Tong Huaqiong thought her dealings with the Su Family would end there, but unexpectedly, Old Mrs. Su sent an invitation to her.
The invitation was written very courteously, first apologizing for the Su Family’s absence at Su Chengmin and Taohua’s engagement and then inviting Tong Huaqiong to the Su Family as a gesture of apology.
Tong Huaqiong held the invitation and pondered.
This time, they had to go to the Su Family.
Only by going would they understand the Su Family’s intentions.
Before going, Tong Huaqiong paid a visit to the Min Family, primarily to get more insight into what kind of person Old Mrs. Su was through Mrs. Min’s words.
No one knows Old Mrs. Su better than Mrs. Min.
"That old hag, hard-faced and black-hearted, not satisfied with the Lu Family, treats Baozhen poorly. In her eyes, her son is unrivaled under heaven, and no one is good enough for him. She sent you an invitation; I reckon she’s up to no good."
Mrs. Min’s hatred for Old Mrs. Su ran deep, and she immediately cursed Old Mrs. Su.
"Here’s the plan, I’ll go too on her birthday to see what kind of trick the old hag is up to."
This old hag has been making things difficult for Min Baozhen and now wants to meddle in her grandson’s marriage.
No way.
Mrs. Min had not received an invitation, but it wouldn’t stop her from barging into the Su Mansion.
One can imagine the surprise Old Mrs. Su would feel seeing her uninvited old in-law.
Mrs. Min was suddenly ready for battle.
Time passed rapidly, and Old Mrs. Su’s birthday arrived.
Tong Huaqiong took Man Er, Chen Sufen, Liu Yueer, and others to the Su Mansion.
Several carriages crowded the entrance of the Su Mansion, seemingly filled with the sound of an argument.
What was happening?
Tong Huaqiong had to order the carriage to stop.
"My daughter married into the Su Family with proper betrothal rites; even if she isn’t here, her tablet is still in the Su Family’s ancestral hall. Who dares stop me from coming to my daughter’s home? You go ask Su Shihang if he dares not to acknowledge me, his old mother-in-law?"
A loud, full voice sounded, and Tong Huaqiong recognized it as Mrs. Min.
Tong Huaqiong peered out from the carriage and saw the Min Family’s carriage blocking the road at the entrance, with Mrs. Min standing there like an old hen in battle mode.
Mrs. Min was in a direct confrontation with the gatekeepers.
Mrs. Min was bursting with fighting spirit.
The Su Family seemed terrified of Mrs. Min, and the gatekeepers automatically blocked her path.
"Our madam has said to only entertain those with invitations. Without one, we cannot receive you," said the gatekeeper.
"Invitation? Let me tell you, I can come to the Su Family whenever I want, without needing an invitation. Even if my daughter is no longer here, she is still the mistress of the Su Mansion, and no one else has the right to take charge here. You go ask Su Shihang whether he’s trying to maintain the engagement with the Min Family, or if the Min Family intends to sever ties with the Su Family."
"If Su Shihang acknowledges in person that he doesn’t recognize this engagement with the Min Family, let’s make a public spectacle in Shengjing, cut off all relations, so future arguments about the Min Family being the in-laws won’t arise again. Tell Su Shihang to come out and say it personally. I’ll wait for him right here."
Mrs. Min sat confidently in the carriage, her voice carrying clearly to everyone’s ears.
Now everyone knew that Old Mrs. Su hadn’t sent an invitation to Mrs. Min, and Mrs. Min had come without being invited.
The entire Man Shengjing was aware of the Su and Min Family entanglements.
Old Mrs. Su, representing the stubborn type, always lost in battles with Mrs. Min because Su Shihang’s career flourished in the court relying on his connection with the Mighty General, his brother-in-law.
Even now, Su Shihang’s reputation wasn’t as esteemed as the Mighty General’s in court.
Su Shihang inevitably couldn’t assert himself before the Min Family, and Old Mrs. Su would also feel inferior before Mrs. Min.
After each battle between Old Mrs. Su and Mrs. Min, Su Shihang would apologize to the Min Family for his mother’s actions.
Mrs. Min parked her carriage sideways, refusing to leave.
Unless Su Shihang personally came to invite her, she wouldn’t set foot inside the Su Mansion.
Seeing that she had arrived early and already intending to embarrass the Su Family, she stubbornly parked at the entrance after being provoked by the gatekeepers.
She understood clearly that the gatekeepers, emboldened by their masters, were acting under orders, whether from Old Mrs. Su or the Lu Family.
She would see whether Su Shihang would come out to invite her.
Mrs. Min’s carriage blocked the Su Mansion gate, leaving subsequent carriages unable to enter, forcing them to wait outside.
As more people arrived to celebrate the birthday, the street quickly filled with carriages.
"That old thing. Comes neither in black nor white, but particularly today, just to purposely ruin my birthday mood."
Fuming, Old Mrs. Su gritted her teeth upon hearing the servants’ report.
"She’s blocking the gate? Let her block it then."
Old Mrs. Su’s stubborn temper flared, heedlessly engaging in rivalry with Mrs. Min.
Despite continually losing, she repeatedly confronted her.
Old Mrs. Su’s maids advised her to change her mind for Su Chengmin’s sake, to invite Mrs. Min inside.
"Concern about his reputation? He may be a descendant of the Su Family, but his heart is with the Min Family. Today, I’ll make him choose: his true grandmother or that distant maternal grandmother." Old Mrs. Su lashed out at her grandson.
The maid’s persuasion bore no fruit, forcing her to consult the Lu Family.
The Lu Family, hearing the news, showed a troubled yet satisfied expression.
It was she who instructed the gatekeepers not to let anyone in without a Su Family invitation, mainly targeting the Min Family. If Mrs. Min managed to ruin Old Mrs. Su’s birthday celebration, it would be the gatekeepers’ fault.
The gatekeepers dared not take responsibility.
Old Mrs. Su’s birthday celebration was a significant event for the entire mansion; if disrupted by Mrs. Min, no one could bear the repercussions.
The mistress deliberately tipped the gatekeepers off to guard against the Min Family’s entry.
From the moment they sent the invitation to Tong Huaqiong, the Lu Family was sure she would consult Mrs. Min. Mrs. Min, for the sake of Su Chengmin and Taohua’s engagement, would certainly come to the Su Mansion’s birthday feast.
The more Mrs. Min clashed with Old Mrs. Su, the more displeased the latter would become with the Min Family.
The more displeased Old Mrs. Su was with the Min Family, the less likely she would agree to the engagement arranged by Mrs. Min and the Mighty General for Su Chengmin.
Which made calculating against Su Chengmin with Lu Yiner much easier today.
"Madam, how should we handle Mrs. Min? Should we let her in or not?"
After the Old Mrs. Su’s maid left, servants came seeking the Lu Family’s decision.
Mrs. Min, undisturbed, had the street half-blocked.
"What does the Old Mrs. Su currently say?" the Lu Family asked.
"Naturally, Old Mrs. Su does not want the Min Family to enter."
"Then naturally, we should follow Old Mrs. Su’s wishes."
The Lu Family’s face was adorned with a broad smile.