Chapter 121: The Girl the Boss Has Chosen Is Indeed Extraordinary

Lin Jiaojiao watched Chu Mu board the carriage, her eyes filled with resentment.

That wretch Shen had actually prepared two separate carriages. Was she afraid that she would steal her spotlight or overshadow her? She really was calculating, trying to suppress her at every turn. Today, she was determined to step over this foolish woman and rise to a higher position.

Inside her carriage, Chu Mu sat with his eyes closed, gathering his thoughts. As a general, he had never known such leisure. He had spent his days running between the military camp and the manor, always caught in a web of schemes. Not only had Ah Zhao never attended banquets hosted by noble families, but he himself had never been to one either. The highest-ranking banquet he had ever attended in his life was a palace banquet, and that was only upon his return from a victorious campaign.

As his thoughts drifted, the carriage came to a steady halt. From outside came the voice of an elderly servant offering greetings.

"This old servant pays respects to the General's wife. My mistress has had me waiting here for a long time; please, Madam Chu, step this way."

Shen Zhao lifted the carriage curtain and leapt down with effortless grace. She spoke to the servant in a calm, detached tone: "Lead the way."

The servant was taken aback. Was the General’s wife attending the banquet entirely alone? She hadn't even brought a maid or a personal attendant. Although it was known that Madam Chu came from a family of martial generals, her movements were surprisingly agile. To leap so lightly from such a tall carriage—her manner was truly unconventional. She was truly worthy of being the woman the eldest young master had set his heart on; she was one of a kind.

"Sister... Sister, slow down! Please wait for me!"

Lin Jiaojiao’s weak voice drifted from behind. Chu Mu frowned slightly. Back at the General's manor, Lin Jiaojiao had been full of vigor while arguing with him. How was it that after a single carriage ride, she was suddenly gasping for breath? She was far too delicate.

Chu Mu slowed his pace but did not stop. He had brought Lin Jiaojiao along today for a specific purpose, and he could not afford to let her do as she pleased. However, he had no intention of waiting for her just to highlight her supposed fragility.

The servant looked at Lin Jiaojiao, who had caught up while clutching her chest. A flash of disdain crossed the servant's eyes, but she asked with feigned respect, "And who is this young lady?"

"She is a Miss Lin from my household," Chu Mu said, introducing her identity with simple, blunt brevity.

A flicker of resentment crossed Lin Jiaojiao’s eyes. Was she not worthy of a proper name?

The servant caught that look of resentment. A young woman merely staying as a guest in the General's manor—where did she find the audacity to harbor such malice toward the lady of the house? It was only because Madam Chu had such a good temperament; in any other household, the grass on this Miss Lin’s grave would already be taller than a person. She truly had no sense of her own place.

"So, it is Miss Lin. Madam Chu, Miss Lin, please follow me into the manor."

Lin Jiaojiao lifted her chin haughtily. See? She knew it—the world recognized her existence. Even if that woman Shen tried to suppress her, the servants of the Pang manor still showed her respect for the sake of her "Brother Mu." Thinking this, she cast a provocative glance at Chu Mu.

Chu Mu could not be bothered to acknowledge her provocation. In his heart, he felt more and more that Lin Jiaojiao was truly unrefined. She lacked all sense of propriety. What was she acting so high and mighty for? Could she not see that the servants of the Pang household didn't even consider her a person of consequence? Had she left her brains back at the General’s manor? She didn't even look at where she was before openly provoking him. They were currently representing the General's manor; she was only inviting ridicule and gossip for no reason. She was truly incapable of handling high society or achieving anything of substance.

Lin Jiaojiao deliberately walked side-by-side with Chu Mu, as if that were the only way she could hold her own against the woman named Shen.

The servant behind them glanced from Lin Jiaojiao to Madam Chu. Rumors in the city claimed that the General had neglected his wife because of this Miss Lin who lived in their home. Now that she had seen both the wife and the rumored Miss Lin, she could only lament how blind the General must be to mistake the poised and calm Madam Chu for a common stone, while treating the narrow-minded, unrefined Miss Lin as a precious pearl. This Miss Lin’s behavior was only fit for a pampered concubine; she could never bear the weight of being the mistress of a household.

It was fortunate for their eldest young master that the General was so blind; it gave him a chance to win her heart. Given the status of the Pang family and the reputation of the eldest young master, he could have married any daughter of a noble house. But the eldest young master only had eyes for the girl who had saved him years ago. Fate, however, was cruel; she was already someone else's wife. The mistress of the house felt heartache for her son’s years of misery, so she was willing to do anything to support his desires. Even if Madam Chu had been married before, as long as her son did not mind, she would give her full support. This invitation was extended primarily so the mistress could see the woman who had captured her son's heart.

Chu Mu was unaware that his Ah Zhao was being coveted by others. This was his first time walking into the Pang manor in broad daylight. He committed every detail of the path to memory, appearing to stroll leisurely while actually imprinting the layout of the manor into his mind.

Lin Jiaojiao was not as relaxed as Chu Mu. She leaned heavily on her maid, a thin layer of sweat forming on her nose. Her floor-length gown was not only cumbersome but heavy, and the solid gold and ruby jewelry set on her head and neck weighed her down significantly. Looking at the woman named Shen, who followed the guide without even catching her breath, a fire of resentment burned in her chest. This wretched Pang manor—why did they have to choose such a distant courtyard for the banquet? It was enough to tire her to death.

Little did she know, the Pang manor had arranged for them to take the long way around on purpose.

"Che'er, this Miss Shen is even more beautiful in person than in your eldest brother's paintings. Look at that cold, elegant disposition and her tasteful attire. No wonder your brother cannot forget her; even I find her delightful to look at."

Standing to the side, having been dragged along, Pang Yunche twitched his lip. "Mother, she is still Madam Chu for now. You are rejoicing too early."

Madam Pang glared at him. "You know too much, don't you? You're the only one with a mouth, aren't you? You think I don't know that? You witless child, look at what is trailing behind Miss Shen. That one is my secret weapon—the Miss Lin who is a guest in the General's manor. With that troublemaker around, Miss Shen will surely be a daughter-in-law of our Pang family sooner or later. Scram now, I am going to meet my future daughter-in-law."

Madam Pang didn't even look at her younger son again, lifting her skirts and hurrying her servants along a shortcut back to the banquet courtyard. Pang Yunche watched his mother, speechless and frustrated. What kind of situation was this?

By the time Chu Mu and his party finally reached the banquet courtyard, Lin Jiaojiao was exhausted. She leaned half her weight on her maid, her legs feeling like lead. Did these noble families intend to torture the young ladies of the capital with these banquets? Her legs felt as if they were about to give out.

At this point, many noble wives and young ladies had already arrived. They all turned their gazes toward Chu Mu and Lin Jiaojiao. The two were unfamiliar faces; they had never been seen at any major banquets before. Although everyone had questions, they all offered nods of acknowledgment. Those invited all held considerable status, and their upbringing prevented them from whispering or interrogating others to their faces.

Chu Mu was unfazed by the scene. He had attended morning court sessions and dealt with ministers; these noble ladies and their daughters were of no concern to him. He returned their nods with measured, graceful poise.

Lin Jiaojiao’s palms were slick with sweat. As the gazes of the crowd settled on her, an invisible pressure made her breathing shallow. No, she had to stay calm. If that wretch Shen could be poised and proper, why couldn't she? In the future, she would be the one to replace Shen as the General's wife. What were these noble ladies compared to her? Comforting herself this way, Lin Jiaojiao gradually adapted to the atmosphere.

"Is this Miss Shen? Come, let me take a look at you."