Chapter 771: Who Planned This Play?

Old Mrs. Su was utterly convinced that Lu Family had conspired with the theatrical troupe to stage this play.

All of Shengjing knew about Su Shihang’s success in the imperial examination and his subsequent remarriage, but few were privy to the intricate details.

Falling off a cliff, saved by a hunter, marrying the hunter’s daughter, and how the mother-in-law tormented her two daughters-in-law... except for Min Baozhen not being a Commandery Princess, all these details matched what happened in Su Family. Who could have crafted such a tale without having lived through it?

So it could only have been done by Lu Family.

"What are you trying to say by orchestrating such a filthy play? Are you trying to express your grievances? What grievances do you have? Do you want all of Shengjing to know how you married my son? Do you really think a hunter’s daughter could become the wife granted the imperial decree without relying on whom? Relying on my son."

"Without my son, you would only be marrying a hunter, giving birth to children for hunters, and being a hunter for generations."

"If it weren’t for this play, I wouldn’t have realized you had so much dissatisfaction with Su Family."

Lu Family was at a loss for words.

No matter how she explained, Old Mrs. Su wouldn’t listen.

Old Mrs. Su harbored a grudge, wishing she could call Su Shihang immediately to divorce Lu Family.

Since Min Baozhen’s death, this daughter-in-law had become increasingly unruly.

Old Mrs. Su believed it was Lu Family’s idea to invite Tong Huaqiong’s family to the birthday banquet.

The theatrical troupe was invited by Lu Family.

The former caused her grandson to publicly wish to sever ties with Su Mansion, while the latter unearthed those embarrassing matters of hers and Su Shihang’s.

Lu Family did it deliberately.

Deliberately ruined her birthday banquet, deliberately vented her grievances to everyone.

At this time, the head of the theatrical troupe sent someone to ask for the reward money, and Old Mrs. Su shifted her anger to the troupe, shouting, "Throw them out."

The actors were forced to leave Su Mansion.

Normally, after performing for half a day and not getting paid, they would be quite disappointed, but the troupe members were all smiles once they left Su Mansion.

"Thank you all for your efforts."

Gao Ming, a subordinate of Su Chengmin, chased after them to give the troupe head the reward money.

Indeed, this play was orchestrated by Su Chengmin.

As soon as he learned that Su Mansion had sent invitations to Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, he had figured out how to stage a grand play for Su Mansion.

Knowing that Old Mrs. Su loved theater, he found out that Lu Family had invited the most renowned troupe in Shengjing to please Old Mrs. Su, so he approached the troupe to stage a grand play about how Su Shihang rose to prominence.

The troupe initially wanted to refuse, but Su Chengmin offered far too much.

Wasn’t Su Shihang concerned about saving face?

Well, then he would rip off his facade completely.

Wasn’t Lu Family secretly trying to ruin his marriage?

Then let her suffer greatly in front of Old Mrs. Su.

Didn’t Old Mrs. Su constantly take pride in her son?

Then let his reputation be utterly destroyed.

Moreover, through this incident, Su Shihang would suspect that Lu Family had been living with grievances and resentment all these years, and he would never allow such a Lu Family to stay by his side. He would either send Lu Family back to her hometown or turn her into a shadow within Su Mansion.

In a way, Su Chengmin also indirectly avenged his mother.

As for the outcome of Su Shihang depicted in the play, it would come true in the not too distant future.

"Mother, this play was arranged by Chengmin," Gu Taohua quietly told Tong Huaqiong.

When Lu Family invited everyone to the back garden to watch the play, Su Chengmin secretly told Gu Taohua about this.

Tong Huaqiong, who didn’t usually enjoy theater, found today’s play quite spectacular.

After the theatrical troupe left, Su Shihang only then learned about the drama that had unfolded in the garden.

His anger almost made him lose his composure in front of the male guests.

He knew his old mother’s temper too well. Since the troupe was invited by Lu Family, his mother would surely cause a scene and demand a divorce from Lu Family.

Although Su Shihang also suspected that Lu Family had taken this opportunity to vent her dissatisfaction, today’s scandal at Su Mansion was enough; he couldn’t continue the uproar in front of the guests.

After the guests left, he would handle Lu Family behind closed doors.

Su Shihang personally went to the garden to calm his mother.

Seeing her son side with Lu Family, Old Mrs. Su left in a huff without even saying goodbye to the guests, returning to her own courtyard.

This birthday banquet could proceed for whoever cared for it.

One birthday banquet spectacle after another made the guests feel like they had stumbled into a melon field.

But too many melons can be just as overwhelming, and the guests merely wished to finish their meal and leave Su Mansion quickly.

What surprised everyone was that the biggest revelation was yet to come.

Realizing what had happened, Lu Family guessed that the troupe had been bought off by Su Chengmin. Other than those in Su Mansion, only Su Chengmin knew the details of Su Family’s affairs so intimately.

Lu Family was seething with rage, her desire to destroy Su Chengmin growing stronger.

Old Mrs. Su’s birthday banquet had truly opened the eyes of those present; it was the first time they attended a banquet where the main character left halfway, overcome by anger.

After dinner, the guests began to take their leave, but Lu Family desperately tried to keep them, urging them to admire the newly cultivated chrysanthemums in the conservatory.

The ladies whispered among themselves, thinking that Lu Family, exposed by the play, was trying to restore her reputation.

Previously, the ladies of Shengjing had sympathized with Lu Family, unaware of her actions toward Min Baozhen, and felt sorry for her being abandoned by Su Shihang.

The play today made everyone realize that Lu Family was not blameless in Min Baozhen’s predicament in Su Family.

Though Su Shihang had caused her grievances, she took her revenge on another innocent woman.

The ladies suspected that the play was orchestrated by Min Family to vindicate the late Min Baozhen.

While Lu Family desperately invited everyone to appreciate the chrysanthemums, just as the ladies were seeking excuses to decline, Mrs. Min stood up and said to everyone, "The chrysanthemums in Su Mansion are splendid. Since that’s the case, let’s stay and appreciate them."

With Mrs. Min having spoken, everyone had to stay longer.

"If you ask which courtyard’s chrysanthemums blossom the best, it has to be the courtyard of the first wife."

Lu Family then led everyone toward the courtyard where Min Baozhen had lived.

Truth be told, Min Baozhen’s courtyard was indeed the best in all of Su Mansion, even after her death. Su Shihang preserved it.

Whether it was to show the Min Family or out of genuine remembrance could only be known to himself.

Upon entering Min Baozhen’s courtyard, Mrs. Min’s eyes grew moist.

It was this courtyard that had confined Min Baozhen her entire life.

The late autumn, the chrysanthemums, and the departed Min Baozhen made the atmosphere weigh heavy on the ladies’ minds.

Tong Huaqiong thought, is this really about appreciating flowers? It feels like being at a mourning event.

Despite having taken a figurative slap, Lu Family showed no grievance, remaining the only person in high spirits.

"Mrs. Lin, where have your two young ladies gone?"

Due to Gu Dashi’s first marriage to Liu Yueer and subsequent marriage to a surplus daughter of the Lin Family in his previous life, Tong Huaqiong paid extra attention to the two young girls beside Mrs. Lin.

Noticing their absence, Tong Huaqiong approached Mrs. Lin and inquired.

Mrs. Lin smiled and replied, "My eldest daughter isn’t feeling well, so I let her rest in the garden pavilion while the second daughter accompanies her."

A lady nearby remarked, "The legitimate daughter looking after the surplus daughter, only your Lin Family would do such a thing."

Mrs. Lin laughed and said, "Whether legitimate or surplus, my eldest daughter was raised by my side from an early age. The sisters share a deep bond and look after each other."

It was then Tong Huaqiong realized that the older young lady beside Mrs. Lin was the troublemaker linked to Gu Dashi in his previous life.

Now that she could identify who she should be wary of, she felt more at ease.