Along the way, Du Wanru and Du Wanyue chattered incessantly, uttering nonsense. One moment they were discussing encouraging Li Ruizhu to choose a highborn husband, the next they were contemplating the idea of Ruizhu becoming a side consort to the prince. Listening to this endless drivel, Du Wanqiu wordlessly smiled, without contributing or commenting on their topics. She remained silent, simply waiting for the approaching drama at the general’s mansion.
However, as the horse carriage was traversing a bustling street, it abruptly halted.
Du Wanyue and Du Wanru, mid-sentence, exchanged confused glances.
Du Wanqiu asked the maid outside, "What’s the matter? Why has the carriage stopped?"
The maid answered, "There’s nothing wrong, Miss. Another family’s horse carriage has blocked the way, and our house guards are getting them to move aside."
Du Wanyue responded with a nonchalant "Oh".
Even though the street was not particularly narrow, it was hard for two carriages to pass, especially with the maids, servants, and house guards, who made the procession quite large and prone to friction or accidents. In the Great Jin nation, there was an unwritten rule that when two carriages from different families met, the one of lower social status should yield first and wait for the higher-ranking family to pass. This was a customary practice.
If the social status was equal, it could be mutually agreed upon who should yield first.
Meanwhile, in the other carriage, cold light sparked in Cai Wei’s eyes at the mention of the Duke An’s mansion carriage.
She wasn’t one to seek trouble. If it had been any other family, even non-noble ones, she would have yielded. In her view, giving way wasn’t a big deal and had nothing to do with saving face. But she would never yield to the Duke An mansion. Ever since her grandmother died in the Duke An mansion, she had vowed never to back down in front of them again!
"Miss, what should we do?"
Dou Momo sat by the side, looking worriedly at Cai Wei while Huan Qiu quietly clenched her fist, preparing herself for a likely conflict by stretching her joints.
Cai Wei coldly ordered.
On the other side, upon hearing it was the Huo family carriage and they were being asked to yield, the Du sisters became instantly excited, each displaying her excitement in her own way.
Du Wanqiu hung her head, remained silent. Her genuine sentiments for Huo Yuan had been cruelly rejected, and upon hearing the name of the Huo family, her heart ached profoundly.
However, Du Wanyue and her sister, peered outside the carriage, leaning out to see the opposition. When they saw the solitary carriage on the opposite side, they were immediately enraged.
Opposite them was a lonely carriage. There were no house guards stationed by the carriage, not even a maid. Certainly, the person in the carriage was unimportant in the Huo family. And such an insignificant member dared to belittle their prestigious Duke An’s mansion. How could the two young and spirited misses swallow the insult?
Du Wanyue narrowed her eyes, leaned out, and pointed at the opposing carriage, shouting, "Let them give way! What insolence! How could such rabble dare to defy our esteemed Duke An’s Mansion? They should assess their worth and weight before they commit such impertinence!"
Upon hearing the command of their master, and seeing that there was only a dull coachman standing by the Huo carriage without a single person to back him, the house guards gathered courage. The servile men rolled up their sleeves, surrounding the Huo carriage, loudly demanding, "Our Miss ordered that you recognize your place and promptly move aside. Spare yourselves embarrassment later!"
Still, from inside the carriage, a cold laugh resonated, disparaging though faint, the sneer carried an indescribable chilliness.