I was chased by my sickly junior brother who had two lives

In the Duke's Mansion, Chen Jia was carefully dressing in front of the mirror. She was wearing a moon-white silk dress with delicate pink lotus patterns embroidered on the hem. It swayed gently with her movements, like a flower blooming on the water. She had a mutton-fat jade hairpin in her hair, and the hairpin was inlaid with a round pearl, which made her face look even more beautiful and her temperament more gentle.

The maid Xiao Tao beside her said worriedly, "Miss, I heard that there will be many noble ladies at the Xiahe Banquet today. They love to gossip, so you must be careful."

Chen Jia smiled slightly, with a firm look in her eyes: "Xiao Tao, don't worry. I think I am upright and honest, so why would I be afraid of their gossip?"

Chen Jue walked into the room and saw Chen Jia's outfit, his eyes full of admiration: "Sister, you are really as beautiful as a fairy today. This summer lotus banquet will definitely be more colorful with your arrival."

Chen Jia stood up and patted her skirt gently: "Xiao Jue, I feel confident with you here. Let's go."

The Summer Lotus Banquet was held in a quiet garden in the city, where lotus flowers were in full bloom and the fragrance was everywhere. Chen Jue and Chen Jia walked into the garden hand in hand. The scenery along the way was beautiful, but Chen Jia felt a little strange.

Arriving at the banquet hall, the noble ladies were already sitting together. When they saw Chen Jia coming, a subtle strangeness flashed in their eyes. Chen Jia politely saluted everyone, but only received a few cold responses.

"Oh, isn't this Chen Jia? You're married for the second time, and yet you still have the mind to attend this Xiahe Banquet." A noble lady dressed in gorgeous brocade clothes took the lead in attacking, with a sarcastic smile on her lips and her eyes full of contempt.

Chen Jia raised her head slightly and responded in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "The Summer Lotus Banquet is a grand event in the city. Although I am of a different status, I have also received an invitation. I came to the banquet and enjoy this beautiful summer scenery with you all. I wonder what the madam means by this?"

Another noble lady snorted, "Hmph, you've already lost your virginity as a second-time bride. Don't tarnish the elegance of this banquet." She deliberately raised her voice, and people around her cast glances at her, some of whom were gloating.

Chen Jue frowned and wanted to open his mouth to refute, but Chen Jia gently pulled his sleeve. Chen Jia took a deep breath and said, "Madam, you are wrong. Marriage may have changed, but my heart has never changed. I treat people with sincerity and act with kindness. I have never done anything to bring disgrace to the family. Do you think I will be despised just because I married for the second time?"

At this time, a slightly older noble lady said, "Chen Jia, don't quibble. Women in this world should remain chaste and chaste. Since you have remarried, you should know your status and act in a low profile." There was a condescending attitude in her eyes, as if she was the authority to judge right and wrong.

Chen Jia's eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly suppressed it. She said slowly: "Madam, keeping chastity is a virtue. But I want to ask, if a woman encounters misfortune in marriage, can she only be trapped for life and cannot be freed? Although I have been married twice, I have devoted myself to each marriage and fulfilled my duties. Now I support the world by myself, and I don't rely on others. What's wrong with that?"

A young noble lady said disdainfully: "It's so easy for you to say that. Have you ever thought about how other women will feel about your presence? You are breaking the rules and disturbing the moral atmosphere." As she spoke, she fiddled with the handkerchief in her hand. The exquisite patterns embroidered on the handkerchief seemed to have become a tool for her to show off her status.

Chen Jia sneered, "I only know that everyone has his or her own path in life. I have never forced others to follow my example, so how could I have broken the rules? You are all so aggressive, are you afraid that your position will be threatened?"

As soon as these words came out, the noble ladies looked at each other in bewilderment. They had not expected Chen Jia to dare to fight back like this. The noble lady in the gorgeous brocade dress was furious: "How dare you, a sharp-tongued woman, talk back to us like this. Who do you think you are? You are just a poor man who married twice."

Chen Jia straightened her back and said loudly, "It doesn't matter who I am. What's important is that I have my own dignity and I won't let anyone trample on it. You use the fact that I married twice to belittle me, but this just exposes your narrow-mindedness and prejudice. True nobility is not about birth and marriage, but about inner kindness and character."

At this time, the host of the banquet came over. She was a lady of high rank. She looked at Chen Jia, then at the other noble ladies, and said, "Well, today's summer lotus banquet is for enjoying the lotus. Don't let these trivial matters ruin the mood. Chen Jia, come and sit down."

Chen Jia bowed to the Imperial Madam and thanked her. Then, under everyone's gazes, she calmly walked to a seat nearby. Chen Jue followed her and whispered, "Sister, you were so brave just now."

Chen Jia sighed slightly: "Xiao Jue, I just don't want to be humiliated for no reason. Although I don't care about their opinions, I can't let them slander me."

In the following banquet, Chen Jia still maintained her elegant demeanor. She chatted with several friendly ladies, sharing her love for lotus and her views on poetry. The noble ladies who had once excluded her occasionally cast resentful glances at her, but Chen Jia turned a blind eye.

"Miss Chen, look at the lotus flowers in this pond. Some are in bud, while others are already in full bloom. Each one has its own charm." A lady said with a smile.

Chen Jia nodded and responded: "Yes, the lotus grows out of the mud but remains unstained, and washes in the clear water but remains unsexy. I have always admired its character, and I also hope that I can be like the lotus and stick to my original intention in this world."

However, the ladies did not give up. During the meal, they deliberately found fault with Chen Jia in terms of dishes and etiquette.

"Chen Jia, do you know how to eat this dish? You are so vulgar, I'm afraid you have never seen such exquisite dishes." A lady said sarcastically.

Chen Jia looked at the dish and said calmly, "Madam, although I don't eat this dish often, I know a thing or two about it. However, I think the meaning of food is not in the cumbersome way of eating, but in tasting its deliciousness and feeling the heart behind it. If you are too rigid about the form, you will lose the fun of food."

Her answer made some of the ladies around her nod secretly, but it made those noble ladies who excluded her even more angry.

After dinner, everyone took a walk in the garden to admire the lotus. Chen Jia walked alone to a secluded lotus pond, wanting to be quiet. Unexpectedly, the noble ladies followed her again.

"Chen Jia, do you think that you can change your situation by being eloquent at the banquet? You will always be the second-married girl who is looked down upon." A noble lady said viciously.

Chen Jia turned around and looked at them with cold eyes: "Why are you so obsessed with my past? I have already started a new life, but you are still trapped in this cage of prejudice. I sympathize with you, because you have nothing else to be proud of except using your status to belittle others."

The noble lady was so angry at Chen Jia's words that she trembled all over: "You...how dare you sympathize with us? You are such an ignorant person."

Just when the two sides were at a stalemate, Chen Jue came over with a few young masters. Seeing this scene, Chen Jue hurried forward: "Sister, are you okay?"

Chen Jia shook her head: "Xiao Jue, I'm fine. I just have some differences of opinion with the ladies."

The young masters saw that the atmosphere was not right and tried to persuade them. One of them said, "Today's Summer Lotus Banquet is to strengthen friendship. Don't hurt the harmony. Ladies, Miss Chen is also a lady from a wealthy family. I think there must be some misunderstanding."

After being persuaded by everyone, the ladies left angrily. Chen Jia looked at their backs, feeling deeply moved.

"Xiao Jue, why is the prejudice in this world so deep? Does a woman's value really only depend on marriage?" Chen Jia asked helplessly.

Chen Jue held Chen Jia's hand and said, "Sister, not everyone is so prejudiced. Your performance today has shown many people your strength and self-esteem. Don't mind what those people say. In my heart, you will always be the most respectable sister."

Chen Jia nodded slightly: "Xiao Jue, as long as you are here, I feel that there is still warmth in this world. I will not be defeated by these setbacks. I will continue to walk my own path and prove my worth with my actions."

The sun was setting and the Summer Lotus Banquet was about to end. Chen Jia left the garden with Chen Jue, full of emotion and firm belief. She knew that the road ahead might still be full of thorns, but she was fearless because she had the most precious things - self-respect and the support of her family.