Song Wanning didn't get angry after hearing what Song Wanshi said. She just got on the carriage and found a comfortable seat to sit down. She chuckled and said, "Sister Shi is worried about me, but nowadays in Shengjing, there is a saying that unmarried people are not allowed to attend banquets."
Song Wanshi glanced at Song Wanning bluntly and sneered, "Although there is no such saying, I'm afraid you will be embarrassed if you go."
"Now I am a daughter of the Song family. If I am embarrassed, won't my sister be embarrassed as well?"
Nan Hongqiu saw that Song Wanshi was no match for Song Wanning and couldn't stand it any longer, so she smiled and advised, "You two sisters still like to bicker. But you're going to visit someone right now. If your quarrel is heard by outsiders, it will be bad for your reputation."
Song Wanshi snorted, turned her head and ignored Song Wanning.
Song Wanshi was wearing a dress that Nan Hongqiu had seven or eight of her concubines specially make over the course of several days. The thin, cicada-wing-like silk scarf was embroidered with crabapple blossoms in varying shades, a truly pleasing sight. Even Song Wanshi's hair accessories had been carefully selected, with just the right number of delicate hairpins, a testament to Nan Hongqiu's meticulous attention to detail.
On the other hand, Song Wanning was only wearing a sky-blue robe, and her long black hair was tied up with a simple hairpin. But even so, when Song Wanning sat next to Song Wanshi, Song Wanshi immediately lost her color.
Seeing Song Wanning like this, Song Wanshi sat further away from her out of taboo.
It only took the time of an incense stick for the three of them to arrive at the Pingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Although the banquets held by the aristocratic families seemed to be purely for entertainment, there was a lot of knowledge behind them. Every noble who came to the banquet had his own purpose, some came to meet a husband, and some took the opportunity to make friends.
The Pingyuan Marquis's Mansion is a wealthy and powerful family, and his wife loves chrysanthemums very much, so the mansion garden is full of chrysanthemums. Now is the season when chrysanthemums are in full bloom, so it is not surprising to invite guests to come and appreciate the chrysanthemums.
Song Wanning's purpose of coming to the Chrysanthemum Banquet was not to appreciate the chrysanthemums, but to meet her handkerchief friend.
Song Wanshi didn't want to go with Song Wanning, so she pulled Nan Hongqiu into the Marquis' Mansion first.
As soon as she entered, she saw many officials and their wives who had arrived earlier expressing their admiration. Song Wanshi could faintly hear some people talking nearby.
The people in the pavilion looked at the door, and a woman immediately asked, "Whose girl is this? She is pretty and dressed beautifully."
The woman next to her explained in a low voice, "This is Miss Song Wanshishi, the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion. Her mother, Grandma Nan, has always helped to check her clothes and appearance, so she usually can't make any mistakes."
"He's a good-looking guy, but I wonder if he's married?"
"I haven't heard of it, I'm afraid it hasn't happened yet."
Song Wanshi was quite proud, and she and her mother Nan Hongqiu walked to the chairs that had been prepared long ago and sat down. However, who would have thought that just as they sat down, Song Wanning walked in from outside.
Song Wanning's decoration was simple, which contrasted with Song Wanshi who was walking in front.
The beautiful woman in the pavilion immediately spoke again, "Whose daughter is this? She has such a graceful demeanor and such a graceful figure. The dress she wears is simple yet very luxurious, like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally without any embellishment. I'm afraid she would be suitable to be a concubine in the palace."
"This is also a girl from the general's mansion," the woman next to her continued explaining. "She's a pitiful creature, though. She's been married for three years, but who could have imagined her husband would be so inhumane and ignore her? A while ago, the general returned from abroad and decided to divorce her. He even dug his own daughter out of the Tomb of the Living Dead."
"Oh my God, doesn't the General's Mansion care about this on weekdays? This is the girl from the General's Mansion."
"Grandma Nan has always only cared about her own daughters, so why would she care about the general's daughter?" the woman continued. "Back then, Miss Ning was only fourteen when she was married off to the Marquis's Mansion. I heard it was because the Marquis's Mansion offered a large betrothal gift. Grandma Nan decided to take all that betrothal gift and gave it to the Duke of Zhong. However, the general had already prepared the dowry for her daughter before she left for the war."
"How could such a filthy thing still exist in this world?"
The two people's discussion was neither too loud nor too quiet, and it reached the ears of Nan Hongqiu and Song Wanshi. Nan Hongqiu's face turned pale and then pale. She never expected that the private matter she thought she had done would be spread out.
The beautiful woman in front couldn't stop talking after bringing up this topic, and continued, "I see that although Miss Ning has been married once, her father is a general, and she herself is beautiful. I'm afraid she can still find a good marriage again, right?"
"That's right. So what if she's remarried? I've heard that the Shangshu Mansion has already sent their son to see a matchmaker. I'm afraid the General's Mansion will soon be seeing good things. Not to mention the Shangshu Mansion, just for Miss Ning's dignified beauty and the power of the General's Mansion, I want my son to marry her."
Song Wanshi finally couldn't sit still after hearing this. She had dressed up carefully for a long time and put so much thought into it, but now she was just a match for Song Wanning. Song Wanshi stood up and left the yard with red eyes. Nan Hongqiu saw her and hurried after her.
Meanwhile, Song Wanning walked through the door and didn't go to the guest seats, but instead headed towards the corridor at the other end. Mother Qin, who often served Liu Yuyuan, was standing in the corner behind the door. Seeing Song Wanning, she waved to her.
Song Wanning walked over slowly, only to see Mother Qin with a smile on her face. She said to Song Wanning, "Grandma heard that Miss Ning was coming, so she sent a servant to take her to the backyard to talk. Grandma is missing her very much now, and I'm afraid she has a lot of intimate things to say. You can put the chrysanthemum appreciation thing on hold for now."
Song Wanning smiled back and said lightly, “Yuyuan is thoughtful, please let mom lead the way.”
Song Wanning followed Mother Qin to the backyard. Because she had known Liu Yuyuan in the boudoir, Mother Qin and Song Wanning were quite familiar with each other. She only heard Mother Qin continue, "The young lady came here once last time, but she was not as pretty and lively as today."
Song Wanning couldn't help but laugh after hearing this. "Thank you for the compliment, Mom. Maybe I feel better now that I'm free of that dirty family."
Mother Qin turned around and smiled and nodded at Song Wanning. As they passed the corner of the corridor, they saw a well-dressed little maid standing by the corridor. The little maid said to Song Wanning, "Is this Miss Song Wanningning?"
Song Wanning and her mother both turned to look. Although Song Wanning was surprised, she still nodded to the maid and said, "That's right."
The maid bowed to Song Wanning and said with a smile, "Our mistress is now admiring the chrysanthemums in the yard. Miss Ning, please go over and chat with her. It won't keep you too long. Please do me a favor."
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