Song Wanwan frowned and looked at Su Xiangling, "Who are you?"
Su Xiangling hurried forward and said, "Miss Song, you may not recognize me. I am from the Su family of the Pingning Marquis Mansion, and my maiden name is Xiangling."
Song Wanwan said "oh" and asked again, "Do we know each other?"
I felt a little disgusted with Su Xiangling for being rude. Who would approach and talk to her so rashly?
Although she was raised in the Loyalty Marquis's mansion, Song Wanwan still carried herself like a military commander. She spoke directly and never beat around the bush.
In the words of the Marquis of Loyalty, she originally wanted to raise a delicate daughter, but if things continued like this, she would probably become a female general.
Su Xiangling was choked by her words, and smiled awkwardly, "I just don't want Miss Song to be deceived."
"If this matter gets out, it will also bring disgrace to the Loyalty Marquis's Mansion. I saw the truth of what happened that day with my own eyes, but I don't know whether I should tell it or not."
She said this mysteriously and subconsciously glanced at Su Qingyu.
What Song Wanwan couldn't stand the most was that these young ladies from aristocratic families never spoke clearly. They could clearly say something in one sentence, but they would force people to guess, or even keep asking questions.
Then he snorted coldly, "If you don't think it's appropriate to say it, then don't say it. I don't want to listen anyway."
Su Xiangling: ...
Isn't it said that the young ladies in Beijing have complicated minds? Why is this young lady from the Song family so straightforward?
"Miss Song, the clothes you are wearing are made of antique satin, right? The material was also bought from the Su family, right?"
"Actually, this material was damaged by my fourth sister before. I was afraid that you would be cheated by her, so I reminded you kindly." Su Xiangling made her purpose clear in just two sentences. She had to say it because Song Wanwan was about to leave.
Song Wanwan frowned and looked at Su Xiangling unhappily, "Does this have anything to do with you? Isn't it too rude for you to come up to me and tell me this?"
Su Qingyu smiled at Song Wanwan and explained, "My second sister just came back from Qianzhou. She doesn't know many of the rules in Beijing. Please don't be offended, Miss Song."
Song Wanwan quickly said to Su Qingyu, "Madam, please call me Wanwan." She then mentioned Su Xiangling, "I've always said that the young ladies of the Su family have always had good upbringing. Why is this second young lady of the Su family so different from us? It seems she hasn't learned the rules yet."
Only then did Su Xiangling realize that the young ladies from the aristocratic families who were standing not far away all seemed to be covering their mouths and laughing.
She was secretly upset. She had the fate of a phoenix. These people were laughing at her now, but they would curry favor with her in the future.
These days, she had imagined countless times what it would be like for her to rise from Crown Princess to the head of the harem. Entering the palace today and seeing the opulence and luxury of the inner palace only solidified her thoughts.
She was considered a proper official lady in Liping Prefecture, and even the daughters of the prefectural governors had to give her some respect. But in this palace, she became the most insignificant.
Su Xiangling was indignant and desperately wanted to divert everyone's attention.
Just at this moment, Su Shunci came over. Su Xiangling took two steps forward and pulled Su Shunci closer.
"Fourth sister, tell me quickly, how did you deceive Miss Song?"
Now that the words have been said, why not take this opportunity to completely embarrass Su Shunci? As long as Song Wanwan doesn't know that the material is bad, Su Shunci is deliberately deceiving her. Let's see how she will manage the shop in the future.
When Song Wanwan saw Su Shunci, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Sister Aci, you're here? Come here quickly."
As he spoke, he pulled Su Shunci to his side and spoke to the ladies beside him.
"This is the fourth young lady of the Su family. She is the one who is in charge of the Su silk business. Don't underestimate her young age, she is very capable in business."
"Aren't you all asking me about this dress today? The material and style are all made by this little girl."
Su Shunci felt a little embarrassed by Song Wanwan's praise, and bowed to the ladies.
Song Wanwan rolled her eyes at Su Xiangling again, with a hint of arrogance in her tone.
"Of course I know what you're talking about. Sister Aci came into the mansion that day and explained to me that the material was damaged. To make amends, she even drew a dress pattern for me."
"I heard that it was one of her cousins who insisted on looking at my antique satin and tore it while pulling it. Could it be you?"
Song Wanwan raised her chin slightly and looked at Su Xiangling, as if she was supporting Su Shunci.
Su Xiangling was speechless for a moment and secretly glared at Su Shunci. She quickly hid behind others and dared not say anything.
Su Shunci looked at Su Qingyu gratefully. If it weren't for her elder sister drawing the pattern for her, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.
Su Qingyu was sizing up and down Song Wanwan's dress. In her previous life, this style of clothing had been introduced to the capital two years later and had become quite popular there. She had even made a set herself, so she remembered it clearly.
Over there, Song Wanwan was still praising Su Shunci, and several young ladies from aristocratic families were pulling Su Shunci aside to ask about the material for her clothes.
Su Shunci was naturally well-behaved, and after spending the past six months out and about, she had become incredibly adept at reading other people's expressions and words. It wasn't long before many people started treating her like a sister.
Seeing this, Su Xiangling muttered disdainfully, "Doing business in the palace? If it gets out, aren't you afraid of bringing shame to the Su family?"
The voice was not loud, but Su Qingyu heard it clearly.
Su Qingyu squinted at her sarcastically, "Most of your daily expenses for food, clothing, and other necessities are earned by your fourth sister. If you don't find it shameful, what is there for her to be ashamed of?"
"Doing business in the palace is her ability. It's better than you eating free meals at home."
Su Xiangling was speechless, and her gloomy eyes were filled with resentment and unwillingness.
Seeing that several people had already made an appointment with Su Shunci to go to the shop to look at the materials, Shen Yue whispered to Su Qingyu, "Aunt San, your fourth sister is really good at business."
Su Qingyu also smiled and said, "This girl doesn't even like knitting or needlework. She just likes using an abacus and looking at account books."
While they were chatting and laughing, a palace maid came over and said that Concubine Rong invited all the ladies to go to the north water pavilion to talk.
There are pavilions on all four sides of Ming Pond, the largest and most imposing one on the north. Now it is June, and the lotus flowers are in full bloom, making the entire Ming Pond a gorgeous sight.
Although the sun was high in the sky at this time, a gentle breeze blew away the remaining heat from the corridors beside the pool.
As Su Qingyu followed the others from the east corridor to the waterside pavilion, she saw a number of young men approaching from the west corridor. Only then did she realize that the Lotus Banquet distinguished between men and women in this way.
No wonder so many people looked towards the other side just now. She didn't look closely at the time and just thought they met acquaintances.
Small tables and cushions had been placed on both sides of the pavilion. Everyone first paid their respects to Concubine Rong, and then were led to sit down by palace maids.
Su Qingyu glanced at Concubine Rong, who was sitting in the main seat. She was elegant and graceful, and looked to be in her twenties. In fact, His Royal Highness Prince Cheng, born to Concubine Rong, had already left the palace and established his own residence.
Concubine Rong exchanged a few pleasantries as usual, then said with a smile, "As in previous years, let's have some lotus seed soup to cool off the heat first."
Immediately afterwards, palace maids and eunuchs brought up lotus seed soup.
Dozens of people were eating together, but there was no sound at all.
"Mrs. Shen San, come sit next to me, and let's have a private conversation."
Concubine Rong suddenly spoke and waved at Su Qingyu.
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