Upon hearing this, Manager Jin couldn’t help but raise his eyes to glance at the girl who was speaking. Wasn’t this third branch of the Song family just a concubine-born side branch? A legitimate daughter born from a concubine who dared to use the name of Imperial Noble Consort Shu in the palace to curry favor with imperial relatives?
The second branch of the Song family, after all, was of the same mother as the main branch, and they had never boasted about this. Yet this concubine-born daughter dared to flaunt her power before him.
Manager Jin couldn’t help but sneer inwardly, but his face did not reveal his thoughts. Instead, he laughed awkwardly and said to Lady Song, "I’m truly sorry, Lady Song. This matter... puts me in a difficult position."
Clearly, he did not take Song Ya Lan seriously.
Song Ya Lan apparently felt the neglect of Manager Jin and was increasingly indignant. She was about to speak, but a glance from Lady Song made her swallow her words.
"Ya Lan, you mustn’t be rude," said Lady Song gravely.
Song Ya Lan almost bit her tongue and didn’t dare say anything else, although her face clearly revealed her resentment.
"You’ve made Manager Jin laugh," Lady Song said with a genial demeanor.
Manager Jin laughed and bowed, "Miss Song is straightforward and lively. Where’s the joke in that?"
"If there are no private rooms available, then never mind. We are all women, and it’s not convenient for us to be in the open hall," Lady Song said with a light laugh, then made her exit.
Just as Manager Jin was about to see the guests off, a door of a private room suddenly opened, and a young maid came out with a smile on her face. It appeared very pleasing: "My lady heard voices from the private room and thought that if there were no seats left, she would invite whichever ladies were left standing. If you don’t mind, you could join my lady."
The speaker was Shulan. She always wore a smile, particularly when she was inviting guests in such a sincere manner. On this point, she gained the upper hand over the perpetually cold-faced Xiaoyu.
Manager Jin was taken aback and turned to Lady Song with a smile, "This is Lady Mu from our town. She is currently choosing jewellery in the VIP room."
Lady Song looked hesitant.
Then, Shulan laughed and said, "My lady came alone today. She has no one to help her select jewellery and is indecisive. If Lady Song would sit for a while, she could help my lady make choices."
What she said was appeasing. Although Lady Song was a stranger, she was hesitant to accept the favor. But since Shulan had mentioned Lady Song helping with the selection, it meant that the two favors would cancel each other out.
"What do you think?" asked Lady Song. But she turned her head to look at the young girl on her right.
This girl was Song Yalin, the second Miss Song, the daughter of Lady Song.
Song Yalin gave a light laugh and nodded her head, "Given such warm hospitality from Lady Mu, we can hardly refuse."
"Then let’s go," Lady Song also laughed, then led them into the private room.
Noble ladies and noblewomen from the prefectural city came to Lian’an Town, and there was only one major destination - the Winding Pavilion. Even such a small town would not make people make an hour-long journey for no apparent reason.
The Song family is no exception. The ladies rarely leave home. They have come so far, they wouldn’t just leave. So, the odds were that the Song family members would accept Xin He’s invitation as long as her attitude was sincere.
Song Ya Lan huffed in disdain and, in a contemptuous tone, muttered, "She really has to latch on to everyone."
Although she thought her voice was very low, it still reached Manager Jin’s ears.
Lady Song seemed to not have heard or did not look at her, only taking her and Song Yalin into the VIP room with Shulan.
Except for personal maids, the rest had to wait outside the door.
When Manager Jin saw the Song family enter, he snorted, "The fifth Miss Song sure likes to put on a big show."
The servant boy by Manager Jin’s side also echoed in agreement, "Indeed, what’s so extraordinary about a concubine-born child. Look at the legitimate daughter of the Song family, the third Miss. Now, she’s a real noblewoman. If you want to connect with the imperial relatives of the palace, you should ask the third Miss Song, after all, she is the sister of the legitimate. Who does the fifth Miss Song think she is, saying that our host wants to curry favor with her?"
However, Manager Jin’s face turned grave and he sternly said to the boy, "In the future, you must not speak recklessly. The one sitting in the private room is Lady Mu. What host does not want to curry favor with her?"
The boy immediately slapped his mouth, "I deserve to die. I dare not talk nonsense anymore. Don’t worry, Boss. My mouth is tight."
Only after grunting did Manager Jin let it go.
In reality, Lady Song did not know who Lady Mu was, and she didn’t remember there being any aristocratic family with the surname Mu in this area of Yu State. However, because her circle of acquaintances was generally high-class, she thought that it could just be some insignificant rich household.
But when she entered the private room and saw Ji Xinhe for the first time, she was taken aback. Solely based on her stunning beauty, Lady Song couldn’t help but keep her eyes on her. More importantly, the woman’s demeanor was impressive. It was uncommonly noble, unlike something that would come from someone of no importance.
Ji Xinhe smiled slightly as she rose and said, "You must be Lady Song. I’ve long heard of the great name of the Song family, but it’s fortunate that we can meet today."
Lady Song was momentarily dazed, but then also smiled, "May I ask which family does this lady belong to?"
Ji Xinhe gestured for Shulan to serve tea and escorted Lady Song to sit down, "I am from the Mu family of Lian’an Town. We are not a wealthy household. I understand if Lady Song doesn’t recognize us. My husband is just a small businessman."
Although the name of the "Mu family of Lian’an Town" was unfamiliar to Lady Song, she noticed that the woman in front of her, with her clothing, behavior, and manners, was unlike someone from a small household. So, she dared not belittle her.
Lady Song introduced the two young girls with her, "These are my daughter and niece, Ya Lin and Ya Lan. Greet Lady Mu."
The girls from the Song family also sized up Ji Xinhe when they walked in. Unlike Lady Song, they focused more on her appearance.
Girls will be girls.
At this moment, viewing Ji Xinhe’s attractive face, Song Ya Lan couldn’t help but feel a little sour. Her looks were not outstanding - politely put, she was like a little emerald, or more disdainfully, she had a petty-minded temperament. So, when confronted with this unknown woman, who easily outshone her in looks, she naturally felt uncomfortable. Her courtesy was perfunctory.
However, seeing that she already wore a married woman’s hair bun, they held back some of their hostility. If she were an unmarried girl, she surely would have stolen their limelight. Now that they had reached a marriageable age, they could not bear encountering more beautiful girls.
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