Madam Wen walked up to the carriage outside the door. Under Song Wanying's anxious gaze, she finally turned around, gave Song Wanying a faint smile, and said, "Oh, niece, send someone to give me your address later. Your younger sister is quite an interesting person. It'll be nice to have her around to relieve my boredom."
Song Wanying's eyes lit up instantly. She nodded repeatedly and replied, "Sure. I'll send someone to give it to Aunt Wen later."
Madam Wen nodded with a smile, then let the maid help her into the carriage and left.
After the mother and daughter watched the carriage drive away, they walked into the mansion. Nie Rong frowned and looked at Song Wanying. "Aying, why did you let Wen Fang invite that bad omen? If she makes a fool of herself in the Minister's Mansion, it'll also make us look bad."
"Mother, you don't know. When I went to that bad omen's place today, guess what kind of tea she was having?" Song Wanying took Nie Rong's hand and looked at her with a grim expression.
Nie Rong glanced at her indifferently and said in a nonchalant tone, "What kind of tea could a concubine have? Even if she married a friend of Lord Pei, it could only be ordinary tea, right?"
"West Lake Longjing," Song Wanying blurted out. Nie Rong sneered disdainfully, then paused. Her eyes suddenly widened as she looked at Song Wanying in disbelief. "What kind of tea?"
"West Lake Longjing," Song Wanying said woodenly. "She seems to be living quite well there. Her food, clothing, and daily necessities are all of the highest quality."
Saying this, Song Wanying almost gritted her teeth, as if Song Ruotang didn't deserve to enjoy good things.
Nie Rong also stared at her in surprise. "Are you sure you didn't misread?"
"I'm sure," Song Wanying nodded seriously. "Our shop sells tea. Moreover, Father treasures that Longjing so much. How could I be wrong?"
"I didn't expect that bad omen to end up living a good life by accident," Nie Rong frowned, looking a bit dissatisfied.
"That's why I want Wen Fang to teach that bad omen a lesson," Song Wanying looked at Nie Rong. "Mother, you don't know. Now that she's married, she even showed off to me. She doesn't put Father, you, or me in her eyes at all."
Nie Rong narrowed her eyes slightly, her face full of coldness. "Come to think of it, since she got married and we couldn't discipline her, our family has started to have bad luck again."
Song Wanying nodded. "Yes. So we should teach her a good lesson."
After the mother and daughter made up their minds, Song Wanying wrote down Song Ruotang's address and sent someone to give it to Wen Fang. Then Wen Fang sent an invitation to Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang received the invitation on the day of the birthday. When Xiaoxi came in with the invitation, she looked a bit confused. "Madam, someone from the Minister's Mansion sent this invitation."
The Minister's Mansion and the Pei Mansion had always kept their distance from each other. Moreover, this was Lord Pei Zhiyan's out - of - the - way residence. Why would the Minister's Mansion send an invitation here?
Song Ruotang also found it strange. She took the invitation and looked at it. She pursed her lips slightly and said slowly, "It's Madam Wen's birthday banquet in the Minister's Mansion."
"Are you an old acquaintance of Madam Wen, Madam?" Xiaoxi asked curiously. Otherwise, how could this invitation be delivered so accurately?
Song Ruotang shook her head. After a moment of silence, she suddenly remembered that Song Wanying had mentioned this person before. It seemed that Madam Wen had a very good relationship with Nie Rong.
She knew about Wen Fang. After all, everyone among the nobles in the capital knew about the overstepping of authority in the Minister's Mansion. But Wen Fang just couldn't get over the hurdle of her status, which had become a knot in her heart.
"Madam, the maid from the Minister's Mansion is still waiting outside. Should I go and decline the invitation?" Xiaoxi asked tentatively. Song Ruotang's gaze was fixed on the date on the invitation. It was today.
A hint of coldness flashed in her eyes. This wasn't an invitation at all. It was clearly a challenge.
Wen Fang did it on purpose. As for the reason, without even thinking, it must be the doing of the Song family.
"The people from the Minister's Mansion won't leave unless I go," Song Ruotang put the invitation on the table and said calmly. "Xiaoxi, go and get the gold hairpin from Taoxiege that the Lord gave me as a birthday gift."
"Madam, that was specially selected by the Lord for you. Are you really going to take that hairpin?" Xiaoxi asked uncertainly.
Song Ruotang nodded. She naturally had to choose a good birthday gift. Moreover, Pei Zhiyan had given her so many things. Every one of them was personally chosen by him. There were so many pieces of jewelry that it wouldn't matter if she gave away this hairpin.
Xiaoxi went to get the things. Song Ruotang also changed into a simple and elegant dress under the maid's service.
The maid from the Minister's Mansion had been waiting for Song Ruotang to come out. When she saw Song Ruotang in a plain dress with very few accessories, not dressed in a luxurious way, her expression became slack, full of contempt and disdain.
When Xiaoxi came out with the birthday gift, the people from the Minister's Mansion followed Song Ruotang and her like they were guarding a prisoner and went back to the Minister's Mansion.
Before the carriage reached the mansion gate, Song Ruotang could already hear the lively noise in the distance. Congratulations and laughter were continuous.
But before they reached the gate, the carriage stopped.
Xiaoxi was a bit confused. "We haven't reached the mansion gate yet. Why did the carriage stop?"
"Madam Song, there are too many carriages in front. You'll have to get off and walk to the mansion gate," the maid from the Minister's Mansion said in a flat tone.
Xiaoxi frowned. Wasn't there even a place for guests to park their carriages in such a big Minister's Mansion when they were having a birthday banquet? It didn't make sense at all.
Just as she was about to get out to see what was going on, Song Ruotang had already stood up first and calmly got out of the carriage.
There was indeed a row of carriages parked neatly in front. Song Ruotang walked over with Xiaoxi. The people from the Minister's Mansion behind them were whispering to each other.
Song Ruotang knew that they were laughing at her.
As she walked along, she found that most of the carriages in this row belonged to the Minister's Mansion. She was deliberately led to the back of the carriage queue and forced to walk here by herself.
When Song Ruotang reached the gate, Wen Fang was sitting on a grand - master chair. The maid beside her was offering tea and desserts. Wen Fang was sitting there leisurely, not even looking at the gate.
Song Ruotang walked up to Wen Fang, bowed to her, and said, "Junior Song Ruotang pays respects to Madam."
Wen Fang ignored her and chatted and laughed with someone beside her. It wasn't until the other person joked, "Sister Fang, this junior has been waiting here. She probably won't leave until she says something to you."
Only then did Wen Fang turn around. When she saw Song Ruotang, she pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh, I didn't see you just now. Please don't be offended."
Song Ruotang hung a proper smile on her face and shook her head. "Madam, what are you saying? It's your birthday today. There are so many people. It's no wonder you didn't notice me."
Wen Fang smiled. "You're Wanying's younger sister, Song Ruotang, right?"
Song Ruotang nodded. "Yes, I am."
Wen Fang stood up, took her hand, and led her into the yard. "I heard Wanying mention you. I thought you were an interesting person. Since I'm familiar with your mother, I also wanted to meet you."
As she was speaking, a voice suddenly came from the crowd. "Aunt Fang."
The two of them looked in the direction of the voice. They saw Song Wanying in a peach - colored winter dress embroidered with peonies. A circle of pink short fur was around her neck, making her look a bit charming.