She skipped over cheerfully and affectionately looped her arm through Wen Fang's. "Aunt Fang, you look so charming today."
"You're being glib again." Wen Fang laughed and tapped Song Wanying on the nose. The latter let out a coquettish giggle. Seemingly casually, she glanced at Song Ruotang and feigned surprise. "Sister, so you're here too."
Song Ruotang wore a proper smile. "Yes, sister. I hope you've been well."
"You've gained some weight in just a few days, sister. I'm sure you've been living quite comfortably in your husband's family," Song Wanying said sourly, subtly mocking Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang nodded. "It's really not bad, but I don't dare to compare my figure with yours, sister."
"You!" Song Wanying instantly widened her eyes and was about to rush forward when Wen Fang tugged at her sleeve. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. Then she turned to Wen Fang. "Aunt Fang, it's your birthday today. I don't want to argue with anyone. Recently, my father just got a blood - red coral. I'd like to give it to you as a birthday gift."
As soon as she finished speaking, she raised her hand and motioned for the maid behind her to bring forward a tray covered with a red silk cloth. Song Wanying gave Song Ruotang a smug look and confidently lifted the silk.
A blood - red coral was revealed to everyone. It was a rare sunny day. Under the sunlight, the coral shone brightly and was extremely eye - catching.
A look of amazement flashed across Wen Fang's eyes. She nodded in satisfaction. "My niece knows me well. I like this gift very much."
Being praised, Song Wanying became even more complacent. She glanced disdainfully at Song Ruotang. "Since sister is living well, I'm sure the gift you prepared for Aunt Fang won't be bad, right?"
As soon as she said this, everyone turned their eyes to Song Ruotang. Song Ruotang replied calmly, "It's indeed not as unique as what you and others have given, but it's still something I carefully selected."
Song Ruotang turned to look at Xiaoxi. The latter understood and stepped forward, taking out a delicate wooden box engraved with the name "Taoxiage" and handing it to Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang opened the box, revealing a gorgeous gold hairpin inside. This hairpin was in the shape of a hibiscus flower. The body of the hairpin was made of gold, carved with extremely delicate patterns, while the hibiscus flower was made of jade, a rare pink jade. The pink at the petals was so vivid that it seemed ready to drip, gradually turning white towards the root of the flower.
Although this hairpin was small, it was really exquisite and beautiful. As soon as Song Ruotang took it out, most of the women present looked over.
Wen Fang naturally liked it too. Originally, she intended to make things difficult for Song Ruotang. But since Song Ruotang had done nothing wrong since she came to the mansion, and Wen Fang was the hostess of this birthday banquet, it was beneath her dignity to deliberately make things difficult for a low - ranking concubine.
"What an interesting gift. How did you come up with the idea of giving jewelry?" Wen Fang's expression softened a lot. She asked Song Ruotang with a smile.
Seeing Wen Fang's attitude change, Song Ruotang felt a little relieved. She said softly, "Madam has such a graceful appearance. With this hairpin as an ornament, it will surely add to your charm. This hairpin is light and easy to carry, so it can always enhance your beauty."
"Very good. I like your birthday gift very much." Wen Fang was flattered by Song Ruotang's words. She was just about to reach out to take the gift when Song Wanying suddenly interrupted her. "Wait a minute."
Wen Fang's fingers stopped beside the wooden box. She turned to look at Song Wanying in confusion. "Niece, what are you doing?"
"Aunt Fang, Song Ruotang is just a concubine. How could she possibly afford a genuine product from Taoxiage? Everyone in the capital's noble circles knows that it's extremely difficult to buy things from Taoxiage. There are many fakes on the market. This hairpin of hers is either a fake or a second - hand item," Song Wanying said, looking at the box in Song Ruotang's hand with a skeptical look in her eyes.
Hearing this, Wen Fang hesitated. Song Wanying pressed on. "Aunt Fang, as a concubine who doesn't manage the family accounts, where could she get so much money to buy this gold hairpin?"
Song Wanying's words reminded Wen Fang. She had only given Song Ruotang the invitation card on a whim today, just to give her a hard time and make her unable to prepare a proper gift and be ridiculed.
Now not only had Song Ruotang prepared a gift, but it was also such a good one. However, even if one managed to buy a hairpin from Taoxiage, they would have to wait for at least a month. How did Song Ruotang get it today?
Thinking like this, what Song Wanying said seemed reasonable.
Wen Fang withdrew her hand, and her smile faded a bit. She looked at the person she had sent to deliver the invitation card who had followed Song Ruotang in. Seeing the person shake their head, she was sure that Song Ruotang had not gone to Taoxiage.
So, this gold hairpin was either fake or second - hand.
"Song Ruotang, do you have anything to say?" Wen Fang looked at her calmly.
Song Ruotang remained calm. "Madam, this gold hairpin is indeed a genuine product from Taoxiage. I just got it a few days ago. I thought it was so beautiful that I was always reluctant to wear it. I originally wanted to collect it. But today, on your birthday, I thought that this hairpin would not be buried here with you."
After Song Ruotang's well - crafted speech, Wen Fang put on a smile again. After contacting Song Ruotang today, she found that this Song Ruotang was smarter than Song Wanying.
Song Wanying was about to say something else when Song Ruotang directly picked up the hairpin. There was a small engraving at the junction of the hibiscus flower and the gold hairpin body. "This is the unique engraving of Taoxiage, which is used to prove the authenticity. Do you believe me, Madam?"
The engraving of Taoxiage was unique and could only be found at the junction of the jewelry. It required a very high - level craftsmanship, so it had always been used by Taoxiage as a sign to verify the authenticity of their products.
Song Wanying was completely defeated and had nothing to say. Wen Fang took the wooden box and nodded with a smile. "I naturally believe you."
After Wen Fang handed the wooden box to the maid in charge of keeping the gifts, she was about to pull Song Ruotang aside to talk when Nie Rong's voice interrupted.
"You've been here for so long and haven't even said hello to me, your mother. It seems that now that you're living well, you don't take me, your mother, seriously anymore," Nie Rong said sharply.
Song Ruotang stopped in her tracks and gracefully walked up to her. She bowed to her and said in surprise, "Mother, please forgive me. It's not that I didn't want to pay my respects. It's just that when sister presented her birthday gift just now, I thought you and others hadn't come yet, so..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but it successfully left Nie Rong speechless. Nie Rong could only glare at her fiercely.
Because what Song Ruotang said implied that Song Wanying didn't take her mother seriously and had presented the gift on her own initiative.
And that was exactly the case.
The guests beside them stared at Song Wanying and Nie Rong with subtle expressions. Nie Rong was still not willing to give up. "I told Aying to give the gift. What does it have to do with you not respecting your mother? You still want to argue."
"Mother is right. It's just that sister wanted to see my birthday gift just now, and Madam Wen was there. I originally planned to come and pay my respects to you later..." Song Ruotang pursed her lips, looking embarrassed.
Nie Rong opened her mouth but finally didn't say anything. After all, what Song Ruotang meant was that this was Madam Wen's territory, and she couldn't overstep her bounds.
So if she continued to hold Song Ruotang accountable for not paying her respects, it would be she who was being unruly.