Upon learning this insider information, the others in the pavilion all showed looks of contempt on their faces. The admiration they had felt for the beauty just now had all turned into disdain.
Who among the people present wasn't a young master from a noble family?
"A woman of such a background, even if she's a concubine - born daughter of a marquis's mansion, can never be a proper wife if she's married into a family. She can only be a plaything like her concubine mother."
"Exactly. No wonder that woman looks so coquettish. It's because she has an unruly aunt. Who knows, maybe she's as frivolous and unruly as her aunt."
Someone else said to Gu Yunzheng, "Lord Gu, you'd better give it up. With your talent, what kind of proper young woman can't you marry?"
"Right. There are so many young ladies from the duke's mansion here today. Lord Gu will surely find a good match. There's no need to care about that girl."
Seeing Gu Yunzheng looking as if struck by lightning, Meng Zhao smiled contentedly.
"Yes, with Lord Gu's talent, you should choose carefully. Don't mistake a fish - eye for a pearl."
Song Yihuan had no idea what was going on in the pavilion. The incident of Gu Yunzheng blocking her way just now didn't stir any waves in her heart. The only person she cared about was Ji Lingchuan.
The conversation between her and Gu Yunzheng in Lanfang Garden that day had all been heard by Ji Lingchuan.
Ji Lingchuan had just cleared her name of stealing jewelry in the Prince Ning's Mansion. But then she had calmly lied in front of him to distance herself from Gu Yunzheng. She didn't know what he would think of her after hearing that.
He should think that she was full of lies and cold - hearted, right?
She wanted to turn back to see Ji Lingchuan's expression, but she was afraid that her elder sister beside her would notice something.
After passing through the winding verandas and several decorated gates, they finally arrived at the banquet building of the Duke Jiang's Mansion.
From afar, Song Yihuan could hear bursts of laughter coming from the building. With maids and servants walking around and children chasing and playing noisily, it was extremely lively.
Led by Duke Jiang into the main entrance of the banquet building, she looked up and saw an energetic old lady with gray hair sitting in the main seat. She was holding a deer - headed walking stick in her hand and was smiling as she chatted with the guests around her.
A servant announced in a loud voice, "The heir of Prince Ning and his princess have arrived."
Hearing that Ji Lingchuan had come to congratulate on the birthday, the noisy voices in the banquet building fell silent for a moment. Everyone looked towards the door in unison. At this point, Ji Lingchuan and Song Nanxin walked in front, while Song Yihuan walked behind.
Although Ji Lingchuan was dressed simply, the majesty from his years on the battlefield and the nobility of a prince's heir made people can't help but feel admiration and respect.
Compared with Ji Lingchuan, Song Nanxin was dressed more gorgeously. She wore a complicatedly - crafted golden hairpin on her head, and her clothes were made of the new Liyuan brocade from the brocade workshop. The silk threads on it glowed faintly as she walked, amazing everyone.
However, standing beside the simply - dressed Ji Lingchuan, she seemed a bit too luxurious.
What really caught people's eyes was not Song Nanxin's expensive dress, but Song Yihuan behind Ji Lingchuan and Song Nanxin.
The hibiscus - patterned dress on Song Yihuan was not liked by the guests because the fabric was too bright at first. The brocade workshop had tried every means but failed to promote the fabric, and it had been stockpiled in the shop for a long time.
The blooming hibiscus flowers outlined Song Yihuan's exquisite figure. Coupled with her charming and beautiful face, it should have given people a sense of gaudiness.
However, there was nothing in her hair. She didn't wear any hairpins. Her black hair was coiled into a bun suitable for an unmarried girl, which made her skin look even fairer.
On her palm - sized face, her expression was calm. Her deer - like eyes were clear and bright, with a proper and pure look in them. This not only diluted the gaudiness brought by her appearance and clothes but also made her even more unforgettable.
The people present all had the same thought in their minds: a temptress.
Even the old Lady Jiang couldn't help but take a few more glances at Song Yihuan.
If the servants hadn't announced their identities, everyone would have thought that Song Yihuan was Ji Lingchuan's wife.
The two of them, dressed simply, looked like a perfect match.
Song Nanxin noticed that after people took a glance at her, they immediately turned their eyes to Song Yihuan, with looks of amazement on their faces. She was extremely annoyed in her heart.
She had given that dress to Song Yihuan, hoping to set off her own dignity and elegance by Song Yihuan's vulgarity. But she didn't expect that the reactions of the people present were different from what she had imagined.
In order to regain people's attention, Song Nanxin showed a big smile and announced in a loud voice, "Old Lady Jiang, Xin'er has come to congratulate you on your birthday!"
Her words woke up the guests present. The Prince Ning's Mansion represented by Ji Lingchuan and Song Nanxin was of a much higher status than everyone here. The guests in the room all stood up to pay their respects.
Old Lady Jiang stood up and was about to kneel down to them. The cold look in Ji Lingchuan's eyebrows faded. He gently supported Old Lady Jiang's arm and said with a gentle smile,
"Old lady, please get up quickly. Today is your birthday. There's no need to care about such formalities."
"I'm really honored that the heir and his princess have come to congratulate me on my birthday," Old Lady Jiang said as she stood up, smiling from ear to ear.
Song Nanxin stepped forward to support Old Lady Jiang, looking extremely intimate. "Old lady, it's been a long time. You're still as healthy as ever."
Old Lady Jiang no longer cared about Song Yihuan. She said with a smile, "I can't compare with you young people."
After helping Old Lady Jiang back to her chair and sitting her down, Song Nanxin said, "To celebrate Old Lady Jiang's eightieth birthday, the heir specially had this gold - inlaid jade Avalokitesvara statue made. We hope this Avalokitesvara statue will bless Old Lady Jiang with a long and prosperous life."
As soon as she finished speaking, a servant carried up a wooden box.
Inside the wooden box, the Avalokitesvara statue was green and transparent, without a single impurity. The lotus seat below was made of gold. As soon as this birthday gift was presented, the hall of the banquet building became brighter.
Old Lady Jiang was very satisfied with this gift. She smiled and grabbed Song Nanxin's hand, patting it hard. "You know, I've watched you grow up since you were a child. Now you've married a good husband and become a princess. You have the bearing of a mistress of a family. If your grandmother knew this in the underworld, she would surely be very gratified."
Old Lady Jiang let out a sigh.
"I grew up with your grandmother. We used to sleep in the same bed and wear the same clothes. Our relationship was as good as that of real sisters. We even made an appointment to celebrate our eightieth birthdays together. But unexpectedly, she left before me. Whenever I think of her, my heart..."
Song Nanxin quickly comforted her, "Old lady, you're as kind and amiable as my grandmother in Xin'er's heart. If my grandmother knew that you've lived a peaceful life until now, she would be happy too."
Song Yihuan, standing at the back, had been standing quietly, trying to minimize her presence. Listening to the conversation between Song Nanxin and Old Lady Jiang, her heart was cold.
She knew that her elder sister had no good intentions in bringing her to this banquet.
The grandmother that Old Lady Jiang mentioned was the old lady of the Marquis Ding'an's Mansion. The two of them were close friends in their youth and had a very deep friendship.
She could even foresee how Old Lady Jiang would treat her after learning her identity.
But this time, she wouldn't follow the script set by her elder sister anymore.
Sure enough, after finishing talking with Song Nanxin, Old Lady Jiang looked at Song Yihuan again. With a bit of curiosity, she asked,
"By the way, this young lady looks very unfamiliar. I wonder which honored guest from the Prince Ning's Mansion she is?"