Gu Yunzheng didn't expect Song Yihuan to look over. Their eyes met across most of the banquet hall. He was stunned for a moment and instinctively averted his gaze, avoiding her scrutiny.
Song Yihuan followed his line of sight and then noticed that sitting beside him was Meng Zhao, the second son of the Meng family and Song Nanxin's cousin.
Seeing Meng Zhao chatting and laughing with the guests at the men's table, Song Yihuan immediately understood everything.
So that's how it is. So that's how it is.
Right. Since news of her stepmother's affair had reached the ears of the Princess of Ningqin, it meant someone was deliberately spreading it.
Song Yihuan didn't need to guess who that person was.
Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.
The Marquess of Ding'an's wife was from the Meng family. It must be her elder sister who had instructed the Mengs to bring up her birth and her stepmother's misfortune during the birthday banquet.
By having the Mengs expose it, not only could the authenticity of the matter be enhanced, but her elder sister could also be absolved. This would help her elder sister build a kind - sister reputation at Lady Jiang's birthday banquet.
What a good scheme!
She had thought Lady Jiang was the trap her elder sister had set for her today, but unexpectedly, the real obstacle was here.
Song Yihuan suddenly felt like laughing.
Her elder sister had brought her to the banquet today, saying it was to help her choose a husband. But now that the Mengs had deliberately spread the news about her stepmother, how could she secure a good marriage?
Now, it was likely that all the nobles in the capital knew that Song Yihuan was the daughter of a shameless concubine. Who would dare to marry her as a wife?
Look! Even Gu Yunzheng, who had once sworn he would marry no one but her, had lost interest in her after learning about her stepmother.
She so wanted to tell these people the truth, to tell them that it wasn't her stepmother who had seduced the Marquess of Ding'an, but that the marquess had forced himself on her stepmother in front of the old lady.
But she knew no one would believe her.
She had managed to please Lady Jiang with the long brocade depicting pine trees, cranes, and a hundred "shou" characters and had won Lady Jiang's favor. That was only because Lady Jiang and her grandmother had been good friends in the past. Lady Jiang knew her grandmother well and suspected that the truth might not be what was being spread outside.
But she couldn't stop the gossiping tongues of the world.
Lifting her chin slightly, Song Yihuan met everyone's scrutiny with her back straight. A calm arc curved across her lips, as if this could resist the malice from all directions.
She didn't know that across the hall, a pair of phoenix - shaped eyes had witnessed her and Gu Yunzheng's reactions and tightened their grip on the wine cup.
Ji Lingchuan practiced martial arts, so his hearing was much better than ordinary people's. No one knew that all the different discussions among the guests about Song Nanxin and Song Yihuan had fallen into his ears word for word.
Looking at Song Yihuan across the hall, with her back straight and feigning strength, he saw a hint of vulnerability on her smiling face.
His heart suddenly felt like it had been stabbed by something.
Although he knew he shouldn't, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel pity for her and wanted to take her away from this malicious banquet.
When he looked at Gu Yunzheng again, there was a strong sense of mockery in Ji Lingchuan's eyes.
Didn't he say he couldn't live without her? Didn't he want to climb to the first - rank official position for her? Was this all his determination?
Ji Lingchuan raised his eyes and looked at the whispering guests. The frost and sharpness in his eyes were undisguised. His gaze was like a prickling sensation on their backs, making them hard to ignore.
Soon, the surroundings fell completely silent. Everyone sat upright, carefully observing Ji Lingchuan's expression and not daring to act rashly in front of him.
A maid whispered something in Lady Jiang's ear. Lady Jiang glanced at the Meng family's young master and Ji Lingchuan. She vaguely guessed what was going on and broke the awkward silence at the banquet with a smile.
"Since everyone is seated, let the banquet begin."
To the sound of gongs and drums beaten by the servants, this flowing - style banquet officially started.
The Duke of Jiang's mansion had arranged singing and dancing girls to liven up the occasion. Soon, everyone began to relax, clinking glasses and toasting each other at the banquet. People were vying to say auspicious words to Lady Jiang. It was extremely lively.
Song Yihuan swallowed the food with a tasteless feeling. She watched all this coldly and didn't feel any joy at all.
Lady Jiang couldn't hold her liquor well. Soon, she got up and said she wanted to go back to her room to rest and told the guests to enjoy themselves.
But just before leaving, Lady Jiang suddenly said, "Miss Song, the fourth daughter, would you like to accompany me and have a chat? I still have many things about your grandmother that I want to ask you."
Lady Jiang looked at Song Yihuan at the banquet with a smiling face.
Many people at the banquet looked at Song Yihuan in surprise, their eyes darting back and forth between Lady Jiang and Song Yihuan.
Song Nanxin still had a smile on her face, but the words she said sounded gritted - teeth to Song Yihuan.
"Since Lady Jiang has said so, Yihuan, you should go and accompany Lady Jiang."
Under everyone's gaze, Song Yihuan got up and walked towards Lady Jiang. She took Lady Jiang's hand and left with her.
With the freedom at the banquet, people became even more unrestrained. Soon, many young ladies surrounded Song Nanxin. The girls were vying to get close to Song Nanxin.
Song Nanxin was surrounded and was busy trying to please everyone. She didn't notice at all that Ji Lingchuan had left the banquet at some point.
After Song Yihuan was led away from the banquet by Lady Jiang, they walked only a few steps forward before Lady Jiang stopped and patted Song Yihuan's hand hard.
"Yihuan, in life, nine times out of ten things don't go as we wish. What exactly happened between your stepmother and your grandmother back then, no one else knows, so there have been many speculations. I was your grandmother's friend. I believe your stepmother didn't harm her back then, but... your grandmother and stepmother are both dead, and no one will ever know the truth. Bringing you away just now was the most I could do for you."
Song Yihuan's nose twitched, and she choked back sobs. "Thank you, Lady Jiang, for your care. I understand. Let me serve you and help you rest."
But Lady Jiang said, "There's no need to stay with this old woman. Do whatever you want."
With that, Lady Jiang let the maid support her and left.
Lady Jiang was such a shrewd person. She could tell that what Song Yihuan needed at this moment was not care but an outlet.
Song Yihuan did have a pent - up feeling in her chest, which made her chest ache. There was nothing in her ears except a buzzing sound.
Although she kept telling herself in her heart that it was nothing, that she had grown up in such an environment and should have been used to it long ago.
But for some reason, this time, she felt extremely embarrassed.
Now that she was free, Song Yihuan couldn't hold back any longer. She turned her head and walked in the opposite direction of the banquet.
She was eager to find a quiet place to vent her grievances, so she walked quickly. But she didn't know that someone was quietly following her behind, frowning deeply at her vulnerable back that seemed on the verge of collapse.