Jian Xubai left neatly while Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Song Yixiao were confused. Hence, they asked the eunuch to stay so that they could learn more about the sudden incidence.

“It should be official business?” The eunuch racked his brains to recall what the errand-man of Marquis Boling said, “It seems to be related to Ministry of War.”

Song Yixiao was relieved to hear that. Because of Zhiqin, she had no relish for Yuan Xuepei, but she still didn"t want to see anything untoward happen to him. After all, without him, Yuan Xue"e would have n.o.body to rely on.

Now that the Yuan Family was okay, she shifted her focus onto bonding with Commandery Princess Qingjiang.

However, after a while, another servant came to report, saying that Zhuo Ping"an was crying in the yard and that no one could stop him. Commandery Princess Qingjiang replied, “Never mind.” Yet, she was sitting on pins and needles. Song Yixiao realized that she couldn"t inquire about the wedding gift issue so she trod a find line to take her leave.

“Today is not a good timing!” Commandery Princess Qingjiang accompanied her to the carriage with guilt, “Let"s take a rain check.”

“We are families. Don"t say so.” Song Yixiao patted the back of her hand softly, “Just go to see if Ping"an is okay. It"s cold now. If he stays too long in the yard, he may get a cold!”

Under this circ.u.mstance, when she left the Commandery Princess"s mansion, the lunch hour was not past.

Jinxun ventured a question, “It is said that on the way back, there is a Taoli Restaurant one block away, where the Pork Broth and Malva Crispa Soup taste very delicious. Moreover, the restaurant is clean. Madam, since you took your leave before finishing your lunch, you must be hungry now. How about going to try them on the way?”

“Do you think that I don"t know Taoli Restaurant is next to the jewelry store that Wuying mentioned before?” Song Yixiao heard that and then rolled her bracelet, saying with a faint smile.

“But we are not in any hurry to go back at the moment!” Jinxun sensed no feelings of anger in Song Yixiao"s words, so she nerved up to request like a spoiled kid, “Moreover, it was a vain visit today. Hence, you must go to Earl Shouchun"s mansion for inquiry. By then, how can the young masters and mistresses not come to pay respects to you? Moreover, as the jewelry store is recommended by Earl Shouchun"s wife to Lady Wuying, it must fit the taste of Earl Shouchun"s wife. Then you don"t need to bother about preparing for the presents at the first meeting!”

Song Yixiao agreed and then rubbed her nose, “Look at you! You are so obsessed with the store! If I don"t go there, I don"t know what you will do to make me go there!”

“I know you like me!” Jinxun had reached her goal, so she didn"t care to be ridiculed, saying giggling, “But my doing so is not completely for myself. I am sincerely worried that you may be starved!”

Chatting and laughing, Song Yixiao and Jinxun arrived at the destination. Initially, they intended to have a meal in Taoli Restaurant and to buy jewelries in the store next to it. Unexpectedly, Taoli Restaurant was very famous with brisk business. Now was the lunch hour. Although there were still seats available, private rooms were all occupied.

Song Yixiao was a girl and she was alone here. Of course she couldn"t show her face in public.

“Forget about it. Let"s go to the jewelry store and then return home.” Song Yixiao felt disappointed and then heaved a sigh, saying to Jinxun, “Just buy something nice to eat on the way.”

However, before the carriage started, the manager of Taoli Restaurant came to apologize himself. As he heard about Song Yixiao"s intention, he hurriedly said, “Madam, are you going to buy jewelries in the next-door store? What a coincidence! There happens to be a private room available, except that we need some time to clean it. If you find it okay, how about sitting in the next-door store for a while and we will send some desserts to you later?”

Then he said sorry to this honored guest, “Madam, your meal today will be on the house!”

“Sir, you are so nice!” Jinxun got the hint from Song Yixiao and then replied, “In this case, my mistress will sit in the next-door store for a while and come back here when you finish cleaning. As to your kind offer, we"ll pa.s.s. My mistress doesn"t like gaining extra advantage!”

The reason why the manager came out to receive Song Yixiao by himself was that he heard from the waiter that Song Yixiao"s carriage was made aligned with the first-rank level and that the servants were nicely dressed. Apparently, she must come from a rich family. Thus, in order not to offend this guest, he offered the spare private room with the meal free of charge.

Now that Song Yixiao wanted to pay for the meal herself, he would not insist then, saying with a smile, “Okay. I will have the desserts prepared. Madam, please rest a.s.sured. Our restaurant is a time-honored brand for 20 years. I cannot say that every diner likes our food but I can a.s.sure you that it is definitely clean!”

After a while, Song Yixiao got off the carriage with her hat and then walked into the jewelry store. As expected, a waiter of Taoli Restaurant brought a gold-lacquer hamper and a pot of newly made white chrysanthemum tea soon.

It seemed to have happened before that the customer of Taoli Restaurant waited for table in this store.

Upon seeing the hamper, the store a.s.sistant immediately conducted Song Yixiao upstairs into a private room with tables and chairs, making a curtsey and saying, “Madam, how about you having tea in this room and me bringing you whatever jewelries you want to see?”

Song Yixiao was satisfied with the arrangement, “I would like to look at hairpins and earrings first!” Then she recalled that Earl Shouchun"s wife came here to buy jewelries for her daughter. To avoid buying the same jewelries, she added, “Are there any new styles of jewelries?”

The store a.s.sistant hurriedly said, “Yes! The artisans have recently made a set of chrysanthemum hairpins that fit the current season. Among them, the one that imitates jade quill pipe is so vivid and lively, the ta.s.sels of which will flow as wind blows by. I must say that it is really pretty!”

“I would like to take a look then!” Song Yixiao was instantly intrigued.

The store a.s.sistant brought not only the jade chrysanthemum hairpin with plumes but also a pair of plum-blossom pearl hair ornaments. “Madam, look at this pair of pearl ornaments, which are decorated with rubies. The pearls are very crystalline of the top grade. Besides, the skills of the artisans who make these are handed down from their older generations of their families, which are no worse than as those of Ye"s Accessory Shop. In our store, this is the only one pair! Yet, many customers are afraid that they cannot hold this kind of ornaments. That"s why they are kept until now. Madam, in my eyes, you don"t need to worry about it, so I show it to you!”

“You are so sweet!” Song Yixiao glanced at her smilingly. The pearl hair ornaments must be unsalable but the store a.s.sistant claimed that they were kept in the store only because other customers were not as beautiful as Song Yixiao. However, with a closer look, the pearl hair ornaments were arguably pretty and dazzling. Besides, Song Yixiao didn"t have the same pattern. Hence, after she said that, she bought the pearl ornaments.

Greatly encouraged, the shop a.s.sistant became even more active, “Madam, look at this pair of pearl earrings! The pearls are…”

The staff of Taoli Restaurant worked efficiently. Before the store a.s.sistant finished introducing the earrings, the guards outside the store came inside to report, asking whether Song Yixiao would like to go to the private room now since it had been prepared.

“I"ll spend some more time here!” Song Yixiao wanted to leave the store but when she saw Jinxun"s reluctant look and the store a.s.sistant"s eager countenance, she smiled and said, “After all, I am having tea and dessert here. I don"t feel hungry now.”

In the end, she bought 14 chrysanthemum hairpins, 8 pearl hairpins, a pair of plum-blossom pearl hairpins, 3 gilded bracelets with bells, 2 pairs of pearl earrings, 4 pink-gold calabash earrings with yahu gems and 5 tree-peony necklaces!

The store a.s.sistant was grinning from ear to ear, who not only saw her off respectful but also kept complimenting Song Yixiao until the entrance of Taoli Restaurant. Then she reluctantly parted with Song Yixiao, saying, “Madam, welcome to visit often!”

“In my opinion, the store owner should pay Jinxun a referral fee!” After going into Taoli Restaurant, the newly appointed first maid, Liyu, said teasingly, “Or why can they have such a high revenue?”

Jinxun said smilingly, “That"s because the store a.s.sistant is such a good talker.”

Amidst chatting, they were conducted to the third floor.

On this floor were all private rooms with no public area but corridors.

Song Yixiao thought that everything had been settled since Taoli Restaurant"s staff invited her here. However, trouble just came unexpected. She just sat in the private room and didn"t have time to take off her hat when the door was suddenly pushed open and a girl broke in angrily!

“I don"t care where you are from. This room has been reserved by my brother since half a year ago!” Song Yixiao thought that the girl came to the wrong room. Unexpectedly, after the girl came in, she looked around and pointed at Song Yixiao, shouting, “I know the manager offers the room to others out of greed. Now that we are here, why don"t you leave as fast as you can?”

Song Yixiao frowned and waved at Jinxun to stop her from refuting. Then she replied calmly, “Miss, you are taking this too seriously. I come to Taoli Restaurant for having a meal but not for putting on airs. Why do you mention where I come from? In fact, if the manager didn"t stop my carriage and tell me about a private room available, I would go back home by now. Yet, since I"ve taken a seat, if you have any problem with this, please talk to the manager. It"s none of my business!”

After saying that, negligent of the girl"s countenance, she directly ordered Jinxun to see her off.

“How dare you!” How could the girl leave now? Instantly, she walked forward for a few steps, pointing at Song Yixiao and yelling angrily, “Do you know who my father and brothers are? How dare you bully me like this?”

“Where is this pampered girl from?” Song Yixiao got impatient and thought to herself, “No matter how bossy this girl is at home, it has nothing to do with the outsiders. Now that she is outside, why doesn"t she know how to behave well? How annoying she is!”

She was going to teach this arrogant girl a lesson when someone came into the room. Judging from her outfits and appearance, she looked just the same as the girl. Apparently, they were twins, except that the late-comer was much more polite. Upon entering the room, she apologized hurriedly, “Madam, we are sorry! My brother has reserved this private room since half a year ago and also came to an agreement that the room wouldn"t be open to other customers. Nevertheless, the manager offers the room to you and my brother brought us here today. Therefore, my elder sister offends you out of anxiety. Actually, it is the manager who broke the promise, thus getting you into trouble. Please forgive us if any inconvenience is caused!”

Speaking of this, she introduced herself, “My father is Duke of Ji. My name is Shaoling. This is my elder sister, Shaomo. May I know what your name is?”

“My family name is Song.” Song Yixiao was still angry but when she learnt that the girls were daughters of Duke of Ji, she instantly recalled that their brother, Su Shaoge offered a big favor when Sikong Yiluo was critically ill. Then she softened her voice and took off her hat, rising and walking forward, “My husband"s family name is Jian. You may call me Shanyao.”

On rough thought, Su Shaoling took a tumble, “Are you Madam Song, Duke of Yan"s wife? We are so sorry today!”

Then she dragged Su Shaomo to greet Song Yixiao. Su Shaomo was still unhappy.

“Miss Su, don"t mention it!” Song Yixiao hurried to make a curtsey back and talked about the favor Su Shaoge offered last time, “If I knew this room was booked by Mr. Su, I would never agree to take this. Luckily, I"ve just arrived and the dishes are not served. Now it won"t take much time to leave the room to you!”

“It"s only about a meal. There are other private rooms available now. Why do you have to leave?” Su Shaoling refused Song Yixiao"s suggestion and said, “My elder sister lost her mind for the moment. Please do forgive her! We will ask the manager to get us another room!”

Both of them didn"t want to take the room. As the atmosphere got tense, Su Shaomo, a girl of impatient disposition, dragged by her sister though, still couldn"t help saying, “After all, we are all here to eat and would like to bury the hatchet. We may as well have the meal together!”

Then she proposed determinedly, “Only our brother comes here with us today. According to Madam Song, she has met him before. In such daytime, with the company of us two sisters of him, I don"t think Duke of Yan will have any problem with us having a meal together. Right?”