The girls who were gossiping had grown up pampered and were used to being adored.
At the Liu Mansion, they made no effort to restrain themselves and looked down on Su Juan's origins from the bottom of their hearts.
Just a merchant's daughter, after all.
Su Juan was not surprised that these ladies would gossip about her like this.
The young ladies stayed in their boudoirs and their greatest concerns were composing poetry, playing instruments, and painting. They had no understanding of court politics and couldn't foresee that the crown prince position might fall to the Prince Jing Mansion in the future.
Naturally, they looked down on her, a merchant's daughter who rose to prominence by sheer luck, and it was normal for them to make such sarcastic remarks.
She'd experienced these things before; perhaps last time, her emotions fluctuated a little, but now she felt nothing, just marveling at how these people still had the interest to gossip, not knowing that trouble would soon be upon them.
[That girl from the Mu family, does she even know how much older she is than Liu Miaoying, yet she keeps calling her Sister Miaoying with such thick skin.]
[Looks like the girl from the Junior Minister He's family is unhappy with the marriage between them and the Lian Family, otherwise, she wouldn't be so bitter. Probably she wishes she could have such luck, but alas, even that luck doesn't wish to be trodden on by her.]
Many around could hear Su Juan's internal mockery.
The gazes of those who heard fell upon a few people, and someone even laughed out loud.
The laughter was moderate, just enough for Mu Yan and He Yue to hear, making their faces look quite displeased.
Liu Miaoying soon came over, walking towards Su Juan with a smile on her face, "I thought you weren't coming. I've saved a seat for you over there, come follow me quickly."
Saying so, she took Su Juan's hand, not glancing at the girls who were gossiping.
Being held by Liu Miaoying, Su Juan couldn't help but think: [Miss Liu's hand is so smooth and soft, I wonder what she uses daily to maintain it so well.]
Liu Miaoying was the top talented woman in the Capital City, praised several times by the emperor, and the noblewomen in the city all followed her lead in dress and behavior.
But no one could have imagined that she, known for her aloof nature, would pay such attention to Su Juan, a mere merchant's daughter.
"What's wrong with Sister Miaoying, being so attentive to that Su Juan?" Mu Yan complained indignantly.
They had known Liu Miaoying for so long, yet now they were inferior to a merchant's daughter.
After complaining, Mu Yan noticed He Yue was ignoring her and pushed her, "What's wrong with you, you've been absent-minded all day?"
He Yue snapped back to reality and smiled, "It's nothing."
She took a sip of tea and just as she was about to use her handkerchief, she suddenly cried out, "Oh no, I've lost my handkerchief!"
Mu Yan was shocked, "How could it just disappear like that?"
The handkerchief is a woman's intimate belonging and important for her reputation; if someone picks it up, it could be disastrous!
He Yue was frightened and a bit flustered, holding onto Mu Yan, "I might have dropped it on the way to the lavatory just now..."
The two were close friends, and Mu Yan understood how serious it was to lose a handkerchief. She patted He Yue's hand comfortingly, "Don't worry, I'll go with you to look for it."
They left the banquet one after the other.
Su Juan glanced over but then withdrew her gaze.
The men and women sat in separate seats, a screen in between, so no one could see each other.
Liu Miaoying took good care of Su Juan, having exquisite pastries brought one after another for her and introducing each one.
Listening to her address her as Heir Consort, Su Juan smiled, "Miss Liu, if you don't mind, you can just call me Ah Juan from now on, I'm not used to being called Heir Consort."
Liu Miaoying's lips curved slightly as she poured her a cup of tea, "You're asking me to call you Ah Juan, but you're still calling me Miss Liu?"
"Then henceforth, I'll call you Miaoying."
"Alright."
The two exchanged smiles, all was peaceful and well.
Just then, the cousin from the Xing'an Marquis Mansion, Lin Xizhi, spoke with a hint of jealousy in her tone, "Back when you and I knew each other for a year before we called each other by our names, Ah Juan really only cares about new friends' laughter, not old friends' tears."
Su Juan coaxed Lin Xizhi for quite a while until she was happy, casting a triumphant look at Liu Miaoying.
Things always have an order; she knew Ah Juan for many years, if not for the family misfortune, forcing her to come to the Capital City seeking refuge, she wouldn't have been apart from Ah Juan for these two years.
Liu Miaoying smiled.
The Xing'an Marquis Mansion had no daughters, so they pampered this cousin who came to the Capital City, treating her as their own daughter with the best in clothing, food, and shelter.
Lin Xizhi took an item from herself and handed it to Su Juan, whispering, "I knew you would come today; you lent me this item back then, and now it returns to its original owner."
When her family faced adversity, involved in a capital offense, her parents got into trouble, and she was forced to marry a creditor old enough to be her father, she had no choice but to escape to the Capital City for refuge.
Su Juan lent her that Jade Pendant, telling her if her refuge didn't go well, she could pawn it for some silver.
Lin Xizhi knew this was the only item left by Su Juan's birth mother; seeing her difficult situation, she lent it to her. Fortunately, everything went well after entering the Capital, and today, she could finally return it to its owner.
Su Juan took a glance and put the item away.
Liu Miaoying caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye; it was a half piece of a Jade Pendant, made of fine mutton-fat jade, but being only half, the pattern couldn't be discerned.
Just then, there was a commotion outside; someone exclaimed, "Something happened, something happened!"
Liu Miaoying frowned tightly, got up, and left the table; Su Juan and Lin Xizhi followed.
As these three walked away, the rest, filled with curiosity, also got up and followed the sounds of commotion.
Arriving at the mountain's base, they saw Mu Yan, who should have been at her seat, now lying on the ground, clothes slightly disheveled, while the young man trying to run away was stopped by the servants!
"My goodness! What happened to Miss Mu?"
"How did Miss Mu end up at the mountain base... Young Master Lian?!"
"Why is Young Master Lian also here?"
The one being stopped was Young Master Lian of the Dali Temple, Lian Cheng.
Lian Cheng was drunk, still tottering when walking, and as the servants brought him before Liu Miaoying, he sobered up considerably, a flash of panic crossing his face.
Mu Yan was pale; earlier she was helping He Yue look for the handkerchief and found it in Lian Cheng's hands. In trying to retrieve it from him, she got into an altercation due to his drunken state, and unexpectedly they were seen by others.
"Could these two be having a secret rendezvous..." someone whispered in shock.
"Heavens, in broad daylight, and at Liu Mansion, how could they dare!"
"If I'm not mistaken, Young Master Lian is the fiancé of Miss He!"
"Isn't Miss Mu good friends with Miss He, how could this..."
Just then, He Yue rushed over upon hearing the noise. Seeing this scene, she turned pale, her body trembled, nearly fainting, but luckily someone next to her held her up in time.
Her eyes welled up with tears, pointing at Lian Cheng, then at Mu Yan, appearing deeply hurt, "I thought of you as my closest friend! Yet you do this to me..."
Faced with the accusation, Mu Yan panicked, grabbing He Yue's hand, "He Yue, don't misunderstand, I had a minor dispute with Young Master Lian, it isn't what you saw!"