Rong Feifei grew even angrier:
"You dare extort money from people so openly?"
Song Yaoyao said disdainfully:
"If you dare hit me, I dare extort you!
If I don't bleed you dry, my name isn't Song Yaoyao!
Go ahead and try me if you don't believe it!"
Over the past few days, word had spread throughout the capital that Song Yaoyao had been appointed a Court Recorder of the Subordinate Sixth Rank. Naturally, Rong Feifei knew as well.
In this ancient world with its rigid class distinctions, a commoner who dared beat an imperial official could be sentenced to death by a thousand cuts!
Rong Feifei dared not gamble with her life!
Unable to win the argument or hit Song Yaoyao, Rong Feifei felt utterly humiliated:
"You sharp-tongued little brat! Keep this up, and you'll never find a husband!"
Song Yaoyao gave a derisive snort:
"What the hell does whether I find a husband have to do with you?
You harp on about marriage day in and day out. Are you that desperate to get married?"
"How am I desperate to get married?"
"If you aren't, then shut your mouth!
A young lady like you talks about nothing but marriage. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were burning with longing for a man!"
"You damned brat!"
"How am I damned? I'm alive and kicking. Go on, choke on your anger!"
"You...
I don't want this hairpin anymore."
Rong Feifei slammed the hairpin she had snatched from Song Qingling onto the counter, and it snapped on impact.
At the sight, Song Yaoyao could not stop smiling:
"Oh my, the hairpin broke! Your wish has finally come true. Now it really belongs to you!"
Song Yaoyao looked at the shopkeeper beside her:
"Madam, didn't you just say this hairpin cost three thousand taels?
Make this crazy woman pay up!
If she won't pay, take her before the magistrate!"
Rong Feifei pointed at Song Yaoyao:
"How is this hairpin worth three thousand taels?"
Song Yaoyao said with a smile:
"It wasn't before, but now that it's broken, that's what it costs!"
The shopkeeper said with a smile:
"Why wouldn't this hairpin be worth three thousand taels? That's precisely its price.
Hurry up and pay."
Anyone who could run such a large jewelry shop in the capital surely had powerful backing. She had no reason to fear the concubine-born daughter of a fourth-rank official.
The shopkeeper also despised Rong Feifei's arrogant, domineering behavior and the way she had snatched the hairpin, so she deliberately played along with Song Yaoyao.
This jewelry shop belonged to the Second Prince. There was no fear that Rong Feifei would refuse to pay.
"I... I didn't bring that much silver."
"That's easily handled. I'll send someone back to your residence with you to collect it."
Left with no choice, Rong Feifei had to take them home to fetch the silver.
After returning home, she dared not tell her father or his principal wife and went straight to her own mother instead.
Although her mother was angry at her daughter's stupidity, if her daughter could marry the Third Prince, wouldn't better days still lie ahead for her?
She could not let her daughter lose heart now!
With that thought, she took out her private savings and gave them to Rong Feifei!
Inwardly, Rong Feifei kept cursing Song Yaoyao and Song Qingling. She was already planning how, after sleeping with the Third Prince in the next couple of days, she would enter his household as soon as possible and then take revenge on the two sisters.
What Rong Feifei did not know was that her good days were about to come to an end!
Back in the jewelry shop, after the shopkeeper sent people to escort Rong Feifei to the Rong Residence to collect the money, Song Yaoyao turned around and finally noticed how many more people had appeared in the shop.
Song Yaoyao said to Guagua:
[Guagua, why are there so many more people in this jewelry shop?]
[Host, they probably gathered when Rong Feifei was bullying your eldest sister!]
*[Oh, so that's why!*
*There really is never a shortage of spectators eager to munch on gossip and watch a show!]*
Song Yaoyao never suspected that all these people had come for her!
[Exactly, Host. In ancient times, people couldn't scroll through their phones or go online, so they were bored stiff. Munching on gossip and watching a show helped pass the time.]
[You're right, Guagua.]
Just then, Song Qingling said to Song Yaoyao:
"Little sister, are you hungry? How about I take you to a restaurant?"
"Yes, yes!"
She had only eaten a little after returning from court, and by now she was long since hungry.
The sisters finally managed to get out of the jewelry shop and headed toward the capital's largest restaurant, Fortune House.
What Song Yaoyao did not know was that, after hearing she was going to a restaurant, the others had left the jewelry shop one after another once she departed, following the sisters from a distance.
An endless stream of people arrived at Fortune House!
Song Yaoyao raised her head to look at the building before her. Its carved beams and painted pillars were exquisitely beautiful.
Song Yaoyao could not help asking Guagua:
[Guagua, this restaurant really is magnificent!]
[Of course! It's the largest restaurant in the capital, and its owner behind the scenes is the reigning emperor.]
[Guagua, does that mean it's the emperor's private property?]
Guagua replied:
*[Yes! All the profits from this restaurant go into the emperor's private treasury.*
*The restaurant has four floors. The first generally serves ordinary commoners, the second serves wealthy merchants, and the third and fourth serve officials and their families.]*
Song Yaoyao could not help remarking:
[Mm, those divisions are pretty clear-cut.]
As they spoke, Song Qingling had already led Song Yaoyao into the restaurant.
Seeing them arrive, a waiter came forward:
"Young ladies, did you make a reservation?"
"No."
"Unfortunately, young ladies, the restaurant is full right now. Would you like to wait?"
Some people ate so slowly that a meal could take an hour or two. That was too long to wait.
Song Yaoyao was about to pull her eldest sister away. They could just as easily eat somewhere else.
Just then, Song Qingling and Song Yaoyao spotted Song Qingyu coming through the entrance. Song Qingling called out happily:
"Eldest brother!"
Song Qingyu also spotted his two younger sisters and walked over:
"Qingling, Yaoyao, what are you doing here?"
Song Qingling told him the truth:
"Eldest brother, I wanted to bring our little sister here for a meal, but the waiter said they were full and asked us to wait."
"I see.
I arranged to eat here with two classmates today, and we booked a private room in advance. If you don't mind, come join us."
Song Qingling glanced at her younger sister. Only after Song Yaoyao nodded did she ask:
"Eldest brother, would that disrupt your gathering?"
The two young men who had come with Song Qingyu quickly said:
"Not at all."
Social customs in the Heavenly Phoenix Kingdom were open, and it was perfectly normal for men and women to arrange spring outings, lake excursions, or meals together.
Just as now, no one would say anything about Song Qingling and Song Yaoyao joining their eldest brother and two other men for a meal!
The waiter led them to a private room on the third floor.
Song Yaoyao looked this way and that, every bit like Granny Liu Visits the Grand View Garden!
Once they had all sat down, they began looking at the menu.
Song Yaoyao waved a hand.
"Eldest brother, you all go ahead and order. Anything is fine with me."
Song Qingyu knew his younger sister loved meat. As long as it was a meat dish, she would like it, so he ordered several.
Only after ordering did Song Qingyu introduce them to one another:
"These are my two classmates. The one in white is Xiao Minglang, the legitimate grandson of the current Grand Preceptor.
The one in the blue-green robe is Gao Jiayou, the legitimate son of the military governor."