Following her father's arrangements, Sun Qingxue had come specifically to invite Ren Ye and his aunt to a banquet at her home tomorrow. But she feared Aunt Tian Wei would avoid anyone from the Sun Family, which was why she had come so late.
Inside the carriage, her personal maid Shan'er bristled at her young mistress's words and offered some "kind" advice. "Miss, the slum these wild dogs live in is poor and shabby, and the roads are muddy, narrow, and difficult to walk. I'll have the coachman drive inside. You can get out when we reach the Huang Family's door, so you won't dirty your embroidered shoes."
"Since we're coming to invite them, we ought to show sincerity. Driving a carriage right up to their door to flaunt our status would be rather discourteous." Sun Qingxue frowned and waved a hand. "It's not far now. Let's walk. Just have the coachman wait beside the long street."
"Honestly, of those two, the Huang Family Aunt and Nephew, one's a useless cripple and the other's a fire-tending servant who was thrown out. I simply don't understand why the master insists on inviting them to our Sun Family's banquet! And to have you invite them personally—that's giving them far too much face." Shan'er was around twenty-six or twenty-seven. Although her features were delicate, she had a mean-looking face, and her words were full of indignation on her mistress's behalf. "Most importantly, they won't even accept the honor. One invitation wasn't enough; they had to make you come yourself. They really don't know what's good for them."
As she spoke, Shan'er lifted the curtain and jumped down first, raising an arm to help her mistress. "Take your time. Watch your step. It's pitch-black here. There might even be filthy rats."
"Don't talk like