In the Duke Huan Mansion, a pavilion stood surrounded by artificial mountains.
Beside it, a babbling brook flowed past, lending the Liu Jiao Pavilion an even more tranquil ambiance amid its ancient elegance.
Bai Zhi’er was led by a maid to the pavilion, where Song Qingying and Song Qingrui, the two sisters, were sitting.
Beside them stood a woman who looked like a housekeeper.
Bai Zhi’er guessed that the woman was the Shopkeeper of Jinxiu Pavilion.
Song Qingying, two years older than Song Qingrui, seed gentler in temperant.
When she spoke, her voice was soft and gentle.
"Miss Jing is here, please have a seat." Song Qingying imdiately stood up, smiling amiably and inviting her.
Bai Zhi’er glanced at the seat she vacated.
The young girl smiled brightly, her eyes lively and expressive.
"I’ll sit across from you instead."
Song Qingrui smiled, a look of mockery flashing in her eyes: "Sister, why are you giving her your seat? Miss Jing is very well-mannered, she would never sit in your place."
She pulled Song Qingying back to her seat.
Song Qingrui gave a signal, and a few maids from Jinxiu Pavilion brought forward so fabrics.
"Miss Jing has co from afar, and as hosts, we don’t have much to offer."
"I noticed that you usually wear rather plain clothes, so I specially wanted to give you so fabric, so that at Ming Yang Heir’s birthday banquet, you won’t embarrass yourself with what you wear."
Song Qingrui giggled: "You choose first, which one do you like?"
Bai Zhi’er glanced down.
She didn’t like any of them.
These silk fabrics, either she found too coarse and not good enough, or she thought the colors too garish.
In Great Chu, her Fourth Brother, Bai Daoyan, would gather precious silks from all over the world to make clothes for her.
Before she turned ten, the clothes she wore were cloud robes brought down from the Heavenly Court.
Those were woven by Fairies among the clouds.
These Jinxiu in front of her, in Bai Zhi’er’s eyes, were rely a pile of fabric.
If made into clothes, with her delicate skin, they would surely be uncomfortable to wear.
So after a glance, Bai Zhi’er pushed them back.
"I don’t like any of them, you can choose first."
The Song sisters were astonished.
Song Qingying marveled: "Could it be that Miss Jing is so well-traveled and experienced? These fabrics are even worn by the Ladies in the Palace."
"In the marketplace, they cost hundreds of gold to buy them all, how could you look down on them?"
Song Qingrui laughed mockingly: "Not looking down, perhaps you don’t know the quality?"
Bai Zhi’er’s tone was calm, her dark, glistening eyes watching them.
"How could such fabrics be considered good?"
She pulled out a piece of the brown embroidered fabric: "This one, not to ntion it’s rough and feels coarse, the color is so dull, it’s more suited for Madam Wei."
At these words, Song Qingrui and the housekeeper beside her looked displeased.
Bai Zhi’er picked up a piece of Shu Embroidery.
"Though it is Shu Embroidery, this place has line marks, the color appears sowhat dull, likely a last year’s inferior product."
"I won’t say much more, if Miss Song wants to wear it to Heir Ming Yang’s birthday banquet, you certainly can, but as for whether it looks good, I dare not comnd."
Song Qingrui frowned: "All you do is talk big, these materials are worn by nobles, where do you find so many faults in them, too picky."
The housekeeper also seed a bit displeased.
Their Jinxiu Pavilion was known throughout Qin Kingdom for its fine materials, although a bit expensive, they were favored by officials and nobles.
"Miss seems to have so knowledge of fabrics, we wonder what kind of silk you usually wear?" the housekeeper chuckled, asking.
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