Ling Luoqian and the other two gritted their teeth, listening to the surrounding mockery. They were furious, but anger was useless. The Ling family was indeed as weak as mud.
If the Ling family hadn't had past glories, they wouldn't have been ridiculed. However, the Ling family had been the foremost of the five great aristocratic families. Their current state allowed anyone to step on them.
Thus, the families that were once beneath the Ling family now sought to elevate themselves by stepping on the Ling family.
Ling Luoyi understood this clearly and suddenly asked, "Qian'er, Fu'er, Ran'er, who are these young ladies?"
"Eldest Sister, you don't recognize them?" Ling Luoran was a bit bewildered.
"Eldest Sister, the one in red is Yin Yurou, the fifth young lady of the Yin family's direct lineage among the five great aristocratic families. The one in blue is Nie Chunying, the third young lady of the Nie family's direct lineage, a first-rate family. The Nie and Yin families are related by marriage. The one in green is Ye Beiyao, the seventh young lady of the Ye family's direct lineage, a second-rate family..."
Ling Luofu explained to Ling Luoyi one by one.
"Although they are of direct lineage, they are all born of concubines," Ling Luoqian added silently.
Ling Luoyi let out a long "Oh," "So they are concubine-born young ladies of direct lineage. No wonder. I was just wondering why these young ladies' etiquette was so poor, as young ladies from prominent families should have excellent etiquette. Now I understand." kuAiδugg
"You!" Yin Yurou was so angered she couldn't speak.
What angered Yin Yurou the most was her birth. The Yin family was a family that highly valued direct lineage over concubine-born status, and then talent. Therefore, in the Yin family, if you were not born of the main wife, even if you had great talent, you would not be valued. Thus, even though her talent ranked within the top ten among the younger generation of the Yin family, her status was not high. Her direct-born siblings would not even befriend her.
"Hmph, so what if I'm concubine-born? I'm still more noble than you direct-borns," Nie Chunying scolded, pointing at Ling Luoyi's nose.
"Exactly, Yurou, don't be angry. It's not worth getting upset with people like them," Ye Beiyao consoled.
"Is Miss Yin the fifth angry?" Ling Luoyi asked casually.
Yin Yurou looked at Ling Luoyi, her eyes blazing, her breathing deepening, clearly her anger was about to consume her reason.
Ye Beiyao quickly moved closer to Yin Yurou and whispered in her ear, "Yurou, don't forget this is Liuyun Pavilion."
The words "Liuyun Pavilion" made Yin Yurou's anger subside somewhat.
"Miss Nie the third, Miss Ye the seventh, what's wrong with Miss Yin the fifth? She doesn't look well?"
Again, "Miss Yin the fifth." This time, her anger burned through her reason, and Yin Yurou finally couldn't hold back, sending a surge of spiritual energy rapidly towards Ling Luoyi.
"Eldest Sister!" Ling Luoqian reacted swiftly, blocking in front of Ling Luoyi.
Yin Yurou was a Postnatal Three-star cultivator, while Ling Luoqian was only Postnatal One-star. She couldn't block it at all.
Ling Luoyi sensed the gap between them, narrowed her eyes, and brought her fingers together.
Just as the spiritual energy was an inch away from Ling Luoqian, it was dispersed. A middle-aged man walked down from the stairs.
"Miss Yin, this is Liuyun Pavilion. Don't you know the rules of Liuyun Pavilion?" the middle-aged man said with a smile.
"Steward Han, it wasn't me, it was her, she forced me," Yin Yurou said loudly, pointing at Ling Luoyi, her voice filled with fear upon seeing Steward Han.
She certainly knew the rules of Liuyun Pavilion. No one was allowed to cause trouble within Liuyun Pavilion. She had been so enraged today that she had forgotten this.
"What does the eldest young lady of the Ling family say?" Steward Han looked in the direction Yin Yurou was pointing and asked.
"This is Steward Han of Liuyun Pavilion. You can't afford to offend this person," Ling Luoqian said worriedly.
Ling Luoyi nodded gently, looked up to meet Steward Han's eyes, and chuckled, saying neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "Steward Han, the rules of Liuyun Pavilion state that no one is allowed to cause trouble within it. I haven't broken this rule."
"Then what about what just happened?" Steward Han looked into Ling Luoyi's eyes, secretly surprised. No young girl had ever dared to look him directly in the eye. This eldest young lady of the Ling family who had just returned was not simple.
"Doesn't Steward Han know what just happened? I merely said a few words here, and Miss Yin the fifth attacked me. Is it that one cannot even speak in Liuyun Pavilion? I wasn't aware of this rule."
"Liuyun Pavilion does not have such a rule, eldest young lady Ling is overthinking," Steward Han turned to Yin Yurou and said sternly, "Miss Yin, regardless of your reasons, causing trouble in Liuyun Pavilion is not allowed. You have broken the rules."
"Steward Han, I didn't mean to, really." Yin Yurou lost her arrogance instantly and kept apologizing.
"Miss Yin, whether you meant to or not, breaking the rules is not permissible." Steward Han ordered the guards, "Guards, escort Miss Yin out, and she is forbidden from entering Liuyun Pavilion ever again."
"Yes," the guards responded, walked up to Yin Yurou, and said politely, "Please leave, Miss Yin."
"Steward Han! Steward Han, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong..."
"Miss Yin, it would be best if you walked out yourself. Otherwise, if the guards throw you out, you will lose even more face," Steward Han advised with a smile.
Ling Luoyi watched, thinking: Liuyun Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation as the largest chamber of commerce in Yunyuan City, to be able to show such disrespect to the five great aristocratic families. Steward Han is also formidable, able to dismiss young ladies from the five great aristocratic families so readily. However, one wouldn't reach the position of steward in Liuyun Pavilion without some capabilities.
Yin Yurou eventually walked out on her own. Nie Chunying and Ye Beiyao also followed. As Ye Beiyao passed Ling Luoyi, she gave her a fierce warning.
After everyone here had dispersed, Steward Han walked up to Ling Luoyi and asked, "Eldest young lady Ling returned yesterday and came to my Liuyun Pavilion today. Is there something you need?"
"Since Steward Han has spoken directly, I won't beat around the bush," Ling Luoyi said very seriously, "I wish to discuss a business deal with Liuyun Pavilion. I wonder if Steward Han agrees?"
"Discuss business?" Steward Han smiled and said, "What kind of business does eldest young lady Ling wish to discuss with Liuyun Pavilion?"
Ling Luoyi didn't speak, but took out a storage ring and handed it to Steward Han.
As soon as Ling Luoyi took out her storage ring, everyone around exclaimed in surprise.
"A storage ring?!"
"Is it really a storage ring?!"
...
Ling Luoyi looked at the exclamations from the people around, somewhat puzzled.
Ling Luoqian, having recovered, asked, "Where did you get the storage ring?"
Ling Luoyi didn't answer, only asking, "What's wrong?"
"Storage rings are very rare in the Tianwu Kingdom. To this day, there are only two, both in the hands of the Emperor. Everyone else uses storage pouches."
"Can't use it?"
"It can be used."
"Then it's fine." Ling Luoyi was relieved. It would have been troublesome if it couldn't be used.
Seeing that Steward Han had finished inspecting it, Ling Luoyi asked, "Steward Han, how is it?"
Steward Han returned the storage ring to Ling Luoyi and said respectfully, "Eldest young lady Ling, there are too many people here. Let's go upstairs to discuss."
Ling Luoyi looked around. There were indeed too many people, and they were all looking at them. Discussing business was indeed inconvenient, so she nodded, "Steward Han, please."
The few of them went up to the third floor, into a private room.
"Is this the business eldest young lady Ling wants to discuss?" Steward Han asked, sitting in the main seat.
Ling Luoyi, however, shook her head and said, "The business I want to discuss is more than just these."
Steward Han let out an "Oh," looking very surprised, and asked, "More? But these items are already beyond what an ordinary person can produce. So, what kind of business does eldest young lady Ling wish to discuss?"
Picking up the teacup, the tea water entered her mouth. Ling Luoyi frowned slightly. As expected, it was easy to go from frugality to luxury, and difficult to go from luxury to frugality. Such tea was no longer palatable to her.
Ling Luoyi put down the teacup and said, "The business I wish to discuss is rather significant, and perhaps not something Steward Han can decide. Why not let the person on the fifth floor come and talk to me?"