Ming Ge smiled, "Madam, you flatter me."
"..."
Madam Gong choked on her words. She hadn't even complimented her!
Generally, when young women saw her, they were overflowing with respect, barely daring to breathe. But this girl, grinning from ear to ear, seemed entirely unafraid.
Madam Gong's face darkened, as if a ball of air was trapped in her chest. She pursed her lips and said nothing.
At this moment, Old Master Gong spoke up, "Your surname is Ming?"
Though Ming Ge knew full well that standing here today, her family background had already been investigated top to bottom by the two elders before her. Of course Old Master Gong knew her name. Yet when he opened his mouth to ask, Ming Ge showed no sign of impatience. She responded politely with a slight nod:
"Ming Ge. Ming as in sun and moon, Ge as in ballad."
"A good name." Old Master Gong praised blandly, his emotions impossible to discern.
