The next morning.
Shen Hua stood before the copper mirror, carefully applying powder to mask the pallor of her face. Her black hair was coiled up, soft and beautiful like jade.
She changed into the newly bought honey-colored embroidered wind coat with a round neckline, paired with a satin butterfly skirt.
Gently graceful, delicate and frail looking.
As soon as she appeared, Dowager Xuan’s sister-in-law, Dowager ng, affectionately grabbed her hand while nobody was around.
"Miss Shen, from the first mont I saw you, I took a great liking to you."
"Since yesterday, many madams have set their hearts upon you, but if you are wise, you should know to choose the best."
"My youngest grandson, he’s not married yet. What a coincidence, right?"
Cui Xuan and Qiao Si were too busy to realize Shen Hua was being courted elsewhere.
Dowager ng didn’t say much, but it was as if she had said everything. Even more subtly than any other madam.
Shen Hua withdrew her hand.
"You jest."
With this, she declined.
Dowager ng found it hard to believe but did not insist further.
Shen Hua found an excuse and left that place of contention.
As soon as she departed, a man in blue robes hurriedly approached: "Grandmother. What did Miss Shen say?"
Dowager ng holding a warr, spoke gently: "The girl is shy, even if she’s interested she couldn’t accept openly. Don’t be impatient, let’s wait for the feast today to pass, then I will ntion it to the Cui family. Let’s see, they ought to give so face."
"A cousin’s status might be a bit low, but if you like her, Grandmother will surely follow your wishes."
anwhile, Shen Hua was naturally unaware of this.
The mansion was adorned with red silk, and as more guests arrived for the banquet, Shen Hua, utterly bored, soon recognized soone familiar.
It was Wei Yingying.
Accompanying her were two other people, one likely her mother, and the other was Wei Zhuzhu.
Shen Hua finally understood why Wei Yingying’s expression looked off.
Wei Yingying obviously noticed her too.
After speaking a few words with the Minister of the Ministry of Industry’s wife and getting permission, she then walked towards Shen Hua.
As she approached, she heard Shen Hua say: "That dress of hers is from the third floor of Yunxiang Pavilion. But yours is last year’s style."
Wei Yingying’s heart was cut like a knife.
She was simply furious!
This ti, the Minister of Industry insisted that her mother bring Wei Zhuzhu along! He specifically instructed to wear their best.
Just to announce to all mansions that the Minister of Industry Mansion still has a legitimate daughter.
If Wei Zhuzhu caught the eye of any madam, it seed likely that marriage talks would start.
"Why does she have all the good things!"
"My Mama seeing so down lately, thought to buy clothes now that we are a bit more financially comfortable, but now they have beco hers! My Mama swallowed her anger for this, and I have to watch my clothes being taken away!"
"Yesterday I felt more and more angry, but all the money has gone to support the Third Prince, even a handkerchief from the third floor of Yunxiang Pavilion I can’t afford."
Shen Hua’s tone was soothing: "That skirt of hers, I have a similar one."
"But I had Yicui use it to wipe the tables."
Wei Yingying: ...which was comforting.
Shen Hua continued soothingly: "If it bothers you, why not just tear it off her?"
Wei Yingying paused.
"That would be rather malicious."
Shen Hua lanted: "Then, the kind-hearted us cannot do such despicable things."
Wei Yingying: "I just can’t stand her smugness!"
Shen Hua slowly: "Seeing you so flustered, I actually find it quite pleasing."
Wei Yingying: ...
Shen Hua looked around: "Where is Lady Yan?"
When asked about this, Wei Yingying also lowered her voice: "I don’t know if she’s coming."
"A lot happened yesterday."
Seeing Shen Hua clueless, she added.
"How could you not know?"
"Duke Wei was scolded by civil and military officials at yesterday’s early court, many complaints were lodged against him."
Shen Hua’s eyes brightened, she suppressed the upward curve of her lips: "Truly unfortunate."
"I also heard that Mr. Wei’s face was so swollen that it was unbearable to look at. Upon waking, he fainted again."
"Also unfortunate."
"At the mont, the Duke Wei Mansion is likely being avoided by everyone, I was thinking, I don’t know if the verbal marriage arrangent with Sister Yan can still go through."
It’s no wonder she thought so.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes it; being associated with the Wei Family in such a state, would result in tarnishing the reputation of being related to the sole bloodline of the honorable General."
Commander Yan values profits, he will probably reconsider carefully.
Shen Hua: "This is truly a blessing in disguise."
"So, Sister Yan probably won’t co."
The girl smiled faintly.
"She will co."
She looked at Wei Yingying.
"Regardless of whether the matter between the Wei and Yan families ends up succeeding or not, she will co."
"Hmm?"
Shen Hua said softly
"Among those present, few are aware of the verbal agreent between the two mansions. If she doesn’t attend, firstly, it would be disrespectful to both Yongchang Marquis Mansion and Duke Wen’s Mansion, and secondly, it would inevitably make people suspect that sothing has happened with the Yan Family. No matter how panicked the Yan Family is internally, they must not show chaos externally."
Wei Yingying thoughtfully said, "That makes sense."
As the two of them were talking, they saw a woman decked out in jewels, wearing so much jewelry that Shen Hua found it cumberso.
The surrounding people sighed continuously, none failing to be amazed.
With a fitting smile, she went towards Cui Xuan, who was greeting guests.
Shen Hua asked, "Who is this?"
Wei Yingying inford: "Duchess Chengbo."
Wei Yingying: "Every ti she makes an appearance, she dazzles everyone. Truly enviable."
Shen Hua blurted out five words: "Truly inviting a thief’s attention."
Just like walking on the street, calling out to thieves: "Co rob , co rob , give so face, I am rich!!!"
She scrutinized her closely.
"Why doesn’t she just make a dress out of silver notes?"
Wait a minute!
Duchess Chengbo?
The Duchess Chengbo whose daughter-in-law had an affair?
Shen Hua straightened her back, eyes sparkling brightly.
"Where are you going?"
"Get closer, too far away, I can’t clearly hear what she’s saying."
Step by step, Shen Hua moved closer, finally reaching behind Cui Xuan.
First, Duchess Chengbo exchanged pleasantries with Xuan E. After saying so nice words, she turned to Cui Xuan. Carrying her status, she said: "Long ti no see, you still look the sa."
As she spoke, she reached up to adjust the hairpin on her head.
"After all as the Madam of Marquis Yangling Mansion, on such a joyous day you should dress more lavishly."
While saying that, she pretentiously took off the thinnest hairpin and was about to put it on Cui Xuan’s head.
"Take a look, plain isn’t it. We are sisters after all; we don’t need those false pretenses. Here, let put this on for you."
This series of actions was truly nauseating.
It was as if she was bestowing charity upon cats and dogs.
Qiao Si’s expression slightly changed.
Cui Xuan unexpectedly turned her head aside, dodging.
Duchess Chengbo sniped: "Are you looking down on ?"
Everyone’s eyes were glued to this scene, everyone was there to watch the excitent.
Just as Cui Xuan’s lips began to move, they heard the girl behind her innocently say: "Madam has misunderstood."
"Everyone knows Duchess Chengbo for being exceptionally generous, truly no falsehood."
Shen Hua pointed with her delicate fingertips at the brightest golden hairpin on her head.
"My cousin actually likes the thickest one."
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