CH 10
Successfully stabbed Yang Shi’s heart, Shen Xin Yan took a small sip from the teacup beside her with a smile. She saw the eldest princess walking out from behind the standing screen with a smile on her face, supported by a young girl in purple.
When she saw the girl, she recognized that she was Fang Bi Rong, the younger sister of Fang Shi and the youngest daughter of Marquis Pingliang. Looking at the attitude of the eldest princess, as expected, she treated Fang Bi Rong with love and affection as she did in her past life.
Speaking of which, although Fang Bi Rong is a daughter of Marquis, her life is not very good. She is ten years apart from her eldest sister, Fang Shi. It’s reasonable to think that she should have grown up lovingly. Who would have thought that the Marquis of Pingliang offended the current sage more than ten years ago? He was exiled by the current sage as a local official. A good Marquis was exiled from the capital in such a sullen manner. So the Marquis of Pingliang became a joke in the capital.
This Fang Bi Rong also left the capital with her parents when she was still a baby. It was only now that she was 16 years old. So she was sent back to the capital by the couple to entrust her to their eldest daughter, Fang Shi, just to take advantage of the influence of the Ying Guo Gong Mansion to find a good marriage.
Compared with the younger sister, Fang Shi is better. When the Marquis of Pingliang was defeated, she had already married into the Ying Guo Gong Mansion, and her position in the mansion was also stable. The Duchess, the eldest princess, is a kind person. In addition, she and Fang Shi’s mother are very close sisters. She does not neglect her because of her family’s affairs but is more compassionate and trusting.
The three daughters-in-law saluted and greeted the eldest princess one by one. Yang Shi’s expression could not be seen at all. With a smile on her face, she stepped forward and took Fang Bi Rong’s hand: “What a beautiful girl! I have long heard that there is a girl who looks like a fairy arriving in the mansion but I have never seen it before. Now when I look at you girl, such a temperament! You really deserve to be sisters with sister-in-law. No wonder my mother loves you so much.”
Shen Xin Yan wanted to laugh. Yang Shi’s mouth really makes people sigh. Every sentence has a deep meaning. If she didn’t know about her, she would have been fooled by her sincere expression.
Listen, ‘there’s a fairy-like girl in the house, but she, as the master, ‘has never seen her before’, doesn’t this imply that this girl from the Fang family doesn’t understand etiquette?
There is also the phrase ‘Such a temperament! You really deserve to be sisters with sister-in-law ‘, the sarcasm implied in these words, it is estimated that anyone who knows her attitude towards Fang Shi can hear it.
But unfortunately, every word of these words sounds like a compliment. People can’t pick out the slightest mistake.
Fang Shi naturally heard what she meant. She was slightly annoyed but it was not easy to say anything. She can only pretend that she didn’t know.
The eldest princess raised her eyes slightly and glanced at Yang Shi’s side, looking at her kind and warm smiling face, she suddenly felt a little headache for some reason.
Fang Bi Rong was not a fool. She could naturally feel that Yang Shi was not as enthusiastic as she had shown. She couldn’t help feeling a little aggrieved. Just thinking of her status as someone under the fence, she swallowed the grievance and bowed to Shen Xin Yan and Yang Shi under Fang Shi’s guidance.
Shen Xin Yan took off the jasper bracelet on her wrist as a gift, while Yang Shi plucked a gold hairpin from her hair bun and gave it to her. Both of which were quite normal, neither too warm nor disrespectful.
But for Fang Bi Rong, these greeting gifts were quite thin. Especially, when compared to the pearl and jade jewellery that the eldest princess and Fang Shi gave her not long ago.
“Thank you, ma’am!” Although she was not very happy, she was born the daughter of the Marquis family, so she thanked the two of them decently.
“I’ll let you see those mud monkeys tomorrow.” The eldest princess smiled and patted the back of Fang Bi Rong’s hand lovingly.
“My aunt is too modest. I heard my mother mention that the eldest grandson of Yin Guo Gong Mansion is the most intelligent and outstanding. He is the most similar to the Duke. I never thought that I would be able to see it today.” Fang Bi Rong’s voice was soft and gentle, and it was easy to make people feel good.
Hearing her mention to the most outstanding grandson, the eldest princess laughed: “Brother Lin is a little big man and he likes to pretend to be an adult. Among the grandsons, he is indeed a little more reassuring.”
Fang Bi Rong accompanied her smile, but with a hint of unnoticeable worry in his eyes. She subconsciously glanced at her sister, whose smile was momentarily stiff.
It seems that, as her mother said, brother Lin’s status in the minds of the grandfather and the eldest princess is higher than that of her nephew, brother Qi.
“Mother can’t be partial! Brother Lin is a sensible child, but Brother Zhao and Brother Yue firmly remember to be filial to our grandmother. Yesterday, Brother Yue deliberately left his favourite hibiscus cake, saying: It’s for my grandmother to eat!” Yang Shi said with a smile.
Brother Zhao and Brother Yue are her two sons.
“They’re all sensible children. They’re all sensible children! Only you can’t let Brother Yue eat too much sweet. Be careful and don’t have a toothache like last time.” The eldest princess smiled brighter and brighter, thinking of Brother Yue. Once because of the toothache, he couldn’t eat or sleep, so I told her worriedly.
“Don’t worry, mother. Sweets are all locked up! They are only allowed to eat two pieces a day. Even if they want more, there will be no more.” Yang Shi is a habitual climber. She told a lot of interesting stories about the children. It became more and more amusing. The eldest princess is also happy.
Shen Xin Yan was simply amazed. Look at people, what about the concubine daughter-in-law? She was still able to coax her mother-in-law into a happy mood, which was many times better than her!
The eldest princess and Yang Shi were amused. They chatted with Fang Shi and Shen Xin Yan for a while, and then said to Shen Xin Yan: “Your sister Fang has not returned to the capital for many years. She is estranged from relatives in the capital. Just in time, the day after tomorrow, for the Hundred Flowers Banquet at Kang Jun Wang Fu, you two will take her there together, so that the little girl can open her eyes.”
The two sisters were naturally referring to Shen Xin Yan and Yang Shi. Although Fang Shi was the eldest daughter-in-law. As for banquets, she is not suitable for such occasions.
Shen Xin Yan was a little surprised. She was the only one who took Fang Bi Rrong with her in her last life. She didn’t expect that she would also take the Yang Shi in this life. It’s just that for her having one more person and one less person doesn’t make any difference. So she nodded and said, “As my mother said, the daughter-in-law will take her there.”
Yang Shi’s eyes rolled a few times. She understood the real meaning of the princess’ move.
“Since that’s the case, the good things that my sister-in-law put in the box have to be brought out. Sister Fang will be dressed up to go to the banquet together.”
“Although the things of the sister-in-law are good, they may not be suitable for this young girl. It is better to invite Linglong Pavilion. The shopkeeper of the pavilion will bring some latest jewellery. Let Sister Fang choose some of her favourites. Wouldn’t it be better?” Shen Xin Yan suggested with a smile.
“Yes, yes, the second sister-in-law thinks it all over. Let the shopkeeper of Nishang Xuan also come and let Sister Fang choose some clothes.” Yang Shi was happy. She hurriedly followed along.
In name, it is to choose clothes and jewellery for Fang Bi Rong, but all fools know that it is impossible just to buy for her alone. Basically, everyone who sees it has a share.
Yang Shi is naturally not an idiot. Shen Xin Yan has made such a good start, and she will not be far behind. So she asked the eldest princess to settle the matter.
Fang Shi’s mouth twitched invisibly, knowing that she was going to bleed heavily. Even if this expense is paid from the public, isn’t the public’s money also her money?
She glanced at Shen Xin Yan who had a gentle smile on her face. Somehow she felt that the roots of her teeth were a little itchy.
This Shen Shi didn’t know what medicine she took wrong recently. She felt she was doing things on purpose. So aggrieved!
Shen Xin Yan received her gaze. She looked back and gave her a soft and kind smile, which made her almost unable to lift her breath.
“It’s better to strike while the iron is hot. In that case, let someone go to Linglong Pavilion and Nishang Xuan respectively and tell the shopkeepers, asking them to bring the best products from their store as soon as possible. It’s good to buy it early.” Shen Xin Yan added coldly.
“Yes, yes, the second sister-in-law reminded in time. Eldest sister-in-law, let Mei Ying and Lan Ying beside me handle this matter so that these two girls will not be lazy all day!” Yang Shi said.
“It’s okay..” Fang Shi was about to decline, but Yang Shi didn’t wait for her to speak and raised her voice to tell Mei Ying and Lan Ying to quickly ask the two shopkeepers.
Seeing Mei Ying and Lan Ying running away without a trace, Fang Shi wanted to vomit so much that she almost broke the veil. She said without a smile, “I will trouble the third sibling like this!”
“No trouble. No trouble! They’re all a family!” Yang Shi got a bargain. Her smile was so bright that she almost blinded Fang Shi.
Shen Xin Yan hurriedly pretended to drink tea to hide the smile that was about to appear on the corner of her mouth.
Wei Shi is really a ‘no profits, no early rise’ person!
The eldest princess smiled and looked at the three daughters-in-law, who came and went, and did not make a sound. In her opinion, it is worthwhile to occasionally buy some jewellery and clothes for the female family members of the mansion. How could she know that Fang Shi had long regarded everything in the public as their eldest room’s property? Asking her to spend such a large sum of money was no less than cutting her flesh.
It would be fine if it was specially made for her sister. She also loves this young sister who is ten years younger than her. But for the other two rooms..
She took a deep breath and tried her best to suppress the unhappiness in her heart, but she was unhappy in the end. After talking with the eldest princess for a while, she got up and left.
Shen Xin Yan stayed for a while.
“Madam, do you really want to take that girl to the Kang Jun Wang Fu?” Back in the house, Chun Liu asked in confusion while changing her clothes.
“Naturally it’s true. I’ve already promised my mother. Is it possible that there’s still a fake?” Shen Xin Yan leaned on the couch and said very comfortably.
Chun Liu thought about it too.
“Madam, the eldest son is here.” Xia He’s happy voice sounded outside.
Shen Xin Yan hurriedly sat up straight. After a while, she saw Wei Cheng Lin walk in with more and more steady steps.
“How many people did my mother drive out of my father’s courtyard recently?” Wei Cheng Lin asked directly after the salute.
Shen Xin Yan was surprised, but she didn’t hide it from him: “It’s true. Is it possible that those who don’t have long eyes are still making trouble with you?”