Shen Wan wanted to approach the Heir of Zhaoping Bo to speak a few words, but as soon as she took a step forward, he rode away on his horse.
With people coming and going on the bustling street, it wasn’t an appropriate place for conversation anyway. She recalled that in her previous life, the Heir of Zhaoping Bo had also attended the Mudan Yan at Shunyang Zhang Gongzhu Fu. Since the event was only a few days away, it wouldn’t be too late to speak with him then.
Upon returning to Dingguo Duke’s Mansion, Shen Wan learned that the Deputy Envoy from Nei Jiaofang had been invited to the mansion. Given Shen Ji’s deep trust with the Emperor and Madam Yun’s generous offerings, Nei Jiaofang would not refuse the favor.
Shen Wan went to Qingyi Yuan, where the Deputy Envoy was instructing Ye Caiwei, Shen Wu, and Shen Yin, pointing out their shortcomings. The group was learning with great earnestness.
Ye Caiwei was already skilled in dancing, and with guidance from a renowned teacher, she had made remarkable progress after just three days of instruction in her previous life. In contrast, Shen Wu and the others, who were learning to play the qin, showed little improvement.
After watching for a while, Shen Wan returned to her own courtyard.
When Shen Wan fell into the water as a child, Shen Wu and the others were beginning their studies, while she was taking medicine.
When Shen Wu and the others learned to play the qin and dance, she was still taking medicine.
It could be said that before the age of ten, she was practically a medicine jar. Her parents’ greatest hope for her was simply that she would grow up safely. She had once wished to learn music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song like Shen Wu and the others, but her physical strength was insufficient. Her father, seeing her disappointment, held her in his arms and comforted her, saying, “My daughter, Shen Ji’s child, doesn’t need to learn those embellishments. When you’re a little older, I’ll teach you to ride a horse.”
It was common knowledge among all the officials at court that Dingguo Duke Shen Ji had a sickly youngest daughter. Thus, in her previous life, when she was rescued by Xiao Yun, her father declined the Emperor’s marriage proposal on the grounds that her childhood fall into the water had damaged her constitution, making it unlikely she could bear children. The Emperor harbored no suspicion, as Dingguo Duke’s Mansion frequently summoned imperial physicians for her, something the Emperor was well aware of.
Her father would rather support her for a lifetime than allow her to marry into the imperial family. If, in the future, she were to meet someone who didn’t care whether she could bear children, naturally, they wouldn’t mind that she had been rescued by Xiao Yun either.
However, no one could have anticipated that she would be poisoned and become pregnant after just one encounter. Not only did this leave her father without grounds to refuse the marriage, but it also nearly resulted in the charge of deceiving the Emperor.
In her previous life, the Deputy Envoy from Nei Jiaofang taught Ye Caiwei alone, taking only three days. This time, with Shen Wu and Shen Yin added to the lessons, it took two extra days.
When Deputy Envoy Li departed, he lavished praise on Ye Caiwei, Shen Wu, and the others, extolling them as if they were unparalleled in heaven and on earth. Old Madam was greatly pleased, and Deputy Envoy Li, having received generous rewards, returned happily to Nei Jiaofang.
On the same day, Shunyang Zhang Gongzhu Fu sent two invitations to the Mudan Yan.
One was for Shen Wan and Shen Wu, and the other was for Changle Xianzhu, that is, Ye Caiwei.
Two years earlier, when Shen Ji achieved a great merit, the Emperor intended to confer the title of County Princess upon Shen Wan. Overjoyed by the good news, Shen Wan saw it as an honor bestowed by her father. However, just as she was celebrating, Ye Caiwei, with reddened eyes, remarked, “It must be wonderful to have a father…”
Shen Wan still remembered the lively main hall falling into a pin-drop silence at Ye Caiwei’s words.
Everyone looked at her father, who seemed to sit on pins and needles. Later, he coaxed Shen Wan into yielding the title of County Princess to Ye Caiwei, promising to request another County Princess title for her from the Emperor after he achieved further merits.
Compared to the title of County Princess, Shen Wan naturally cared more about her father’s well-being, so she yielded it to Ye Caiwei. The Emperor, moved by General Ye’s sacrifice in saving Shen Ji’s life, had no reason to refuse Shen Ji’s request to bestow the honor upon Ye Caiwei.
Thus, Ye Caiwei became the County Princess of Changle. Though it was merely an honorary title without actual fiefdom or stipend, it was enough to make all the noble young ladies in Jingdu envious.
From that day on, Ye Caiwei began receiving separate invitations to every banquet, large or small, hosted by the aristocratic families of Jingdu.
Within six days, the embroidery workshop had finished making Ye Caiwei’s gown. It shimmered and dazzled, even more splendid than in her previous life. After all, in her past life, each person received one gown, and the workshop had rushed day and night to complete them, unable to achieve the perfection of this time.
After trying on the gown, Ye Caiwei eagerly anticipated the Mudan Yan. Shen Wu had prepared her own dress for the banquet well in advance and had been extremely pleased with it, but now, compared to Ye Caiwei’s, the one made for her by the embroidery workshop seemed far too plain.
Unwilling to be overshadowed by Ye Caiwei, Shen Wu went crying to the Second Madam. The Second Madam had no choice but to take Shen Wu out of the mansion to select a set of luxurious hair ornaments, which finally lifted Shen Wu’s spirits.
On this day, after breakfast, Shen Wan went to Shou’an Hall to pay her respects to the Old Madam. Shen Wu and Shen Yin had arrived early, but Ye Caiwei was nowhere to be seen.
“Even Wan’er has come to pay her respects to the Old Madam. Why hasn’t Caiwei arrived? Is she feeling unwell?”
Madam Yun grew worried and wanted to check on Ye Caiwei.
Shen Wan stopped her, saying, “Mother, don’t worry. If Cousin were unwell, her maid would surely have informed you. I’ll go see her in a moment.”
Though her parents doted on her, the title of County Princess had still been given to Ye Caiwei. Ye Caiwei’s status in the Duke’s mansion was now no less than her own, and no servant would dare neglect her. Even a single cough would likely be reported to Madam Yun.
Madam Yun replied, “Very well. You and your cousin are close in age and can talk easily.”
Shen Wan knew exactly what Ye Caiwei was up to. Such tricks were all too familiar to her.
Shen Wan went to Qingyi Yuan. As she approached the beaded curtain, she saw Ye Caiwei sitting before the dressing table, selecting jewelry with a somewhat agitated expression. Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had been wronged.
Shen Wan walked over and asked, “What’s wrong, Cousin? Are you feeling unwell?”
Ye Caiwei looked at Shen Wan, holding a golden hairpin in her hand, her expression pitiful. “Cousin, you gave me the Fuguang Brocade and arranged for Deputy Envoy Li from the Nei Jiaofang to teach me dancing, helping me shine at the Mudan Yan of Shunyang Zhang Gongzhu Fu. But I’ve searched through all my jewelry, and none of it matches that gown. If it’s not substantial enough, it will look top-heavy…”
In short, she wanted jewelry.
Whatever Shen Wu had, she wanted too.
Shen Wu had the Second Madam to buy for her, so she wanted Madam Yun to foot the bill. Entering the mansion under the guise of Ye Caiwei’s identity, she truly acted as if her aunt and uncle owed her something, making demands as a matter of course.
Since they had even given her the title of County Princess, they wouldn’t begrudge her a set of jewelry.
In any case, everything would be taken back in the future, so it didn’t matter whether it was a little more or a little less.
In her previous life, not only had Ye Caiwei received jewelry, but Shen Wu and Shen Yin had also gotten their share. Ye Caiwei had used her aunt’s money to win over Shen Wu and the others. In this life, Ye Caiwei only asked for herself—a result of Shen Wan’s efforts to drive a wedge between them.
Before sending Ye Caiwei back to the Second Branch, any request she made would be fulfilled as long as her aunt and uncle could manage it.
Shen Wan decided to indulge her.
Shen Wan smiled and said, “If there’s nothing suitable in your jewelry box, there’s sure to be something in the shops outside the mansion. I’ll accompany you to buy some.”
Ye Caiwei lowered her head. “I… I don’t have enough money…”
“You won’t need to spend a penny. I’ll give it to you.”
Ye Caiwei immediately beamed with joy. “Thank you, Cousin.”