For two consecutive days, Shen Wan had not been able to see her father, leaving her with nothing to say. However, in her previous life, chaos broke out at the border just a few months later. As a general, it was only natural for her father to be busy.
Among the people she most wanted to see, aside from her father, was her eldest sister.
Thinking of her eldest sister’s plight, Shen Wan’s mood darkened.
After breakfast, Shen Wan took Shan Hu to Shou’an Hall. Passing by Mingyue Yuan, she happened to run into Ye Caiwei, who called out from afar, “Cousin…”
Normally, Ye Caiwei wouldn’t wait for her and would go directly to pay respects to Old Madam. Today, however, she actually waited.
As Shen Wan pondered this, Shan Hu whispered, “I heard from the maids in the courtyard that yesterday evening, Third Young Lady went to see Cousin Ye. For some reason, they argued, and Third Young Lady left in a huff…”
Ye Caiwei’s falling out with Shen Wu was part of Shen Wan’s plan, but she hadn’t expected that after the rift, Ye Caiwei would cling to her.
Not only did she cling to Shen Wan, but she even tried to use Shen Wan to compete with Shen Wu. How could Shen Wan allow herself to be used?
Together, they went to Shou’an Hall to pay respects to Old Madam. It was clear that Shen Wu, along with the third and fourth branches, was isolating Ye Caiwei, ignoring her remarks and steering the conversation away whenever she spoke.
After this happened twice, Ye Caiwei gritted her teeth in anger and turned to Shen Wan, saying, “Cousin, let’s go shopping later.”
When shopping with Shen Wan, it was mostly Shen Wan who paid. Madam Yun was wealthy, and the Yun Family was even wealthier. Shen Wan never lacked money and was particularly generous to them.
So, they wouldn’t acknowledge her, Ye Caiwei? Fine, let’s see if they could resist following along when it came to shopping.
Shen Yin and Shen Yao immediately sided with her. “Sure!”
Ye Caiwei deliberately asked Shen Wu, “Aren’t you coming, Third Cousin?”
Shen Wu was so angry she twisted her handkerchief, unwilling to speak, as if doing so would mean losing this round of competition. Shen Yao said, “Third Sister will definitely come with me.”
Shen Wan smiled faintly. “I won’t be joining you. I’m going to Yongqing Bo Mansion today to visit Eldest Sister.”
Ye Caiwei said, “We can go shopping after visiting Eldest Cousin. It won’t be too late.”
What a well-arranged plan.
But Shen Wan was unwilling. “I’ve been embroidering the Bai Shou Tu these past few days, and the double-sided embroidery technique I’ve only just mastered has grown rusty. I plan to ask Eldest Sister to teach me again, so I’m afraid I won’t have time to go shopping.”
Ye Caiwei had no patience for needlework, and neither did Shen Wu or Shen Yao.
Normally, Ye Caiwei would have given up, but now that she was being isolated by Shen Wu, she would rather go with Shen Wan to Yongqing Bo Mansion than stay in the Duke’s Mansion and endure Shen Wu’s bullying.
Shen Wan was deeply annoyed but kept her composure. “Yesterday, when I wanted to go to Huguo Temple, you were too busy practicing dancing to accompany me. Seeing how diligent you are, I even planned to ask Mother to invite the deputy envoy of Nei Jiaofang to the mansion to guide you. If you come out with me today, you’ll waste the entire day.”
Not only had she given Cousin Ye the only bolt of Fuguang Brocade in the Yun Family, but she was also planning to invite the deputy envoy of Nei Jiaofang to the mansion to guide Cousin Ye in her dance practice. Second Young Lady was truly too good to Cousin Ye.
Ye Caiwei was deeply moved. “Thank you, Cousin.”
“It’s only right.”
Shen Wan’s smile deepened.
Didn’t everyone think she should treat Ye Caiwei well?
Then she would show them—show the entire Jingdu—just how well she could treat her.
She would raise Ye Caiwei high, for only those who stand high can fall hard.
She would make everyone in Jingdu know that the legitimate daughter of the second branch of Dingguo Duke’s Mansion was less talented than a mere illegitimate daughter.
When Madam Yun arrived, Shen Wan mentioned the matter to her. Old Madam said, "Since we're already inviting someone, let's also invite someone skilled in playing the qin to instruct Wu'er and the others."
Since it wasn't her money being spent, arranging things was all too easy.
In her past life, when the second wife proposed inviting the deputy director of the Nei Jiaofang for Ye Caiwei, Old Madam had also suggested hiring someone to teach Shen Wu and the others. Her mother had spent the money, yet no one had uttered a single word of gratitude.
Just as Madam Yun was about to agree, Shen Wan spoke first, "It's not easy to invite the deputy director of the Nei Jiaofang to the mansion. Shouldn't Third Sister and the others also improve together? Learning the qin can be arranged separately later, and by then, Cousin can join in as well."
Always putting her cousin first, considering things from her cousin's perspective.
The eldest branch only owed Ye Caiwei, not the second branch anything.
Old Madam said, "That works too."
Madam Yun sent someone with an invitation to the Nei Jiaofang, while Shen Wan took Shan Hu to Yongqing Bo Mansion.
Inside the carriage, Shen Wan lifted the curtain and first saw the stone lions standing guard at the entrance of Yongqing Bo Mansion. Looking up, she caught sight of the gilded plaque bearing the mansion's name. A layer of frost seemed to cover Shen Wan's eyes.
She hoped today would be the last time she entered Yongqing Bo Mansion.
She would do everything she could to quickly rescue her elder sister from this pit of fire and den of wolves.
By the time she stepped out of the carriage, Shen Wan had already concealed all emotion from her face. A maid led the way as she went to see her elder sister.
Following the maid into the room, Shen Wan saw her elder sister Shen Yu through the beaded curtain, wiping away tears and forcing a smile. "Why have you come to Yongqing Bo Mansion, Wan'er?"
Noticing the redness around her eyes, Shen Wan asked, "Have you been crying, Elder Sister?"
"No, I haven't…"
Shen Yu flatly denied it.
Shen Wan turned to Shen Yu's maid, Tubai. "What happened?"
Tubai had long been unable to hold back. As soon as Shen Wan asked, she spilled everything. "Just now, the young master's cousin came and 'accidentally' tore the brocade robe that the young mistress had made for him. Before the young mistress could even say anything, the cousin started acting aggrieved. The young master was convinced that the young mistress had scolded his cousin and reprimanded her several times…"
Tubai felt it was unfair to Shen Yu. The robe she had spent over half a month making hadn't earned a single word of praise from the young master; instead, it had brought her nothing but blame.
Shen Wan's anger flared up as well, but she forced herself to suppress it. They hadn't even valued her elder sister's life, let alone a robe she had made.
Because the Yun Family was so wealthy, anything that could be bought with money was treated as insignificant. Shen Ji's usual clothes were all embroidered stitch by stitch by Madam Yun, which had deeply influenced both Shen Wan and Shen Yu.
Shen Wan said, "Mother makes robes for Father because he treasures them—he'd be heartbroken if even a thread were damaged. Making them for someone who doesn't care is just asking for trouble. In their eyes, a robe made by Elder Sister herself is no different from one made by the mansion's seamstresses. Why waste your energy on it?"
These words struck straight at the heart, making both Shan Hu and Tubai fear they would hurt Shen Yu.
Shen Yu's nose tingled with emotion. "I know…"
Shen Wan only said this much; anything more was unnecessary. "It's not worth being upset over something like this. Elder Sister, why don't you come shopping with me instead?"
Shen Yu didn't want to go, but Shen Wan simply pulled her to her feet.