Yuan Siyin’s commotion naturally drew everyone’s attention to her.
Shen Ruolan’s expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of resentment passed through her eyes.
She took two steps forward and proactively curtsied to Yuan Siyin.
“So it’s Sister Yuan. What a coincidence—it’s been quite some time since we last met, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, one year, two months, and three days.”
Yuan Siyin answered with unusual seriousness.
Shen Ruolan was slightly taken aback. “Has it… really been that long? I’m afraid I can’t quite remember clearly.”
“Naturally.”
Naturally… she was making it up.
She simply couldn’t stand Shen Ruolan.
In the original story, Shen Ruolan was equally irritating. She clearly knew the Crown Prince was determined to marry Yuan Siyin, yet she still…
In a flash of inspiration, a plan formed in Yuan Siyin’s mind.
She had a solution.
The sarcasm on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back, and she instead smiled brightly, her sparkling eyes particularly dazzling under the blazing sun.
“Since we’ve met by chance today, why don’t we have lunch together at Immortal Gathering Pavilion? Consider it my treat as your elder sister, and we can relieve some boredom.”
She had mastered the art of boudoir intrigue dramas.
“Miss, you mustn’t!” Shen Ruolan’s maid grew tense and immediately whispered in her ear, “Someone as pure and virtuous as you shouldn’t associate with her. It would only tarnish your reputation!”
Yuan Siyin pouted discontentedly.
Oh, give me a break, girl.
If this continues, your young lady won’t even secure a position as a secondary consort. She’ll have to rely on me.
If things go well, I might even help her become the Crown Princess.
Wouldn’t that be better than sharing a husband with the original hostess as in the book?
“If Sister Ruolan is unwilling, I naturally won’t force you. If it really comes to it… I can always invite Sister Ruomei instead.”
Shen Ruolan, who had been hesitating, immediately looked up and agreed upon hearing Yuan Siyin mention Shen Ruomei. “I would never decline Sister’s kind offer. In that case, why doesn’t Sister share a carriage with me?”
Yuan Siyin glanced back at Taxue, thought about the soft cushions in the carriage, and firmly declined.
She didn’t trust anyone else to lead Taxue.
Mainly because… if this darn creature kicked someone and injured them, she was afraid she couldn’t afford the compensation.
Shen Ruolan shot her maid a meaningful look. Though reluctant, the maid had no choice but to untie the money pouch from her waist and dismiss the surrounding crowd.
When they arrived at the entrance of Immortal Gathering Pavilion, Yuan Siyin soothingly handed Taxue over to the groom specializing in horse care, then leaned against the doorway waiting for Shen Ruolan, who was still giving instructions to her maid not far away.
She’d bet the Crown Prince’s head that Shen Ruolan would send her maid back to the estate to “casually” inform everyone that Yuan Siyin had invited Shen Ruolan to accompany her.
While others might see this as shameful, Shen Ruolan viewed it differently.
As the second daughter of the Shen family, though exceptionally learned, she had one fatal flaw.
She was born of a concubine.
The eldest Shen daughter, Shen Ruomei, was also brilliantly talented and was the legitimate daughter of the principal wife. However, she typically conducted herself with low profile, which allowed Shen Ruolan to gain the title of the capital’s top talented lady.
Thus, while she appeared illustrious in public, within the household she could never hold her head high.
But if she attached herself to Yuan Siyin, things would be different.
First, Yuan Siyin was the legitimate daughter of the Yuan family. There was an unwritten rule in the capital: social circles were strictly divided. Unless introduced by a legitimate noble daughter, those born of concubines could never integrate into the circles of noble ladies.
Moreover, the court’s power dynamics were intricate; while they appeared to have no interaction on the surface, no one knew what went on behind the scenes.
This alone was enough for the Shen family to treat Shen Ruolan with some degree of importance.
Thus, although associating with her seemed disgraceful on the surface, the benefits in reality would outweigh the drawbacks.