Wen Lingyi nearly laughed out loud.
When a person can even deceive themselves, that’s when they’ve truly mastered the art.
But Old Madam believed it.
She had to believe it.
And she even had to add bricks and tiles to Chen Wanrou’s good reputation.
If it weren’t for the nonsensical rumors among the common folk outside about her being a fairy reincarnated, did Chen Wanrou really think she could come to her precious daughter’s room to pick out clothes and jewelry?
Old Madam glanced at Wen Lingyi without a change in expression.
She offered a perfunctory word of encouragement, “You’re also at the age to be married. Make a good impression at tomorrow’s Gongyan.”
Chen Wanrou thought of the heroic young man she saw riding a tall horse that day, and her face flushed red. “Mother, don’t worry. Tomorrow, Rou’er will definitely win over General Wei from Zhenguo Duke’s Mansion!”
“Don’t overstep your bounds. Listen to your sister-in-law in all matters.”
Old Madam knew all too well what kind of person Chen Wanrou was, and her tone carried a warning: “If I find out you acted on your own and did something to damage the Marquisate’s reputation… do you know the consequences?”
Age brings cunning.
Old Madam saw through the rumors outside far more clearly than Chen Wanrou did.
Did this fool really think someone would pave the way for her reputation out of pure kindness?
Old Madam could also guess what her daughter-in-law was trying to do.
In the end, it was beneficial to the Marquisate, so she hadn’t interfered.
It was nothing more than treating Chen Wanrou as an enemy, wanting to trap her in a cage for the rest of her life.
Such childish tricks—she had once thought Wen Lingyi was such a clever woman.
When the snipe and the clam fight, it’s the fisherman who benefits—and in this case, it was Dingyuan Marquisate.
Old Madam sneered, looking down on Wen Lingyi’s petty tactics in her heart, but she still had to give her some face.
Because it would offend Consort Jiang, she wasn’t entirely confident. In the end, it was her gambling addiction acting up, and her mood wasn’t right either.
Chen Wanrou was stunned by the scolding. Just a few days ago, she had convinced her stepmother that as long as she fancied the young general, she would marry into Zhenguo Duke’s Mansion. How could her stepmother’s attitude change so drastically in just a few days?
It was Wen Lingyi!
It must be Wen Lingyi’s doing again.
Chen Wanrou clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms beneath her sleeves as she desperately told herself to stay calm.
As long as she could attend the Gongyan tomorrow, she had plenty of ways to make the young general fall for her.
Although Zhenguo Duke’s Mansion only had two female members left, its influence and status in Jingdu City were far beyond what Ningyuan Marquisate could compare to. If the young general insisted on using his military achievements to exchange for an imperial marriage decree with her, could her stepmother defy the imperial order?
Throughout history, imperial authority has always been supreme. No one could defy an imperial decree.
Not even the powerful Prime Minister Wen.
So Chen Wanrou not only had to marry a good man, but he also had to be her pillar of support.
“Your daughter understands.”
Old Madam gave a few more instructions before reluctantly letting Chen Wanrou pick out the clothes and jewelry originally prepared for her precious daughter.
She didn’t want to watch; it made her uncomfortable.
But no matter how much she missed her daughter, she was already gone, and nothing was more important than the future glory of the Marquisate.
Her daughter-in-law was useless; she had to pave the way for her Chen Wenli!
“Lingyi, accompany Rou’er in her selection.”
Old Madam’s back looked rather desolate.
Wen Lingyi smiled and nodded, watching her leave.
Of course, her confidante Mama Sun was there.
So many beautiful dresses dazzled Chen Wanrou’s eyes, and her attention was completely captured.
She touched one dress for a while, then fondled another.
Not only did Old Madam find it unbearable to watch, even Mama Sun turned her face away, her heart aching for the deceased young mistress.
"Wow! Isn't this the Flowing Rosy Clouds Brocade? I heard it was a tribute from the Western Regions!"
Chen Wanrou knew her stepmother would prepare good things for the dead girl, but she never expected something this fine!
Everyone knew the Flowing Rosy Clouds Brocade was worth ten thousand gold and nearly impossible to obtain—yet the Marquisate actually had a piece stored away!
"I want this!" Chen Wanrou pointed at the Flowing Rosy Clouds Brocade without a second thought.
Even before Wen Lingyi could intervene, Mama Sun immediately pulled a stern face and scolded, "Has Second Young Lady lost her senses? Wearing a red dress to the Gongyan?"
Such an ignorant fool.
Though there were no explicit rules about attire for palace banquets, which noble lady or young miss would ever dress in red or green?
Chen Wanrou turned and glared at Mama Sun with displeasure.
But that glance made her notice Wen Lingyi staring off into the distance, lost in thought, her eyes filled with nostalgia and longing.
Chen Wanrou immediately spotted the lotus-colored Luo Goddess Rippling Wave Skirt.
"So beautiful…"
If the Flowing Rosy Clouds Brocade symbolized wealth and nobility, then this Luo Goddess Rippling Wave Skirt possessed the ethereal beauty of "fluttering like a startled swan, graceful like a swimming dragon"—elegant yet luxurious, something only a celestial fairy would deserve.
"This one! I want this one! The color is fresh and refined, and it's something only a young maiden can wear—perfect for me."
The Luo Goddess Rippling Wave Skirt was too ethereal; no married woman would dare to try it on.
Before her marriage, Wen Lingyi had loved this style the most, but after marrying into the Dingyuan Marquisate, she could no longer wear it.
No wonder she was looking at it with such an expression.
Even if it meant causing trouble for Wen Lingyi, she had to have this dress!
Sure enough, as soon as Chen Wanrou finished speaking, she saw Wen Lingyi frown and look at her. "It's not quite suitable. Do you know—"
"Sister-in-law doesn't get to decide." Chen Wanrou took it down herself and turned to the elderly woman nearby. "Please, Mama Sun, take me to choose some jewelry."
Mama Sun stared at the Luo Goddess Rippling Wave Skirt, momentarily stunned, and instinctively glanced toward the young madam.
Seeing her also looking grave, she finally spoke, "Second Young Lady, please wait a moment. This old servant will go ask the Old Madam."
After Mama Sun left, Chen Wanrou stopped damaging the other dresses and instead repeatedly waved the Luo Goddess Rippling Wave Skirt in front of Wen Lingyi. "Zhaozhao, isn't it beautiful? I remember you used to—"
Before she could finish, she was frightened by Wen Lingyi's fierce glare.
Chen Wanrou pouted. "Fine, I won't call you that. But when I marry the young General from Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, don't come begging to me."
Slap—
Without warning, Wen Lingyi slapped Chen Wanrou.
Chen Wanrou was stunned. "Are you crazy? Why did you hit me?"
"You don't deserve it."
Wen Lingyi looked at her with disgust. "Tomorrow, don't follow me."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Furious, Chen Wanrou grabbed an inkstone and threw it at her, but just before it could hit Wen Lingyi, Qingwu caught it barehanded.
"Miss Chen, I advise you not to touch anything in this room."
"Let me kindly remind you: if you want to ask for a favor, show the proper attitude. Don't act so presumptuously in front of my young lady again."
Chen Wanrou was both angry and frightened. When Qingwu tossed the inkstone back, she almost scrambled over to catch it with her body.
Fortunately, Hua'er was quick-witted, and the inkstone didn't shatter.
Chen Wanrou was convinced Wen Lingyi was just jealous. She interpreted "You don't deserve it" as an insult—that she wasn't worthy of wearing the Luo Goddess Rippling Wave Skirt.
Well, she would wear it! She absolutely would! And she'd wear it to the Imperial Palace!
Unable to wait for Mama Sun to return, Chen Wanrou hurried off to find the Old Madam.
Only to be scolded again.
No decent jewelry was selected; after trying on a whole set, she still had to use the ones Wen Lingyi had discarded. Among them, a set of light purple hair ornaments was particularly suitable.
Not only was nothing chosen, but Old Madam didn’t even stand up for her—instead, she was told to take the initiative and go to Shanchun Courtyard to beg Wen Lingyi for forgiveness. It was utterly unreasonable!
Just wait—these people would pay the price sooner or later…
Chen Wanrou’s mind was indeed too shallow. If she had thought a little more, she would have realized how coincidental everything that happened today was.
When Wen Lingyi gave her that set of light purple hair ornaments, she was only focused on how luxurious and beautiful they were—she didn’t listen to a word Wen Lingyi said at all…