Shen Wan wanted to go over and say a few words to the heir of Marquis Zhaoping Manor, but the moment she took a step forward, he had already ridden away on his horse.
The streets were crowded with people coming and going anyway, not a suitable place to talk. She remembered that in her previous life, the Peony Banquet at Princess Shunyang’s residence would also be held soon, and the heir of Marquis Zhaoping Manor would attend as well. There were only a few days left, it would not be too late to speak then.
When she returned to Duke Dingguo Manor, Shen Wan learned that the Deputy Director of the Imperial Music Bureau had already been invited into the residence. Shen Ji enjoyed the Emperor’s trust, and Madam Yun was generous with her patronage, so the Imperial Music Bureau would not refuse face.
Shen Wan went to Qingyi Courtyard, where the deputy director was instructing Ye Caiwei, Shen Wu, Shen Yin, and the others, pointing out their shortcomings. All of them were learning very seriously.
Ye Caiwei’s dancing was already quite good, and with a renowned teacher’s guidance, she had improved dramatically in just three days in her previous life. On the other hand, Shen Wu and the others studying the qin did not improve much.
Shen Wan only watched for a while before returning to her own courtyard.
When Shen Wan was young, she had once fallen into water. While Shen Wu and the others were beginning their education, she was taking medicine.
When they learned 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 was simply that she could grow up safely. She had once wanted to learn qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song like Shen Wu and the others, but her body was too weak. Her father held her in his arms and comforted her, saying, “My daughter does not need to learn those decorative skills. When you’re a little older, Father will teach you horse riding instead.”
The fact that Shen Ji had a sickly younger daughter was known throughout the court. In her previous life, when she was rescued by Xiao Yun, her father had declined the Emperor’s marriage proposal on the grounds that she had been weak since childhood, her constitution damaged by her earlier fall into water, and might not be able to bear children. The Emperor did not suspect anything, after all, the Duke Dingguo Manor frequently summoned imperial physicians for her.
Her father would rather keep her at home for life than let her marry into the imperial family. If she ever met someone who did not care whether she could bear children, then that person would also not care about her being rescued by Xiao Yun.
But no one had expected her to be drugged, and to conceive in a single instance. Not only did it remove her father’s reason to refuse the imperial marriage proposal, it almost even brought accusations of deceiving the Emperor upon them.
In her previous life, the deputy director of the Imperial Music Bureau only took three days to teach Ye Caiwei alone. This time, with Shen Wu and Shen Yin included, it took two extra days.
When Director Li left, he showered Ye Caiwei and the others with extravagant praise, praising them as if they were unparalleled in heaven and earth. The Old Madam was greatly pleased, and Director Li, having received generous rewards, happily returned to the Imperial Music Bureau.
That same day, the Shunyang Princess Residence sent over invitations to the Peony Banquet, two sets.
One was for Shen Wan and Shen Wu, the other was for Changle County Princess, namely Ye Caiwei.
Two years earlier, when Shen Ji had achieved great merit, the Emperor intended to grant Shen Wan the title of County Princess. Shen Wan had been delighted, it was her father’s honor for her. But at that very moment, Ye Caiwei had appeared with red eyes and said, “Having a father is so nice…”
Shen Wan still remembered how the lively main hall had fallen silent at that one sentence.
Everyone looked toward her father. Even he felt extremely uneasy. Later, he coaxed Shen Wan into giving up the title to Ye Caiwei, promising that if she made more contributions in the future, he would petition the Emperor again.
Compared to a title, Shen Wan naturally cared more about her father’s well-being, so she gave it up. The Emperor, moved by General Ye’s sacrifice in saving Shen Ji, also had no objection when Shen Ji transferred the reward to Ye Caiwei.
And so, Ye Caiwei became Changle County Princess. Although it was only a title without real land or income, it was enough to make all the noble daughters in the capital envious.
From that day on, Ye Caiwei received a separate invitation to every major and minor noble banquet in the capital.
Within six days, the embroidery workshop had already finished Ye Caiwei’s dress. It was dazzling and radiant, even more beautiful than in her previous life, after all, in the past each of them had been given one piece, and the workshop had worked day and night under pressure. This time, with more time, the craftsmanship was more perfect.
Ye Caiwei tried it on and could not wait for the Peony Banquet to arrive.
Shen Wu had prepared her own dress early and had originally been very pleased, but now, standing next to Ye Caiwei, her own outfit looked far too plain.
Refusing to become Ye Caiwei’s backdrop, she went to Second Madam to complain. With no other choice, Second Madam took her out to pick a set of luxurious hair ornaments, which finally improved her mood.
That morning, after breakfast, Shen Wan went to Shou’an Hall to greet the Old Madam. Shen Wu and Shen Yin were already there, but Ye Caiwei was still missing.
“Wan’er has already come to pay respects, why hasn’t Caiwei arrived? Is she unwell?” Madam Yun said worriedly, intending to go check on her.
Shen Wan stopped her. “Mother, don’t worry. If she were truly unwell, the maid would have already reported it. I’ll go take a look later.”
Although her parents doted on her, the title of County Princess had still been given to Ye Caiwei. Her status in the manor was no lower than Shen Wan’s, and no servant would dare neglect her, even a cough would likely be reported.
Madam Yun nodded. “That works too. You cousins are about the same age and should be able to talk easily.”
Shen Wan already knew exactly what Ye Caiwei was planning. This kind of trick… she was far too familiar with it.
She went to Qingyi Courtyard. Through the beaded curtain, she saw Ye Caiwei sitting at her dressing table selecting jewelry, looking irritated and slightly red-eyed, as though she had been wronged.
Shen Wan walked over. “Cousin, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Ye Caiwei looked at her, still holding a gold hairpin, her expression pitiful. “Cousin gave me the Floating Light Brocade, and even invited the Deputy Director of the Imperial Music Bureau to guide my dancing so I could shine at the Peony Banquet. But I’ve looked through all my jewelry and nothing matches that dress. Without the right accessories, the whole outfit looks unbalanced…”
In short, she wanted jewelry.
Whatever Shen Wu had, she wanted too. Shen Wu had Second Madam buying things for her, so Ye Caiwei wanted Madam Yun to spend money on her as well. She had entered the household under the identity of Ye Caiwei, yet she truly acted as if the family owed her something.
Since even a county title had been given to her, a set of jewelry naturally would not be spared.
After all, it would all be taken back eventually, there was no need to mind a little more or less.
In her previous life, not only Ye Caiwei, but Shen Wu and Shen Yin had all received gifts as well. Ye Caiwei used Madam Yun’s money to win over Shen Wu and the others. In this life, Shen Wan had already managed to create some division, and Ye Caiwei was now only asking for things for herself.
Before Ye Caiwei was sent back to the second branch, all her requests would be fulfilled as long as her parents could manage them.
And Shen Wan would help her fulfill them.
Shen Wan smiled. “If there’s nothing suitable in your dressing box, the jewelry shops outside the manor will definitely have something. I’ll go shopping with you.”
Ye Caiwei lowered her head. “I… I don’t have enough money…”
“You don’t need to spend anything. I’ll give it to you.”
Ye Caiwei immediately brightened up. “Thank you, cousin.”