Ye Caiwei eagerly got up, and the two of them left Qingyi Courtyard together.
After stepping out of the courtyard gate, Shen Wan instructed Shanhu, “Go ask Third Sister and the others whether they want to come out of the residence for a stroll.”
Before Shanhu could respond, Ye Caiwei stopped her. “It’s better if just the two of us go. We’ve been practicing dance these past few days, and Third Cousin has already said I’ve been delaying her piano practice. Going out would take at least half a day, better not to hold her up.”
“Alright, I’ll go along with you, cousin,” Shen Wan agreed easily.
The two of them went to the main gate and took a carriage to the capital’s largest jewelry shop, the Emerald Pavilion.
The upcoming peony banquet at the Princess Shunyang’s residence would invite young masters and noble ladies from all the aristocratic families of the capital. With the banquet approaching, many young ladies had come to the Emerald Pavilion to pick out jewelry.
Several acquaintances came over to greet Shen Wan and Ye Caiwei.
However, they were only casual acquaintances, not close enough to shop for jewelry together. Shen Wan said to Ye Caiwei, “Cousin, pick whichever set matches your dress. Don’t worry about the price.”
Ye Caiwei didn’t even look at the first floor and went straight to the second.
The second floor had finer and more expensive jewelry.
After browsing left and right, Ye Caiwei took a liking to two sets: one gold set inlaid with red rubies, and another gold hairpin set with jeweled butterfly ornaments.
She asked Shen Wan, “I like both of these. Which one does cousin think looks better?”
She liked both, which meant she wanted both.
In the end, she would only be able to choose one and regret the other.
Shen Wan smiled faintly. “If it isn’t something you fall in love with at first sight and must have, then you don’t truly like it. If there’s nothing on the second floor that really catches your eye, you can go up to the third floor and take a look before deciding.”
Ye Caiwei froze for a moment, then was overjoyed. “I can go to the third floor?”
Shen Wan smiled. “Since I said I’d gift you a set of jewelry, as long as you like it, price is no concern.”
Her voice wasn’t low, and the surrounding noble ladies all heard it.
The jewelry in the Emerald Pavilion was already expensive, and the third floor items were so costly they were almost shocking. Because of the price, few young ladies even went up there, after all, it was painful to fall in love with something they couldn’t afford.
Being allowed to choose from the third floor, Ye Caiwei immediately lost interest in the two sets she had liked earlier. She tugged Shen Wan and hurried upstairs.
The third floor had far fewer pieces than the second, but each one was enough to make the jewelry below look dull in comparison.
However, the prices were also truly shocking, the cheapest was 2,600 taels.
Ye Caiwei picked out a set of purple jade magnolia jewelry. The jade was translucent and exquisite, breathtakingly beautiful at first glance, and she couldn’t look away.
“So you’ve taken a liking to this set.”
Shen Wan said to the shop assistant, “We’ll take this one.”
Watching the assistant pack it up, Ye Caiwei still felt somewhat unreal.
A set of jewelry worth 3,666 taels…
It wasn’t just expensive, more importantly, Shen Wan herself didn’t even own jewelry this costly.
As they came down from the third floor, Shanhu said, “Miss, you’re being far too good to Miss Ye. You don’t even have jewelry this expensive yourself.”
Shen Wan replied, “Her father died shielding my father from an arrow. She lost her father at such a young age, no matter how good I am to her, it’s only right.”
Before Shen Wan and Ye Caiwei even returned to the Duke’s residence, news that she had gifted Ye Caiwei an expensive set of jewelry had already spread through the circles of noble ladies in the capital. Anyone who heard it praised Shen Ji for being grateful and for raising his daughter well.
Tired from shopping, Shen Wan returned to the residence and went straight back to her own courtyard.
She had barely finished a cup of tea when Shen Wu, Shen Yin, and the others arrived, asking, “Second Sister, is it true you gave Cousin a set of jewelry worth over 3,600 taels?”
“Yes,” Shen Wan replied.
Shen Wu was almost mad with jealousy. “Second Sister only has Cousin in her eyes. She gives her all the good things.”
Just a bolt of floating silk and a set of jewelry had already exposed their jealous nature.
Shen Wan smiled lightly. “Did you forget what Grandmother said? Cousin lost both her parents. Even though Father brought her into the residence and treats her like his own daughter, outsiders won’t believe it. Only if I give up my county princess title to her will people truly believe Father’s sincerity. If I can even give up my title, what is a set of jewelry?”
“And Cousin is at the age where she should be discussing marriage. Dressing her up well will help her find a better match. You shouldn’t compare yourselves to her.”
Using the Old Madam’s words as a shield, Shen Wan left them speechless.
Shen Yao sat close to her and acted coquettishly. “Second Sister, you’re the most generous. That jewelry was so beautiful, I want it too. You can’t favor one over another.”
They wanted her to show gratitude to Ye Caiwei, yet also treat everyone equally.
Whatever Ye Caiwei received, they also wanted.
Truly spoiled.
Shen Wan pulled her arm away from Shen Yao. “Don’t say you want it, you think I don’t? I wanted it too, but I only had enough money for one set, so I had to prioritize Cousin.”
Shen Yao said sourly, “At least Second Sister should think of us a little too.”
In other words, even if she didn’t give them something as expensive, she should at least give them something.
Shen Wan pretended not to understand. “I’m tired from going out, I won’t keep you any longer.”
Shen Wu and the others left full of resentment. After learning that Shen Wan had originally intended to invite them along but Ye Caiwei had stopped it, they were instantly furious.
Not letting them go along, then tricking Second Sister into buying her such expensive jewelry instead!
Living under someone else’s roof, yet daring to act so arrogantly over their heads!
After lunch, Madam Yun came to Mingyue Courtyard.
“You gave Caiwei such an expensive set of jewelry, why didn’t you pick one for yourself?”
Shen Wan leaned beside her. “If I bought something for myself, the others would only become more jealous. The household would have been in chaos. If that happened, Grandmother would definitely blame you for spoiling me and causing disorder in the family, and you’d end up spending money just to settle things.”
“I don’t care about such things. Mother and the Yun family’s money doesn’t grow on trees.”
Madam Yun gently stroked her face. “Your father said you’ve grown more sensible. It seems you really have.”