Ye Caiwei received a large pearl as a prize from the ladies of high society, a valuable gift, but more importantly, it brought her the recognition of everyone.
Ye Caiwei had never imagined she would be in the limelight so much, and Shen Wu had never imagined she would be so humiliated. She gritted her teeth, barely managing to stay.
Bearing the brunt of the resounding appeasement until the banquet ended, Shen Wu, unwilling to linger, rose and left.
The sisters of the household should naturally stay together, but as she was leaving, a maidservant approached and curtsied to Shen Wan, “Second Miss, someone requests your presence by the bridge.”
“Who wants to see me?” Shen Wan asked.
The maidservant shook her head.
It wasn’t that she didn’t know, but that she wasn’t allowed to say.
They wouldn’t even let her tell them who it was, yet they wanted to invite her to speak?
She only wanted to see the person she had chosen.
Shen Wan ignored her.
The maidservant continued, “Second Miss…”
“Tell that person that if they really need to see me, go to the Duke of Dingguo’s residence.”
With that, Shen Wan left.
Ye Caiwei caught up with Shen Wan, “Aren’t you curious, cousin, who’s looking for you?”
Shen Wan replied, “I have nothing to hide. If you want to find me, you can do so openly and honestly. We can meet privately so there won’t be any gossip and damage to the reputation of the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion.”
After leaving Princess Shunyang’s residence, the three of them departed in a carriage.
Ye Caiwei kept the prize money in her hand. Shen Wu was already burning with jealousy, and Shen Wan added fuel to the fire, praising Ye Caiwei, “Thanks to you, cousin, otherwise our Duke of Dingguo’s mansion would have been utterly disgraced. When we return to the mansion, I will definitely ask Grandmother for a reward for you.”
Shen Wu was so angry that her nails dug into her flesh under her sleeves, her face turning green with rage.
Ye Caiwei said, “Cousin, you’re too polite. We’re family. It’s only right that I uphold the reputation of the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion.”
“Cousin is right.”
Shen Wu closed her eyes, wishing she could cover her ears too. Thinking of those mocking looks, Shen Wu wanted to know who had caused her to lose face.
To make her lose face in front of others.
If she found out, she would make her wish she were dead!
The carriage returned to the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion. Shen Wan got off the carriage, and Yun Yan rode over, calling out, “Cousin.”
Shen Wu had already entered the mansion. Ye Caiwei wanted to greet Yun Yan, after all, she was wearing the Yun family’s shimmering brocade, so she should give her some face.
Shen Wan said, “Cousin, please come in first. I want to say a few words to my cousin.”
Shen Wan walked towards Yun Yan.
“Cousin.”
The two went aside to talk.
Yun Yan had come to see Shen Wan because of the matter Shen Wan had asked him to investigate.
After investigating for so many days, Yun Yan was certain that the Heir of the Marquis of Yongqing and Xu Zhiyi were having an affair. However, catching them in the act was extremely difficult. Either Xu Zhiyi went to the Yongqing Marquis’s residence, or the Heir went to the Xu residence. They only went out for a private meeting once, and by the time Yun Yan received the news and rushed to catch them in the act, they would have already dispersed.
The only way to catch them in the act was to go immediately if they went out together.
Sending someone to inform them might not even be timely, so Yun Yan brought a carrier pigeon.
“From now on, if my cousin needs anything, just send a message to your cousin by carrier pigeon.”
Shen Wan nodded repeatedly.
“Thank you, cousin.”
Yun Yan was very busy and left without even entering the residence.
Shen Wan went to Shou’an Hall, where Ye Caiwei presented the large pearl to the old lady. The Old Madam was pleased but declined, saying, “Your filial piety is enough for your grandmother. Keep it for your future dowry.”
Shen Wan went inside, saying, “Grandmother, you must reward my cousin handsomely. Among so many young ladies from prominent families, it’s truly remarkable that she won first place. She has brought great honor to our Duke Dingguo’s mansion.”
Old Madam was pleased and rewarded Ye Caiwei with the jade bracelet she wore on her wrist.
Ye Caiwei was flattered.
Shen Wan still felt it wasn’t enough, saying, “Grandmother’s reward isn’t even as much as the prize money from Princess Shunyang’s mansion.”
Old Madam chuckled, showing no anger, “Bring me the pair of peony gold hairpins from my dressing case.”
Having won the prize and received so many rewards, Ye Caiwei was overjoyed.
While some were happy, others were not.
Ye Caiwei and Shen Wan didn’t mention that Shen Wu’s deception at Princess Shunyang’s residence had been exposed, it was bound to become common knowledge, and there was no need to hide it from the Old Madam. There was no need to add insult to injury and invite resentment.
Sure enough, in less than half an hour, the Old Madam learned of it. Shen Wu had so disgraced the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion, without severe punishment, the family rules would be meaningless.
The Old Madam reprimanded Shen Wu and punished her by making her copy the family rules in the Buddhist hall as a form of self-reflection.
Shen Wu felt extremely wronged, and the Second Madam didn’t dare plead for her daughter.
Suppressing her anger, the Second Madam left Shou’an Hall and asked Shen Wu, “Who knows that poem?”
Shen Wu replied, “It’s in Father’s possession. I don’t know who else has seen it. Only Xique, who’s close to me, has seen it.”
After a pause, Shen Wu added, “And Ye Caiwei!”
“That day she came to see me and saw the poem I had placed on my desk. She picked it up to look at it, but I snatched it back in time. I’m not sure if she saw it clearly…”
Logically, even if she saw it in such a short time, it would be impossible for her to remember it.
But Xique is utterly loyal to Shen Wu, and Shen Wu doesn’t believe she would betray her.
But Ye Caiwei is a different story.
The Second Madam’s eyes flashed with ruthlessness, “She dared to use you to gain fame, I will never forgive her!”