Shen Yuanzhu opened her bleary eyes and stared blankly for a long while.
Seeing her dazed state, Ling’er said, “Miss, you must hurry to the Xie residence to stop Young Master Xie.”
With that, she fetched clothes and placed them before Shen Yuanzhu.
“With your hasty temperament, Nanny will scold you for lacking manners later.”
Slowly rising, Shen Yuanzhu stood before the washstand, rinsing her mouth with green salt and carefully cleansing her face.
Only after tidying up did she pull Ling’er before the bronze mirror, placing the white jade comb in her hand.
Though anxious and indignant, Ling’er was exceptionally gentle while combing Shen Yuanzhu’s hair, not pulling out a single strand.
“Miss…”
“For breakfast, I’d like white porridge and silver-thread rolls. Have the small kitchen send them over.”
Ling’er shook her arms in frustration but obediently brought the breakfast.
“Miss, aren’t you going to stop Young Master Xie?”
Wiping her lips unhurriedly, Shen Yuanzhu sighed softly, “Xie Xuchuan seeking out Sister-in-Law means that regardless of my thoughts, he is determined to bring that child into the Xie family.
“Even if I go to stop him, it would be futile. Better to eat and drink my fill first, then deal with the troublesome people later.”
Luo Shi walked in from outside the room, just in time to hear this.
She said, “The young miss is right. No matter how big the matter, it cannot compare to the young miss’s food and clothing.
“Xie Xuchuan has already arrived at the residence. Let’s go see what he has to say.”
To witness Xie Xuchuan’s cunning schemes firsthand and hear his words of betrayal with their own ears.
After seeing and hearing, their young miss could quickly lose hope and pursue other splendid prospects.
Luo Shi was seething inside, and her expression carried a stern edge.
Shen Yuanzhu nodded obediently and walked out with Luo Shi.
As the three turned past the moon gate, they saw Ye Yunyi and Shen Yuanqiong chatting and laughing as they walked toward the main hall.
Ling’er curled her lip at Luo Shi, while Shen Yuanzhu called out to stop Ye Yunyi.
“Sister-in-Law, younger sister, good morning.”
“Did Yuanzhu sleep well today?”
Seeing Shen Yuanzhu, Ye Yunyi beamed with delight.
Shen Yuanzhu allowed her to look her up and down, appearing very docile and gentle.
“I slept well, thank you for your concern, Sister-in-Law.”
Ye Yunyi giggled sweetly at her words, “Our Yuanzhu is truly endearing.”
With that, she reached out and patted Shen Yuanzhu’s shoulder, showing great warmth and concern.
Shen Yuanqiong stood to the side, her expression half-smiling, carrying a hint of aloof arrogance.
“I heard from the gatekeeper early this morning that the Xie boy has come to visit me. Yuanzhu, do you know what it’s about?”
Her tone was teasing, “Since returning from Huizhou, Xuchuan has visited our home two days in a row. It seems our Yuanzhu has his heart firmly tied.”
Shen Yuanqiong turned her head away disdainfully, while Shen Yuanzhu smiled innocently.
She did not reply, but Ye Yunyi was not annoyed. Instead, she extended two fingers and lightly pinched the hem of Shen Yuanzhu’s dress.
“I’ve seen you wear this dress a few times. Is it from last spring? It doesn’t look new anymore. Now that your wedding is approaching, it’s not suitable to wear old clothes.”
Ye Yunyi looked pained, “If the Xie family finds out, they might think our family treats you poorly. This afternoon, I’ll have the seamstress from the shop come to the residence to make a few new outfits for you and Yuanqiong.”
Shen Yuanzhu agreed with a sweet smile. Ye Yunyi continued, “One or two sets won’t do. As a new bride entering her husband’s family, you must have enough clothes for the first year or two. How about four sets per season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter?
“The colors should be as varied as possible, bright and eye-catching, so your husband’s family won’t look down on you.
“And the jewelry…”
“The wedding date is approaching, so your sister-in-law went to the storeroom to pick out some valuable items for you that can truly make a statement.
“The Xie family is wealthy, and our Yuanzhu is marrying into the main branch of the family. We can’t let others outshine her…”
Ye Yunyi rambled on endlessly, while Shen Yuanzhu responded with a crisp, cheerful voice, thanking her sister-in-law repeatedly and expressing gratitude for her care.
However, Ling’er, witnessing this scene, was so furious that she twisted her handkerchief into a crumpled mess.
She muttered sarcastically, not only accusing her young lady of seducing Xie Xuchuan but also commenting on how Ye Yunyi claimed to be selecting valuable jewelry for the young lady from the storeroom.
Ninety-nine percent of the gold and silver jewelry in the Shen family storeroom were dowry items left by her late mistress for the young lady. What had the birth mother of Shen Yanhuai and Shen Yuanqiong ever left behind?
Now, with Ye Yunyi’s words, it sounded as though those items were generously bestowed upon the young lady by her magnanimous sister-in-law.
And as for making clothes—ever since Ye Yunyi married into the family, she had repeatedly used the excuse of making clothes, shoes, and socks for the young lady to secretly take fine fabrics from the storeroom that the late mistress had saved for her.
Claiming to make clothes for the young lady, she was actually stealing from her dowry to enhance her own and Shen Yuanqiong’s prestige!