This made Shen Wei even more curious. "Couldn't you have told me first, big sister?"

Shen Wan shook her head.

Even when Shen Wei grabbed her hand and acted coquettishly, Shen Wan didn't say a word, so Shen Wei had to give up.

Shen Wan and Shen Wei each chose two pots of flowers. They had been waiting at Baihuifang for quite a while, but Princess Danyang still hadn't arrived. So Shen Wan asked Yinshuang to pay the bill and prepared to go shopping.

As soon as they left Baihuifang, they saw the carriage of the Prince of Changshan's Mansion stop, and a maid helped Princess Danyang down.

Upon seeing Shen Wan and Shen Wei, Princess Danyang was somewhat surprised and walked over, saying, "Didn't you say that Miss Shen was ill and Miss Shen's face was injured?"

Shen Wan smiled and said, "I was feeling a little unwell before, but I'm all better now. Fourth Sister's facial injury was minor, so it healed even faster."

Princess Danyang said, "I didn't know you were all alright, so I didn't send you invitations. I'll have someone send them to you when I get back."

Shen Wan is, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang's mansion and the betrothed to the Prince of Ling by imperial decree. If the Prince of Changshan's mansion didn't know that Shen Wan had recovered from her illness and didn't send out invitations, that would be one thing. But once they found out, they would definitely send out invitations. Shen Wan and Shen Wei are sisters from the same mansion. If they were to send out an invitation to Shen Wan, they certainly wouldn't want to leave Shen Wei out. That's why Shen Wan asked Shen Wei to accompany her to Baihuifang.

Shen Wan smiled and said, "Since Princess Danyang has extended such a kind invitation, I will definitely go. We just obtained a Phoenix Feather Falling into the Golden Pond, which we will give to Princess Danyang."

The flowers that Shen Wan and Shen Wei bought will be delivered to the Pingyang Marquis's residence by Baihuifang; they don't need to take them directly.

Shen Wan glanced at Yin Shuang, who then turned and went into Baihuifang to bring out the peony.

Princess Danyang loved peonies the most. Her eyes lit up when she saw the Phoenix Feather Falling into the Golden Pond. She said happily, "My mansion is in need of a Phoenix Feather Falling into the Golden Pond. If you give it to me, I will not refuse. But I can't take it for free. On the day of the peony banquet, I will give you any peony in my mansion that you like."

Shen Wan smiled and said, "Princess Danyang, you are too kind. It is thanks to the Changshan Prince's Mansion that we were able to admire so many kinds of peonies at once. How could I bear to take one of them away?"

The entrance to Baihui Tower wasn't a place for conversation, so Shen Wan and Princess Danyang exchanged only a few pleasantries before she left with Shen Wei.

Once seated in the carriage, Shen Wei couldn't help but ask, "Big sister went through so much trouble to get that peony, why did you give it to Princess Danyang?"

Shen Wan chuckled, "I originally bought that Phoenix Feather Falling into Golden Pond as a gift for Princess Danyang."

As she spoke, Shen Wan looked at Shen Wei and said, "The flowers were given to you by the heir of the Duke of Wei, so I shouldn't have given them to Princess Danyang."

Shen Wei blushed and said, "What are you saying, big sister? If it weren't for you asking, I wouldn't have accepted those flowers..."

Realizing something was amiss, Shen Wei said, "It wasn't a gift, was it? Wasn't it exchanged for orchids?"

The orchid that her older sister asked her to give to the heir of the Duke of Wei was even more expensive.

Seeing Shen Wei's expression, as if she wanted to explain herself clearly, Shen Wan couldn't help but chuckle.

The carriage rolled forward and stopped at the bustling street. Shen Wan and Shen Wei shopped for more than an hour, buying a lot of things. When they were too tired to walk any further, they finally headed back home.

When they returned to Qinglan Garden, Shen Wan was so tired that she lay down on the chaise lounge and didn't want to get up. Shopping was too exhausting.

Yinshuang set out the food and said, "It's time for lunch, Miss."

Shen Wan didn't want to move. "Let me rest for a while."

Yinshuang suppressed a laugh.

At this moment, a maidservant lifted the beaded curtain and came in, saying, "Miss, the Prince of Changshan's mansion has sent invitations to you and the Fourth Miss."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wan immediately sat up. "Give me the invitation."

The maid handed the invitation to Shen Wan.

Shen Wan took the invitation and eagerly opened it. Although the invitation itself wasn't particularly interesting—it was just an invitation to a banquet—Shen Wan read it several times before letting Yin Shuang put it away.

...

The next day, the weather was fine, with large, pure white clouds in the sky.

The old lady had been copying the family rules for three days, and Shen Wan hadn't gone to pay her respects to the old lady for three days either. Today, the old lady didn't need to copy the family rules, so she couldn't avoid saying good morning.

After breakfast, Shen Wan took Yinshuang to Qinghui Courtyard.

When she arrived, everyone except the second wife, who was still copying the family rules, was already there.

As Shen Wan entered, before she could even pay her respects to the old lady, Shen Ying interjected, "Eldest sister told me and Third Sister that we must ask permission before leaving the mansion, but she herself doesn't. It's like the magistrate is allowed to set fires while the common people are forbidden to light lamps!"

Shen Wan asked, "Why didn't I ask for permission?"

Shen Ying said, "I asked, and you haven't seen your uncle or asked about your grandmother these past two days!"

Shen Wan was disgusted by Shen Ying's vindictiveness, and what angered her even more was the old lady's indulgence, saying, "As the eldest sister, you should set an example."

Shen Wan glanced at Shen Ying and said coldly, "I'm not like you. My second aunt is still alive, and I can ask her for permission anytime. My grandmother is busy copying Buddhist scriptures, so I dare not disturb her. My father is busy with official duties, leaving early and returning late, so I often don't see him. How can I ask him for permission? I asked my fourth sister to go shopping, and my fourth aunt agreed to let her go, so naturally she agreed to let me go too. If my fourth aunt's permission isn't enough, does my second sister expect me to ask my mother's memorial tablet for permission?!"

As she spoke, Shen Wan's eyes reddened.

The old lady's face was stiff. Although Shen Wan was speaking to Shen Ying, her words sounded as if she was condoning Shen Ying's bullying of her because she had no mother to protect her.

Fourth Madam got up and comforted Shen Wan, "Don't be sad, if the Marquis finds out, he'll be heartbroken."

Fourth Madam didn't dare to openly speak up for Shen Wan. When she mentioned Shen Jing, the old lady's expression turned even more unpleasant.

Although Shen Wan's mother, Yun, came from a merchant family, Shen Jing and she had a very good relationship. After Yun passed away a few years ago, the old lady tried to persuade Shen Jing to remarry several times, but Shen Jing remained unmoved. Every year on the anniversary of Yun's death, he would go to her grave to pay his respects. If he knew that Shen Ying had picked a fight with Shen Wan and had scolded her, he would definitely be angry.

The old lady knew very well that no matter how much Shen Jing respected her, Shen Wan and Shen Du, her two children, were Shen Jing's lifeblood.

The old lady immediately scolded Shen Ying, "You've wronged your elder sister, apologize now!"

Shen Ying's eyes reddened as well, but she was angry.

Shen Ying tugged hard at the embroidered handkerchief in her hand before saying, "Elder sister, I didn't understand. I'm sorry."

The sound was very low, and thankfully the room was quiet enough, otherwise Chen Wan wouldn't have been able to hear it.

Whether Shen Wan could hear her or not was unimportant; what mattered was that the old lady heard her. She reprimanded, "Sisters in the same household must get along harmoniously. From now on, you are not allowed to quarrel or target each other over such trivial matters. Do you hear me?!"

Shen Ying pouted and said, "Yes, Ying'er will follow Grandmother's teachings."

Shen Wan agreed, as did Shen Rong and Shen Wei.

The old lady had been copying the family rules for three days and hadn't recovered yet. She went back to her room to rest after sitting for a short while, and Shen Wan and the others took their leave.

Once outside, when no one was around, Shen Wei whispered to Shen Wan, "Yesterday, my eldest sister told me to come back and ask Mother, but Mother won't tell me. What are you two keeping secret?"

Shen Wan smiled and said, "If Fourth Aunt won't tell you, then I certainly can't tell you either."

Shen Wei puffed out her cheeks in anger, and her angry expression was incredibly vivid.