Chapter 390 Robbery

When Madam Pu saw her daughter's tears, her heart ached as if it were being torn apart. The thought of her daughter having to pay her respects to Yan Fengxi in the future and always having to be subservient to her made her feel even more resentful.

She took a handkerchief and wiped away Pu Mingyue's tears, her voice filled with tenderness as she said, "Mingyue, be good, don't cry. How could I let you suffer such injustice? Don't worry, I will pave the way for your future. In this harem, while titles are important, the most crucial thing is to win the Crown Prince's heart. As long as the Crown Prince has you in his eyes and heart, even if she is the Empress, what can she do to you? At that time, your prestige in the Eastern Palace may not be any less than hers."

Pu Mingyue nodded, but tears still streamed down her face. Madam Pu held her in her arms and gently patted her back, saying, "Good child, just bear with it, it will pass. Your concession has been seen and appreciated by the Crown Prince and the Prince of Lingnan. Your father has done so much for them, and the Crown Prince knows it all perfectly well."

Your father will not sit idly by and wait for his fate; there will always be a turning point. You, don't overthink it. Stay calm and focused. As long as you win the Crown Prince's heart, the future won't be bad.”

"I know," Pu Mingyue said, her hand tightly gripping her handkerchief, her voice choked with emotion.

Seeing how obedient she was, Madam Pu felt even more sorry for her. She comforted her for a while, then personally washed her face and had the maid redo her makeup, saying, "Mother will go with you to pick out jewelry. We'll buy whatever you like."

Pu Mingyue nodded, "Mother, don't worry, I know what to do and won't let you and Father worry. Over the years, you have put so much effort into planning for my affairs, and I will always remember your love and care. Thank you for thinking of me so much."

Madam Pu felt both warmed and distressed upon hearing this. She watched as Madam Pu dressed and prepared to leave with her. Just then, her personal maidservant hurried over and whispered a few words in her ear.

Madam Pu's expression turned serious, and she said to Pu Mingyue, "Something has happened at your maternal grandparents' house, and I have to go there quickly. Go to the jewelry shop and pick something out yourself. I'll have someone bring you some silver in a little while."

After saying that, she walked away quickly. Pu Mingyue stood up in a daze for a long time after she left and said, "Let's go."

A group of maids and servants followed her out of the mansion, heading straight for Qiongjiuge, the largest jewelry shop in the capital. The waiter guarding the door saw her, immediately smiled, bowed, and welcomed her inside.

"Where is your manager?" Pu Mingyue asked.

In the past, when she came to Qiongjiu Pavilion, the manager would always greet her.

"Two distinguished guests have arrived at the shop, and the manager is currently entertaining them," the waiter said, bowing slightly. "Would you like to have a private room first? Is there anything you need that I can show you?"

Pu Mingyue glanced at him, and as she walked upstairs to the private room, she asked, "Whose distinguished guest are you?"

The waiter replied with a smile, "The wife and daughter of Minister Cheng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel."

Pu Mingyue pursed her lips slightly after hearing this, but said nothing. Although the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was her father's subordinate, his wife came from the Duke of Chu's mansion. The Duke of Chu's mansion was currently enjoying great influence, so it was perfectly normal for the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel's wife and daughters to be treated with such respect.

She went into the private room, sat down, and said to the waiter, "Bring me your shop's newest jewelry."

"Yes," the waiter replied, and hurriedly ran out, but did not return for a long time.

The waiter carefully placed the tray of jewelry in front of Pu Mingyue. Pu Mingyue frowned as she looked at the styles of the jewelry and asked, "Is this the latest style from your Qiongjiu Pavilion?"

The waiter was sweating profusely, and he carefully smiled and said, "Replying to you, miss, we only made one set of the new headdress, and we're showing it to other customers right now."

Pu Mingyue was already in a bad mood today. It was bad enough that she wasn't greeted by the manager of Qiongjiu Pavilion, but the latest jewelry styles weren't shown to her first, which made her even more frustrated.

"Did you show it to Madam Cheng?" Pu Mingyue asked.

The waiter shook his head. "Replying to you, miss, that jewelry was shown to... Miss Yan from the Grand Tutor's mansion."

The words "Miss Yan from the Grand Tutor's Mansion" caused Pu Mingyue's pent-up frustration to finally erupt. She asked with a stern face, "Which Miss Yan from the Grand Tutor's Mansion?"

"Yes... Miss Yan." The waiter said with a smile, "Miss Yan may not be able to look at it for long. Please wait a moment, young lady. Once she's finished looking at it, I'll bring it to you right away."

Furthermore, we have several new styles being rushed into production at the back of the shop, which will be ready in a few days. We'll send someone to the manor to inform the young lady as soon as they're finished, so you can choose first. Is that alright with you?"

Pu Mingyue gritted her teeth, "No, go and bring me that head of noodles, I'll buy it."

"This...this..."

"Hurry up and go."

The waiter immediately scurried away. Pu Mingyue's fingers gripped the edge of the table tightly, her face drained of color, her eyes filled with resentment and anger as she stared intently at the doorway. Soon after, Yan Fengxi, dressed in a scarlet dress, appeared in the doorway, arrogant and unrestrained. This instantly ignited the fire within Pu Mingyue.

However, being a young lady from a prominent family, she had been taught from a young age that no matter what happened, she could not lose her composure. She stood up, smiled, walked to the door, and curtsied, saying, "I didn't expect to run into Sister Yan here."

Yan Fengxi had her eye on a set of jewelry and was about to pay for it when a waiter told her that someone else had also taken a liking to it and wanted to take it from her. She had been in a bad mood lately, and this incident naturally made her furious. She got up and went to see who was trying to steal her jewelry.

"I didn't expect to run into Sister Pu here." Yan Fengxi also curtsied and said with a smile, "I heard that you've taken a liking to this set of jewelry?"

She pointed to the tray being carried by the waiter and continued, "But unfortunately, I took a liking to it first, which has disappointed you, sister. I'll treat you to tea another day."

Pu Mingyue's smile remained unchanged, but a hint of stubbornness flashed in her eyes. She said softly, "Sister Yan, I also really like this set of jewelry. It's rare for me to have something that I like so much. Sister, you're always so generous. Why don't you give it to me? I'll definitely prepare a generous gift to thank you properly later."

Yan Fengxi was surprised by Pu Mingyue's persistence and shot her an unfriendly look. Pu Mingyue naturally did not back down and returned the look with haughty and stubbornness.

After a moment of stalemate, Yan Fengxi said with a half-smile, "Sister, you seem to have forgotten that I was the one who took a liking to this jewelry first. Since I like it, I will naturally buy it."

Pu Mingyue's lips curled into a disdainful smile, her eyes brimming with resentment. She slightly raised her chin, her tone carrying a deliberate hint: "Sister Yan is about to enter the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess, a position of great prestige, and should therefore be more tolerant. It's just a set of headdresses; why be so concerned, sister? Why not give it to me?"