Shen Yunxi looked around and took a liking to a white jade hairpin with an orchid design. She liked it at first sight and thought it was very nice. It just so happened that she had lost a gold hairpin in the palace, so buying a jade hairpin to replace it was a perfect solution.

Thinking of that gold hairpin, Shen Yunxi didn't think about taking it back. She figured Junxuan had already thrown it away, since it was something that had hurt him, and it was impossible to keep it.

Shen Yunxi really liked that gold hairpin, and she was still a little heartbroken that Junxuan had thrown it away.

Just as Shen Yunxi was about to reach out and take the white jade hairpin from the tray, a hand swept past her, landed on the hairpin, and snatched it away first.

"Waiter, I'll take this jade hairpin. Wrap it up for me right away." A familiar voice rang out.

Shen Yunxi looked up, her gaze landing coolly on the other person, her expression somewhat profound, "Miss Lu is here too, why do you like to snatch other people's things so much?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Wanqing's face turned extremely ugly, and her gaze towards Shen Yunxi was filled with intense hatred. Of course, she understood that Shen Yunxi's words had a hidden meaning.

After years of open and covert struggles between the two, she was indeed not as legitimate as Shen Yunxi, after all, she had the late emperor's bestowal of a marriage.

But so what? The Emperor doesn't like her, Shen Yunxi!

Yesterday in the palace, she finally found an opportunity to make a move on Junxuan. She originally wanted to force the issue and let Junxuan take her in, but the Empress Dowager had arranged everything perfectly.

Unexpectedly, Junxuan called out Shen Yunxi's name under those circumstances and even asked Defu to go find her.

Although nothing happened between Shen Yunxi and Jun Xuan, it still infuriated Lu Wanqing, causing her to waste such a good opportunity.

Moreover, Junxuan was also very angry yesterday, after all, she had schemed against him. He didn't punish her directly because of their childhood.

However, Lu Wanqing knew perfectly well that she was not the person Junxuan had met when he was a child, so she was flustered and could only leave the palace in a sorry state.

She went out today intending to take a casual stroll to clear her head, but she happened to run into Shen Yunxi, so she followed her in.

Upon seeing Shen Yunxi preparing to buy a jade hairpin, she did not hesitate and immediately stepped forward to snatch it away.

"Shen Yunxi, you didn't even get your hands on it, so why can't I have this jade hairpin?" Lu Wanqing stared coldly at Shen Yunxi, feeling that Shen Yunxi was the culprit, because it was because of her that she hadn't achieved her wish.

Shen Yunxi said calmly, "Everything is about first come, first served. Since I saw it first and asked the waiter to bring it out, and I already reached out my hand, isn't this stealing?"

It wasn't that she particularly liked the jade hairpin, but Lu Wanqing's attempt to snatch it made her very uncomfortable. She didn't want to wrong herself, and she wouldn't give it to Lu Wanqing today.

Lu Wanqing gritted her teeth, "I don't care. I have it in my hands now, so it's what I deserve. Shen Yunxi, if you're not satisfied, go ahead and complain about me. You can complain to whoever you want, I'm not afraid."

Seeing that Shen Yunxi looked unwell, and that Lu Wanqing seemed to be bullying her younger sister, Shen Anyu snatched the hairpin from Lu Wanqing's hand.

"Come here, you bad person, you wicked thing who bullied my sister!" Shen Anyu said angrily.

Before she could even react, her hairpin was snatched away. Lu Wanqing's face turned extremely ugly. She glared fiercely at Shen Anyu, "You idiot, how dare you try to steal my things? If I were your mother, I would have strangled you the moment you were born, so I wouldn't have to see you and feel so angry."

"I...I'm not stupid, I'm not," Shen Anyu said, sounding aggrieved.

Shen Yunxi was instantly enraged. She stepped forward and pulled Shen Anyu behind her, her eyes filled with icy coldness as she looked at Lu Wanqing. "Try saying another word, Lu Wanqing. Do you really think I wouldn't dare to touch you?"

Lu Wanqing was also furious. "What, you want to kill me? Fine, say it. I'm not afraid of you. I..."

"Gentlemen, why be angry?" A gentle voice sounded behind them.

The two looked up at the same time, and then Shen Yunxi smiled and said, "Brother Lin, what are you doing here?"

The man who walked over was dressed in a bright green brocade robe. He had a handsome face and was as gentle as a breeze. His whole aura was very mild and his appearance was also excellent.

Lu Wanqing recognized the man in front of her, after all, he was a fairly well-known figure in the capital.

The visitor's name was Lin Chen, courtesy name Mu'ai, taken from the phrase "the twilight is deep and the sky is vast." His father was the Left Censor of the Censorate, and his grandfather was Lu Lao, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. His family background was quite good.

Of course, if it weren't for Emperor Junxuan, Lu Wanqing's target would probably have been Lin Chen.

Lin Chen was a man of integrity and purity. At the age of twenty-one, he had no woman by his side. He was also a gentle and refined man. He had said to others that he would marry a woman he loved and would not marry just any woman to carry on the family line.

Even so, there are many women in the capital who admire Lin Chen, perhaps even as many as Jun Xuan.

However, Lin Chen's appearance made Lu Wanqing's expression even more unpleasant, because... Lin Chen and Shen Yunxi had a very good relationship!

Lin Chen smiled slightly, "It's been many days since I've seen Yunxi. I didn't expect her to come to my Ruyi Pavilion. It's quite a surprise. Yunxi, please take a look. If there's anything you like, your brother Lin will give it to you. As your brother, I naturally won't accept your money."

Shen Yunxi looked at Lin Chen in surprise, "So that's how it is. I never thought that Ruyi Pavilion actually belongs to Brother Lin. But Brother Lin is too kind. If I like something, I can just buy it myself. How could I let Brother Lin spend so much money? Opening a business is for making money."

"No, it's just a jade shop I opened in my spare time. It's nothing special, but it would be even better if Yunxi had anything she liked," Lin Chen said with a smile.

The waiter quickly spoke up, "Young master, you may not know this, but the young lady just chose a protective jade pendant for her brother, and it's right here. She was going to buy another jade hairpin, but this young lady snatched it away, and the two young ladies are currently at odds."

It must be said that the waiter was indeed good at talking; he immediately relayed the situation of the two to Lin Chen.

After listening, Lin Chen understood the whole story. A fleeting emotion flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, and a faint smile remained on his face.

“I see. Since there’s a first-come, first-served rule, then Yunxi should decide whether she needs the jade hairpin first. I know Miss Lu is used to seeing nice things, so I’m sure she won’t care about this, and she won’t compete with Yunxi for the jade hairpin. How about this, Miss Lu, please look around. If you choose something else, I’ll give it to you.” Lin Chen said with a smile.

It has to be said that Lin Chen's tone was too gentle, and even Lu Wanqing was embarrassed to lose her temper, since it was originally her fault.

Lin Chen is quite impressive for making her reflect on herself.