The entrance to the Baiyu Tea House, a favorite haunt of wealthy ladies in Beijing.
As soon as Jiang Qingwan arrived in Song Yushu's carriage, a plump and beautiful woman warmly took her arm.
"Oh my, my little fairy, I've finally seen you. You have no idea how long I begged my sister before she finally agreed to bring you out, as if she was afraid I would snatch you away."
Jiang Qingwan stared at the white jade hairpin on her hair, a hair ornament that only royalty could wear, and tried to pull her hand back, but was hugged again.
As if sensing her resistance, Mo Qingrui pouted at Song Yushu.
"Sister, you didn't mention me to the fairy maiden?"
Just as Song Yushu was about to explain, Mo Qingrui spoke up on her own.
“Little fairy, my name is Mo Qingrui. If you follow my Uncle Jiu, then you will be my elder, and I will have to call you Aunt Wang.”
Jiang Qingwan looked horrified as she listened.
"I have nothing to do with Mo Yunhan."
Mo Qingrui was taken aback for a moment, then her expression changed swiftly and readily.
“That’s perfect. You’re so delicate and much younger than me, I really can’t bring myself to address you as an elder. Let’s address each other as elders. Little fairy, could you give me another one of your amulets? I have a few friends who also want one. Name your price, they have plenty of money.”
Fearing that Jiang Qingwan would be displeased, Song Yushu pulled Mo Qingrui away before explaining in a low voice.
It turned out that Mo Qingrui had snatched a talisman that day and put it in her bosom, intending to use it to calm her mind and sleep.
Who would have thought that when she went to play mahjong that day, a thief darted out and startled the carriage, causing the carriage shaft to break in the middle. She fell off the carriage. The situation was critical, and since she didn't know martial arts, she fell hard.
I thought I was going to suffer serious injuries, but when I landed, I felt an invisible force supporting my waist, and I didn't even get a scratch.
But the talisman she had kicked into her arms was torn.
She thought it was a high-ranking monk from Huguo Temple with supernatural powers, so she asked Song Yushu to accompany her to add incense money and ask for another one. Only then did she realize that it was actually painted by the young lady in the backyard whom she looked down upon.
Such skill made her want to pay him a visit immediately.
However, Song Yushu stopped them, saying that Mo Yunhan had given an order that no one was allowed to disturb them.
She pleaded several times before today's tea party finally took place.
Song Yushu only mentioned the tea party in the carriage and invited Jiang Qingwan to go out for tea to relax.
Mo Qingrui's current enthusiasm and initiative make it seem as if she has too much of a purpose for this trip.
Not wanting to reprimand Mo Qingrui, she could only say, "Qingwan, if you don't like it, let's go back to the manor now."
Upon hearing this, Mo Qingrui became anxious.
“Sister, you can leave if you want, but Little Fairy can’t leave. I’m not a bad person. Besides, I’ve heard a lot about Little Fairy. The Qin family is shameless, and Little Fairy has done nothing wrong. Why should she stay cooped up in the mansion every day? What’s wrong with a woman getting a divorce? Leaving a man doesn’t mean she has to die for him.”
She looked at Jiang Qingwan with earnestness as she spoke.
“Among my sisters, there are those who have divorced, just like you. They were disliked by their husbands’ families for being born into merchants. But so what? After the divorce, she still lived a carefree life. She had shops and money, and she even kept many handsome men in her household. A few days ago, her husband came to her door begging to get back together, but he was beaten up.”
"With such beauty and ability as Little Fairy, the Qin family will surely regret it in the future."
Her voice was sweet and crisp, her words were straightforward yet reasonable, and her expression was open and honest.
Judging solely from her personality, Jiang Qingwan was not averse to it.
She also understood Song Yushu's intention to introduce her to more people.
It's all about protecting her reputation and safeguarding the honor of the Ninth Prince's Mansion.
She wasn't naive; she smiled faintly and didn't resist any longer.
"Let me make this clear first: I can draw talismans, but there will be a price tag. Don't accuse me of ripping you off."
Upon hearing this, Mo Qingrui laughed heartily and pulled her into the teahouse.
"Don't worry, little fairy, I'll be the first to punish anyone who dares to steal your money."
Seeing this, Song Yushu breathed a sigh of relief and walked inside with a smile.
As soon as they entered the hall, they bumped into Madam Cheng and Su Yulan, who were talking to a woman dressed in a brocade dress with floral patterns.
The lively atmosphere froze the moment they met.
The woman was the first to speak, smiling and nodding slightly in greeting.
"Princess Qingrui, Madam Song, what a coincidence, you've come for tea too?"
This person is Huo, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Left Chancellor of the court, and her mother is also a princess.
In terms of rank alone, she was no match for Song Yushu, who held the highest rank of imperial consort, let alone the true imperial relative Mo Qingrui.
However, her husband, as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, was very favored in the household, and she was also fortunate enough to become the teacher of the emperor's legitimate son, so others would naturally look at her with more respect.
Song Yushu returned the greeting indifferently, with no intention of engaging in conversation.
Mo Qingrui disliked the Huo family very much.
Back then, her husband Jiang Zhao took the imperial examination, but he was overshadowed by the eldest son of the Left Chancellor and only got the title of Jieyuan.
However, she had no intention of arguing with her today, and only gave a cold snort before preparing to leave with Jiang Qingwan.
Su Yulan suddenly looked surprised. "How could the princess associate with such a woman? Aren't you afraid of ruining Master Jiang's reputation?"
Huo raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Who is the Magnolia County Princess referring to?"
Su Yulan raised her hand and pointed at Jiang Qingwan.
"This is the Lady Jiang who is being escorted by the princess. Madam, are you unaware of the rumors circulating in the capital? My husband, Minglang, was betrayed and schemed against by this woman. I have personally witnessed her entering and leaving the residences of court officials, bewitching and seductive. I wonder who she is working for."
In the court, Mo Yunhan held both military and political power.
The Left Chancellor was in charge of civil officials.
During the days when the rumors were rampant in the capital, the Left Chancellor even led a group of people to write many memorials, but they were all suppressed by the Emperor. As a result, he was filled with resentment and cursed people a lot in his residence.
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