After arriving in the north of the city, Shen Lijiao rushed into the yard anxiously. However, apart from the Shen family, no other outsiders were seen.
Shen Lijiao was not surprised by this. After all, Xu Qier couldn't stay in the Shen family forever, but she couldn't help but feel a little lost in her heart.
She came here specifically for Xu Qi'er. Shen Lijiao knew that her status was far inferior to Xu Qi'er's, and she could not possibly reach her level, let alone visit the Shangshu Mansion. She was afraid that the Shangshu Mansion's servants would not even let her in.
Therefore, Shen Lijiao had no choice but to return to the Shen family to try her luck.
Although Xu Qier was not there, Aunt Xiang was there.
When Xiang Yi Niang saw Chen Li Jiao, there was no good look on her face. In the past, Chen Li Jiao had never taken Xiang Yi Niang seriously. Her arrogant attitude made people feel disgusted.
Shen Lijiao had inherited the He family's true teachings in this regard, and had always been arrogant and looked down on others, even more so than Shen Lijiao. She was the legitimate daughter, while Xiang Yi Niang was just a concubine. In Shen Lijiao's eyes, Xiang Yi Niang was no different from a servant.
The master of the first house also has two concubines. When Jiang was pregnant, Old Lady Shen forced them into Shen Wangqiu's room. Although they have been childless for so many years, Jiang or Shen Liyue has never made things difficult for them.
But Chen Lijiao was different. He withheld money from her concubines and took her anger out on them whenever she was unhappy. Concubine Gao was a person without temper and she felt that she should be a servant by nature, but Concubine Xiang was not like that.
So now the Shen family's second branch is managed inside and out by Concubine Xiang, and Concubine Xiang will not be kind to Chen Lijiao.
She has suffered enough in the past few decades.
But Chen Lijiao was acting out of character that day, smiling warmly at Aunt Xiang.
Aunt Xiang stood under the eaves and looked at Chen Lijiao coldly, thinking to herself: Isn't this just a weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken?
Although she had not read many books, she knew a saying: If someone shows you kindness without any reason, he is either a traitor or a thief.
Shen Lijiao's sudden return must have been for some purpose, otherwise, given the current situation of the Shen family's second branch, she would definitely not have come back.
It's good enough that Chen Lijiao doesn't ask for money from her parents' home, can we still expect her to send money to her parents' home?
"Oh, what wind brings the second young lady here?" Concubine Xiang said with a forced smile.
Shen Liyue ignored the teasing in her tone and continued with a smile: “I haven’t been home for a long time, I came home to visit.”
Concubine Xiang glanced at her indifferently and said, "Then please go to the Madam's room. I won't accompany you." After saying that, Concubine Xiang turned around and was about to go back to the room.
But Shen Lijiao stepped forward and held her back.
"Don't worry, auntie. I brought you a gift." Chen Lijiao said with a smile, and asked Xiang'er to hand over the box in her hand.
Concubine Xiang was very unhappy when she heard the word "Xiang'er". Her real name was Huang Xiang, and she was called Concubine Xiang after she married into the Shen family. Chen Lijiao's maid was called Xiang'er. It was obvious that she was the one who married first, but Chen Lijiao gave her maid such a name. Doesn't she treat her as a maid?
Aunt Xiang has endured it for many years, but now she doesn't want to endure it anymore.
Aunt Xiang frowned and said, "What's the name of your maid?"
Chen Lijiao was unhappy. Now that she had put down her airs to talk to her, she was still putting on airs. If she didn't have a request from her and hoped that Concubine Xiang could take her to meet Xu Qier, she would not have wasted her time talking to a concubine.
Chen Lijiao suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart and said with a smile: "How could I forget about this? This name is not good. It offends my aunt. Please change it."
Concubine Xiang laughed. Asking her to change? What could she change? She might as well change her name to Chou'er, as dirty and smelly as her master.
Xiang Yi Niang now looked down on Chen Lijiao. Although Chen Lijiao was the daughter of the second wife, she did those lowly things that even a concubine like her would not do. Chen Lijiao always looked down on them as concubines, but she herself was not even as good as a concubine.
Concubine Xiang pointed casually at the few plum blossoms blooming in the corner of the courtyard and said nonchalantly, "Then let's call her Mei'er."
Chen Lijiao frowned. "Mei'er" sounded like "Mouldy" and also sounded like she was cursing her for having no children.
What a crappy name!
Shen Lijiao wanted to explode on the spot, but Xiang'er tugged at her sleeve.
Chen Lijiao then remembered the purpose of her visit today. Yes, she still had something to ask of Concubine Xiang.
So she had to suppress her anger and forced a smile: "Madam Xiang is a good name. Plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are also one of the Four Gentlemen."
Aunt Xiang curled the corner of her mouth, waved to Mei'er to hand over the box, opened it and took a look.
The box was just an ordinary box without any patterns, and inside it was a jade hairpin of decent quality.
Aunt Xiang recognized it. It was one of the few dowries that Chen Lijiao had, and it was something she had worn at home before she got married.
"Oh, such a valuable thing, I dare not accept it." Aunt Xiang closed the box and handed it to Chen Lijiao.
Of course, there was no reason for Chen Lijiao to take it back, and she pushed the box in front of Aunt Xiang.
"My aunt is working hard to manage the household now, so it's only natural that I should give her a hairpin. If you don't accept it, could it be that you think the gift is too small?"
Concubine Xiang smiled and said, "Second Miss, that's not right. If that's the case, I'll accept it. Thank you for your kindness."
Aunt Xiang handed the box to the maid behind her, but Shen Lijiao had no intention of leaving.
"Auntie, I heard that a distinguished guest came to our house recently." Chen Lijiao said.
Aunt Xiang thought to herself that she knew that Chen Lijiao must have some plan for coming back, but she was well-informed and the news reached her ears so quickly.
"Yes." said Aunt Xiang.
Chen Li smiled sweetly and said, "I heard that it was the eldest daughter of Xu Shangshu's family. This eldest daughter is really kind-hearted. But why did she suddenly think of asking someone to treat my grandmother?"
Aunt Xiang accepted Chen Lijiao's gift, and it was not easy for her to keep a stern face, so she told her the whole story of Xu Qier's visit that day from beginning to end.
After listening to this, Shen Lijiao also praised repeatedly, "Miss Xu is really the best person, this way my grandmother can be saved, it's great!"
Chen Lijiao paused and asked, "Then I wonder where Miss Xu is now? I also want to thank her in person."
Aunt Xiang's eyes rolled and she understood Shen Lijiao's intention. It turned out that this was her idea.
"I'm afraid Miss Xu won't come today." Concubine Xiang said, lowering her head and fiddling with the corner of her clothes.
Shen Lijiao’s face was full of disappointment when she heard this, “Is that so…” She sighed, turned around and slowly walked towards the door.
Seeing her like this, Xiang Yi Niang suddenly felt a little sorry for her and quickly stopped her, "But she asked me to go shopping tomorrow."
Chen Lijiao's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned around and said happily: "Really? I happen to be free tomorrow, Auntie, please take me with you!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
