"Miss!" Wang Qing rushed into the courtyard. "The whole city of Yingzhou is talking about how Qi Huaiyu has been working day and night to prepare a birthday gift for you, and he's lost a lot of weight!"
Xin Jiuwei was checking the account books in the courtyard and wasn't surprised. "He can change his tune as easily as turning the pages of a book, and he even knows how to create a stir."
"Absolutely!" Wang Qing said indignantly, "He was clearly forced to sell the ancestral home, and now he's acting like a lovesick fool. All those uninformed people outside are praising him for his deep affection for you!"
Xin Jiuwei turned a page of the ledger, smiled noncommittally, and said, "He's using a feigned retreat to force me to submit through public opinion."
"What should we do?" Wang Qing stamped her feet anxiously. "Miss's birthday is in seven days! Are we really going to accept his gift?"
A sly glint flashed in Xin Jiuwei's eyes: "Since he wants to play the devoted lover, then I'll play along."
She put down the fabric. "Send Xue Yingxue an invitation to my birthday banquet."
Wang Qing's eyes widened: "Invite Xue Yingxue? Miss, this..."
"Also, let the word out that I plan to have a set of clothes made at Jinxiu Pavilion for my birthday banquet," Xin Jiuwei added. "Make sure Xue Yingxue knows this."
Wang Qing suddenly realized: "Miss wants to..."
Xin Jiuwei smiled without saying a word, and took a list from the table: "This is the guest list I've prepared for my birthday banquet. Take it to your father for review. Remember, you must 'accidentally' let Qi Huaiyu know that Master Jueming is also among the invitees."
"Master Jueming?" Wang Qing exclaimed in surprise, "But he..."
"He will definitely come," Xin Jiuwei said confidently. "Go."
Three days later, inside the Brocade Pavilion.
Xin Jiuwei was selecting fabrics in a private room on the second floor when she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door, followed by Xue Yingxue's aloof and cold voice.
"Shopkeeper, I heard you've just received a new batch of Cloud Silk?"
Xin Jiuwei's lips curled slightly; the fish had taken the bait.
The curtain was lifted, and Xue Yingxue, dressed in a light purple gauze dress, gracefully entered. Upon seeing Xin Jiuwei, she feigned surprise: "Third Miss is here too? What a coincidence."
Xin Jiuwei put down her teacup, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Miss Xue is certainly well-informed; this cloud-patterned satin only arrived this morning."
A hint of unease flashed across Xue Yingxue's face, but she quickly smiled and said, "Yingxue heard someone mention that this fabric is very flattering to the skin, so I wanted to come and take a look."
Her gaze swept over the various fabrics spread out on the table. "Is the Third Miss... preparing clothes for her birthday banquet?"
"Yes." Xin Jiuwei gently stroked a piece of begonia-red cloud-patterned satin. "What does Miss Xue think of this color?"
A flicker of jealousy flashed in Xue Yingxue's eyes, but she said with a hint of disdain, "The color is excellent, but... it's a bit too vibrant. It's hardly a sign of good taste."
"Oh?" Xin Jiuwei raised an eyebrow. "Then, Miss Xue, what color do you think suits me?"
Xue Yingxue pretended to think: "More elegant colors would be more unique and would suit the Third Miss better, for example..."
She pointed to a piece of light blue fabric. "This one is quite nice."
Xin Jiuwei chuckled softly, "Miss Xue, you're joking. Dressing like you're in mourning for your birthday banquet, isn't that unlucky?"
She turned to the shopkeeper, "I'll take this crabapple red one, with gold thread embroidery. I'll come back in three days to try it on."
Xue Yingxue's expression changed slightly, and she suddenly said, "I've also taken a liking to this piece of fabric, shopkeeper, I'll offer double the price."
The shopkeeper was caught in a dilemma: "This... Miss Xue, Miss Xin has already..."
"Three times." Xue Yingxue raised her chin and looked at Xin Jiuwei provocatively.
Xin Jiuwei calmly took a sip of tea: "Miss Xue, what is the meaning of this?"
"It's nothing, I just feel this fabric suits me better," Xue Yingxue said smugly. "Third Miss won't try to compete with me, will she?"
Xin Jiuwei put down her teacup and slowly stood up: "Miss Xue seems to have some money on hand these days. I wonder when you will be able to repay the money owed to the Xin family?"
Xue Yingxue's expression changed, and she said awkwardly, "You're just being unreasonable. When have I ever owed you any money?"
Xin Jiuwei took out a silver note from her sleeve and placed it on the table. "Five times the price, I'm taking this fabric."
Xue Yingxue bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with resentment. Suddenly, she slipped a jade bracelet from her wrist and slammed it on the table: "This bracelet is worth a hundred taels of silver, and combined with the silver I have on me, it's enough for ten times the price! Shopkeeper, you decide what to do!"
The shopkeeper ignored her, after all, Xue Yingxue was just an orphan who usually went to places with young masters and had others pay her bills.
Xin Jiuwei is a noblewoman of the Xin family. If one of the two had to be offended, everyone would know who to choose.
So he smiled and told someone to wrap the satin for Xin Jiuwei, and said many nice things.
Xin Jiuwei listened with a smile, glancing deliberately at Xue Yingxue, but said nothing.
However, Xue Yingxue was proud and afraid of being looked down upon. The moment she saw Xin Jiuwei's gaze, she was immediately enraged.
She no longer possessed her usual aloof and serene demeanor, and stared coldly at Xin Jiuwei.
"What makes you look down on me? You're just a sheltered young lady, what makes you think you can compare to me!"
Xin Jiuwei smiled gently, "I may not be able to compare with you, but this satin still ended up in my hands, didn't it?"
"You!" Xue Yingxue was furious, her years of jealousy towards Lady Xin reaching its peak at this moment. "What right do you have to look down on me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly raised her hand and slapped Xin Jiuwei across the face!
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