An early summer breeze, carrying the sweet fragrance of julibrissin flowers, drifted past the moonlit gate of the Prime Minister's residence. Shen Ruorou clutched a half-worn visiting card, her fingertips nearly digging into the golden and red one. Three days ago, she had heard that the Prime Minister's wife was planning a flower viewing banquet and had specifically requested this invitation through her mother's connections. Now, she was stopped by two maids outside the corner gate.
"Second Miss, I'm truly sorry," the leading maid bowed with a forced smile, "Madam has instructed that your name is not on the guest list for today's banquet."
The powder on Shen Ruorou's face fell off in anger: "Nonsense! I clearly handed in a visiting card!"
"I've sent the visiting card, but Madam said..." another maid deliberately dragged out her words, "She's worried that your jewelry won't be safe with you coming."
"What do you mean?" Shen Ruoruo screamed, and the silk flowers on her bun shook with her movements.
"Nothing serious," the leading maid shrugged. "I just heard a few days ago that some dishonest people love to steal other people's bracelets. Our lady is afraid of getting into trouble, so please go back."
The servants waiting around chuckled softly, and Shen Ruorou felt her cheeks burning, as if she had been slapped hard. She remembered the line in the jingle that Shen Weiwan had someone make up, "Second Miss Shen is so capable, she copied poems after stealing the bracelet." She was so angry that she trembled all over, but she didn't dare to get angry, so she could only stomp her feet and run away.
"Miss, please don't be angry," the maid Xiaolian caught up and handed over a handkerchief, "Let's go to Minister Li's mansion and see, maybe the banquet there..."
"Why are you going!" Shen Ruorou waved the handkerchief away. "A few days ago, Miss Li saw me and hid faster than a rabbit! Now, in the whole circle of noble ladies in the capital, who doesn't know that associating with me, Shen Ruorou, will bring bad luck?"
As soon as the words fell, a commotion erupted from the front. Shen Ruorou looked up and saw a group of noble ladies, accompanied by Shen Weiwan, approaching. The lady leading the group, the Imperial Tutor's wife, was smiling and talking. Shen Weiwan, dressed in a water-green skirt and a single jade hairpin slanted in her hair, set off her fair skin. Compared to the other glamorous ladies behind her, she looked even more elegant and refined.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Shen Er?" The daughter of Minister Li's family was sharp-eyed and deliberately raised her voice, "Where are you going? Are you going to another banquet to 'borrow' some jewelry?"
The noble ladies around burst into laughter, and some subconsciously covered their pearl hairpins. Shen Ruorou looked at their vigilant eyes and felt dizzy.
"Miss Li is joking," Shen Weiwan stepped forward, her tone innocent, "cousin is just passing by." She paused, turned her head and smiled at Shen Ruorou, "cousin, are you right?"
Shen Ruorou looked at the cunning in Shen Weiwan's eyes and knew that she was doing it on purpose. She gritted her teeth and squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying: "Yes... yes, I was just passing by."
"Just passing by," Madam Taifu said lightly, her eyes sweeping over the half-worn dress on Shen Ruorou, "The world is not peaceful nowadays, and some people with dirty hands and feet should stay out of the house to avoid getting into trouble."
These words were like a needle, piercing Shen Ruorou's sore spot. She couldn't hold it in any longer, so she covered her face and ran away crying. Behind her, she heard the noble ladies' undisguised laughter:
"Look at her like a cat whose tail has been stepped on!"
"That's right, a thief who stole things still has the nerve to come out and hang around!"
"Next time you see her, stay away from her, or she'll steal something!"
Shen Weiwan looked at Shen Ruoruo's embarrassed back, and a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth. Chun Tao came over and whispered: "Miss, your trick of 'collective lightning avoidance' is really high. Who in the circle of noble ladies in the capital doesn't know that playing with the second lady will bring bad luck?"
"This is not enough," Shen Weiwan brushed the hem of her skirt, "I have to make her completely ashamed to face others before it's over."
As he was speaking, the Seventh Prince Xiao Yu came riding from across the street. Seeing Shen Weiwan, he reined in his horse and asked, "Miss Shen, are you 'cleaning up the house' again?"
Shen Weiwan raised her eyebrows: "Your Highness is joking, I was just passing by."
Xiao Yu dismounted, walked up to her, and lowered his voice: "This prince heard that you had someone spread the word among the noble ladies, saying, 'Whoever associates with Shen Ruorou will be the next one to have their bracelet stolen'?"
Shen Weiwan blinked, looking innocent: "Where did Your Highness hear the rumor? I'm just telling the truth."
Xiao Yu looked at her cunning expression and couldn't help but laugh. "You're really getting more and more powerful." He paused, his expression becoming more serious. "As for Liu, the emperor has already issued an order to execute her in the autumn."
The fan in Shen Weiwan's hand paused for a moment, then returned to normal: "I understand."
Xiao Yu looked at her calm profile and knew that she was not entirely calm. The deep blood feud of a past life, now finally avenged, must have mixed feelings within her.
"It's all over." Xiao Yu said softly.
Shen Weiwan looked up at him, a hint of warmth flashed in her eyes: "Well, it's all over."
The two smiled at each other, a tacit understanding flowing in the air. The surrounding noble ladies looked at them, their eyes full of envy, but no one dared to step forward to disturb them. Ever since Shen Weiwan disciplined Shen Ruorou and Li Xiu, and became close to the Seventh Prince, her status in the circle of noble ladies has long been different.
"Oh right," Xiao Yu suddenly remembered something, "what are you going to do with Li Xiu?"
Mentioning Li Xiu, Shen Weiwan raised a wicked smile at the corner of her mouth: "Him? I heard that he wanted to go out to buy something, but was chased by kids on the street and shouted "broken sleeves". Now he is hiding at home and dare not come out."
"You are quite skilled in using a knife to kill someone else." Xiao Yu said with a smile.
"I learned it from His Highness." Shen Weiwan winked playfully, causing Xiao Yu to chuckle.
At this moment, a louder commotion suddenly came from the front. Shen Weiwan and Xiao Yu turned their heads and saw Shen Ruorou had actually forced her way into a teahouse next door and was being pushed out by several waiters.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
