Spring is in full bloom in the peony garden of the Taifu Mansion.
Yao Huang and Wei Zi blossomed profusely, even the wind was filled with their sweet fragrance. Noble ladies from various mansions gathered in twos and threes by the waterside pavilion, gently waving their round fans, their eyes occasionally glancing toward the center of the garden—Chen Weiwan, the eldest daughter of the General Guardian's Mansion, was surrounded by a group of people.
She was wearing a hibiscus brocade skirt today. The hibiscus flowers embroidered with colorful silk threads shone brightly in the sunlight. When she walked, the hem of her skirt trailed on the ground like flowing clouds, making the spring scenery in the garden seem a little dim.
"Sister Weiwan, this dress is truly the most unique I've ever seen." The daughter of the Minister of Personnel leaned in to take a closer look, her tone filled with envy. "With this color combination, I'm afraid even the Imperial Clothing Bureau would have difficulty making it, right?"
Shen Weiwan smiled, revealing two small canine teeth, looking innocent: "Sister, you are too kind. It's just the craftsmanship of the old tailor at home. The material is also an old thing in the bottom of the box in the warehouse. It's not worth much."
The ladies beside them were filled with sourness at these words. The General's Mansion was indeed a place where a lean camel was bigger than a horse; even old materials could be used to make such fine products.
Hiding behind the rockery, Shen Ruorou clutched her handkerchief tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh. The moon-white skirt she was wearing was a brocade her mother had painstakingly found from the storehouse. Next to Shen Weiwan's hibiscus brocade skirt, it looked like a piece of coarse linen.
"Miss," Qinghe, the personal maid, whispered, "It's almost time. Madam Taifu should invite everyone to the warm room for tea."
Shen Ruorou took a deep breath, suppressed the jealous fire in her eyes, and instantly put on a gentle and pleasant smile on her face: "I know."
She adjusted the pearl hairpin on her temples and walked towards the crowd in small steps, bumping into Shen Weiwan who was turning around.
"oops!"
A scream rang out, and the teacup in Shen Ruoruo's hand fell to the ground with a clang, and the scalding hot tea splashed all over Shen Weiwan's hibiscus brocade skirt.
The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and all eyes were focused on the eye-catching tea stain on Shen Weiwan's skirt.
Shen Weiwan took a half step back in shock, her eyes instantly red. Looking at the stain on the hem of her skirt, her lips trembled and she couldn't speak. She looked like a little rabbit whose tail was stepped on.
"Sister! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Shen Ruoruo immediately rushed over and grabbed Shen Weiwan's hand. Her eyes were red and her voice was crying. "It's all my fault for being clumsy. Why am I so careless!"
As she spoke, she secretly observed Shen Weiwan's expression. Seeing that she was just biting her lips aggrievedly, she felt relieved in her heart, but she cried even harder on her face: "This is your favorite skirt, right? It's all my fault, it's all my fault..."
"Sister, don't be like this," Shen Weiwan pulled back her hand, her voice choked with sobs, "I don't blame you, it's my own fault for not looking at the road..."
"How can you not blame me!" Shen Ruorou interrupted her and grabbed her arm, "Look at this tea stain, I'm afraid it can't be washed off, what can I do..."
As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had thought of a good idea, and she pulled Shen Weiwan to the side hall: "Sister, don't worry! I brought a spare skirt. Although it's not as pretty as yours, it's better to change into it first to cover up the ugliness!"
Shen Weiwan “hesitated” and refused to leave: “How can this be embarrassing, that’s my sister’s new clothes, right?”
"What new clothes and old clothes?" Shen Ruorou said passionately, but she quickly glanced at Qinghe from the corner of her eyes. Qinghe immediately understood and took a brocade box from the maid next to her. "How can we sisters be so clear? Come with me to change, otherwise if others see it, they will think that I, as your elder sister, am mistreating you!"
She opened the brocade box, and inside was the moon-white skirt. The pearl necklace at the collar gleamed in the light, looking quite exquisite.
But Shen Weiwan knew what kind of "surprise" was hidden in this seemingly delicate skirt.
She lowered her eyes to hide the sneer in them. When she looked up again, her eyes were even redder: "This... How can I be so embarrassed..."
"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Shen Ruoruo enthusiastically stuffed the skirt into her arms, pinched the back of her hand carelessly with her fingertips, and said in a sweet voice, "Put it on quickly, my dear sister~ Otherwise, everyone will laugh at you at the banquet later."
The call of "good sister" was so affectionate that the noble ladies around her showed touching expressions of "sisterly love".
Only Shen Weiwan knew how many calculations were hidden behind the word "good sister".
She "reluctantly" took the skirt, her voice as thin as a mosquito: "Then... then thank you, sister..."
"Why are you being so polite to my sister?" Shen Ruoruo smiled with a "loving" look on her face, pulling her towards the side hall. When she passed Qinghe, she signaled with her eyes.
Qing He immediately understood, and took half a step behind, quietly taking out a small package from her sleeve, trying to sprinkle it on the skirt in Shen Weiwan's arms.
Shen Weiwan was prepared and pretended to slip, her body suddenly tilted towards Shen Ruoruo.
"oops!"
Shen Ruorou staggered after being bumped by her, and the skirt in her arms fell to the ground.
“I’m sorry, sister!” Shen Weiwan apologized quickly, bent down to pick up the skirt, and while no one was paying attention, she quickly dipped her fingertips in the tea stains on the hem of the skirt, and then at the moment of picking up the skirt, she rubbed the stains on her fingertips on Shen Ruoruo’s cuffs.
At the same time, she "accidentally" knocked the bag of grass clippings in Qinghe's hand to the ground, and the grass clippings were scattered all over the floor.
"Oh! What is this?" Shen Weiwan pointed at the grass scraps on the ground in surprise, "Sister, why are there grass scraps in your arms?"
Shen Ruorou looked down and saw grass debris scattered all over the ground. Qinghe was so scared that his face turned pale. He quickly explained: "This... this might have been picked up on the road..."
"Did it get stuck on the road?" Shen Weiwan tilted her head, looking innocent, "But we've been walking on cobblestones all the way, where did the grass clippings come from?"
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