Given Ye Rou's status, she shouldn't have been able to attend the Prime Minister's wife's chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, but the Prime Minister's wife invited her anyway, which was also a deliberate act of elevating her status.
Ye Rou spent so much money to buy "Liuyun" (Flowing Clouds), which must be in preparation for the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, as it is related to whether she can be accepted by those noble ladies.
This must have been at Shen Feng's behest.
He never expected that Song Zhiyu would trick him so badly that he had to write an IOU, losing all face and dignity.
Hearing Ling Wushuang's question, Song Zhiyu spoke frankly, "I do have some past grievances with her."
She lowered her eyes to look at the jewelry in her hand, speaking slowly and deliberately, making no attempt to hide her dislike for Ye Rou.
This woman has the face of a bodhisattva, but the heart of a viper is a venomous snake. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to fool Shen Feng into keeping her outside for over twenty years. He was ruthless towards his own children for her sake, and he didn't even spare his wife...
Ling Wushuang was stunned for a moment. Looking at Song Zhiyu's expression of undisguised disgust, she felt that the two had a serious grudge.
After all, she rarely saw Song Zhiyu express her likes and dislikes so directly.
Even when faced with Shen Yanxi's provocations, she never showed much emotional fluctuation, treating him as a clown and not taking him to heart.
But this Ye Rou is someone she dislikes so much.
But Song Zhiyu clearly didn't want to talk about it, so she didn't ask.
Everyone has their own secrets, and if they don't want to talk about them, they don't. She has always been sensible and doesn't like to pry.
Ling Wushuang looked up at the sky; the blue sky and white clouds made her feel that the weather was just right.
Having already obtained the jewelry, he wasn't in a hurry to go back and began to have other ideas.
She winked playfully at Song Zhiyu, her interest piqued. "Alright, let's not talk about those spoilsport people. We've finally come all this way, how can we not treat ourselves to some delicious food and wine?"
I've heard that Zuixianlou Restaurant has a new crispy roast duck dish, which is said to be a delicacy. Are you interested?
"That's exactly what I was thinking." Song Zhiyu smiled, and she and Ling Wushuang hit it off immediately.
*
The two had just stepped out of the Treasure Pavilion and hadn't gone far when Shen Jinhua and Tan Yingying arrived at the entrance, their beautiful eyes fixed on their departing figures.
"That's your second sister, right? Why didn't you go up and say hello to her earlier?" Tan Yingying glanced at Shen Jinhua out of the corner of her eye, knowing the discord between the two, and spoke sarcastically.
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinhua immediately jumped up and retorted with a face full of disdain: "She is not my second sister. My uncle and several brothers have never acknowledged her identity. How dare she be called the second young lady of the Marquis of Chengen?"
Song Zhiyu made her lose face at the auction, suffer ridicule from her friends, and not even dare to leave the house. She still dared to dream that she could be recognized by her. She was dreaming!
"The Marquis's family reunion banquet was held long ago. All the people in the capital know that Song Zhiyu is the real daughter of the Marquis of Chengen. What does it matter whether you admit it or not?" Tan Yingying said while picking out jewelry, not forgetting to observe Shen Jinhua's expression. Every word she said was like a dagger to her heart.
Seeing Shen Jinhua's long face and the anger in her eyes, Tan Yingying added fuel to the fire, "I heard that your second sister bought that golden nanmu Buddha statue, intending to give it as a gift for Old Madam Ling's sixtieth birthday banquet."
"She is already favored by Old Madam Ling. If she can further please her and win Old Madam Ling's favor, and steal the spotlight at the birthday banquet, then no one else will stand a chance." Her pointed words hit Shen Jinhua's heart like a heavy hammer, making her extremely uncomfortable.
Shen Jinhua kept a straight face and said dryly, "Old Madam Ling may not necessarily like her congratulatory gift."
In fact, even she herself didn't believe that statement.
Madam Ling was a person who clearly distinguished between love and hate and was extremely protective of her own. Naturally, the people she valued were the best of everyone.
Let alone a Buddha statue made of Phoebe zhennan wood, even an ordinary Buddha statue would not be criticized by Madam Ling.
She had thought that Song Zhiyu had bought the golden nanmu Buddha statue to seek her aunt's forgiveness, but she never expected that this woman was so scheming, actually trying to please Old Madam Ling.
Tan Yingying's lips twitched slightly. She really didn't know if Shen Jinhua was truly stupid or just pretending. She had already said all that, but this idiot hadn't understood her implied meaning at all.
"That's hard to say. Song Zhiyu has the favor of healing General Ling's legs. The Duke of Ling's mansion will not only give that face, but will give it to him in full."
After saying that, Tan Yingying gently placed a hairpin in Shen Jinhua's hair, smoothed the stray hairs at her temples, and praised her with a smile: "Sister Jinhua is truly beautiful and charming. Even this magnolia hairpin pales in comparison to you."
Shen Jinhua happily adjusted the pearl hairpin in her hair, but before the smile could even appear on her lips, Tan Yingying shook her head and changed the subject.
"Although Jin Hua is beautiful, she lacks a bit of spirit. I think Song Zhiyu's captivating eyes are quite lively; even His Highness the Crown Prince is mesmerized by them."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinhua's face stiffened, and she pulled out the hairpin in annoyance, "Whose side are you on anyway? Why are you always taking Song Zhiyu's side?"
She couldn't help but think of Song Zhiyu's captivating eyes, clear and bright, sparkling like stars, which even she found me mesmerizing.
"Of course I'll help you," Tan Yingying said with a light laugh, covering her mouth.
After being tricked by Song Zhiyu twice, she learned her lesson and stopped being foolish enough to take matters into her own hands, thus avoiding giving others leverage against her.
Shen Jinhua is even more foolish and easier to sway. If she is used, she will be the best tool to deal with Song Zhiyu.
At that time, the Marquis of Chengen's mansion will be embroiled in internal strife, ruining its reputation, and Shen Jinshu will be unable to marry Prince Li.
She not only helped her elder sister eliminate a formidable enemy, but also avenged Song Zhiyu for harming her—killing two birds with one stone, which was incredibly satisfying.
Seeing that Shen Jinhua was still struggling with her decision, Tan Yingying sneered and went straight for the tough one, "Do you want to just stand by and watch Song Zhiyu steal the spotlight at Old Madam Ling's birthday banquet? Do you want the gaze of the person you love to fall on the person you hate the most?"
"How do you want to help me?" Mentioning her beloved, Shen Jinhua fell for Tan Yingying's trick and was led by the nose, step by step into her trap.
Tan Yingying smiled, her lowered eyelids cleverly concealing the deep calculation in her eyes, "Then naturally, we'll prevent Song Zhiyu from delivering this congratulatory gift..."
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