Seeing that Shen Ru had relented, Shen Jinhua also breathed a long sigh of relief and took her to the Treasure Pavilion without much hesitation.
“Aunt, this is the most famous Treasure Pavilion in the capital. If you want to choose a birthday gift for Grandmother, you’ll be spoiled for choice.” Seeing Shen Ru’s eyes glued to the various jade and jewelry pieces in the Treasure Pavilion, Shen Jinhua knew that she was very satisfied with the arrangement.
It just so happens that the Treasure Pavilion recently launched new items, including many pieces of jewelry that had never been seen before. Shen Jinhua was also very fond of them and joined her in picking them out.
“Aunt, jade is good for health, so I think that piece of jade would be most suitable for Grandmother.”
Shen Jinhua immediately took a liking to the cloud-patterned jade pendant placed in the center of the table. Overjoyed, she was about to reach out when a pair of slender, fair fingers picked up the pendant first.
"Song Zhiyu, it's you again?" Shen Jinhua turned her head and met Song Zhiyu's eyes, her face instantly darkening.
Song Zhiyu never expected to run into people from the Marquis's mansion while picking out a gift at the Treasure Pavilion; she found it all unlucky.
"I saw this jade pendant first. Don't you understand the principle of first come, first served?" Shen Jinhua stared intently at the jade pendant in Song Zhiyu's hand, her anger almost turning into tangible flames.
"Jinhua, don't waste your breath on her. This jade pendant looks incredibly valuable. It's no wonder she can't afford it. Don't tell me she's just putting on a show." Shen Ru also came over. Her already harsh face became even more severe with the disdain in her eyes.
She had only been back at the Marquis's residence for a short time and was unaware of its current situation. She thought Song Zhiyu was just a country girl who relied on the Marquis's residence for sustenance.
She's supported by the Marquis's mansion, yet she dares to be so arrogant. Be careful she gets her elder brother to cut off the monthly allowance for Songxi Courtyard, then she'll behave herself.
Shen Jinhua opened her mouth, wanting to remind Shen Ru that Song Zhiyu could really afford this jade pendant.
But Chen Ru couldn't hear what she was really thinking. She was still relentlessly mocking Song Zhiyu, wishing she could vent all the anger she had just suffered.
Shen Ru shook her head, ignoring Shen Jinhua's advice, and while disgusted by Song Zhiyu, she also cursed the Treasure Pavilion, saying, "Everyone says that the Treasure Pavilion is quite famous in the capital, but now it seems that it is nothing special."
The entry barrier is so low, anyone can get in. People who clearly can't afford it still insist on coming in to take a look. You know, you can't be too vain.
As soon as he finished speaking, there was complete silence around him, and the atmosphere was eerily unsettling.
The guests who had been enthusiastically trying on hairpins all stopped smiling, unsure whether to put their things down or not.
Shen Jinhua was also stunned; these words had completely offended everyone in the shop.
"Aunt, please stop talking." Shen Jinhua tugged at Shen Ru's sleeve and whispered a plea to her, trying to get her to shut up.
She recognized them immediately; the women standing in the corner, chatting and laughing, were the wives of high-ranking officials in the court, whom her father had always tried to befriend.
But now that Shen Ru has said these words, she has completely humiliated him. Forget about making friends, it would be good enough if they didn't become enemies.
But Shen Ru obviously didn't understand what she meant. She shook off Shen Jinhua's hand that was tugging at her sleeve. Seeing that Song Zhiyu didn't refute her, she thought that she had hit the nail on the head, and a smug smile appeared on her face.
"Zhiyu, don't blame your aunt for speaking harshly, but you're now being supported by the Marquis's mansion. Even if you're not grateful, you should at least be sensible."
Don't let a moment of vanity cause you to spend so much of your elder brother's money. Even if the Marquis's mansion is wealthy, we can't let you squander like this."
Song Zhiyu chuckled. She was being supported by the Marquis's mansion?
Just as she was about to ask the shopkeeper to wrap up the jade pendant, she suddenly remembered something and changed the subject, "Aunt is right. Since the Marquis's mansion is so poor that it can't even afford a jade pendant, then I have no choice but to give it to someone who can afford it."
As soon as Song Zhiyu finished speaking, the ladies who had been itching to deflate Chen Ru's arrogance immediately chimed in.
“Miss Song, give me the jade pendant. I’ll buy it. My Su family isn’t so poor that we can’t even afford a jade pendant.” Madam Su’s words were loaded with meaning, her eyes full of contempt.
Who in the capital doesn't know about the affairs of the Marquis of Chengen's mansion?
Where did this clown come from? He's really hilarious.
The other ladies were not to be outdone, saying, "Give it to me! I've had my eye on this jade pendant for a long time, but I was a step too slow, Miss Song."
"..."
Shen Ru, who had taken in everyone's words, had a face that alternated between pale and flushed, making for quite a spectacle.
Song Zhiyu shook the jade pendant in her hand, her smiling face making Shen Ru's teeth itch. Was that what she meant?
If others knew that such a large mansion couldn't even afford a jade pendant, it would become a laughing stock in the capital.
That brat, she can't understand a word, good or bad, and has none of Shu'er's intelligence.
Unable to bear the contemptuous looks from others, Shen Ru's blood boiled with anger. "Who said the Marquis's mansion can't afford a jade pendant? I'm just saying that since you're supported by the Marquis's mansion, you should be more sensible and not waste money on unnecessary things. I want this jade pendant."
After saying that, she pointed to a few other items and said, "I want all of these and send them all to the Marquis of Chengen's residence."
Song Zhiyu took a closer look and found it amusing; this person had picked the most expensive item right away.
Shen Ru was oblivious to this, and proudly tilted one side of her head, unaware that others viewed her as a clown and might be gossiping about her behind her back.
"Madam, that's a total of thirty-seven thousand taels." The shopkeeper walked over with an abacus, looking at her with a beaming smile and expectant eyes, seemingly unaware of Shen Ru's increasingly unpleasant expression.
"What? Thirty thousand taels!" Shen Ru exclaimed in surprise, unable to believe that these four pieces of jewelry would cost her thirty-seven thousand taels.
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