Shen Qian immediately realized what was happening and stepped forward to bow to the women in front of him.
"Ladies, I have a question for you," Shen Qian said in a humble manner.
Those ladies were also very kind-hearted.
“Please speak, sir,” one of the women replied.
"I noticed that the ladies' jewelry is very unique. This is my first time in Jiangnan, and I'd like to buy a set for my wife to take back with her. I'd like to ask where you ladies bought yours?" Shen Qian's attitude was humble yet respectful.
He won the hearts of the ladies in front of him, but it was said that Shen Qian already had a wife at home.
He immediately lost interest, thinking to himself that it was pointless.
"It's Diancui Workshop just ahead," the woman pointed to a place.
Shen Qian nodded and thanked him.
Squeezing through the bustling crowd, Shen Qian stepped into Diancui Fang.
A woman's voice came from inside.
"Shopkeeper, have all my jewelry been sold? Can I have my money now?" The woman was none other than Wen Nuan, who had been kicked out of the Wen family.
Since being kicked out, Wen Nuan has been unable to get enough to eat or sleep in.
More importantly, Nuan Nuan used to be extravagant, enjoying buying jewelry and clothes.
The food provided was just enough to keep them warm, and neither Wen Nuan nor Luo Huai could do any work.
Luo Huai was originally a dancer, but now that she's older, she can't go out and perform for money, can she?
Therefore, the only option was to sell the jewelry, starting with some simple and relatively inexpensive pieces.
Later, they even pawned the valuable jewelry that the second wife had given them.
The quality of those items was excellent. Wen Nuan didn't know their value, but she did know they could be exchanged for a lot of money.
Luo Huai touched her hair, which was adorned only by a simple jade hairpin. Her eyes dimmed for a moment.
She could no longer touch the jewels adorning her head.
But the movements were incredibly gentle and elegant.
She sighed wistfully.
The shopkeeper immediately handed the money to Wen Nuan, who nodded slightly; it was indeed a lot.
Shen Qian's gaze fell on Wen Nuan. This woman had so many of her aunt's jewelry on her, it was obvious that Wen Nuan had come here to sell them.
Could Wen Nuan be her aunt's daughter?
Before Shen Qian could step forward, Wen Nuan pulled Luo Huai back.
"Mother, let's go." Wen Nuan tugged at Luo Huai, whose eyes were filled with tears as she watched the jewelry she cherished being placed on the shelves.
Luo Huai was filled with intense hatred.
Shen Qian lowered his eyes; Luo Huai looked very much like Wen Nuan.
They looked exactly like a mother and daughter.
Shen Qian stepped forward and asked, "Madam, have you ever heard of someone named Shen Qing?"
Shen Qian got straight to the point.
Luo Huai's expression suddenly changed.
“Never seen it before.” Luo Huai reached out and grabbed Wen Nuan, whose gaze, which had been lingering on the jewelry, suddenly became resolute.
The two disappeared into the surging crowd.
Shen Qian was now even more certain that since his aunt had left so many things here, then his aunt must also be here.
When they returned in the evening, the bodyguards sent by Shen Qian brought up Du Qianqian's information.
It was written very clearly and plainly, and even Du Qianqian's ancestral information for eighteen generations was dug up.
Du Qianqian is not her aunt's daughter at all.
And... Du Qianqian said her mother had passed away, but it's clearly written here that Du Qianqian's parents are still alive.
Du Qianqian lied to people.
Therefore, Shen Qian can conclude that the dagger in Du Qianqian's hand may not actually belong to Du Qianqian.
Can you judge a person solely by their jewelry?
So, adding the eight women I saw on the street today, plus Du Qianqian, plus Wen Nuan who has many of her aunt's jewelry.
Are they all Shen Qian's cousins?
There are cousins everywhere!
Shen Qian snorted coldly and went back to tell his grandmother everything in detail.
Princess Shen had mostly recovered, though her face was still somewhat pale. She sipped the bird's nest soup in front of her, her clothes a deep blue with intricate cloud patterns—a subtle yet incredibly luxurious color.
Princess Shen gently stirred the bird's nest in the bowl.
"Call her over for a meal." Princess Shen lowered her eyes, her voice calm and steady, like an ancient spring, leaving no trace even in stillness.
Shen Qian hesitated repeatedly.
“This woman is clearly up to no good. Her parents are still alive, yet she deceived her grandmother, saying that her mother had passed away, which is why her grandmother fell ill from anger…” Shen Qian gritted his teeth slightly.
He wished he could tear Du Qianqian, that woman who was full of lies, apart right now.
If Princess Shen suffers even the slightest loss, then Shen Qian will be held responsible even if he dies a thousand deaths.
Princess Shen's calm gaze fell on Shen Qian. "From what you've said, those dowry jewelry pieces were pawned by a mother and daughter, but you haven't been able to find them. Sending people to look for them will probably take quite some time."
“That Du Qianqian doesn’t seem to be a rich person, so she must not have bought that dagger. Could it be that she has met my Qingqing before?”
Princess Shen lowered her eyes, her voice becoming somewhat hoarse.
For more than a decade, she has been thinking of Shen Qing every moment.
But back then, it was Shen Qing who fled from the capital with her dowry, fleeing from her father and her mother.
He also left his home.
For more than ten years, she searched everywhere, but she couldn't get any news about Shen Qing.
That girl... she's really ruthless.
He hasn't come to see her even once in over a decade.
If she doesn't want to come, then only the old Princess Shen can come by herself. Even if she's on her deathbed, she wants to see Shen Qing one last time.
This has been a source of worry for Princess Shen for over a decade.
If... the old prince hadn't arranged that marriage for Shen Qing before.
Then everything would never have turned out the way it is now.
But I regret it... there's no going back now.
She just wanted to see Shen Qing one last time before she was buried.
Princess Shen's eyes reddened slightly; tears welled up in the eyes of this woman who had seen many storms.
She took the handkerchief beside her and wiped her eyes, just as Shen Qian knocked on the door outside.
Princess Shen raised her eyes, her expression returning to normal, kind yet with a hint of sharpness.
Du Qianqian had no idea what had happened.
Du Qianqian immediately stepped forward to support the old Princess Shen, asking, "Grandmother, how are you feeling now?"
Du Qianqian spoke softly and stepped forward to help Princess Shen.
Shen Qian opened the door, and the waiter from the restaurant brought up a pile of dishes.
Meat dishes, vegetarian dishes... without exception, all were exquisitely prepared.
Du Qianqian lowered her eyes; indeed, they were a wealthy family.
She lowered her eyes, her mind churning. The dagger she was holding originally belonged to the woman in the woods that day.
She absolutely cannot let Shen Qian and the old Princess Shen see the woman they met before they entered the woods.
Until she returned to the capital.
Until she settled down and became a young lady of the royal family, enjoying wealth and luxury.
Du Qianqian was calculating in her mind.
Princess Shen sat down at the dining table, and Shen Qian ladled a spoonful of soup for her and placed it in front of her.
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