After Shen Jin finished the final stitch, she carefully cut the embroidery thread. Only after inspecting it closely did a faint smile appear on her face.
The maid who had been standing by her side smiled and said, “Miss, your embroidery is truly beautiful. The Princess Consort will definitely like it.”
Shen Jin pressed her lips together and smiled, but she did not take the maid’s words seriously. If something like hers could be called good, then what would the embroidery done by the embroiderers in the prince’s manor be called?
Just then, Side Consort Chen heard the maid’s voice and lifted the curtain as she came in. “Have you finished embroidering it? Let me have a look.”
“Mother.” Hearing this, Shen Jin moved aside and asked somewhat uneasily, “I wonder whether Mother Consort will like it.”
“Silly girl.” Side Consort Chen glanced around the room and had all the servants withdraw, leaving only her personal maid, Mama Li. Then she took her daughter’s hand and said, “The Princess Consort was born into the Zhao family, and she married Prince Rui. What kind of fine things has she not seen? Even if your embroidery were more exquisite, what difference would it make?”
Shen Jin bit her lip. She immediately understood what her mother meant. Giving something to the Princess Consort was merely about showing one’s sincerity. Side Consort Chen sighed and said, “It is all Mother’s fault for being useless. If I had been more capable… you would not have had to learn these things at such a young age.”
“Mother.” Shen Jin nestled into Side Consort Chen’s arms and said in a spoiled tone, “Your daughter is not young anymore.”
Side Consort Chen smiled and tapped Shen Jin lightly on the forehead. “All right, go outside and look at the flowers and plants. Today the Princess Consort had two pots of peonies sent over. Their colours are very beautiful.”
“Okay.” Shen Jin was still young and at an age where she loved to play. Hearing this, she smiled brightly and got up from Side Consort Chen’s arms. “Then can I go stroll around the garden later?”
“Go on.” Side Consort Chen herself did not like leaving her courtyard, but she did not restrict her daughter.
Only then did Shen Jin call her maid and go outside to look at the flowers. After Shen Jin left, the smile on Side Consort Chen’s face disappeared. She looked at the handkerchief her daughter had embroidered and slowly sighed. Only then did she finish the sentence she had left unfinished earlier. “It is all my fault for being useless and failing to win the prince’s favour. That is why Jin-niang has to find ways to please others at such a young age. Lady Xu… forget it.”
As the only full-blooded younger brother of the current emperor, Prince Rui’s manor was not only large but also very beautiful. Shen Jin’s favourite place was the small pavilion built in the middle of the lake, especially in June, when the lotus flowers in the pond had just bloomed and looked particularly lovely.
Unfortunately, today was rather unlucky. There was already someone in the pavilion: Shen Qi, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Princess Consort and Shen Jin’s eldest sister. Shen Jin hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she should go forward and disturb her. However, the senior maid beside Shen Qi took the initiative to come over and invited Shen Jin inside.
“Since you came, why didn’t you come over?” When Shen Qi saw Shen Jin, she beckoned to her and had her sit beside her. Then she personally picked up a piece of yam and red bean cake and placed it in Shen Jin’s hand before asking.
Shen Jin peeled away the outer layer of glutinous rice paper and said with a smile, “Because I didn’t know what Eldest Sister was doing. I was afraid of disturbing your mood.”
Hearing this, Shen Qi smiled. She was the eldest in the family, and below her there were four younger sisters alone. Among them, this third younger sister had the gentlest and most cautious temperament. She was just like the little white rabbit Shen Qi had once kept: soft, timid, and very easily frightened. But that could not be blamed on her. After all, Side Consort Chen in the manor was practically like an invisible person and rarely left her courtyard.
The pastries made in the Princess Consort’s private kitchen tasted excellent. The yam and red bean cake even carried a faint milky fragrance without being greasy at all. Shen Jin ate happily, taking one tiny bite after another, her eyes curving into crescents. Seeing her like this, Shen Qi felt as if all her worries had disappeared. After Shen Jin finished eating, she gave her another piece.
In return, Shen Jin gave her a sweet smile. “Thank you, Eldest Sister.”
Shen Qi pinched Shen Jin’s cheek. As expected, it was soft and delicate. “Eat.”
“So Eldest Sister and Third Sister were hiding here whispering secrets.” Shen Zi had spotted Shen Qi and Shen Jin from afar and immediately brought her younger sister Shen Jing over.
Shen Zi wore a bright red long dress scattered with floral patterns. On her head was a pure gold phoenix hairpin inlaid with dazzling rubies. Although the outfit was gorgeous and flamboyant, it did not look vulgar. Instead, it made Shen Zi appear even more strikingly beautiful. It was not difficult to imagine how devastatingly beautiful she would become in a few more years.
Walking slightly behind Shen Zi on her right was Shen Jing, wearing a jade-green long dress and a pearl buyao hair ornament. Though she was not as dazzling as Shen Zi, she had a somewhat charming and lively air.
Seeing the two of them, Shen Jin hurriedly put down the half-eaten pastry and stood up. She greeted them first. “Second Sister, Fourth Sister.”
Compared with Shen Zi and Shen Jing, Shen Jin’s delicate and pretty looks were not especially eye-catching. However, she took after her birth mother: her skin was fair, tender, and smooth. She also had a pair of round almond eyes, which were especially rare in the Shen family, where everyone else had peach-blossom eyes. In particular, her eyes were moist and exceptionally clear, as if they could soften a person’s heart. At first glance, she was not as striking as her other sisters, but she was very lovable. The longer one looked at her, the more pleasant and pretty she seemed.
After the girls exchanged greetings, they sat down. Shen Qi instructed the maid to serve tea to the two of them before saying, “The kitchen has made a few new kinds of pastries. You should try them too.” She merely said this and did not personally pick up pastries for them as she had done for Shen Jin.
“Thank you, Eldest Sister.” Shen Jing was the first to take a flower-shaped pastry and said with a smile, “The people in Mother Consort’s kitchen really are skilled. This pastry is so pretty that one almost can’t bear to bite into it.”
Shen Jin acted as though she had not heard the implication in Shen Jing’s words. She picked up the half-eaten pastry from earlier and continued sitting off to the side, slowly nibbling on it. Occasionally, she pinched off some crumbs to feed the fish in the lake. Watching the school of beautifully coloured fish fight over the crumbs was especially interesting. They were just like the elder and younger sisters in this family.
Shen Zi lifted her teacup and took a sip. Suddenly, she caught sight of the coral bracelet on Shen Qi’s wrist. She raised her eyes to look at Shen Qi’s ears, and sure enough, she was wearing matching coral earrings. Back then, when Shen Zi had heard that the palace had bestowed a set of red coral jewellery, she had acted spoiled and asked Prince Rui for it. However, Prince Rui had not agreed. She had not expected to see it on Shen Qi today, worn so casually.
Shen Zi’s gaze was far too obvious. Not only did Shen Jin, who was always carefully paying attention to her surroundings, notice it, even Shen Qi, who did not usually pay much attention to these two concubine-born sisters, noticed it as well. Her eyes swept over her own wrist and she immediately understood. She could not help sneering inwardly. Setting down the round fan in her hand, she directly removed the bracelet, pulled over Shen Jin’s soft hand, and wrapped it around her wrist circle by circle. “I see the colours you’re wearing today are a little plain. I’ll give this bracelet to you to play with.”
Shen Jin could not help secretly complaining. She had already hidden off to the side to feed the fish, so how had she still been dragged into this? But at this point, it was not good for her to say anything. She simply lifted her wrist and shook it slightly. The red coral beads looked especially beautiful on her hand. She said cheerfully, “Thank you, Eldest Sister. I liked it the moment I saw it.”
In any case, now that the bracelet belonged to her, she had already offended Shen Zi. She could not very well offend Shen Qi too.
“Third Sister really knows quality when she sees it. Even in the palace, this item is a rare treasure.” Shen Zi tightly clenched the handkerchief in her hand. She was clearly furious, yet she still had a smile on her face. “You must keep it carefully and not lose it. I’m afraid even Side Consort Chen has never seen coral of such fine quality.”
Those words were so sour that Shen Jin felt her teeth ache. Still, Second Sister really did like red things. She was only one step away from dressing herself up like a lantern.
Shen Qi smiled and said, “In a family like ours, what could we possibly lack? This thing is merely decent in colour. If it gets lost, I’ll find Third Sister something even better.” The implication was clearly mocking Shen Zi for being narrow-sighted.
Shen Zi’s expression changed. Then she suddenly smiled and said, “Eldest Sister is right to teach me. But I heard Mother Consort has been discussing a marriage for Eldest Sister. Could this item be something Mother Consort specially prepared so that…”
Shen Jin widened her eyes. How did she not know about this? So Eldest Sister was going to have her marriage discussed? Wait, that was not right. This was not something young ladies like them should be talking about. If the Princess Consort found out, there would be heavy punishment.
Sure enough, Shen Qi frowned. Shen Jing also realised something was wrong and quickly tugged at Shen Zi’s sleeve. Shen Zi did not care at all and continued, “So that Eldest Sister could wear something auspicious?”
“Servants,” Shen Qi said calmly, showing no anger at all, “tie up all the older maids and maidservants by Second Sister’s side.”
After saying this, she stood up. Shen Jin felt that today she had truly been struck by bad luck. Why had she come out for no reason? She was afraid she was going to cause trouble for her mother again. Naturally, Shen Qi was not afraid of Shen Zi and the others, but Shen Jin was. Moreover, the Princess Consort would definitely not let this opportunity pass. Not only would the old maids and maidservants by Second Sister’s side be punished, even Side Consort Xu would be punished.
“Eldest Sister, what are you doing?” Shen Zi stood up angrily, both anxious and furious. If Shen Qi tied up the people by her side today, she feared that by tomorrow, she would become the joke of the entire manor.
Shen Jing quickly said, “Eldest Sister, Second Sister was only joking. Let Second Sister apologise to you, and let this matter end here.”
Shen Qi did not even look at them. Supporting herself on the maid’s hand, she walked outside. “Second Sister should come with me to Mother’s place.” Then she glanced at Shen Jin. Seeing Shen Jin’s round eyes, like a frightened little animal’s, her heart could not help softening. Her voice gentled as she said, “Third Sister and Fourth Sister should go back first.”
Shen Jin immediately said, “Yes.” She turned and was about to walk out. Perhaps feeling that this was improper, she quickly stopped and said, “Then Eldest Sister, Second Sister, Fourth Sister, I will leave first.” After speaking, she waited for Shen Qi to nod before taking her maid and leaving.
Shen Jing thought for a moment and decided to go back first to find her mother to rescue the situation. After secretly giving Shen Zi a look, she left as well.
Shen Jin was actually regretting it terribly. She went straight to the main room to find Side Consort Chen. Without caring about the maids in the room, she burrowed into her mother’s arms and tightly wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist. Her little nose moved as she smelled the faint fragrance on her mother. Only then did she truly let out a breath of relief. Still, she needed to warn her mother about this matter first.
When Side Consort Chen saw her daughter come back and immediately burrow into her arms, she reached out and gently stroked her daughter’s back. Then she instructed, “Mama Li, go prepare a cup of honey water.”
“Mother, just now I was…” Shen Jin quietly recounted the matter. Then she slid the bracelet from her wrist and placed it in Side Consort Chen’s hand. “What should we do?”
Side Consort Chen was also secretly resentful. It was one thing for the eldest girl and the second girl to fight, but why did they have to drag her daughter into it? She feared that when her daughter went to the study tomorrow, she would suffer grievances again. The second girl truly never learned from her mistakes. No matter how favoured Side Consort Xu was, the person in charge of the rear courtyard was still the Princess Consort.
However, at this moment, it was not good to say such things, lest she frighten her daughter. She only said, “Don’t be afraid. What happened today has little to do with you. Since this bead bracelet was given to you by the eldest girl, just wear it. I have never seen a coral bracelet with such a beautiful colour either. It will match that new goose-yellow skirt of yours perfectly.”
Shen Jin came out of her mother’s arms, took the honey water, and drank half the cup. “I also think it’s very pretty. Oh, and that yam and red bean cake was delicious.”
“Silly girl. If you like it, I’ll have the kitchen make some and send it over today.” Side Consort Chen pinched her daughter’s earlobe and said with a smile.
Shen Jin had just been about to say a few more words when Mama Li came in from outside, worry showing in her eyes. “Madam, the Princess Consort has sent someone to invite Third Miss over. She says she wants to ask a few questions.”
“Mother?” Shen Jin bit her soft pink lip.
Side Consort Chen patted her hand. “Don’t panic. Whatever the Princess Consort asks, just tell the truth.” After thinking for a moment, she still felt uneasy. She stood up and took her daughter’s hand. “I’ll go with you.”
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