Shen Mingzhu certainly could not catch a glimpse of Shen Jiaojiao.
At this moment, inside the Marquis Manor, Shen Jiaojiao was busy preparing for the flower-viewing banquet to be held in two days.
"You've inquired clearly, haven't you? Are you certain that Madam Xiao will be attending?" Shen Jiaojiao gazed at her beautiful reflection in the bronze mirror.
The maid at her side replied respectfully, "The banquet is being hosted by Madam Chengen, who is Madam Xiao’s cousin. To show respect to Madam Chengen, Madam Xiao will definitely attend."
What’s more, the eldest son of the Duke Xiao Manor had reached the age for marriage.
Hearing this, Shen Jiaojiao’s eyes curved into crescents, her mood lifted. If her memory served her right, in her previous life, it was at this very banquet that Shen Mingzhu caught the eye of Madam Xiao. The lady had been so enamored with Shen Mingzhu that she had gone to great lengths to make her her daughter-in-law, even inviting Shen Mingzhu’s mother for tea on multiple occasions.
While Shen Mingzhu was indeed impeccable in certain respects, she wasn't so bad herself, was she?
At this thought, the corners of Shen Jiaojiao’s mouth curled upward. In this life, Shen Mingzhu couldn't blame her for seizing the opportunity first. After all, in her previous life, Shen Mingzhu’s end had been utterly miserable. Even if she had possessed the position of the Duchess, she had lacked the ability to hold onto it.
"Consider this my way of helping you!"
Shen Jiaojiao gently stroked the coral bead bracelet on her wrist and spoke in a low voice. The maid beside her didn't understand the meaning, but she dared not ask.
As for Shen Mingzhu, whom Shen Jiaojiao was constantly fretting over, she was currently busy helping out at Shen's Shop. The money-making she spoke of was certainly not just a passing thought; on the second day after reaching an agreement with Madam Shen, she had begun assisting at the shop.
Only—
"Mingzhu, let me tell you, while you weren't here a couple of days ago, a handsome young man came to our shop to place a custom order."
"He was, oh, so handsome!" When Madam Shen said this, she looked up to gauge Shen Mingzhu’s reaction.
Shen Mingzhu didn't even pause as she flipped through the account books. "You have already said that three times yesterday."
She had no time to spare for the handsome youth the mother mentioned; her right hand kept moving across the abacus without ceasing. The books for this month were already tallied, and there were no discrepancies. Shen Mingzhu picked up a stack of old ledgers from the side and went back to calculating, her eyes downcast. At this moment, no handsome man was as important as her accounts.
"Second Miss... ah, honored guest, please come in."
The voice of the shop assistant came from outside.
"Is Shen Mingzhu here? I have a few words for her." Shen Jiaojiao glanced around the shop with a casual air.
Shen's Shop primarily sold rare, old items like ceramics and antiques, porcelain from the previous dynasty, calligraphy and paintings, and various precious, rare ornaments. This was the first time Shen Jiaojiao had truly visited the Shen family’s shop. She appraised the décor—it was elegant and comfortable.
However, Shen Jiaojiao was unimpressed. Even if the location was prime and the interior well-appointed, so what? Of the four social classes—scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant—no matter how large the Shen family’s shop grew, Shen Mingzhu would always be nothing more than a merchant’s daughter. Perhaps being the legitimate daughter of the Jian'an Marquis Manor would remain the brightest, most shining moment of Shen Mingzhu’s entire life.
Shen Jiaojiao found a seat at random. Before she could start picking apart the furnishings, Shen Mingzhu emerged from the back.
Looking at Shen Jiaojiao’s attire, which made her look like a "human flower of wealth," Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
"You were looking for me?"
Shen Mingzhu sat down and looked at Shen Jiaojiao, confused by her intent.
Shen Jiaojiao looked her up and down, then let out a snort of laughter. "In just a few days, you’ve become even more wretched. Look at you, this outfit is truly shabby." As she spoke, she covered her nose with her hand, curled her lip, and looked at her with undisguised disdain.
Shen Mingzhu looked down at her silver plum-blossom embroidered dress with a sense of speechlessness. Although it couldn't compare to the hundred-tael dress Shen Jiaojiao was wearing, it was hardly as "shabby" as she claimed. This dress was chosen at Zhenxiu Pavilion by Madam Shen, and it had cost a considerable amount of silver. She didn't believe for a second that Shen Jiaojiao couldn't recognize quality.
"Are you here to stir up trouble?" Shen Mingzhu shot her a sidelong glance.
Reminded by Shen Mingzhu, Shen Jiaojiao suddenly remembered why she had come. She smiled brilliantly, as if something had just occurred to her: "Not at all. I initially thought to invite you to join me at the flower-viewing banquet hosted by Madam Chengen. But then I realized you are no longer the legitimate daughter of the Jian'an Marquis Manor. I’m afraid you wouldn't have even received an invitation."
"Oh my, what a pity~"
Though she said this, her upturned mouth and the smugness in her eyes betrayed that she felt no regret whatsoever.
"Do you really want me to join you at the flower-viewing banquet?" Shen Mingzhu looked at her with a hint of deep meaning.
Shen Jiaojiao froze, her heart tightening at Shen Mingzhu’s words. But once she remembered that Shen Mingzhu no longer had the status to even receive an invitation, she tilted her chin up again.
"Of course! After all, in the eyes of outsiders, we are the best of sisters who regret not having met sooner." She changed her tone, "However... I only received one invitation, so I’m afraid I cannot bring you along." Her tone carried a hint of feigned regret.
There was no one else around, so Shen Jiaojiao naturally wouldn't bother acting like a sister. She was the legitimate daughter of the Jian'an Marquis Manor—was Shen Mingzhu even worthy of that?
Shen Mingzhu now understood Shen Jiaojiao’s motive. She was here to stir up trouble. She must have assumed that Shen Mingzhu couldn't attend the banquet and had come specifically to flaunt her own status.
Shen Mingzhu stood up and pulled an invitation from the bookshelf nearby.
"Oh my, what a coincidence. Yesterday, Madam Chengen came to the shop to look at some items. When she saw me, she mentioned the flower-viewing banquet the day after tomorrow and invited me to come along for some fun."
"Although I tried to decline repeatedly, by evening, Madam Chengen still sent someone over with this invitation." Shen Mingzhu mimicked Shen Jiaojiao’s tone perfectly.
With a hint of triumph on her face, she watched as Shen Jiaojiao jumped to her feet.
Ignoring the look of disbelief in Shen Jiaojiao’s eyes, Shen Mingzhu continued.
"I wasn't planning on going, but since you want me to keep you company..." Shen Mingzhu pretended to ponder.
"You don't need to join me!" Shen Jiaojiao interrupted her abruptly. Realizing her attitude was too harsh, she softened her tone. "I mean... I heard that you have been busy managing the shop lately, you must be exhausted. You probably wouldn't be interested in a flower-viewing banquet. I’ll just go by myself."
Shen Jiaojiao gave an awkward laugh.
Are you kidding? If Shen Mingzhu attended the banquet, what role would be left for her? If Madam Xiao were to take a fancy to Shen Mingzhu again and want her as her daughter-in-law, what would happen to all the plans she had made these past few days? She wasn't about to let her efforts go to waste! The position of the future Madam Xiao belonged to her, and only her!
"Besides, I heard that the Duke’s wife and the Prime Minister’s wife will also be attending the banquet the day after tomorrow. Since you are no longer the Marquis’s daughter, you really shouldn't... go to such events and embarrass yourself."
Shen Jiaojiao spoke with veiled caution, staring intently at Shen Mingzhu, hoping she would change her mind.
Shen Mingzhu, of course, had no intention of attending that banquet; after all, she only cared about making money right now. Furthermore, having lived a second life, she didn't want any further entanglement with the Duke Xiao Manor, and she certainly wouldn't attend a banquet where Madam Xiao would be present.
However, Shen Mingzhu raised an eyebrow and looked at Shen Jiaojiao. "We shall see. Perhaps I will happen to have time the day after tomorrow..."