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If looks could kill, Shen Tang would have been executed by Shen Juan’s glare as she lowered the carriage curtains.
Shen Juan was furious, stomping her foot inside Shen Ran and Shen Luo’s carriage. This was her first time sitting in their carriage, and although it was not much smaller than the one she shared with Shen Tang, she felt suffocated, unable to swallow her indignation.
Shen Ran always catered to Shen Juan. Now, as Shen Juan was angry, she didn’t dare to breathe loudly.
While Shen Juan was seething, Shen Tang leaned against the carriage, feeling quite pleased with herself.
The carriage rolled forward for a quarter of an hour before stopping in front of Wancui Pavilion.
As Shen Luo climbed out of the carriage, she noticed that the carriage which should have been hers didn’t stop and continued on its way.
She turned back and said, “Second Sister, Eldest Sister and the others have left…”
How competitive could they be, wanting everything to revolve around Shen Juan?
Even at the gate of the marquis’s manor, Shen Tang had not indulged Shen Juan; why should she do so outside?
Shen Tang replied calmly, “They simply didn’t want to shop at Wancui Pavilion with us. Do you still want to force your way in?”
Well… that seemed to be the case.
Originally, they had planned to visit Wancui Pavilion first and then go to Jinbao Pavilion. Now that Eldest Sister’s carriage had left, it was clear that she was annoyed with the Second Sister and unwilling to shop for jewelry with them.
Previously, Shen Juan’s anger had seemed intimidating, but now it appeared that the Second Sister rarely lost her temper; when she did, even Eldest Sister couldn’t handle it.
Shen Luo didn’t dare to irritate Shen Juan, nor did she want to upset Shen Tang. She quickly got out of the carriage.
As Shen Tang stepped down, she didn’t glance back and simply walked into Wancui Pavilion. Shen Luo glanced several times, watching Shen Juan’s carriage grow distant until it disappeared from view.
Once inside Wancui Pavilion, a young attendant greeted them, leading Shen Tang and Shen Luo up to the second floor without asking a word.
The jewelry on the second floor was more exquisite and expensive than that on the first floor.
As they climbed the stairs, they noticed several noble young ladies selecting jewelry. However, when Shen Tang arrived, all eyes turned to her, curious about how she had the audacity to allow the Prince Jingyang’s sedan chair to return empty. After all, it was the Prince Jingyang’s family!
Ignoring the gazes of scrutiny, Shen Tang focused on selecting jewelry. Her eyes scanned the trays filled with various hairpins until she spotted a unique peacock hairpin. Just as she reached for it, another delicate hand snatched it away.
“This hairpin is lovely; I’ll take it.”
Shen Tang’s brow furrowed slightly as she turned to see a young lady dressed in a Shu silk embroidered orchid gown, smiling but with a hint of provocation in her gaze.
It was the legitimate daughter of the Earl of Yongning, Li Ru.
Behind her stood another girl who looked somewhat familiar, but Shen Tang couldn’t recall which family she belonged to.
Shen Tang had no previous grievances with the young lady from the Earl of Yongning’s family, and she hadn’t crossed paths with her much in her past life. Now, the young lady had suddenly snatched her hairpin, and Shen Tang understood it was retaliation for the events that had taken place at the Jiang family, which had caused the Earl of Yongning’s family to leave in disgrace.
The Earl of Yongning had tried to plot against her cousin, and while Shen Tang had not sought trouble with them, they had now come to provoke her.
Shen Tang’s eyes turned cold, but Li Ru, having taken the hairpin from Shen Tang, continued, “I didn’t expect to run into the Second Miss Shen. I wonder if the hairpin you used to injure yourself that day also came from Wancui Pavilion? Did it hurt?”
Shen Tang smiled, “Li Ru, how kind of you to inquire. Are you preparing to injure yourself someday?”
“As someone with experience, I can assure you that this peacock hairpin is excellent; it won’t hurt too much.”
Shen Tang’s gaze fell on the hairpin Li Ru had taken, showing no sign of anger.
Li Ru felt that the hairpin in her hand had suddenly turned ominous. There were several noble young ladies on the second floor, and Shen Tang’s words would surely spread. If anyone saw her wearing this hairpin, they might think she intended to harm herself.
Furious, Li Ru slammed the hairpin back onto the table, “I don’t want this hairpin anymore!”
Shen Tang glanced at the hairpin and raised an eyebrow, “Now it’s not as simple as just choosing not to buy it…”
Li Ru’s face turned cold, “Who says I won’t buy it? I just didn’t see it earlier!”
She wasn’t about to let a few dozen taels of silver ruin her reputation.
However, she had sought trouble with Shen Tang, and now the tables had turned; Li Ru couldn’t swallow her anger. “Second Miss Shen poisoned her own sister, causing her to be unable to marry the Prince Jingyang’s son. Now that the engagement has been broken, how can Second Miss still be out shopping without feeling any guilt?”
Shen Tang didn’t want to provoke trouble, but some people truly pushed her patience. She smirked, “Speaking of guilt, there is one thing I haven’t done that I would regret for a lifetime if I did.”
As Shen Tang lifted her head, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She stepped closer, causing Li Ru to back away repeatedly. Shen Tang whispered in her ear, “Go back and inform the Earl of Yongning and his wife that if they continue their schemes, using the pretext of marrying off Young Master Li to rush the heir’s marriage, harming other young ladies, I will inform the Censorate. At that point, everyone will know just how despicable your family is.”
The young lady standing behind Li Ru blushed deeply, torn between wanting to leave and not being able to abandon Li Ru. Her embarrassment was palpable.
As Li Ru recoiled, the other girl stepped back too. Shen Tang’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for her to hear. Shen Tang was speaking directly to her.
In just a few words, Shen Tang had turned her face from red to white.
Li Ru’s complexion darkened even more. She hadn’t expected Shen Tang to openly threaten her—no, to threaten her family.
Shen Tang had already given the Earl of Yongning’s family a chance to save face; otherwise, if her voice had been louder, the news would have spread throughout the entire Capital in less than half an hour.
Shen Tang had just recalled who that girl was. She was from the Zhao family, a scholar’s family, just as prestigious as the Jiang family.
Shen Tang wasn’t sure if the Earl of Yongning had planned to scheme against the Jiang family but had now turned their sights on the Zhao family. However, if a few words could save a young lady’s life, she wouldn’t hesitate to speak up.
It must be said that the eldest daughter of the Earl of Yongning and the Earl’s wife were indeed mother and daughter; even in their retreat, they displayed the same demeanor.