Chapter 21: Family Rules

Except for the Miss Zhao, no one knew what Shen Tang had said to the eldest daughter of the Earl of Yongning. Seeing Miss Li flee in a panic, Shen Tang continued to choose jewelry as if nothing had happened, making everyone’s hearts itch with curiosity.

Shen Luo couldn’t help but ask, “Second Sister, what did you say to Miss Li?”

Shen Tang smiled faintly, “I just scared her a little. I’ve only ever stabbed myself, never tried stabbing someone else. I asked her if she wanted to try.”

Shen Luo, “…”

No wonder Miss Li ran away. Second Sister was too terrifying.

Shen Luo shivered.

Shen Tang picked up a jade hairpin and glanced at her, “Not choosing jewelry?”

Of course, they had come out of the manor to buy jewelry.

But the jewelry in Wancui Pavilion was exquisite, one piece more beautiful than the next. It was hard to choose, but unfortunately, she could only choose one.

The young shop assistant brought out all the new arrivals in Wancui Pavilion for Shen Tang to choose from. Shen Tang liked a set of gold-inlaid jade orchid flower jewelry and said, “I’ll take this set.”

Turning around, she saw Shen Luo still hesitating between a peony gold hairpin and a jade hairpin. Shen Tang said, “Haven’t you chosen yet?”

Shen Luo scanned the selection and pointed at the jade hairpin, “Wrap it up.”

The young shop assistant quickly picked up the jade hairpin. Shen Tang pointed at the gold hairpin, “Pack this one too.”

She casually picked up a gold bracelet and handed it to the shop assistant, “And this one.”

Shen Luo didn’t know that Shen Tang had already chosen her jewelry. She thought these two pieces were Shen Tang’s choice for her and didn’t think much of it. She said, “Shall we go to Jinbao Pavilion?”

Shen Tang looked at her, “You want to buy more jewelry at Jinbao Pavilion?”

Shen Luo shook her head.

The third wife was was born out of wedlock and they couldn’t compare to the first and second wives. She could only choose one piece of jewelry. She had already chosen it and couldn’t buy anymore.

Shen Tang said, “If you’re not buying anything, then what’s the point of going? Let’s walk around the streets and then return to the manor.”

Shen Tang turned and left. Shen Luo twitched her lips, wondering if her Second Sister had a poor memory. They went to Jinbao Pavilion not to buy jewelry, but to find their Eldest Sister and the others. Their grandmother had told them not to argue outside, lest they be laughed at for being disunited. Now, they weren’t arguing, but they were shopping separately. Their grandmother would be even angrier if she knew.

Shen Luo was worried that she would be scolded by the old lady, but Shen Tang didn’t care, so she didn’t dare to say anything.

Following behind Shen Tang, she left Wancui Pavilion and strolled down half the street. They bought some trinkets, but it wasn’t very interesting, so they headed back to the manor.

The carriage stopped in front of the Pingyuan Marquis Manor gate. Shen Tang lifted the curtain and saw the groom leading the carriage away. It was the carriage that Shen Juan and Shen Ran were in. They had returned to the manor earlier.

Getting off the carriage, Shen Tang walked into the manor and headed towards the old lady’s Pine Crane Hall.

Rounding the screen and entering the room, she was met with several displeased gazes. Second Madam’s scolding voice came crashing down, “Before you left the manor, the old lady specifically told you not to act childish. But you two, a group of sisters from the same family, go shopping separately. Is this how you treat the old lady’s words as wind?”

Who was actually treating the old lady’s words as wind?

Shen Tang refused to accept being scolded for something she didn’t do. She said, “Second Aunt, Eldest Sister is behind you. Why are you scolding me and Fourth Sister?”

Shen Tang’s expression was one of innocence, as if they had done nothing wrong. This made Second Madam even angrier, “Do you think you are right?”

Shen Tang straightened her back and said, “When we left the manor, Eldest Sister wanted to ride in the carriage with Third Sister, so I took Fourth Sister with me. We were walking in front. We had planned to go to Wancui Pavilion beforehand, so we went directly. But Eldest Sister and Third Sister’s carriage didn’t stop and went straight ahead.”

“That’s how we separated. I really don’t know what I did wrong. Please tell me directly, Second Aunt.”

Earlier, when the old lady saw only Shen Juan and Shen Ran return, she asked, “Where are Second Sister and Fourth Sister?” Shen Juan said, “Third Sister and I went to Jinbao Pavilion. Second Sister and Fourth Sister didn’t come with us…”

Anyone who heard this would think that Shen Tang deliberately didn’t go shopping with her.

Unexpectedly, this was how it happened. The old lady’s eyes were even more displeased. However, the displeasure was directed at Shen Tang before, but now it was directed at Shen Juan.

Shen Juan said with a wronged expression, “I thought they would follow us…”

Shen Tang hated Shen Juan’s act of pretending to be wronged when she was clearly in the wrong. It was as if she just had to put on a wronged expression and people would feel sorry for her. Shen Tang said sharply, “Why did you think we would follow you? You left without a word. I just thought you were tired of seeing me.”

No one was a worm in Shen Juan’s stomach, able to guess what she was thinking.

Second Madam said, “There is an order of seniority, how come your elder sister is sitting in the back carriage?”

Shen Tang looked at Second Madam and said word by word, “Eldest Sister wanted to ride with Third Sister. If she didn’t go to the back, shouldn’t I go instead?”

Shen Juan was the eldest daughter, but she was only half a cup of tea older than her. Why should she revolve around Shen Juan? Shen Juan didn’t want to ride in the same carriage with her, so she had to obediently switch carriages? No way, it wouldn’t make sense anywhere.

Second Madam’s throat felt like it was being choked, unable to speak. Seeing the old lady’s face turn green, Second Madam quickly said, “Second Aunt didn’t understand, it was a misunderstanding.”

The villain cried first and wanted to cover it up with a single “misunderstanding”?

Shen Tang was not a soft persimmon that they could pinch and round.

Shen Tang looked at the old lady, “Although Eldest Sister ignored Grandmother’s words and even caused Second Aunt to misunderstand me, Grandmother shouldn’t punish her too harshly. After all, she just recovered from fever. She will need to go to the Shouwang’s Manor to attend the Spring Banquet in a few days…”

As soon as Shen Tang finished speaking, Shen Juan and Second Madam’s faces stiffened.

This wasn’t helping Shen Juan plead, it was clearly using the guise of pleading to make the old lady punish Shen Juan. She even blocked the path for others to plead for her.

Although she had just recovered from fever, she still had to be punished.

Shen Juan’s behavior in recent days had disappointed the old lady. She couldn’t tolerate it anymore. The old lady said, “She will be punished by copying one hundred family rules. If she doesn’t finish copying them before the Spring Banquet at the Shouwang’s Manor, she won’t be allowed to leave the manor.”

Second Madam quickly interceded, “One hundred is too many. Eldest Miss’s body is just recovering…”

The old lady’s face darkened, and Second Madam didn’t dare to intercede anymore.

Shen Juan didn’t dare to say anything either, but her sleeves were clenched tightly.

At this time, a maid came in from outside the screen and said, “Madam, Jinbao Pavilion sent someone to deliver the jewelry. It’s a total of six hundred and seventy taels. Steward Li asked if the money should be taken from the public funds.”

The old lady’s brows furrowed. Second Madam dismissed the maid, “Take it from the public funds.”

The maid retreated, and Second Madam said to the old lady, “I asked Eldest Miss to choose a few more pieces of jewelry. Eldest Miss was rejected, and I felt sorry for her thinness. It’s rare for her to go out, and she’s preparing for the Spring Banquet at the Shouwang’s Manor. I thought that maybe Prince Jingyang’s son might go that day. If he could change his mind, it would be great. If not, we can’t let others look down on our daughters from the Pingyuan Marquis Manor.”

She thought that a few pieces of jewelry will make Prince Jingyang’s son change his mind. Second Madam was thinking too shallowly about Prince Jingyang’s son.

She directly said that she was getting things for her daughter, but she found such a clumsy excuse.

The old lady looked at Shen Juan’s thin face. Plus, the jewelry from Jinbao Pavilion had already been delivered, so she didn’t say anything.

Shen Juan glanced at Shen Tang, her eyes full of triumph. Although Grandmother punished her by copying family rules, she was still the most loved. No one could compare.

However, this triumph didn’t last long. Another maid came in from outside and delivered the jewelry to Shen Tang. Shen Tang casually asked, “Has the money been paid?”

The maid said, “It’s been paid from the public funds, one thousand three hundred and eighty taels.”

Shen Juan’s face changed, and she blurted out, “Who allowed you to buy such expensive jewelry?!”

The smile on Shen Tang’s face froze, “Second Aunt allowed Eldest Sister to buy more jewelry. Am I not allowed to buy it?”