Shen Ruojin also knew that the third son of the Lei family had always had some thoughts about her. Although the Lei family was once glorious, it had declined greatly over the years and could only be regarded as a third-rate family among the powerful and wealthy in Beijing.

With Shen Ruojin’s current reputation in the capital and the status of the Wenyuan Marquisate, even though she knew that Lei San had a crush on her, she only interacted with him as an ordinary young man from a noble family. Occasionally, she would give him some sweet treats, but she wouldn’t respond in any meaningful way.

When Shen Ruojin heard that the chestnuts were sent by Lei San, a faint smile appeared on her face: “I am really sorry to trouble you two. Although these chestnuts are rare, what is even rarer is that you are thinking of me.”

Shen Ci saw that Shen Ruojin only used two chestnuts before asking the maid to fetch water to wash her hands. She leaned weakly on the cushion behind her, a layer of sadness showing on her face. She couldn’t help but feel nervous: “Sister, are you still not feeling well these past two days?”

“Nothing, just a small matter,” Shen Ruojin said. “Maybe it’s because the weather is cold. I stay in my room all day without going out, so it’s inevitable that I have a lack of appetite.”

At this point, Shen Ruojin tilted her head and smiled brightly at Shen Ci: “After this busy period, I will go out with you for a walk. You have always liked the hawthorn candy cakes from Yunxiangju. Now that it is winter again, I think Manager Tang has made a lot more. Let’s go buy some together someday and try them.”

Shen Ci responded happily: “Sister always remembers what I like to eat. I also remember that you like Yunji’s Baihua Niang ^[1]refers to a type of steamed dessert. and Qianweizhai’s Babao Duck ^[2]refers to a type of seasoned duck.. When I have time to go out, I’ll buy them for you.”

Shen Ruojin gently tapped Shen Ci’s forehead with her finger: “You not only have me as your sister now, but also the real second sister outside. I just heard that your eldest brother is going to Tongguang Lane to take a look; you should go with him. After all, you are real siblings.”

Shen Ci thought of how his elder brother ran away without waiting for him and was furious: “She didn’t even want to live at home in the first place and insisted on going back to Tongguang Lane, where there is no place. She probably didn’t want to be my sister, so I won’t go.”

Shen Ruojin had deliberately tried to test Shen Ci. Seeing his younger brother’s attitude, she felt relieved. “Don’t be angry. Mother will scold you if she finds out. She will come back someday. If you keep looking down on her, it will be hard to get along with her. I heard that mother is looking forward to her coming back. Maybe one day… the person living in this yard will not be me but her.”

Hearing Shen Ruojin’s sad words, Shen Ci hurriedly advised: “Sister, why are you saying this? Even if mother likes Tao Sheng and wants to take her back, father and grandmother will never let her threaten you, let alone live in your yard to replace you.”

Thinking of her grandmother and father’s behavior over the past few days, Ruojin felt more at ease: “I know that my father and grandmother treat me well, and I will definitely not let them down.”

This time, she was determined to get the spot as Princess Hui’an’s tutor.

_

While Shen Ci was trying to comfort Shen Ruojin, his eldest brother Shen Yue was directing people to move supplies into the Su residence.

Seeing Tao Sheng coming out, Shen Yue nodded to her gently: “These were sent to my sister by my mother. She originally wanted to come with us, but today is Princess He’en’s birthday, and she couldn’t leave, so I had to deliver them for her.”

At this point, Shen Yue remembered that his sister grew up in a small town in northern Shaanxi and probably didn’t know much about these royal relatives and nobles in the capital, so he explained a bit more.

“Princess He’en is the most favored by the emperor. She has always had a good relationship with my mother. A few years ago, she invited my family to stay in Ning Garden. The garden was specially given to her by His Majesty. He also asked the Ministry of Works and Shanglin Garden to add many things to it. It is truly… a beautiful sight on earth.”

Shen Yue had a mission today.

Although he prefers Ruojin in his heart and hopes she can always be the daughter of the Marquis’s Mansion, he knows that Tao Sheng is also his sister. After her big fight with the elders in De Shou Tang, he felt responsible to help the family become better and more harmonious. He wanted to persuade Tao Sheng to go home as soon as possible.

He wanted to introduce her to the family situation. Not only would she be recognized as the legitimate daughter of the marquisate, but even if she were an adopted daughter or an heir, she would enjoy endless wealth and splendor, which was much better than living in a private house in this alley.

After Shen Yue talked about Princess He’en’s garden, he also mentioned the family’s farms in the suburbs of Beijing and a garden in his hometown of Jinling. In winter, there are heating pipes, enough icebergs in summer, spring outings, autumn leaves, and poetry gatherings. Every season, there are new jewelry and clothes…

Tao Sheng knew that Shen Yue was trying to tempt her with the wealth of the Marquis’s Mansion.

However, Tao Sheng had already seen all the things Shen Yue mentioned in the original novel, so it wasn’t new to her. Moreover, his flowery speech didn’t resonate with her, making it even less appealing.

Shen Yue looked at Tao Sheng expectantly, hoping to see excitement and anticipation on her face, but she replied indifferently: “That’s right, but it’s time for you to study hard and not waste your time playing around.”

It sounded just like the deceased old man.

Shen Yue couldn’t imagine that not only did he fail to convince Tao Sheng to want to live in the Marquis’s Mansion, but he was also lectured by this sister who was three years younger than him.

The first private conversation turned out to be a failure.

Shen Yue took a breath and changed the topic: “In the past, when my mother took me to Ningyuan for a short stay, Ruojin was the most considerate and liked by the princess. In fact, Ruojin is a very good girl and treats people the best.”

“It’s just that she has to prepare for the poetry meeting held by the Queen in the East Palace, so she is a bit nervous recently and doesn’t have time to see you. When things settle down, my father and grandmother will send someone to invite you back.”

Tao Sheng’s calm expression finally changed at this moment: “I don’t want to go back, so I don’t need the Marquis and the old lady to bother making arrangements for me.”

“Don’t say these angry words.” Shen Yue never believed that Tao Sheng really didn’t want to return to the Marquisate. “Grandmother is in poor health, and so is mother. As a child of the younger generation, you should know your limits and not make them sad by saying these words in a fit of anger. Brother will bring Ruojin to see you some other day. She is the best at persuading people. Talk to her, and I guarantee that everything will be fine.”

Tao Sheng had been sitting here talking to him for such a long time, and her patience had run out: “Then we’ll talk about it when the time comes.”

This is an order to expel you.

Shen Yue has always been the son of the Marquis’s mansion, and is also a well-known nobleman in the capital. He is very proud of his status and does not bother with Tao Sheng: “In this case, you can rest here first. If you want to go back to the Marquis’s mansion, feel free to find someone to tell me, and I will send someone to pick you up.”

After Shen Yue left, Mother Tang, who had been standing aside watching the people moving things, came over and asked Tao Sheng, “Who is this young man? Is he also from the Marquis Wenyuan’s mansion?”

Tao Sheng said: “He is Shen Yue, the son of Wenyuan Marquis’s mansion.”

According to the plot, he should be her biological elder brother.

Mother Tang snorted coldly: “I thought he was someone else, but it turns out that the prince of the Marquis’s Mansion is just like this.”

This was the first time Tao Sheng had seen Mother Tang, who was so disdainful and domineering. She immediately praised her sincerely, “I didn’t expect you to have seen the world!”

Mother Tang said modestly, “I don’t deserve it, you are too kind. Although I have traveled extensively with Madam Su in the past few years, I haven’t seen much of the world. It’s just that I have seen many of our young masters, and I think this young master Shen is just an ordinary one.”

After that, in front of Tao Sheng’s surprised eyes, she praised her cousin Ji Bai a lot—

The young master of the family was very capable and well-read. All the teachers who had taught him disliked and praised him. Ji Bai had been quick-witted since he was young, and his talent was well-known in the surrounding area. He was not only the most dazzling star in the school, but also the champion of the local county, prefectural, and academy examinations, which showed how knowledgeable and intelligent he was.

In terms of appearance, the family’s son Ji Bai is eight feet tall and has a dignified appearance. It is obvious at first glance that he is not an ordinary person. He is simply the Wenqu Star ^[3]which is a term for the star associated with literature and learning in Chinese culture. from heaven. It is just a matter of time for him to become a general or a prime minister, and his name will be passed down through the ages.

Tao Sheng was stunned by what Mother Tang said.

This doesn’t look like the cousin “Xiaobai” that my aunt usually talks about. Mother Tang’s filter is too thick.

Mother Tang has always been a quiet person, and she is always busy running around for Su Jia. Even though Tao Sheng has been living in the Su residence for more than half a year, she has never spoken so much to Mother Tang.

Now, thanks to her cousin Ji Bai, whom she hadn’t seen for several years, Mother Tang and Tao Sheng opened up and talked freely and happily.

After an hour, Tao Sheng became familiar with the socially anxious Mother Tang. After finishing this topic, Tao Sheng asked Mother Tang, “Aunt said she wanted to open a store after the New Year. Did she ask you to do something in the store?”

Mother Tang said, “They asked me to help entertain customers and introduce the samples in the store, but I have never done these things before, and I am not good at speaking, so I am afraid I can’t do it well.”

Being able to praise this cousin of the Ji family for more than half an hour without repeating herself and still seeming so sincere and genuine as if it were the truth is something that not an ordinary person can do. In modern society, he would be a genius in the marketing industry.

With this ability, how can you not do it well?

“Mom, you’re too modest.” Tao Sheng said, “If you help entertain customers, the store will definitely prosper.”