Finding a Chance to Teach Her a Lesson
About four hours later, Su Luoqian emerged from the Exquisite Pavilion with light, graceful steps.
The shopkeeper followed behind her, quietly reminding her to mind the steps. At the thought of the silver Su Luoqian had just spent in his shop, he grinned so broadly that his eyes nearly disappeared.
Su Luoqian waved him off and, with Zelan's support, stepped onto the carriage stool and climbed inside.
The carriage bearing the emblem of Prince Cheng'an's Residence rolled slowly onward, while diagonally across the same street—
In an elegant private room on the second floor of the Treasure-Tasting Tower, Kong Cuilian stood by the window, her eyes fixed on the carriage by the street.
The Exquisite Pavilion shopkeeper's fawning smile and cautious manner still lingered in her mind.
She twisted the handkerchief in her hands tightly, the resentment and jealous hatred in her eyes seeming ready to burst forth at any moment.
Why?!
Why had Su Luoqian been born into a wealthy family, only to marry Prince Cheng'an, the most distinguished and aloof man in all of Great Jin?
She had flown up to a branch and become a phoenix, and wherever she went, people nodded and bowed to her.
Yet though her own family also came from a merchant background, they had to live at the Su family's mercy, relying on the handful of shops allotted to them to survive.
She had not even managed to find herself a good husband.
The more Kong Cuilian thought about it, the more indignant she became.
She would make Su Luoqian disgrace herself before everyone in Yujing City, so that even though she had married into the prince's residence, she would struggle to gain a foothold among the noblewomen of the great families.
The flames of jealousy burned brighter in her eyes. She remained immersed in her thoughts until—
Behind her, the woman at the meal slammed her wooden chopsticks onto the table with a smack.
"Kong Cuilian, if you're so unwilling to treat me, don't slap your face till it swells just to look well-off. As if I cared so much about this one meal."
The woman wore a pale yellow gauze dress, with gold dangling ornaments in her hair. She shot Kong Cuilian an impatient sideways glance.
Only then did Kong Cuilian abruptly come to her senses.
She rearranged her expression and turned to Xu Yin with a fawning smile. "How could you say that, Miss Yin? It's Lian'er's honor to treat you to the Treasure-Tasting Pavilion's newest dishes."
The woman she called Miss Yin was none other than Xu Yin, the second young lady of Duke Xu's Residence.
She was nearly fifteen, and her coming-of-age ceremony would be held the following month.
"I saw that expression on your face just now perfectly clearly."
Xu Yin raised her chin slightly, her face full of disdain.
Kong Cuilian was merely a merchant's daughter from a small, humble household. Xu Yin had already paid her a considerable compliment by accepting her invitation today.
If the toys and trinkets Kong Cuilian had sent her lately had not been so interesting and so much to her liking, she would not have thought anything of her at all.
Kong Cuilian came over to the table and poured her a cup of tea, putting on a troubled expression. "Ah, Miss Yin, what you don't know is that I was simply stirred by what I saw."
"Stirred by what?"
"I happened to see my cousin who married into Prince Cheng'an's Residence while I was by the window, and it brought some things from the past to mind."
"Su Luoqian?"
Xu Yin's curiosity was somewhat piqued.
As for Su Luoqian, she looked down on her too.
Yet it was precisely this Su Luoqian, whom she looked down on, who had married Prince Cheng'an, the man every noble young lady in Yujing City had once dreamed about.
Hah.
Did she really think a barnyard chicken had turned into a phoenix?
Xu Yin had just given a cold snort inwardly when she heard Kong Cuilian speak softly beside her.
What Kong Cuilian said was nothing but a pack of lies.
She simply did her utmost to belittle Su Luoqian with her words.
As soon as she finished speaking—
With a smack, Xu Yin slapped the table in anger.
The young girl had not yet come of age and was already prejudiced against Su Luoqian. Now, after a few provocative words from Kong Cuilian, every emotion showed plainly on her face.
"I never imagined she could be so utterly shameless."
Kong Cuilian put on a frightened expression beside her. "Miss Yin, please keep your voice down. If someone hears and word reaches my cousin, I don't know how hard my life will be from then on."
"You may be afraid of her, but I'm not."
Xu Yin curled her lip, thoroughly contemptuous of her fearful manner.
"No, I have to find a chance to teach her a lesson."
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Kong Cuilian continued to lure her into the net without showing it.
"In my humble opinion, your coming-of-age ceremony next month would be the perfect opportunity."
"The coming-of-age ceremony..."
Xu Yin hesitated.
Her father had once told her that her coming-of-age ceremony was not just hers alone.
It was also a very important banquet for the duke's residence.
Many of Yujing City's prominent and influential families would be in attendance. If anything went wrong, her father would certainly blame her.
Thinking of Xu Jia, her "eldest legitimate sister," who surpassed her at every turn, Xu Yin began to have second thoughts.
There was no need to rush into punishing Su Luoqian.
Seeing the hesitation on her face, Kong Cuilian hurried to strike while the iron was hot.
"As far as I know, my cousin has never cared for poetry, books, rites, or music since childhood. You only need to prescribe the right medicine for the ailment and use a little stratagem, Miss Yin. Then you can use her as a stepping stone and shine brilliantly at your coming-of-age ceremony."
"Really?"
Xu Yin was particularly tempted by this.
If it concerned poetry, books, rites, and music, she was fully confident she could outshine Su Luoqian.
How could a merchant's daughter, reeking from head to toe of the marketplace and money, be familiar with poetry, books, etiquette, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?
If she succeeded, perhaps even Xu Jia would have to treat her more politely in the future.
She was a legitimate daughter too, yet Xu Jia held her down at every turn. She had had enough of living like that.
At this thought, Xu Yin looked up at Kong Cuilian and smiled faintly. "I'll give you this: that idea of yours isn't bad."
Kong Cuilian hurried to pour her another cup of tea.
As if remembering something, Xu Yin graciously said, "You can come too."
"See for yourself how your dear cousin makes a spectacle of herself."
Su Luoqian had gained quite a haul at the Exquisite Pavilion that day. The pair of jadeite earrings did indeed have an excellent translucence, just as the shopkeeper had said.
As soon as she returned to the prince's residence and entered the gate, Fulin came out to greet her.
"Princess Consort, Her Highness the Crown Princess sent someone to deliver some wine just now."
Su Luoqian's eyes lit up. "Where is the wine now?"
Fulin inclined his head. "The servant who delivered it only left a little while ago. The wine is still in the main hall."
Hearing this, Su Luoqian gathered up her skirts and hurried into the main hall.
As soon as she entered, she smelled the rich, mellow aroma of wine, mingled with a faint scent of grapes.
Su Luoqian took a deep breath and walked several circles around the wine jars, then gave instructions with a light laugh to Fulin, who had followed her in.
By the time the jars of wine had been put away, it was past noon.
After she had gone out that morning, Lu Jingsi had also left for the Prison Administration.
Now, after eating lunch alone, she stayed in her room to examine the residence's accounts and the monthly accounts of several shops.
It had rained that morning, and the afternoon was somewhat cooler.
Zelan held a round fan in one hand and gently fanned Su Luoqian, while with the other she speared a piece of candied fruit and held it to her lips.
On the table were the preserved and candied fruits that Su Luoyun had previously sent back by fast horse.
Su Luoqian parted her lips and bit into the fruit, its sweet-and-sour flavor spreading through her mouth.
Her eyes curved as she smiled. "This one's good. Try it."
Zelan speared a piece for herself and popped it into her mouth.
With the taste of candied fruit to accompany her, even the account books were not so dull.