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"Wanru, Wanru!"

Madam Zheng rose and hurried after her for a few steps. When she realized she could not catch up, she could only shake her head helplessly.

"Madam..." The maid who had accompanied her into marriage approached.

"Xiu Niang, fetch my seal and withdraw five hundred taels of silver from the bank."

"Yes, Madam."

Zheng Wanru ran out of her mother's quarters and sat sulking in the garden pavilion.

Madam Li happened to pass by and spotted her immediately.

"Miss, why are you sitting here all alone?"

Zheng Wanru glanced at her. Since Madam Li had given her quite a few gifts last time, she could hardly treat her too rudely. She merely muttered, "It's nothing."

Madam Li considered for a moment before asking, "Where is your hairpin, Miss? Didn't you say yesterday that you'd bought a beautiful hairpin? Why aren't you wearing it today?"

The mention of it made Zheng Wanru angry. She poured out everything that had happened outside, as well as how she had complained to her mother after coming home, only to be criticized instead.

"So that's what happened. Really, what was your mother thinking? You're her daughter. How could she side with outsiders?"

Those words struck right at the heart of Zheng Wanru's grievances. "Who knows?" she grumbled.

Madam Li smiled faintly.

"There isn't much I can do to help, Miss, but I do have some silver to spare. You were merely deceived into buying a fake. It's not as though you can't afford the real thing."

Zheng Wanru's eyes lit up. "You're willing to buy it for me?"

Madam Li rested a hand over her chest. "I don't have a daughter, after all, and sons don't need as much spending money as daughters. I've saved up this private money with nowhere