Duoduo quickly stopped Old Madam Su.
“Grandmother, are you looking for a mirror?”
“Shopkeeper, bring a mirror over here!”
The shopkeeper, seeing the customer stopped, breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll fetch one right away!” he said, and a servant immediately brought a mirror over.
Old Madam Su’s face darkened as she looked at Duoduo.
“What do you think you’re doing? Have you no manners?”
Duoduo’s gaze swept over Old Madam Su’s hands and head.
“Grandmother, perhaps you should take a look first.”
Seeing Duoduo’s expression, Old Madam Su finally caught on.
She noticed the hint of disdain and wariness in the shopkeeper’s eyes.
A flush crept up her face.
She took off all the jewelry she had just put on.
“I don’t like any of it.”
“Meng’er, come along with your grandmother immediately!”
Upon hearing this, Yunmeng felt reluctant to let go of the hairpin in her hands.
She was afraid that once she put it down, Yunxi would snatch it away.
“Grandmother, I want this one.”
Yunmeng clutched the hairpin, unwilling to release it.
Old Madam Su saw the person she wanted to meet approaching.
She shot Yunmeng a stern look. “Be obedient!”
Seeing her grandmother’s expression, Yunmeng reluctantly placed the hairpin back on the counter.
Duoduo watched as her grandmother suddenly changed her demeanor, her face breaking into a full smile as she turned around.
“Oh, my dear elder sister, what a coincidence! You’re out shopping too?”
The elderly woman who had just walked over was startled by Old Madam Su’s words.
When she saw Su Xian, a warm smile immediately appeared on her face.
“So it’s the mother of Her Highness the Princess Consort of Pingyang... Old Madam Su.”
Hearing that the woman knew her name, Old Madam Su grew very excited.
Even though it came with a prefix.
Su Xian had been helping Duoduo pick out suitable jewelry, but turned around upon hearing her mother speaking with someone.
When she recognized the person behind her, a distant smile settled on her face.
“So it’s Old Madam Wang.”
Old Madam Wang beamed, leading the women behind her in a bow. “This old woman pays her respects to the Princess Consort.”
Su Xian nodded with a reserved smile. “You look well lately, Old Madam. Your health seems to be improving.”
It was merely polite conversation on Su Xian’s part, but it greatly pleased Old Madam Wang.
“Thanks to the Princess Consort’s blessings. What a coincidence—we were thinking of looking at jewelry too. How about we browse together?”
Hearing this, Old Madam Su stepped forward, taking Old Madam Wang’s arm.
“That would be wonderful. Come, dear elder sister, take a look at this jade bangle—what do you think?”
Old Madam Su pulled Old Madam Wang toward the jewelry displays, her female relatives trailing silently behind.
Yunmeng stayed close to Old Madam Su’s side, not daring to say a word.
Curious, Duoduo sidled up to Su Xian and whispered,
“Mother, who is that?”
Su Xian glanced at Old Madam Wang, who was chatting happily with her mother.
“The mother of Wang Bing, the Vice Director.”
Duoduo’s mind flipped through pages like a book as she quickly searched for information about Wang Bing.
Wang Bing, Vice Director of the Right, a junior sixth-rank official.
He served under the Ministry of Personnel.
Prince Rui’s father-in-law was the Minister of Personnel.
In other words, this man was on Prince Rui’s side.
Duoduo recalled the time she had treated Princess Consort Rui.
Prince Rui had long coveted the throne.
Surely Old Madam Wang knew about her son’s political allegiance?
The connections in the capital were a tangled web.
Alliances between different factions rarely involved marriage.
It seemed her grandmother’s plans were about to fall apart.
Still, Old Madam Wang’s enthusiasm toward her mother caught her off guard.
As Duoduo watched Old Madam Wang and her grandmother chatting so amiably, she grew thoughtful.
Could it be that Wang Bing wanted to switch his allegiance to her father?
Was he using his mother to test the waters?
Regarding Wang Bing himself, the records in her memory were sparse—just a sentence or two.
What kind of person he was, how he conducted himself, Duoduo had no idea.
After a moment’s thought, she tugged at Su Xian’s sleeve.
“Mother, I need to go to the restroom.”
Su Xian paused and bent down. “I’ll come with you.”
Duoduo quickly shook her head.
“Mother, you should stay with Grandmother. I have Lüdou and Qingliu with me.”
She jerked her chin toward Old Madam Su.
Su Xian understood Duoduo’s unspoken meaning but still felt a little worried.
“Be careful, then.”
Duoduo nodded. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll be back soon.”
She led Lüdou and Qingliu out of the shop.
“Princess, didn’t you say you needed the restroom? Why did we come out here?” Lüdou asked, puzzled.
Shops this large usually had facilities in the back courtyard for guests.
Duoduo scanned her surroundings. She spotted the guards her father had assigned, standing by the carriage.
She waved at one of them, and the guard immediately jogged over.
“Princess!”
Lowering her voice, Duoduo said, “Look into Vice Director Wang Bing. Find out what’s been happening with him recently.”
“The more details, the better.”
She thought for a moment and added, “Also look into matters in his household.”
The guard looked surprised but nodded. “Understood.” He left quickly.
Only then did Duoduo take Lüdou and Qingliu to the restrooms in the back courtyard.
By the time she returned to the shop, Old Madam Su had already pushed Yunmeng forward toward Old Madam Wang.
“This is my useless youngest granddaughter. Meng’er, pay your respects to Old Madam Wang.”
For once, Yunmeng obediently performed the greeting.
Old Madam Wang gave her a brief glance before her gaze shifted to Yunxi, who was standing close to Su Xian.
“And who is this? Your niece as well, Your Highness?”
Yunxi, seeing Su Xian’s encouraging look, blushed slightly and curtsied to Old Madam Wang.
“Yunxi pays respects to the old madam.”
Su Xian explained with a smile, “She is the third daughter. Yunmeng is the seventh.”
Old Madam Wang’s eyes flickered.
As a woman experienced in the ways of the inner courtyard, she could tell immediately that Yunxi was not favored by Old Madam Su.
But it seemed Yunxi was the one Princess Consort Su Xian doted on.
Without hesitation, Old Madam Wang slipped a gold bangle off her wrist and reached for Yunxi’s hand, intending to put it on.
“This old woman didn’t prepare any meeting gifts. If you don’t mind, take this bangle to play with.”
Startled, Yunxi quickly pulled her hand back.
She had already gathered that this woman was from the family her grandmother had intended to betroth Yunmeng to.
And from her aunt’s demeanor, she could tell Aunt Su Xian was not close with these people.
She couldn’t afford to be associated with them!
Yunxi didn’t want the gift, but Yunmeng’s eyes burned with envy.
That bangle should have been hers!
Yunmeng tugged at Old Madam Su. Initially bewildered by Old Madam Wang’s gesture, the nudge brought Old Madam Su back to her senses.
“Elder sister, this bangle is too valuable. Please take it back at once!”
Old Madam Su pulled Yunxi aside, causing the girl to breathe a sigh of relief as she quickly hid behind Su Xian.
Old Madam Wang paused, a trace of displeasure flashing across her face before she slipped the bangle back onto her own wrist.
