At the thought of this, envy appeared on Song Shuyu’s face.
Madam Song, however, wore a look of disdain.
“How could that Prince of Pingyang possibly compare with the Crown Prince?”
“When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, you’ll become a princess of the highest rank!”
“How could she compare with you? For all we know, she may not even have enough to eat!”
“Your second brother said that even the maids in the Prince of Pingyang’s residence dress better than that Jinx!”
“It’s obvious she isn’t favored in the Prince of Pingyang’s residence!”
As she spoke, Madam Song looked Song Shuyu up and down.
“Now look at you!”
“Everything you’re wearing, from the ornaments in your hair to your clothes—how could any of it not be more prestigious than that Jinx’s?”
Hearing her mother say this, Song Shuyu immediately lifted her chin proudly.
“Mother, what do these things count for?”
“I have even better ones! I just didn’t wear them today!”
Madam Song’s eyes narrowed into crescents as she smiled.
“That’s right! My Shuyu deserves a life above everyone else!”
“From now on, your father and I will be relying on you to enjoy a life of comfort!”
Song Shuyu loved hearing flattering words, so she agreed at once.
“Just wait. You’ll both enjoy a life of comfort in the future!”
Seeing that her daughter had given her assurance, Madam Song quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
When Madam Song spotted the gold bracelet on the table, her heart stirred.
Still, she picked it up and stuffed it into Song Shuyu’s hand.
“This must have been something the Crown Prince bought for you, right?”
“If someone finds out about it, it might be difficult for you to explain.”
“Don’t take your elder brother’s words to heart.”
“As long as you’re living well, Mother is at ease!”
Hearing how wholeheartedly her mother seemed to care for her, Song Shuyu proudly puffed out her chest.
“I have many bracelets like this!”
“This one was given to me by the Secondary Consort to win me over and get me to help her!”
“Oh, and there’s this too!” Song Shuyu removed the heaviest hairpin from her head and placed it beside the bracelet. “These were all given to me by the Secondary Consort.”
“Mother, take them and use them!”
After removing the hairpin, Song Shuyu immediately felt much lighter.
Madam Song accepted the bracelet and hairpin with a beaming smile, showering her daughter with compliments.
“They say a daughter is her mother’s little padded jacket. How true that is!”
“Our Shuyu is not only obedient and sensible, but blessed with good fortune too!”
“It’s a pity you were born to me, but fortunately, you’re a commandery princess now, and you’ll become a princess in the future!”
“The Song family’s ancestral graves must be giving off smoke to have produced a daughter like you!”
“When I go home, I’ll tell your father to give your elder brother a proper scolding!”
“Oh, right, Shuyu! If Mother wants to see you next time, how should I get in touch with you?”
Madam Song was reluctant to spend another silver bracelet.
Her mother’s question made Song Shuyu hesitate.
The rules at Prince Ling’s residence were extremely strict.
Women were not allowed to enter or leave the residence freely.
She only dared to sneak out once in a while, and even then, she was afraid of being discovered by her father.
Seeing Song Shuyu’s expression, Madam Song understood a little about the rules of wealthy and powerful households.
“How about this? Once I return home, I’ll have your father rent a house.”
“Then I’ll have the little maid who came with me last time bring you a message.”
“If you miss us, come to the house and see us.”
Madam Song’s suggestion immediately won Song Shuyu’s approval.
After her elder son had left, Madam Song noticed that he still had not come back in.
She began to worry about him.
She tucked the items into her sleeve.
“Shuyu, it’s getting late. Your elder brother and I should be going home.”
When Song Shuyu heard that her mother was leaving, she immediately became reluctant to part.
“Mother, stay a little longer.”
“I haven’t even treated you to anything yet!”
Madam Song glanced at the bill and felt a pang of pain.
“Forget it. Everything here is far too expensive.”
“Mother won’t make you spend the money. I know you’re filial.”
Madam Song praised Song Shuyu a few more times and teased a laugh out of her daughter before finally leaving.
Watching her mother’s departing figure, Song Shuyu’s mood sank.
She wanted to have another ice cream, but then remembered her mother’s warning to eat less.
Feeling irritated, Song Shuyu paced back and forth around the room.
At long last, the maid returned.
Song Shuyu’s patience had already reached the breaking point.
“Why did you take so long?”
“Are you the mistress, or am I?”
“How dare you make your mistress wait here for you!”
“You’ve got some nerve!”
The moment the maid entered, she was berated from head to toe.
She hurriedly knelt down and begged for forgiveness.
She had actually returned as quickly as she could. She simply had not expected the commandery princess to be angry anyway.
“Commandery Princess, it took half an hour just to stand in line for these pastries!” the maid explained aggrievedly.
Song Shuyu angrily stamped her foot.
“That’s because you’re stupid!”
“I asked you to buy something, and you took this long!”
“How do you handle things?”
“Get up and settle the bill at once. We’re returning to the residence!”
They had been out for rather a long time this time.
Song Shuyu felt somewhat guilty, so she shifted the blame onto the maid.
When the maid saw Song Shuyu walk out, she hurriedly climbed to her feet, grabbed the pastries, and chased after her.
Song Shuyu climbed into the carriage with an angry expression.
The maid went to settle the bill and was startled.
“Fourteen taels of silver!” Her hand trembled as she held the pastries.
Xu Jinxin nodded with a smile.
“Your commandery princess did indeed spend that much. Don’t worry—I’ll give you the itemized bill in a moment.”
The little maid took silver from her purse and paid the bill.
Xu Jinxin handed her a detailed receipt.
“Please come again. We look forward to serving you next time!”
The little maid could not read. Clutching the receipt and carrying the pastries, she hurriedly boarded the carriage waiting outside.
Xu Jinxin waited until the carriage had left before the smile faded from her face.
Just then, a shop assistant walked over.
“Shopkeeper, I heard everything they said just now.”
As he spoke, the shop assistant quietly recounted every word he had overheard to Xu Jinxin.
As it turned out, Xu Jinxin had found Song Shuyu somewhat familiar the moment she entered the shop.
Since she ran a shop, she had become acquainted with most of the young ladies from the capital’s wealthy families.
At first, she thought Song Shuyu was someone she knew.
Unexpectedly, after taking a look at the carriage outside, the shop assistant told Xu Jinxin that she was Commandery Princess Funing.
Xu Jinxin suddenly remembered why she had found her familiar.
Wasn’t this Duoduo, only several times larger?
Still, Duoduo’s features were even more attractive.
Duoduo was lively and spirited, like a little elf.
This Commandery Princess Funing, on the other hand, had an unbearably haughty air.
Xu Jinxin could not help shaking her head.
When Madam Song, wearing a face somewhat similar to Duoduo’s, asked about Song Shuyu’s private room, Xu Jinxin immediately sensed that there was gossip to be had.
She promptly arranged for a shop assistant to stand outside the room and listen in.
After the shop assistant finished recounting everything, an intriguing expression appeared on Xu Jinxin’s face.
Xu Jinxin thought for a moment, then went to the courtyard at the back.
“Yingniang, Mother is going to the Prince of Pingyang’s residence. Are you coming?”
