"Elder sister, you fainted in grandmother's courtyard yesterday. Are you feeling better now?"
As soon as she entered the room, Xiao Jingwan couldn't wait to inquire about Xiao Bao'er's health. She even eagerly poured a cup of tea and invited Xiao Bao'er to drink it. She looked extremely concerned, as if she were truly a kind - hearted younger sister who cared about her elder sister. However, upon closer inspection, the gloating in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
Xiao Jinghui looked at her obsequious behavior with disgust. She turned her head away, rolled her eyes, and said bluntly, "Fourth sister, with such excessive concern, an outsider might think that elder sister is your legitimate elder sister. You've never been this attentive to me before."
Xiao Jingwan ignored Xiao Jinghui's sarcasm. There was still a flattering smile on her face. "Elder sister is in poor health. As younger sisters, it's only natural that we should take better care of her, right?" Then, she shifted her tone and glanced at Xiao Jinghui out of the corner of her eye. "If third sister ever falls ill one day, I'll take care of you just like this."
"You!"
Xiao Jinghui was rendered speechless by Xiao Jingwan but didn't know how to retort. She could only turn around and sulk.
These two sisters had always been at odds. Xiao Jinghui, the third sister, was the legitimate daughter of the second branch. However, her temperament was nothing like that of her second aunt, who was quiet. On the contrary, she was impatient and easily irritated. She also loved to be sarcastic. When others retorted, she didn't know how to respond, often becoming the butt of jokes.
Xiao Jingwan, the fourth sister, was the daughter of Concubine Bai from the second branch. Concubine Bai was a noble concubine. Her natal family was a well - known wealthy merchant in Ruzhou, with a fortune of dowry. Therefore, Concubine Bai and Xiao Jingwan held a relatively high position in the second branch. With her mother as her backing, Xiao Jingwan naturally wouldn't tolerate her legitimate elder sister. The two often quarreled.
Xiao Bao'er held the teacup and sipped the tea slowly. Her eyes were constantly observing the younger sisters in front of her. Besides Xiao Jinghui and Xiao Jingwan, there was also Xiao Jinglan, the fifth sister from the third branch. She had the lowest presence among the sisters. Her father was an illegitimate son of the Xiao family and not the old madam's own child. Moreover, her third uncle's official position wasn't very high. So, the entire third branch had little presence in the Xiao family.
Xiao Jinglan watched the two elder sisters bicker. She sat quietly on one side with a faint smile on her face. Her hands were folded on her knees, always maintaining a dignified and proper demeanor. When she noticed Xiao Bao'er looking at her, she smiled and nodded at her.
"Elder sister, I heard that aunt has ordered some jewelry from Shuiyunzhai for you. Could you please show it to us?" Xiao Jingwan looked at Xiao Bao'er with eager eyes, her big eyes blinking.
Seeing this, Xiao Jinghui sneered, "Your aunt, who reeks of money, has surely given you a lot of subsidies. Why do you still come here to mooch off elder sister every day?"
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Xiao Bao'er asked someone to bring out a sandalwood box from the inner room. Then she opened it, allowing everyone to see the jewelry inside.
Each piece of jewelry looked resplendent and extremely valuable. However, upon closer inspection, they were just a pile of gold, jade, and precious stones, lacking any sense of beauty. They were completely unsuitable for an unmarried young girl.
Xiao Bao'er looked at these jewelry pieces. A sneer appeared on her lips beneath the veil. At first, she thought that Madam Xiao doted on her so much that she would order jewelry from Shuiyunzhai, the most popular jewelry shop in the capital. Shuiyunzhai was famous for its exquisite and luxurious ornaments and only accepted orders from high - ranking officials and nobles. However, the jewelry in front of her was only luxurious.
Madam Xiao didn't put any effort into choosing jewelry for her. She probably just gave a simple order, and the servants were sent to Shuiyunzhai. The servants didn't have much taste and didn't dare to neglect their master, so they just told the craftsmen in Shuiyunzhai to use more luxurious materials. That's why the jewelry turned out like this.
However, in Xiao Jingwan's eyes, these were all cold, hard silver. She was calculating how much each hairpin was worth. Her mother was right. Elder sister was the legitimate daughter of the first branch of the Xiao family. She would surely receive more valuable things. If she could please elder sister, she would surely get some real benefits. After all, who would嫌 their money too much?
Xiao Jingwan took out the heaviest hairpin from the box and gently stroked it in her hand. Her reluctant - to - part look made Xiao Jinghui grind her teeth in anger.
Sure enough, she had the low - class blood of a merchant in her bones. Look at her greedy appearance. She was really beneath contempt!
When she noticed Xiao Bao'er looking at her, Xiao Jingwan pretended to be reluctant and put the hairpin back into the box. She said sadly, "I'm just an illegitimate daughter of the second branch. My aunt has a low status. How could she ask the craftsmen in Shuiyunzhai to make jewelry for me? I can only take a look at them here with elder sister."
After saying that, she picked up a handkerchief and pretended to wipe away non - existent tears.
Then, the room fell into an awkward silence. Xiao Bao'er stared blankly at the water in the teacup, as if she hadn't heard Xiao Jingwan's words.
Xiao Jingwan frowned slightly. Usually, when she showed such a pitiful look, elder sister would surely feel sorry for her and give her the hairpin. Why didn't this trick work this time?
Thinking of this, she raised her voice a bit. "Elder sister, you don't have to give the hairpin to me just because of my words. You've given me a lot of jewelry before. I feel really ashamed to accept them when you're sacrificing your own preferences."
"Oh, then take it back."
"What?"
Ignoring Xiao Jingwan's stunned expression, Xiao Bao'er ordered someone to close the sandalwood box and put it back into the inner room. Then she looked at Xiao Jingwan with a satisfied expression.
"Fourth sister has really grown up. She knows that she can't always come here to... oh no... take things from me. Since you feel so guilty, please return all the things I gave you before, so that you won't feel restless day and night and lose weight."
"Pfft!"
Xiao Jinghui couldn't help laughing out loud. When Xiao Jingwan heard Xiao Bao'er's words, her face turned pale. Not to mention that there was no reason to take back the things that had been given away. She had taken a lot of things from Xiao Bao'er, and many of them had been exchanged for silver or other things. It was impossible for her to return them all at once.
"E... elder sister, how can the things that have been given away be taken back? If this gets out, people will surely laugh at elder sister..."
Before Xiao Bao'er could answer, Xiao Jinghui spoke up first. "Fourth sister, you said it yourself. Those things were given to you by elder sister with great reluctance. You also said that you felt ashamed to accept them. So, it's only natural for you to return them. Elder sister is just worried about you."
Hearing this, Xiao Bao'er nodded in agreement. "Fourth sister, if you really feel ashamed, please return the things. I don't mind if they're a bit old."
Is this about whether the things are old or not?! Xiao Jingwan roared in her heart.
She never expected that this trip would end up in a complete failure. Thinking that she had to tell her aunt about this when she got back, Xiao Jingwan's back was instantly soaked with sweat. If that stingy aunt knew about this, she might beat her until her back was black and blue. Thinking of this, Xiao Jingwan lost the mood to continue chatting and fell silent.
Seeing her illegitimate younger sister being deflated for once, Xiao Jinghui was in a great mood. Then she remembered something that would make her even happier. A glint of excitement flashed in her eyes.
"Elder sister, have you received the invitation to the flower - viewing banquet hosted by Princess Lin'an in three days?"