Chapter 98 - Creating an Opportunity for Advancement

Baili Anning frowned. Was this Yang Yingxue crazy? No matter how stupid she was, she should at least have some brain.

Shen Ninghua turned around and changed the topic. “Cousin, I know that you want to save money for Second Master, but don’t worry. These masters here have plenty of money, so hurry up and pick some hairpins.”

The shopkeeper of Treasure Pavilion heaved a sigh of relief. He secretly glared at Yang Yingxue. These people were all gods of wealth for the shop. Although they didn’t come very often, every time they came, the money they spent was enough to generate one half of the shop’s monthly income. In addition, they were obviously very powerful people. So he would always try his best to make these two young ladies happy to build a relationship. Today, this person almost destroyed it.

“Miss, I’ve wrapped up this gift and am ready to give it to you.” The money these misses spent allowed him to make money even if he gave away some more gifts, so he was very willing to give her a gift.

Baili Anning immediately laughed. “Alright, Ninghua, let’s go picking.”

“Yes.” Shen Ninghua turned to look at Yang Yingxue’s pale face and frowned slightly. She thought that this cousin wouldn’t cause any trouble for her, but it seemed that she had overestimated her.

“Ninghua, hurry up and take a look. This red hairpin is really well-crafted. It almost catches up with those of the Internal Affairs…well, my home. Take it back for fun.” Baili Anning pulled Shen Ninghua around. She occasionally picked up a jewel and tried it on Shen Ninghua’s head. The shopkeeper waited by the side and held a pile of packed jewelry, smiling with wrinkles all over his face.

Yang Yingxue’s face turned pale as she watched from the side. She felt cold sweat bursting out from her back, and she was not at ease at all.

“Miss Yang doesn’t seem to like these things. How about we sit by the side and drink some tea? It takes a long time for Anning to finish shopping every time.” Baili Jinze’s gentle voice carried a faint sense of comfort.

Yang Yingxue raised her head to look at his gentle smile, and her heart flashed with gratitude. “Thank you, Fifth Master.”

Baili Jinze smiled. His expression was as gentle as the spring breeze in March, and he showed no signs of his previous estrangement. The two of them sat by the side and soon became familiar with each other. By the time Shen Ninghua and Baili Anning finished buying hairpins, the two of them had basically become close friends.

Yang Yingxue’s eyes shone brightly, and her behavior had become more at ease.

Baili Jinchuan willingly spent several thousand taels of silver and returned to the restaurant with a pile of jewels.

After a brief lunch, Shen Ninghua stood up and said goodbye to them, “It’s getting late. My cousin and I will go back first. Anning, when you are free, you can come to my house and we’ll hang out together.”

“Alright, alright.” Although Baili Anning hadn’t enjoyed herself to the full, she obediently stood up to send Shen Ninghua away without saying anything else.

But Yang Yingxue was somewhat reluctant. In the morning, she didn’t even have a chance to talk to the Second Prince. How was she willing to leave like this?

Shen Ninghua’s eyes suddenly turned cold. “Cousin, it’s high time we went back. Otherwise, aunt will be worried.”

Yang Yingxue’s heart trembled, and she couldn’t breathe for a moment. In the end, she didn’t have the courage to resist and followed Shen Ninghua out.

Along the way, Yang Yingxue was very silent. After returning to the Prefectural Princess Mansion, she did not even say goodbye and directly walked towards Cuizhu Pavilion.

Bai Ruo frowned discontentedly. This Yang Yingxue dared to treat Miss so disrespectfully. “Miss…”

“It’s ok. Leave her alone.”

After saying that, Shen Ninghua walked back, but suddenly she heard a scream followed by the sound of something falling into the water.

“Ah, help, help!”

Shen Ninghua’s pupils narrowed as she hurriedly ordered Qing Que, “Qing Que, go and help her out.”

“Yes, Miss.” Qing Que flew to the pond. She grabbed the railing with one hand and Yang Yingxue’s collar with the other.

“Cough cough…” Yang Yingxue covered her chest and coughed. Her face reddened with the cough. She stared blankly at Shen Xuanlin, who was standing not far from her. “You…Why did you push me?”

She was walking on the path, but this boy suddenly pushed her into the pond.

Xia Jingqiu rushed over. She saw this scene and immediately cried with tears on her face. “My girl, what happened to you? Didn’t you go hanging out? Why did you fall into the water?”

Yang Yingxue’s face was deathly pale as she trembled due to the cold. “Mother, I don’t know. I was walking, and this child suddenly crashed into me and directly knocked me into the water.”

“My poor child…” Xia Jingqiu hugged Yang Yingxue and they cried together.

Shen Xuanlin pursed his lips and stood at the side. His eyes were filled with anger. This person was annoying and dared to be so disrespectful to his eldest sister who provided her with a lodging place. She really had no idea about her own status.

Shen Ninghua quickly walked over. Seeing Shen Xuanlin’s expression, her face immediately turned cold. “Xuanlin, apologize.”

“Eldest Sister, I’m not going to apologize to this person.” Shen Xuanlin suddenly turned his head.

Shen Ninghua frowned. “I repeat, apologize.”

“Eldest Sister, I didn’t do anything wrong…”

“How can you say you did nothing wrong? What did you say before? Are my words nothing for you now?” Shen Ninghua looked at him sternly.

Shen Xuanlin’s expression changed. He gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Yang Yingxue. Then he turned around and ran out. That woman was clearly very bad. He did the right thing, so he wouldn’t apologize.

Xia Jingqiu raised her head and said, “Ninghua, that child must be your younger brother Shen Xuanlin. He’s so domineering at such a young age. When he grows up, he will be uncontrollable.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes were deep. “Qing Que, grab him and bring him back.”

“Yes, Miss.” Qing Que leapt forward and brought Shen Xuanlin back with one hand.

“Let me go, Aunt Qing Que, let me go.”

“Xuanlin, I’m going to ask you one last time. Do you apologize or not?”

“No.” Shen Xuanlin’s remained stubborn.

Shen Ninghua seemed to have lost her patience. She turned around and called the guards over. “Give Shen Xuanlin fifteen strokes.”

Eldest Sister wanted to beat him! Was she angry? Before he could say anything else, the guards immediately stepped forward and placed Shen Xuanlin on the stool. They raised their clubs and beat him.

Shen Xuanlin gritted his teeth and didn’t let out a single cry of pain. He only clenched the edge of the bench so hard that his fingernails were filled with wood chips. Shen Ninghua stared coldly until the fifteen clubs were all applied. She then turned to look at Xia Jingqiu and said, “Aunt, I didn’t teach Xuanlin well. I will discipline him properly in the future. Let me apologize to my cousin on his behalf for this matter.”

Xia Jingqiu frowned and looked at Shen Xuanlin’s clothes that were stained with blood. She was very satisfied with the situation. “Forget it this time. Ah, my poor Yingxue, I will take you to change your clothes.”

Shen Ninghua turned around and instructed Bai Ruo. “Go ask Doctor Zhang Nian to diagnose for my cousin. Also, take some good ginseng herbs from my warehouse and send them to my cousin.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Xia Jingqiu who was walking back to her courtyard secretly curled her lips and was finally satisfied.

Returning to Cuizhu Pavilion, Yang Yingxue wanted to take a bath and change her clothes immediately, but Xia Jingqiu pulled her back and said, “Yingxue, wait.”

“Mother, I’m freezing to death. What are you waiting for?” Yang Yingxue’s mood was so bad that she couldn’t help but shake off Xia Jingqiu’s arm.

“You silly child,” Xia Jingqiu hurriedly pulled her back. “Did you meet the Second Prince today?”

Thinking of the Second Prince, Yang Yingxue suddenly blushed. The impatience in her eyes reduced a lot. “Well, the Second Prince is a wise and powerful man. He is extremely…handsome.” She spoke slowly, feeling that it was difficult to describe the Second Prince’s bearing clearly with any words.

When Xia Jingqiu saw her expression, she immediately smiled and said, “You silly girl, then do you want to see the Second Prince again?”

Yang Yingxue looked at her crossly, but in the end, she couldn’t resist the desire in her heart. “Of course I want to see him again.”

“That’s it.”

“I was wondering what excuse could make the Second Prince come and see you again, but now, this excuse is already delivered to my door.”

Yang Yingxue still didn’t understand. Xia Jingqiu quickly walked into the room and took out a jade box. She took out a red pill from the box and said, “Eat it, and your pulse will weaken and you will have a lasting fever.”

“Won’t this hurt my body?” Yang Yingxue was a little worried.

“You think your mother will harm you? Don’t worry, I got an expert to make this pill. It won’t harm your body. What’s more, it will also remove some toxins from your body during the fever and make you look even more beautiful and attractive.”

Yang Yingxue’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Mother, every time father went to the concubines’ courtyards, you would get sick. This is the pill you used.”

Xia Jingqiu nodded her head and did not deny it. “Well, alright, it should be about time. Take this medicine first, and then go change your clothes.”

Yang Yingxue nodded happily and went to the inner room with joy in her heart.

An hour later, Zhang Nian came and felt Yang Yingxue’s pulse. “Miss Yang is weak and caught a cold. I’ll prescribe some medicine for her. She should be fine after taking it for a few days.”

Xia Jingyan and Yang Yingxue looked at each other and smiled.

When Zhang Nian walked out of Cuizhu Pavilion, Hong Ling greeted him. “Doctor Zhang, Her Highness wants to see you.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Inside Ruixi Courtyard, Shen Ninghua asked Bai Ruo to bring some tea to Zhang Nian. Then she asked, “Doctor Zhang, thank you for coming all the way here. How is my cousin?”

“Miss Yang should be fine, but it seemed she had taken medicine that weakened her body. It’s very similar to the symptoms of a cold. I prescribed some nourishing medicine. After taking it, she will be fine.”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes moved. She didn’t expect that Yang Yingxue really played tricks on her. “Thank you, Doctor Zhang, for telling me the truth.”

“It’s nothing. Doctor Chen speaks highly of your medical skills. If there is a chance, I hope to have a discussion with you.” Although Zhang Nian was aloof from politics and material pursuits, he was extremely obsessed with medical skills.

“No problem. I’ll definitely ask for your advice if I have the chance in the future.”

Zhang Nian drank a cup of tea, asked Shen Ninghua for a jar of wine, and left contentedly.

Shen Ninghua’s face darkened. “Hong Ling, send someone to keep an eye on Cuizhu Pavilion. I don’t mind Yang Yingxue using me as a springboard to fly up the branches, but I won’t allow anything embarrassing to happen in my mansion. If anything happens, report to me in time.”

“Yes, Miss. Don’t worry. I will definitely have someone keep close watch on them.”

Shen Ninghua was a little restless. “How is Xuanlin?”

Bai Ruo felt a little sorry for him. “Miss, Young Master Xuanlin was sent back and has been lying on the bed without saying a word. He didn’t even eat anything. Why don’t you go take a look?” Young Master Xuanlin looked so pitiful that she couldn’t bear it.

Shen Ninghua sighed. Then, she stood up and walked towards Shen Xuanlin’s courtyard.

In the room, Shen Xuanlin was lying on his stomach on the bed in a daze. His eyes were tightly closed, but he couldn’t stop tears from flowing down. In the end, he seemed to be annoyed and buried his head on the quilt like an abandoned little cub.

When Shen Ninghua entered the room, she saw the boy hiding on the bed like an ostrich. Immediately, she didn’t know whether she should be angry or laugh. “Have you applied medicine to the wound?”

Hearing the voice he had been waiting for, Shen Xuanlin suddenly raised his head. He wanted to get up, but he suddenly fell back on the bed. He only stared at Shen Ninghua. His dark eyes that had been washed by tears lit up, but there was some awkwardness and embarrassment in them. “Eldest Sister, why do you care about me? Just beat me to death.”

“Then it seems that you don’t want to see me anymore. I’ll go.”

“No, Eldest Sister!”