Volume One, Chapter 11: My Lord, I Refuse to Be Used as a Stepping Stone by Others to Curry Favor with You

Chunhua was also puzzled. "My lady, didn't you ask the Treasure Pavilion to send these over? Chunyue and I checked the ledger together. I even mentioned it to you that night; have you forgotten?"

"I clearly only chose these pearl hairpins, two golden pins, and one jade hairpin." Liu Wuyi took those three items out of her vanity case and turned to look at Chuntao, who was walking in.

Chuntao peered into the vanity case and exclaimed in surprise, "My lady indeed only chose these few items at the time. I even wanted to suggest picking a few more, but before I could speak, I don't know why the shop sent so many."

Chunhua said, "It couldn't have been a delivery error, could it? These items altogether must be worth thousands of taels, right?"

Although she was in a hurry to leave, Liu Wuyi knew she had to get to the bottom of these extra accessories. She had Chunhua pin on the pieces she had actually purchased and sent for Steward Liu to come in and be questioned.

Steward Liu entered and, in a few short words, explained that the Treasure Pavilion had acted on its own initiative. He assured Liu Wuyi that the accounting department had already settled the bill, telling her to wear them with peace of mind.

After he left, Liu Wuyi sighed and rested her forehead in her hand. "No wonder his lordship had that look on his face last night..."

Two nights ago, during dinner, Liu Wuyi had informed Tantai Jianan that she would be attending a social gathering at the Treasure Pavilion the following day. Tantai Jianan had only told her to buy whatever caught her eye.

"In his eyes, I have already..." become someone who curries favor with him only for the sake of wealth and status?

Liu Wuyi felt that all her hard work over the past few days to ease their relationship had been rendered as having ulterior motives. Feeling stifled, she glanced out the window at the red plum blossoms blooming defiantly in the wind, and a brilliant idea came to her.

"Chunhua, help me pluck a branch of plum blossoms."

In front of the Treasure Pavilion, Shopkeeper He had been waiting at the entrance for a long time, knowing that a distinguished guest was arriving today. Seeing the carriage bearing the emblem of the Tantai estate approaching from afar, he hurriedly put on a smiling face to greet her.

Chunhua and Chuntao lifted the carriage curtains for her. Liu Wuyi stepped out and took the arm Shopkeeper He offered to descend.

Liu Wuyi was dressed today in a white jacket with a bird-and-flower pattern, a red cloud-patterned shawl over her shoulders, and a pink skirt that just grazed her feet. As she moved, a subtle fragrance lingered around her. Her attire was intricate and luxurious, giving her an imposing and regal air.

Chunhua and Chuntao stepped off the carriage to drape a white fox-fur collar cloak over her; although the sun was bright and there was no wind today, it was still cold in the middle of winter.

Shopkeeper He praised, "My lady looks as beautiful as a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm today."

Liu Wuyi curled her red lips into an inscrutable smile. She had modified the makeup Chunhua had applied, sharpening the arches of her brows and flicking the corners of her eyes upward, making her appear unreachable even when she smiled.

"Shopkeeper He, did you not notice anything amiss?"

As someone capable of managing the Treasure Pavilion, Shopkeeper He was naturally well-versed in the science of dress. For jewelry to look beautiful, it had to complement the attire perfectly.

If the clothing was plain, one needed to wear heavy treasures to act as a focal point; if the clothing was intricate, the headwear had to be appropriately simple.

Liu Wuyi wore her hair in a simple falling-horse bun, accented by a few bright plum blossoms alongside two pearl hairpins. A single golden pin was inserted diagonally into her hair, with delicate tassels hanging down. It was elegant and refined—that would have been enough.

However, the addition of several gold-inlaid ruby hairpins had ruined the overall harmony, making it appear cluttered and redundant.

When the jewelry was sent over that day, the accounting department had insisted on settling the full payment. Shopkeeper He had realized then that he had tried to flatter someone only to end up on the wrong side of their favor. He had hurriedly prepared a generous gift to send, but it had been thrown out. Fortunately, Liu Wuyi had come today as promised, meaning he hadn't completely offended her; he was prepared to accept whatever punishment or penance she demanded.

"These ruby golden hairpins are indeed superfluous and vulgar." As he spoke, Shopkeeper He slapped himself across the face, the sound clear and audible. He smiled apologetically, "The fault lies with me for mishandling the matter. I hope my lady will not take offense."

"My lady's eye and standard are far above mine. When it comes to the art of coordination, I still have much to learn from you."

Liu Wuyi, who understood that one only needed to give a hint to a smart person, nodded. "Shopkeeper He should indeed learn well."

"The things I desire, his lordship will naturally buy for me."

"My lady is right." Shopkeeper He gestured for her to enter.

Today, there seemed to be new styles on display in the main hall on the first floor, where many wives and young ladies from wealthy families were browsing.

Having achieved her goal of issuing a warning, Liu Wuyi said no more. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Since she had accepted the gifts Shopkeeper He sent, she would eventually have to ask him for a favor before Tantai Jianan. It was better to set the tone from the start so that he would not dare to use her as a stepping stone.

Shopkeeper He breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the matter had been put to rest.

He led her to a private room on the third floor and sent someone to bring a mirror and all the necessary grooming tools so that Liu Wuyi could adjust her hair accessories.

Just as Liu Wuyi and her maids were seated and a servant had served tea and was about to leave, Liu Wuyi caught a glimpse of a piece of clear jade slipping from the servant's collar.

It was the other half!

Liu Wuyi had been worrying about how to make contact, never expecting that her brother would find her himself.

It seemed her brother had been keeping an eye on her movements all along. She needed to send these two maids away to meet him.

Liu Wuyi set down her teacup and gave a light cough. "Chuntao, the pastries at Tongfu Mansion are quite good. Go and buy some for me."

Chuntao accepted the order and left.

As if suddenly remembering something, Liu Wuyi looked at Chunhua and said with frustration, "Last time I went out and bought some fabric to make a set of undergarments for his lordship, but my skills were lacking, and I wasted too much. Now there isn't enough fabric, and I need to buy more. I forgot to tell Chuntao just now, so I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to make a trip as well, Chunhua."

Chunhua hesitated. "But my lady, you will have no one to attend to you. What if you are bumped into or harassed?"

"I am sitting properly here in this private room; what sort of accident could happen? You two will be back in less than a quarter of an hour," Liu Wuyi said dismissively. "Besides, there are Treasure Pavilion servants outside the door, and our Tantai estate guards downstairs. If I need anything, I only have to call out. Rest assured."

Chunhua then agreed and turned to leave.

Liu Wuyi exhaled in relief, hurried to the door, and opened it to search for the servant who had her brother's jade pendant.

"My lady, please follow me this way."

The servant emerged from the right, shaking the piece of clear jade in his sleeve toward her.

Liu Wuyi looked closely—wasn't this the same servant who had served them tea just now? She nodded and followed him out.

As Liu Wuyi followed the servant to the staircase, she bumped into Shopkeeper He, who was bringing guests up.

Seeing the two of them moving in such a hurry, Shopkeeper He bowed with a smile. "I was just about to invite you to the Huacai Hall to admire some treasures, my lady. Would you care to join me?"

Liu Wuyi replied, "It is no matter. There are also treasures worth seeing here on the third floor. Let me look around here first, and I shall join you later."

Shopkeeper He said, "Very well, very well. I shall not disturb your leisure then, my lady."

Liu Wuyi followed the servant away. At the corner of the stairs, a glamorous young woman locked her gaze on Liu Wuyi's retreating back, her expression thoughtful.

"Who is that lady?" she asked Shopkeeper He.

Shopkeeper He turned with a smile. "That is the mistress of the Tantai estate." This Madam Xue from the Marquis of Pingyang's mansion was a regular customer at the Treasure Pavilion; he didn't mind revealing a bit of information to her.