All Hail Cousin Brother

210 Marquis’s Wife

Yang Shuwan happily brought Yu Jianjia into the carriage. Only then did she think of Yu Youyao. She also realized that as her stepmother, it was rare for her to go out for a stroll. If she only brought her biological daughter along, it would inevitably be exposed. However, since they were already in the carriage, it wouldn’t be right to get someone to invite Yu Youyao.

Yu Jianjia also thought of this. “In a few days, it will be Big Sister’s birthday. I think the family will have to prepare for it. Big Sister probably won’t have time to go with us.”

Yang Shuwan smiled and nodded. “That’s true!”

Yu Jianjia pinched her handkerchief and gently pressed the corner of her mouth. No one knew what she was thinking.

The carriage drove all the way to the street. Yang Shuwan first brought Yu Jianjia to Jinxiu Manor.

After discussing the cost of the clothes with Jinxiu Manor, the two of them handed over a piece of high-quality moonlight wishing silk and a piece of dazzling flowing light wishing silk.

After that, Yang Shuwan reminded worriedly, “These are used to make clothes for the Flower Festival at the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence on the 22nd. You have to hurry up and make them. Don’t delay the date.”

The Flower Festival at the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence was also the grandest day in the capital recently. This morning, the Jinxiu Manor received many orders, and they were also very busy.

However, the Yu Residence was an old customer, so they naturally couldn’t be negligent.

Manager Sun smiled and said, “Eldest Madam Yang, don’t worry. I’ll definitely send it to you in three days.”

Yang Shuwan was relieved. She then brought Yu Jianjia to the largest rouge shop in the capital, the Jade House, and picked out a lot of high-quality rouge powder.

Yu Jianjia liked simple and elegant makeup, so she chose a few boxes of nude colors. Such makeup did not look eye-catching, but when it was on her face, it made her skin look even more translucent and fair. Others could not tell that she was wearing makeup, but they felt that her skin color was just like this. Compared to heavy makeup, it was much better.

Seeing that her daughter had chosen inconspicuous colors, Yang Shuwan said, “You can’t choose all these bland colors. At the flower festival, all the daughters from the various families are gathered together. Even if they’re a little older, they will be compared together. Jia Jia, you’re so good-looking. You can’t let others steal your limelight.”

Yu Jianjia said, “I’m still young, so it’s not good to smear so much makeup on my face. If others see it, they’ll think that I’m arrogant and frivolous.”

Only then did Yang Shuwan remember that Jia Jia was only nine years old. It was indeed not appropriate for her to dress up too much. She still said, “You still have to put on some lipstick to look more dignified, lest others think that our family is too casual.”

Yu Jianjia nodded.

Yang Shuwan immediately saw a box that had peach blossom lipstick. She picked it up and looked at it carefully. Then, she smiled and placed it in Yu Jianjia’s hand. “This color suits you. It’s only eye-catching. I rarely see anyone use such a color. It’s probably too tender. Ordinary people can’t use this color.”

Yu Jianjia also felt that this color was not bad, so she nodded. “This box will do!”

When the shopkeeper who was serving them heard this, she hurriedly said, “This color is only available when the merchant ships from Quanzhou enter the capital this time. It’s just that the color is a little too bright, and it’s not easy to match. There are only three boxes in total. Madam, why don’t you take all of them? I guarantee that Sister will use them. It’ll be the first time a family in the capital uses such a color.”

When Yang Shuwan heard this, she quickly said, “Of course.”

Yu Jianjia’s face was also filled with joy. Who didn’t like to be unique and outstanding?

“Go to the Thousand Gold to pick out a few decent accessories.” Yang Shuwan was a frequent visitor of Thousand Gold. As soon as she entered the store, she asked the young shopkeeper to lead her to the second floor. At a glance, she saw a woman wearing a sapphire hairpin and a pure gold peony on her head.

Yang Shuwan was delighted and quickly brought Yu Jianjia over. “What a coincidence to meet the Marquis of Changxing’s wife here today.”

The Marquis of Changxing’s wife turned around and was stunned for a moment when she saw Yang Shuwan, who was full of smiles. Only then did she remember that this was Imperial Censor Yu’s second wife, Madam Yang. She also smiled and said, “So it’s Eldest Madam Yu. What a coincidence!”

She was a little thin and had a high forehead bone. Her smile was a little overbearing.

Yang Shuwan’s smile deepened. She turned around. “Jia Jia, come over and greet the Marquis of Changxing’s wife.”

It wasn’t good for Yu Jianjia to hide behind her mother. She strode forward in small steps and bent her body gently. Her pink and white dress touched the ground, and she looked as beautiful as a blooming lotus. “Hello, Madam.”

The Marquis of Changxing’s wife smiled again. “I haven’t seen Third Miss Yu for a while, but she’s grown again.”

Yu Jianjia said shyly, “Madam, you flatter me.”

She was about to say a few more pleasing words—

“Jia Jia is here too. What a coincidence.”

Yu Jianjia turned her head and saw a petite and cute green-clothed girl walking over with a slender pink-purple girl.

The Marquis of Changxing’s wife waved her hand. “Go play together. I’ll have a good chat with your mother.”

Yu Jianjia smiled and agreed. She quickly walked forward to greet the green-clothed girl with a smile, “That day, I felt like old friends with Seventh Sister Cao at the Precious Peace Temple. After parting, I thought that Seventh Sister had forgotten about me.”

Seventh Miss Cao was none other than Cao Yingxue, the seventh daughter of the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence. The two of them had spoken together at the Precious Peace Temple that day, so they knew each other.

As Yu Jianjia spoke, she looked at the pink and purple girl beside Seventh Miss Cao.

She looked a little older than them, no less than eleven or twelve years old. She was wearing a pink and purple flower dress and a shark veil. However, she looked extremely expensive. She was like a flower bud. Even though she had yet to bloom, she was already extremely beautiful.

Yu Jianjia had a guess, but her eyes were filled with doubt. She turned to look at Seventh Miss Cao.

Cao Yingxue had no choice but to introduce her. “This is my cousin, the fifth young mistress of the Marquis of Weining’s Residence, Lu Mingyao. She came to my house as a guest today and asked me to take her out.”

“Yao?” Yu Jianjia was stunned for a moment. She subconsciously asked, “Which Yao?”

After asking, she realized that she had been a little rash and quickly bowed to Lu Mingyao. “My eldest sister also has the word ‘Yao’ in her name. I apologize for my rudeness just now.”

No one liked that there was someone whose name was similar to hers. Lu Mingyao frowned slightly. “Third Miss Yu, you’re being too serious.”

Yu Jianjia heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. “Thankfully, Fifth Miss Lu is magnanimous and doesn’t blame me. Otherwise, I would have become a saw-billed hermit in the future.”

Lu Mingyao suddenly felt that although Third Miss Yu was a little rash, she was still polite and sensible. She said openly, “My ‘Yao’ character comes from ‘Song of Purity and Peace, 1 of 3’. If we don’t see each other at the peak of Jade Mountain, then we will meet by chance on the Jade terrace under the moonlight. I wonder what the ‘Yao’ character of your sister is?”

It was obvious that she was a little concerned that someone had the same name as her. Yu Jianjia smiled and said, “It’s ‘The Book of Poetry—Guan Jia’. Beautiful girls, gentlemen’s desire.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Cao Yingxue covered her mouth and laughed. “This name is very frivolous, and it’s not as good as my cousin’s.”