Su Li turned her head to see a young lady dressed in luxurious clothing entering the shop, followed by two or three other young won.
The lady carried herself with an air of arrogance, her chin lifted high as if looking down on everyone around her.
Madam Liu quickly stepped forward with a welcoming smile. "Ladies, are you here to select fabric or ready-made clothing?"
The young lady pointed at the Suzhou Silk Brocade. "I want that fabric."
Madam Liu hesitated and replied apologetically, "This… this fabric has already been claid by this young Miss. It is the only piece available, and she arrived first."
The lady’s expression darkened. Before she could speak, one of her companions stepped forward and scolded, "Do you even know who you’re talking to? This is the esteed daughter of the current Right Pri Minister! Hand over the fabric imdiately!"
Ruyi Pavilion's reputation as the largest tailor shop in the capital stemd from its adherence to its principles. Madam Liu firmly stated, "This young Miss arrived first. Unless she decides not to take it, I suggest you look at other fabrics."
ng Zhiyun glanced at Su Li, lifting her chin disdainfully. "This fabric is mine. Pick sothing else."
Su Li studied her for a mont. The rumors in the capital about the Right Pri Minister favoring his concubines over his wife seed true—this arrogant girl must be one of his illegitimate daughters.
Without a word, Su Li closed the box containing the fabric. ng Zhiyun smirked, satisfied that Su Li had backed down, and was about to declare Su Li sensible when Su Li spoke up.
"Madam Liu, take my asurents. I want this fabric tailored into a dress here."
ng Zhiyun’s face darkened. "How dare you! Do you have any idea who I am? You dare to fight for this?"
Seeing Su Li’s plain attire, ng Zhiyun assud she couldn’t possibly belong to a powerful family.
Su Li let out a cold laugh. "A re illegitimate daughter dares to act so arrogantly?"
The words struck like a slap to the face. ng Zhiyun’s expression twisted in anger as she realized she had just been humiliated in front of her followers.
Enraged, she stepped forward, raising her hand to strike Su Li, shouting, "You wretched girl! You’re asking for a beating!"
Zhishu swiftly intercepted her wrist and shouted back, "Our Miss is the legitimate daughter of the Minister! How dare you!"
ng Zhiyun shook off Zhishu’s hand and sneered, "Oh, so it’s you—the disfigured ugly monster everyone’s been talking about. What’s this? Too ashad to stay locked up at ho, and now you dare to show your face in public?"
Su Li looked at her coldly and spoke calmly, "Zhishu."
Zhishu turned back, "Miss?"
"Do you hear a dog barking sowhere?"
Zhishu paused for a mont before replying, "Yes, Miss. I do hear it."
ng Zhiyun’s face twisted with rage. Though she didn’t dare lay hands on Su Li—knowing Su Li had the backing of the Minister and the Duke Wei’s Manor—she turned her fury on Zhishu. Raising her hand, she aid to slap Zhishu instead.
"Stop!"
A sharp voice rang out, halting ng Zhiyun in her tracks. She turned abruptly and imdiately paled. Gone was her aggressive deanor as she composed herself hastily.
"Greetings to the Fifth Princess!" she said, bowing deeply. Seeing the man standing behind the princess, she quickly added, "Greetings to Prince Jing!"
Su Li also curtsied. "Greetings, Fifth Princess. Greetings, Your Highness Prince Jing."
The Fifth Princess nodded slightly and asked, "You’re Su Li? Is Su Yue your half-sister?"
Su Li nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
In her previous life, Su Li wasn’t familiar with the Fifth Princess, but she knew of her fate. Once celebrated as the most beautiful woman in the capital, the Princess Chaoyang t a tragic end. After Jun Hui ascended the throne, she was sent far away to marry a foreign prince in the Western Territories as part of a political alliance.
The Fifth Princess studied Su Li for a mont. Up close, she noticed Su Li’s eyes—visible beyond her veil—were strikingly beautiful, clear, and pure. They reminded her of the Persian cat her mother kept in her palace—soft and innocent, easily bullied. No wonder Su Li’s half-sisters dared to slander her.
If Su Li had known what the princess was thinking, she would have found it amusing. While the Su Li of her previous life might have been clean and ek, the Su Li of this lifeti was a vengeful spirit risen from hell, ready to drag her enemies down with her.
The Fifth Princess turned her gaze to ng Zhiyun and scolded, "I heard your argunt from outside. The fabric belongs to the person who arrived first. How dare you try to take it by force? Is this what the Right Pri Minister teaches his daughters?"
ng Zhiyun quickly apologized, "Your Highness, I was wrong!"
The princess snorted. "Abusing your status to bully others—how bold of you! Why aren’t you continuing now?"
ng Zhiyun stamred, "I—I was wrong, Your Highness. Please excuse . I’ll leave right away." She hurriedly gathered her companions and fled in embarrassnt.
Jun Mo chuckled softly at his elder sister’s righteous scolding. When she put on that stern act, she could indeed be intimidating.
Jun Mo then spoke with a gentle voice, tinged with humor. "Elder Sister, hurry up and choose your fabric so we can return to the palace."
The princess, who had been maintaining a dignified air, suddenly rolled her eyes at him. "Alright, alright! You hate shopping, don’t you? It’s such a chore for you to accompany ."
Noticing Su Li’s curious gaze, the princess quickly straightened her posture, coughed lightly, and said, "Pardon . Please, go ahead and choose first."
Su Li curved her lips in a polite smile. "I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness. Please, you go first."
The princess held her head high. "Very well."
While Madam Liu assisted the princess in selecting fabric, Su Li stepped aside. Occasionally, she overheard words like "Crown Prince" and "wedding date" from their conversation.
After a while, the Fifth Princess glanced at Su Li and said, "You may choose now. I didn’t find anything I liked."
As expected, the palace undoubtedly had access to the finest fabrics from across the land. Despite Ruyi Pavilion’s reputation, it couldn’t compare to the imperial tribute.
When the princess and Jun Mo left, Su Li bowed respectfully.
Jun Mo glanced back briefly at Su Li’s retreating figure.
The princess sighed, "That Miss Su is quite pitiful. I vaguely rember seeing her at a palace banquet a few years ago. She left an impression because she was so adorable back then. Now, she’s disfigured—such a sha."
Jun Mo’s tone was indifferent. "It’s just fate."
The princess snorted. "Why are you so detached? You sound like a monk who has abandoned all worldly attachnts. Find yourself a wife already. Mother keeps pestering my mother about it."
Jun Mo’s expression remained calm, as always, with a faint smile. "When the ti is right."
The princess rolled her eyes. At this point, she wouldn’t be surprised if her younger brother ended up becoming a monk. He had inherited their mother’s unflappable deanor—calm and composed no matter what happened.
By the ti Su Li returned to the manor, it was lunchti.
"Mother, I’m here to join you for lunch," Su Li said as she entered the dining hall.
Madam Su teased her affectionately, "You used to never leave the house, but now you go out and only return at alti. You’re becoming so wild!"
She ordered the servants to bring out the dishes.
After having lunch with her mother and chatting for a while, Su Li excused herself when Madam Su went for her afternoon nap.
As Su Li walked back toward her courtyard with her maids, a greasy voice called out from behind her.
"Dear cousin!"
Su Li turned to see a man in fine clothing approaching, fanning himself in what he thought was an elegant manner.
Zhishu imdiately stepped in front of Su Li and demanded, "Stop right there! Who are you?"
The man glanced at Zhishu, his eyes lighting up with interest.
Although Su Li was known as a disfigured "ugly monster," her maid was quite pretty. If he could marry Su Li, these maids would naturally beco his as well.
His dissatisfaction with his father’s arrangent lightened sowhat at the thought.
"I’m your cousin, Xia Wencai," the man said smugly.
Su Li frowned. Xia Wencai? Wasn’t that Xia Jiang’s son?
It seed Xia Jiang, unable to leave the Western Garden, had sent his son to deal with her instead.
Su Li’s voice turned cold. "I have only one cousin, and he’s the young master of the Duke Wei’s Manor."
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Hey, don’t go, cousin! Wait!" Xia Wencai hurried after her, reaching out to grab her arm.
Zhishu shouted angrily, "How dare you!"
Su Li stopped and turned, her voice icy. "If you continue bothering , I’ll have you thrown into the pond."
Xia Wencai froze under Su Li’s cold gaze, not daring to take another step forward.
As Su Li walked away, Xia Wencai’s expression turned venomous.
"You little b**. Once I get my hands on you, let’s see if you can still act so high and mighty!"
[--------------------------------------------]
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