Ye Tinglan always had a purpose for everything she did.
Her excessive praise of Chu Yun'er's dress just now was likely because she had already found out that the Elegant Embroidery Hall was the dowry shop of the Chu family's eldest daughter-in-law!
Jiang Yuehua was the type of person who didn't concern herself with other matters, spending her days secluded in her own courtyard doing embroidery. Her maids were all skilled embroiderers as well, and they had coincidentally managed her dowry shop quite successfully.
If any of the Chu family's womenfolk went to greet them, the people at the Elegant Embroidery Hall would naturally give them priority in everything, out of respect for Jiang Yuehua.
However, Chu Tianjiao was unwilling to trouble her sister-in-law to rush an order for someone like Ye Tinglan.
Chu Yun'er, who had just been basking in the attention, felt extremely uncomfortable when interrupted by her elder sister.
"Elder sister, I..."
Chu Tianjiao put her arm around Chu Yun'er's shoulders and said with a smile, "Little sister, Miss Ye is a VIP at the Rare Treasures Pavilion, spending a hundred thousand taels in one go. The rush fee at our Elegant Embroidery Hall is but a drop in the bucket for her. Why would she need your help? She's just toying with you."
Chu Yun'er, who was aware of the Rare Treasures Pavilion's reputation, asked in astonishment, "Where did she get so much money?"
Chu Tianjiao replied with a charming smile, "That, I don't know."
She glanced at Ye Tinglan and said sarcastically:
"Her grandfather is the Minister of Personnel, after all. So many people are begging her family for promotions. Unlike our family, who are poor and destitute, earning everything we eat, wear, and use through real battles on the battlefield."
As a member of the Chu family, Chu Yun'er strongly agreed with Chu Tianjiao's words, and any anger she had felt towards her elder sister dissipated.
She naively asked Ye Tinglan, "Sister Ye, if you're so rich, why don't you just go to the Elegant Embroidery Hall and pay the rush fee yourself? Why play with me?"
The smile on Ye Tinglan's face froze, and she secretly panicked: Wasn't Chu Tianjiao always known for her straightforwardness? Why does she sound like she's imitating me today?
Chu Tianjiao raised an eyebrow, looking challengingly at Ye Tinglan. Her gaze seemed to say: Little girl, don't think I only know how to fight. I've experienced your petty tricks in my past life, and I'll pay them all back in this one.
Ye Tinglan ignored Chu Tianjiao's provocation and instead curtsied gracefully to her. Her posture was like a willow in the wind, evoking sympathy.
"Elder Sister Chu, you've misunderstood me. I genuinely like your little sister, which is why I spoke more with her."
As she said this, Ye Tinglan didn't forget to gaze affectionately at Chu Yun'er, as if the words "sisterly love" were written on her face.
Chu Yun'er wavered and tugged at Chu Tianjiao, asking, "Elder sister, did you misunderstand Sister Ye?"
Hearing this, Chu Tianjiao was so frustrated that she wanted to open up her cousin's brain and insert one sentence: "Everything Ye Tinglan says is nonsense!"
Chu Tianjiao deeply felt the enemy's profound mastery of subtle manipulation, and realized that she, as a "pseudo-expert," needed to be cautious in her response.
Chu Tianjiao controlled her not-so-obedient facial muscles, plastered a smile on her face, stepped forward to help Ye Tinglan up, and unexpectedly began praising her:
"Miss Ye, there's no need for such formality. My little sister is indeed lovable to all who see her, as beautiful as blooming flowers. I completely understand your desire to teach her about life."
Chu Yun'er, standing nearby, was confused. Was she really that lovable in her elder sister's eyes?
What did her sister mean by saying Sister Ye wanted to teach her about life?
Before Chu Yun'er could figure it out, she heard Chu Tianjiao praise with even more enthusiasm than Ye Tinglan had earlier:
"Miss Ye, I see that your attire today is far more luxurious than my little sister's! Look at that peacock hairpin on your head. I saw it at the Rare Treasures Pavilion, it costs five thousand taels!"
All the noble ladies around, including Chu Yun'er, turned their gaze to the peacock hairpin on Ye Tinglan's head.
Chu Tianjiao clicked her tongue in admiration and gave a thumbs up:
"The Ye family is truly wealthy! Even a concubine-born daughter can spend money so lavishly."
The surrounding noble ladies nodded in agreement. Most of them couldn't possibly spend five thousand taels on a single hairpin.
By now, some were casting envious glances at Ye Tinglan.
Chu Tianjiao's smile faded as she turned and took Chu Yun'er's hand, saying dejectedly:
"The Minister's mansion is indeed unlike our poor Marquis of Liyang Mansion.
Everyone, don't be fooled by how presentable my sister and I look today. Actually, what we wear on our heads and bodies are all either gifts from the palace or taken from our own shop.
As the legitimate eldest daughter of a first-rank marquis family, I truly appear shabby in front of Miss Ye!"
After saying this, Chu Tianjiao pretended to wipe away a tear.
Chu Yun'er was at a loss after Chu Tianjiao's performance, thinking to herself:
"Are we really that poor? Was I being too silly earlier, showing off for so long over just one dress?"
Chu Tianjiao's performance attracted more and more noble ladies.
In the past, when Chu Tianjiao was known for her bullying ways, the young ladies of the Capital City would avoid her. Now that she was here crying poor, they felt she was more approachable than the rumors suggested.
Chu Tianjiao thought to herself: Didn't Ye Tinglan and Zhou Tongyun show off their wealth in front of her that day?
Today, she would confirm the Ye family's extravagance and make everyone suspect that their money came from dubious sources.
Ye Tinglan, being clever, understood the implications of Chu Tianjiao's words.
She became somewhat anxious. If her grandfather found out she was flaunting her wealth outside, affecting his reputation, he would surely not let her off lightly.
In fact, that VIP card wasn't obtained by spending a hundred thousand taels, but was given to her by someone else.
But she dared not say so. If she did, wouldn't it confirm that the Ye family was accepting bribes?
This Chu Tianjiao, how did she become so formidable today?
Wasn't it just because of that day when she mocked her for not being able to go up to the second floor of the Rare Treasures Pavilion and buy the peacock hairpin?
Tears welled up in Ye Tinglan's eyes, making her look incredibly pitiful. She took off the peacock hairpin from her head, as if it pained her greatly, and cried out:
"Elder Sister Chu, that day at the Rare Treasures Pavilion, I thought you didn't like this hairpin, and I was so fond of it, so I bought it. If you like it... then... then I'll give it to you..."
As she finished speaking, Ye Tinglan held out the peacock hairpin with trembling hands, tears finally streaming down her cheeks:
"The money to buy the hairpin wasn't from my father, but from my mother's dowry. Please, Sister Chu, don't be angry with me anymore."
Ye Tinglan's intentions couldn't have been clearer. She was implying that Chu Tianjiao had been targeting her because they had fought over this hairpin at the Rare Treasures Pavilion.
Now, under Chu Tianjiao's pressure, she had no choice but to give the hairpin to her.
Ye Tinglan was betting that Chu Tianjiao absolutely wouldn't dare to accept this hairpin.
This retreat-to-advance performance directly pushed Chu Tianjiao back into the "little tyrant" image everyone had of her, while Ye Tinglan became the weak girl being bullied.
This was truly the work of a master manipulator!
If Chu Tianjiao hadn't been repeatedly tormented by Ye Tinglan, she might not have been able to withstand it and would have punched her in the face right then and there.
This would have further solidified Chu Tianjiao's image as a bully.
Some of the surrounding noble ladies and madams were already quietly condemning Chu Tianjiao for going too far, saying she shouldn't bully a weak girl like this over just a hairpin.
Seeing that everyone was about to be swayed again, Chu Tianjiao knew she couldn't outperform Ye Tinglan in acting, so she decided to stop pretending.
To avoid being forcibly framed by Ye Tinglan, she took two steps back and waved her hand, saying:
"When did I ever say I liked your lousy hairpin? You say the money to buy the hairpin was from your mother's dowry. Your mother is just a concubine in the Ye household, where would she get a dowry from?"
In Li Country, concubines were essentially bought and sold. Being property themselves, they were not allowed to have private possessions, so naturally, there was no such thing as a dowry for them.
Ye Tinglan's words clearly didn't hold up.
Chu Tianjiao had publicly used her status as a concubine-born daughter to slap her in the face again, making Ye Tinglan seethe with hatred.
Her tears became even more genuine.
Seeing Ye Tinglan so heartbroken, Zhou Tongyun couldn't stand it anymore. She glared at Chu Tianjiao and scolded, "Chu Tianjiao, you just won't let up, will you?"
Zhou Tongyun pulled Ye Tinglan and said, "Sister Ye, don't stoop to the level of this pauper. Why give her the peacock hairpin? She doesn't deserve it!"
Chu Tianjiao didn't want to bother with Zhou Tongyun at all; she was just Ye Tinglan's brainless follower.
But Zhou Tongyun's use of the word "pauper" played right into her hands.
