The noble girl is beautiful.

In the study hall, Ji Zhuo noticed that Shen Yourong had recently become more diligent in her calligraphy practice. She was no longer just going through the motions; her progress was evident.
On the other hand, she had become increasingly calm and quiet, only talking to a few of her sisters and adhering to a strict schedule, almost to the point of being robotic.
Even Shen Qingyan noticed the change and asked, “Sister, have you been feeling down lately? You seem listless and quiet.”
“Really?” Shen Yourong replied, flipping through a book in a leisurely manner.
Shen Qinghan chimed in, “I’ve noticed it too.”
Shen Yourong simply smiled and stayed silent. Guo Xuezhu, who had just returned from Ji Zhuo’s side, snorted and said, “What worries could Yourong possibly have when she’s just living a life of luxury?”
Without lifting her eyes from the book, Shen Yourong retorted, “Sister Xuezhu seems very busy every day, serving the tutor and then visiting our brothers’ courtyards. Even our maid Du Juan doesn’t have to walk as much as you do. Doesn’t it tire you out?”
Guo Xuezhu’s face turned red. “I move around to show my sincerity, and now you’re comparing me to a maid!”
Shen Yourong turned another page and said, “Sister Xuezhu, your sincerity is indeed grand and noticeable to everyone. But I rarely see you around, so I must have missed your sincere efforts.”
Shen Qingyan and Shen Qinghan both laughed. Guo Xuezhu made herself known to both Ji Zhuo and Shen Shuo, hoping to secure a good marriage, but this made her come across as overly ambitious.
She, infuriated, stormed out, with her maid hastily following. The commotion drew the attention of Ji Zhuo and the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince knocked on the screen and asked, “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Shen Qingyan responded. “It’s none of your business.”
Ji Chengyao laughed, “I didn’t even say anything.”
Ignoring him, Shen Qingyan turned to Shen Yourong and asked, “Sister, it’s rare for you to be so sharp-tongued. Did she upset you?”
Shen Yourong closed her book and said, “Not particularly, but she’s just annoying.”
She then looked at her two sisters and suggested, “The weather is nice today. Would you like to go out for a stroll and check out the latest jewelry and clothing trends?”
“Outside the mansion?” Shen Qingyan eagerly nodded, “Yes, let’s go!”
Shen Qinghan, however, was worried. “How will we get out? If our elders find out, we’ll be punished.”
“Leave that to me,” Shen Yourong reassured her. “I’ll speak with Grandmother.”
She had several properties and businesses, so she often left the mansion to manage them.
Shen Sihui also wanted to join but was stopped by Shen Qingyan, who said, “You’re too young to go out.”
She looked to Shen Yourong for support, who gently replied, “Be good. I’ll bring you some treats when I return.”
After settling the matter, they informed their grandmother and Lady Yang, preparing for their outing in the afternoon.
Shen Qingfeng rode ahead while Shen Yourong and her sisters sat in the carriage, excitedly heading out.
They first visited Zhu Yu Pavilion on Zhu Que Street, the top jewelry shop in the capital, known for its grand decor. It was a must-visit for wealthy young ladies.
After alighting from the carriage, the shopkeeper welcomed them warmly and led them to a private room on the second floor.
“Show us your finest and most novel jewelry,” Shen Yourong instructed.
Soon, a procession of young maids carrying lacquer trays entered, each tray covered with velvet displaying various gold, silver, and jade pieces for the young ladies to choose from.
“This one looks nice,” Shen Qingyan picked up an exquisite blue-enamel pearl hairpin, “It matches Second Sister’s outfit today.”
“I have a similar one,” Shen Qinghan replied. “This time, I want something more vibrant.”
Shen Yourong picked up a gold-plated hairpin with a butterfly and twin flowers, “How about this? But the gemstone isn’t of the best quality.”
“It’s a gold-plated silver hairpin, so it wouldn’t have the finest gems,” Shen Qingyan pointed out. She asked a maid, “Show us something better.”
Another set of maids presented even more dazzling items.
“These look much better,” Shen Qinghan picked a pearl tassel hairpin, “Look how delicate this is.”
Shen Yourong examined it, “The pearls are secondary, but the design is unique. Pair this with your brocade gown, and you’ll look stunning.”
Satisfied, Shen Qinghan set the piece aside. Shen Qingyan teased, “You said you wanted something vibrant but chose another pearl hairpin.”
Shen Qinghan laughed and picked up a pair of gold plum blossom hairpins with gemstones, “How about these? They resemble the pair you have, elder Sister.”
Shen Yourong examined them, “They’re nice, but I have several pairs like these. If you want them, take them.”
Shen Qinghan shook her head, feeling it inappropriate to accept such valuable items without compensation.
Shen Qingyan decided to choose a pair for herself, intending to flaunt them at the study hall and annoy the Guo sisters.
Shen Qinghan joked, “She might ask you for them.”
Shen Qingyan replied, “That would be really annoying.”
Shen Yourong said, “If you all dislike them so much, shall I get rid of them?”
Shen Qingyan asked, “How?”
She replied, “It’s simple. Don’t ask further. Trust that they won’t be around tomorrow.”
Shen Qingyan and Shen Qinghan exchanged curious glances, unsure of Shen Yourong’s plan.
As they continued their shopping, Shen Qingfeng came upstairs, saying, “Little sister, I just remembered, Father asked me to prepare a gift for Prince Duan Ji Zhuo. While we’re here, could you pick a jade ornament or a fan tassel for him?”
“What’s the gift for?” Shen Yourong asked.
“He’s our tutor,” he explained. “During Mid-Autumn Festival, because of my situation, we didn’t celebrate properly or prepare a gift for the tutor. We should make up for it during the Double Ninth Festival.”
Shen Yourong paused, her tone indifferent, “Our Master is really fortunate, receiving gifts while doing nothing.”
He laughed, “What are you saying? The Master teaches us diligently, and as students, it’s right to prepare a gift.”
She didn’t respond immediately. After a moment, she said, “Brother, tell Father that our Master is no ordinary Master. We’re only in the study hall because of the Fourth Prince. What’s the Guo family to us? If they’re allowed to attend, isn’t that reducing Prince Duan to just a tutor?”
He thought it over and agreed, “I’ll mention it to Father.”
Shen Yourong and her sisters exchanged amused glances.
Eventually, Shen Yourong chose a double crane jade pendant made from top-grade mutton fat jade, which was warm and translucent. Shen Qingyan admired it, asking, “Does it have any special meaning?”
She casually replied, “Wishing the Master long life and happiness.”
Shen Qinghan laughed, “he is still so young. Isn’t that wish a bit premature?”
Shen Yourong smirked but said nothing more.
After selecting their jewelry, they visited a silk shop to pick some fashionable fabrics and ordered a few outfits. The shopkeeper, seeing their status, also brought out a box of furs, claiming they were the first of the season.
Shen Yourong felt the fur wasn’t as good as those at home, so she only chose two gray fox pelts for small items.
Their outing greatly improved her mood. That evening, Shen Ying discussed the Guo sisters with Lady Yang, expressing his disapproval of their attendance at the study hall.
Yang, instead of getting angry, was delighted and promptly visited her cousin to sarcastically criticize, driving her away.
The next day, the Guo sisters were indeed absent from the study hall.
Shen Yourong, adorned with new hairpins and dressed in new clothes, arrived at the study hall looking radiant. Ji Zhuo glanced at her several times and called her behind the screen during the break to critique her calligraphy.
“You’ve improved a lot,” he commented.
She lowered her eyes and politely responded, “Thank you, Master.”
His gaze sharpened, “Miss Shen, have I done something to offend you? Why the sudden formality?”
She remained composed, “I treat the Master as always. There’s no change.”
He rubbed his fingers together and said, “Serve tea.”
She paused and asked, “Me?”
He nodded.
Reluctantly, She took the tea from Changming, intending to place it on the table, but her hand slipped, spilling tea everywhere. The papers on the table were soaked, the ink spreading into a black mess.
Feigning innocence, she said, “I’m clumsy. Please don’t blame me, Master.”
Ji Zhuo picked up a ruined sheet, “What a pity. You finally wrote something decent.”
Shen Yourong glanced at him, who smiled and said, “Rewrite it.”
Her face fell, and she angrily left.
Watching her retreating figure, he thought to himself, this is much more lively.
A few days later, Shen Qingfeng’s birthday arrived, and he invited his siblings for a small gathering with crab and wine in his courtyard. The autumn water lilies in his courtyard were at their best.
Shen Yourong and her sisters enjoyed the flowers and wine while listening to Shen Qingfeng’s poetry. Shen Qinghan, also good at poetry, joined in, while Shen Yourong, Shen Qingyan, and Shen Sihui played with Shen Qingyan’s new cards.
After the banquet, Shen Yourong took a stroll in the garden before returning to her courtyard. She found Du Juan talking with someone in the side hall, discovering it was Bai Yan. The two seemed to have grown close, working on embroidery together.
Bai Yan stood to greet her, saying, “I thought there was nothing to do this afternoon, so I came to chat with Du Juan. Why weren’t you in the courtyard?”
“It was my brother’s birthday, so we were all having wine with him,” She replied, sitting down as Du Juan served her tea.
Bai Yan complimented, “No wonder you look so radiant today.”
She touched her face, “I don’t usually drink, so a little wine makes me blush.” She noticed various threads on a small table and asked, “What are you working on?”
“We’re making a decorative knot,” Bai Yan explained. “My prince recently acquired a jade pendant but lacks a matching cord. Knowing Du Juan’s skill, I asked her to help.”
She presented the jade pendant, the same double crane piece Shen Yourong had selected. Bai Yan placed it in front of her, asking, “We were thinking of using light gray thread for a square knot. What do you think?”
Seeing the pendant, she felt a sudden heaviness in her chest. After a long pause, she replied, “Use crow blue thread instead. It’s more dignified.”
Du Juan quickly found the crow blue thread and showed it to Bai Yan. Bai Yan, pleased, said, “You have a better eye than us, as expected.”
She smiled slightly, listening to Bai Yan’s small talk.
Soon, a young maid came to call Bai Yan away, leaving the pendant with Du Juan and instructing her to hurry as the prince needed it soon.
Du Juan agreed and escorted her out.
Returning to the side hall, she found Shen Yourong lounging on the couch, her fingers deftly weaving the thread into an intricate knot, already taking shape in a short time.