When she was in modern times, she had minored in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She could recognize a few medicinal herbs, but she wasn't proficient in them. Later on, she became a traveling companion and read some books on first aid in the wild. Now that she was observing medicinal herbs in this medicine shop, she wasn't completely clueless.

Sometimes, she could even pick up one or two and smell them to determine the quality, but that was all.

Opposite the Everlasting Medicine Cabinet was Jinshi Pavilion, a famous jewelry shop in Shengjing.

At this moment, a few young ladies were chattering beside the counter of Jinshi Pavilion. Their eyes were shining as they looked at the jewelry that the female shopkeeper was giving them to try on.

These young ladies were none other than the young ladies of the Duke of Ying's household.

Originally, they were accompanied by two older brothers, but when they arrived at Jinshi Pavilion, the two young masters didn't have the patience to accompany their younger sisters to choose jewelry, so they found an excuse to leave.

Now, only a few delicate legitimate daughters were left excitedly discussing jewelry.

Fifth Miss Sister Su had her eyes on a jade bracelet with a bright green texture.

Although the water level of the jade was not the best, its color was lush and green. The blue and green color was like flowing water, making people feel comfortable and transparent in the summer.

Wearing it on a slender white wrist, it highlighted the skin color.

She couldn't help but ask the female shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, how much is this bracelet?"

The female shopkeeper smiled and said, "This jade bracelet makes your wrist look slender and smooth. It really suits you. Miss, you have good taste."

As the female shopkeeper spoke, she took out a delicate wooden box from a corner under the counter. She opened the wooden box, and inside were two earrings of the same color as the jade bracelet. The earrings were emerald green and shaped like water droplets. They were equally beautiful.

"If Miss wants it, I'll give you these jade earrings as a bonus. As for the bracelet, I'll charge you fifty taels of silver. How about that?"

Fifty taels …

Although it wasn't much, it was still a little expensive for young ladies like them who only received a monthly salary.

Even the legitimate daughters of the House of Ying only received eight taels of silver per month. A jade bracelet in Jinshi Pavilion was actually half a year's salary for them …

Sister Su had brought 50 to 60 taels of silver with her today, but she had saved up for half a year. She was reluctant to use all of it to exchange for the bracelet. She still wanted to buy a piece of jewelry for her mother.

Sister Su pursed her lips and put down the bracelet in her hand. There was a trace of reluctance in her eyes. "Shopkeeper, I'd better look at something else."

The female shopkeeper seemed to see the young lady's dilemma and did not say anything more. Instead, she quietly took out cheaper jewelry for her to choose from.

Sister Yuan, who was holding a golden hair ornament inlaid with jade and pearls, chuckled and said, "Fifth Sister, you brought more than fifty taels of silver with you today. Why are you reluctant to buy a jade bracelet?"

Eighth Miss Sister Yuan's words made Sister Su's face turn red.

Sister Su pursed her lips and said nothing. She lowered her head and pretended not to hear.

Sister Yuan chuckled and handed the golden hair ornament in her hand to the female shopkeeper. She said generously, "Shopkeeper, wrap this hair ornament up for me."

The female shopkeeper did not expect this young lady to be so forthright. With a smile in her eyes, she took an exquisite box and put the hair ornament into it. She said, "Miss, you have good taste. This golden hair ornament is inlaid with three emerald gemstones, each of the same size. The flower pattern is also very good. There are only two flowers, which are not complicated and elegant. It's a perfect match for your pink dress today.

This hair ornament is the handiwork of Master Liu of our shop. I will only charge you 150 taels of silver. "

Hearing the female shopkeeper's words, Sister Yuan was so proud that she almost floated in the air. She had good taste and picked out such a beautiful hair ornament at random. It was much better than Fifth Miss Sister Yuan's broken bracelet.

But when she heard the female shopkeeper's price, Sister Yuan's expression suddenly froze.

What?

150 taels of silver? Why didn't the shopkeeper of Jinshi Pavilion rob someone?

It's just a golden hair ornament.

Sister Yuan could see that this golden hair ornament was certainly more expensive than the jade bracelet that Sister Su liked. But she thought that this hair ornament would be worth at most 100 taels of silver. Today, she had specially begged her mother for 100 taels of silver. She had also saved 30 to 40 taels of silver for herself and brought it with her.

Even a young lady from a noble family would bring more than 100 taels of silver when she went out, let alone the Duke of Ying's Mansion.

If it was another jewelry shop, 100 taels of silver would definitely be enough. But it was different for Jinshi Pavilion, which specialized in the business of rich and powerful families.

Originally, she wanted to humiliate Sister Su in front of her. Now in the Duke of Ying's Mansion, only the Fifth Miss who had not yet left home was suppressing her, the Eighth Miss. Today, she wanted to make her suffer in front of outsiders and learn to be obedient.

But she did not expect that she would also get herself into trouble.

Now, she only had more than 130 taels of silver on her …

Sister Yuan's face instantly became stiff and ugly. Her cheeks alternated between red and white because of embarrassment. She opened her mouth and met the shopkeeper's attentive eyes. She wanted to take back what she had just said, but she could not spit out a word.

Sister Yuan's eyes were a little flustered. Behind her, her personal maidservant looked even uglier than her. Her eyes were so anxious that she was about to cry. She even carefully pulled her master's sleeve.

If she really bought a golden hair ornament that cost 150 taels of silver, she would be scolded to death by the Second Madam. The jewelry on the Second Madam's head rarely exceeded 100 taels of silver.

At that time, the Eighth Miss would at most be scolded, but as a servant, it was different. It was possible that she would be dragged out and sold.

The Fifth Miss and the Ninth Miss beside her were not to be trifled with. They quickly saw the Eighth Miss's embarrassment.

The Ninth Miss, Sister Fu, raised the corner of her mouth and said sarcastically, "Ah, the Eighth Sister is not speaking. Is it because she is embarrassed that she did not bring enough money?

If we did not bring enough, then we did not bring enough. We are all unmarried girls, so naturally, we do not have much pocket money. Let's not take this and choose some cheap ones. The shopkeeper will not laugh at us. "

The female shopkeeper had been receiving the wives and daughters of these noble officials all day long, so she was naturally an expert at reading people's words and expressions. Although she disdained the women in front of her, she would never show it on her face. Hearing this, she smiled and nodded even more considerately.

But the more she acted like this, the more embarrassed Sister Yuan felt. She was used to being arrogant. Before Chu Lian was married, she also competed with her in everything. Now that Chu Lian was married and was not in the mansion, there was still the first branch and the third branch. The second master of the second branch was disappointing and was already a head lower in the Duke's Mansion. How could women like them be compared with the first branch and the third branch?

This was also the reason why the Second Madam gave her 100 taels of silver when she learned that she was going to go out with the sisters of the first branch and the third branch.

No matter how difficult it was in the mansion, she could not lose face outside.

Sister Yuan was so angry at the Ninth Miss' words that her chest heaved up and down. But now she had no money, so she could only swallow it. She raised her head and was about to admit that she did not have enough money. But as soon as she raised her head, she saw a familiar figure outside the corner of her eye.

Sister Yuan was a little surprised. She suddenly thought of a way to get out of the predicament.

She immediately swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth, and her originally embarrassed and pale face seemed to be cured in an instant. The Fifth Miss and the Ninth Miss could not figure out why she suddenly changed her face faster than turning a page of a book.

Sister Yuan did not mention the golden ornament. She took a step to the side and suddenly hugged the arm of the Fifth Miss, Sister Su, intimately as if the sisters had not mocked each other just now. "Fifth Sister, Ninth Sister, look at the opposite side. Isn't that the Sixth Sister?

It's such a coincidence that we ran into her when we finally went out. "Sister Yuan pointed at the Everlasting Life Medicine cabinet opposite them.

At this moment, Chu Lian turned around and walked out of the medicine cabinet with two maidservants. One of the maidservants tilted her head and whispered something into her ear. Chu Lian nodded as she listened attentively.

Sister Su and Sister Fu saw Chu Lian standing in front of them. Wasn't this the Chu Lian who had married into Count Jing 'an's estate and lived a happy life?

They saw Chu Lian crossing Vermilion Bird Avenue with the two maidservants. Wasn't this the direction where they were at the Golden Stone Pavilion?

There were no employees in the Everlasting Life Medicine cabinet to take care of things, so Chu Lian did not see any expensive medicinal ingredients on display. She gave up. Moreover, she did not know the exact condition of her mother-in-law, Countess Jing 'an. Medicine was 30% poisonous, so it was better not to give her anything that could be eaten.

After listening to Wenqing's introduction, Chu Lian decided to go to the Golden Stone Pavilion to take a look.

When she reached the center of Vermilion Bird Avenue, Chu Lian raised her head and looked in the direction of the Golden Stone Pavilion. She saw a few familiar figures.

If she hadn't noticed that the person in front of her had also seen her, she really wanted to run away immediately. When she was with this group of sisters from her maiden family, especially her half-sister, there had never been anything good.

Chu Lian couldn't help but raise her head and look at the sky. She must have forgotten to check the almanac when she went out today and encountered a bunch of troubles.

Chu Lian pouted and said to Wenqing, "Can we not go now?"

Wenqing saw a few well-dressed young ladies walking over. They were obviously here to welcome Third Young Madam, so she could only mercilessly slap her back to reality. "That won't do, Third Young Madam. They're here to welcome you."

"Wenqing, don't you know martial arts? Can you take me and leap over roofs and vault over walls to leave?

I really don't want to see the people in front of me. "

Wenqing's forehead darkened. "Third Young Madam, you've read too many novels. Even the Imperial Dragon-Tiger Guards can't leap over roofs and vault over walls. It's even more impossible for me and Wenlan."

Chu Lian could only lower her head and sigh in distress. She accepted her fate.

Chu Lian said pitifully, "Then you have to protect your mistress later. Don't let your mistress be bullied by others."

Wenqing blushed with shame. She had followed Chu Lian out many times. Even if Third Young Madam was a delicate and delicate girl, when had she ever been bullied by others?

She was the one who angered others half to death every time.

She pursed her lips and didn't want to talk to Chu Lian anymore. She looked even more taciturn than Wenlan.

Chu Lian snorted helplessly and pretended to be disappointed. "You girls are getting more and more boring."

As the master and servant spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the Golden Stone Pavilion. Chu Wu, Chu Ba, and Chu Jiu all came out to welcome them.

Fifth Young Madam walked in front. She had a slight smile on her face. Because of her smile, her round face looked a little cute and innocent.

"Sixth Young Madam, what a coincidence. I didn't expect to meet you on Vermilion Bird Avenue."

Sister Yuan stood behind Sister Su. She looked Chu Lian up and down. She saw that Chu Lian was only wearing a light green dress made of ordinary fabric. Her black hair was tied into a simple jade hairpin, and she didn't even have a bracelet on her wrist. She was dressed so shabbily that she couldn't even compare to when she was in the Public House!