“Do you like it? This is an antique. I thought the jade was quite good, perfect for you to drink water from.” Pang Xiao thought for a moment and added, “If you don’t want to use it for drinking water, you can treat it as a decorative piece, or put your earrings and such inside – that would work well too. Also, I think the pearls inside are quite nice. If you like them, you can have them made into a complete set of jewelry, or grind them into pearl powder for use, or even use them as marbles to play with.”

He then opened the sandalwood box, which contained a gold collar inlaid with emerald.

“I think this matches quite well with that new fabric you bought.”

The collar wasn’t simply a plain circle, but was formed by several ruyi-shaped pieces connected together to create a beautifully curved circle. The emerald had excellent clarity. As soon as Qin Yining took it out, Bian Ruohan beside her couldn’t help but turn green with envy.

“Why buy these things? There are so many jewelry pieces at home. Even if I wore different ones each day, it would take a year and a half to wear them all.”

“What’s there to worry about? Pick the ones you like to wear, choose the newest styles to wear. Those with old-fashioned designs can just be left in the storeroom. Whenever you fancy a different style, you can have them melted down and remade however you like.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

She naturally understood that because she was confined, Pang Xiao felt guilty and feared she was unhappy, so he was trying every way to coax her into good spirits.

Pang Xiao had confined her for her safety, disregarding her wishes while searching for the remaining members of Steward Hu’s gang. Now he was going to great lengths to appease her. Qin Yining’s heart was truly both satisfied and sweet.

Especially with Bian Ruohan standing nearby.

Watching Bian Ruohan’s constantly changing expression, Qin Yining felt extremely pleased.

Seeing Qin Yining put away the collar and hold the jade bowl to play with the eastern pearls inside, apparently very pleased, Pang Xiao’s mood improved even more.

Turning back, he saw Bian Ruohan still standing there like a wooden post. Remembering the shouting he’d vaguely heard when he returned, his sword-like eyebrows knitted together as he said coldly, “What brings Madam Lu to grace our humble residence? Do the household rules of Earl Lu’s family teach Madam Lu to shout and yell in other people’s homes?”

Bian Ruohan’s face immediately flushed red.

Her quarrel with Qin Yining was a matter between women. But being scolded face-to-face by someone as powerful and extraordinarily handsome as Pang Xiao, she truly couldn’t maintain either her dignity or composure.

Bian Ruohan glared at Pang Xiao like an angry cat with raised fur. “Your Highness speaks wrongly. When the road is uneven, someone must step on it. I’m simply angry that someone is seducing my husband. Does Your Highness know that the princess consort goes around seducing men?”

“Slap!” Pang Xiao heavily slammed his palm on the side table, nearly breaking the table leg. “Outrageous! Making wild accusations with baseless words, slandering the princess consort’s reputation – you gossiping woman, if I were Earl Lu, I would immediately open the ancestral hall and divorce you! Guards!”

“Your Highness.” Ji Yun and Bingtang felt secretly delighted, even their response was louder than usual.

Pang Xiao said, “You personally escort Madam Lu back to her residence. Personally deliver her to Earl Lu’s hands and tell Earl Lu – say this is my meaning – please have Earl Lu properly discipline his household and not let them come out to harm others at will.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Both responded in unison, smiling as they stepped forward to assist Bian Ruohan.

Bian Ruohan was so angry her face turned pale. “What do you mean by saying this! How have I harmed anyone? What right do you have to slander me!”

Pang Xiao couldn’t be bothered with her and impatiently waved his hand.

Ji Yun stepped up to “support” Bian Ruohan. “Lady of Earl Zhongyi, please.”

“I won’t go!” Bian Ruohan struggled hard, but after struggling twice, she couldn’t make Ji Yun’s grip loosen even slightly.

Bian Ruohan stared at Ji Yun in shock.

Ji Yun smiled. “Lady of Earl Zhongyi is tired. Please return home to rest early. If you continue struggling, my prince will have the manor guards escort you back, which might be even more embarrassing for you.”

Coming to the prince’s manor as a “guest” but being escorted back by manor guards – if word of that spread, she’d be even more humiliated than Qin Yining with her confinement!

Bian Ruohan knew she wouldn’t gain any advantage today, especially with Pang Xiao looking fierce and menacing, his gaze seeming capable of devouring people. She couldn’t stay any longer and went along with Ji Yun’s force.

Qin Yining watched Ji Yun and Bian Ruohan’s figures disappear into the distance and shook her head helplessly. “This woman’s temperament is far too spoiled.”

Pang Xiao snorted coldly. “Spoiled into those bad habits, and she came to our house herself?”

“Indeed.”

“She came to our door herself and dared speak to you like that?” Pang Xiao shook his head. “I should have humiliated her thoroughly just now to vent your anger.”

Qin Yining smiled. “Giving me so many things in front of her just now already vented my anger quite well.”

Pang Xiao shook his head. “That’s nothing. When I find other good things later, I’ll buy them for you. Whatever you like, just have people go out and buy it for you. Later I’ll have Master Xie bring you all my banknotes and silver.”

Qin Yining felt both touched and amused. “What would I do with so much silver? I’ve bought enough things for today. I also had Ji Yun select fabric for clothes – I’ll make you a new robe later.”

Pang Xiao took Qin Yining’s hand. “Yining, you’re so wonderful.”

Lu Mansion

Ji Yun smiled and bowed to Lu Heng. “This servant has delivered the message. This servant takes her leave.”

Lu Heng nodded with an unchanged expression, instructing the head steward to reward Ji Yun with a red envelope and escort her out.

Looking at the maids standing at his sides, Lu Heng said, “You may all withdraw as well.”

“Yes.” The maids all withdrew together.

The room fell completely silent. Lu Heng sat upright in his official hat chair, supporting his full body weight with his right arm.

Bian Ruohan stood somewhat timidly in the distance, occasionally lifting her head to glance at Lu Heng, her expression very uneasy, like a child who knew she had done something wrong.

Neither spoke for a long while.

Bian Ruohan didn’t know what Lu Heng wanted to say or do. Being sent back from the prince’s manor today was truly too humiliating for her. She wanted to severely complain about Qin Yining and Pang Xiao, but facing Lu Heng with his calm expression and even a slight smile at the corners of his mouth, she didn’t dare speak.

Because she discovered she simply couldn’t fathom Lu Heng’s mood – she didn’t know if the smile beneath his expression meant genuine happiness or concealed other thoughts, nor did she know when he was angry whether it was genuine anger or deliberate.

Bian Ruohan had been married to Lu Heng for only a short time, but she vaguely felt she might never be able to see through him.

“Why did you go to the prince’s manor to find Prince Zhongshun’s consort?” Lu Heng slowly spoke.

Bian Ruohan came back to her senses and said hesitantly, “I, I just heard people say she was confined. So I went to see her.”