Chapter 78: The Importance of the Shen Family

  Thank you for the reward of the fragrance bag after the rain in Tingyuan, Mei is flying ~, thank you for the pink votes from Xiao Yang's foot ~~~~

  On the afternoon of the day before participating in the princess's spring outing, Qingjin brought Yuanyang to Chaoxia Courtyard to pay respects to her grandmother Shen Shi. At the gate of Chaoxia Courtyard, she met Qingyao who also came to pay respects to Grandmother Shen Shi.

  Qing Yao saw Qing Jin and, before Qing Jin could speak, gently walked up to her, smiling sweetly at Qing Jin: "Second sister, you've also come to pay respects to grandmother?"

  "It's actually Fourth Sister, what a coincidence. Speaking of which, the clothes Fourth Sister wanted, Liuyun Pavilion has already made and sent them over. I'll have someone deliver them to Fourth Sister in a bit." Qingyan said with a smile, seeing Qingyao's sweet expression.

  "Really? Thank you so much, Second Sister. But there's no need to have someone specially deliver it to me anymore. After I pay my respects to Grandmother later, I'll go to your courtyard with Second Sister!" When Qingyu said that the clothes were ready, a warm smile spread across Qingyao's face.

  Upon hearing Qing Yao say that, Qing Jin nodded and said: "That's good too, have Fourth Sister come over to get it. It'll be just right for trying it on, and if it doesn't fit, we can also have someone send it back to be altered in time."

  "Second sister is really good to Yaohua!" Seeing Qingjin nod, Qingyao took a step forward and linked her arm with Qingjin's, the two of them seemed like intimate sisters.

  Qing Jin heard Qing Yao's words and smiled indulgently at her, "In the Anji Marquis' manor, only my fourth sister and I are legitimate daughters. I have always treated my second sister as a biological sister, if I don't treat you well, who will?"

  Qing Yao heard Qing Jin's words and felt a surge of emotions in her heart. She lifted her head, and her misty eyes gazed at Qing Jin, "Second sister..."

  Seeing Qingyao like this, Qingjin smiled brightly: "Silly girl, we were originally sisters of the same root and family, so of course we should support each other and love each other mutually."

  "Yes, Second Sister is right! Let's hurry up and go to Grandma's house!"

  In the room of Shen's family, when Qingjin and Qingyao walked in, Shen was lying sideways on the couch. Behind her, Wang's nanny was carefully massaging Shen, who was enjoying Wang's devoted service, closing her eyes and chatting with Wang from time to time. Seeing Qingjin and Qingyao coming in, Shen made a gesture to Wang, who stopped massaging. Supporting Shen up, after Shen sat up straight, she looked over at them with a kind smile: "Jin'er and Yao'er have arrived!"

  "Granddaughter Jing'er (Yao'er) wishes her grandmother a long and healthy life!" Qingjin and Qingyao bowed to Shen Shi.

  A pair of sisters, one elegant and refined, the other as beautiful as a peach blossom. One is strong and resilient, the other gentle and quiet. They complement each other perfectly, captivating the world with their beauty.

  Madam Shen gazed at her two equally excellent granddaughters, unable to help but smile as she thought back to the private conversation with her two sons in the house. Her eyes shifted to Qingyao's face, filled with even more affection. She recalled what her younger son had said about the Emperor intending to arrange a marriage between the eldest daughter of the Anji Marquis Manor and the Crown Prince. She never expected that in her lifetime, she would see a princess consort emerge from the Anji Marquis Manor, and at this thought, Madam Shen's heart was stirred beyond measure.

  Looking at Qing Yao, who was equally outstanding beside Qing Jin, a hint of regret flashed in her eyes. If she hadn't been so hasty in arranging this marriage for her granddaughter back then, perhaps the Anji Marquis Manor could have produced two imperial consorts...

  Forget it, it seems that she can't help but be greedy too. Thinking about Qingjin's usual behavior, if this granddaughter is not engaged, it's very likely that she will become the crown prince's consort, and the clever and lovely Y'aoer beside her may just become the concubine.

  Among her two granddaughters, she still favors Qingyao a bit more. After all, compared to Qingjin, Qingyao is much more steady and composed. Gentle and elegant, dignified and generous - this is the kind of demeanor that a royal daughter-in-law should have. Compared to Qingyao, Qingjin is somewhat...

  So, Qingjin's early engagement is also good. The child of the Jun family has also met her and is a very nice kid. According to the reports from Wang's nanny, Qingjin got along well with the child of the Jun family during this period. Marrying into the royal family would be good for the Anji Houfu, but she also understands that Qingjin's personality is the least suitable for the royal family. Since it has already been missed, then so be it!

  However, the Anji Hou Mansion will have to rely more on Qingyao, this granddaughter from now on. These thoughts flashed through Shen's mind in an instant, and she immediately spoke to Qingjin and Qingyao who were paying their respects: "Alright, alright, no need for too much courtesy, you two, hurry up and sit down beside your grandmother."

  "Yes." Upon hearing Shen's words, Qingjin and Qingyao exchanged a glance, one on the left and one on the right, came to Shen's side. The two of them stood beside Shen, chatting with him about some trivial matters under his inquiry.

  After chatting with her two granddaughters about some trivial matters and joking words of daily life.

  "Yao'er, Jiner, you two are going to attend the princess's spring outing tomorrow, have you prepared all the clothes and accessories?" Her gaze fell on Qingyao.

  "As for Grandma's words, Yao'er has already prepared everything......" As she said this, she looked up at Qingyun opposite her, "Yao'er also wants to thank Second Sister, Yao'er's clothes were made by Second Sister's Flowing Clouds Pavilion!" Qingyao said to Shen Shi.

  Shen heard Qingyao's words and turned his gaze towards Qingjin.

  Qing Jin saw Shen's gaze turn to her and replied, "Qing Jin has also made all the necessary preparations." As for Grandmother Shen, who had just intentionally or unintentionally asked Qing Yao first, Qing Jin lowered her eyes, and there was a flicker in them.

  Upon hearing the two people's words, Shen Shi nodded in satisfaction and shifted her gaze to Qing Jin, saying: "Qing Jin has always been meticulous with her thoughts, however, this time it was the princess who invited you. A royal invitation is not comparable to a normal family banquet. Let Wang Yiniang follow you on a trip to take a look at whether there's anything improper about your attire and accessories, lest you offend the princess."

  "Grandma said that Fourth Sister came over that day specifically to ask for help with the spring outing clothes, and as her older sister, Qing'er didn't need Fourth Sister to come over in person. However, being young, although she had done a good job, she was still a bit nervous in her heart. It would be best if Grandma could let Wang Nian come over to guide her."

  "You're just a chatterbox." Shen heard Qingjin's words and smiled in satisfaction.

  "Look at what you said, Grandmother. Even if you didn't mention it, Qingjin and Fourth Sister were also planning to ask for your advice. Unexpectedly, before Qingjin and Fourth Sister could say anything, Grandmother had already thought of them."

  "Yes, Grandmother, you are too good to Yao'er and Second Sister." Qing Jin heard the words and gratefully said to her grandmother Shen Shi.

  "What are you talking about, both of you are Grandma's granddaughters. Right, although you've prepared your own jewelry, this time it's a royal invitation, so Grandma specially prepared a set of jewelry for each of you. Wang Niangniang, go get the jewelry I prepared for Jin'er and Yao'er."

  "Alright, Old Madam." Wang's servant heard Shen Shi's words and turned around to leave. After a while, she came out with two trays, one set made of crimson gold and the other made of jade stone. Wang's servant had already received instructions from Shen Shi earlier, so she handed over the crimson gold jewelry to Qing Jin and the jade stone jewelry to Qing Yao.

  Qing Jin and Qing Yao immediately stood up and bowed to Shen Shi: "Thank you, Grandmother, for your gift!"

  Qing Jin originally didn't mind, but unintentionally glanced at the jade-quality headdress in Qing Yao's hand, which was blue topaz, while hers was red gold. She lowered her head to cover up the emotions in her eyes.

  The two sets of jewelry sent by Grandma Shen, although they are all rare and precious, the pure gold and blue jade, although their values are not much different, but in my heart, I suddenly felt a hint of awkwardness, was grandma trying to imply something?

  Although these were all her own choices, when grandmother valued Qingyao more than she did...

  Sometimes, Qingjin's heart still felt a bit stuffy, thinking of what her mother, Junshi, had said to her that day.

  Chosen the Jun family, chosen Brother Jun Mu Xi, in the future, the glory of Anji Hou Fu and the future of Anji Hou, Qing Yao will all have to surpass her. After all, in ancient times, this survival mode based on family units can bring honor and status to the family, only daughters who can marry out can get attention and support from their families. And Qing Yao is going to marry a prince, the legitimate wife of a prince, it's natural that Grandmother values Qing Yao a bit more.

  Thinking of this, Qingjin let out a mouthful of turbid air. Yes, this was her own choice, and since she had chosen it, she wouldn't regret it. Her grandmother's choice was just the most normal and wise one. Having thought through all this, Qingjin lifted her head, but in the instant she did, she caught Qingyao's hidden joyful and comforting gaze beside her.

  Confronted with the soothing intention in Qingyao's eyes, Qingyao was momentarily stunned, but soon understood the origin of this gaze. The small difference between the two sets of jewelry must have also made Qingyao understand its meaning, and only then did she look at her with apology and comfort.

  Qing Jin smiled brightly at Qing Yao, who responded with a apologetic and soothing smile. She curved her lips into a smile, and Qing Yao saw that Qing Jin's smile had left him momentarily stunned, half a beat later he returned to Qing Jin with an understanding gaze.

  Qing Jin felt a wave of depression in her heart, what's going on?

  The Shen family's intention in bringing out these two sets of jewelry was also to probe Qingjin's reaction. Seeing that Qingjin didn't have any abnormal response, a look of satisfaction flashed across her eyes as she spoke to Qingjin and Qingyao: "Alright, you two still need to prepare for tomorrow's spring outing, so go back early and remember not to lose your manners tomorrow." As she spoke, her gaze fell on Qingjin.

  Qing Jin met Shen Shi's gaze and nodded at him.

  Seeing Qingjin's nod, Shen Shi knew that Qingjin understood her meaning and said: "Then you two can go, Wang Niangniang, follow Jin'er and Yao'er together to see if there is anything improper with the clothes and jewelry they have prepared."

  "Yes, old madam." Wang's servant girl responded to Shen Shi.

  "Miss Qingjin (Qingyao) is taking her leave!" Qingjin and Qingyao curtsied to Shen Shi, then turned to leave, with Wang Yiniang following behind them.