After dinner, the Song family members returned to their respective rooms.
Not long after Song Chaoyu returned to the painting studio, Song Yanjiao arrived.
She still maintained her elegant and dignified demeanor of an elder sister. Upon seeing Song Chaoyu, she affectionately took her hand. "Sister, coming this late, I hope I'm not disturbing your rest?"
Song Chaoyu shook her head, a smile appearing on her face. "What are you saying, Elder Sister? I've been looking forward to your visit!"
She welcomed Song Yanjiao into her boudoir and personally poured tea for her.
Song Yanjiao waved to the maid behind her. The maid stepped forward and placed an exquisite sandalwood box carved with peach branches before Song Chaoyu.
As she opened the box, she smiled at Song Chaoyu. "Don't take what Mother said today to heart. She doesn't want to prevent you from going to the palace, but rather for the sake of the Song family's reputation. Mother doesn't understand you, but as the First Madam of the Song family, she must always consider the family. Please, Sister, do not take Mother's words to heart."
Song Chaoyu didn't believe her. She had come specifically to explain for the First Madam.
They were the legitimate mother and daughter of the Song family; why would they explain so much to an illegitimate daughter?
Indeed, as Song Chaoyu lowered her gaze to the box, she saw it contained a gilded hairpin with magpies playing with pearls.
Although it was only gilded, the hairpin was finely carved, with a three-clawed magpie holding a luminous pearl in flight, appearing lifelike. It was clear from a glance that this was no ordinary item.
Song Yanjiao pushed the hairpin closer to Song Chaoyu. "A small trinket, for Fourth Sister. You can wear this hairpin to the palace banquet this time."
Although the magpie on it was an item that someone of Song Chaoyu's status could wear, it was unclear if the craftsman had done it intentionally.
Not only had the magpie been carved to resemble a three-clawed bird, which only divine birds like phoenixes could use, but the posture of the magpie holding the pearl had also been deliberately elongated.
If one didn't look closely, it would appear to be a hairpin of a phoenix holding a pearl!
Hairpins with phoenix patterns were generally only permitted for those of the direct lineage.
Moreover... this hairpin, which from a distance resembled a three-clawed phoenix, should be more commonly seen among royalty and nobility. Even though the Song family was a family of high officials, it was too presumptuous for Song Chaoyu, an illegitimate daughter, to wear a three-clawed phoenix.
When she returned to the manor, the Second Concubine had already sent her an outfit that was too extravagant. Now, Song Yanjiao was sending a similarly extravagant hairpin, supposedly a magpie but actually resembling a phoenix. How many more times would they use this tactic?
Seeing Song Chaoyu staring at the hairpin without accepting it, Song Yanjiao's eyes turned cold, but her smile remained warm. "Sister, please feel at ease to use it. This hairpin may look ornate, but it is made of gilded material and is not truly valuable. Moreover, the magpie carved on it is a symbol of good fortune, and as a daughter of the Song family, you are naturally entitled to wear it."
She recalled that in her previous life, Mu Hansu often used three-clawed golden dragons and phoenixes for decoration.
So... was Song Yanjiao already in contact with Mu Hansu at this time?
Song Chaoyu's expression remained unchanged. She reached out and touched the hairpin that resembled a phoenix. "Thank you, Elder Sister. When we enter the palace, I hope Elder Sister will take good care of me."
"Naturally!"
Song Yanjiao beamed with joy and stood up. "Remember to wear this hairpin that day. After all, it's a palace banquet, and we should all be dressed grandly. It's getting late, so I will take my leave and won't disturb you and Concubine Liu!"
Song Chaoyu personally escorted Song Yanjiao out.
After Song Yanjiao had gone far away, Xunlü frowned and stepped forward to ask Song Chaoyu, "Miss, this hairpin looks like a phoenix from afar. It might not be suitable, right? What should we do this time? Should we send it back to the Eldest Miss?"
Sending it back now would be too petty, wouldn't it?
Song Chaoyu asked Xunlü, "Did she send anything to Third Sister?"
Xunlü shook her head. "She didn't go to Third Sister's place, only to us."
An idea struck Song Chaoyu. "Go and find out Third Sister's schedule for tomorrow. I heard that Father is lifting her house arrest these past two days because of the palace event. If she is to leave her courtyard tomorrow, come and tell me in advance."
Although Xunlü didn't understand, she followed Song Chaoyu's instructions.
Song Chaoyu then went to Concubine Liu's place and retrieved a set of embroidered silk robes with paired butterflies and flowers that Concubine Liu had worn before she met Song Yuan.
The next morning, Xunlü came to tell Song Chaoyu that Song Yuan had indeed lifted Song Yanrou's house arrest.
Having been confined for several days, Song Yanrou declared that after her afternoon nap, she would go to the garden to feed the fish and relax.
Song Chaoyu deliberately chose noon. She put on the embroidered silk robes with paired butterflies and flowers, wore the gilded hairpin, and had Tiaohong and Xunlü apply exquisite makeup for her.
Looking at the noble and beautiful person in the mirror, Song Chaoyu was momentarily stunned.
She usually didn't wear such heavy makeup. At this moment, the person in the mirror seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
Tiaohong and Xunlü, on the other hand, were full of admiration. "When our young lady dresses up, she is no less than any of the young ladies in the capital!"
"Indeed! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say our young lady is a fairy descended from the heavens. With such precious and delicate beauty, she is no less than the Eldest Miss!"
Song Chaoyu actually knew before that her appearance was not bad.
She had inherited most of Concubine Liu's beauty, but she had never liked to dress up or draw attention to herself.
Now, hearing her two maids say this, there was no joy in her eyes. Instead, they became stern. "You are not allowed to say such things in the future! For my status, such beauty may not be a good thing. We only need to live peacefully; there is no need to compete with others."
Xunlü's face fell when she was reprimanded.
She felt as if her young lady had become a different person.
Tiaohong, however, nodded solemnly, firmly remembering Song Chaoyu's words.
Seeing that the time was almost right, Song Chaoyu firmly secured the hairpin of the magpie holding a pearl in her hair, then stood up. "Let's go, let's take a walk by the pond!"
As spring deepened, the afternoon sun grew stronger.
Therefore, apart from Song Yanrou, who couldn't bear to stay indoors after days of confinement, there was no one else in the Song family's back garden.
When Song Chaoyu arrived by the pond, Song Yanrou was feeding the fish.
"Third Sister!"
Song Chaoyu stepped forward first, calling out to Song Yanrou in a generous and cheerful voice. "Father has released you?"
Hearing Song Chaoyu's voice, Song Yanrou frowned and turned around.
The moment she saw Song Chaoyu, she was stunned.
Was this bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked, and passionately beautiful woman still the Song Chaoyu she knew?
She had never seen Song Chaoyu dressed so nobly and luxuriously, yet she found that Song Chaoyu, despite her illegitimate status, could carry off such opulence!
Even in the warm spring sun, she appeared delicate and charming.
Jealousy flickered in Song Yanrou's eyes.