"You—"
Song Yanrou couldn't help but feel indignant. "Why are you wearing such an outfit to flaunt yourself?"
Song Chaoyu's expression was innocent. "Flaunt myself? I'm wearing this in my own home, how can it be considered flaunting? Third Sister, please tell me, does this outfit look good on me?"
She didn't even try to hide her smugness, turning around in front of Song Yanrou. "Look, is it okay for me to wear this to the palace?"
She deliberately touched the hairpin on her head, a magpie holding a pearl. "Paired with this hairpin, isn't it just perfect?"
"You are overstepping!"
Staring at the luxurious hairpin, Song Yanrou stepped forward and grabbed Song Chaoyu. "A phoenix holding a pearl, how can it be something you and I can use? Don't bring ruin upon our Song family!"
Song Chaoyu simply took off the hairpin and dangled its golden tassels in front of Song Yanrou. "Third Sister, look closely. This is not a phoenix, it's a magpie! A magpie holding a pearl, of course I can use it!"
Song Yanrou was consumed by jealousy.
She snatched the hairpin from Song Chaoyu's hand and tugged at Song Chaoyu's dress adorned with a hundred butterflies dancing through flowers. "No, no! You're wearing too garish a color! Red and purple, anyone would think you're going to perform opera! Moreover, the fabric of this outfit isn't anything precious. Wearing this to the palace would be inappropriate!"
Song Chaoyu knew that with Song Yanrou's impatient and overbearing nature, she would surely snatch her hairpin.
She put on a reluctant act, reaching for the hairpin in Song Yanrou's hand. "Oh no, Third Sister, don't break it for me! Although this hairpin is gilded, it's truly beautiful! I rarely get such a good item, so I naturally want to pair it with a beautiful dress."
She pretended to be angry, stomping her foot at Song Yanrou. "Third Sister, you have so many good things, why must you snatch my hairpin? I was hoping to use this hairpin to attract the attention of some princes or lords in the palace, and then soar to great heights!"
"Bah!"
Song Yanrou was not polite either, snatching the hairpin from Song Chaoyu's hand again. "You're so young, and already saying such things? Even if you wore a mountain of gold and silver, as an illegitimate daughter, do you think the eyes of royalty will even fall upon you? Don't disgrace this beautiful hairpin!"
Seeing the luxurious hairpin in her own hand, Song Yanrou refused to give it to Song Chaoyu. "This hairpin is mine now! Such a fine item is a waste on your head!"
"No!"
Song Chaoyu made a move to snatch it back. "Sister, you have so many good things, must you also snatch this hairpin I got?"
The more she said this, the less likely Song Yanrou was to give the hairpin to Song Chaoyu. "I *want* to snatch it. Go tell Father! Then I'll tell Father that you want to steal the spotlight at the palace banquet. You want to use this gilded hairpin to outshine your second sister, let's see if Father punishes you!"
This kind of malicious distortion of facts was something Song Yanrou was capable of.
Song Chaoyu feigned fear, but her eyes still lingered on the hairpin with reluctance. "If Sister takes this hairpin, how can I attend the palace banquet? I'll be in rags, disgracing the Song family, and by extension, disgracing Third Sister, won't I?"
Actually, Song Chaoyu knew that while Song Yanrou was overbearing, her interests... were not in those noble young men.
So, mentioning face indeed made Song Yanrou frown. "Don't you have any other hairpin you can wear?"
An opportunity arose!
Song Chaoyu looked up, innocently at the jadeite hairpin with a magnolia flower and jadeite pistil on Song Yanrou's head. "Why doesn't Sister exchange the hairpin you're wearing for mine? Sister, don't tell Father, I'll trade the hairpin with you, alright?" wΑp.kanshu伍.net
Exchanging gilded for jadeite, it seemed like Song Yanrou was at a disadvantage no matter how you looked at it.
But Song Yanrou was now solely focused on Song Chaoyu's "beloved" gilded hairpin, hardly paying attention to anything else.
She hid the magpie hairpin behind her back and then pointed at Song Chaoyu's dress. "Then you must promise me that you won't wear this outfit when you go to the palace in a few days, and then I'll trade with you!"
Song Chaoyu quickly nodded with a smile, as if begging Song Yanrou. "I won't wear it, I won't wear it, Third Sister, don't tell Father."
After all... she hadn't planned on wearing it anyway!
"That's more like it."
Song Yanrou thought Song Chaoyu was yielding and happily took off the jadeite hairpin, handing it to Song Chaoyu. Then, she joyfully put on the magpie hairpin holding a pearl, feeling satisfied. "Alright, hurry back and change your clothes! Wearing something so ostentatious, if Mother or Father sees you, you'll be in for it!"
Song Chaoyu stuffed the jadeite hairpin into her sleeve, eager to leave the place.
She ran back to the Painting Scroll Courtyard and finally closed her door before bursting into laughter. "Exchanging gilded for jadeite, this is a profitable deal!"
Xun Lu frowned slightly, seemingly worried. "But that was the second young lady's gift to you. Giving it to the third young lady like this, won't the eldest young lady be angry?"
She muttered, "Besides, wasn't this outfit perfect with that hairpin? With your beauty, why should you always be inferior to others? If you wear such an outfit to the palace banquet, surely some noble young lords will notice you, and then you can soar to great heights!"
Xun Lu was becoming more and more talkative.
Song Chaoyu's eyes turned cold. "If the second sister is angry, she won't be angry with me. The third sister snatched the hairpin, it wasn't that I gave it willingly."
Tiao Hong stepped forward, helping Song Chaoyu take off the hundred butterflies dancing through flowers dress. "Miss looks beautiful dressed like this, but it's too eye-catching. There are all sorts of people at the palace banquet. Miss just needs to follow the eldest young lady and not make any mistakes. Why must you attract others' attention?"
Tiao Hong was still more sensible.
Song Chaoyu had Xun Lu put away the jadeite hairpin, then instructed, "The fabric you ordered when I returned the other day should be ready by now. On the day of the palace banquet, wear that lilac-colored Suzhou embroidery satin 'Auspicious Clouds' dress that Father gave me. The color is light and not flashy, but the Suzhou embroidery of auspicious clouds and patterns won't be too plain. It's perfect for entering the palace."
Xun Lu withdrew to get the dress as instructed.
Song Chaoyu glanced at Tiao Hong and asked, "Has Xun Lu been in contact with the eldest branch these past two days?"
Tiao Hong was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. She kindly explained for Xun Lu, "No. Sister Xun Lu just has high aspirations. She always says that Miss is not inferior to anyone in any aspect and should not be placed in a subordinate position."
"Heh!"
Song Chaoyu sneered. She understood Xun Lu's personality well. "I'm afraid what she said is about herself, isn't it?"