Reborn Young Lady's Peerless Grace

Sunlight shone on the vermilion gate of the Hou Mansion, casting a golden glow. In this quiet moment, news suddenly arrived from the palace: the Empress's reward had arrived, and the recipient was none other than Shen Wanqing, the winner of the Hundred Flowers Banquet. The eunuch's shrill voice echoed throughout the mansion, and everyone knelt to hear the decree.

"The Empress Dowager has given this special reward in consideration of Miss Shen Wanqing's outstanding talent at the Hundred Flowers Banquet." After the eunuch finished reading the decree, the young eunuchs behind him carried boxes of rewards into the palace.

Looking at these rewards, Shen Wanqing did not feel the slightest bit of joy. She stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, sir, did Shen Wanxiu get any reward?"

She won two first prizes, but Shen Wanxiu also won two first prizes. Logically, Shen Wanxiu should also receive a reward.

"Miss Shen Wanxiu also performed well at the Hundred Flowers Banquet and was also rewarded." The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict replied very politely.

Seeing that Shen Wanxiu had also received a reward, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that it wasn't just for her. She had never wanted to be too involved with the palace, and this sudden reward made her feel a little uneasy.

But Su, standing by, was beaming with excitement, her smile almost overflowing. "This is such a great honor!" Su said excitedly, her eyes gleaming with greed.

But with so many people present, she controlled her emotions, told the servants to escort the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial edict away, and then took Shen Wanqing's hand and returned to her room.

"Qing'er, the reward from the Empress is not an ordinary item. The three-leaf hairpin wrapped in gold is very unique. Take it out and wear it tomorrow and go to the palace with me to express my gratitude." Su said carefully.

She had enemies in the palace. Shen Wanqing frowned slightly, "Mother, I haven't been summoned by the Queen. If I rashly enter the palace like this, I'm afraid it will disturb the Queen's peace. What if I offend the Queen?" There was a hint of worry in her voice and reluctance in her eyes.

Shen Wanqing knew exactly what Su's intention was. She just wanted to curry favor with the Empress. However, Su didn't know what the Empress was like, but Shen Wanqing knew it very well.

When Su heard this, she was immediately displeased: "How can you be so ignorant, child? This is a reward from the Queen. You should go to the palace to express your gratitude."

Shen Wanqing muttered, "Mother, I'm really afraid I've offended the Queen."

However, Su ignored Shen Wanqing's worries and insisted on going to the palace to express her gratitude. She immediately arranged for someone to go to the palace to deliver the invitation.

Shen Wanqing rolled her eyes and suggested, "Mother, why don't you bring my sister with you to the palace so that she can experience the grandeur of the palace." She deliberately mentioned Shen Wanru and even suggested calling her second and third sisters.

Su snorted coldly, "No, we can't let the people from the first house take advantage of it. Just taking Ru'er is enough. After all, you are sisters."

Shen Wanqing laughed secretly in her heart. She actually wanted Shen Wanru to go to the palace and make a fool of herself, so that she would lose her value in front of those powerful ladies.

When she returned to her own courtyard, Jing'er had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Shen Wanqing coming back, Jing'er hurriedly went to greet her, her face full of indignation.

"Miss, Madam is too partial. This reward is clearly meant for you, but she only wants to let the eldest lady take advantage of it." Jing'er said angrily, "Besides, what if the eldest lady steals your limelight in the palace?"

Shen Wanqing seemed very calm. She patted Jing'er's hand gently and said, "Jing'er, don't be angry. What's there to worry about?"

As she spoke, Shen Wanqing walked to the table and began to examine the jewelry the Empress had bestowed upon her. The exquisite boxes opened, revealing the jewels within, gleaming brilliantly. The three-leaf phoenix hairpin, in particular, was exquisitely crafted and priceless, clearly the work of a palace craftsman.

Shen Wanqing gazed at the jewelry, deep in thought. She understood that the Queen's intentions were far from simple; this reward, though seemingly glorious, might conceal unknown troubles.

At the same time, the scene in Shen Wanru's yard was completely different. When she learned that all the rewards belonged to Shen Wanqing, she was so angry that her face turned pale. She grabbed the cup on the table and smashed it to the ground.

"Why? It's all Shen Wanqing's! I also contributed to the Hundred Flowers Banquet, why did the Queen only reward her?" Shen Wanru roared angrily.

At this moment, Nanny Zhu, sent by the Su family, walked in. Seeing the debris on the ground, Nanny Zhu frowned, but still said respectfully: "Miss, the mistress asked me to bring you some jewelry. Tomorrow you have to go to the palace with the fourth lady to see the queen."

Shen Wanru's anger subsided a little after hearing this. She looked at the jewelry in Nanny Zhu's hand and asked, "Is that all?"

"Yes, my lady, please don't be picky. Madam also instructed you to kowtow and confess your mistakes when you see the Queen tomorrow. I believe the Queen has already known about the incident at the Hundred Flowers Banquet."

Shen Wanru's face turned pale in an instant. She bit her lips, her heart filled with fear.

Although the palace is a place of wealth and luxury, it is also a place full of dangers. Saying the wrong thing could cost you your life. Shen Wanqing naturally doesn't want to go to such a place.

Shen Wanqing wanted Shen Wanru to enter the palace with her, not only to use her to block the intentions of the Queen and the Prince, but also to teach her a lesson.

As for whether the prince would like her, Shen Wanqing was not worried at all.

Shen Wanqing picked and chose from the jewelry boxes sent by the Queen and put them in a box.

"Let's go to Big Sister's yard and take a look."

She received a reward today, how could she not share it with her elder sister?

Shen Wanru here looked at the jewelry that Su asked Nanny Zhu to send. Compared with those that the Queen rewarded to Shen Wanqing, her jewelry could not compare at all.

As long as she could enter the palace, these jewelry would be fine. Although she was not convinced, she could only swallow her anger at this time.

As soon as Nanny Zhu walked out of Shen Wanru's yard, Shen Wanqing came to meet her.

"Mammy, did you just go to my elder sister's yard?"

"Madam instructed me to come and deliver something to the eldest lady. She will go to the palace to express her gratitude tomorrow and we must not lose face." Nanny Zhu answered truthfully.

"Then my mother and I have the same idea. The palace has given out many fine gifts today. I kept a few for myself and brought the rest to my elder sister. She can wear them tomorrow. It will surely bring honor to our mansion."

As Shen Wanqing spoke, she took out the box that contained her jewelry.

Nanny Zhu just took a glance. Although there were many jewels in the box, they were not eye-catching enough. She thought the eldest lady would not like them. However, that was the eldest lady's own business, and she, as a servant, would not say anything too much.

Seeing that Nanny Zhu didn't say anything, Shen Wanqing assumed that Nanny Zhu had tacitly agreed to her actions, and closed the box. "These are all carefully selected. They are all good things from the palace. I am overwhelmed by the choices."