The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

The hairpin was naturally a gift from Qi Jin to please Wu Zetian.

Qi Jin repeatedly told her not to wear it out casually and to keep it as a treasure.

Having obtained such a wonderful item, Mei Niang was itching to wear it out and show it off.

After much deliberation, she still couldn't resist the allure of the treasure.

After changing her clothes, she put the hairpin in her hair.

That's why it's such a treasure; even she felt like a noblewoman wearing it on her head.

To show off, Wu Zetian specially chose a shop frequented by noble ladies and young ladies.

Surprisingly, there were indeed people who knew their stuff and recognized it immediately.

Mei Niang was filled with smugness. She slightly raised her chin and looked arrogant: "Of course, it was given to me by my husband. How else could I have gotten it?"

Being envied by these ladies and young women made Meiniang feel very pleased.

They used to look down on people, but today she can finally hold her head high.

Song Wenjun smiled faintly and said, "Oh, so it was sent by your husband, Miss. But I wonder who your husband is?"

Mei Niang was taken aback. She was Qi Jin's mistress, someone who couldn't be brought into the open.

If Qi Jin's name were revealed, it would surely cause trouble.

But if she didn't say anything, Song Wenjun's eyes were so sharp that it would make people think she was guilty.

Mei Niang braced herself and said, "My husband's surname is Jin. Madam, you seem quite interested in my husband's family. Do you perhaps know him?"

Song Wenjun shook her head and smiled faintly: "I don't know him."

She didn't want to know Qi Jin, that heartless bastard.

Mei Niang breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried for so long because Mei Niang said she didn't know him.

"I only asked because I thought the hairpin in Miss's hair was pretty," Song Wenjun said, giving Meiniang a slight nod. As she turned away, she abruptly asked, "Where should the cloth be delivered to Miss?"

Mei Niang subconsciously replied, "Send it to Flower Branch Lane."

She quickly stopped talking, glaring at Song Wenjun with fiery eyes: "What do you mean?"

"Miss, please don't misunderstand. I'm just asking on behalf of the shopkeeper." Song Wenjun smiled at the shopkeeper: "This piece of cloth that this young lady wants is on my tab."

After saying that, he stopped looking at Meiniang and turned to leave with Xiaotao.

Mei Niang was completely dumbfounded. Only after Song Wenjun left did she ask the shopkeeper, "Who is she? She's so rich and powerful."

The shopkeeper couldn't recognize Song Wenjun because she was wearing a veiled hat. He shook his head and said, "I don't know her either. She must be the daughter of some wealthy family."

Mei Niang was beautiful but lacked intelligence, and without much thought, she reached out to the shopkeeper and said, "Give me back the gold ingots."

Someone else is already paying for her, wouldn't it be foolish for her to spend her own money?

The shopkeeper gave her a speechless look and returned the silver that hadn't even warmed up yet.

"Get this cloth to my house as soon as possible, quickly," Meiniang said, and then happily left the shop.

The shopkeeper called over a servant: "Go and deliver this cloth to Flower Branch Lane."

After Mei Niang got into the carriage, Song Wenjun, who was sitting inside, told the driver to follow her.

Before long, the carriage stopped in Flower Branch Lane.

Mei Niang entered the courtyard, and the servant boy carried the cloth inside.

Song Wenjun looked at the courtyard carefully and saw that it was square with red walls and green tiles.

An old woman was stationed at the door, and she was very careful when going in and out.

There were few houses around, only an old woman sitting at the entrance of the alley selling vegetables.

Song Wenjun said to Xiaotao, "Go and ask that old woman how long the people in this house have been living here."

Xiao Tao understood and jumped out of the car, walking towards the old woman.

She stepped forward, squatted down, and asked the old woman, "Grandma, how much are the vegetables?"

Seeing the maid's attire, the old woman assumed she was a maid from a wealthy family out buying groceries, and replied with a smile, "Miss, these vegetables cost three coins a pound. How much do you want?"

“Grandma, I’m from that family. I’m new here and don’t know anything about how the family has been buying things this past year.”

The old woman laughed: "You silly girl, that family only moved in three months ago, not a year ago."

Xiao Tao gave a thoughtful "oh," and said, "Only three months."

She tossed down an ounce or two of silver: "I'll take all of these dishes."

Before the old woman could react, he had already taken all the vegetables away.

The old woman was stunned for a moment: "Heavens, I can't even earn an ounce of silver a year selling like this. You've really met a kind person."

Xiao Tao tossed the vegetables to Qingshan, who was driving the carriage, and then climbed into the carriage.

Song Wenjun hurriedly asked her, "How is it?"

"Your Highness, we have found out everything. That woman has only been here for three months."

Song Wenjun nodded: "He really is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He kept a mistress and still went to ask to marry Yulan. Poor Yulan is probably still in the dark."

"Then, Your Highness, should you remind the Second Miss?"

Song Wenjun shook her head: "If we tell Yulan now, and things get out of hand, I'm afraid even the Lan family will try to downplay it. Her heart is entirely with her son, so how could she care about her daughter's life or death?"

"But we can't just let Qi Jin deceive the Second Miss like that. He even dared to give away the things the Princess gave to the Second Miss to other women. Who knows what other outrageous things he might do?" Xiao Tao said angrily. Qi Jin really deserves to die.

Song Wenjun thought for a moment and said, "Yulan is gentle by nature. If she wants to gain a foothold in the Qi family, she has to be more assertive. Otherwise, no one can help her."

Can she help once, and then twice?

You have to walk your own path.

Xiao Tao nodded as if she understood, feeling that there were too many intricacies in the lives of these wealthy families.

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

Song Wenjun called out to the outside world, "Let's go back to the mansion."

There's no point in staying any longer.

The carriage started moving slowly, and just as it turned out of the alley, a person walked towards it.

Xiao Tao hurriedly said to Song Wenjun, "Your Highness, it is the second young master of the Qi family."

Song Wenjun turned to the side and saw that it was indeed that scoundrel Qi Jin.

She had a sudden idea.

He beckoned Xiao Tao closer and whispered a few words in her ear.

Xiao Tao chuckled after hearing this: "I understand, Your Highness."

The carriage turned onto the main road and passed by Qi Jin.

He paused, looking at the passing carriage with some puzzlement, a question lingering in his mind.

This alley is inhabited by ordinary families, so why would a horse-drawn carriage pass by?

Without giving it much thought, he walked into the alley.

As they approached the door, the old woman saw Qi enter and quickly stood up to greet him, saying, "Second Master."

Qi Jin snorted, and the old woman opened the door to let him in.

Hearing the commotion, Mei Niang cheered and came out to greet him: "Second Master, you've finally arrived! I've missed you so much!"

Qi Jin tapped the tip of her nose: "Were you good today?"

"I've been very obedient, eagerly waiting for Second Master to come."

Meiniang's charming appearance brought Qi Jin a great deal of comfort, as he was finally free from facing Shangguan Yulan's rigid face.

When the two met, they inevitably spent some time together. After half a cup of tea, Mei Niang lay in his arms with her hair disheveled, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

He wrapped his arm around Qi Jin's neck, but Qi Jin called for water from outside.

After each time he finished, he would take a bath.

Meiniang reluctantly got up to serve him a bath. The two frolicked in the tub for a while before they heard a loud bang from next door.