In Jiangnan, people call someone "soft-boned" or "soft-boned." Others are more vulnerable. Fourth Madam Mei was the first to understand and couldn't help but chuckle. She knew she was referring to the two sisters from the third house trying to curry favor with Princess Xun.

Second Madam Lou glanced back at Ling Shuang, a hint of warning in her eyes.

"Let me go. The maid doesn't know the paints and might take the wrong ones," Ling Shuang insisted stubbornly.

"So what? Let Tao Ran take them. You're not allowed to go. It's only the Plum Blossom Banquet today, and you're running away? Don't even think about it." Second Madam Lou played a card and called out, "Tanxue, come here."

Tanxue had been watching others play mahjong, but when she heard Second Madam Lou's unfriendly tone, she immediately came over.

"If you really have nothing else to do, take Tanxue with you so she can learn needlework." Oh, and tell Tao Ran to find Fourth Sister and have her take the key to open the rosewood chest and bring the bag of plum-red rubies under the cat's-eye stones. Old Lady Cui wants to see this year's new stones, so make sure you don't get the wrong ones. The big bag is plum-red, and the small one is chicken-blood red."

Ling Shuang knew she'd said that on purpose. The constant fighting on the border these past two years has cut off the supply of cat's-eye stones. They're worth a fortune, and the more they're stockpiled, the more valuable they become.

Mother definitely didn't say that to find someone to sell them, but to establish her authority. They say the Second Wife is a merchant's daughter, so let them see the wealth of a merchant family.

"Okay." "

She knew how determined her mother was to sell all three of them, so she gave up trying to find excuses to go home early and returned to the warm room with Tanxue.

As they crossed the courtyard, they saw a shabby sedan chair hurrying in. The person accompanying it wasn't a maid, but a nanny in her thirties. The master and servant stepped out of the sedan chair. Despite the cold weather, they were wearing only a red velvet cloak. It wasn't even fur, just a circle of gray squirrel fur around the collar. It was a puffy cut, despite the tailor's skill. If the master and servant hadn't lifted a corner as they passed Lingshuang, they wouldn't have recognized it as red velvet. They would have mistaken it for gorilla felt.

The person wearing the cloak was...A girl of Ling Shuang's age, with a pointed, oval face and a delicate, pitiful appearance, looked anxious. As she passed by, she even bowed to Ling Shuang and said politely, "Hello, sister."

Then she hurried into the warm room. Seeing the sedan chair bearer still waiting for a tip, Ling Shuang asked, "Who hired this sedan?"

The bearer, seeing the elegantly dressed girl asking, quickly lowered his head and said, "The Lou family in the east city."

"The Lou family?" Ling Shuang was surprised.

The first wife's house was empty, and the daughters of the second and third wives were all here. How could another Lou family member have appeared?

Intent on observing, she followed him into the warm room. Sure enough, the girl was standing before Princess Xun, being teased. Sisters Yuzhu and Bizhu joined in the mockery. Princess Xun, upon seeing Ling Shuang enter, became even louder. From a distance, she could see her pinching the girl's clothes and saying, "There's actually a red velvet cloak in this world! Where did you buy it? It's so cold, aren't you afraid of freezing to death..."

The girl looked a little embarrassed, but she remained obedient, a gentle smile on her face. She looked rather pitiful.

Ling Shuang didn't go up to speak, but instead went into the small pavilion. Qing Yun was sewing with the others. Seeing her enter, she quickly pulled her to sit down, shook her cheek, and said, "Where have you been? Your face is freezing cold."

"I went to watch the fun," she said to Liu Zichan. "Sister Liu, do you recognize that new girl outside? I heard they say she's from our Lou family, too."

"From our family?"

Qing Yun immediately stood up to see. Liu Zichan also looked over, then returned with a smile, "That's Cai Huan. She seems to be your eldest grandmother's niece. For some reason, the eldest wife doesn't care much about her, letting the others bully her. She looks quite pitiful."

In fact, even if she had only mentioned the name, Ling Shuang had guessed it.

The eldest uncle of the Lou family died young, and her aunt was a daughter of the Cai family, a member of the Imperial College. She was widowed young and secluded herself indoors all year round. She didn't even come to dinner last night and had no children.

The Cai couple, while serving in office, encountered a civil uprising and were killed by the rioters. Ling Shuang had assumed the Cai family was extinct, but it turned out there was still a little niece who was staying with Grandmother Lou.

After inquiring, she came up with an idea. She summoned Tao Ran and whispered a few words to her. Tao Ran, like her master, loved to stir up trouble and seek the spotlight, so she immediately agreed with a smile.

After Ling Shuang finished speaking, she saw Xianyue, who was painting on the kang, looking at her with a half-smile, and knew she must have guessed it.

Princess Xun had suffered a setback in front of the Lou sisters today, and with nowhere to vent her anger, she immediately took it out on Cai Huan.

A group of sharp-tongued girls surrounded her, mocking her. One moment, they said, "You're the only poor beggar in our neighborhood. It's okay now, but when mid-spring comes and everyone's wearing pearls and jade, what will you do?"

Then someone asked, "Why haven't you brought out the shoes you promised me the other day?"

The crowd was in the midst of their laughter when a maid, dressed in gorgeous attire, approached, holding a snow-white fox-feathered cloak. The cloak was folded in a way that looked like it could be made in a tailor's shop: the feather satin faced inward, the fox-feathered cloak facing outward, yet a narrow strip of silk peeked out from the collar. It was a silver-red background embroidered with gold thread, shimmering and resplendent, looking incredibly gorgeous. The fox-feathered fur was incredibly fine and soft, like a handful of snow. Everyone was stunned.

Everyone thought she was one of Princess Xun's family, but the maid, incredibly beautiful, approached and addressed Cai Huan, "Miss, your cloak.

Miss San saw it was snowing outside and sent me here specifically. Give me your red velvet one. I wore it for its lightness; catching a cold wouldn't be fun."

Cai Huan felt as if she were in a dream. The maid untied her cloak and placed the fox fur over her shoulders. The snow-white fur framed her delicate face, giving it a celestial air she didn't normally possess. The girls who had been teasing her fell silent.

Princess Xun's face darkened. Just as she was about to ask more, Madam Li, the Cui family's housekeeper, entered and called out, "Girls, dinner is served in the snow pavilion. Follow me."

The young ladies all stood up, including Cai Huan. The maid supported her, and Cai Huan, a little embarrassed, called out, "Sister."

"Miss, just call me Tao Ran."

Xianyue's maid, Tao Ran, said with a smile, helping her all the way to the Duixue Pavilion. As they walked through the long corridor, it was the perfect time to don a cloak. The outer layer was a silver-red feather satin woven with gold, shimmering brilliantly in the darkness. The wind lifted a corner of the cloak, revealing a snow-white foxtail underneath. Many of the surrounding ladies were stunned. Passing by Madam Li, she praised, "What a beautiful cloak!" Cai Huan blushed immediately.

Arriving at the Duixue Pavilion, several tables were already set for a feast. Cai Huan was still searching for a seat when someone called out, "Sister Cai Huan, please sit here." She looked over and saw an extremely dignified girl with an oval face and gentle, kind eyes. The weaving and embroidery of her dress were similar to her own.

Next to her was a girl in red, her face as white as snow, but also smiling. Tao Ran helped her sit over.

The girl, who had been fiddling with the handkerchief in her sleeve, looked up, breathtakingly beautiful, graceful and elegant.

She guessed that these were the "three young ladies from the second house who resembled the Suzhou silk beauties" the servants had been talking about. Sure enough, as they sat down, Ling Shuang said, "I'm Ling Shuang, the third youngest. This is Qing Yun, the eldest. The vixen next to you is Xian Yue, the second youngest."

The second vixen simply smiled and studied Cai Huan, saying nothing. Qing Yun, however, was very friendly to her. The dishes were quickly served. The young ladies' table was served no wine, only a glass of plum wine to dispel the cold. Everyone at the table was mindful of their appearance and remained restrained. Meanwhile, the ladies' table was bustling with laughter and banter, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Did mother win or lose today?" Xian Yue suddenly asked Ling Shuang.

Qingyun warned in a low voice, "Hush, don't talk."

The young ladies all knew they were the ones being looked at tonight, so they ate in complete silence, with only the occasional clink of spoons and chopsticks against dishes. Even though the meal was a feast of delicacies, no one took their chopsticks seriously.

So Cai Huan was quite surprised to see Ling Shuang diligently devour half a sea bass.

"The third child is rushing over for dinner," Xianyue complained softly again.

"Hush."

Qingyun warned again, not forgetting to step on Ling Shuang's foot under the table. She was conscientious and responsible, keeping an eye on her two younger sisters.

Cai Huan had never grown up with any sisters, so seeing their intimacy made her feel a little envious.

After dinner, tea was served. The young ladies dispersed to chat, while the ladies engaged in another round of conversation. Finally, when the moon rose above the horizon, the conversation ended.

The crowd was so large that it couldn't disperse quickly, and they lingered for a long time, one looking for a handkerchief, another for a hand warmer. The excitement intensified when the sedan chair arrived. Each household had sent a sedan chair to receive the guests, and the courtyard was lined with over ten sedan chairs, making for ample space.

Mrs. Li had spent the day dancing gracefully, and her good deeds were finally coming to a close, but there was a small mishap at the end.

The journey back was long, and the night was cold, so, as usual, the host family prepared brass foot warmers to be placed in the sedan chair.

When the three Lou sisters came out, they stood on the steps and saw a row of brass foot warmers at the foot of the steps. Each one was a foot square, emblazoned with designs of peonies, pine trees, peaches, and plums. The lids leaned against the steps like small mud cakes.

Several maids carried buckets of red-hot charcoal and added them to the foot warmers.

Ling Shuang took a quick glance and said, "Not enough."

Xianyue was so sleepy she rested her head on her shoulder, but Qingyun, anxious for her master, said, "This is bad."

As expected, Madam Li counted the number of foot warmers and was immediately perplexed. She asked the maid, "Why were there extra last year, but not enough this year?"

"Last year, a few were lost, and a few broke, and with so many people coming this year..." The maid frantically explained, only to be glared at by Madam Li and silenced.

Any large family in decline always reveals its weakness first in these details. With more outgoings than incomings, things gradually become dilapidated and dwindle, becoming increasingly scarce.

The ladies visiting here were all matrons of household affairs, and the young ladies had also studied household management. Someone immediately realized what was happening, and several of the ladies who were talking glanced over.

This wasn't something you could urgently collect. Madam Li scolded, "Fool! Go get some from Yangchun Pavilion! Send these guests to their sedan chairs first."

A foot warmer was a humble little item, but if some had one and some didn't, it would be seen as neglecting the guests. Besides, the journey was long, and these delicate ladies wouldn't freeze without a foot warmer.

Ling Shuang speculated that the so-called Yangchun Pavilion might be Old Madam Cui's residence. It wouldn't sound good to give the old lady's things to guests, so Madam Li had been vague.

The maidservant left in a flash. Qingyun, a kindhearted woman, said goodbye to her hostess and took Xianyue's hand, saying, "Xianyue, come ride in the same sedan chair with me. It's cold at night, and we'll be warmer together."

As she climbed into the sedan, the maidservant who was setting up the foot warmers didn't know how to do it. She took one and placed it under Xianyue's feet. When she asked for another, Qingyun whispered, "One is enough."

Madam Li gave her a subtle look of gratitude. Qingyun nodded and smiled, then had the maid lower the sedan curtain.

"Sister Cai, come with me," Lingshuang said.

Cai Huan had noticed, too. The two of them got into the sedan chair together. Ling Shuang, seeing her delicate appearance, offered her the foot warmer. Cai Huan tried to give way, but Ling Shuang replied with a chuckle, "Don't give way! I'm much stronger than you think."

Cai Huan, however, worried she might catch a cold, said, "Each of you can step on half. It's okay."

"I'm being polite."

Seeing her disbelief, Ling Shuang rolled up her sleeves and gave her an arm massage. "Look, how strong my arm is! If you don't believe me, I can even ride a horse."

Cai Huan quickly covered her with her cloak. Ling Shuang was amused by her nervousness.

The two of them returned home in the sedan chair. The moon was already high in the sky. Xianyue was half asleep, and Tao Ran helped her back home. Cai Huan held the cloak, but couldn't find anyone to return it to, so she gave it to Ling Shuang, saying, "Let's return it to its rightful owner."

"You can keep it. This is my personal item, and I don't like wearing it anyway.

Besides, I have more at home. Don't think of it as a favor; just consider it a meeting gift."

"That doesn't make sense." Cai Huan insisted on returning it. Seeing Ling Shuang refused, she said sternly, "If it's really a meeting gift, we can find a date. I'll embroider something for you, and you'll give me a gift. That's the proper way. I don't want it like this."

Ling Shuang knew that the Cai family, a family of scholars, probably had a certain peculiar arrogance. She accepted it without forcing Cai Huan. She watched as she donned the red velvet cloak and walked into the main house, with its soaring Buddhist temple eaves.