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Lady Jiang was also acquainted with Wu Hanyu.

The Chen and Wu families had not gotten along in Jiangnan, and this competition for Imperial Merchant status had completely torn off the facade of civility.

Now that Chen Leyao was participating in Red Smoke Pavilion’s selection, Wu Hanyu coincidentally also joined.

If it was a coincidence, who would believe it?

"Hmph," Lady Jiang sneered disdainfully, "you said it yourself, she’s just a decorative pillow—what is there to worry about? Others may not know, but don’t you? Despite hailing from the Wu Family, Wu Hanyu is still just a daughter of a concubine; she has two older brothers born from the principal wife. Just in terms of social standing, she can’t compare to you, let alone in other aspects. "

Chen Leyao’s anger somewhat subsided, and she flopped back into her chair, "It’s true in principle, but Wu Hanyu’s embroidery skills are well-known throughout Jiangnan, and certainly not mediocre. How could she become second in the Capital city? Has everyone here lost their dexterity?"

Lady Jiang let out a laugh and said, "If someone with Wu Hanyu’s skills could get second place, it’s not that the people of the Capital are inept; it’s that the Wu Family must have pulled some strings. However, the final round is in just a few days, and then the truth will come to light, won’t it?"

After giving her daughter a reassuring look, Lady Jiang turned her attention back to the slip of paper, contempt rising in her heart, "Ruochu, did you write this? It’s clear you are born of a concubine; even your handwriting is this crude!"

Hearing her mother speak so, Chen Leyao also noticed the handwriting on the paper, clicking her tongue in disapproval.

After all, their Chen family was a major household in Jiangnan.

Even a concubine’s son should not produce such poor handwriting, better than that of even the maids doing rough work in her courtyard!

But then, thinking it over, Chen Leyao felt relieved, "Mother, Ruochu grew up with maids and nannies since he was a child, being able to recognize a few characters is already quite remarkable. Do you expect him to become a calligrapher?"

Lady Jiang’s lips curled slightly. Naturally, she did not wish for Chen Ruochu to become a calligrapher. The worse he turned out, the better for her.

She had no sons of her own, just this one daughter, and due to her jealousy, there was not even a single concubine in Chen Mansion.

Had it not been for Chen Haigang taking advantage of one of the maids during a moment of intoxication while she was visiting her maternal home, Chen Ruochu would not exist. Moreover, the maid had been too timid to reveal her pregnancy, hiding it until the child was born and known.

Every time Lady Jiang remembered how Chen Haigang had the servants raise the child secretly, she was filled with a murderous rage.

Although Chen Haigang took care to never formally recognize the child for over a decade, now he had brought him to the Capital, and who knew what father and son were planning.

With this thought, Lady Jiang looked at Chen Ruochu with even greater distaste. As she got up to leave, she sneered, "He’s not only raised by maids and nannies but also born of one! I truly wonder how your short-lived mother managed to give birth to you!"

Watching Lady Jiang about to leave the room, Chen Leyao glanced awkwardly at Chen Ruochu. Truth be told, she didn’t detest this younger half-brother, but her mother said he came to snatch her inheritance, making them enemies.

Biting her lip, Chen Leyao reaffirmed to herself, "You are enemies," before hastening to follow Lady Jiang’s steps.

Once again, the elegant chamber was left with only Chen Ruochu, his lost gaze fixated on the throng outside, searching for the figure he hadn’t seen in months, as if he hadn’t heard a single word spoken by Lady Jiang and her daughter.

It was only a matter of days before the second day of the second lunar month.

Lin Wei devoted her days to practicing embroidery, save for eating and sleeping.

Knowing she couldn’t compete with the people of the Chen and Wu families of Jiangnan, she needed to suppress the woman named Luo Sangu in fourth place to maintain her third position.

Tian Xuan had once mentioned that Luo Sangu was a formidable figure, nearly being selected last year.

Lin Wei silently encouraged herself; she had to make it into Red Smoke Pavilion this year.

As Lin Wei busied herself with embroidery, Xiao He was practicing her knife skills, and Xiao Linshuang, aside from visiting Hall of Salvation, was constantly tinkering with her herbal medicines.

Lin Yuan was unaware of her sister’s actions but nonetheless reminded her about the kind-hearted sister with a birthmark on her face.

Lin Yuan had thought that Xiao Linshuang would have forgotten by now, but to her surprise, the young girl smiled mysteriously and said that she was currently busy with something related to the kind-hearted big sister.

Given this, Lin Yuan also felt relieved.

Apart from them, Lady Liu has also been very busy lately.

If she wasn’t attending banquets with Princess Anle at the General Mansion, she was chatting with a few madams she had newly befriended.

Lady Liu was of a gentle and weak nature and had never understood the underlying strife among the women of the capital city; Lin Yuan was quite worried about her.

However, fortunately, with Sister Chang and Mother Zhang giving advice by her side, Lady Liu had not suffered any loss. Moreover, the madams she was befriending now were acquaintances of Princess Anle. With the connection to the princess, those people would not mistreat Lady Liu.

Even so, Lin Yuan had repeatedly cautioned Lady Liu that it would be better to stay as far away as possible from those women with nasty tempers and foul mouths.

Everyone was busy, so naturally, Lin Yuan was not idle either. She had previously asked Xia Zheng to find some people for the new tavern when it opened.

And now, Xia Zheng had already completed all the tasks she had entrusted to him. He even brought good news that the trouble with the Glaze had been settled and that it would be delivered to the capital city in no more than ten days.

This was indeed the happiest news for Lin Yuan.

After speaking with Xia Zheng for a while, she took out the blueprints she had drawn the previous days and handed them to Xia Zheng, saying with a smile, "Your Yi Ran Residence can close its doors for good.

Renovate it anew according to this blueprint. "

Xia Zheng’s eyebrows raised in curiosity as he unfolded the blueprint. The first page boldly stated the name of the new tavern, and he couldn’t help but read it aloud, "Dong Tian? Dong Tian?"

After muttering three times, Xia Zheng slapped his hand in approval and praised repeatedly, "What a hidden gem! Great name! Great name!"

Lin Yuan hooked the corner of her lips, indicating for him to continue looking, "If you’re so fond of just the name, wouldn’t you jump for joy when you see the rest?"

"Okay." Xia Zheng, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, said with keen interest, "I must see what kind of hidden gem your tavern really is!"

With that said, he started to study the blueprints one by one.

Watching Xia Zheng alternately frowning and rejoicing, Lin Yuan felt a bit nervous. In reality, her tavern’s design was very bold. If it were to be used in her previous life, it might have been somewhat unacceptable to people, let alone in ancient times?

Just when Lin Yuan was feeling anxious, Xia Zheng suddenly put down the blueprint in his hand, his eyes wide open, staring at her so intensely that she began to feel a bit uneasy.

Lin Yuan swallowed hard, just about to ask, when she heard Xia Zheng suppress a laugh and inquire, "Yuanyuan, can I open up your head to have a look? How on earth did you come up with such a brilliant design?"