He Qing stared at the white bear reluctantly. Her lips beneath the sheer veil were bitten over and over again. Finally, she silently turned around and was about to lift her foot to leave.
"Wait a minute."
Just as she had taken two steps, the clear voice of the red - clad woman came from behind.
He Qing stopped in her tracks and heard the other woman smile gently.
"Since you like it so much, I'll give this white bear to you."
Hearing this, He Qing whirled around suddenly. The hairpins on her head clanged because of her excessive excitement.
"Really?" She could hardly believe her ears.
The red - clad woman slightly narrowed her delicate eyebrows and eyes. Apparently, she was calm and gentle. She nodded, and her eyes looking at He Qing were full of friendliness.
"I'm not in a hurry. I can wait a while and order another doll. This white bear is really cute. Since you like it more, it's okay to let you have it first."
Qinglian behind her immediately looked unhappy and pouted, "Madam, you clearly took a fancy to it first!"
"Qinglian."
The red - clad woman's voice turned slightly cold. She frowned slightly and gave Qinglian a faint glance. Qinglian immediately fell silent.
Seeing this, the red - clad woman looked up at He Qing with a hint of guilt and said,
"My maid has a straightforward personality and speaks without thinking. If she has offended you, please forgive her, Madam."
After saying that, she nodded and led her maid away gracefully.
Only He Qing, who hadn't recovered yet, and the onlookers were left.
Apparently, no one had expected that a tense stand - off would end with the surrender of the dominant side. Immediately, there were a chorus of boos directed at He Qing.
Hearing the boos, He Qing stared blankly at the fluffy white bear left behind by the red - clad woman.
The glass eyes of the bear glistened brightly in the daylight, as if mocking her arrogance.
She bit her lip tightly and clenched the corner of her skirt with her hands, remaining silent.
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving He Qing alone in the middle of the hall.
The onlookers seemed afraid of getting too close to her and being affected innocently, so they walked to both sides as much as possible to choose the dolls on the counter.
Only the waiter managed to force a smile and asked He Qing, "Madam, shall we send the bear to your mansion now, or..."
Before he could finish his sentence, He Qing suddenly turned around and rushed out of the door.
The East Main Street was crowded with people. Many had come especially after hearing the news and wanted to squeeze into the five newly - opened shops to take a look.
Even so, in this bustling street, a magnificent eight - horse carriage with a jade - studded canopy and tassels still stood out among the many carriages and was easy to spot at a glance.
Qinglian stood respectfully beside the carriage, holding the red - clad woman's arm and helping her into the carriage.
The delicate embroidered shoes with the pattern of fish playing among lotus leaves were gently lifted with the woman's feet. They emerged from under the skirt and stepped on the wooden stool.
One step, two steps.
Just as she was about to step into the carriage, she suddenly heard a hasty voice from behind.
"Wait!"
The red - clad woman turned around upon hearing the voice. When she saw that it was He Qing, who had just snatched the white bear from her, there was a look of surprise in her eyes.
But soon, she motioned for Qinglian to help her back to the ground.
"Does Madam still have something to say?" Her voice was still gentle and calm.
He Qing had run in a hurry and gasped slightly. Then she straightened up and asked bluntly, "Who are you?"
The red - clad woman was slightly stunned and then smiled, "Me? I'm just an ordinary person."
"An ordinary person? Don't lie to me!" He Qing was obviously dissatisfied with this answer and pressed on, "Who on earth are you? What are you afraid to say? Is your identity so disgraceful?"
Seeing He Qing's aggressive and arrogant manner, Qinglian couldn't hold back anymore. She looked up and shouted,
"Presumptuous! How dare you spout nonsense in front of our Madam! You're courting death! Our Madam is..."
"Qinglian!" The red - clad woman rarely raised her voice and interrupted Qinglian.
Qinglian glared angrily at He Qing but didn't dare to go against the red - clad woman. She could only reluctantly lower her head and pout aggrievedly.
"Madam, if His Majesty... if Master knows that you've been bullied like this by a mere official's wife outside, he will surely fly into a rage!"
Hearing this, He Qing's face suddenly changed.
Although Qinglian only uttered the word "His Majesty" softly, He Qing heard it clearly.
Looking at the woman's bearing, dressing, and the jewelry she wore, everything showed that the woman had an extraordinary identity.
No wonder...
No wonder the woman remained unmoved even when she offered two thousand taels. No wonder Qinglian, a mere maid, dared to say that she was overestimating herself when she offended the woman without even asking about her identity.
It turned out that this red - clad woman in front of her was a noble in the palace!
He Qing was instantly terrified, and cold sweat broke out on her back.
She was finished... She had been so ignorant as to snatch something from a noble in the palace, and finally, she had even forced the noble to give it to her!
She was simply looking for death!
If Zhao Yujin found out, he would surely skin her alive.
The more she thought about it, the more afraid she became. Her legs went weak, and she immediately knelt down, stammering,
"I... I... Your Highness, please forgive me! It's all because I'm blind and have failed to recognize Your Highness's noble status. It's all my fault. Please... please Your Highness don't take it to heart!"
The gentle breeze in the summer morning didn't bring a trace of coolness but only stuffiness.
Cold sweat soaked through He Qing's back, and the thin veil on her face was also wet with sweat, sticking to her face bit by bit, making it even more difficult for He Qing to breathe.
She lowered her head and only saw a pair of delicate embroidered shoes with the pattern of fish playing among lotus leaves, standing still in place and quietly looking at her.
She was sweating profusely, and her heart was pounding.
After a while, she heard the familiar gentle voice from above.
"It's just a small matter. Why be so nervous?"
Then, a pair of slender hands gently rested under He Qing's arms and helped her up.
Hearing this, He Qing's anxious heart finally settled down. She looked up at the red - clad woman timidly.
She saw the woman smile and say, "You don't need to be nervous. Since you like that white bear more, it's okay to give it to you. I have plenty of good things anyway, and I don't mind waiting a few more days."
If someone else had said this, they would surely be accused of showing off.
But when the red - clad woman said it, it seemed very natural, and no one would feel disgusted.
After all, she was a noble in the palace and had been used to seeing good things.
He Qing was even more certain of the red - clad woman's identity.
At the same time, she was extremely grateful to the woman but really didn't dare to snatch the white bear from her. So she could only smile apologetically and say, "I offended Your Highness just now. It's all my fault.
Your Highness is magnanimous and doesn't bother with me. I'm extremely grateful.
But that white bear was what Your Highness took a fancy to first. Even if you gave me the courage of a thousand men, I wouldn't dare to take it!"