As he said this, he turned to fetch it. Cheng Xiran secretly thought something was amiss. Was he going to take action against her so soon?
While she was pondering how to deal with the situation in her mind, the shopkeeper had already fetched the brocade box and presented it to her with both hands. "Miss, be careful when you take it. This brocade box is quite heavy. I wonder what's inside."
Cheng Xiran took it with a solemn face and then directly opened it in front of him. "Anyway, it can't be anything good."
To her surprise, it was full of gold and silver jewelry. Although they were all small trinkets, she knew in her heart that the whole box together must be extremely valuable.
This person had sent such an expensive gift without even meeting her. Cheng Xiran twitched the corner of her mouth slightly and said self - deprecatingly, "What virtue and ability do I have to make Young Master Qian spend so much on me?"
After associating with Qian Youliang's identity, the shopkeeper understood the meaning behind Cheng Xiran's words.
"I was thoughtless. I shouldn't have accepted it."
"It's okay. I'll send it back to them in person."
A sly look flashed across Cheng Xiran's eyes. She already had a brilliant plan in mind. Didn't this Qian Youliang love beautiful women? Then she must appear in front of him "beautifully" to let him know whether he was really worthy of her.
When she returned to the palace, she picked up the box of rouge and dotted one red pockmark after another on her face. When she came out after finishing her makeup, Chu Liyin and Zhuque were startled.
Zhuque immediately stepped forward and tightly grabbed her wrist, exclaiming in surprise, "Miss's face was fine before. Why has it suddenly become like this? Are you feeling unwell? Maybe I should go and invite a doctor to take a look."
Saying this, she was about to go out, but was pulled back by Cheng Xiran. "Alright, alright, I'm fine. This is just my makeup."
Chu Liyin leaned forward, took a couple of eager looks, and couldn't help asking, "Sister, why did you deliberately make yourself look ugly?"
"You don't need to understand. There are new pastries made by the kitchen in the room. Go and try them. You should like them."
At the mention of food, Chu Liyin immediately got excited and rushed into the room, leaving them behind.
Only then did Cheng Xiran explain it to Zhuque. "Qian Youliang sent a valuable gift. Now I'm going to return it to him in person. He's always wanted to meet me. This is a good opportunity."
Zhuque looked puzzled. "But if Miss goes out like this, it might not be good for your reputation, right?"
"Exactly. I want everyone to see and spread the news. Only in this way can the best effect be achieved..." Cheng Xiran said calmly. "Maybe after this trip today, I can get rid of him."
Since she said so, Zhuque didn't object anymore. She just nodded and said, "Then Miss and A Li go safely. I'll stay here with Miss Chu."
Cheng Xiran looked expressionlessly into the room. "Yes. Don't tell her about this. The fewer people who know, the better."
Zhuque nodded obediently, and only then did Cheng Xiran leave with confidence.
At first, the looks from around made her feel a bit embarrassed, but after a while, she didn't care anymore.
In life, one has to be thick - skinned and heartless. Otherwise, how can one survive in this world?
But A Li beside her obviously wasn't used to this situation and had to keep her head down all the way. After Cheng Xiran noticed this, she quickened her pace, hoping to solve the matter earlier and go back.
The two of them came to the Qian Mansion all the way and were naturally stopped by the guards at the door.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Cheng Xiran, the eldest miss of the Cheng Prime Minister's Mansion. I'm here to pay a visit to your Young Master Qian today. Earlier, he sent someone to deliver such a valuable gift. I'm too embarrassed to accept it, so I've come here in person to return it. Please go and inform him."
The guard looked full of suspicion. "This... Why do I think you don't look the same as the eldest miss in the portrait?"