Chapter 171: Something Fishy (2) (2/2)

When Wenqing saw that Chu Lian’s expression had relaxed, she spoke up and asked, “Third Young Madam, would you still like to shop around?”

By this time, they had already left Pingkang Lane and were driving along Zhuque Avenue.

Chu Lian had already lost her initial anticipation after witnessing that scene. She was about to order them to return home directly, but she suddenly remembered that it would be Countess Jing’an’s birthday in a few days. She didn’t have a suitable gift for her mother-in-law yet. Thus, she held back her words.

“Let’s look for a few stores to shop in. Mother’s birthday is coming.”

Although she didn’t have to buy something extremely valuable for her mother-in-law’s birthday and Countess Jing’an wasn’t one to mind, the entire estate knew that she had received a nice sum of money from Imperial Concubine Wei, thanks to Imperial Princess Leyao’s golden qilin. When she had been given the title of Honoured Lady, she had also received an award of one hundred gold taels. If she didn’t spend a good amount of money on Countess Jing’an’s gift, she might draw the gossip of certain jealous people.

Chu Lian inwardly sighed. That sister-in-law of hers, Madam Zou, was waiting for her to make a mistake! How could she let Madam Zou have any chance of reprimanding her or punishing her?

It didn’t matter what gift she picked this time. It just had to be suitably expensive. She could have claimed that she didn’t have any money in the past, but she couldn’t do that now.

Chu Lian pouted, feeling a little angry inside. It was just two measly awards, but the people around her were already jealous. How annoying! She was better off hiding whatever money she made in the future. Her husband wasn’t by her side, so there was a real chance that someone else might try to take the money from her using all sorts of reasons!

Wenqing lifted up the curtains a little and pointed at the stores on both sides of Zhuque Avenue. She introduced them to Chu Lian one by one. “Third Young Madam, that’s Hengsheng Medicine Hall, Luohe Calligraphy, Lanqiao Clothing, and oh, that one over there is Jinshi Pavilion. These are all famous stores in the capital. Many high-ranked nobles and young ladies like to shop here.”

Chu Lian nodded. Since she hadn’t thought of what she wanted to buy, she decided to look around each of them.

Wenqing told the driver to stop and she helped Chu Lian off the carriage together with Wenlan.

There were many people walking on Zhuque Avenue. Some richly dressed men and women would also pass by from time to time.

Chu Lian looked around her. Her impression of the Great Wu Dynasty increased a notch. This dynasty wasn’t as restrictive towards the freedom of its women, unlike the old Song and Ming dynasties. The openness of this dynasty seemed more like the early Tang.

Most of the ladies out here didn’t even cover their heads while they were out. There were even women studying at the capital’s Imperial College.

It was normal for noble ladies to be out shopping as well.

Chu Lian entered Hengsheng Medicine Hall first. For the sake of her incognito visit today, she had dressed plainly. Her clothes were made of ordinary fabric. With two young maids like Wenqing and Wenlan by her side, she looked like the newlywed wife of a minor official.

When she entered the medicine hall, none of the staff came up to greet her. Chu Lian didn’t mind this at all. She slowly looked around the store with Wenqing and Wenlan.