usatvline Chapter 187: Not a Good One
Chapter 187: Not a Good One
The more Shen Shuyi talked, the more Shen Meiru thought this was a good idea.
Most importantly, these pastries not only showed her thoughtfulness and dexterity in front of many guests, but also brought her closer to her grandmother after the birthday party.
Shen Meiru quickly thought that if these pastries could have some effect, even just a little bit, her grandmother might send someone to ask her to make some more.
Or even if her grandmother never asked her to do it again, she could still send it to her every now and then. This would not only show her filial piety, but also make the old lady feel closer to her.
However, I'm afraid my mother won't be too happy about this.
There was a hint of struggle in Shen Meiru's eyes. She didn't know what decision to make for a moment. She just felt that she had to go back and discuss it with her aunt.
Shen Shuyi saw through her thoughts and could easily guess what she was thinking.
But she has already given the advice, whether Shen Meiru is willing to listen to it or not is her business.
However, Shen Meiru has always been of this kind of personality. Although she looks dignified and graceful, compared to other young ladies in the Shen family, she is cautious in her bones, and she is hesitant and has many concerns in her actions.
"Thank you, second sister. I knew that you are the best at it." Shen Meiru collected her thoughts and spoke affectionately.
Shen Shuyi said gently: "You have already thought of it yourself, I am just reminding you."
Shen Meiru immediately placed the cakes she brought on the table one by one and said in a gentle voice, "My aunt used to serve mother. Mother liked the cakes she made the most. When she heard that I was coming over today, she made a lot of cakes specially. Second sister, please take a look and see what you like. I will bring more next time I come."
Shen Shuyi lowered her eyes and saw plates of extremely exquisite pastries placed in front of her. A faint crispy fragrance wafted in the air, and it was obvious that much thought had gone into their preparation.
Shen Shuyi picked up a cherry pastry and tasted it. It was sweet, crispy and fragrant, a rare and delicious taste.
"Auntie really has great cooking skills, no wonder mother praises her so much." Shen Shuyi said in a gentle voice.
"There is also this kind of Pipa Su which is salty. Grandmother likes it very much. Second sister, please try it." Shen Meiru said warmly.
Shen Shuyi did not refuse, and tasted another piece, praising: "It is fragrant but not greasy, and it is indeed delicious."
"As long as Second Sister likes it." Shen Meiru smiled. Because of Shen Shuyi's suggestion, she seemed a lot more relaxed.
The two exchanged pleasantries for a while before Shen Meiru stood up and said goodbye.
After she left, Shen Shuyi asked Yuping to keep a few pieces of cake and distributed the rest to several maids.
Yuping was thinking about the taste while eating, and Shen Shuyi didn't pay any attention to her.
Although Jinzhu ate the cakes, she was not the kind of person who would complain after having eaten someone's cake. She said, "The Fifth Miss has always been on good terms with the Third Miss, and she has never said a word for Miss over the years. Why should Miss help her?"
Shen Shuyi drank tea and said calmly: "No matter what she is thinking, at least there is no evidence now. I don't want to be hostile to her and make arbitrary assumptions because of some speculations."
Besides, it was just a suggestion. Even if she listened to it, it wouldn't cause any trouble.
Jinzhu's cheeks were puffed up, but she still said unwillingly: "But I always feel that she has ulterior motives and doesn't seem like a good person."
Shen Shuyi smiled and felt that Jinzhu was really vigilant and sharp in this regard.
*
For several days in a row, Shen Meiru came to Shen Shuyi every few days, so it was inevitable that she would see the birthday painting that Shen Shuyi planned to give to Old Madam Shen.
Fortunately, Shen Shuyi had no intention of hiding it.
That day, Shen Shuyi had just finished painting when Shen Meiru came again.
As soon as she entered the room and saw the picture of pine and crane on the table, she was stunned for a moment.
"Was this painted by my second sister?" she asked subconsciously.
Shen Shuyi picked up the teacup, sat aside and said softly, "What do you think, Fifth Sister?"
Shen Meiru opened her mouth several times, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
It's not because of anything else, but because this painting is so wonderful.
Birthday paintings have been quite common since ancient times, but this one by Shen Shuyi is different in that she made the whole painting exceptionally lively, expressing a sense of joy, flowers, blessings and happiness.
The same peonies and peonies were in full bloom, but they were in all different shapes and colors, each competing to bloom. In the sea of flowers, an old immortal sat at the center, looking kind and kind, and he was similar to Old Madam Shen.
The immortal was holding a longevity peach in his hand, smiling broadly, with kind eyes and a fairy-like aura.
In the sea of flowers, two cranes are offering auspiciousness together, which makes people smile when they see it.
"Second sister...what exquisite painting skills."
Shen Meiru murmured for a long while, not knowing what to say. In an instant, all kinds of thoughts flooded into her mind.
Is this painting really created by Shen Shuyi?
During these days, she had never seen her pick up a pen to paint or even write a single word in front of her.
But if it wasn't her doing, and she used other people's things to make up the number, she would be too bold.
Looking again, she met Shen Shuyi's calm and clear eyes. Her calm and smiling look made Shen Meiru unable to figure out what was going on.
Shen Shuyi said in a gentle voice: "It's not exquisite, I just hope grandma likes it."
Shen Meiru came back to her senses, still unable to hide her shock, and couldn't help but probe: "When did Second Sister learn to paint?"
She boasted that she had mastered all the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting over the years, but she could not compare with Shen Shuyi.
But she clearly spent several years in the Jade Buddha Temple, and those were the most important years!
Unless she was a genius, she didn't believe that this was drawn by her...
Shen Meiru gradually calmed down, and her eyes couldn't help but fall on Shen Shuyi's maids.
If the Buddhist scripture was not copied by her, and the painting was not made by her, then she was able to complete these things under the eyes of everyone in just a few days, which means there must be a master hidden by her side.
Or, were the things bought from outside?
"Why didn't Second Sister write anything on the painting?" Shen Meiru changed the subject.
Shen Shuyi said gently, "I think it would be better if my father wrote the inscription some other day."
Shen Jingchuan's calligraphy is excellent and is quite famous in the entire court. Shen Meiru thought what Shen Shuyi said was reasonable.
She was about to speak again when she caught a glimpse of a crumpled piece of paper under the table.
Shen Meiru withdrew her gaze and calmly adjusted the golden hairpin on her head. When she withdrew her hand, a small orchid hairpin fell off.
"Yeah~!"
The small orchid hairpin fell to the ground with a crisp sound, and Shen Meiru immediately bent down to pick it up.
Because the table was blocking her view, she picked up the piece of calligraphy and hid it in her sleeve, then picked up the hairpin as if nothing had happened.