"Ah, what have I done, such heartless things!"

  She lay on the soft couch, suffocating with the urge to pinch herself, and her personal maid, Zidai, laughed and brought over the freshly brewed tea. "What are you saying, miss? Heartless things? You can't just say things like that."

  Zidai poured the tea. "This is plum blossom snow water tea, miss, try it."

  White Qingqing sat up and took a small sip. It was crisp and sweet, the taste light and refreshing. But at this moment, no matter how precious the tea, it couldn't calm her down.

  The more she thought, the more she felt that in her previous life, she had been foolish, selfish. For her own desires, she had made her father, who loved her dearly, beg others. She had even ruined Yaoyao's marriage.

  Everyone in Xiancheng knew that her engagement with Fu Yi was something she had begged for. White family daughters were so unrestrained, so when it came time for Yaoyao's marriage, it was bound to be criticized.

  She truly was a terrible person.

  "Zidai, let’s go out of the house… bring all my money."

  White Qingqing remembered that Yaoyao had once admired a set of jewelry at Lingyun Pavilion, a necklace, but it was unique, and after it was sold, no one could find the same one. Yaoyao had regretted it for a long time.

  White Qingqing recalled that necklace had appeared at Lingyun Pavilion not long after the flower viewing banquet.

  She decided to buy it for Yaoyao, though it couldn't make up for the wrongs of her previous life, White Qingqing always wanted to do something.

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  Lingyun Pavilion was the largest jewelry store in Xiancheng, often showcasing new and unique items, making it very popular with the women of the city.

  The White family had long been a regular customer, so when the shopkeeper saw their carriage, he immediately came out to greet them. "Miss, you came at the perfect time. We just received a new batch of designs that have never been seen before."

  White Qingqing motioned for them to bring out everything, and indeed, the designs were unique and stunning, dazzling her eyes. However, she didn’t see the necklace she was looking for.

  "Do you have any new necklaces? Something that I haven’t seen before?"

  "Actually, we do have one. We were planning to display it in a couple of days, but please wait a moment."

  The shopkeeper instructed someone to fetch it, and while waiting, White Qingqing looked at other jewelry, as no young girl would be indifferent to such things.

  She hadn’t been out shopping in a long time…

  White Qingqing felt she didn’t deserve her situation. After marrying into the royal family, it was like she had been locked up. Everything she did had to be done by the rules—managing the household, attending social gatherings, maintaining decorum, controlling her emotions. Shopping wasn’t something a noblewoman should do, and the family didn’t lack anything she could wear, so there was no need for her to buy things from the market.

  However, the dazzling jewelry now piqued her interest. Just as she was admiring it, she heard a voice behind her, "What can I help you with, sir? We have everything here at Lingyun Pavilion. Would you like me to show you around?"

  "I’d like to buy a necklace."

  White Qingqing’s body trembled imperceptibly, her fingers tightening around her handkerchief, and she froze.

  Could it be… Did she hear that correctly? Why did the voice sound so much like Fu Yi?

  She slowly adjusted her breathing, put down a golden crescent-shaped hairpin, and pretended to casually walk around, glancing back in the corner of her eye. Then, turning away, her pupils contracted.

  It really was him!

  White Qingqing felt a surge of absurdity. Why would Fu Yi be in a jewelry store? He wasn’t the kind of person who would be here!

  She silently told herself it had nothing to do with her, and she stayed still, treating Fu Yi as a stranger she didn’t recognize.

  "Miss, are you satisfied with this necklace?"

  The necklace was brought out, and when White Qingqing saw it, her eyes lit up. It was the very necklace that Yaoyao had admired.