USWHC -Chapter 390 The Mysterious Master (Part 10)

“Second Sister-in-law, are you home?” Ji Mei called out sweetly. Even as she spoke, she had already stepped into the room, glancing around sneakily.

To be fair, Ji Yi had decorated the place quite convincingly—it really looked like a proper bridal chamber. Festive red curtains, red lanterns, red wedding cutouts, and even red bed drapes… the only thing missing now was the bride herself!

As Ji Mei looked around, she hurried straight into Zhu Jie’s room. The moment her eyes landed on the glittering jewelry laid out on the table, they lit up instantly. That must be worth a fortune, right? Wow—her brother really had become rich!

“Why did you come so suddenly, little sister?” Just as Ji Mei picked up a jade butterfly hairpin and was about to stick it into her hair, a soft voice sounded from behind her. Startled, her hand trembled, and she nearly dropped the jade pin onto the ground.

“Oh! Second Sister-in-law, you’re home!” Ji Mei quickly turned around, so flustered that even her lips twitched.

Zhu Jie noticed her small action of secretly putting the hairpin back onto the table and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. She hadn’t expected Ji Mei to be so forgetful—daring to sneak into an empty house again. Wasn’t she afraid of being caught?

Though she thought this, Zhu Jie pretended not to notice and simply said softly, “Why did you come without telling me in advance? I could have prepared something.”

“Oh, we’re family—what’s there to prepare?” Ji Mei quickly put on a nonchalant expression. “I heard you’ve been busy, so I came specially to help!”

Help? Zhu Jie didn’t quite believe that. But on the surface, she only smiled and replied, “How could I trouble you? Most things are already done. The rest are small matters—I can take care of them slowly myself.”

In truth, Ji Mei had no intention of helping anyway. She was only saying it casually. Hearing this, she immediately put on a regretful expression. “Really? I truly wanted to help you, sister-in-law. It’s just that I heard about it too late—I thought you were just keeping things simple!”

“It is simple,” Zhu Jie said with a smile.

Ji Mei couldn’t help but snort inwardly. Simple? Judging by all these things, it was probably even more lavish than what Hua Feixue had back then! All spent with her brother’s money! If that money had been used as her dowry, maybe she could have married a juren (a successful provincial exam candidate)!

She sized Zhu Jie up from head to toe. Oh my… This outfit really looked the part. Draped in fine silks, Zhu Jie looked every bit like a noble lady. And though the jewelry in her hair wasn’t excessive, each piece was exquisite—making Ji Mei feel a surge of envy.

“Second Sister-in-law, you really look dignified and elegant now—just like a noble lady,” Ji Mei said, her tone dripping with jealousy.

Of course—I’ve got fifty thousand taels of pocket money now! Zhu Jie thought proudly. The happiness on her face was practically a blatant show-off.

“I heard you didn’t just prepare this one outfit, right?” Ji Mei asked in a lowered voice. “We’re about the same size—if it looks good on you, it should look good on me too, right?”

Hearing such an obvious hint, Zhu Jie simply ignored it. Instead, she replied with polite flattery, “It would probably look even better on you. Didn’t Mother have five hundred taels? Didn’t she make you a few outfits?”

“She did—but they’re not as good as yours!” Ji Mei admitted bluntly. “Where did you get these clothes made?”

“Your brother had them made through a trading firm,” Zhu Jie replied with a gentle, sweet smile.

Seeing her like that, Ji Mei felt even more jealous. He’s just a mere scholar—what’s there to show off? Hmph, I’ll definitely find someone better! she swore silently.

But for now, what she didn’t have, she simply didn’t have. Sighing inwardly, Ji Mei deliberately put on a sorrowful expression. “Sigh… when the time comes, if we don’t dress well, we might embarrass you in front of all those guests.” She sighed a few more times for emphasis.

So she’s here on behalf of the whole family to ask for clothes? Zhu Jie rolled her eyes inwardly in annoyance, but outwardly she only smiled. “It’s fine. That day, everyone will be too busy celebrating to look down on you.”

Yes—she was certain that everyone would be too busy enjoying the feast, eating meat and being merry. No one would care about what the Ji family was wearing. And even if they did look… hehe, it would only be to see them enjoying those exclusive delicacies!