She somehow managed to make her brother no longer blame her for damaging the green peony. Not only did he help her clear the courtyard, but he also arranged for many maids to help her with her work, making it easier for her to study glass.

He even said, "If she were a man, she would have a place in the court."

She also had a remarkable skill in makeup artistry, creating looks that enhanced a woman's beauty. In just half a month, the young ladies in the official family who were familiar with me were all attracted to her, and I thought no one would attend a flower party I organized.

She attended several poetry gatherings in a row, composing poems that were admired by scholars. For a while, the scholars in the capital wanted to know who this talented woman was.

She even gave Gu Yingshao a copy of "The Art of War" and it was said she also had "The Thirty-Six Strategies," using this to persuade Gu Yingshao to be her guard for three months.

In the letters Gu Yingshao sent, he began to frequently mention Su Jinshu.

At first, it was just a complaint or two, with some disgust, saying she was shameless and lacked the modesty a young lady should have.

She made an extremely ugly purse and forced him to wear it every day.

Later, half of the letters were about what Su Jinshu had done with him that day.

Finally... I haven't received any letters from Gu Yingshao for half a month.

But it doesn't matter. With or without those letters, I will still be the Third Imperial Consort in the future.

It's just that when Su Jinshu and I both liked the same hairpin, he didn't hesitate to snatch it from my hand and put it in Su Jinshu's hair.

"A beauty should have it!"

I didn't miss the amazement and other emotions in his eyes.

Looking at my empty palm, bitterness filled my heart. He had never praised me like this before: "Your Highness, this is a design I made myself, ordered from the shopkeeper three months ago."

"No wonder I found this hairpin tacky, turns out it was designed by my sister!"

She took off the hairpin and threw it on the counter, saying, "Little Gu, I command you to give me a unique hairpin!"

Gu Yingshao exploded in anger, "How dare you address me like that!"

At that moment, I regretted my intelligence a bit. Although Gu Yingshao's face darkened, I knew he wasn't really angry.

I didn't want to witness their flirting, so I had to return home first.

Three days later, Su Jinshu appeared in front of me wearing a rough sandalwood hairpin: "Hey, this hairpin is so ugly, I said I didn't want it, but the Third Prince insisted on giving it to me! Sister, do you see I'm telling the truth?"

"If you don't like it, give it back to me! I don't want to give it to you either!" Gu Yingshao reached out to take the hairpin.

Su Jinshu grabbed my hand and dodged, saying, "Sister, look, Little Gu is bullying me!"

I wasn't actually close to Su Jinshu. She had many strange things to do every day, and I had many rules and etiquette to learn and manage.

I pulled my arm away, which she had grabbed painfully. Taking advantage of her distraction, I took the hairpin and examined it carefully in my hand.

The hairpin was truly ugly, with rough carving, uneven size, and if placed in the market, no one would buy it for a penny.

"Snap!"

I used all my strength to break the wooden hairpin, sharp wooden splinters piercing my palm, but I felt nothing.

"There, now you two don't have to fight over it! No need to thank me."

I placed the broken wooden hairpin in Gu Yingshao's hand. He was clearly standing in front of me, but he no longer seemed like the young man who stood under the window waiting for the next spring.