On the day of the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, Jiang Sui arrived at the imperial garden on time, guided by a palace attendant.
Zhao Yuling and Consort Shu had not yet arrived. The invited noble ladies and madams gathered in small clusters, chatting idly among themselves.
“Third Sister!”
A delighted, hushed call came from behind. Jiang Sui turned at the sound, her round eyes curving into a smile:
“You came too?”
Xiao Lanxi beamed as she approached, affectionately looping her arm through Jiang Sui’s and drawing her aside:
“Yes—I suppose since His Highness has just returned, they want to get to know everyone?”
“Never mind that… Third Sister, how did the medicine I gave you work? No discomfort, I hope?”
Jiang Sui couldn’t help but recall the memory.
Last night, she had administered the medicine to Pei Zhiyu for the second time.
He had remained peacefully asleep, his broad embrace warm and comfortable. When she slipped inside, she felt enveloped in cozy warmth, as if soaking in hot water.
At the thought, Jiang Sui couldn’t help savoring the memory again and again. Her cat-like eyes narrowed with contentment as she said softly:
“It worked wonderfully. Lanxi, thank you.”
Xiao Lanxi quickly waved it off: “It’s nothing—just a simple favor.”
At most, she’d had to endure three days of cleaning the medicine hut under Xiao Heng’s furious glare.
But looking at Jiang Sui smiling like a little kitten before her, Xiao Lanxi’s heart softened, and she promptly cast aside the matter of Xiao Heng’s punishment.
She and Jiang Sui were childhood friends.
When Jiang Sui was young, she was often ill, and her family would frequently invite Xiao Lanxi’s father to the residence for treatment. The Grand Tutor, pitying his young daughter for having no playmates due to her frail health, asked Xiao Lanxi’s father to bring her along as well.
Over time, the two grew close.
Xiao Lanxi had adored her since childhood, finding her obedient and lovely to look at. Though they were similar in age, she always treated Jiang Sui with a certain protective, doting attitude.
Right now, for instance, seeing Jiang Sui’s beaming smile, she felt an inexplicable itch in her fingers—a strong urge to pinch those snow-white cheeks that looked so soft.
Unfortunately, before Xiao Lanxi could act on it, several voices approached.
“Marchioness…”
Hearing this, Jiang Sui turned around, raising a perfectly appropriate smile to exchange pleasantries with the ladies and noblewomen who came to greet her.
Whether out of deference to Pei Zhiyu himself or genuine fondness for Jiang Sui, everyone who approached spoke in hushed, gentle tones, as if afraid that speaking too loudly might startle her.
When Zhao Yuling arrived at the imperial garden with her mother, this was the scene she beheld—one that could well be described as harmonious and joyful.
She had long since ordered someone to bring her a portrait of Jiang Sui, and before her attendant could even begin quietly identifying those present, she had already recognized at a glance the young woman at the center of the crowd.
The blazing sunlight seemed to soften and brighten as it fell upon her, casting a gentle glow over the girl’s delicate features.
As she spoke with others, shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her lips, and her dark, lustrous eyes curved with her smile, carrying a faint shimmering light that made her appear even softer and more harmless.
Zhao Yuling’s expression paused briefly, a flicker of disdain passing through her eyes.
This so-called marchioness looked even more fragile and delicate than the average noble lady.
An easy target, it seemed.
“Her Grace the Consort Shu has arrived—His Highness the Seventh Prince has arrived—”
At the eunuch’s announcement, the gathered crowd dispersed from their clusters and curtsied in greeting to the two arrivals.
Consort Shu gently bade them rise, exchanged a few pleasantries, then retired to a pavilion nearby, allowing the ladies to enjoy themselves freely.
Several of the older madams followed her, while the rest, understanding the implicit message, gathered around Zhao Yuling.
Jiang Sui trailed at a measured distance behind, having only stepped forward for the initial greeting and not approaching since.
But despite the distance she kept, the scent of Zhao Yuling’s incense still drifted over with the breeze.
Jiang Sui furrowed her brow slightly, glancing at the Seventh Princess, who was smiling brightly in the center of the crowd, a flicker of displeasure passing through her heart.
It was this very scent… the scent that had clung to her husband.
She disliked it immensely.
Because of this subtle aversion, Jiang Sui had no desire to interact much with Zhao Yuling today. But though she deliberately kept her distance, the other woman noticed her first.
“Marchioness, I really must thank you properly.”
Zhao Yuling’s voice rose slightly—pitched just high enough for everyone present to hear clearly, prompting them all to turn and look at Jiang Sui.
Jiang Sui’s lashes trembled. She lifted her gaze to meet Zhao Yuling’s radiant smile.
A flicker of darkness passed through her eyes, vanishing in an instant. Then she stepped forward, curtsying lightly: “Your Highness jests. This humble woman has never done anything for Your Highness.”
“Naturally, I refer to when the Marquis Pei saved me from danger previously. His Majesty has already rewarded the Marquis, but I have not. Since it’s not convenient for me to thank the Marquis directly, it’s only fitting that I thank you, his wife.”
Zhao Yuling spoke with perfect composure, slipping a jade bracelet from her wrist as she continued:
“This was given to me by my father previously. I treasure it dearly. Now, I’d like to give it to you, Marchioness?”
As she spoke, she extended the jade bracelet. The sunlight made the emerald-green jade gleam all the more brilliantly—indeed, it was a fine piece of the highest quality. But everyone present was a noble lady; jade ornaments of this grade were hardly rare in their own households.
The watching crowd’s expressions subtly stiffened.
Although Zhao Yuling was a princess, their status was not much lower than hers, and they could be considered equals. Even if she were to offer a gift as a courtesy, she should have had a maid prepare a proper gift box.
To casually take something off her person and hand it over was like… rewarding a servant.
Had the young madam of the marquis’s household offended the princess in some way?
In the subtle tension, Jiang Sui’s lashes lifted lightly, her soft smile gaining a hint of curiosity and interest.
Oh… was this meant to intimidate her?
How interesting.
“Your Highness is too kind. It was my husband’s merit, and I am unworthy to accept it.”
Zhao Yuling remained warm in her demeanor, even stepping forward a few paces: “Madam, please accept it.”
As she approached, that overly sweet fragrance wafted over, and Jiang Sui’s brows furrowed slightly as she took a step back.
How unpleasant…
She covered her lips with a light cough and curtsied: “I thank Your Highness for your kindness.”
A hint of smugness crept into Zhao Yuling’s smile as she steadily placed the bracelet into Jiang Sui’s palm.
But the next moment, she watched as Jiang Sui tilted her hand slightly and deliberately let the jade bracelet fall.
Amid the crisp shattering sound, Jiang Sui blinked, her expression innocent: “Oh dear… I apologize, Your Highness, I accidentally let it slip.”
“Your Highness doesn’t mind, does she?”
Zhao Yuling’s smile froze at the corners of her lips as she looked at Jiang Sui’s still harmless and gentle expression, yet clearly sensed a challenge within it.
“You…”
Jiang Sui lowered her gaze, pressed a hand to her chest, and stepped back a few paces, her voice trembling as she said pitifully: “Your Highness, please forgive me. I truly didn’t mean it…”
One was the favored Seventh Princess, and the other was the wife of the young Marquis Pei, who was also in the emperor’s good graces. Neither side was easy to offend, so those around them scrambled to mediate and smooth things over.
Zhao Yuling’s anger was stuck in her chest.
Jiang Sui even took the opportunity to shed a few tears, her eyes slightly reddened as she lowered her gaze, stifling her sobs, her shoulders trembling slightly, looking even more pitiful.
Zhao Yuling gritted her teeth in frustration, her jaw tightening before she suddenly let out a laugh: “Madam, you exaggerate. How could I blame you for such a small matter?”
So she wasn’t entirely foolish.
But these were just petty tricks. We’ll see what comes next.