“Miss…” Qingdai adjusted the jade ornaments at Ning Huanyi’s waist before assisting her with breakfast. Just as Ning Huanyi had taken her seat, the voice of Bai Yingying echoed from afar outside the Qiyan Pavilion.
Ning Huanyi couldn’t help but smile helplessly. Bai Yingying had always been free-spirited, and such scenes had occurred many times before in the Yongchang Marquis’s residence, so Qingdai was hardly surprised. She quickly went to open the elegant wooden door of the pavilion and welcomed Bai Yingying in with a smile.
“Miss Bai, I didn’t expect you to be up so early as well.” After performing a proper curtsy, Qingdai teased Bai Yingying as if she were teasing Ning Huanyi.
Bai Yingying, however, had already spotted the lavish breakfast spread on the table and plopped down without a care, her grand attire clashing with her unrefined demeanor.
“Slow down. Does the Bai family not feed you?” Ning Huanyi signaled Qingdai to bring over Bai Yingying’s favorite tea while dabbing the corners of her lips with a handkerchief. Unexpectedly, Bai Yingying shook her head. “You have no idea. My mother said there’s much to prepare at the princess’s residence today, and they insisted on dragging me there right away. But I thought, no matter what, I had to go with you! So I sneaked out without even eating breakfast.”
Ning Huanyi’s thoughts shifted. Indeed, she recalled that this princess, born of a concubine, had intricate familial ties with the Bai family. Now that the princess was establishing her own residence, the Bai family—as her “maternal relatives”—had to oversee certain matters. It wasn’t so much about honoring the princess as it was about showing respect to the imperial family.
“So, if that princess decides to bully me today, will a certain Miss Bai be unable to speak up for me?” Ning Huanyi toyed with her freshly painted nails, her tone laced with playful accusation. Bai Yingying immediately set down her silver chopsticks and pinched Ning Huanyi’s fair, delicate earlobe.
“You ungrateful little thing! After I skipped breakfast just to escape for you, you dare say such things? Asking for a spanking!” Bai Yingying had quite the grip, and Ning Huanyi knew better than to provoke her further, quickly pleading for mercy. Only after they had both finished breakfast did they leisurely instruct Qingdai to prepare the carriage.
“Since it’s the princess’s residence inviting us, there’s no need to rush.” Ning Huanyi strolled gracefully, surrounded by maids and attendants—a proper display befitting the eldest daughter of the Yongchang Marquis’s household. The swaying hairpin in her bun alone, adorned with precious gems, exuded opulence.
Bai Yingying, too, was bedecked in jewels today. She never felt overshadowed by Ning Huanyi; instead, she took pride in being friends with such a stunning beauty.
Since their families were different, they could not ride in the same carriage to the banquet. Thus, Bai Yingying had to sit in the Bai family’s carriage. As the two carriages began their slow procession, Ning Huanyi remained inside, not bothering to lift the curtain to look outside.
“Today’s banquet at the princess’s residence might well be a feast at Hongmen,” Ning Huanyi frowned delicately, her lovely brows knitting together. Qingdai, who was packing the congratulatory gifts to be presented later, heard her mistress’s concern and spoke up: “Miss need not worry. After all, it was Young Master Liu who called off the engagement. Now that you’ve just taken your medicine, as long as you keep your emotions steady, the coughing won’t act up. To outsiders, it will simply seem that Young Master Liu is currying favor with the imperial family—throwing away the watermelon to pick up a sesame seed.”
Qingdai often had keen insight into such matters. Before being assigned to Qiyan Pavilion, she had served under the Duchess Dowager of the Pei family, Ning Huanyi’s maternal grandmother. Having witnessed countless affairs of noble households, despite her youth, Qingdai handled situations with remarkable composure.
With Qingdai by her side, Ning Huanyi felt somewhat reassured. The carriage rocked and swayed for what seemed like an eternity before finally coming to a halt after numerous twists and turns.
It was no surprise—even though this lesser princess was permitted her own residence, it certainly couldn’t be located in any prosperous district. Officially described as “tranquil,” the place was simply remote.
Rubbing her temples, Ning Huanyi stepped out of the carriage with Qingdai’s support. No sooner had she alighted than an overpowering fragrance assaulted her senses. Though not cheap, the scent was so cloyingly thick it made her slightly nauseous.
Covering her nose reflexively, Ning Huanyi unwittingly drew the ire of its source.
“What? Has my incense offended the delicate sensibilities of the Ning family’s young miss? If your constitution is truly so frail, no one forced you to attend this banquet.”
Such venom. Ning Huanyi’s first thought was how hostile this person seemed. Raising her eyes, she took in the woman before her—dressed in dark purple palace robes embroidered with gold, the fabric and style both of the latest fashion. Most tellingly, she wore palace attire and dared to behave so arrogantly before the princess’s residence. This could only be Yong Yishuang, the lesser princess.
Yong Yishuang was not particularly beautiful, but with careful application of cosmetics, she could pass as comely. Her eyes, however, fixed on Ning Huanyi with undisguised malice and resentment.
Even someone as guileless as Ning Huanyi realized she was being used as a pawn.
Unwilling to engage in arguments at the entrance, Ning Huanyi stopped Bai Yingying from speaking up and curtsied instead. “Your Highness misunderstands. My health has much improved.”
The words landed like a punch on cotton. Yong Yishuang stamped her foot with a cold snort, directing her maids to accept the gifts from Yongchang Marquisate and the Bai family while stepping aside to let Ning Huanyi and Bai Yingying enter.
Bai Yingying, who had been restrained throughout, finally voiced her frustration once they were well out of earshot: “Yong Yishuang insulted you so blatantly right from the start—why wouldn’t you let me respond?”
Though bearing the title of princess, this ostensibly open and tolerant dynasty had its shadows—chief among them the rigid distinction between legitimate and illegitimate offspring. While Yong Yishuang was indeed a princess, her lesser birth status made her far from revered among the capital’s pedigreed noble daughters.
Bai Yingying’s tone wasn’t particularly respectful, but Ning Huanyi still held onto the idea that it was better to avoid trouble: “If Yong Yishuang had kept provoking me, I certainly would have retorted. But we were just outside the princess’s residence earlier, with many commoners of the capital coming and going who could see us. It really wasn’t the right occasion to argue with Yong Yishuang.”
Ning Huanyi remained rational. Though she had been doted on by the Yongchang Marquisate for many years, she was well aware that tall trees catch much wind—countless eyes were watching her. As the only young lady of the Yongchang Marquisate, she had to prioritize the family’s reputation in every situation. Moreover, her wedding date was approaching, and she absolutely couldn’t afford to tarnish her image now.
The decorations inside the princess’s residence were standard—neither outstanding nor lacking, preserving the dignity of the imperial family without being overly ostentatious.
The craftsmen must have gone to great lengths to achieve this. Ning Huanyi lifted her handkerchief to dab the fine sweat on her forehead. The midday sun in early summer was already scorching, its harsh rays beating down. Fortunately, ice basins had been placed in the guest hall of the princess’s residence, the cool air circulating gently and offering some relief from the heat.
Ning Huanyi took a seat at a table not too close to the center. Though the seating arrangements were determined by each family’s status and influence, it wasn’t yet time for the formal luncheon, so she didn’t pay much attention to the placement.
What’s more, in such a grand princess’s residence, there weren’t even enough maids or servants to guide Ning Huanyi to her seat—a clear sign of poor hospitality.
The noble young ladies who had arrived earlier were already whispering about this. Ning Huanyi was among the later arrivals, so Yong Yishuang hadn’t greeted many others at the gate. Within a quarter of an hour, she returned, and the celebratory banquet officially began.
Since it was a gathering of peers, there were no tedious formalities. The opera troupe invited for the occasion sang the plays requested by the noble ladies on the pavilion stage at the center of the lake, while others engaged in arrow-throwing, archery, poetry, or painting—there was something for everyone.
Yong Yishuang, however, couldn’t fully enjoy herself. While maids carried tea and pastries for her, she also had to check on the banquet preparations in the kitchen.
Ning Huanyi stood in a shaded spot. Bai Yingying’s company had kept her from feeling too bored, but Bai Yingying’s restless nature soon led her to join the arrow-throwing game. Ning Huanyi, frail in health, had no interest in competing for attention through poetry or painting, nor could she participate in any physically demanding activities.
She had intended to stand quietly, neither stealing anyone’s spotlight nor drawing attention to herself. But Ning Huanyi’s reputation as the capital’s most beautiful woman was too prominent. Rarely seen at such gatherings, she inevitably became the center of attention.
Though Ning Huanyi was usually adept at handling polite small talk, the sight of Yong Yishuang walking arm-in-arm with Liu Jingming made her lips twitch.
Despite the openness and tolerance of the times, certain boundaries between men and women were still to be observed. Yet here was Yong Yishuang, boldly linking arms with Liu Jingming in front of so many people—it seemed their wedding date must be even more imminent than expected.
The other noble ladies, who had been immersed in the game, all looked up, but in the next second, their gazes shifted to Ning Huanyi.
Each face bore the expression of someone anticipating a spectacle.
Ning Huanyi frowned, having no desire to be associated with Liu Jingming after the broken engagement. Yet, why was Yong Yishuang so relentless?
“Lady Ning, I heard your health is still not quite well. Earlier at the door, you claimed to be much better, but now, looking at your complexion, it doesn’t seem so promising,” Yong Yishuang said, still carrying herself with the air of a princess even outside the palace.
Ning Huanyi no longer intended to show courtesy. Bai Yingying stepped forward to speak for her, but Ning Huanyi stopped her with a forced smile and addressed Yong Yishuang, “Thank you for your concern, Princess. My health is just fine. However, looking at the embroidered shoes on your feet… the fabric isn’t the latest fashion. While the rest of your attire is the most up-to-date, these shoes alone… seem rather out of place, don’t they?”
“Huh?” Yong Yishuang was momentarily confused.