Hua Zhiyu changed into a lotus-colored cloud-collar horse-face skirt, the cloud collar adorned with a circle of dark sea purple pearls secured with silver thread, setting off her smiling face as radiant as flowers and gentle as jade.
Many people in the courtyard crowded forward, offering endless praises.
Soon, someone from the front courtyard came to announce that the imperial edict had arrived at the gate. Amidst the chorus of compliments, Qi Feirou took Hua Zhiyu’s hand. “Quick, the imperial edict is already at the door. Your father has sent someone to summon you to receive it.”
Everyone knew that this edict was to confer upon Hua Zhiyu the title of County Princess, so they all followed along, bustling out together.
Hua Zhiyu, surrounded and at the very front, finally saw the eunuch who had come to deliver the edict. With graceful steps, she approached and knelt behind the Marquis of Changle. The eunuch began to read the edict, its contents no different from what everyone had already heard—after praising Hua Zhiyu, the Emperor conferred upon her the title of County Princess.
Though it came with no stipend or fief, it was still an immense honor.
Amidst a sea of admiring and envious gazes, Hua Zhiyu received the edict and expressed her gratitude. After seeing off the eunuch who had delivered it, the onlookers immediately stepped forward to offer their congratulations, filling the air with all kinds of auspicious words.
Qi Feirou led Hua Zhiyu, modestly responding to the well-wishers with great pride, exchanging flatteries along the way.
Qi Feirou was beaming with joy, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction and her face glowing with pride. Zhiyu had truly brought her great honor.
Unlike Changle, who only angered her and added to her troubles—just thinking about it made her furious.
Changle stood beneath the corridor, holding a plate of melon seeds, watching the scene as if it were a play.
“Changle, I finally found you.” Feng Linlang, dressed in a narrow-sleeved red outfit, leaned against the corridor railing. Instead of taking the stairs, she lightly vaulted into the corridor and naturally reached into Changle’s plate to grab a handful of melon seeds.
“I went to your place looking for you. Lin Dong said you had returned to the Marquisate, and that’s when I found out your mother had gone to give you a hard time again yesterday.”
“Look at Hua Zhiyu’s smug expression. It’s just a County Princess title, without even a stipend. I don’t know what she’s so proud of.”
Changle spat out a melon seed shell. “Weren’t you out riding? Why are you here too?”
“It’s your birthday today. Of course, I had to come back to celebrate with you.” Feng Linlang said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
That’s right.
Every year on her birthday, Linlang had never been absent.
In recent years, Linlang was the only one who still remembered her birthday, always setting aside an entire day to eat, drink, and have fun with her.
Changle smiled at the thought.
Feng Linlang looked at her and lowered her voice to ask, “Changle, are you still at odds with the Third Prince?”
“Let me tell you, he’s already changed his heart. He’s a scoundrel and doesn’t deserve you at all. Don’t waste your time hanging onto someone like him.”
Changle said nothing.
Of course, she knew Wei Shuye had changed his heart.
Wei Shuye was a straightforward and passionate person, making his likes and dislikes abundantly clear, never bothering to hide them.
When he had liked and protected her before, he had practically wanted to hold her in the palm of his hand and announce it to the world. Now that he liked Lin Xinyan, it was the same.
Changle understood Wei Shuye well, so she knew. But she still couldn’t accept it.
She couldn’t accept her own feelings being trampled upon like this.
Even if she no longer liked Wei Shuye now, it should be her who ended the relationship between them, not Wei Shuye having the final say.
"Huh? Who is that woman standing next to Hua Zhiyu? I've never seen her before."
Following Linlang's words, Changle spotted Lin Xinyan, who had somehow appeared beside Hua Zhiyu and was now speaking with her.
Given Lin Xinyan's status, she naturally had no right to attend a banquet at the Changan Marquisate.
So how had she gotten in?
Did Wei Shuye bring her?
"Zhiyu, she's looking over here." Lin Xinyan pinched her fingertips, a flicker of nervousness and panic flashing in her eyes.
Hua Changle's notorious arrogance and domineering behavior were well-known throughout Shengdu. Those who offended her—whether commoners or nobles—could still expect to be whipped by her.
Lin Xinyan was no longer like when she first arrived in this world, thinking that as a modern person with unique ideas, she was destined to make a stunning impression.
She had gradually come to understand the hierarchical class structure of this world and realized that to live well here, to rise above others, she must seize certain opportunities.
Hua Zhiyu whispered a few words with a close friend beside her, covering her lips as she chuckled softly. She lifted her eyelids to glance at Changle, then said gently to Lin Xinyan, "Xinyan, you are my friend, and Changle is my sister. If you apologize properly to Changle, she will surely forgive you."
"Zhiyu, does Miss Lin have some conflict with Hua Changle?" a noblewoman nearby interjected upon hearing this.
Hua Zhiyu sighed softly. "It's not really a conflict, just that Xinyan accidentally bumped into Changle's carriage on the road. You all know Changle's temperament…"
"Never mind, Changle is still young; it's nothing for her to act a bit willful. Xinyan just needs to apologize properly to her."
"Why should she? Hua Changle is spoiled, willful, arrogant, and domineering—she never shows respect to anyone. No matter how tolerant and accommodating you are toward her, she never gives you a kind look."
"If you ask me, if it weren't for her engagement to the Third Prince, would she dare to act so arrogantly?"
"She has neither talent nor virtue. If not for her face, how could the Third Prince possibly fancy her?"
"A Yuan, Changle is my sister. It troubles me to hear you speak of her like this." Hua Zhiyu wore a troubled expression.
"Zhiyu, you're just too kind-hearted. In my opinion, you would be perfectly suited to be the Third Prince's consort."
"A Yuan, the Third Prince is Changle's fiancé, and Changle is my sister. You must never say such things again, or I will never speak to you." Hua Zhiyu instantly turned serious.
"Alright, alright, I misspoke. Someone as outstanding as our Zhiyu deserves to be matched with an even more exceptional man. Someone like Prince Xuan, a figure as divine as an immortal."
"You're awful, talking nonsense again. I won't pay you any mind." Hua Zhiyu blushed shyly, her eyes flickering with longing as she recalled the man she had glimpsed once before.
The man worthy of Hua Zhiyu should naturally be the most noble and dazzling in this world.
Hiding the emotions in her eyes, Hua Zhiyu said softly, "Xinyan, come, I'll take you over to apologize to Changle."
Lin Xinyan nodded, following slowly beside Hua Zhiyu, nervously twisting her fingers.
Hua Zhiyu glanced at her tightly clenched fingers and whispered, "There's no need to be so nervous. This is the front courtyard, and the Third Prince is watching you from the corridor over there. If anything happens, the Third Prince will surely protect you."
Lin Xinyan turned to look at the corridor on her right upon hearing this. Sure enough, Wei Shuye was watching them from beneath it. Lin Xinyan breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Feng Linlang watched Hua Zhiyu approaching and immediately darkened her expression. "What mischief is that nuisance coming to cause now?"
Changle, not particularly concerned, placed the fruit plate of melon seeds into her hand. "Linlang, did you bring your dagger today?"