Feng Linlang had practiced martial arts since childhood and was accustomed to carrying a dagger tucked in the sheath of her short boots.
"Changle, calm down. If you fight with Hua Zhiyu, your parents and brother will surely scold you again."
Feng Linlang handed the dagger to Changle, unable to hold back her words.
"If I were afraid of them, I wouldn't have come today." Changle weighed the dagger in her hand, gripping it backward. "Linlang, do you know what this dress she's wearing today is called?"
Feng Linlang naturally had no idea.
Changle continued, "This dress is called Ocean Pearl. It was made by my grandfather, who personally retrieved Purple Pearls from the Abyssal Sea, and my grandmother, who tailored it for me. It was the Coming-of-Age Ceremony Dress they prepared for me."
"Grandfather and Grandmother said the name might be a bit common, but it best reflected their feelings. Because I am their pearl."
"What? How could the dress prepared for you by the old marquis and his wife end up on Hua Zhiyu?" Feng Linlang stopped mid-sentence as soon as she realized the implication.
Changle curled her lips into a smile. "Yes. How could the dress personally made by my grandfather and grandmother end up on Hua Zhiyu?"
It didn't take much thought to realize that it must be because the Marquis of Changan and his wife were biased. Even though they knew this was the Coming-of-Age Ceremony Dress prepared by the old marquis and his wife for Changle, they still gave it to Hua Zhiyu to wear.
In their eyes, Hua Zhiyu was their most beloved daughter, treasured like a pearl. Meanwhile, Changle, their own flesh and blood, was treated like worthless grass.
Feng Linlang thought to herself, if Changle wanted to vent her anger, so be it. Even she was furious upon learning the truth.
At worst, when the Marquis of Changan and his wife tried to scold Changle, she could simply take Changle away.
Wei Shuye stood under the corridor. Seeing Changle take the dagger and slowly descend the steps, heading toward Hua Zhiyu and Lin Xinyan, he grew wary and quickly strode over.
Changle noticed Wei Shuye hurrying toward them but did not stop.
This area was reserved for female guests; according to etiquette, men should not be here.
But Wei Shuye was like that—when he cherished someone, he would disregard all worldly conventions and focus solely on protecting them.
"Changle, this is Xinyan. I believe you know her." Hua Zhiyu smiled gently at Changle. "Xinyan knows she offended you last time and has come specifically to apologize."
"Xinyan, speak properly with Changle."
Lin Xinyan pursed her lips, looked up at Changle, and said firmly, "I know you are Aye's fiancée, but I love Aye, and I will not give him up to you."
"Even if you've known each other for a long time, it doesn't matter. In a relationship, the one who is not loved should be the one to step back."
Lin Xinyan spoke with righteous conviction, but Changle was stunned by her words.
How utterly shameless and absurd must one be to say such things so matter-of-factly?
Was this the person Wei Shuye liked?
No wonder Wei Shuye now spoke as if his brains hadn't been properly stirred—these two were truly a perfect match.
Changle curled her lips into a faint, cold smile. "Lin Xinyan, not all worms can become butterflies. Because some worms are born as maggots."
"I was just thinking earlier, Qi Feirou loves to flatter the powerful and scorn the weak. How did she allow someone of your status to enter?"
"Now I finally understand. It was Hua Zhiyu who brought you in, wasn't it?"
Changle looked at Hua Zhiyu, who smiled gently. "Xinyan is my friend. I invited friends to attend my Hairpin Ceremony. Even if her status is somewhat humble, Mother and Father only think that I choose friends based on character rather than background, and they would never look down on Xinyan because of it."
"So I hope my younger sister won't mind either."
This was exactly how Qi Feirou and the others were—any friends Changle made were considered disreputable companions, while Hua Zhiyu's friends were always spoken of favorably.
"The Changan Marquisate has already accepted someone like you. What stray dog or cat couldn't they accept?" Changle sneered coldly, her gaze falling on the dress Hua Zhiyu was wearing. "You should know this dress is mine, right?"
"Ah, you mean this dress?" Hua Zhiyu smiled, lightly smoothing the hem. "I merely glanced at it a few times, and Mother gave it to me. Do I look good in it, sister?"
Hua Zhiyu deliberately tugged at the skirt, lifting it slightly, her eyes fixed on Changle with a hidden provocation that others couldn't see.
Changle laughed. "You look good, of course you do."
"But I think you'd look even better without it."
Changle stepped forward, the dagger in her hand flashing as she sliced off an entire section of the skirt with a sharp tearing sound.
Hua Zhiyu knew Changle was reckless when she lost her temper, but she never imagined Changle could go this far—daring to ruin her dress in front of everyone.
Hua Zhiyu clutched her collar tightly, letting out a startled cry as she quickly retreated in panic. Changle, gripping the dagger, pursued her.
"What are you doing!"
Lin Xinyan stepped forward and grabbed the wrist holding the dagger. Changle could have easily twisted free, but upon seeing Wei Shuye rushing over from the side, she suddenly changed her mind. Using Lin Xinyan's own grip, she drove the dagger straight toward Lin Xinyan's abdomen.
Lin Xinyan was horrified. She never expected Hua Changle would dare to kill, and in her fright, she instinctively shut her eyes tightly.
The anticipated pain never came. Instead, her shoulder was pulled into a warm, solid chest.
Lin Xinyan opened her eyes in shock to see Wei Shuye bare-handedly catching the dagger Hua Changle had thrust toward her, blood streaming from between his fingers.
"A-Ye?" Lin Xinyan was both shocked, overjoyed, and heartbroken, her eyes instantly reddening.
Wei Shuye firmly shielded Lin Xinyan in his embrace, forcefully twisting the hand holding the dagger. The dagger slipped from Changle's grip and clattered loudly as he slammed it to the ground.
Slap!
A sharp slap echoed through the air.
The Marquis of Changan glared at Changle, his face dark with anger. "You wretch! What are you doing?"
Qi Feirou took the cloak handed by a maid and wrapped it tightly around Hua Zhiyu, shielding her by her side, also turning to glare furiously at Changle. "You monster! Are you trying to ruin your sister? What on earth do you think you're doing!"
Changle's face was turned aside by the slap, the taste of blood instantly filling her mouth, her ears ringing with a dull buzz.
"Changle!" Feng Linlang immediately rushed forward, shielding Changle, and unfastened the long whip hanging at her waist. Her eyes reddened like a young beast protecting its prey as she guarded Changle. "Today, anyone who dares to bully Changle will taste my whip!"
Changle licked the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth and slowly turned her head to face the Marquis of Changan.
The Marquis of Changan saw her left cheek, already completely swollen and red, along with the bloodstains at the corner of her mouth that hadn't been wiped clean. His gaze flickered slightly as he pondered how to deal with her, but then he noticed her slowly withdrawing her gaze and turning instead to look at Wei Shuye, who was shielding Lin Xinyan.
Wei Shuye tightly shielded Lin Xinyan, who was pale with fright in his arms. Seeing Changle's swollen cheek, his heart tightened slightly.
She was most afraid of pain—whenever she hurt, she would cry and fuss, and it always took him a long time to soothe her.
But today, he wouldn't comfort her, because she had forced him to reveal Xinyan ahead of time.
She truly needed a profound lesson; otherwise, she would only grow more reckless in the future.