“A-shu grew up in Linghe Prefecture, so naturally she’s different from us,” Gu Yingzhen said.
Guan Wan scoffed lightly. “You sure protect her tightly.”
“It’s rare to find a sister prettier than you. If I don’t protect her, should I protect you instead?”
Gu Yingzhen lifted her chin.
Guan Wan snorted coldly, unwilling to argue with Gu Yingzhen. Instead, she turned to ask Ming Shu, “I’ve heard that Linghe Prefecture has towering mountains and vast waters—is that true?”
“Indeed, it’s nothing like the flat plains of Yunjing.”
Guan Wan said gently, “Then I’d like to see it for myself someday.”
Though Yunjing was a fine place, she had grown weary of it.
Ming Shu nodded. “There will always be opportunities.”
But how could young women from inner chambers travel to such distant places? Ming Shu’s words sounded more like comfort.
Guan Wan curved her lips slightly. “I hope so.”
This was Ming Shu’s first time meeting noble young ladies from Yunjing. She had assumed they would all be haughty and aloof, but she found them far more pleasant to interact with than the young ladies from Linghe Prefecture.
Indeed, these were girls from prominent families—how could they easily disgrace their clans? Even if it were an act, they wouldn’t lightly offend others.
Meanwhile, Princess Yiyue went off to receive the arriving guests, leaving the three of them to chat leisurely in the pavilion.
Before long, Guan Wan switched from addressing Ming Shu as “Miss Ming” to calling her “A-shu.”
Guan Wan gracefully lifted a teacup with her delicate hands and took a sip. “A-shu’s temperament suits me well. You should come to my residence more often in the future to keep me company.”
Gu Yingzhen laughed in exasperation. “Are you trying to steal her from me? The Guan family has plenty of young ladies—how could you lack someone to talk to?”
Guan Wan replied unhurriedly, “You know very well, A-zhen, that I’ve never paid any mind to those people.”
True enough. With Guan Wan’s temperament, even Madam Guan was at a loss. Those she favored were perfect in every way, while those she disliked would end up crying if they dared approach her.
Gu Yingzhen tugged at Ming Shu. “Just come find me. She’s the type to scold people! We’d better be careful.”
Ming Shu smiled faintly.
Guan Wan set down her teacup with a bit too much force, causing the water inside to slosh out.
“What is A-zhen saying about me?”
She had clearly heard.
Gu Yingzhen grumbled inwardly.
“I wasn’t saying anything. I was just sharing some private matters with A-shu—oh, you can’t listen.”
Guan Wan wore a half-smile, her beautiful face revealing a hint of mockery. “That young lady from the Vice Minister of Justice’s household and that fellow surnamed Ji…”
Suddenly, a hand clamped over her mouth. “Ahhh! You’re not allowed to say it!”
Guan Wan narrowed her eyes, mischief brewing.
Gu Yingzhen protested pitifully, “Shut your mouth!”
No one had ever dared to tell the Guan family’s eldest daughter to shut her mouth.
Guan Wan nodded, signaling Gu Yingzhen to release her hand.
Gu Yingzhen sat back down dejectedly, leaning against Ming Shu’s shoulder. “I’m so pitiful.”
They always picked on her alone.
Guan Wan leisurely straightened her slightly disheveled dress.
She brushed off nonexistent dust.
“With your slow-witted eyes, I suppose you didn’t know that Madam Lin had long favored that fellow surnamed Ji? But judging by your reaction, you must already know. Could it be… you saw?”
If that were truly the case, then Ji Hui deserved to die.
A cold glint flashed in Guan Wan’s eyes, and the air seemed to freeze for an instant.
Gu Yingzhen clung tightly to Ming Shu’s arm without speaking.
Guan Wan’s willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly. “Speak.”
Her tone was gentle, yet it carried a murderous edge. Ming Shu straightened her posture and patted Gu Yingzhen’s hand.
Gu Yingzhen’s muffled voice emerged. “What does it matter if I saw? He said he had already explained that he has someone he admires.”
After saying this, Gu Yingzhen’s ears inexplicably turned red.
Guan Wan then withdrew her earlier killing intent: “Then did he say when he would propose marriage?”
Gu Yingzhen looked downcast and unhappy.
“No mention?”
“He said he would propose, but I haven’t told my mother yet.”
Given the Gu family’s strict upbringing, Gu Yingzhen dared not engage in any secret dealings.
Guan Wan gave Gu Yingzhen a meaningful look: “Tell her when you go back today. You’re not young anymore. If you don’t settle down soon, your mother will worry.”
Gu Yingzhen let out a long sigh and tugged at Ming Shu’s sleeve: “A-shu, tell me, what’s so good about marriage? Why can’t women stand on their own?”
A faint light gathered in Ming Shu’s eyes: “That’s just the way of the world. However, in Linghe Prefecture, there are also widows who establish their own households.”
Those women were already the bravest of people.
Guan Wan swirled her teacup. The world is indeed like this…
In the distance, several men adorned with gold and jade approached.
One man, dressed in a lake-blue robe, saw the women in the pavilion and snapped his folding fan shut with a “pop.”
“Brother Zhao, which household is that young lady from?”
The one called Brother Zhao was the cousin of the imperial son-in-law and had close ties with the princess’s residence. He had also come to attend the banquet today.
“That one… it seems Princess Yiyue personally sent the invitation. I haven’t heard which family she belongs to.”
Another man also looked over: “She’s even more beautiful than Miss Guan.”
As everyone knew, Guan Wan was the number one beauty in Yunjing. This unknown young lady could actually surpass Guan Wan in beauty.
That was truly remarkable.
Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of her.
“What are you all doing here?” Just as they were rubbing their hands together, trying to figure out a way to approach, an unhappy inquiry came from behind them.
Upon seeing the newcomer, the men quickly bowed in greeting: “We pay our respects to the Fifth Prince.”
This was the distinguished guest Princess Yiyue had met earlier.
Beside him stood Yan Wei, who had originally not intended to come. Dressed in black robes, he appeared tall and well-proportioned.
Seeing the guilty looks on the men’s faces, the Fifth Prince naturally noticed the women not far away. Before he could take a closer look, he scolded: “With ladies present, why haven’t you three discreetly withdrawn?”
The man in lake-blue forced a smile: “We were just about to leave.”
“Yes, we were momentarily captivated by the scenery and didn’t leave immediately. We’ll go now.”
The Fifth Prince didn’t press the matter further and let the three of them slip away.
Meanwhile, Ming Shu in the pavilion also noticed the group of men gathered there and signaled to Gu Yingzhen and Guan Wan.
Guan Wan was taken aback, her tone inexplicable: “That’s the Fifth Prince. We should leave first.”
Clearly, she did not want to run into them.
Among them, only Ming Shu didn’t recognize anyone, yet at first glance, she spotted the man who stood out from the crowd—her nominal cousin had also come.
The Fifth Prince—now, as the Emperor was aging and the crown prince had not yet been appointed, all the princes had the power to contend for the throne.
Avoiding him now was clearly to avoid getting involved.
Ming Shu followed the other two as they left.
Only after walking some distance did they see Guan Wan frown: “Why would the Fifth Prince come?”
Gu Yingzhen was also puzzled.
The princess’s residence did not have good relations with the adult princes. Today was merely a banquet hosted by Princess Yiyue, yet the Fifth Prince had come, which inevitably made people think more.
As daughters of noble families, they knew more or less about court affairs.
The Fifth Prince, who should not have appeared at the princess’s residence, had come at this time—it was not a good sign.
Gu Yingzhen smiled: “Let’s not worry about it for now.”
Ming Shu seemed to have guessed something.
Because the three of them had seen the Fifth Prince, their pleasant enjoyment of the scenery had already lost its appeal.
Fortunately, the banquet was about to begin.
Gu Yingzhen found a young maid to lead them to the banquet area in the front courtyard.
By the time they arrived, Princess Yiyue was about to send someone to look for them: “I sent someone to fetch you earlier, but they said you had already left. Yet considering the time, you should have arrived long ago—I was worried something had happened to you.”