“Looking so haggard, is it because you’re worried about Pei Liuyu…”
“Don’t run! Stay still!”
Several sharp shouts echoed from the Chaoyun Courtyard, followed by the chaotic sounds of clattering and stumbling.
Under the bright sunlight, a drenched black cat darted back and forth across the yard. Two maidservants tried to corner it from all sides, but it nimbly evaded them.
It even deliberately ran right up to the maidservants, shaking its body vigorously twice. The water droplets clinging to its fur splashed onto their faces like a cascading waterfall.
Amid the maidservants’ shrieks, Wangliang proudly raised its tail, letting out a triumphant “Meow…ow!”
Its cry abruptly changed pitch as the back of its neck was firmly pinched.
Lifted into the air, it turned its head to meet Nan Liujing’s delicate, seemingly fragile face.
“I’ll handle this.”
Nan Liujing carried Wangliang all the way to the water basin, then decisively plunged it inside.
Wangliang didn’t dare leap out in front of Nan Liujing, but it didn’t stay quiet either, letting out shrill, ghostly howls that drew Jiang Ziliu, who was recuperating in the side room.
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were slaughtering a pig…”
Jiang Ziliu’s complexion had improved as she sat by the railing. “Why must you torment it like this?”
“It was curious about what was in the vat, jumped up to look, and fell into the muddy pond.”
“…Curiosity killed the cat.”
Once the “punishment” was over, the basin of water had turned murky, but the black cat’s paws had regained their snowy white fur.
Nan Liujing took a cloth to dry its fur, and Jiang Ziliu reached out to help.
As the two were fussing over the cat, Nurse Fu suddenly approached, her expression grim.
“Miss, someone from the front courtyard just delivered a message… In two days, for the Flower Morning Festival, Princess Shou’an is hosting a banquet by the Huai River, inviting noble ladies from prominent families to enjoy the spring scenery. This is the formal invitation from the princess’s residence.”
Nurse Fu hesitated before continuing, “It bears your name, Miss.”
Nan Liujing paused in her movements. “I understand.”
Jiang Ziliu glanced over. “Inviting you to a banquet at this time… Could it be because…”
Could it be because the princess was still tracking her whereabouts and had traced her to the Nan residence?
She didn’t voice the latter half of the thought, but Nan Liujing understood.
“Not necessarily. Even without you, this invitation would likely have been unavoidable…”
“Why?”
“Because of Pei Qilang.”
Nurse Fu blurted out.
Seeing Jiang Ziliu’s puzzled expression remain, Nurse Fu explained to her.
“Years ago, Princess Shou’an once fell into the water in the palace and was fortunately rescued by Pei Qilang. Following tradition, given their similar ages, his talent and her beauty, and with this debt of gratitude, a marriage between them would have been natural.”
“But who could have predicted the unrest in recent years, with feudal lords taking turns entering the capital, and Princess Shou’an being in mourning? The marriage matter was left unresolved.”
“Though he feels nothing, she still cares. Princess Shou’an seems to hold feelings for Pei Qilang. Ever since learning that the Pei and Nan families were discussing a marriage alliance, she has often publicly humiliated our Miss…”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore.”
Nan Liujing released Wangliang, dried her hands, and took the invitation. “At most, she’ll say some unpleasant things. I’ll just let it go in one ear and out the other.”
Jiang Ziliu, lost in thought, crouched nearby and suddenly asked, “Nan Liujing, don’t you really want to know what Princess Shou’an’s secret is?”
Nan Liujing glanced at her, returning the words Jiang Ziliu had spoken earlier. “Curiosity killed the cat.”
“…Fair enough.”
Jiang Ziliu nodded and said no more.
Two days later.
Along the banks of the Huai River, spring colors overflowed the fields, with layers upon layers of tents and curtains.
Outside the curtains were crowds of common folk, while inside were noble sons and daughters enjoying flowers, playing pitch-pot, and flying paper kites. The largest section of the riverbank enclosed by curtains belonged to Princess Shou’an, Helan Ying.
“Fifth Lady Nan, this way, please.”
As soon as Nan Liujing stepped down from the carriage, a female guard from the princess’s residence came forward to greet her.
She followed the guard all the way to the edge of Helan Ying’s curtained area, but Nurse Fu, who was behind her, was stopped.
“There are attendants from the princess’s residence inside to serve. Young ladies need not bring their own servants. This is the princess’s order.”
Servants from other households were also waiting outside the curtains, so Nan Liujing could not say much more.
Just before entering the curtained area, she turned to glance at Nurse Fu once more. Her gaze swept unintentionally into the distance and suddenly paused.
Then she walked over to Nurse Fu and whispered something. Nurse Fu was taken aback, looking at her in surprise.
But Nan Liujing had already stepped back, leaving behind the words, “Wait for me here,” before following the guard step by step toward the luxurious banquet tent.
Outside the banquet tent, many young ladies had already arrived, gathering in small groups to chat and laugh.
As Nan Liujing approached, numerous eyes fell upon her.
Today, she wore a light purple half-sleeved twirling skirt, her dark hair cascading down to her waist, adorned with two pearl hairpins. Her attire and accessories were not particularly striking. Even the powder on her face was light, merely to make her complexion appear more radiant.
Yet even so, some still approached to pick faults.
“Nan Liujing, how dare you dress so shabbily for the princess’s banquet?”
Nan Liujing turned around and saw several familiar faces approaching—the very ones who usually flattered Helan Ying the most.
“Didn’t you just visit the Snow-Rinsing Pavilion a few days ago? I saw you there that day.”
One of them covered her mouth with a light laugh. “Ringing the bell so many times, yet not a single item to take away… how pitiful.”
Without waiting for Nan Liujing’s response, they began to chime in one after another, mocking and ridiculing her.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t humiliate myself like this.”
“Some things were never meant to be yours from the start. Why covet them?”
“If only she had such self-awareness. How could she still entangle herself with Pei Qilang and anger the princess?”
“Search your conscience and tell me, how did the princess treat you before? Yet you repay kindness with ingratitude, coveting the one she loves…”
Nan Liujing listened quietly all along, only showing a slight change in expression at the last remark.
Indeed, Helan Ying had not always treated her as a thorn in her side. A year ago, when the two of them first met, they had even gotten along quite harmoniously.
Whether it was genuine fondness for her, pity for her frail health, or simply treating her as an amusing plaything, Helan Ying had taken her along wherever she went back then.
The noble daughters of the capital, who had never paid her any mind before, began to show her favor once they saw her become the “favorite” by Princess Shou’an’s side. Among them, the ones who treated her most warmly were precisely these few before her now…
It was only after Helan Ying discovered her relationship with Pei Liuyu and rumors of the Nan and Pei families discussing a marriage alliance spread that everything took a sudden turn for the worse.
Nan Liujing touched her earlobe, growing somewhat weary of listening.
“Is everyone here?”
A unique voice, with a lazy tone, sounded from behind. In an instant, the lakeside fell silent.
Nan Liujing took a deep breath, turned around, and curtsied along with the others. “…Princess Shou’an.”
She kept her head lowered, her eyes fixed only on the spring grass before her, yet a corner of a skirt as fiery as blazing flames still swayed leisurely into her line of sight.
“Long time no see, Wu Niang.”
Helan Ying’s smiling voice came from above, somewhat reminiscent of the tone she usually used when speaking to Wangliang. “Lift your head and let this princess take a look.”
Nan Liujing slowly raised her head, and what met her eyes was a face adorned in splendid attire and cloud-like hair, breathtakingly beautiful, along with those mesmerizing pale golden eyes.
“…”
It was no wonder those people felt indignant on Helan Ying’s behalf. Her status as a princess was secondary; what mattered most was that with such a face, she should have everything she desired—why should she be unable to win over Pei Liuyu?
Nan Liujing’s gaze met Helan Ying’s for only a moment before she quickly lowered her lashes.
“You’ve indeed grown thinner again, your complexion isn’t good, and you’re dressed so plainly… You look rather unappealing.”
Helan Ying helped her up from the ground.
Though it was called “helping,” it felt more like “lifting.”
As soon as Nan Liujing steadied herself, Helan Ying released her, only to raise both hands, remove the vermilion red agate earrings from her own ears, and then lean in close.
Realizing what Helan Ying intended to do, Nan Liujing widened her eyes slightly. “Your Highness…”
She instinctively stepped back but was held in place by a hand.
“What are you avoiding? These earrings are for you.”
Helan Ying arched her brows and smiled at her, a smile brimming with charm.
“…”
Silence fell all around. Everyone watched them, their expressions tinged with astonishment.
Helan Ying leaned close to Nan Liujing, pinched her earlobe with two fingers, and threaded the vivid, dripping red earring through her ear piercing. The gesture was so intimate, as if there were no discord between them, as if they had returned to the past.
A light yet pleasant fragrance of powder lingered at the tip of her nose. Nan Liujing’s body stiffened slightly as she allowed the princess to proceed.
Once the right ear was done, it was the left ear’s turn.
“Have you grown so haggard because you’re pining for Pei Liuyu?”
Suddenly, Helan Ying whispered in her ear, her voice barely audible. “Pei Liuyu was punished with family discipline and placed under house arrest. Did that frighten Wu Niang?”
A sharp chill brushed against her earlobe. Nan Liujing’s lashes trembled, and she struggled. “Your Highness, I’ll do it myself… Ah.”
The chill abruptly turned into a stabbing pain.
A snow-white earlobe now dangled with gently swaying red agate, while at the same time, a drop of blood seeped out beside the ear piercing, slid down, and dripped onto the agate earring…
Nan Liujing clutched her earlobe, abruptly broke free from Helan Ying, and took several steps back.
Helan Ying, who had been smiling warmly just moments before, now wore a stern expression, her eyes even chillingly cold.
Yet the next moment, she curved her lips into a smile again, her demeanor returning to normal. “Truly beautiful.”
“…”
“What do you all think?”
The crowd exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from astonishment to understanding, followed by a chorus of gleeful agreement.
“The princess’s taste is, of course, never wrong.”
“To receive a gift from the princess, Nan Wu Niang is truly fortunate.”
Nan Liujing slowly lowered her hand, gently rubbing her fingertips twice. The bloodstain on her earlobe was smeared and faded. The blood-red agate earrings adorned her cheeks like the finishing touch, making her makeup appear richer and her entire face come alive with vivid charm…
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
She said softly.
Helan Ying seemed to have vented her anger. She brushed past Nan Liujing without so much as another glance.
“Pitch-pot and flower appreciation are rather dull. Since we’re by the Huai River today, why not play water polo instead?”
At the princess’s command, several small boats were quickly arranged by the water’s edge. Helan Ying sat by the riverside table, clearly poised to watch the spectacle unfold.
The young ladies boarded the boats in groups, and Nan Liujing, pushed and jostled by someone, found herself squeezed onto a small boat. She was the only one on board, barely able to keep her balance.
“I’ve never played water polo before, nor have I ever seen anyone play it… I’m afraid I won’t be able to join in the fun today.”
As she spoke, she held onto the edge of the boat, trying to leave.
“I’ll teach you!”
With a woman’s voice, a water ball suddenly came flying from behind.
Nan Liujing couldn’t dodge in time—not only was her arm struck, but she was also splashed all over by the water ball as it landed.
She slowly straightened up and turned to look at the culprit, only to see the young lady pretending to laugh and chat with someone beside her. “That’s how you play! Whoever throws it the farthest wins!”
On the shore, Helan Ying leaned behind the low table, pouring wine for herself as if she hadn’t noticed the commotion in the water.