Chu Lian's brows drew together as she looked towards the young girls standing not far away, dressed according to their high status.
What was going on?
The event she was trying to avoid in the novel had occurred at Dingbo Pavilion, not Mei Court. Furthermore, these noble personages hadn't appeared in that event. Why did these princesses have their eyes on her now?
Chu Lian felt a headache brewing. She couldn't even tell which princess was which.
Since she didn't know their identities or their family backgrounds, she could only bow in greeting towards them.
"Sister Yuanqin, is that the woman that Brother He abandoned?"
The slightly older girl standing at the back chuckled in a haughty manner. She was the legitimate Fifth Miss from House Dingyuan, Zou Yuanqin. She had just come of age and was one of Imperial Princess Leyao's study companions. The sudden exclamation that Chu Lian had heard earlier had come from her.
"Imperial Princess, your eyes are really sharp."
Imperial Princess Leyao was wearing an outfit of about the same colour as Chu Lian's today. She was even wearing a ruby hair ornament.
However, the workmanship on her dress was much more exquisite, while the materials were clearly rare. The pink dress had a slight gradient from top to bottom. Beautiful patterns were embroidered onto the skirt, and there were even small pieces of precious stones woven into the material. When the light hit them, the dress sparkled like a starry sky. It was both elegant and luxurious.
In comparison, Chu Lian's similar outfit looked much poorer.
However, with Chu Lian's delicate looks, slender body, and lovely figure, she still managed to look stunning in the simple pink dress that she was wearing, especially since she was currently in the best period of her youth. Conversely, the eleven-year-old Imperial Princess Leyao still hadn't quite grown into her figure.
When the two of them stood opposite each other, they each had a charm of their own. However, when looking closely at their outfits, Chu Lian's dress wasn't quite up to par. The ruby butterfly pin on her head had been bright and lovely at first, but compared to Imperial Princess Leyao's ornament, it completely lost it's colour.
The buzzing of discussion sprang up around them, and Chu Lian could feel the contempt in the gazes thrown at her.
"How shabby!" Imperial Princess Leyao smirked as she said.
With that one comment from the princess, the noise of discussion grew ever louder. All the voices she had been trying to ignore fell into her ears one by one.
"Well, didn't House Jingan connect with House Ying because of their particularly fertile ladies?"
"Did you hear? He Sanlang left his family and the capital just two days ago!"
"Haha, what a joke. Without her man, what use is her fertility?"
"Isn't that right? She's just a poor little maid. I can't believe she wore that to the Dingyuan Estate. How embarrassing."
"I guess you all don't know yet. This Sixth Miss Chu didn't have a good reputation in the first place. I'm afraid that it was He Sanlang who must have been forced to leave because he didn't like this new wife of his!"
House Ying's Madam Rong had taken a trip to the restroom and had just come back. When she noticed the clamour in Mei Court, she looked over in curiosity. It was at this moment that Miss Su, from the main branch, came over to hold Madam Rongs arm. With a pale face, she said, "Eldest Sister-in-law, Sixth Sister is being bullied."
The second branch's Eighth Miss, Miss Yuan, also followed along. She rolled her eyes in scorn. "She's been abandoned by her husband just days after her marriage. I can't believe she still dares to come out just to lose face!"
Madam Rong's expression instantly changed. She glared at Miss Yuan first, and then asked Miss Su, "What happened exactly?"
At first, House Jingan had hidden the news that He Changdi had left for the northern border. However, the news had been leaked somehow.
Madam Rong, who usually spent her time in the inner court, didn't know much of outside news. After hearing Miss Su's explanation, her face turned solemn.
"You're saying that Imperial Princess Leyao, Royal Princess Duanjia, and Feudal Princess Anmin are all here?"
"That's right. Judging from Imperial Princess Leyao's words, it seems like she doesn't really like Sixth Sister."
Miss Yuan stomped her foot fiercely. "That troublemaker! When did she anger the princess?! Now we're going to be pulled into trouble along with her. We shouldn't have let her marry into House Jingan back then!"
"Miss Yuan, stop speaking nonsense!" Madam Rong scolded her in a low tone.
This wasn't the Ying Estate, so Madam Rong couldn't let them speak so freely. Even though Chu Lian wasn't favoured in House Ying, since she had married, anything she did would still reflect back on House Ying. Since she was here, she couldn't just ignore the situation that Chu Lian was in.
Chu Lian wanted to scold He Changdi until his eardrums bled right now. Brother He? When did that fellow seduce this princess!? Furthermore, this princess was still pretty young. Wasn't she a little too mature for her age?!
Royal Princess Duanjia was standing next to Imperial Princess Leyao. She was more than a head taller than Princess Leyao, and had a cold expression on. However, her gaze was fixed on Chu Lian.
From not far away, Wei Fengzi had also noticed the situation outside the corridor. The corner of her lip lifted when she saw Chu Lian standing in the middle of the crowd. Since Chu Lian hadn't sent any of her maidservants to ask for help, she simply sat back and watched the commotion.
Feudal Princess Anmin cast a look of disdain towards Chu Lian. "Since we've already seen her, Leyao, let's go."
Following Feudal Princess Anmin's words, several young ladies of high status turned around to leave at the same time. House Dingyuan's Fifth Miss, Zou Yuanqin, shot a parting glance at Chu Lian. Unexpectedly, there wasn't any restrained anger or pain in Chu Lian's expression. Zou Yuanqin's face contorted and her glance grew contemptuous. Only then did she follow the rest of the noble ladies.
Chu Lian's mouth twitched as she watched the noble ladies figures disappear into the distance. Huh? So all they had come to do was ridicule her? Wasn't that a little too childish?!
Madam Rong was about to come over to help Chu Lian out. Upon seeing Imperial Princess Leyao leading the rest of her party away, she heaved a great sigh of relief. However, without waiting for her to relax, a sharp scream filled the air.
"Ahhhh!"
Chu Lian felt someone push her hard and she wobbled. Following that, some sweet-smelling things fell over her and rolled all over the floor.
Chu Lian froze in shock. When she looked down, she noticed that there were some longevity peach buns scattered all over the ground.
The person who had knocked into her was already on her knees, wailing and crying.
Chu Lian felt the urge to roll her eyes.
The group of noble ladies hadn't gone too far. Their attention was attracted by the new commotion, so they started to turn around to look.
The madams and young ladies surrounding Chu Lian all moved away, leaving a clear path for the noble ladies.
When Zou Yuanqin spotted the longevity peach buns all over the ground, her calm demeanour cracked and she quickly walked over. She pointed at Chu Lian while trembling in anger.
"You! How could you destroy the birthday present my mother prepared for my grandfather!"
Birthday present?
These ugly longevity peach buns?
Lady, stop pulling my leg. Isn't this trap you've made way too obvious?
After Zou Yuanqin's shout, someone in the crowd exclaimed. "Look at the shape of the buns! These must have been made by Mr. Wang from Dean Restaurant! They were destroyed just like that! What a waste!"
The corners of Chu Lian's mouth twitched.
These half-grown ladies were not just using a plate of longevity peach buns to sabotage her. They were even praising these buns like they were made by some master chef! What were they trying to pull? What happened to the pushed into water trap she had been expecting in the novel?!
How did the trap become even more stupid?
Those lumps on the floor were just some white steamed buns dyed a little red. How could they be some top-class longevity peach buns made by some amazing chef?
Please, don't joke around with me.
Of course, the crowd couldn't possibly hear Chu Lian's inner ranting.
The crowd parted again and a richly dressed forty-year-old madam walked out. When Chu Lian looked at her, the madam's sharp gaze shot back at her. With anger rumbling in her tone, she questioned, "What's going on here!"
This was Heir Dingyuan's wife, Madam Huang, whom Madam Zou had brought her to greet earlier.
She was also Zou Yuanqin's mother.
The person kneeling on the ground, trembling, was a maidservant dressed in a ginger-coloured dress.
With a wavering voice, she said, "This this servant was sending the longevity peach buns to the banquet at the outer court when this young madam suddenly pushed this servant. Madam, please have mercy on this servant! Please have mercy!"
Chu Lian:....
She had been standing still right here, how could she have pushed her?
However, no one stood out to speak for her at this time. To the noble madams and young ladies here, she had already climbed the social ladder by marrying into House Jingan. He Changdi's sudden departure so soon after the marriage had then made her the hot topic of the season. Most of the people here were probably waiting to see her commit a faux pas. Even if they knew that she was being framed, not a single one would stand out for her.
Furthermore, the one trying to put her down seemed to be Heir Dingyuan's wife. It might even be the Emperor's most favoured child, Imperial Princess Leyao.
Madam Rong stopped in her tracks.
Miss Su gaped a little in shock. After blanking out for a moment, she finally recovered her senses. She turned to her sister-in-law and said, "Eldest Sister-in-Law, we-"
"Don't say a word! We'll wait!"
Madam Rong felt the urge to retreat.
Previously, when Imperial Princess Leyao had been purposely mocking Chu Lian, the princess was the one at fault. If she went up to defend Chu Lian, that was perfectly reasonable. Even if she made an enemy of the princess then, the news of her good deed and righteous defense of her family would spread out. However, it was a completely different situation now. She hadn't clearly seen what happened. It didn't matter who the culprit was, anyway. Madam Huang's gift to Old Marquis Dingyuan for his longevity feast had been ruined, so it was now all Chu Lian's fault.
If she went out now, she had to face both Madam Huang and Imperial Princess Leyao. There wouldn't be any merit to her reputation, and she might even be labelled as someone who tried to cover up her family's faults.
Madam Rong was already low enough in the ranks of noble madams. She was also in charge of managing the Ying Household. House Ying's descent had slowly moulded her into someone who would seek profit and avoid all losses.
Miss Su desperately looked at the crowd, and was about to make her way forward when Madam Rong held her back.
Eighth Miss, Miss Yuan, hid behind Madam Rong and watched. Hidden in the shadows, her lips curled up.
Xiao Bojian stood outside the corridor, his right hand gripping the red painted railing tightly as his gaze fixed upon the scene across the pond.
Heir Zheng used the folding fan in his hands to block the sun shining from above and carelessly said, "Senior Xiao, it seems like something must have happened over there. Even the Princess is around! It looks quite lively."
On the third floor of Qingfeng Court, the smell of hardwood incense filled the area. There was practically no one around, and it was extremely peaceful and serene. The window facing the pond was only opened halfway, and from that small opening, a tall person could be seen.
He had sharp features, and a pair of azure eyes that were currently focused on Mei Court.
The man waved his hand and a human figure appeared next to him.
"Master, what are your orders?"
"Go over to Mei Court. If they try to punish Miss Chu, save her. "
"Understood."
The figure disappeared in a flash.