“Come with me.” Qin Zixie firmly gripped Shen Xihe’s hand as they entered the Defined Prince’s residence gates.

Most of her hand was concealed within her wide sleeve; Shen Xihe could only see half her fingertips, which were long and slender yet stronger than most ladies’.

Shen Xihe disliked physical contact and was about to pull away, but Qin Zixie released her hand first as they passed through the gate: “Your status is noble; inevitably some will try to curry favor with you. You must keep your eyes sharp.”

While it was said that imperial censors couldn’t tolerate even a grain of sand in their eyes, the Qin family was known for having the sharpest tongues in the capital.

She must have witnessed Yu Sangning’s scheme directly and, disapproving and not knowing her character, feared she might be taken advantage of, hence the well-intentioned warning.

“Miss Qin worries too much,” Shen Xihe replied distantly.

She would neither associate with Yu Sangning nor grow close to Qin Zixie.

Seemingly detecting Shen Xihe’s coolness, Qin Zixie glanced at her, gave an almost imperceptible nod, and walked ahead.

At this time, the Ye family’s female relatives were greeting guests behind the screen wall in place of Ye Wantang, leading them one by one to the Lotus Water Pavilion where the banquet was set.

This was the most beautiful spot in the Defined Prince’s residence – two water pavilions built above the crystalline waves, connected by a winding corridor over the water, facing each other with an arched bridge between them for passage.

The pavilions were spacious, each containing over ten low tables. A stone platform extended from the other side between the pavilions, where musicians played and dancers performed.

“Sister Xihe!”

As soon as Shen Xihe appeared, Xue Jinqiao, who had been waiting in the women’s pavilion and scanning constantly for her, immediately spotted her and rushed over.

Though the corridor was wide enough for three to walk abreast, and Qin Zixie walked ahead of Shen Xihe, when Xue Jinqiao rushed toward Shen Xihe, Qin Zixie suddenly stepped aside.

Somehow Xue Jinqiao stumbled, pitching forward, but Qin Zixie’s maid caught her arm and steadied her, preventing her face from hitting the stone floor.

“Thank you, Sister Qin.” Xue Jinqiao bowed in gratitude after being steadied.

“We are not familiar; do not call me sister,” Qin Zixie cast a cold glance at Xue Jinqiao. “A noble lady should move with grace, stand with dignity, and sit with poise.”

“Yes, Sister Qi- Miss Qin.” Xue Jinqiao obediently lowered her head at the rebuke.

Shen Xihe had no interest in watching this scene and walked past them with graceful steps.

Seeing this, Xue Jinqiao playfully stuck out her tongue, then lifted her skirts to catch up with Shen Xihe, thoroughly maintaining her “I’ll listen but won’t change” attitude.

“Princess Consort.” Shen Xihe entered the pavilion and greeted the Defined Prince’s consort.

She was just twenty years old, wearing a purple-flowered chest-high dress with a red begonia wide-sleeved outer robe, her hair adorned with gold hairpins and ornaments paired with a bright begonia silk flower, appearing quite resplendent.

“Please rise, Princess, no need for such formality.” Ye Wantang personally helped her up. “I only returned home a few days ago and haven’t had the chance to see you. Princess, you truly are beautiful…”

Ye Wantang’s admiring gaze held a trace of bewilderment. She had watched Shen Xihe approach without missing a detail – her graceful bearing and noble aloofness gave her a sense of déjà vu.

Up close, she came to her senses; they were similar yet different.

That person’s coolness had tended toward coldness, while Shen Xihe’s coolness leaned toward nobility.

“Princess Consort is too kind,” Shen Xihe said softly.

“Princess, please take this seat.” Ye Wantang arranged for Shen Xihe to sit closest to her.

Across from Shen Xihe sat a splendidly dressed young noblewoman with a languid bearing and striking beauty – the Third Prince Duke Wang Xiao Changzhen’s consort. She wore a bright red Hu-style outfit and was carelessly examining her hennaed nails as if she were alone.

This Duchess Consort was one of the capital’s notable ladies – she was a princess of Xiliang.

After Xiliang’s defeat, to pacify its people and take control more quickly, Emperor Youning had arranged for Duke Wang to marry her.

Emperor Youning’s harem was neither particularly large nor small compared to previous emperors, but his princes’ households were remarkably simple.

The Crown Prince had died young. After the Second Prince, Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin’s primary wife passed away, he had only one secondary consort and never remarried.

The Third Prince Duke Wang Xiao Changzhen and Fourth Prince Defined Prince Xiao Changtai each had only one primary consort – no secondary consorts, not even concubines.

The Fifth Prince Prince Xin Xiao Changqin’s primary wife had recently passed away; his household had only two concubines.

The remaining princes, including the Crown Prince, were still unmarried, with no officially recognized women in their Eastern Palace or princely residences.

“This is my third sister-in-law, the Duchess Consort,” Ye Wantang introduced.

“No need to greet me formally; I’m not one of your Great Zhou noble ladies,” Li Yanyan spoke first, never looking up from her nails.

Duchess Consort Li, named Yanyan, was a woman who could lose control at any moment, but Duke Wang would always protect her, cleaning up whatever mess she made.

Shen Xihe took her at her word and ignored her as well.

This made Li Yanyan raise an eyebrow and glance over, though her gaze merely swept past.

“Princess, I too have been to the Northwest…” Ye Wantang, worried Shen Xihe might feel awkward, actively engaged her in conversation.

The Defined Prince couple often traveled everywhere and had naturally visited the Northwest, greatly praising its security and local customs.

As they talked, a beautiful young lady approached gracefully. She first bowed to Ye Wantang, then turned to bow to Li Yanyan, when suddenly Li Yanyan grabbed her teacup and hurled it at her.

Unexpectedly, the lady dodged, and the cup shattered on the floor, sending fragments flying toward Shen Xihe.

The incident happened so suddenly that Bi Yu couldn’t push Shen Xihe away in time. Just as a shard was about to strike Shen Xihe’s face, something flew past from the side, knocking it away barely half an inch from her face.

Ye Wantang and Li Yanyan both sighed in relief, then saw it was a chopstick. Looking over, everyone noticed one chopstick missing from Qin Zixie’s table and stared in amazement.

No one had heard that the Qin family’s ladies knew martial arts.

Qin Zixie ignored these stares, maintaining her proper posture and forward gaze.

The commotion drew attention from the other pavilion. Duke Wang and the Defined Prince arrived together, and the Defined Prince surveyed the scene: “Miss Qin’s maid shows remarkable skill; this prince offers his thanks.”

So it was Qin Zixie’s maid, everyone realized.

But Shen Xihe couldn’t help looking at Qin Zixie. Her attendants Bi Yu and Hong Yu, who constantly watched over her, had been distracted by the lady’s sudden dodge and hadn’t anticipated the fragments flying in her direction.

This was an accident no one could have predicted, yet Qin Zixie’s maid either had been watching her constantly or possessed such exceptional skills to help her avoid harm just in time.

She couldn’t help but look toward Qin Zixie nearby. As wind blew across the lake, amidst various fragrances, a subtle trace of agarwood wafted in the air.